EBay

JoannaLesley · Jan 5, 2009

I have advertised my caravan on EBay and I am a novice at this kind of thing. I am confused by the amount of questions I have received and people asking for a buy now price, or whether I will accept payment in any other form than PayPal. Can someone with experience of selling this way offer me some tips? I have a couple of bids, but if I decide to sell it to someone for the kind of price I had in mind (above current bods), is this OK and how do I go about it?

I thought that I put it up for aution and at the end of it I received money & someone came and collected. It's not quite so simple, it seems.

Jo

Parksy · Jan 5, 2009

Hi Jo

I haven't sold goods on Ebay but I've bought one or two items from there and what little I know might be of some help to you.

I'd strongly advise against accepting any form of payment except via Pay Pal. This system has it's failings but by and large it exists to protect both you and the buyer.

Don't under any circumstances part with your caravan until the money from PayPal is in your account.

Did you place a reserve price on your caravan? This is a minimum payment that you will accept for the caravan and a message will apppear for bidders informing them if the reserve price hasn't been reached. It's then up to them to increase the amount of money that they bid in order to reach the reserve price. You don't have to divulge the reserve price because that would negate the auction process, in other words you hope to achieve a higher price than the reserve and by showing the reserve the chances of this happening are lessened.

You're being asked for a 'Buy it Now' price because potential buyers are hoping to discover the least amount of money that you are prepared to accept for your caravan so it's best if you simply reply that you prefer to let the auction run it's course subject to your reserve price being met.

On your advert in the part where you give a description of the caravan it's best if you add that the caravan is advertised elsewhere and that you reserve the right to withdraw it from the auction at any time and to sell it elsewhere. A browse amongst caravan adverts on Ebay will reveal the form of wording for you to use.

The only questions that you need to answer are those asking about the caravan, not about the price or if you are prepared to make some special exception to the usual terms and conditions on Ebay, payment other than PayPal being especially 'dodgy'

Also state in your advert that bidders are bidding to buy and not to view your caravan.

Make a time available for viewing but a successful bid is a binding legal contract and the seller can't back out of it even if they don't like the caravan after their bid is accepted.

Good luck with your sale but remember.... you don't know the people who are bidding and if they are trying to pay by methods other than Pay Pal be very suspicious.

Mikey1 · Jan 5, 2009

Hi Jo

First of all have you put a reserve on your van? or are you happy with whatever you get for it.

You can end the austion early and sell to the highest bidder at the time.

Do you have a Paypal account as sometimes Ebay will make sure that is the only payment as accepted due to the buyer having protection,but nothing to do with the 5% of the final fee that they charge!Just remember that for every

JoannaLesley · Jan 5, 2009

Hi Jo

First of all have you put a reserve on your van? or are you happy with whatever you get for it.

You can end the austion early and sell to the highest bidder at the time.

Do you have a Paypal account as sometimes Ebay will make sure that is the only payment as accepted due to the buyer having protection,but nothing to do with the 5% of the final fee that they charge!Just remember that for every

DanPaula · Jan 5, 2009

Hi Jo.

When selling items which are for collection only I usually request cash on collection or payment via Paypal prior to collection.

I would also include in my listing something along the lines of "if you are unsure about any aspect of this item please arrange a viewing before making a bid". That way they shouldn't make a bid, win the auction, turn up to collect and then say they don't want it for whatever reason.

Think it might be too late now to add a reserve price but you could always get a friend to make a bid. Ok so we all know you shouldn't really run bids up but do ya think ebay really care? Not really because they still get a final value fee.

Parksy is quite right in saying people are asking for a buy-it-now price thinking you're not sure of the van's value. The next time someone asks that question before submitting your reply tick the box which says something like "copy this question to my listing". It will then appear on your listing for others to see your reply. My reply is usually "I prefer to let the auction run" or "try me with a sensible offer".

My advice is leave the auction to run it's course and you may be surprised how well it does. Note when the auction gets into the final 12 hours you have to let it run it's course anyway.

If I can help further please give me a shout.

Good Luck, Dan.

DanPaula · Jan 5, 2009

Hi Jo.

When selling items which are for collection only I usually request cash on collection or payment via Paypal prior to collection.

I would also include in my listing something along the lines of "if you are unsure about any aspect of this item please arrange a viewing before making a bid". That way they shouldn't make a bid, win the auction, turn up to collect and then say they don't want it for whatever reason.

Think it might be too late now to add a reserve price but you could always get a friend to make a bid. Ok so we all know you shouldn't really run bids up but do ya think ebay really care? Not really because they still get a final value fee.

Parksy is quite right in saying people are asking for a buy-it-now price thinking you're not sure of the van's value. The next time someone asks that question before submitting your reply tick the box which says something like "copy this question to my listing". It will then appear on your listing for others to see your reply. My reply is usually "I prefer to let the auction run" or "try me with a sensible offer".

My advice is leave the auction to run it's course and you may be surprised how well it does. Note when the auction gets into the final 12 hours you have to let it run it's course anyway.

If I can help further please give me a shout.

Good Luck, Dan.

Whoops!

izzeybear1 · Jan 5, 2009

I agree with what has already been said but would like to add the following. You can withdraw from the auction should you get an offer that you cannot refuse. I have recently done this with a car I sold just follow the links in your personal E bay page. By all means use Pay Pal I do and have had no problems. Cash is always wanted but beware of forgeries. If the notes look odd then inspect very closely. Take them straight to the bank before releasing the caravan. Bankers drafts can be dodgy as they have been known to be stolen. Do not accept any cheques that are for an amount over what you have agreed on. The person paying will ask you to send the balance to a 'friend' Hey presto by the time you done this the original cheque is found to be fraudulent. Most E bayers are decent folk (I am one so it must be true) but there are those that are not. Good luck and hope all goes well.

