Why are Buyers contacting me for advice on selling their items which are the same as mine?

[basilrock29]

I seem to be getting more buyers contacting me not wanting to buy items but to ask for advice on selling their items which are the same as mine?  I'm not a shop I just sell things from time to time.

I've had one buyer who contacted me to check out their item which was the same as mine and another one who is asking me to give them advice and valuations on their items which are the same as mine?

I don't understand why they are contacting me, I'm not here to give advice and why would I offer advice to sell an item that is the same as mine? Obviously I want my item to sell not theirs. They also appear to be new accounts which opened this year?

Do I respond or just block them?

[kopenhagen5]

I would make a guess it's to do with selling Disney items and not being an authorized seller.

[digital*ghost]

They seem to be genuine Disney items, though. You don't have to be authorised to sell genuine products (and sometimes when seller's are, it doesn't mean jack - the infamous Target and Mac scandal springs to mind).

Sounds to me more like people see something listed for an inordinate amount and wonder how to value theirs and get the most amount of money for it, without paying for professional advice. That, or they are testing to see how much the seller actually knows their stuff. 

I sold a few collectibles when I first listed on eBay, and for some weird reason, people (i.e. dealers) pretending to be dumb was really common, like the polar opposite of "I've been selling coins for 52 years and that's only worth $30, but since I like you, I'll do you a deal and give you $35", instead it was "I'm just an avridge joe lookin' for a bargin to bye".  Weird. 🤔 😆

PS To the OP, I don't know a thing about coins, but I always feel very apprehensive when i see items of that value on eBay, even though I'm not risking anything as buyer or seller. I hope you'll be taking every possible measure (and then some) to protect yourself. 😬

[1915cazna]

Hi

I would guess that the item you are talking about is the 1988

$2 coin listed for over $9000.

People contacting you are perhaps wanting to sell a similar coin

at that price.

I suggest that you do an Ebay Advanced Search for "1988 $2 HH" and

you will see that these coins have sold for as little as $4 in better condition

than the one offered.

ALL 1988 $2 Australian coins have these HH initials incursed.

They are worth $2.

[1915cazna]

Just pointing out that there were over 8 million $2 coins minted in 1988.

They ALL have these HH initials.

That they are worth big money was an April Fools Day joke that even made it

into the national press.

Unfortunately some early buyers did pay high prices for these.

You can also do a Google search for "1988 $2 HH" where Ebay gets a mention

regarding these coins.

[kopenhagen5]

They seem to be genuine Disney items, though. You don't have to be authorised to sell genuine products 

I know but my thinking was that eBay often pull listings down even when genuine so perhaps other sellers want to know how this seller keeps the listings up.

[shoppingbag* · Accepted solution]

Obviously you must be doing a great job, and they just hope you might give some clues out. I have had people copy me all my life, my clothes, my hairstyle, the colour of the paint on my house, my garden. Often people directly asked me, knocking on the door, what plant is that? What colour is that paint? It can get annoying. What they all fail to realize is that the paint went with the colour of my bricks, the plants suited the style of my garden, the hairstyle suited me, as did the clothes.  All of the so called copying never looked the same as what they were trying to copy. My point is, that even if you told them all your secrets, they would not have the same success as you, as there is more to just making a good listing, it is the way you handle your sales and treat your customers that ensure your success. Take it as a compliment and tell them to figure things out for themselves.