Selling on Ebay? - Computers, Phones etc

[ThatDevAaron]

Is selling on ebay a good business model/stream of revenue? - we will be able to match/beat most offers already, my logic was, they have traffic we can utilize, and use to build our client list for potentially other services we offer etc.

we're going to sell high demand IT stuff, computers, servers, phones etc. - Is there anything we should be aware of when it comes to ebay?


Thanks.

 

[fisicx]

Price is important but so is reputation. If you sell cheap with very little feedback you may struggle.

 

[cockypea]

Yeah, eBay can move serious volume if you play it right – but brace for the margin squeeze. Fees stack up fast, and returns on tech can be brutal. That said, your idea of using it as a lead funnel is smart. Just don’t count on it being “set and forget” – it’s hands-on, daily.

 

[ThatDevAaron]

Yeah, eBay can move serious volume if you play it right – but brace for the margin squeeze. Fees stack up fast, and returns on tech can be brutal. That said, your idea of using it as a lead funnel is smart. Just don’t count on it being “set and forget” – it’s hands-on, daily.

I agree, right now, I'm being very strict with returns, if not returned within 14 days, we wouldn't accept returns from then on - but is there some kind of chargeback or dispute system we should be aware of? (one of the reasons we don't accept paypal for anything, is due to the chargeback system being essentially entirely buyer-favoured)

 

[fisicx]

Fraud is rife with tech kit. Expect lots of chargebacks for missing or supposedly faulty goods. You could end up spending more time on disputes than anything else.

And your returns policy will be trumped and abused by consumer law.

 

[Porky]

Not sure you would get the contact details other than the shipping address from the postage label - would that be enough?

If the buyer disputes within the 14 days you get opportunity to counter/ discuss but if no resolution agreed ebay support the buyer and would refund.

Process is normally fair imo. Unlike say Amazon who would refund at your expense regardless.

 

[fisicx]

A common fraud is to provide an address in a communal building. The fraudster then waits for the courier, signs with a squiggle then absconds with the phone.

Their email is a throwaway gmail account and the card stolen or cloned.

And if you are selling computers and consoles another scam is for them to nick components and return the faulty equipment.

 

[ThatDevAaron]

A common fraud is to provide an address in a communal building. The fraudster then waits for the courier, signs with a squiggle then absconds with the phone.

Their email is a throwaway gmail account and the card stolen or cloned.

And if you are selling computers and consoles another scam is for them to nick components and return the faulty equipment.

Any kind of way to filter out these people? Maybe only sell to reputable ebay users etc?

 

[ThatDevAaron]

Not sure you would get the contact details other than the shipping address from the postage label - would that be enough?

If the buyer disputes within the 14 days you get opportunity to counter/ discuss but if no resolution agreed ebay support the buyer and would refund.

Process is normally fair imo. Unlike say Amazon who would refund at your expense regardless.

Yeah, slap a boilerplate letter in each parcel, showing them all the stuff we offer, also giving them exclusive discounts etc thanks to them being referred via ebay etc, little stuff like that.

For example. we might sell a few server parts, and in the parcel of those parts, promote our cloud company, which should be a relevant audience etc.

 

[fisicx]

Any kind of way to filter out these people? Maybe only sell to reputable ebay users etc?

Nope. You add the product and anyone can cough up the dosh. If you want more security and filtering don’t use eBay.

 

[AlanJ1]

Yeah, slap a boilerplate letter in each parcel, showing them all the stuff we offer, also giving them exclusive discounts etc thanks to them being referred via ebay etc, little stuff like that.

You can't do this. If one buyer reports you (and it happens) you will lose your account very quickly.
Have to see it from eBays side, it is there customer and not yours so you aren't allowed to market to them.
You don't even get the customers email address when you sell to them on there.

 

[AlanJ1]

Any kind of way to filter out these people? Maybe only sell to reputable ebay users etc?

It's impossible, fraud happens but eBays system is fairly good in disputing things.

