eBay

sakic92710 · ‎10-19-2018

When selling items that are in working order but, are about 40, 50, 60 years ago, do you think buyers expect perfect working condition? If it works & is used, shouldn't it be common knowledge not to expect, at least, a minor flaw? I am not dealing with any problems right now but, just curious for any future sales. Good luck to all. 🙂

lightlily_arts · ‎10-20-2018

About fourteen years ago I was selling off my Fathers vintage Fleischman Ho Trains. The trains were purchased in the 1950's and had sat in boxes for at least 40 years. I remember taking lots of pictures from all angles and tried to describe any flaw because I did realize these were collector items. Now with the exception of engines these trains were mechanical. Some of the passenger cars would light up which I was able to test for and many track pieces had electrical components. I also took pictures of the original boxes and any paperwork that came with them. If the boxes had flaws I described those as well. Paper yellows over time. But I still had a couple of people that did complain about them not being perfect. Yet the flaws they were complaining about were documented in the listings even though they remarked as if this wasn't reported. I really didn't know what to say because they were over 50 years old and were used. But I do remember these were from two buyers in Germany. One who took forever in paying me and the other wanted me to give him a refund without returning the items. I learned later from other train collectors that these two knew each other and did this to other sellers in the US to try and get discounts on their purchases because the shipping expenses were really high. Back then I did sell internationally because the buyer had to pay the return shipping.

lightlily_arts · ‎10-20-2018

When something is that old I doubt that I would want to try and say something is mint unless it really is. It's better to describe things as they are so the buyer knows exactly what to expect. I sell collectibles and condition is very important to buyers. Any signs of wear or defects need to be described in detail. Anything mechanical or electrical has to operate fully. The trading card collectors are fanatics. I swear they must go over the cards with a microscope. And I use a magnifying glass to look for any scratches or wear on the edges. We don't even want to sell high value cards here on ebay for that reason and take them to local card shops instead since they can be examined on the spot. Also we know that it would be so easy now for you to lose rare cards to fraudulent buyers that it's just not worth it. I would definitely avoid saying anything is mint to that crowd.

Then there are the designer or luxury goods. I've seen that sellers handle vachetta leather with gloves on so they don't leave any marks on the leather. Vachetta leather developes a patina and turns color when it's handled. This is normal.

On some other items I have in the collectible category I do have some that are definitely mint. They are in perfect condition. Not a single scratch. I have a couple that I consider museum quality as they are flawless even though over 100 years old. I keep them in glass door display cabinets and the doors are locked because I don't want anyone touching them.

robot-hands · ‎10-20-2018

@castlemagicmemories wrote:

Someone posted that they had sold antiques and collectibles here for twenty years and never had a problem because they are accurate and complete in their listings.

Until you get the buyer who won't read, then it doesn't matter if you went over it with a fine toothed comb.

It is extremely dubious that ANY ebay seller has gone a year without a problem, let alone 20.

myangelandmyprincess · ‎10-20-2018

@castlemagicmemories wrote:
@kim_y_buran wrote:
It depends on the price, don't you think? If the item is beat up and not fully working or you lack the ability to make sure that it is operational it should not be described as "mint" and priced as such.
I've seen items labeled as "mint" that look like they were in a tug of war with a dog, and the dog won.

Yeah I recently bought a book seller stated it looked new I even though it was used. When I got it it seemed apparent whoever described it as like new never even saw the book or looked at it at all. It had those sticky page bookmarks sticking out of some pages. It was wrote it highlighted in and some of the pages looked like they got wet at one point. But if they had even glanced at t without open they would have seen the sticky bookmark savers...

“Birth certificates show that you were born. Death certificates show that you died. Photographs show that you have lived.” -Unknown

robot-hands · ‎10-20-2018

@myangelandmyprincess wrote:
But if they had even glanced at t without open they would have seen the sticky bookmark savers...

Having post it note bookmarks and looking brand new are not mutually exclusive

myangelandmyprincess · ‎10-20-2018

@robot-hands wrote:
@castlemagicmemories wrote:

Someone posted that they had sold antiques and collectibles here for twenty years and never had a problem because they are accurate and complete in their listings.
Until you get the buyer who won't read, then it doesn't matter if you went over it with a fine toothed comb.

It is extremely dubious that ANY ebay seller has gone a year without a problem, let alone 20.

Been many many years since I’ve had a snad opened against me like I don’t even know how many can’t remeber the last one.

It’s been many many years since I had a buyer complain at all but I do remember the last one of those. The buyer didn’t open a case and refused to return claimed there was a spot on clothes to light to show up on a photograph...she ended up selling the item herself and no mention of any spot hmmm.

“Birth certificates show that you were born. Death certificates show that you died. Photographs show that you have lived.” -Unknown

emerald_door · ‎10-20-2018

Any flaws should be clearly described.

kim_y_buran · ‎10-20-2018

@castlemagicmemories wrote:
@kim_y_buran wrote:
It depends on the price, don't you think? If the item is beat up and not fully working or you lack the ability to make sure that it is operational it should not be described as "mint" and priced as such.
I've seen items labeled as "mint" that look like they were in a tug of war with a dog, and the dog won.

I've seen items described as rare, when in fact they were manufactured for decades and are the most produced in their category.

castlemagicmemories · ‎10-20-2018

@fuzzyfurball wrote:
"Many would say as you do, never use mint, but still, you have to wonder what some people think the word, "mint", means. Perhaps their item has a wonderful minty fresh fragrance and that is what they mean as it surely can't mean what we think it means!"

