Selling on eBay?
Millertime
Posts: 2,048 ✭✭
I want to give selling on eBay a shot but I've never done it before. How do I go about it to maximize my efforts?
I can provide decent pictures. Do I provide pictures of front and back of the slab and a closeup of the obverse and reverse?
From what I've read I'll have the best luck ending on Sunday evening. Do I do a 3, 5, or 7 day (or more) auction and if I wanted to end at Sunday night say at 8:00 pm do I have to start my listing at 8:00 pm the number of days before?
I thought I would have a $5 flat shipping rate and ship priority with insurance and signature confirmation. Will that cover my butt completely for PayPal in case I get a nasty buyer? Should I skip the flat s/h and charge actual costs?
I know what the PayPal fees are but how about eBay fees. I'm only going to be an occasional seller so do I just go to my eBay page and hit the "Sell an Item" link?
Is there anything else I'm missing?
Thanks,
Millertime
I can provide decent pictures. Do I provide pictures of front and back of the slab and a closeup of the obverse and reverse?
From what I've read I'll have the best luck ending on Sunday evening. Do I do a 3, 5, or 7 day (or more) auction and if I wanted to end at Sunday night say at 8:00 pm do I have to start my listing at 8:00 pm the number of days before?
I thought I would have a $5 flat shipping rate and ship priority with insurance and signature confirmation. Will that cover my butt completely for PayPal in case I get a nasty buyer? Should I skip the flat s/h and charge actual costs?
I know what the PayPal fees are but how about eBay fees. I'm only going to be an occasional seller so do I just go to my eBay page and hit the "Sell an Item" link?
Is there anything else I'm missing?
Thanks,
Millertime
0
Comments
<< <i>Go BST
I prefer the BST but you have to have the right item at the right time to be most effective so I've had mixed results.
Millertime
Complete Dime Set
I end mine normally on Thursdays. Sundays may be good if you have something stands out, but for me, too much competition for my widgets.
I use 10 day auctions. And yes, you start them the number of days and at the time you want them to end ahead of time (for example, I start my first one usually around 5:30 or so on a Monday, to end the next Thursday).
I tried free shipping, didn't work. Exact shipping is probably best. Right now I do 1.25 on the first item, and 25 cents on each additional. No need to use priority mail, but DO use paypal shipping. That does three things, protects you, gives you a discount on delivery confirmation, and sends an email to the buyer when you ship.
The more pics the better, but you can get around ebay fees by using photobucket to host any after the first one.
And good luck!
Also remember the time that you start on the auction is Pacific time, being I am in Florida i have to put mine down for 12 pm if I want it to start at 3 pm my time. If you are on California's time then you should be fine with the set PST.
I was a Monkey
Good pictures never hurt, but people aren't going to see your pictures unless they open up your listing. Make sure that your title is accurate and descriptive. I've seen a surprising number of listings with titles that say "coin". Really.
You can always find someone who will complain about shipping, but as long as you do something honestly reasonable, nobody reasonable is going to object. $5 for Priority Mail seems totally fine by me (and that's what I charge also). If you can offer a First Class option for $2-$3, I'm sure nobody will object. If you charge $10 and then ship in a crappy envelope, that will get objections!
Yes, just go to eBay and click the Sell link. there are lots of little help icons that will let you know what the various fees are.
I am also only an occasional seller, and my rough figure is that I'm going to lose 10% between eBay and PayPal combined. I forget if it's actually a couple percent higher or lower, but that's close. Since I'm only an occasional seller, I'm only listing either (a) items where any sale is better than having the items still hanging around or (b) items where I know I'm going to make far more than 10% "no matter what".
Length of auction depends on what you're selling: rare/tough coin or eye appeal of the charts: 7/10 days. An 1881-S Morgan PCGS MS64 3 or 5 days because there's no reason to leave it on eBay for a long period of time as 50 others will be on as well and people will just bid on the one ending soonest.
Front and back of the slab are good and closes ups are good too. I recommend using a free image hosting service (photobucket, imageshack) and hosting your own photos. Hosting photos on eBay sucks. The pics are small. If you do some very basic HTML you can add big pics in your description. If you don't know how to do the HTML, Google the phrase: add pictures with html.
