Selling $2000 camera equipment
My friend wants me to sell his $2000 new camera equipment on eBay. The item is a DSLR, lens, and other accessories for the camera. It is brand new. He won these at work in a raffle and he has no need for them. I would take a percentage of the final auction price.
My concern is a bad customer will try to return the item and send back a different camera or commit some other type of buyer fraud.
I read about eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee for sneakers, trading cards, and other items. Do they provide this service on cameras?
What if I pay a “pack and ship†place to ship the item and they take photos? How do I prove I shipped what I shipped and prevent fraud from the customer?
Should I make my friend wait 30 days before I pay him for his camera in case there are chargebacks?
I never sell anything more than $50 so I am very scared.
itsjustasprain
·1 year agoYou know what? I know this is not the question you asked but I am starting to wonder why this guy is continuing to press you to sell a high-value item for him. To begin with his story about winning the equipment in a raffle at work sounds a little far-fetched. A $2000 camera put up as a raffle prize? Why?
His hope seems to be that you will sell it for a quick cash payment and turn the money over to him. His name will not be associated with the sale. Why is that a concern for him - why is he not selling it himself? If the equipment shows up as stolen later on then the buyer (or Ebay) will come after you for a refund. It could also be a garden-variety scam buyer who says he received an empty box - or simply returns the proverbial box of rocks - and you are still on the hook for a full refund.
Anyway - aside from my own wondering about where the items came from - everybody and their brother has already explained here and in your previous posting threads why this is a really bad idea for you even if it is a totally legitimate camera. Just tell him No.
No.
No.
If he persists then just keep telling him No.
adamcartwright
·1 year ago@thepackratspalace
You are smart to be scared, as this is a recipe for disaster.
Tell your friend to go to a few local camera shops and negotiate his best deal for cash.
ebeysince1998
·1 year agoI would try selling it locally first, maybe even put in your local listings that you are willing to ship, and use choose a payment service that does not allow refunds. Ebay will refund any buyer for any reason so it's risky to sell thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment on Ebay.
If you do sell on ebay, I would wait the 30 days before paying for the camera.
thescarletpimpernel
·1 year agoAs a well-known American Half-Wit once said, "Don't... Don't... Don't".
bankress
·1 year agoHappy New Year!
pastimpressions
·1 year agoThus far that is 100% agreement with every experienced seller on this thread. This does not always happen.
Please, @thepackratspalace benefit from the wisdom & experience being offered to you.
A lot of people have learned the hard way in the past for you to have this present now!
Best of luck with shop & sales.
thelongball
·1 year agoIf you do it- wait 6 months to pay as you are still on the hook for a bank chargeback for that long.
Myself I'd walk away from it totally. This is a high fraud rate category.
Also if eBay ask you for a receipt to prove ownership and you have none. They can then suspend you from selling.
I never sell for friends anything, Its because I want to keep them as a friend.
Matter of fact Run don't walk.
sextons-sweet-deals
·1 year agoI would stay away from even trying to sell it for your friend. They can take it to a local camera shop or sell themselves.
If you sell for them, I suggest pick-up only and then in cash and secure safe location like your local police station if they offer the service.
If you ship, you will have a headache on your hands. Camera equipment is a top target for scammers.
toysaver
·1 year agoNot just to you but anyone with friend who asking them to sell for them... I recommend taking the time to help your friend set up their own account and list it themselves. Likely less than half an hour investment in time. Ten minutes to initiate the account and then another 20 or so to guide them through the listing process. Do it on their turf with no affiliation to your ISP.
Problem solved.
rugerskick
·1 year agoHonestly craigslist or facebook for local purchases, may be safer options. Meet up at a local police station to do the exchange. Its too much risk, no guarantee that ebay will protect you if you're scammed. Cash only.
femmefan1946
·1 year agoNever sell for a friend or relative.
Give them the addresses of every local pawnbroker and camera shop and let them do the legwork.
Or buy the camera for $500 cash, get an invoice from them plus their original invoices, and then take it to a local pawnbroker or camera shop.
You will likely still lose money on the deal.
1786davycrockett
·1 year ago@thepackratspalace
As others have previously stated, there are far more reasons NOT to try to sell this item on eBay -- far too risky for both you and your friend -- and your pocketbook, as well.
If a buyer decides to file a "not as described" case against you, there is little hope that you will win: the eBay deck is stacked in the buyer's favor about 99.99999% of the time.
