Don't Make My Mistake!!
JeffMTampa
Posts: 3,323 ✭✭✭✭✭
All sold, a couple for $1, most for $4 to $10. Here are the problems I had:
- For the coins that sold for $1, Paypal took a $0.30 fee, eBay took a $0.10 fee, and I put a $0.48 stamp on the envelope. The coin had a $0.25 face value for a net loss. Considering the silver value of about $3.50 I really took it in the shorts.
- Although the package weighrd less than 1 oz., and I confirmed with my local Post Offfice my shippinf=g was sufficir=ent, some Postal Clerk along the way decided it should be a Dirst Class shipment at $2.45- not $0.48. The Buyer sent me a hate e-mail; I refunded the $2.00 to him. He then left me "Neutral" feedback claiming I was dishonest.
- Two of the envelopes never arrived (supposedly); I had to issue refunds. I obviously didn't receive them back.
Although 3 of the sales went through OK I would have been better off selling these coins as junk silver (although they were far from that). It strikes me that there must be a lot of dishonest people out there buying cheap stuff, hoping they can stick it to someone. I won't try and sell inexpensive merchandice on eBay again!
Comments
I have been an eBay member for over 16 years and I have only sold one item and I use a separate account for that.
I only buy with my main account, b/c of all of the horror stories I read about.
I am VERY patient and understanding with sellers and I've never left negative feedback in all of those years.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Never start an auction at less than you are willing to accept.
Never choose a shipping method strictly because it is the cheapest.
Never neglect to pay for tracking with an ebay sale because it saves you money.
When it comes to selling on ebay a penny saved is not always a penny earned.
Cheap merchandise on ebay is better sold as a higher value lot. It then becomes more cost effective with the expenses.
"A car is a tool that takes you from one place to another. Everything beyond that is a payment for other people's perception of you."
1. as a lot
2. as an auction with an opening bid at total face value
3. buyer pays for shipping
"Thick envelope" prices start at 2.45.
Never start an auction at less than you are willing to accept.
Never choose a shipping method strictly because it is the cheapest.
Never neglect to pay for tracking with an ebay sale because it saves you money.
When it comes to selling on ebay a penny saved is not always a penny earned.
Cheap merchandise on ebay is better sold as a higher value lot. It then becomes more cost effective with the expenses.
Between the 9% eBay & PP cut and $2.45 postage and cost of the envelope you make about 15c for a handling charge. Between the time to take pictures, listing and shipping that's about 90c an hour.
There is no point in selling them individually, especially with free S/H.
You really don't want that type of buyer anyway.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
If it's less I put the coin in a 2X2 then in a 3 x 3 cardboard sandwich taped completely around the edges then taped to the inside of the envelope. I put the .48 stamp and add a .22 cent stamp then mark the envelope "not machinable" to explain the added postage. This is the proper postage and because it's suppose to be hand sorted it doesn't get mutilated.
Never get a complaint. Never get stiffed.
Many on this board make money, build collections, create businesses on ebay.
Some do not.
Guess which group is the loudest?
Jeff.... My new catch phrase is :
" No good deed goes unpunished "
There are lots of great advice on this thread,
I'm sorry for your problems, but the advice
was first rate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
A couple of your silver quarters sold for a dollar each with free shipping? Where the hell was I?
I've had pretty good luck over the years buying coin album sets in Ebay, cherry picking a coin or two or three to upgrade my own set and then re-selling the set. It's a decent way to pass the time, I've had pretty good luck along the way for the most part.
Anyway, I recently bought a Washington Quarter set mostly for several BU quarters in the 1940's and early 50's, but the set came with coins through 1981. I ended up spending most of the ones after 1964, but there were 12 nice clad proofs that I thought someone would want from 1968-80.
I listed them in an auction on Ebay for $5.99 with free shipping. Only got one bid, so sold for $5.99. Like you, I tried to mail them first class with a couple of stamps.
The buyer then sent me a message saying that he had to pay postage due of $1.70 to get them, as like you the post office charged the "package fee".
I just gave him a full refund for of the $5.99.
So I ended up wasting time and money selling $3 face value in proof quarters, and ended up with less than nothing.
As the great Forrest Gump once said, "stupid is as stupid does".
Reid
I paid it and complained to my eBay seller and he quoted me a postal regulation that said it should just be treated as first class mail because it weighed less than 1 oz. and that my post office made a mistake charging the package rate.
