topic Re: Large Order in Selling

Large Order

karecoope-95 — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 21:04:28 GMT

Hi everyone. I received a message last night in very broken English from a buyer with zero feedback for an extremely large order of the most expensive plates and bowls Im selling. The account was just created.

I know everyone has to start somewhere but Im nervous about selling to this person. Is this justified? I sell to new buyers but never such a big order. Any replies appreciated.

Re: Large Order

springyzone — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 21:51:30 GMT

I'd be very nervous too.

Is the buyer account in Australia? If not, I'd be a bit reluctant to go ahead. But that is just me & I am very conservative, not much of a risk taker I guess.

Re: Large Order

karecoope-95 — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 22:00:58 GMT

Yes they are in Australia and if it was just for one or two things maybe but four and heavy at that. Lots of postage.

Re: Large Order

Anonymous — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 22:15:58 GMT

I would be very very wary too

It's a shame we as seller's need to be,but given how eBay are I think many of us know we need to be so,so careful

Personally, I'd go with your gut on this one

Re: Large Order

karecoope-95 — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 22:48:28 GMT

Yes I think you're both right. Its a shame because three of the items have been for sale for ages and one I only listed yesterday. Should I reply to them cos if I dont I'll have that big red UNANSWERED MESSAGE sign from Ebay forever?

Re: Large Order

shoppingbag* — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 02:18:34 GMT

Unless it is a huge amount of money I would go ahead with the sale. I would just make it "signature on delivery", maybe take out some insurance as well (seeing as your items are breakable) I have been in this situation many times and I went through, rather nervously, I might add, and it all turned out ok. Mention to them that you will pay for signature on delivery, and see if they back out. I did have one who wanted four items and then disappeared when I mentioned that.

Re: Large Order

foxette-in-sox — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 03:26:52 GMT

Bit confused as you've said it's an extremely large order but then you've said it's 4 items ? I can see no valid reason to refuse unless they buy the stuff and ask for it to be shipped to Nigeria or something as they work on an oil rig lol

Re: Large Order

karecoope-95 — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 03:37:41 GMT

Its four different sets of vintage dishes and plates and they all weigh a ton. Im thinking I'll go ahead with it a get insurance and signature on delivery.

Re: Large Order

chameleon54 — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 03:45:54 GMT

If you have concerns, ebay already have facilities in place to cover this. Go to account settings - Site preferences - Buyer requirements.

About half way down the page there is a section titled " buyers may bid on several of my items without paying " yada yada.

This gives you the option of restricting the number of items purchased by buyers with no or low feedback scores. with various combinations to suit your risk appetite. I would just apply the settings to your personal preference and then advise the buyer that ebay does not allow new buyers to purchase lots of expensive items until they build up a feedback score of more than five.

OK it was you that used ebays facilities to set your account this way, but it is an ebay facility. For what its worth, I would restrict them to perhaps two purchases initially. That way you are not going to get stung a fortune when they claim all of the items broke in postage, but wont provide photos etc.

Re: Large Order

brerrabbit585 — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 03:47:08 GMT

They probably googled one of the items and found you, then saw what else you had and decided to join ebay so they could buy it. There's nothing suspicious in that. If they spoke in perfect English would you have been suspicious?

Re: Large Order

chameleon54 — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 04:03:07 GMT

Rabbit could have a point. I dont have any buyer restrictions on two of my accounts. The third account sells some glass & breakable items and the only restriction I use on this account is to screen out buyers with two or more unpaid item strikes as the items I sell on this account can attract the occasional " Wally ''. .

I dont restrict new buyers in any way, but you need to do what suits you. Some of your items are heavy, fragile and will cost a lot to post. That changes things a bit and what may work for some other sellers, may not always work for you. You also have to factor in how long the items have been listed, but remained unsold, what your profit margins are and how much it hurts you when a buyer duds you.

I personally have a fairly low care factor, so are willing to take a punt on the basis that if I get stung occasionally, all of the other sales achieved with a fairly open door policy, make up for it. Other people can get very upset when things go wrong and thats OK too. Its all about your own personal preferences.

Re: Large Order

karecoope-95 — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 04:07:09 GMT

No I was mainly worried this may have been some sort of scam. Reading here about what can go on has made me a bit paranoid I guess!

Re: Large Order

springyzone — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 07:02:56 GMT

If they are in Australia and want the item sent to an Australian address, it isn't as risky (in my eyes anyway) as an overseas purchaser.

I do think though that if you go ahead, follow what shoppingbag suggested and have signature on delivery etc

Re: Large Order

brerrabbit585 — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 07:04:10 GMT

I first joined ebay because I googled my dinnerset and could only buy it on ebay.

If packing them all in one box means the box is really HUGE, the contents may be more vulnerable to breaking. This isn't always the case as it can depend on the size and shape of the box and what's in it, but if it's an issue perhaps you could tell them it's not really viable and that you need to pack them in slightly smaller boxes, eg. two lots together rather than four.

If they're a newbie you could tell them it's due to AP restrictions on size, which probably do come into play. I remember packing well over 20 trios in a box once - it all worked out rather well but it was good luck more than anything else that the box worked out to be the right size for them.

You want to try selling on facebook - some of what buyers say in messages is really hard to decipher. It's nothing to do with facebook per se, just that there has to be more communication there than on ebay.