Parksy · Jan 5, 2009

The main reason that I'd be a little bit wary of a cash sale is that you could mutually agree on a price for the caravan which is acceptable to you.

There is then nothing to prevent the buyer from either backing out of the deal later ot worse still refusing to meet the price that you have both agreed on. Unscrupulous buyers have been known to try on the old 'I haven't got as much money as I thought I had' routine in the hope that the seller will reduce the price simply to complete the sale.

With PayPal the money is in the sellers bank account and the deal is done as per your agreement.

mikecandsarahb · Jan 5, 2009

the only problem i find with paypal is the amount they charge, they will take some money off you for the money entering your paypal account and then take some more if you withdraw your funds to your normal bank account.

if you want to end you auction early on ebay best is do do what others do and just say that you have put incorrect info on you item,

ive brought and sold alot on ebay been done etc, if you feel you dont trust the person use paypal, if you just worried slightly take a small deposit via paypal then cash the rest.

make sure you give them a bill of sale stating that as far as you know it has these faults and include the words SOLD AS SEEN on it, have a copy for yourself and for them, sounds silly but if you get some of the tw**s on there try it on,

always put no known damp etc just encase they find some weeks later and try saying you lying you just hid it to sell it etc

mike

peter_374235415 · Jan 5, 2009

the only problem i find with paypal is the amount they charge, they will take some money off you for the money entering your paypal account and then take some more if you withdraw your funds to your normal bank account.

if you want to end you auction early on ebay best is do do what others do and just say that you have put incorrect info on you item,

ive brought and sold alot on ebay been done etc, if you feel you dont trust the person use paypal, if you just worried slightly take a small deposit via paypal then cash the rest.

make sure you give them a bill of sale stating that as far as you know it has these faults and include the words SOLD AS SEEN on it, have a copy for yourself and for them, sounds silly but if you get some of the tw**s on there try it on,

always put no known damp etc just encase they find some weeks later and try saying you lying you just hid it to sell it etc

mike

Hi Jo, be careful about accepting payment by paypal when the item is being collected as you will not be covered by paypals rules which may lead to the money being returned to the buyer should a dispute arise.

When using paypal you are only covered when there is no proof that the item has been delivered and this proof (as required by paypal) is a tracked order by royal mail.

Lots of people think that simple proof of posting is acceptable, but it isn't it has to be sent with a tracking number which can be traced via their web site and shows the signature on delivery.

There has been several posts on this on Martin Lewis money tips web site.

Personally I would ask that a buyer pays the deposit by paypal (say

peter_374235415 · Jan 5, 2009

Hi Jo, be careful about accepting payment by paypal when the item is being collected as you will not be covered by paypals rules which may lead to the money being returned to the buyer should a dispute arise.

When using paypal you are only covered when there is no proof that the item has been delivered and this proof (as required by paypal) is a tracked order by royal mail.

Lots of people think that simple proof of posting is acceptable, but it isn't it has to be sent with a tracking number which can be traced via their web site and shows the signature on delivery.

There has been several posts on this on Martin Lewis money tips web site.

Personally I would ask that a buyer pays the deposit by paypal (say

peter_374235415 · Jan 5, 2009

Hi Jo, be careful about accepting payment by paypal when the item is being collected as you will not be covered by paypals rules which may lead to the money being returned to the buyer should a dispute arise.

When using paypal you are only covered when there is no proof that the item has been delivered and this proof (as required by paypal) is a tracked order by royal mail.

Lots of people think that simple proof of posting is acceptable, but it isn't it has to be sent with a tracking number which can be traced via their web site and shows the signature on delivery.

There has been several posts on this on Martin Lewis money tips web site.

Personally I would ask that a buyer pays the deposit by paypal (say

hogrider56 · Jan 6, 2009

How much were you hoping to sell the caravan for? If it is a substantial amount, anything over

JoannaLesley · Jan 6, 2009

Thank you all for your tips and advice. Many of them will be really useful in the future. However, I think I am committed now, as the 'van went on EBay last weekend. I have had about a dozen emails of enquiry - several asking for a "buy it now" price, but I think I will let it run and see what happens.

Jo

TrevorM · Jan 6, 2009

Hi Jo. Something no one has mentioned is that at the end of bidding you have a legal obligation to sell at the final bid amount. Since you have not set a reserve you need to consider whether or not this is a risk you are willing to take.

Good luck with it.

Enjoy your holidays.

Trevor M

DeliDave · Jan 6, 2009

A man in Staverton,near daventry was selling a

johnfred20 · Jan 6, 2009

hi i use ebay alot mainly buying and would recommend you check bidders feedback results this is a good indication of their reliability i would recommend you ask for a paypal deposit to secure sale and cash on collection i have never worried about cash on collect but theres always a first time regards johnfred

hogrider56 · Jan 9, 2009

There was one point I forgot to mention in my earlier reply....if you have not set a reserve price on the auction...do not worry...just keep your eye on the bidding, and if the caravan is not reaching anywhere near what you want you can end the auction early and withdraw the sale as long as you do this before then end. You simply fill out a form online, check how you do this by putting "ending auction early" in the ebay help section and it will guide you through it. Sorry to go on at length!

CheapnCheerful · Jan 9, 2009

It can pay to hold your nerve, there is always a lot of last minute - even last seceond bidding on an item, which can increase the price by as much as 50% in the last few seconds. I have always got a much better price than I expected by letting the auction run its course, easily beating some very persuasive looking offers to end auction early!

JoannaLesley · Jan 15, 2009

I can now report a successful outcome. Had I put it in the local paper, I would have asked about

chenzhen · May 19, 2016

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