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Selling on eBay

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  • LegoFanTexasLegoFanTexas Member Posts: 8,404
    Renny said:

    I don't think they can complete with Amazon (who can) but there are lot of people who don't have the patience for auctions and just look at BINs. It's a smart move on their part I think.

    Amazon is often an expensive place to buy small items.

    For small sellers, they charge 15%, plus 99 cents, plus another fee based on the weight of the item. For a $5-10 item, it can be 25% of the selling price in fees.

    For $50-100 items it isn't so bad, but on bigger items the shipping reimbursement they offer doesn't cover shipping, so you are out money there as well.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    ^For Lego, I never buy on EBay. For parts for vintage GI Joe vehicles or figures I use EBay a lot. I also hardly ever bid on items. I won a bid the other day, it was my first win in like 8 years. I'm chalking it up on St. Patrick's Day and everyone too drunk to bid on anything :)
  • lulwutlulwut Member Posts: 417
    edited March 2013
    Yikes, gonna get killed in fees later this season. I tend to sell things in the $200 range and it looks like the additional $5+ I lose is going to compound.

    Ebay + Paypal fees is creeping very close to Amazon's.
  • BrickDancerBrickDancer Member Posts: 3,639
    Did PayPal fees recently go up to 4% or has that been the case for a while?
  • y2joshy2josh Member Posts: 1,996
    edited March 2013
    They're 3.9% if your buyer is registered internationally, but the normal fee should still be 2.9% (minus whatever your discount is... which I believe also applies to international buyers).
  • BrickDancerBrickDancer Member Posts: 3,639
    ^Ah thanks I didn't know that! My case was International, so that explains it.
  • dougtsdougts Member Posts: 4,110
    edited March 2013
    LegoFanTexas said:

    ^ Yes, but they are also reducing the cost of listing fees, so to some extent that balances out.

    Plus, it is much simpler which is nice, it was way too complex before.

    One thing that would make the higher priced stores would be a lower fee. I'd pay the $180 a month in a heart beat if it cut my fee from 9% to 7%. :)

    doesn't even come close to balancing out. losing $3.50 in fees to save a $0.25 listing fee? and I generally can sells 5 to 10 sets on a single 30-day BIN - sometimes more. So right there that's more like losing $20-$35 to save an entire $0.25. we are talking orders of magnitude differences here.

    not sure how the tiered fee was complex. 11% on the first $50, 6% on the balance. pretty basic math.

    I agree with you on the last part. I was always miffed that as a store owner, my BIN fees were the same as a non-store owner. Well, be careful what you wish for, because now although I get a 1% discount over a non-store owner, the net net is we are both seeing significant fee hikes on items over $100 - which is obviously the bulk of my LEGO set sales.

  • jondesouzaCEjondesouzaCE Member Posts: 241
    Does anyone know what the eBay rules are for listing sets where the minifigs have been removed? I see a number of sets listed as 'New' and sometimes which even state 'New and sealed' in the title which, somewhere in the depths of the description, state that the figs have been taken out. I've not been caught out by this myself but have been close a couple of times and imagine other potential buyers could be taken in by it. So, is this allowed or is there a way of reporting such listings? It seems sharp practice to say the very least.
  • BastaBasta Member Posts: 1,259
    I have never sold a set with figures removed, but to me the set is still new (obviously not sealed) and I would prefer it to be listed as new as I use the "new" filter a lot. I could see how others may think otherwise.

    Technically it may not be new according to eBay's rules but I'd assume if you clearly list in description and title that the Minifigure are removed you'd most likely be fine, unless some one put in a complaint then eBay could asked you to change it.
  • jondesouzaCEjondesouzaCE Member Posts: 241
    I don't so much mind a set being listed as 'new' if the title clearly states that the minifigs have been removed. All too often though the seller tries to hide that information somewhere in the listing.

    Calling a set 'Sealed' is clearly nonsense though.
  • akunthitaakunthita Member Posts: 1,038
    eBay and BrickLink has very different rules for new/sealed, etc. On BrickLink new and sealed means new and sealed with all outer seals of the box intact and nothing removed. On eBay the only rule is that your description is very clear. So you can sell a new item that is partial with no problems. So certainly, a set listed as new with the minifigs taken out is fine as long as the description clearly states that (not necessarily the title).