The eBay fees will set you back some. Also depends if you do a fixed price listing or a true auction. My recommendation: true auction. Try a few cheaper items first and see how it goes. And don't forget: put a link to the auctions in the BST!
<< <i>Use First Class instead of Proirty. Priority is a waste of money, and First Class is just as fast in my experience. >>
True, but not necessarily complete. It's just as fast, but that doesn't necessarily gain you much. If you selling more than a single coin or a single slab, the First Class fees based on weight start getting pretty close to the Flat-Rate fees for Priority Mail. Three ounces is over $1.50 in a padded envelope, even using First Class.
As an (extreme) example of the speed of First Class delivery, I won an auction last Friday night around 7:00 pm, and I had the item in my hand shortly after noon on the next Monday, with shipping from New York to Boston. That's unusual, but nice when it happens.
<< <i>
<< <i>Use First Class instead of Proirty. Priority is a waste of money, and First Class is just as fast in my experience. >>
True, but not necessarily complete. It's just as fast, but that doesn't necessarily gain you much. If you selling more than a single coin or a single slab, the First Class fees based on weight start getting pretty close to the Flat-Rate fees for Priority Mail. Three ounces is over $1.50 in a padded envelope, even using First Class.
As an (extreme) example of the speed of First Class delivery, I won an auction last Friday night around 7:00 pm, and I had the item in my hand shortly after noon on the next Monday, with shipping from New York to Boston. That's unusual, but nice when it happens. >>
Eight slabbed $1 coins will slide neatly into a close packed array in a size 0 padded envelope and ship first class very securely as 12 oz. I remember once selling a coin in the afternoon, shipping it that day, and getting feedback the next morning. that was pretty cool. --Jerry
A few tips:
1) Download and use Turbo Lister to compose (and then upload) your listings.
2) Invest in a postal scale and use PayPal shipping for convenience and cost saving.
3) Don't end listings on Friday or Saturday nights. Weds is also pretty dead. Any other night is OK.
4) For Sunday night listings, don't end at 8pm PST, because everyone is gone by then. 8pm Eastern time is pretty close to the sweet spot.
5) Don't end auctions in the middle of big sporting events, like World Series games, etc. Also, Sunday before a Monday holiday is dubious.
6) Priority is a huge waste of money for coins. Definitely use First Class and don't make postage a "profit center".
7) You can have listings start at a specific time (other than the current time), but (like most things eBay) you'll pay extra to do so.
8) Review completed listings for similar coins. I sometimes search by highest price and try to learn from success.
Good luck!
The single most important factor - and it is a magnitude more important than anything else - is how many buyers follow your auctions. This is particularly critical if selling common readily available material. Internet sales, be it eBay or anywhere else, is all about eyeballs seeing your merch.
Russ, NCNE
Insure with Signature confirmation on purchases over $250.00.
Send an invoice with your package.
Write a quick note via eBay's 'contact the buyer' system letting the winner know you're shipping and thanking him for the bid/purchase.
Allow ample time for a return (I like 14 days).
Leave immediate feedback upon payment.
peacockcoins
It is best to state all your shipping policy and return policy in the descrption and then again as part of the auction listings.
10 day listings and scheduling your auctions are extra fee's but can be worth it if you have big ticket items.
<< <i>Use boxes, not envelopes to mail your coins.
Insure with Signature confirmation on purchases over $250.00.
Send an invoice with your package.
Write a quick note via eBay's 'contact the buyer' system letting the winner know you're shipping and thanking him for the bid/purchase.
Allow ample time for a return (I like 14 days).
Leave immediate feedback upon payment. >>
I have found that using PADDED mailers work just fine also.......
TC
If you understand what is coming, then you can duck. If not, then you get sucker-punched. - Martin Armstrong
<< <i>I have found that using PADDED mailers work just fine also....... >>
I agree and they're a heckuva lot cheaper than boxes
Start your auctions @ .01 cent, with No Reserve. Let her roll, baby.
If you can find an attractive woman to hold the coin, that will also help greatly (see Fairtraderz auctions).
