Just started selling on ebay. Help?

I just started an account with e-bay as a seller, I have previous experience buying from e-bay though... I have already listed a commen date morgan dollar, I guess just to start out small, then later on list my high dollar items... Does anyone have any tips for me at all? Besides being as honest as possible when describing the item.

 

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Hows about a link to your offering. That might help some of the more experienced folks to give you some valuable input.

 

Eh, I don't really feel that it is appropriate to post my link to my e-bay auction that is currenly running, not in here anyways, I mean, the only thing I really need advice on, is what would be a legit reason for someone to want a refund, given the facts that the coin is accuratley described, and I were to know this, etc, stuff like that ya know.

 

IMO, a no questions asked return policy is a must, before I will bid.
That means that if I'm not happy, for whatever reason, the seller will cheerfully refund the purchase price, provided the coin is returned in it's original condition.

 

lol last thing you want is to get a coin back with a hole in it and a nasty letter...

Mach

 

Feel free to use the Open Forum for such listings - that's why it's here.

Just remember the once per week limit.

 

A reeeally good picture is a major plus. I got a good deal on a coin and I am sure the reason was that the picture was so bad. It was a good clear scan, but the coin looked "dead" it was grey and cold looking. When I received it the coin had a great golden tone and lots of character. A cold clear picture is still worth a hundred out-of-focus or far away shots though. A good concise descrpition is absolutely necessary, but you can't beat a good picture. It's hard to ask for your money back if you have a really clear representation of what you bought.

 

I agree with the refund policy mentioned here. I always check that before I bid. I also like shipping charges spelled out up front. I want to know if shipping includes insurance. If insurance is not included and is not offered, I won't bid.

Great pictures help. If the coin is slabbed, please make sure you include a clear shot of the slab label. I like to check it. This is especially true for ANACS slabs because of the net grading.

Good luck on all of your sales.

 

Pennycase

as for my own auctions I offer a seven day no questions no hassle, full money back return, I do this to satisfy myself as well as my buyers, all coins and coin grading is subjectional ,whats turns my crank may not the buyers, I give them a way out, I have nothing to lose, they do not get money back until I recieve the coin ,,, I have never had a return!! Just something I wanted as a buyer, that I supply as a seller.

Rick

 

I had one seller tell me that he didn't offer insurance because it only covered damage and not loss. So if the Post Office lost it, it wasn't insured, if it was damaged you could file a claim. Anybody know what the deal is on that?

 

you can check my auctions out i use the same name as on here.I make huge photos for mixed lots and nice photos build into the ads for single items.

A plus point is to use a ad creater.This saves massive time with html, and also use a image host this way you can put a few pics in your ads without paying extra fees, you also can show lot more instead of worrying about the cost.

just check out my past auctions and present ones you will get the idea

 

Can you say bull ?

The truth is that he didn't want to stand in line. Uninsured packages weighing less than one pound can be left for your route carrier to pick up, put in a street corner drop box, or put in a drop box at the P.O.; but to mail insured you have to see a counter clerk.

 

Crystal clear photos, descriptions and a user friendly return policy. State shipping charges in every auction. Accept as many payment types as possible (Personally I hate paypal but that's my own problem...buyers tend to love using it).
Also, use politeness in emails and be prompt.
Hope this helps.
Nick

 

I've been a buyer and seller on ebay for about five years (mainly a buyer).

As a recent buyer of coins, I find prompt response to questions helps as does friendly email correspondences with the buyer after the auction ends. I feel as though I've established a nice list of some wonderful sellers who I wouldn't hesitate buying from in the future based on the great correspondence after the sale.

I love CLEAR pictures of the coins I'm considering bidding on. Some sellers have spectacular pictures while other do not. Interestingly, I see a more people bidding on items where the picture is as crystal clear as possible as opposed to blurring images.

 

Postal insurance covers loss or damage. I can't imagine why the seller doesn't offer insurance. Maybe he's too lazy to go to the post office and fill out the forms. And actually that isn't even necessary anymore with the online postage. We have endicia and can insure all of our packages including Global and fill out customs forms - all online. So, I guess the guy doesn't have any excuse except ignorance.

 

Pennycase,
Large, clear pictures are the most important aspect of any coin auction. In addition to that, take the time to completely describe the coin, even if you think it's clear in the pictures. That includes all of the positives as well as the drawbacks. Sometimes there are things that a magnified digital picture will pick up that is barely noticeable on the coin. Don't be afraid to say that. By the same token, your coin may have gorgeous toning with luster that looks flat in the picture. State that in the auction. We have had coins that, no matter what we do, we haven't been able to capture really nice golden toning and it looks flat in the picture. (I think we may have finally fixed the lighting issue and corrected that). Also, when we have listed cleaned/polished coins, we put cleaned or polished right in the title bar. Buyers like honesty. As long as you are open about what you are selling, there is a buyer for every type of coin (even cleaned ones.) I would like to know your eBay ID so I can look at your auction. Who knows, I may bid on it myself

 

I forgot to mention that having a LOT of Tylenol on hand is a good idea

 

Thank you everyone for your informative posts, I really do appreciate all the replies I've received, as well as the advice. I listed 4 items up for sale, 2 have ended, a morgan dollar which I expected to go for under 10 bucks went for 16.40 , ( and was offering it to various people for 10 bucks at one time ) While another with only a buy it now price did not sell ( problem wheaties for little over face value ) Still got two more to go, and will see how they do before I post anything else up, I think I recall someone saying that a scanner was a very good thing to use to take photos of coins, can anyone else concur?

 

It was probably me who said it but I can concur on a scanner.. mainly because I dont have a fancy microscope to take really close shots of the coins... so instead I scan the coin in high dpi then crop and resize in photoshop... works great for me

Mach

 

I have a "semi-tech" setup with my digital camera, a lamp and a doohickey I use to stand my coins up at the level of the lens. I rest the camera on the desktop, futz with the lamp until I get good lighting, and snap the picture. Since the camera is solidly on the desktop, there's virtually no movement, and in the "closeup" setting I've learned to take pretty good pictures.