    I could also see new & sealed being fine - it just depends on what is your definition of sealed; box sealed or innner bags sealed? When shopping on eBay it is extremely important to read the full description. You can get some grat find there; both LEGO and otherwise. And you can always ask the seller if something is not clear....(c:
  • pillpodpillpod Member Posts: 273
    I've sold a set with minifigs removed. The minifigs came in the same bags as the regular pieces, so I couldn't really call it sealed in any way. I believe I listed it as Used but explicitly stated that the pieces were never put together and only transferred to heavy duty ziploc bags. I didn't want to toe the line of someone returning it on any kind of technicality. It sold just fine, so I think I would do it again when needed.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,556
    There are ones like this that are strictly legit, as he mentions no minifigs are included. But I reckon it will end in an unhappy buyer.

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lego-DC-Universe-Super-Heroes-76002-Superman-Metropolis-Showdown-/380658828950?pt=UK_Construction_Toys_Kits&hash=item58a108c696

    If paying for a second title, and you want to be honest, why not mention the minifigs have been removed, rather than that the bricks are in excellent condition.
  • TheLoneTensorTheLoneTensor Member Posts: 3,937
    When it comes to ebay selling, state clearly and unambiguously, any deviation from what the buyer could expect. Anything less than full, truthful disclosure and your risk of a transaction-gone-bad climbs exponentially.

    When it comes to buying, read the description carefully, then read it a couple more times. If you're unclear on anything, ask the seller specific questions, then use their response (or lack thereof) to guide you in deciding whether or not you want to deal with the person.
  • jondesouzaCEjondesouzaCE Member Posts: 241
    This is the one that prompted the thread.

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281118174488
  • erasethecloudserasetheclouds Member Posts: 5
    There is a description available called 'New other' which I think is fitting for these situations (not what this seller chose to use). Sure, the bricks are new, but I don't see how one could justify calling this "sealed".
  • juggles7juggles7 Member Posts: 451

    "if you clearly list in description and title that the Minifigure are removed you'd most likely be fine, unless some one put in a complaint then eBay could asked you to change it."

    Ebay couldn't care less. That's the opinion I formed after sending them dozens of complaints about eBay sellers misrepresenting their Lego sets by listing them as "New". I complained through their mechanism of clicking on "report this item". I reported it as keyword deception or something similar. I'm not talking about just minifigs being removed. Good sellers will put "no minifigs" right in their auction title. I don't see that as a problem. I reported the most glaring examples, such as Lego sets with no minifigures, no box, pieces missing, photos showing the item already built, etc., and yet the seller had listed it as New.

    I always save those auctions and look later to see if the seller has changed their listing. None ever has, so apparently eBay never forced them to. How many times has eBay intervened to stop this deceptive use of the 'New" classification? None. It'll take a lot more pressure than just what I can exert for eBay to do something. When the complaints start outnumbering the deceptive listings, then they'll do start doing something about this.



  • juggles7juggles7 Member Posts: 451
    Reading and re-reading descriptions and attempting to communicate with the seller is all bad. You shouldn't have to. And while you're seeking clarification, and awaiting an answer from your seller, another buyer comes in and buys the item out from under you. Or, the auction ends without you getting the information you need to make an informed bid. Part of it is just dumb sellers. People can't communicate, and many are barely literate. Another part of it is eBay, who won't intervene to put a stop to the deceptive use of "new" listings, even when they are receiving complaints about the practice. Eventually there won't be any "used" Lego sets at all.
  • TheLoneTensorTheLoneTensor Member Posts: 3,937
    juggles7 said:

    Ebay couldn't care less. That's the opinion I formed after sending them dozens of complaints about eBay sellers misrepresenting their Lego sets by listing them as "New". I complained through their mechanism of clicking on "report this item". I reported it as keyword deception or something similar.

    Agreed, ebay doesn't give a crap as long as they make money. The dropdown for complaints about an auction don't include anything close to "the seller is being deceptive in the listing" so yeah, you need to pick something ambiguous and inaccurate like you mention, which means it's probably ignored completely.
  • NoizetankNoizetank Member Posts: 48
    I don't think people that remove the figures and sell the set should list it as new at all as it quite clearly isn't. Just my opinion but new to me doesn't mean opened and contents removed.especially when I see so many listings that say new then a small line of info right at the bottom saying oh by the way no minifigs included to me that's just trying to catch people out. I brought the hulk breakout set thinking it was new and complete whenit arrived it had clearly been built and no figs included. Complained to ebay, the seller had put at the very bottom of the description no figs included but after 3 paragraphs of postage, feedback etc ebay ruled in my favour as it wasnt clearly stated. The size of the type had even been made smaller.
  • TheLoneTensorTheLoneTensor Member Posts: 3,937
    edited June 2013
    ^If the pieces are new and have never been used to build, listing as new is ok in my book, as long as they clearly indicate all things that are missing (minifigs, other portions of the overall build). For example, many people (used to, not so much anymore) part out the Maersk Train, selling the containers, shunters, etc. separately and labeled as new and sold with the virgin pieces in ziploc bags. I don't see a problem with them being called new.

