Do you sell things on EBay?

I have sold quite a few things although not for a while now. I have never had any problems of any kind.

If you are completely honest in your description and have two or three good photos the buyer will have a very good idea of what to expect. Just not liking something isn't a valid reason for return, it has to be 'not as described'

Package well and post promptly, you will soon build up good feedback.

Good luck

Read through all the advice on Ebay/Paypal, they cover everything.

Have a Paypal account, and only take money through that. Ebay have an efficient system using Paypal, which works well.

Never ever use American Express, strange things can happen to money going through them. If they want to do unusual things like pay once it arrives, don't be persuaded.

Get a receipt and proof of posting, then if they say it has not arrived you can claim on it.

If you are selling something that people want, at a reasonable starting price (or "Buy Now" price if you are doing it that way) your relative inexperience will not matter. Check similar things already on sale to see what the starting price is and how much they go for.

You will probably find that bidding is very slow until the last few minutes, when people put in silly low bids to get it cheap, so set your starting price at a level that you are just happy to let it go at.

mrsmopp I've sold many items on eBay and have never had a problem. I agree 100% with Baubles. I always ask myself, would I be happy/satisfied to unwrap the item I'm selling. PayPal for both buyer and seller is highly recommended.

I find that eBay is a buyers market. I have acquired several tip-top "bargains"...whereas I've sold some gorgeous clothes for the price of a luxury box of chocs.

I've sold loads of stuff on Ebay, mrsmopp. Are you registered with Paypal? This is really important. When you send a parcel always get a Proof of Posting, and if the item is quite valuable, send it registered or recorded. Add this amount to the cost of the postage so that you'll not be out of pocket. If the buyer doesn't like the item that's not your fault. Take photos of it (as many as is appropriate) and show any flaws that are present. You have to start somewhere, and will gradually build up your feedback. You will always aim for 100% feedback anyway, and this really isn't hard to do. Always communicate well with the buyer, telling them when you've put the item in the post, even though there is a facility to let them know that. It makes the procedure more personal and friendly. Good luck - it's great fun!

Well done, Elegran you pipped me at the post

MarelliTwinkleToes...communication is indeed essential.

I agree with Marelli's point about communication with the buyer. I've never sold on eBay but I have bought lots of stuff, and to receive an email from the seller saying they're giving you a discount on postage for multiple purchases is very much appreciated (some don't do this!).

I would add that if you are going to send an item recorded delivery, or registered post, do let the buyer know, because I've been caught out when the seller didn't state this would be the case and have had to go and collect the item myself from the PO as I was at work when the post came...

Yes, it started when we down-sized thought we would give it a go before taking stuff to charity shop or tip. Sold loads of items. I am quite surprised at what people will buy. It is very straight forward, but don't forget to add the correct postage, as you can lose out if you get that wrong. Good luck!

I`m not a member on ebay, so if I want anything my daughter gets it for me. We`ve only sold once on there, again via my daughter, we sold our old caravan. Didn`t know what to ask for it, as it was 17 years old, but in good nick for it`s age, so we put a reserve of £500 on it, and also buy now for £500. We put about 6 photos on, showing up defects as well, and 45 minutes later, when my husband came in, we went on ebay to show him the ad, and it was sold! We did it pay on collection, and when the man, who was Polish, came to pick it up, he found another tiny flaw that we hadn`t noticed, and wanted £50 knocking off the price, but we thought he was getting a bargain anyway, and said no, that he`d agreed to pay that amount, so he paid up and took the caravan, apparently they were taking it to Poland the following day.

I've never had anything I've sold on ebay go astray. I've had a few things I've bought take a long time to arrive, but this has generally been down mistakes in the address (Do write clearly!) One lady wanted to return a blouse as it was the wrong colour - I had described it minutely, but there! I decided it was better to let her send it back and keep my good feedback. Naturally when I relisted it it went for less money.

Mr soop sold his Dinky toy collection on eBay. He collected in excess of £600!

soop I took your advice about e-bay and found myself a fab Frank Usher suit since then I have sold a few bits and bobs and am amazed how many people are interested in my stuff,I agree the the discription is paramount and good pic's, always tell if there are any marks etc,I am with pay-pal and find it very easy and trustworthy,and I use Hermes for the postage and tracking as they are more reasonable with their prices than RMail prices.This last month I have sold quite a few things which have been gathering dust in the loft so the term "another man's treasure" is certainly correct for me and my bank account.

That's such good news, glamma...I've a Frank Usher jacket [purchased on eBay for a song] waiting to be worn whenever it is that one of the adult grandchildren gets married. It takes thought and time in order to advertise and present an item to it's best advantage. Once you've mastered the knack, it is fun and, you're right, it can put a little bonus in your pocket. I always put any earnings into the Wee Man travel fund box. It's looking healthy at the mo'. I shall go to London just as soon as I recover from surgery.

I've sold a lot of things on e-bay. Best things are those with a 'name'. Like Italian handbags or Gabor shoes or boots
A good daylight photo is an advantage and nobody can say they didn't know what it looked like.
You do well to choose a time of day for the final bidding. If its stuff for babies and small children then set the end of the bidding for after bed time.

I bid unsuccessfully for an orthopaedic chair( for my back ) for several weeks. They have high second hand price and I was successful when the bidding took place during the Football WM and Germany were playing in the semi final. I was alone on e-bay. The seller had made a mistake, or just didn't think about football or that Germany would reach the semi final.

I have bought Apple computers on e-bay. I know that they have long life and my last was a lap top, 4 years old, which I bought last November. It was nice to be able to talk to the seller about it and he was a big help.

The thing I love about ebay is that you can type in the most unlikely things and somebody, somewhere, will have it for sale.

I bought a tankini swimsuit in TK Max but it didn't look right on me, so advertised it on Ebay and got more for it than I'd paid for it. A John Lewis food mixer which didn't perform as well as I'd hoped went for only a little less than I'd paid for it in the JL sale. The laptop I'm using now is a refurbished Sony Vaio bought on Ebay almost four years ago.

I once bid for and won a beautiful, brand new, white dressing gown, soft and fluffy from Harrods, size 18 (thinking I could wrap it around me, obviously ) When the package arrived it was size 18 months.

Sel!

I bought the grandsons a fantastic collection of Playmobile knights, horses, archers, etc through eBay from various sellers. So much better value than buying new.

Sel.

Agree it is a fabulous source of recycled goods. I've purchased almost everything I needed for GC to stay, cot, high chair, toys, playpen, to name but a few.

j08 my own children loved Playmobile and I still have some of their collection including the pirate ship. I must see what I can add to it.

Yes, it's lovely stuff.At one point I had eight knights on horses galloping across my kitchen dresser, and I (almost) didn' t want to part with them!)

jings...I understand. I purchased a beautiful, beaded evening purse as a gift for a member of the family. When it arrived, I liked it so much I decided to keep it and went online to find a substitute

soop those knights looked so dashing. And so gallant. [sigh]

It's true, jings you can type in almost anything your heart desires in the for sale section of eBay and lo and behold someone, somewhere, has that item for sale. With the possible exception of a real knight in shining armour.