Tek
Veteran
Location: Yukon, OK USA
| Buying and SellingThe best deals I have encountered have been when there is a lot of communication either by e-mail or telephone. I know there is risk of buying and selling on here, but the good far out weighs the bad.
Here are my tips for selling and buying from experiences in retail and wholesale.
Seller: List as much info as possible and include a picture of the item if possible since it will usually generate more sales. Answer e-mails in order and respond timely.
Payment: If you would like to recieve payments faster then sign up with Paypal. The fees are kind of hefty, but are a lot less then what business owners have to pay on credit card transactions. Also make sure buyers are verified and ship only to a confirmed address if there is any suspicion. If you take money orders make sure the buyer sends it priority and with signature confirmation so they know who recieved it.
Packaging: Always package items with foam peanuts and bubble wrap because if it can't move then it will not usually break. Most box stores or packaging stores sell them for a lot less then Wal-mart. I buy a 5ft X 3ft bag of peanuts from the Love box company for 12.99 and it last a long time. And, also a 3ft wide roll of bubble wrap for 10.99 which beats the little one for 5.00 at wal-mart.
Shipping: From 2 years of shipping with UPS on a daily basis they are one of the worst shippers. They are cheap compared to the USPS, but USPS delivers in half the time and actually honors the insurance claims. UPS will pick up the damaged package and blame it on you for not packaging correctly. If you ship by UPS they include a tracking number and insurance for 100.00, but remember to buy extra iinsurance if applicable. If you use USPS make sure you buy delivery confirmation, insurance, and signature confirmation. The best way to keep the buyer informed is to mail them the tracking number or delivery confirmation number so you do not get e-mails everyday asking where is their stuff.
Buyers: Ask as many ?'s as possible before the transaction so that you do not get stuck with something you did not know. If you are unsure of something then get a name and phone number to call the seller. Most sellers will answer your request as long as they are not out of line. If they do not bother to help you then do not bother to buy. Also search for the buyers name on past sales or other forums
Payment: If paying by Paypal try to check if they are verified since that requires a traceable bank account and do buy the seller protection they now make you pay for. It will cover fraud if you do not recieve the package and the seller has no shipping proof. If you pay by Money order put what it is for and your address and name. Also send it via USPS Priority mail with signature and delivery confirmation. If it is ever lost just go to the place of purchase and get a money order tracing form. It takes about 1-2 weeks and they will send you a copy of the money order if it has been cashed to show you who and what bank cashed it. If it has not been cashed then they will send you back a check for the mount minus the fee for tracing which is $4.00-8.00.
When the stuff comes: If it is by UPS, make the guy stay and open it in front of him. Have him note anything broken if possible at that time. If you find something broken later, call them and file a claim. I have yet to recover insurance from them, but you might get lucky. USPS items can be taken to them and looked over at the Post office.
Problems with Sellers:
1. Try to e-mail or call them and discuss things out. 2 out of 3 times it is usally a misunderstanding that can be worked out the first time and remember to be open-minded. Name calling is not a good way to start out a conversation and we are no longer in elementry.
2. If they do not understand reason or if you are just hot headed, get a 3rd person to mediate and present both sides of the story. Paypal will initiate a 30 day mediation if you file a complaint. Sellers will have to send proof of shipment and buyers have to send proof of payment as well as sides of the story.
3. If you did not recieve the item:
a. Ask for shipping info ie: tracking, delivery confirmation, or a receipt. If they do not have either then they probably did not send it.
b. If they stop responding to e-mails or phone calls then you have probably just been scammed.
c. Contact paypal or your credit card service. Money orders need to file a trace at the place of purchase.
d. Contact your states consumer protection agency and file a complaint. They can track the guy down for you no matter what state he is in for free. They will get you your money back or file fraud charges on the guy and hopefully convict him. That is how a guy got nabbed on Ebay ripping people off about $5,000.00
Hopefully this helps,
I was able to get my money recently back thanks to the help of fellow RR members and a complaint to Paypal.
Remember to protect yourself as a seller and a buyer because the Law is always on your side unless you are on the opposite side of it.
Disclaimer: These are my thoughts and opinions on the matter which are not copyrighted or for profit.
Thank you for taking the time to read, Joseph (TechnikVR)
-------Does it fly?------- |