    What you experienced was indeed wrong if they indicated new, yet it had been built. As for the "fine print" you mention, that's pretty much on you, no matter how deceptive they may have tried to be.
  • y2joshy2josh Member Posts: 1,996
    erasetheclouds said:

    There is a description available called 'New other' which I think is fitting for these situations (not what this seller chose to use). Sure, the bricks are new, but I don't see how one could justify calling this "sealed".

    "New Other" isn't actually available for all categories, "Toys & Hobbies" being one, even though it's one of the few where such a condition could actually come in handy. Just another example of lazy scripting and design by eBay.

    I really feel like they were more vested in the site way back when, and they've more-or-less kicked it into auto-pilot at this point. It's a little surprising, given how badly they clearly wish they were a competitor to Amazon, but at the same time, it's not surprising since they have no real competition of their own.
  • ludzikludzik Member Posts: 429
    I had someone who won an auction... a week ago. I'm yet to hear from the guy, yet to see a payment.... Getting somewhat irritated with it as the time has come for him to pay so that I can ship... or to relist if he drops off...
  • DoubleDDoubleD Member Posts: 488
    I not a seller but most post says 3 to 4 days. I would say a week is to long.
  • Brick_ObsessionBrick_Obsession Member Posts: 656
    Send an email to them warning them that you are re-listing with in 24 hours. They have that time to contact you and pay, if not the item is re-listed.

    You did your part and documented it.
  • CrowkillersCrowkillers Member Posts: 757
    edited August 2013
    I usually just send an email after 3 full days saying that you would like to get the payment so that you can get their item shipped out as soon as possible... Then I send a follow up the next day that says if I do not hear back from you in 24 hours, I am going to be forced to file a non paying buyer claim because I have fees to pay for the item that you purchased... If no response after that, I just file the claim...

  • TheLoneTensorTheLoneTensor Member Posts: 3,937
    2 days and you can officially send a non-paying bidder reminder. If you haven't heard anything, you should send it immediately when those 2 days hit, especially if you've already sent an invoice. If you are in communication, you need to make a judgement call, but never leave it with an open ended situation. I.e. when you contact them, don't ask "please tell me when I can receive payment?" State clearly something like "I will need payment to be received by XXX." If you want to include an "...or I will do YYY" it's up to you.
  • BastaBasta Member Posts: 1,259
    edited August 2013
    This happens from time to time, I just send them a polite reminder if I have not received payment within a week. If another week goes buy I send another message and advise that I will have to raise "unpaid item case" which I will do a couple of days later and then after 4 days I close the case with eBay and they will record that the buyer has not payed and I will get the Final Value Fee back.

    I don’t normally demand payment as I’d rather the buyer just not pay than get them offside and have them try to claim they didn’t receive the item or that it was the wrong or a faulty item. That’s a worse headache then a non-paying buyer.

    At this point I normally add the person to my “blocked list” so they can no longer buy from me. It's annoying but not much else you can do about it.
  • cardgeniuscardgenius Member Posts: 153
    eBay gives people 2 days to pay before a 'Non-Paying Bidding' report can be filed. I give people 3-4 days before Ill file one.

    If its been a week with no contact then I would do the 'Non-Paying Bidding'. Theyll have 4 days to pay and if they dont youll get the 'Final Value Fee' reversed. I usually re list the item once I file the non paying bidder. That way I dont loose out on a few days if the person doesnt pay and if they do I just take down the listing.
  • ludzikludzik Member Posts: 429
    Thanks everyone. I sent the guy a 24 notice and will file a non paying bidder tomorrow at the appropriate time :)
  • yys4uyys4u Member Posts: 1,093
    I recently sold my SDCC Spiderman to a guy on ebay who's in Hong Kong. I accepted his best offer on my listing, but I was hesitant as Hong Kong just sends me red flags. I know there have been a lot of scams originating from there, but what about buyers? The guy has about 160 Positive feedback, and 100%, but he seems to be a seller of minifigs and random Lego stuff judging by his feedback.