Dave
<< <i>No first class with boxes - right? >>
Wrong. It costs more to mail a 1-ounce box than it does to mail a 1-ounce envelope, but they're both First Class, and both cheaper than Priority Mail.
<< <i>Most of CoinJunkie's post is spot on, except that Saturday evenings are just fine for auction closings. >>
Well, if you're selling a really special coin, closing time is not so important. But for generic stuff,
I don't believe Saturday evening is "optimal" due to a relative lack of eyeballs. YMMV.
One other thing piece of advice: Run auctions of related items in groups that end within 1-2 minutes
of each other. This is even more effective if you offer shipping discounts on multiple lots won by the
same bidder.
How do I block international bidders?
When I hit save does that send it to eBay or just a simple save?
Is there any way to check fees through Turbo Lister as I try different listing options?
Thanks,
Millertime
Complete Dime Set
<< <i>How do I block international bidders? >>
Under buyer requirements select "are registered in countries to which I don't ship".
<< <i>When I hit save does that send it to eBay or just a simple save? >>
Just saves it. You need to select "add to upload" then go to upload to send it to eBay.
<< <i>Is there any way to check fees through Turbo Lister as I try different listing options? >>
Not that I've found. But then, I haven't looked.
<< <i>Well, if you're selling a really special coin, closing time is not so important. But for generic stuff,
I don't believe Saturday evening is "optimal" due to a relative lack of eyeballs. >>
I've never seen a lick of difference in realized prices between Saturday closings and any other night of the week.
Russ, NCNE
Complete Dime Set
<< <i>Under buyer requirements do you ever block buyers based on score or unpaid items? >>
////////////////////////////////
Block buyers who:
Don't have a PayPal account
Have received 2 Unpaid item Strike(s) within 12 month(s)
Are registered in countries to which I don't ship
Have 4 Policy violation report(s) within 6 month(s)
Have a feedback score equal to or lower than -1
Have bid on or bought my items in the last 10 days and have met my limit of 10 who have a feedback score of 5 or lower
<< <i>Is there any way to check fees through Turbo Lister as I try different listing options? >>
I don't believe so, but when you upload, it'll calculate and report fees and you can cancel
and edit the listing if not happy. BTW, in my opinion, just about all of the add-ons are
overpriced, except the subtitle, which I use on occasion.
Thanks,
Millertime
Complete Dime Set
<< <i>Is 640x480 a decent size for the pictures or should I use something different. I'm using Photobucket and 640x480 is one of the defaults.
Thanks,
Millertime >>
I've noticed that the 640x480 are to large for Turbo Lister. I use the next lower one ...
an honest listing with no BS.
good pictures.
fair shipping.
timely shipping soon after payment.
send a tracking number to them.
offer discounts on shipping on multiple items.
pick the days you sell carefully.
pack things securely and safe.
basically i am repeating what others said.
edited to add: make yourself aware of what you can and cannot sell
to other countries. for example the post office will not allow you to send
bullion or ANY type of coins to Singapore. If they do they are not
trained very well. Customs might seize it.
<< <i>edited to add: make yourself aware of what you can and cannot sell
to other countries. for example the post office will not allow you to send
bullion or ANY type of coins to Singapore. If they do they are not
trained very well. Customs might seize it. >>
I've sent over a dozen packages to Singapore over the last few years with no trouble at all. Why do you think that the post office doesn't allow it? Just curious...
<< <i>
<< <i>edited to add: make yourself aware of what you can and cannot sell
to other countries. for example the post office will not allow you to send
bullion or ANY type of coins to Singapore. If they do they are not
trained very well. Customs might seize it. >>
I've sent over a dozen packages to Singapore over the last few years with no trouble at all. Why do you think that the post office doesn't allow it? Just curious... >>
http://pe.usps.gov/text/Imm/ps_027.htm
then what exactly do you put on the customs form?
i went to one PO near where i worked and asked about shipping and said it was silver bullion. they refused.
i went to another PO and mentioned it as collectible coins that were 100 years old. they refused.
in the end, as a test to one buyer of 10 ounces of silver, i wrote down
art carving on metal and sent it. priority mail, insured, to singapore.
never in my life did i have so much hassle sending a package and
i had to lie to do it.