And the "buyer" may not even return the camera: if you read these boards regularly, you may have noticed numerous eBay sellers who have received boxes of rocks, or newspapers, or garbage -- or worse. And there's nothing that eBay can do to prevent that. So there's a good chance of losing the camera, as well as the refund money -- leaving you holding a handful of air.
And, as others have mentioned, some "buyers" often file charge-backs on their credit cards -- and those are nearly always found to be in the buyer's favor, as well -- and the buyer has up to 180 days (6 months) to make that decision.
And how are you planning to claw back that money from your friend, so that you can refund the buyer?
And, even if the buyer files a "not as described" case with eBay, or a charge-back with their credit card company, you're still going to get hit by the IRS with a 1099-K form, showing that you will need to pay taxes on that income, unless you can prove that an item (that did not belong to you) had been stolen during an internet sale (to someone whom you've never met). Very sticky situation.
Do both you and your friend a favor: have your friend read all these suggestions; then suggest that your friend sell the camera -- for CASH!!! -- locally: pawn shop, camera shop, Craig's List, Facebook Marketplace, local newspaper, or whatever.
Just don't try to sell it on eBay.
tools*
·1 year agoHe should sell it to a reputable dealer such as B&H or KEH. They'll likely pay more for a brand-new camera than he would net after eBay's fee and your cut, without any of the return/chargeback/fraud risk in selling it on eBay.
bankress
·1 year agoDon't do it. No good deed goes unpunished and you'll end up losing a friend, the money or negative hits.
mr_lincoln
·1 year agoHi @thepackratspalace
I agree with @luckythewinner to not sell this particular item for them. Some camera equipment is high risk and has high scam potential. They would be better served selling it themselves on eBay or FB Marketplace ...
chariot_badges
·1 year agoIF it was me, I'd make it clear that the odds of HIM getting ripped off are about 50/50 - then I'd make it clear that if it was ripped off, it would be 100% HIS loss.
I wouldn't be able to sleep for six months after a sale like that.
Rip off city.
mantle1951
·1 year agoDon't sell it here, too risky.
fm2000
·1 year agoSell it locally for cash. Scammers seek out expensive items being sold by sellers with limited sales/feedbacks, and your friend's camera is a perfect target for them. Also, any sale using a credit card (or third party payment service like PayPal) exposes a seller to at least 6 months of risk for a chargeback, some credit cards allow even longer periods for a chargeback.
If anything goes wrong with the sale, you are not only putting yourself in serious financial risk, but you may end up losing your friendship over it too, which could be an even greater loss than any money you lose.
janet9988
·1 year agoTell your friend to set up their own ebay account and you will help him list it.
Just make sure to only use his computer and not at your house.
You do not want your accounts to be tied together in any way.
cityslickercreations2004
·1 year agoSelling electronics online is risky business. Listen to the other posters.
It appears to me you are the one taking all the risk.
Your friend "won" it in a raffle so I doubt they have much money at stake.
Can you answer basic questions about the camera?
You will have to properly pack and ship.
If there is a return the TOTAL financial burden is on you. Camera may be damaged, swapped out, etc.
I believe, a buyer has 180 days to file a chargeback.
Then, the all time favorite--negative feedback.
tinsoldierunderground
·1 year ago@thepackratspalace
There are SO many instances where this could go sideways... I would follow the advice of @vintage-camerastuff or @gone.c-33 . If all your friend has for skin in this game is the cost of a raffle ticket, he ought to be happy selling to a Camera store or pawn shop, and if he had no need for it, I'm not sure why he involved himself in the raffle to begin with. ALL your concerns are valid, and I'd make that very clear to him.
inhawaii
·1 year agoDon't do it.
Do you and your friend know that ANYBODY can rip you off simply making a false claim?
It happens all the time.
If this happens, who is going to take the $2,000 loss, you or your friend?
bonanza125
·1 year agoI wouldn't sell an item worth that kind of money. I would say pass on selling it for your friend and have them sell it locally where they can get cash upon pick up. Everything you are thinking about being scared to sell it and have a $50 maximum is definitely a reason why you shouldn't. If you wanted to post this to be reconfirmed of that reason here you go.
thepackratspalace
OP1 year agoWhat about using an escrow service which verifies the item is what it is before passing it on to the buyer?
nobody*s_perfect
·1 year agoeBay doesn't work that way. And that strategy does nothing to address a major concern from your original post: "My concern is a bad customer will try to return the item and send back a different camera or commit some other type of buyer fraud. " Have you not read the replies, which unanimously advise you not to pursue this?
