eBay

matkric0 · ‎01-24-2018

I'm an occassional buyer, never sold, but have verified with paypal.

I'd like to sell a $3000+ item.

If I did this in my personal account, the FVF would cost me $300.

If I open a store, it'd cost me $250 FVF + $25 for the store = $275.

I must be misunderstanding something because I don't know why someone selling a $10000 item would willingly pay the personal max of $750 when they could pay the store max of $250.

Is my understanding correct? If so, is there any reason not to open a store if selling an expensive item?

nawlinsron2 · ‎01-24-2018

A newbie selling a $3000 item is screaming "scam me". Read these boards before you make a final decision.

thallidguy · ‎01-24-2018

@nawlinsron2 wrote:
A newbie selling a $3000 item is screaming "scam me". Read these boards before you make a final decision.

Agreed. I was going to make an analogy with jumping into the deep end of the pool. But when you're talking about $3000 or $10000 items, that's more like diving into the Marianas Trench.

orangehound · ‎01-24-2018

@thallidguy wrote:
@nawlinsron2 wrote:
A newbie selling a $3000 item is screaming "scam me". Read these boards before you make a final decision.
Agreed. I was going to make an analogy with jumping into the deep end of the pool. But when you're talking about $3000 or $10000 items, that's more like diving into the Marianas Trench.

.... without a life jacket ... and not knowing how to swim ...

I've been a seller for 18 years, and I wouldn't sell a $3000 item on ebay ... I would be nervous with a $300 item.

sockmonkeydave · ‎01-24-2018

@matkric0

As a new seller you will have limits on how much you can list and a doller limit.

luckythewinner · ‎01-24-2018

@matkric0 wrote:
I don't know why someone selling a $10000 item would willingly pay the personal max of $750 when they could pay the store max of $250.

There are sellers who come to this board and don't even know that eBay charges a fee, let alone how much those fees are. A seller came to this board just this week who did not even know that PayPal charges a fee.

There is absolutely nothing preventing people from seling here who have no common sense or business skills. It would not surprise me at all that there are sellers who don't know or understand the advantages of a store subscription.

thallidguy · ‎01-24-2018

@ellis61 wrote:

I've been a seller for 18 years, and I wouldn't sell a $3000 item on ebay ... I would be nervous with a $300 item.

As much as I continue to enjoy eBay and find it useful, I do believe that there are items where it's worth paying an established auction house for the hand-holding they'll give you.

castlemagicmemories · ‎01-24-2018

@ellis61 wrote:
@thallidguy wrote:
@nawlinsron2 wrote:
A newbie selling a $3000 item is screaming "scam me". Read these boards before you make a final decision.
Agreed. I was going to make an analogy with jumping into the deep end of the pool. But when you're talking about $3000 or $10000 items, that's more like diving into the Marianas Trench.
.... without a life jacket ... and not knowing how to swim ...

I've been a seller for 18 years, and I wouldn't sell a $3000 item on ebay ... I would be nervous with a $300 item.

@ellis61 wrote:
@thallidguy wrote:
@nawlinsron2 wrote:
A newbie selling a $3000 item is screaming "scam me". Read these boards before you make a final decision.
Agreed. I was going to make an analogy with jumping into the deep end of the pool. But when you're talking about $3000 or $10000 items, that's more like diving into the Marianas Trench.
.... without a life jacket ... and not knowing how to swim ...

with sharks circling and chum in the water...

I think you're gonna need a bigger boat!

I've been a seller for 18 years, and I wouldn't sell a $3000 item on ebay ... I would be nervous with a $300 item.

gracieallen01 · ‎01-24-2018

Sort of like training for the Olympics speed swimming in Australia - jumping into the water off The Great Barrier Reef and racing the sharks ashore - see who wins.

Not saying 'NO' doesn't mean 'YES'.

The foolishness of one's actions or words is determined by the number of witnesses.

Perhaps if Brains were described as an APP, many people would use them more often.

