Tip #1: If it's too good to be true, then it probably is.
- Unbelievably low price for a rare item? Probably a fake
- A huge lot of rare plush with low starting price? Probably stolen image or fake
- This tip is not always true, a lot of people on ebay do not know what they have or they are parents selling their kid's old toys
- if you are just starting out on ebay, try to buy stuff first so you accumulate more feedback
- These users might be trying to scam people
- if they only have one picture of an item, ask for another. If they can't provide more, then don't bid
- if there is an option to choose shipping, try to choose the one that includes tracking so you know where your item is and when it will arrive
- less likely to get lost
- this is not always true though, it can be quite a hassle
- know what you're getting into
- lets you know how fast they ship
- find any bad transactions
- can help you determine whether their items are usually as described
- even though feedback can help you a lot, this isn't a very good bootleg identifier. Many parents or unaware people will buy the toy and leave positive feedback because they do not know better
Tip #5: I know this sounds awful, but...Try to avoid sellers from China or Hong Kong
- This is where most bootlegged toys come from
- Not every seller from China or Hong Kong are bootleggers. Do your research
- Don't always rely on feedback for these sellers
- there are several lists of bootleg sellers on the PKMNcollectors community
Tip #6: Pay attention to time limits! (thanks to areica96 from PKMNcollectors)
- If you have not received an item within the allotted amount of time open a case! You will most likely get a refund or partial refund or your item
- Ebay is almost always on the side of the buyer (not always a good thing)
- Try to contact the seller before opening a case (sometimes things come up)
Tip #7: Contact your Seller for any questions or problems!
- Most sellers care about their reputation and will help you
- At least you can say you tried before opening a case
- some people need a little reminder as well
- Be polite when contacting them, they will probably want to help in any way they can
- Don't leave a negative without contacting them first
- Be patient when contacting a seller, they have lives too
- Don't demand a full refund if it gets lost in the mail, it's not the sellers fault. They don't control the Post Office. They might offer a full refund but it's best to just ask for a partial refund
- Sellers are not perfect
Tip#8 Shop around!
- It's better to find a higher quality item than a cheaper one (in most cases)
- If there are multiples of the item you're searching for bid on more than one (if your wallet will be okay with winning all of them)
- If you find something you like on another site you can search for it on ebay. Try to find it cheaper!
- You can find legit items for a good price!
Tip #9 Sniping and Snipers
- One of the most important keys to winning an auction
- be there when the auction ends so you can increase your max bid
- don't just leave when there are <10 minutes left if it's something you really want!
- being able to snipe successfully will help you in the long run
- to successfully snipe you should place your last bid when there are between 10 and 5 seconds left so no one else has a chance to bid up
- when sniping make your max bid your absolute max so you win
- if you don't want to snipe and just see what happens that's fine too
- you should only really snipe if it's something you desperately need/want (it's kinda mean but that's how you get ahead in the collecting game)
SELLER TIPS (mostly for beginners )
Seller Tip #1 Feel Comfortable!
- If you are just starting out try to only sell a couple things at a time. This will help you get used to the swing of things
- Print off your shipping label from ebay (great for new sellers because of automatic tracking) and ask any questions at the Post Office, they are usually happy to help
- buy stuff first so you can get into the swing of things
Seller Tip #2: Set Realistic Prices!
- If you're unsure about how much something is, look at past auctions for that item. If there are no past auctions then set it at the absolute lowest you would except
- You can also start auctions off below $1 to attract buyers. Only do this if you are absolutely sure you could let it go for that much
- Not everything of the same type can be judged equally! For example: a Magikarp Pokedoll is worth much more than a Piplup Pokedoll or Shiny Pokemon Kid figures are worth much more than Regular ones (still depends on which pokemon)
Seller Tip #3 Shipping
- Make sure you ship within the allotted time limit!
- Tell buyers if there will be a delay
- Try to get tracking if you can!
- It is recommended for new sellers (or people who don't have a lot of time) to print the shipping labels from ebay
- Have proof of shipment if you don't get tracking (save those receipts!)
Seller Tip #4 Listing
- Include every minor detail so you don't get in trouble later (any stains bends tears etc.)
- Take multiple photos that flatter the item
- add a BIN option to sell it fast
- Don't lie about the item. Some people like to buy things to fix up
- Offer to answer any questions
- Set clear time limits (time to pay before relisting) and when you ship so people will know
- NEVER use stock photos unless it's a card (still include actual photos)
Seller Tip #5 The Buyer
- Treat your buyer with respect (You want that positive feedback, don't you)
- Try to fix any issues ASAP
- When talking to the buyer be polite and offer any solution to their problem
- Even if the buyer is unpleasant, you should be the better person and try to solve things like an adult
- Be patient and calm when dealing with buyers
- ebay almost always takes the buyers side so make sure you have any evidence you may need to back up your case
- buyers are not perfect
Seller Tip #6 The Money
- When you first start out on ebay, you can't spend the money for a certain amount of time
- Try to keep their money in your paypal account until they leave you feedback unless you absolutely need to spend it
More to come soon!
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