What precautions should I take when selling smartphones?

[thegiftstopusa]

I have a few Samsung galaxy S6's that would fetch me around $100 a piece. My question is how do you protect yourself as a seller, meaning how would I deter scammers when listing cell phones? I know with video game systems you should always take photos and write down serial numbers so scammers don't pull the old switcheroo. So if I take photos and list every phone's serial number, I should be good, right? 

[sam9876]

" My question is how do you protect yourself as a seller, meaning how would I deter scammers when listing cell phones?"

Huh?

" I know with video game systems you should always take photos and write down serial numbers so scammers don't pull the old switcheroo. "

How would writing down the serial numbers prevent a buyer from returning another video game (or a rock)?

"So if I take photos and list every phone's serial number, I should be good, right? "

No.

[ittybitnot]

I know with video game systems you should always take photos and write down serial numbers so scammers don't pull the old switcheroo. So if I take photos and list every phone's serial number, I should be good, right? 

Wrong.  If an ebay "buyer" wants your item for free, it is very very easy  to do so.  They claim damage, send you back the proverbial rock or empty box, you are going to lose the item and the money you got for the purchase as well as additional money to pay for return shipping. 

This holds true for any ebay item, not just cell phones.  Cell phones have an additional problem in that scammers will often outbid each other simply for the opportunity to try a scam on you.  The most popular is the "send me your paypal email address"  (so I can send you a fake paypal message saying you have been paid).   

If you sell out of the US and buyer claims SNAD,  you have to send them actual paypal funds for the return.  If they keep that money and don't return it, too bad to be you. 

[thegiftstopusa]

Thanks for that steaming pile of nothing. If you don't have anything constructive to add, just don't reply lol. You clearly have zero experience when it comes to selling electronics.

[kensgiftshop]

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@thegiftstopusa wrote:

I have a few Samsung galaxy S6's that would fetch me around $100 a piece. My question is how do you protect yourself as a seller, meaning how would I deter scammers when listing cell phones?

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You can't.

All you can do is list it, sell it, ship it and hope you have an honest buyer.

[thegiftstopusa]

Yeah, that's what i was thinking as well... i'll probably make less $$ if i sell them locally though.

[thegiftstopusa]

You can most definitely protect yourself under certain cases opened through ebay. For example, when selling video game systems, I always type up the specific serial number for each item in each listing. Serial numbers are specific to each system so that discourages the classic switcheroo scam. I've had a few switcheroo cases and ebay sided in my favor every time because the serial numbers didn't match the original item's SN.

[thegiftstopusa]

**bleep**. I sold an $800 PS4 bundle in 2016, I obviously shipped w/ tracking, insurance & signature delivery, the buyer opened an INR case, stating they received a box full or rocks and ebay sided in my favor.

[tofu107]

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@thegiftstopusa wrote:
Yeah, that's what i was thinking as well... i'll probably make less $$ if i sell them locally though.

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atfer Ebay FVF and PAypal fees and sleepless nights,you may not be making too much less.

chargeback fee is $20 and return shipping is how much

[tofu107]

CRAIGSLIST is not all local,it is just you can ask for cash

[sam9876]

I have been selling around $1.4 million worth of high-end bicycle parts every year since 2000.

[behixso_62]

Serial # Phone ID Pictures Of The Most Important Details 

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@thegiftstopusa wrote:

I have a few Samsung galaxy S6's that would fetch me around $100 a piece. My question is how do you protect yourself as a seller, meaning how would I deter scammers when listing cell phones? I know with video game systems you should always take photos and write down serial numbers so scammers don't pull the old switcheroo. So if I take photos and list every phone's serial number, I should be good, right? 

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@thegiftstopusa wrote:

I have a few Samsung galaxy S6's that would fetch me around $100 a piece. My question is how do you protect yourself as a seller, meaning how would I deter scammers when listing cell phones? I know with video game systems you should always take photos and write down serial numbers so scammers don't pull the old switcheroo. So if I take photos and list every phone's serial number, I should be good, right? 

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Goals Are Important So Are Sales!

[muttlymob]

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@thegiftstopusa wrote:
**bleep**. I sold an $800 PS4 bundle in 2016, I obviously shipped w/ tracking, insurance & signature delivery, the buyer opened an INR case, stating they received a box full or rocks and ebay sided in my favor.

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If what you wrote here is exactly what happened, then you didn't win because eBay had your back no matter what, you won because the buyer opened the wrong case.

You won the Item Not Received because you had the correct proof of signature tracking showing something was delivered.

If the buyer had opened a Not As Described claim (which would be the appropriate one for receiving something, but not what you ordered) you probably would not have won as long as the buyer sent something, anything, with tracking back to you.

As for what you can do to prevent scammers.  Not much.  But at the very least you should start by reading eBay and PayPal seller protection policies if you have not yet.  And the buyer protection policies on both also just to see how easy it is for a buyer to file and win a claim.

[d-k_treasures]

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@thegiftstopusa wrote:
Yeah, that's what i was thinking as well... i'll probably make less $$ if i sell them locally though.

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But you'll get to keep those $$