Respect, like money, is only of 'worth' when it is earned - with all due respect, it can not be ordained, legislated or coerced. Anonymous

go-bad-chicken · ‎01-24-2018

@matkric0 wrote:
I'm an occassional buyer, never sold, but have verified with paypal.
I'd like to sell a $3000+ item.
If I did this in my personal account, the FVF would cost me $300.
If I open a store, it'd cost me $250 FVF + $25 for the store = $275.
I must be misunderstanding something because I don't know why someone selling a $10000 item would willingly pay the personal max of $750 when they could pay the store max of $250.
Is my understanding correct? If so, is there any reason not to open a store if selling an expensive item?

Yes, your math is correct. In this case it would behoove you to open a store IF you believe that the item that you are selling is in such demand that it will sell in one months time. In this case you will be money ahead.

But if the item that you are proposing to sell is a special type of item that requires that one special specific type of niche buyer in this world (a collector) to come along to make the purchase, and you are honestly able to make an evaluation that this might take so time, then your prososed strategy to save some money may not work. If it takes you more than 2 months to sell you will loose some money. Only you can make that determination for yourself. Use a calculator.

I have a friend who owns a pawn shop in Las Vegas and opened a eBay store a few years ago for this very same reason and for the soul purpose of selling high end watches, on eBay that they take in on a regular basis.

With that said, other expirienced eBay sellers have already posted some sage advice to your initial question and proposal, that I would counsel you to consider thouroughly before you take action.

If after that you decide that you still want to move forward, do take every precautuion afforded you when selling high dollar items on eBay. Take nothing for granted.

For example with shipping use : USPS Adult Signature Restricted Delivery—requires the signature of a specific addressee (or authorized agent), who must be 21 years of age or older.

And even then you are still not fully protected and are still possibly in danger of being scammed.

fashunu4eeuh · ‎01-24-2018

Hi. Welcome to the board.

This must be your posting ID. I went to check your feedback score. If it is relatively high, scammers won’t recognize you as a brand new seller right off the bat, which is good. But if your item is something a scammer really wants, they will check your FB and discover your level of ebay selling experience.

You seem like you have a good head on your shoulders, which makes it harder for folks to put one over on you, but a determined fraudster could claim your item is Not As Described and open a case against you.

When you respond with “return for refund” (paying the return shipping as required), the scammer sends back a rock. Then you’ll be obliged to refund the entire sum. If you don’t, eBay (or PayPal if they go that route) will step in and force the refund, then penalize you with a dreaded defect marked on your account.

That’s how it can go.

Now, let me emphasize: i have never been scammed in 7 years of selling and the vast majority of folks on ebay are honest. Just want to warn you what can happen. So it’s up to you to determine your risk tolerance. Good luck to you.

thallidguy · ‎01-24-2018

@fashunu4eeuh wrote:

Now, let me emphasize: i have never been scammed in 7 years of selling and the vast majority of folks on ebay are honest. Just want to warn you what can happen. So it’s up to you to determine your risk tolerance. Good luck to you.

I'd like to piggy-back on that comment and add that in 18 years, I've never been aware of being conned by a buyer on eBay — and if I was, it wasn't for very much. But I think think the posters on this thread said what they said out of an abundance of caution, not wanting to lead a new seller into a dicey situation.

In my time, I've sold two iPhones to buyers in Russia without incident. Would I advise a new seller to do so? I wouldn't feel right about it.

I agree with you absolutely that it's up to all of us as individuals to determine our own risk tolerance. If $3k or $10k represents acceptable risk to the OP, more power to him! All it means is that he has deeper pockets than me.

slippinjimmy · ‎01-24-2018

@matkric0 wrote:

Is my understanding correct?

Yes!

If so, is there any reason not to open a store if selling an expensive item?

No!

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep

sockmonkeydave · ‎01-24-2018

@slippinjimmy

@slippinjimmy wrote:
@matkric0 wrote:

Is my understanding correct?

Yes!

If so, is there any reason not to open a store if selling an expensive item?

No!

Without knowing the OP's selling limits, a store may be of no value.

partial*eclipse · ‎01-25-2018

In addition to all of the math and cautions posted above, I'd like to add that the minimum commitment for a Store is one full month plus the balance of the month in which you sign up. The fee for the first month is prorated.

For instance, if you sign up for a Store today, your next invoice will include the fee for the full month of February plus 7/31 of the monthly fee, to cover January. If you sign up for a Store on February 1, you're going to pay for 2 full months.

http://pages.ebay.com/stores/subscriptionterms.html