"Seller Protection on EBAY" Topic

If something doesn't sell here first, I then go to EBAY and sell. I haven't been doing much but have a friend who wants to sell a nice Ancients Collection. Will offer up here first, but if no takers, he will try EBAY. My main question is as the seller is their any way to make sure the buyer can not say, hey these are damaged return my money? I have seen that being brought up quite a bit.

My idea: Take a picture of the figs as they are packaged, make sure done well, and send off. Also to buy insurance and tracking and have the person sign for the package. Is that enough if something were to happen?

Thanks!

I've done what you've described and that helps but you'll end up having to return some or all of the money then apply for insurance reimbursement from the PO. Needless to say it only took one experience of that for me to decide to never sell a big ticket item of tiny little pieces (miniatures) on eBay again.

Luckily I can sell my stuff at HMGS convention flea markets. I know that's probably not an answer I'm just relaying my experience and how I dealt with it.

Edit: I have had good experience here on TMP but the market seems to be limited compared to my other option above.

Does any seller on eBay or anywhere have protection from liars? No. Question answered.

The only time I had a buyer screw me on ebay was the last time I used ebay. I sold some Wings of War planes, he requested that I remove them from the big box they were in (quite secure it was) and put them in another box to save like $7 USD on shipping. I did, bubble wrapped them, and when they got there they were "broken". How did that $7 USD work out for you, you cheap moron?

Oh, and I did fight him, and won – no refund to him. Bastard.

I tend to sell bigger items via my blog. It gives me the opportunity to deal with potential customers by email. That way I can sell under my own conditions. These usually amount to the buyer accepting that I will pack the item as well as I can but any damage in transit is at the buyer's risk. I find, that because the customer and I are dealing with each other on personal level, rather than as faceless Ebay avatars, everything can be done in a much more trusting, friendly manner.

Having said that, I thought that, on ebay you can have a no returns or refund policy attached to a particular sale. Is that not an option?

OP: If someone does make a claim, ask for pics of the damage.

My daughter sold a pair of boots on feebay and the buyer filed a claim for refund because the boots were used, even though this was clearly stated in the sale. The pics she had put on the listing helped her win, so document with pics for certain. List here first, though, and maybe on bartertown, to save on fees.

There is really no protection. Your best bet is to simply request they mail them back to you and be done with it.

I have done what you are described then had buyers on EBAY but did not have any problems. Only problem I every experienced was when selling to an individual outside the USA and then only once. EBAY seems to offer more buyer protection than seller protection. I tend to not sell outside the USA anymore.
I document everything with pictures, even your packing just to be on the safe side. The one time I had a complaint from someone (which was from outside the USA) I then sent them the photographs to show them my documentation. They shut up did not say they were sorry just left me alone. Seems like a lot of work but if this is a high ticket item perhaps it is worth it too you.

HA, HA, HA, HA, seller protection on eBay!!!

That's a good one.

As mentioned, about the only way you can cover yourself is to include the costs of shipping insurance in the shipping costs, if that is allowed.

Not sure how easy/difficult it is to collect from the Post Office or other carriers, but suspect that is a concern as well.

Two years ago I sold my entire collection of WW2 figures on Ebay. Tried here, Bartertown and LAF, no buyers.
I sold in lots.
170+ figures and 20 vehicles.
I shipped some to England, Germany, all over the U.S. and here in Vancouver.
The only problem I had was the 45 Artizan 101st Airborne figures, very well painted that disappeared going to Texas.
The chap is a private investigator who checked with neighbors in case they were delivered to the wrong house. Never did show up.
We ended up splitting the cost.
Guessing someone in the mailroom took them.

Most gamers are decent chaps, who won't cause a problem.
I would suggest though that you may wish to sell the army in lots, rather than the whole army. You will most likely make more money. I did.