Your friend should sell their stuff to a camera store or pawnshop, or list it on a site like Craigslist or FB Marketplace.
wastingtime101
·1 year agoJust curious @thepackratspalace - how much $ is your friend offering you that you're so determined to make this work?
Bottom line: there's no way to do it without risk. If you and your friend are not willing to take that risk, that's your answer.
janet9988
·1 year agoI guess whatever you decide to do ,you are responsible for since you keep replying in favor of helping your friend for....so go ahead. Not sure why you even asked anyone since you seem to want to do it. DON't WASTE OUR TIME.
fbusoni
·1 year ago@thepackratspalace
Good reaction.
worldcoinauctions
·1 year agoI have done exactly this, wrote a contract up with the owner of the camera. Sold it. Did not get ripped off but did get a nasty note from an EU buyer about having to pay customs and why didn't I just lie for them. Probably would not do this today.
simba6
·1 year agoDon't. Too risky. High value items bring them " out of the woodwork " .
slati_2013
·1 year agoIn addition to all the advice given, you will attract the attention of eBay. Selling a brand new expensive electronic item when you have sold none in the past will have eBay asking you for all kinds of documentation and it usually does not end well.
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoYour friend needs to deal with this himself. I know it would be nice to make a tidy commission on this and your friend probably thinks he's doing you a solid, but sell locally for cash. You could assist him on that front and maybe still bag a bit of commission, or at least save yourself a headache.
gone.c-33
·1 year agoSince your friend’s acquiring cost was $0, I’d tell them to sell the equipment to a pawn shop. No risk of chargeback, no dealing with dozens of would be Marketplace customers haggling and not showing up.
Cash in hand, done deal.
ittybitnot
·1 year agoHow do I prove I shipped what I shipped and prevent fraud from the customer?
@thepackratspalace
You don't, you can't. Sell locally for cash.
dbfolks166mt
·1 year agoTell you friend they should attempt to sell the items locally first. Explain the risk of listing high dollar items on eBay and the potential for being scammed out of the item. Explain the fees for selling on eBay and the return policy. f you do sell the item for them you need to take enough of a percentage to cover the income taxes you will have to pay from the sale as well as your effort and time. Buyers can open a chargeback up to six months after the sale so I would hold the money at least that long.
EBay will almost always side with the buyer on any claim and video's will do you no good.
vintage-camerastuff
·1 year agoI wouldn't do it. You are risking losing the camera, money and probably a friend. Have your friend sell it to a camera shop or have him/her sell it on craigslist.
brightlightbookseller
·1 year agoI agree with the suggestion of a camera shop. You'll get less than selling to a private buyer, but it's nearly risk-free.
luckythewinner
·1 year agoMy concern is a bad customer will try to return the item and send back a different camera or commit some other type of buyer fraud
Your concern is valid.
Should I make my friend wait 30 days before I pay him for his camera in case there are chargebacks?
Chargebacks can come as long as 6 months or more after the sale. If I did this I would make him wait at least a year.
And if that happens you will also a $20 chargeback fee and the cost of postage both ways, so I would make him front that money to you before you even list it.
I never sell anything more than $50 so I am very scared.
Then you should just tell him no.
I was going to video tape myself packing and shipping the item in the post office or at a FedEx or UPS location.
That would be a waste of time, because it will not affect eBay's decision.
And don't forget, this will trigger a 1099-K form and you will need to account for his income on your tax returns.
I would personally never sell anything for anyone else.
wastingtime101
·1 year agoYour friend should sell it himself.
The bottom line is do not sell anything online you can't afford to lose. Some credit cards let buyers file claims for up to a year.
There is no Authenticity Guarantee for cameras. Having someone else pack and ship does nothing but increase your risks.
The sale will also mean you get a 1099-K tax form and have to pay income tax on the sale.
Even if you list with local pickup only, if the buyer chooses to pay electronically instead of with cash you will be vulnerable to claims.
Edit to answer your second post: video taping the packing/shipping process is a waste of time. eBay will not look at video if a claim is filed.
chevymontecarlo88
·1 year agoAs many will say and have so in the past. If you can't afford to lose it, don't list it.
That is a lot of money, and I would try selling it locally first before selling on a platform. IMHO
thepackratspalace
OP1 year agoI was going to video tape myself packing and shipping the item in the post office or at a FedEx or UPS location. The post office doesn’t allow this but it’s not illegal. I did read that other sellers have the same idea but it doesn’t protect against buyer fraud. Any thoughts on this?