Selling safeguards for newbies/new policy?

[expanded_perceptions]

Hi Community,

I am wondering what safeguards you have in place for newbies? I have just recently made a couple of sales to buyers with 0 FB and admit the first sale I was ultra careful. I took numerous photos of the item prior to packing, during packing, and finally after packing, I sent the package 'signature on delivery' and with insurance. This was despite the listing decribing some minor damage to the item for which I provided numerous photos.

Now, I have just sold another item to a 0 FB buyer. The buyer emailed a little while after paying to say he had given a slightly wrong address on his eBay account and updating the delivery address. On his PayPal address, again it is slightly wrong. Anyway, again I will take numerous photos, send by 'signature on delivery' and insured etc.. I replied to the buyer saying thanks, and that I would ship to the given address, but could he provide his phone details so that the courier may contact them if issues arise? Not had a reply yet, but that is understandable on a Friday evening. The buyer lives about 10 minutes away from me!

I guess I wonder if there are other safeguards that you follow to limit the chances of being either conned or have a buyer defect on you, or scam the system, especially now, in the era of PayPal/eBays new 21 day hold policy!

What tips can we share? Thanks!

[sueken4812]

Apart from putting blocks on anyone with feedback below 100, there's nothing else you can do.  I've often considered doing that, but I get so many sales from people that I am their first feedback, that it wouldn't be good sense.  I haven't had any problems with newbies ..... ask me again in 6 months, and we'll see if the answer's the same.

[dylan11235813]

I think you have done as much as you can. It will never stop someone claiming that something is not as descibed, based on ebays performance of late you could take a million pictures and it wouldn't make much difference. I regularly get zero feedback buyers and mostly they are better than seasoned buyers.

I would upload the tracking numbers to ebay.

[expanded_perceptions]

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@sueken4812 wrote:

Apart from putting blocks on anyone with feedback below 100, there's nothing else you can do.  I've often considered doing that, but I get so many sales from people that I am their first feedback, that it wouldn't be good sense.  I haven't had any problems with newbies ..... ask me again in 6 months, and we'll see if the answer's the same.

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Yes, I rather hoped there was more I could do, but of course you are right. I know we all start somewhere, and the buyer is probably great, just this item is pretty expensive for me, and to have someone scam me would really hurt!!! Lol

[chameleon54]

I add an extra 50 cents to $1.00 ( depending on value of item ) to all of my listed post charges. I use this to cover any lost mail, refund claims etc. Sort of like self insurance. I send around half of my items as large letters without tracking, so this small extra charge is still a lot cheaper than tracking or signiture on delivery for my customers. The cheaper I can keep my post costs, the more I will sell, as buyers hate expensive postage costs. I try to pack fragile items very well to avoid damage in the mail. One cheap way is to buy biscuit and confectionary tins from op shops or garage sales. You can often pick these up for 20c-50c and they make solid, light weight packing tins for fragiles. I dont worry about low feedback buyers. Sometimes they need a bit of help, or alternate payment options, but basically they are usually fairly diligent and try to do the right thing.

[expanded_perceptions]

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@dylan11235813 wrote:

I think you have done as much as you can. It will never stop someone claiming that something is not as descibed, based on ebays performance of late you could take a million pictures and it wouldn't make much difference. I regularly get zero feedback buyers and mostly they are better than seasoned buyers.

I would upload the tracking numbers to ebay.

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Yes I know the photos are limited, I did consider video recording myself all through the packing, driving to the Post Office and during the Post Office hand over...........lol...........possibly OTT?

And yes, I always provide tracking numbers, as I am required to send all items to be signed anyway. I did read a good tip yesterday to also adding tracking to the PayPal invoice!

[thecatspjs]

For a zero feedback buyer who asked for an address change, I would explain that I am unable to send to a different address than the paypal address as I would lose my paypal seller protection and politiely seek a cancel transaction on the understanding when they had accepted the cancel transaction I would relist so that they might repurchase and they could change the address to the correct one on check out. 

I do not always do this with other ebayers seeking address changes, though I don't get the request that often, however if I decide to take a risk, I know it is my decision to do so, and am prepared to wear the expense if I have been conned, and I would never complain, I would consider it a lesson learnt and a risk taken that has not paid off .

[dylan11235813]

I forgot about the change of address thing.....I would do as cats has suggested. I usually except them but it is usually for small orders and doesn't matter much and doesn't happen often. They still need to sign for the order so it really doesn't matter what address it is to, with SOD.

[expanded_perceptions]

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@thecatspjs wrote:

For a zero feedback buyer who asked for an address change, I would explain that I am unable to send to a different address than the paypal address as I would lose my paypal seller protection and politiely seek a cancel transaction on the understanding when they had accepted the cancel transaction I would relist so that they might repurchase and they could change the address to the correct one on check out. 

I do not always do this with other ebayers seeking address changes, though I don't get the request that often, however if I decide to take a risk, I know it is my decision to do so, and am prepared to wear the expense if I have been conned, and I would never complain, I would consider it a lesson learnt and a risk taken that has not paid off .

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That is a great tip! I actually did bot know about the seller protection part! The address change is very minor, but I found it strange that both are incorrect? Do you know if the address on eBay and PayPal are linked, or do you have to enter them independently when you set up the accounts? I can't remember!!

I will see if the buyer responds to my message, if not, then I will follow your advice! Do you know how long I have to request cancellation, and would eBay look favourably upon my reasons if the buyer refused to cancel??

Thanks!

[expanded_perceptions]

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@dylan11235813 wrote:

I forgot about the change of address thing.....I would do as cats has suggested. I usually except them but it is usually for small orders and doesn't matter much and doesn't happen often. They still need to sign for the order so it really doesn't matter what address it is to, with SOD.

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Thanks for the reply! But even with SOD, this will still void PayPal seller protection will it not?