dim

I sell on ebay .... I have learned that when you list an item with a buy it now, select paypal only as the payment method

This stops people bidding then not paying or contacting (I have had a few of those recently) ... when they click 'buy it now', they have to pay immediately

I also had a bike recently listed. A guy contacted and wanted to view the bike. He arrived on time, then offered me less than half the price. In a nice way, I told him not in a million years. He smirked, then said that I have his contact details in case I change my mind

While we were 'negotiating', the bike was sold and paid for immediately by someone else.

francophile 

I'm not a huge-huge seller on eBay, but I've done my fair share of sales, including a couple of cars (local pick-up only on those, of course). I take care of my buyers.

Inevitably, 1 in 5 sellers tries to scam me out of extra money back. I don't know if it's because they see a low price and take you for a fool, like you don't know what it's actually worth, or what? I always charge 2x what actual shipping costs (added handling), I take pictures and, if it's an operational device, I take short video of the item in operation. Sounds like a lot, but takes less than 5 minutes.

In every case, I copy/paste one thing, and illegitimate claimers never respond: I took video and photo documentation of the item before sending in case an insurance claim is required. I'll give two options, let me know how you want to proceed - (1) I can share my documentation so you can initiate a claim with the shipper, (2) you can send the item back in the exact shape as it was when I shipped it for a full refund of the item price.

I really hate being the guy not to trust the other end of the deal, but it literally happens all the time, and eBay almost always sides with the buyer unless you show compelling evidence to the contrary of what the buyer claims. I literally just sold some electronics, a brand new wireless device that was barely used, to some guy who was relatively new to eBay and used a different PayPal account name, different eBay account name, and different shipping address name. I suspected it was going to be bogus. I sold him something for $30 that was on Amazon used for $110, it was listed BIN-OBO. Dude emails back and tries to say it doesn't work. Sent him the canned response above, he called me a liar (a "lawyer", actualy, but whatever). I told I there was no need for hostility and I'd be happy to arbitrate the case through eBay as soon as he ships the item back exactly in the condition I sent to him and he finally went away.

Bottom line: Don't trust anyone on sales with strangers. C-Y-O-A and don't give anyone an inch because scammers see it as a sign of weakness and will take you for a mile. Vultures, man.

The added shipping amount seems to act as a good deterrent for when you need to resort to case #2. Most scammers aren't willing to risk being out $20 in shipping, for example, just to make $10 here or there.

dim

the downfall of ebay was when they removed the option for sellers to leave negative feedback for buyers

buying on ebay is a pleasure. but selling on ebay is a different story

armstrong101

The most common item I get offered for trade for my various Italian framesets, is a crankset. One was a used 7700 DA crankset. Another was some modern Campy "that retails for $325". For these folks, I tell them to sell their part on Kijiji themselves for the price of my frame, then use the funds to buy my frame.

ypsetihw

when someone says "what's your lowest" I say "make me a cash offer." the person who moves first, loses. this is negotiating 101. I'm a recruiter for a living and I never tell people what the job pays. I ask them what they want to make, and go from there.

also, I never get down to actual dollars via email. I always call the person first before arranging a meeting a) to make sure they aren't a weirdo and b) to discuss money on the phone. I find people are much less willing to aggressively haggle when you actually talk to them, because they can't hide behind the keyboard. this is doubly true in person. when they are standing in front of you with money in their pocket, you know they are committed to buying, and you can use that against them.

Drillium Dude 

Sure, and I've done that. In this particular case, he even admitted that yeah, it was a lowball offer. In any case, he was in CA and the main point (which took 4 emails to get across) I needed to get across in this dude's case was that I wouldn't ship, no matter the price. I've since found out (through a local player who's known the guy for 20+ years) that searching out/making silly offers is kind of a pass-time for this guy. He's apparently harmless and just makes offers with no real intention of following through. Kinda interesting. I wonder how many of those kinds of people are out there?

DD

ypsetihw

this makes you a great buyer, but buying and selling are totally different things. you seem to have them confused.

fender1

If you sell on craigslist, you are guaranteed to find out!

Drillium Dude 

Yeah, it seems likely I will

DD

exmechanic89

I agree. I'd destroy the item before I'd sell it to someone like that. Also when I have someone agree to a price and ready to meet, I tell them that fyi, if you show up with even a dollar less than our agreed price, I'll walk. I'm not rude about it but I make it clear.

tarwheel 

I'm confused. You said you were open to "reasonable" offers, but got offended when the potential buyer made an offer. What is reasonable is always open to debate. Perhaps $450 was the most that the potential buyer could afford. If you are not willing to negotiate, your ad should state that price is firm or not negotiable.

I don't mind it when potential buyers make offers. I can always refuse if their offer is not high enough. However, I don't like it when someone agrees over the phone or email on a certain price and then shows up in person offering less money. That is one reason why I often prefer auctions for selling and buying. When bidding on items on eBay, I decide ahead of time what is the most I am willing to pay for the item, and submit a bid through a sniper. Sometimes I get a deal, sometimes I get the item for my max bid, and sometimes I lose the auction. I'm rarely disappointed.

