Things every seller should know

[sparkysretroelectro]

can we start a discussion about the basics, that newbies really need to know. things like always looking for a paypal verified address and account and seller protection- never, ever change the address or permit a package forwarding.

[sparkysretroelectro]

i just see a lot of people asking for help in these forums about basic, noob things, and i may post them myself from time to time.

[southern*sweet*tea]

1. There is no such thing as no refunds.

2. Your money is not yours until at least 180 days have passed.

3. Yes, you ARE responsible if the package is damaged in transit.

4. Insurance is for the seller, not the buyer. Buyers have the money back guarantee.

5. Don't believe emails. Log in to Paypal to verify payment.

6. Buyers NEVER EVER need your phone number or email address to pay you. Buyers pay by clicking the pay now button.

7. Do not list any expensive items such as cell phones or computers until you have several hundred SELLER feedbacks, and then think long and hard about it.
8. If you get scammed, you are on your own. Neither Ebay nor Paypal will help you.

[alcoforever]

We could post things noobs should know but who would read it to them?

Ninety five percent of the problems I see on these forums could have been solved if the noobs had just read the material ebay gives them.

Good example:  Why can't I find my just posted item in search?   Because you didn't read that paragraph just below the submit button.

[reallynicestamps]

Perhaps some of those questions, and the pithy and frank answers experienced sellers have given should be pinned at the top of the Questions Board.

But who would choose the best answers?

I find a lot of people too suspicious and negative about the eBay experience.

And I'm sure many find me too much of a cheerleader.

[vintagecraze50]

Every new seller needs to get a tutorial on basic rules and some warnings about how to sell safely. In my opinion, if you have not been selling here very long, or just started, you shou ld not start listing expensive items until you get enough reputation to support these types of items. One of the biggest problems seems to be new sellers selling high value highly scammable items. The selling safely issue is to never ship to a non verified Pay Pal address,  use signature tracking  especially with high value items, and to ignore messages where people try to get you to sell off Ebay. 

[lookng2015]

The problem with such stickies etc is that the site is always changing stuff, so what's true today may NOT be true next week.

(in eBay HQ they most likely call that "dynamic" and think it's a GOOD thing)

[bigdeals.etc]

Something every newbie seller on ebay should know... Selling on ebay is REALLY HARD. Don't expect to make millions right away.

[shoptalkid]

Reply professionally to messages.  Even if a buyer is rude to you., don't stoop to their level.   

[retrose1]

They should just read my signature line and most of their problems would never happen.

[iowa_east_coast]

Don't list it if you don't know how to ship it.

[secretsquirrelisnowhere]

Don't ever ever ship a breakable item in an envelope! I once received an expensive antique Rose O'Neil German Kewpie plate shipped in a manila folder with two shipping peanuts. It was hard to tell what it was. Survived a hundred years, smh.

[castlemagicmemories]

I received a porcelain doll in an envelope.  And a rare, fragile, vintage porcelain figurine.  

Don't pack inadequately to save money because it may cost you more in the end.

[ted_200]

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@southern*sweet*teawrote:

1. There is no such thing as no refunds.

2. Your money is not yours until at least 180 days have passed.

3. Yes, you ARE responsible if the package is damaged in transit.

4. Insurance is for the seller, not the buyer. Buyers have the money back guarantee.

5. Don't believe emails. Log in to Paypal to verify payment.

6. Buyers NEVER EVER need your phone number or email address to pay you. Buyers pay by clicking the pay now button.

7. Do not list any expensive items such as cell phones or computers until you have several hundred SELLER feedbacks, and then think long and hard about it.
8. If you get scammed, you are on your own. Neither Ebay nor Paypal will help you.

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Well, I was thinking of avoiding this topic as something of a re-invent the wheel exercise...  I have every confidence what should be said will eventually be said here. 

I'm only weighing in because I ran across this page on the site, it's kinda eBay's answer to this topic...

http://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/listing-and-marketing/your-first-listing.html

"Every thing you need to know to start making money now".

I'm not seeing a lot of overlap between here and there. 

[muttlymob]

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@sparkysretroelectrowrote:

can we start a discussion about the basics, that newbies really need to know. things like always looking for a paypal verified address and account and seller protection- never, ever change the address or permit a package forwarding.

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Something every new seller should know:  don't believe everything you read on discussion boards unless you are given or can find the policy in writing to back it up.

Example:  PayPal "verified address" is not a thing.  PayPal has a "confirmed address" status, but it plays no part in seller protection.  PayPal Verified Account also plays no part in seller protection.

Everyone who ever considers selling on eBay should read eBay's Money Back Guarantee to see how a buyer can get his money back, and eBay's Seller Protection Policy to see the requirements to qualify for what little seller protection there really is.  Also read PayPal's Seller Protection Policy.

Go to the source.  Don't rely on other posters' interpretations or assumptions.

When it's your money on the line it's worth the time to read and understand.