Knowing my post office, their making a mistake is par for the course.
I never tried sending a coin that way, but apparently you can (unless it is mailed to my PO)
Come to think of it, I received a padded envelope with $1.70 postage due.
I paid it and complained to my eBay seller and he quoted me a postal regulation that said it should just be treated as first class mail because it weighed less than 1 oz. and that my post office made a mistake charging the package rate.
Knowing my post office, their making a mistake is par for the course.
I never tried sending a coin that way, but apparently you can (unless it is mailed to my PO)
The weight of the envelope will not matter if the envelope is more than 1/4 inch thick and/or is too rigid to bend. These criteria trump weight when the USPS regulates the rate applicable.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
What a nightmare!
I am VERY patient and understanding with sellers and I've never left negative feedback in all of those years.
kudos.
a lot seem to have so much trouble in life, they think some silly feedback will make life right again.
taking business seriously is one thing, .....
to the op, that stinks!
had a seller ship me something like that, no probs, except postage due!
i have also shipped this way with no probs.
.
Retail = When they bite off your tail and you grow it back on.
LOL! Took me a sec but I got it.
https://forums.collectors.com/i/expressions/clown.gif
That means that you have a flat if ANY of the following are true:
its shorter side is more than 6? inches but not more than 12 inches; or,
its longer side is more than 11½ inches but not more than 15 inches; or,
it is more ¼ inch thick but not more than ¾ inch thick,
All letters (except Periodical Class nonmachinable flats) must be flexible enough to go through automated sorting equipment.
The quarter inside will fail the flexibility test.
That is why it got ding'd at the package rate.
NEVER NEVER NEVER send ANYTHING you sold, ebay, paypal, BITCOIN, you name it, without tracking.
All that says is STEAL ME
Likewise, know the rules on when signature is required, otherwise it says STEAL ME
No tracking = No evidence it ever arrived. Paypal, etc. REQUIRES that proof, or you are out of luck.
I ship 5 - 10 things a day on ebay. EVERYTHING gets tracking, and NOTHING with tracking costs, after charges, net, less than $3, so that is my minimum shipping cost.
I combine stuff together often, so 4 or 5 things can ride together, but that opens another can of worms: I got A and B but not C.
Because of that "flaw" in the system, some people will not ship combined.
Set a minimum, and if your stuff is less than that, just batch it.
Last year, I shipped over 2000 packages, from the size of 2 dimes, to a car door. All made it.
The days of being able to successfully sell "cheap stuff" online are over. Shipping costs plus eBay & PayPal fees are bad enough but now you also have to contend with a new breed, the "Buyer Scammer" as I call them. These folks know how to work the system to get their merchandise for free.
Well said, and absolutely true.
But hey, at least it was a cheap lesson, right? We've all had 'em (and some not so cheap).
Good advice by derryb.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
Wow, another bash eBay thread, amazing.
Many on this board make money, build collections, create businesses on ebay.
Some do not.
Guess which group is the loudest?
eBay is just one of many venues to buy/sell--not the ONLY one.
If all you're drinking is eBay kool-aid, you are missing a lot of great drinking opportunities.
As you are a seller on eBay as well as a buyer, I'm rather surprised you are still the head cheerleader.
Basic bullion value coins are not worth ebaying. You may get a little more than silver value on some but the costs for selling will almost never leave you much of a profit and you may get an unhappy mad customer--not worth losing money to get a customer that will make you pay..
For instance say you have a circulated Washington quarter set. Sell the 1932-D and 1932-S on ebay if you like, but just sell the rest for bullion value to your local silver buyer if need be. You will be better off and save yourself time and trouble.
Bob
I've made worse mistakes-much worse.
Basic bullion value coins are not worth ebaying. You may get a little more than silver value on some but the costs for selling will almost never leave you much of a profit and you may get an unhappy mad customer--not worth losing money to get a customer that will make you pay..
For instance say you have a circulated Washington quarter set. Sell the 1932-D and 1932-S on ebay if you like, but just sell the rest for bullion value to your local silver buyer if need be. You will be better off and save yourself time and trouble.
Bob
Agree.
Hopefully your story will help someone here.
Hopefully your story will help someone here.
The reason I posted- not to publically embarrass myself.
You were trying to maximize your return, and it just didn't work this time.
eBay is hit or miss, mostly miss for sellers.