    I was just wondering what your guys feedback would be on this, would you feel comfortable selling such an expensive item to someone in Hong Kong?
  • vitreolumvitreolum Member Posts: 1,406
    I've had several large orders on BL from Hong Kong and a few repeat customers, never was a problem. As long as you ship registered with tracking I don't see what could go wrong.
  • AleyditaAleydita Member Posts: 955
    The Hong Kong scams tend to involve them selling you cheap Chinese knock-offs; I haven't sold in years but I used to get more issues selling to people in Spain and Italy than I did to people in Hong Kong. In fact I can't recall any specific issues dealing with customers out there.
  • coachiecoachie Member Posts: 476
    I also sell lots of HTF minifigs/ discontinued sets to Hong Kong. Plenty of old Technic there and S. Korea too. Not one problem in almost 2 years.
  • khmellymelkhmellymel Member Posts: 1,314
    There are a lot of expats and a large international community in Hong Kong, and Lego is expensive and much less common there. So for buying... I can't really see a problem, except for the normal "it's a long way away, how reliable is the tracking?" kind of problem.

    Sellers from Hong Kong always make me wary though.
  • yys4uyys4u Member Posts: 1,093
    Well thanks for the input guys. I just had a couple local friends who buy/sell toys and they mentioned hesitation with shipping to China, that's what had me worried. I mailed it out today, with Registered mail so hopefully all works out.
  • samiam391samiam391 Member Posts: 4,506
    @yys4u- I'm late to the game but you should be A-OK. There's an enormous LEGO fan base in Hong Kong, especially with minifigures. I've sent numerous items to Hong Kong buyers (I believe more than any other international country), including: sets, (rare) minifigures, and even a 19" LEGO display minifigure.

    I've never run into a problem (knock on wood). You've already done the right thing by sending it registered mail which has a tracking number. The package is also kept under lock and key during transit, and has to be signed for at every pitstop it makes. I always ship using that service, and again, haven't had a problem.

    I'd say you are all set, good sale. :o)
  • mbslegombslego Member Posts: 13
    Hi everyone, nice to meet you all. I am just stopped by this post on those discussion on shipping to HK.
    And I am one of the active buyer on ebay from all of you, maybe you sold me something before. Just a kindly reminder, that when filling the address, you can just mention Hong Kong and never mention CHINA.

    As I had asked with our local post office, they replied that if mail just write HK, it will classified as Asia-pacific mail, and will directly mail to HK. If you had mentioned China, they will classified as China package, and first send to China, and pass through their inefficiency postage system to HK. Hence, which cost one week more....

    And recenlty I am having a great project would need consume quite a number of sets or minifigures, if anyone interested in sell at a bulk, feel free to pm me..
  • DraxDrax Member Posts: 11
    yys4u said:

    I recently sold my SDCC Spiderman to a guy on ebay who's in Hong Kong. I accepted his best offer on my listing, but I was hesitant as Hong Kong just sends me red flags. I know there have been a lot of scams originating from there, but what about buyers? The guy has about 160 Positive feedback, and 100%, but he seems to be a seller of minifigs and random Lego stuff judging by his feedback.

    I was just wondering what your guys feedback would be on this, would you feel comfortable selling such an expensive item to someone in Hong Kong?

    I would not feel comfortable. Back when I used to regularly ship internationally, I would specifically exclude Asia due to numerous problems with shipping there. On top of that, it is generally difficult to get shipping confirmation overseas, without paying huge shipping costs for International Express mail through the USPS.
  • khmellymelkhmellymel Member Posts: 1,314
    edited August 2013
    mbslego said:

    and pass through their inefficiency postage system to HK...

    That's really good advice! China's postal system is REALLY out there. I did my exchange in China last year and had to ask my relatives to stop sending care packages three months before I left for home, just in case! I sent and received postcards all year both from within China and outside China... and it was the most confusing thing ever. Some friends in China got theirs after friends in Europe, some China ones got theirs before North America, some friends never got theirs at all...

    I sent two friends postcards from Everest Base Camp on their birthdate in May, both live in Germany, and one got theirs about a month later... the other JUST got theirs two weeks ago! Once I sent myself a postcard from across the street of my apartment (I collect the postal stamp) and I never got it. It's all over the place. There's a reason that SO much of the "local" mail (China-China) goes through independent couriers.