"Prohibitions (130)
Advertisements for charms, amulets and talismans.
Arms and firearms and parts thereof.
***Bullion of a value higher than $50 Singapore dollars
Butane gas lighters and refills therefor.
***Coins except coins for purposes of ornament;
banknotes; currency notes; traveler’s checks; securities payable to bearer; precious stones; jewelry; and other valuable articles. However, unmounted precious stones may be sent in registered First-Class Mail International shipments if authorization is obtained from the Postmaster General of Singapore.
Lotteries and advertisements concerning lotteries."
<< <i>then what exactly do you put on the customs form? >>
"Processed planchets"
<< <i>banknotes; currency notes; traveler’s checks; securities payable to bearer; precious stones; jewelry; and other valuable articles. >>
This is basically the same as what the USPS website says for Australia:
Coins; bank notes; currency notes (paper money); securities of any kind payable to bearer; traveler’s checks; platinum, gold, and silver (manufactured or not); precious stones; jewelry; and other valuable articles are prohibited.
I know for a fact that coins are *not* prohibited by Australia customs because I asked them. I was told that there were no restrictions on sending collectible coins from the US to Australian residents. I am just about certain that the USPS website cannot be depended on to be completely accurate when it comes to "prohibited items".
As far as coins go, my theory is that since just about every country has restrictions on importing money, coins somehow get confused as money. A great number of collectible coins are not, in fact, money since many are no longer legal tender. Or it could be something else entirely.
don't worry about paypal issues. Paypal issues are extremely rare. I've done over 1000 ebay transactions (being the seller) and never had a paypal problem.
End on a Sunday evening. 8PM is fine. You can schedule the listing to start at that time with one of the functions provided when you set up your listing, so you don't actually have to sit there and press the list button at 8PM.
Pictures are critical. Front and back of slab is fine. closeups of both sides are really only optional, and don't always increase the bid amounts.
keep your description short.
<< <i>Go BST
1. Scrolling through the listings 1 by 1 (slow and tedious)
2. Searching
The great majoritty of ebay buyers Search and to do that you need to have the right key works. If you have slabbed coins, make sure you say PCGS or NGC or ??? Ifthe coin is toned for example, putting the wor 'Toned in the listing is good especially if there are buyers that are looking for toned, or color, or PQ, or old holder or whatever key word will draw buyers to your listing. With 100s or 1000s of listing, I don't have time to scroll, I search for everything (been buying and selling on ebay for almost 10 years).
If I had it my way, stupidity would be painful!
Right. Do that.
That will ensure that you don't receive the maximum amount for your items.
This Paypal only is for those that are so hardup for money they can't wait a couple days for a money order or check to arrive
This will also help you get scammed by Paypal buyers
Read this forum. Folks here are getting hit with chargebacks all the time.
Ray
<< <i>Block buyers who: Don't have a Paypal account....Storm888
Right. Do that.
That will ensure that you don't receive the maximum amount for your items.
This Paypal only is for those that are so hardup for money they can't wait a couple days for a money order or check to arrive
This will also help you get scammed by Paypal buyers
Read this forum. Folks here are getting hit with chargebacks all the time.
Ray >>
Requiring bidders to be registered with Paypal does not preclude them from paying with a check. (It's not a "Paypal only" auction, it's simply about having a Paypal account to bid.)
Edited to add: Of course all of that is going to change soon so the point is moot.
peacockcoins
However, right now they are giving 30% cashback! You can easily pick up gold for under melt -example
The last time they did something like this, my spouse coins were flying off the shelf
Complete Dime Set
After you add the listing to upload , there is a calculate fees option at the top of the page. So you can check it before it uploads. If it is too much hit edit and try a different listing option and save it and check it again.
1997 Matte Nickel strike thru U
"Error Collector- I Love Dem Crazy Coins"
"Money, what is money? It is loaned to a man; he comes into the world with nothing and he leaves with nothing." Billy Durant. Founder of General Motors. He died a pauper.