How to minimize risk for higher value items?

[talklambo]

Hi all, I've bought on ebay for almost 20 years now, but have only sold a few items, and they've always been valued at an amount I would not particularly care if something happened.  I just listed a $1500 watch though, as a buy it now not an auction, and now I'm nervous about getting ripped off in some way.  I set the listing where I cover the shipping, and I intended to ship with insurance for the full value and signature required.

Are there still schemes where I can get defrauded and eBay will not help?  I did specify no APO/FPO and no po box, no international.  I could not find an answer as to whether I can reject a sale to someone without positive feedback history or a time on the platform I'm not comfortable with.

Since it is a brand Poshmark would allow and authenticate; should I just eat the extra 5% and sell over there for the added protection?

[wrong66]

Of course there are schemes to basically steal your watch on eBay. As what amounts to a new seller, you have a giant target on your back for scammers to see. I'd end the listing, if it were me. Unless you have no problem with just giving the watch away.

[collectfest]

I would also like to hear some insight on this issue. The good news, I have listed on eBay since 1999 and have had minimal issues selling. Covid shipping delays were my main issue. I few issues as a buyer.

Having said that I would NEVER ship expensive items on eBay with their present policies. I sure want to. I know 99.9% of my sales were flawless. I just cannot take a hit on my 1K+ items. Not complaining about eBay, their site their rules. I just do not see how I am protected.

I have thought of doing pick up only and receiving + feedback before item left my hands. Not sure if that would be considered feedback extortion in a way.  I've seen others do it and always thought that was a bit pushy as well as against eBay policy.

How folks sell high end gold, art etc, well, I just do not know how they do it.

I guess they have good lawyers etc that can handle the fraud cases.

Anyway great question and await hearing input for those who sell high end items protect their interest.

Good luck with the watch.

[dryophelia]

An inexperienced seller with a brand name item for sale… you are a target for scammers. 

Since buyers can only receive positive feedback, their feedback received means nothing. 
Having no feedback also means nothing. We all start at zero. 

Yes, you could be duped out of the item and the money. There are too many scenarios to list. 
The time for wondering about potential scams is before you list it. 

Cancelling a transaction will result in a defect and likely negative feedback. 

On top of all that, LV may  have your listing pulled if they decide you don’t have permission to sell their item. 

Remember not to give out your email address or phone number to a potential trading partner. It’s against the rules and it’s the first step thieves need to start their scam. Keep all communication through eBay. 
@talklambo 

[inhawaii]

Make sure all the info in your listing is accurate and correct.  That's about all you can do. 

Any buyer can lie and make a false claim against you and get the item for free. There is no iron clad way to prevent this.  Take the advice of many ebay sellers...

"Never sell anything on ebay that you can' afford to lose."

[dryophelia]

An inexperienced seller with a brand name item for sale… you are a target for scammers. 

Since buyers can only receive positive feedback, their feedback received means nothing. 
Having no feedback also means nothing. We all start at zero. 

Yes, you could be duped out of the item and the money. There are too many scenarios to list. 
The time for wondering about potential scams is before you list it. 

Cancelling a transaction will result in a defect and likely negative feedback. 

On top of all that, LV may  have your listing pulled if they decide you don’t have permission to sell their item. 

Remember not to give out your email address or phone number to a potential trading partner. It’s against the rules and it’s the first step thieves need to start their scam. Keep all communication through eBay. 
@talklambo 

Never list what you can’t afford to give away. 

[fm2000]

Selling luxury/designer brand items like that is like tap dancing in a minefield. If you don't know exactly what you are doing you will be burned. Most designer brand name items and luxury watches out there are fake. VeRO claims or other actions against you from the brand owners are always a risk, even if your item is genuine (some people have even been sued by them.) They can use eBay's own system to scam you (item is not genuine), or even worse do a chargeback  on their credit card directly (lets them steal your item scot-free AND you get slammed with a chargeback fee.) These kinds of items are a huge magnet for scammers too.

You are probably better off selling it in person to a jewelry store, which will protect you and they are taking the liability.

[talklambo]

Thanks all; I'll probably yank it tomorrow when I'm back on regular computer (mobile now).  I assume I can do so without penalty since it isn't an auction, well guess I don't care either way, isn't worth losing $1500 over.  Seems like eBay is shooting themselves in the foot revenue-wise not having a better high dollar transaction process that could protect both sides; hell I'd be fine paying them to be a true broker like a consignment where they receive the item first.  I have a ton of luxury goods yet to list as part of a house decluttering and this was the first one I spent time taking pics of.  Given the risk, sounds like none of it will be going through eBay, so a lot of revenue lost on their part.

I need a "sell it on eBay" shop like in the 40 year old virgin movie lol; take all the stuff to them and let them deal with it.

[ekmadonna]

ADD BEST OFFER TO THE BUY IT NOW. This way you can at least screen potential buyers and review their feed back for any potential red flags. Of course this is not fool proof but it can and does help if you have any experience selling. Of course even with a Best offer applied, if the buyer purchases at full price and does not make an offer beforehand than this will not work.

[talklambo]

I actually did that, and what inspired this thread was getting a weird offer from a 2018-era account, not a lot of feedback, could be in NYC but also has transactions from Australia.  The whole thing spooked me.  

[1tuna]

the best way to protect yourslef with a nice watch is to limit shipping to the USA

I woud not ship it to a reshipper.

I have taken some big hits to europe and I was made whole by the USPS but not for all of them

as far as etsy goes I am unsure what goes on there but using signature comfirmation to ship in the USA is  good choice.my most expesnive watches get delivered by fedex for ebay authenticate

you are sort of insulated against scams and switcheroos with ebay authenticate and they have a very good reputation in OH

[donsdetour]

No protection in the long run:

If you can not afford to lose the item and the money paid for it: do not list it on the net.

[case4]

I've been considering listing a few high end antiques... So if I do, what's to stop a scammer from receiving a mint object then switching it with an identical one broken to bits? That's what scares me. If buyers can claim receiving an empty box, certainly a smashed piece of pottery/glassware isn't beyond them either.

Sigh, looks like I'll just hold on to everything for my heirs to dispose of. Oh well.

[Anonymous]

Pretty simple answer, don't sell them on Ebay.

Ebay has absolutely zero seller protection and about 100 ways you can get robbed.  Sell it on a more reputable website that doesn't have tracking # scams and charge back scams that charge you ridiculous fees for 0 customer service like Ebay.

There's a saying on Ebay, and it's for good reason.   "never sell something on ebay that you're not comfortable giving away for free" 

[simba6]

Sorry but eBay has become rife with that. They don't even need an exact one.  They can provide much anything or just say the package arrived with nothing in it.  That works best for small light items like watches and coins.

Never sell an item you can't afford to lose.  I would stick to flea-market type items and avoid high value fine antiques.