To me, it's a way to superficially increase its worth to the buyer so they'll be more eager to buy it and for a higher price. I've bought from 100% positive sellers who use those terms and no way were they mint or even excellent. Unless they were in such mint environments the many years they've been owned, there's no way a seller should say mint. In general, I actually avoid sellers who use those terms. I'd prefer to deal with more honest sellers and sellers who are detailed and careful how they list. I'd rather have a satisfied buyer rather than one that feels ripped off or wants to return because they thought afterwards that the price was too high compared to the description.

I wish more people thought like you. I understand the principles of selling~you want to make you item attractive, desirable, so people will be eager to buy it as you say. But that is very limited, short term thinking as you may get the sale in the short term and the SNAD in the long term, costing you more money in the long run. It's deceptive and inaccurate and will cause more harm than good as another buyer may be disappointed that the item did not live up to what was promised, and may stop buying here. Honest, accurate disclosure, leads to informed buying decisions and satisfied buyers who haven't had the wool pulled down over their eyes.

castlemagicmemories · ‎10-20-2018

@lightlily_arts wrote:
When something is that old I doubt that I would want to try and say something is mint unless it really is. It's better to describe things as they are so the buyer knows exactly what to expect. I sell collectibles and condition is very important to buyers. Any signs of wear or defects need to be described in detail. Anything mechanical or electrical has to operate fully. The trading card collectors are fanatics. I swear they must go over the cards with a microscope. And I use a magnifying glass to look for any scratches or wear on the edges. We don't even want to sell high value cards here on ebay for that reason and take them to local card shops instead since they can be examined on the spot. Also we know that it would be so easy now for you to lose rare cards to fraudulent buyers that it's just not worth it. I would definitely avoid saying anything is mint to that crowd.
Then there are the designer or luxury goods. I've seen that sellers handle vachetta leather with gloves on so they don't leave any marks on the leather. Vachetta leather developes a patina and turns color when it's handled. This is normal.

On some other items I have in the collectible category I do have some that are definitely mint. They are in perfect condition. Not a single scratch. I have a couple that I consider museum quality as they are flawless even though over 100 years old. I keep them in glass door display cabinets and the doors are locked because I don't want anyone touching them.

******************************************************************************************

I buy collectibles and I wish everyone realized what you have said. One experience was for an item I feel was deliberately misrepresented. It was an expensive, supposedly never removed from the box item. Seller had 12 pictures of every conceivable angle, except one, and that was where the 2, 2 1/2 inch rip was~the kind of rip you get when you jerk open the package without removing the tab from its' slot. I asked for a return for refund and explained this was why as it drastically diminished the value and the seller had charged the price of a pristine item. Seller was hostile and abusive for several days, I did it myself (why was that angle not pictured?) I just want a refund without returning it, (I specifically said return for refund, this is why it is important to use Ebay messaging to document exactly what was said), a torrent of accusations, so I opened a case, and it continued. Seller grudgingly offered a partial refund just before Ebay could step in, but I reminded her I asked for a return for refund~which did happen. Seller listed the rip in the next listing but never lowered the price. I found the same item two weeks later, for much less money, and it was pristine as described.

lewisburggold · ‎10-20-2018

No we do not expect to be perfect when buying older items. There is always going to be some kind of flaw when dealing with older stuff. But there is a lot of people that do expect to be perfect condition. Best regards

castlemagicmemories · ‎10-20-2018

@robot-hands wrote:
@castlemagicmemories wrote:

Someone posted that they had sold antiques and collectibles here for twenty years and never had a problem because they are accurate and complete in their listings.
Until you get the buyer who won't read, then it doesn't matter if you went over it with a fine toothed comb.

It is extremely dubious that ANY ebay seller has gone a year without a problem, let alone 20.

Some buyers may not read but perhaps collectibles buyers are more careful than most and that occurs for the success of that Ebay seller. I know in my collectibles buying, if you are accurate in your descriptions, no problems here.

You can be skeptical but if he is that meticulous, it does cut down the odds sharply that he will have a problematic transaction~and that has long been said on the Board.

castlemagicmemories · ‎10-20-2018

@myangelandmyprincess wrote:
@castlemagicmemories wrote:
@kim_y_buran wrote:
It depends on the price, don't you think? If the item is beat up and not fully working or you lack the ability to make sure that it is operational it should not be described as "mint" and priced as such.
I've seen items labeled as "mint" that look like they were in a tug of war with a dog, and the dog won.
Yeah I recently bought a book seller stated it looked new I even though it was used. When I got it it seemed apparent whoever described it as like new never even saw the book or looked at it at all. It had those sticky page bookmarks sticking out of some pages. It was wrote it highlighted in and some of the pages looked like they got wet at one point. But if they had even glanced at t without open they would have seen the sticky bookmark savers...

Your seller apparently did not subscribe to the school of thought, underpromise and overdeliver. You really have to wonder if they just figure that the buyer just won't care or do anything about it when it is in their hands.

castlemagicmemories · ‎10-20-2018

@myangelandmyprincess wrote:
@robot-hands wrote:
@castlemagicmemories wrote:

Someone posted that they had sold antiques and collectibles here for twenty years and never had a problem because they are accurate and complete in their listings.
Until you get the buyer who won't read, then it doesn't matter if you went over it with a fine toothed comb.

It is extremely dubious that ANY ebay seller has gone a year without a problem, let alone 20.

Been many many years since I’ve had a snad opened against me like I don’t even know how many can’t remeber the last one.
It’s been many many years since I had a buyer complain at all but I do remember the last one of those. The buyer didn’t open a case and refused to return claimed there was a spot on clothes to light to show up on a photograph...she ended up selling the item herself and no mention of any spot hmmm.

A miracle! It "healed" itself! LOL