I recently bought a frame from someone who stated his asking price as "$350-ish?" That led me to believe he was open to offers, so I offered slightly less -- essentially asking him to cover shipping costs. He declined but offered to include some extra parts. I thought about it and decided that was a fair counter-offer, so I bought the frame. If I come across a bike frame or parts for sale on a forum for a reasonable price, I rarely ever try to talk them down, but will usually pass if it's more than I want to pay. Occasionally I will make an offer for less than the asking price if it's something I want but feel that it is priced too high. Seriously, I lot of people try to sell used items for close to retail price, which is ridiculous since there is no warranty and the items are rarely ever in pristine condition.

armstrong101

That's the point. I said "reasonable offers". He didn't make an offer. He asked for a price. I gave it to him. He then went much lower.

If he had started his communication with an offer of 450, we wouldn't be having this thread.

vtchuck

I'm both a seller and buyer on eBay & CL. I list my stuff for sale on eBay as "buy it now" and if it doesn't sell in a reasonable amount of time I add "best offer". I'm rarely in a hurry to sell & willing to be patient.

On CL I usually ask ~ 20% more than what I want, knowing people expect to haggle. I find CL listers tend to over-value bicycles and because I often have to drive long distances, I try to negotiate a price via
email or phone call before I drive 2 or 3 hours. If we can't agree on a price, I try to explain the rationale of my offer and often give advice on how they might better present and describe what they're selling.

This is a hobby.... not my livelihood. I try not to get too cranked up about it. And the vast majority of people I deal with are friendly and sincere.

72Paramount

It's all a game. I know exactly what he is talking about. I can't stand the "buyers" that are such cheapskates that they practically want you to give the bike away, no matter the asking price. When My final price has been thrown in to the ring and the buyer wants to sweeten his deal, I usually just say flat out "I think I am being more than generous to offer you this at X price. At that point they either buy it, or they didn't have enough cash to buy it in the first place.

eschlwc

i get very few lowballs. my ads and correspondence are so thorough, people don't mess with me.

my biggest pet peeve as a seller is a buyer test riding my bike out of eyesight. i always get a little anxious about it.

Peugeotlover

"You can leave your best offer on a piece of paper with your phone number. Thank you."

oddjob2

+1 ^

I have been an online buyer and seller of computers, cameras, housewares, etc., for many years. I know my spending limits and my pricing limits because I do my homework. I don't pour over every itty bitty detail, but know the key metrics for a particular item. I apply the same homework philosphy to the hundreds of bicycle buy and sell transactions I've done as well over the years.

So my peeve is related to the buyer who comes at it with an attitude that they know more than me. I am a low key seller and not out to impress you with my knowledge either, I just want to sell you the bike. During 2015, I think my running average discount for the year between asking and selling price was about 4% overall, meaning I priced to market. So far YTD, everyone else on craigslist is asking so much for their bikes, which are not refurbished like the ones I sell. My asking prices have gone up a bit too, but so has the discount.

It's still wintery, so by mid-month I will get back to more realistic pricing, I need to recapture garage space!!!!

Last summer, a fellow brought 4-6 pages of ebay printouts telling me my 56cm Ironman Expert in Smoke Blue was overpriced by $200, after I drove downtown to meet him. I promptly re-racked my bike and sold it 3 weeks later for full ask at $450.

With regards to test ride anxiety, just ask for a drivers license to hold.

D1andonlyDman

I never offered the seller $30. I offered the seller $25

D1andonlyDman

I would never agree to a price prior to actually inspecting the item. But I would enjoy knowing that you destroyed your own item rather than taking good money for it.

exmechanic89

Well goodie for you.

D1andonlyDman

Invariably, I've left you with my car keys, with my car parked where we met, or my cell phone, or both, so you can be pretty comfortable I'm not going to ride away on your bike

USAZorro

In my experience, I have found it quite a rare thing when members here speak of something they dislike and are directing it towards someone else here. Can we please give each other the benefit of the doubt and not presume that we're calling each other out? A few deep breaths and some empathy, please.

eschlwc

and i live in a town where people either walk or take mass transit. or he arrives before i see him park the car. a cell phone can be a dummy phone (been there). keys are cheap, anonymous pieces of cut metal.

never had one of my bikes ride off. but i get anxious when they're out of my sight.

armstrong101

+1

I'm not an expert by any means, but compared to a complete newbie, I would be considered knowledgeable.

Folks who bring in an entry-level Pinarello made of Aelle, and tell me "this frame sells for 500 on Ebay". I saw the bike the previous fall selling locally (full build) for 650. They are parting it out and trying to score. I'm not the buyer they are looking for. Why would they think someone who wheels and deals in 1980s prestige brand frames would think all Pinarellos are the same? An Asolo/Treviso selling for 500 on Ebay doesn't make his entry-level Aelle worth 500 locally. If they are looking for a sucker, what makes them think I'm that guy? I know more about Pina pricing than they do, as that's what I deal in.

I usually tell them, if they think it's worth $500 on Ebay, that they should go sell it on Ebay to get their $500.

eschlwc

ugh. what a pain. but that might've been somewhat entertaining to refute.

bravo. and quite a deal on a nice, refurbished bike too.