Selling an expensive collectable

[padraicpaul91]

As sales have dropped for my cheaper items, I have been listing some of my rare, hard to get collectables. However, I am reluctant to list those in the $1000 and up range. This is due to my fear of them falling into the hands of ebay scammers who make false claims. These harder to get items mostly end up in the US. I've been burnt once before and obviously wish to avoid this happening again.

Do readers have srategies to lessen this possibility.

[beerandpizzaplz]

Register and insure and hope for the best. Good luck 🙂

[brerrabbit585]

My motto is don't list what you can't afford to lose. I've got some items worth $300 plus but there's no way I'll list them on ebay. Sad, but that's the way it is now.

[onekiwi0]

does paypal seller protection help?  I have never used it . yes I've been burned too by scammers too so interested in this thread

[Anonymous]

I would list as pick up only. Not at your home of course.

A crowded public place.

I wouldn't sell a high value item if posting is involved.

They are always subject to an INAD or Counterfeit claim.

You could well receive a 'rock' if the buyer returns it so if

a return occurs then verify the package contents at the

post office. Counterfeit claims are very difficult to defend.

[springyzone]

I'd sell via pick up only too.

Or else, depending on where you live, there are auction houses that deal exclusively with older/vintage/antique items. There's one not too far from here where you can take things in, they will auction them off. A friend sold a few odds & ends that way and got a lot more than she was expecting.

[padraicpaul91]

In a word:no. 

I have not personaly faced issues with paypal but numerous threads I have read suggests they differ little from ebay in this regard.

My only paypal dispute did involve what I regard as a scammer. After complaining item was not as described she went straight to paypal. I believe this was due to burning all her bridges at ebay. Would not return item unless I sent the money. Paypal paid her out at their expense, not mine. Go figure.

[padraicpaul91]

Thanks for all the replies. Unfortunately, as I have written, these higher priced collectables almost always go to the US/Canada or Europe/UK. That rules out local pick up or facebook marketplace.

I have considered auction houses but the trouble is that I have not come across one that specialises sufficiently in my niche and  they lack the critical mass of buyers.

That leaves collectors sites, but do I need to tell any of you how tight **bleep**d that bunch are? I generally make about 50% more on ebay, without the hand wringing and protestations of poverty.

Maybe I'll just have to take the risk, when I get desperate.

[countessalmirena]

As you consider the risk, bear in mind that your potential loss is the value of the items that you've mentioned - $1000 and more?

You don't want to risk losing 50% of your profit by selling on a collectors' site. Fair enough. That's a valid consideration. But against that is the risk of a buyer claiming that your item is a fake or arrived damaged or never arrived at all.

Before you do anything, I would strongly suggest that you do some risk management - risk identification, risk assessment, risk control. Put some real thought into control, because once you've sold an item or have posted an item, your ability to control risks is severely diminished. The time to think about risk control is now, once you've completed risk identification and assessment.

For instance, I've mentioned the hazard of a buyer claiming that the item is a fake. You need to consider what risks are associated with this, which means knowing what resources the buyer has, as well as taking likelihood of this occurring into consideration. Then consider what you can do now to minimise that risk.

You could, for instance, make sure you have the original receipt, or get an appraisal done. Make sure you have certified copies of relevant documents for your records. Have an appropriate person sign a stat dec that they saw you packing the item in their presence. Take lots of photos, including of any identifying marks. Make a note of the weight of the parcel. Send only by an international insured method. (Buyer pays.)

Those are just a few ideas; you'll no doubt have more.

Make sure the risk management table is done properly - use Excel or other spreadsheet programme, or something of that sort. Include each of the hazards, make logical and reasonable assessments, follow the process...

Good luck.

[okiseeu]

If ebay can't provide anything but 100% risk free to a seller then ebay shouldn't be operating,and that goes for all the delivery services as well.