Apologies for the belated reply, I try to avoid eBay as much as possible so therefore I don't check this section of this convoluted, cumbersome-to-navigate, poorly designed website.
First, although many ethical sellers will suggest avoiding eBay for selling technical items, especially high cost technical items, some have also suggested selling locally, i.e. local pick up only, cash. We've cancelled our PayPal account and subscription due to chronic, questionable security and transactions (e.g. a substantial charge placed on PayPal for an item we never purchased nor submitted to PayPal for payment, which PayPal subsequently removed of their own volition, however, refused investigating for fraud - which could've/could had/have serious consequences regarding identity theft, financial fraud, etc. The list goes on of other issues). We have listed a Mac Pro desktop for local pick up ONLY, cash. Regardless of eBay's refusal to treat honest, ethical seller with fairness, we will still take photos nonetheless prior to selling, maybe even put those up on the listing.
Second, although obvious, eBay sellers should consider selling/buying media other than eBay, such as Craigslist. Caution with Craigslist. That media is also rife with frauds, scammers, risky transactions as well. For instance, when selling one of our other Mac Pros we had one prospective buyer starting off with an offensive, sarcastic, somewhat acerbic offer. Thinking that the buyer was attempting poor humor, we tried to lighten the communications with a little light humor and a counter-offer. Long story short, over a course of several communications with that buyer, attempting get him to calm down (e.g. "a computer is certainly not worth getting upset about", and so forth), his demeanor became threatening (literally stating he WILL "Kick my F**king a** you F**king F*got" and more) and vicious with violent overtones. We had to file a PD report since he was local and there could've been the possibility of escalating to a serious physical altercation should we in the rare chance meet one another somehow. We sent a USPS certified w/return receipt letters to Jim Buckmaster (Craig's CEO) and Craig Newmark (founder, "Customer Svc"). Both envelopes were refused by those individuals (so much for Newmark's alleged "customer service").
Summary: both media, eBay and Craigslist have their drawbacks. Ebay with its buyer fraud, buyer refund guarantee (sellers lose no matter what unless they go through excessive legal steps to appeal) and Craigslist with its frauds, scammers, possibly risky personal interactions and transactions. However, and I am not any more fond of Craigslist than eBay nor am I endorsing Craigslist in ANY way, with Craigslist the transactions DO involve personal interaction-transactions, preferably with cash and NO buyer protection for frauds to hide behind.
Nonetheless, IF using Craigslist or ANY selling media, still obtain detailed, numerous photos (including serial numbers if avail) as well as a detailed, itemized receipt for the transactions (thorough product description, serial number, items included/excluded, amount paid, type of payment, physical location of transaction, date and time of transaction, dated signature of both buyer and seller, with notes on the receipt stating that item is purchase as-is with no guarantees or warranties whether expressed or implied).
FINAL note: As many other sellers have suggested, never, NEVER sell a high-value, very expensive item (e.g. over $500 or more than you would feel comfortable losing) for shipping on eBay. Do NOT ship those items if using eBay but list for local pick up.
albertabrightalberta