    Oops, bit of a rant there, sorry!
  • RennyRenny Member Posts: 1,145
    edited August 2013
    Kind of in the same boat. A zero feedback buyer from Hong Kong just bought my sealed Cafe Corner on eBay. I put it up for a crazy amount along with a best offer option (one of those don't really want to sell but at this price can't refuse things) and the buyer just outright bought it, no offer. I am using the global shipping program through eBay.
  • nkx1nkx1 Member Posts: 719
    edited August 2013
    ^That is odd that the person wouldn't make an offer. Then again, there are a fair number of affluent people there, so maybe the buyer just doesn't care about the money.

    I somewhat recently sold a $750 laptop to a guy with 0 feedback and a newer account. Thought for sure I'd get ripped off. Got a positive feedback a week later and never heard anything more about it.

    I'd be a little nervous in your situation, though. Pretty much only 2 choices... Not ship it and get a negative feedback, or ship it and take your chances. Hopefully ebay would find in your favor in the event of a dispute.
  • TheLoneTensorTheLoneTensor Member Posts: 3,937
    Renny said:

    Kind of in the same boat. A zero feedback buyer from Hong Kong just bought my sealed Cafe Corner on eBay. I put it up for a crazy amount along with a best offer option (one of those don't really want to sell but at this price can't refuse things) and the buyer just outright bought it, no offer. I am using the global shipping program through eBay.

    Wow, good luck with that. Did they at least have really good feedback?
  • RennyRenny Member Posts: 1,145
    Thanks, no payment has been received yet though so it may be a bogus purchase. The buyer just joined the same day they bought the set so no feedback.
  • TheLoneTensorTheLoneTensor Member Posts: 3,937
    edited August 2013
    Well, if it were me, there is no way in hell I'd send it off. The chances of you not getting screwed here are so very small.
  • dougtsdougts Member Posts: 4,110
    so, good experience to report. I had sold 2 of the 41999s to an 0 feedback ebay buyer in Hong Kong, shipped via the global shipping program. buyer opened a "item doesn't match description" case yesterday, in which he stated both boxed sets were severely damaged and he wanted to return them for a full refund. Great, I think, I'm either going to get back two damaged sets, or a couple boxes of rocks and this guy is going to laugh all the way to the bank.

    So, I trade a few messages with him asking for some photos/video. Today I called up ebay and inquired why the global shipping program wasn't taking responsibility for the damage, which they should be according to the program terms. Within 5 minutes, they had closed the case, costing me nothing, and refunded the buyer his full amount, stating it was their responsibility.

    In the end I am not sure if this was an attempted scam or the items were actually damaged, but either way this guy got 2 of the 41999s for free, damaged or not, and I got what I would have got in any case.
    sidersdd
  • sidersddsidersdd Member Posts: 2,432
    dougts said:

    so, good experience to report. I had sold 2 of the 41999s to an 0 feedback ebay buyer in Hong Kong, shipped via the global shipping program. buyer opened a "item doesn't match description" case yesterday, in which he stated both boxed sets were severely damaged and he wanted to return them for a full refund. Great, I think, I'm either going to get back two damaged sets, or a couple boxes of rocks and this guy is going to laugh all the way to the bank.

    So, I trade a few messages with him asking for some photos/video. Today I called up ebay and inquired why the global shipping program wasn't taking responsibility for the damage, which they should be according to the program terms. Within 5 minutes, they had closed the case, costing me nothing, and refunded the buyer his full amount, stating it was their responsibility.

    In the end I am not sure if this was an attempted scam or the items were actually damaged, but either way this guy got 2 of the 41999s for free, damaged or not, and I got what I would have got in any case.

    I wondered if the program worked like that. The way I read the terms it sounded as if it might. Nice to see some examples of it working. They own proof of delivery as well, right?
  • BastaBasta Member Posts: 1,259
    But its a good way to scam eBay, which means increased fee's for every one. I suppose there is not much that can be done though, protection for sellers is good even if it costs.
  • RennyRenny Member Posts: 1,145
    Thanks for the advice @Tensor. I canceled the sale and the buyer accepted.
  • dougtsdougts Member Posts: 4,110
    edited August 2013
    ^^^. Correct. The seller is responsible for insurance/delivery to Kentucky. After that, eBay and their shipper is responsible to the end point. A seller could still get dinged on a "Not as described" claim of course, but eBay owns the not delivered and damaged claims.

    The key takeaway for me was to not just let the automated resolution process run its course, because I think they would have just auto-refunded from my account. Instead of that I got a person on the phone and said "wait a minute, according to the GSP terms, damage is your problem". Bam, fixed. I was pleasantly surprised, as I was expecting to have to fight thus for days or weeks. If the buyer had claimed the item was something else instead if damage, then I would have been in trouble
    sidersdd
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