 

[fisicx]

It's impossible, fraud happens but eBays system is fairly good in disputing things.

If you can find the scammer. They use stolen and cloned cards and disappear. You might win the dispute but the chances of getting your money or the kit back is slim.

I know someone who used to sell recycled phones a few years back. It was all going well but then had a run of scammers which killed his business. They all reported him for selling boxes with weights in them but no phone. Had 'photos of proof'. EBay shut him down.

 

[TCH]

You can't do this.

have we got a quote, from eBay documentation, to support this

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Fully read the consumer act to understand fully the law on distant selling both your and your customers rights under law

 

[AlanJ1]

have we got a quote, from eBay documentation, to support this

It's in there T&Cs you can't third party market to there customers. Same as Amazon.

 

[PatrickStephen]

Is selling on ebay a good business model/stream of revenue? - we will be able to match/beat most offers already, my logic was, they have traffic we can utilize, and use to build our client list for potentially other services we offer etc.

we're going to sell high demand IT stuff, computers, servers, phones etc. - Is there anything we should be aware of when it comes to ebay?


Thanks.

In the UK, selling on Ebay can be tracked for taxes. If it isn't currently done, we heard there are plans to.

 

[DontAsk]

In the UK, selling on Ebay can be tracked for taxes. If it isn't currently done, we heard there are plans to.

Why do you even flag that up? There was no suggestion wanting to use eBay for tax avoidance or evasion.

If the OP is legit, tax will be tracked through the usual means.

 

[PatrickStephen]

Why do you even flag that up? There was no suggestion wanting to use eBay for tax avoidance or evasion.

If the OP is legit, tax will be tracked through the usual means.

There is 0 suggestion to say that we think the OP is wanting to use eBay for tax avoidance.

We just thought that it is something that the OP needs to be aware of.

 

[cockypea]

@ThatDevAaron: Yeah, that insert idea’s smart – turning each sale into a soft intro for your main biz. just keep it subtle, eBay frowns on anything that feels like off-platform marketing. about chargebacks: even without PayPal, you’ll still get the occasional “item not as described” case through eBay’s own system. They usually side with the buyer if you can’t prove delivery + condition. Best move’s airtight listings, photos from every angle, and serial numbers logged.

 

[campbeji]

Is selling on ebay a good business model/stream of revenue? - we will be able to match/beat most offers already, my logic was, they have traffic we can utilize, and use to build our client list for potentially other services we offer etc.

we're going to sell high demand IT stuff, computers, servers, phones etc. - Is there anything we should be aware of when it comes to ebay?


Thanks.

Hi,

I sell on eBay and it is growing for us, we are a 'sell everything' type of seller, so this week we have sold hair dyes, board games, books, bedding, collectables etc. My knowledge about selling tech is limited so no real info on that.

As with any selling platform, there is a pretty steep learning curve; there are lots of things you need to know and most of it, at the start, you'll not know that you need to know it. YouTube, Forums, eBay help, and the eBay documentation are all your friends; however, treat any info you get as suspicious until you can confirm it. Even the eBay help can give you dodgy info.

I'm on the chat with eBay quite often. One thing I have found with eBay chat is that you will be talking to a Bot to start with, which can help with simpler things, but it has no clue if you have a more complicated query. When this happens, type in 'Agent' and answer a few questions, and you will get through to a real person, either on the chat or the phone. I did that today and sorted my issue out more or less (not much they can do about the Canadian Postal Strike)

eBay gets a rep for being unfair and doing things that sellers don't like, and there are problems, but I find on the whole that they are pretty fair. Bear in mind that one of eBay's main issues is to make the platform safe for buyers, so make sure you do the right stuff, post on time, deal with returns, sort out any problem listings etc etc.

Returns and scams are a real pain; they will cost you money, so you just need to accept it as the cost of doing business and not stress over it. You also need to understand that the customer has the right to return a product for whatever reason, under the Distance Selling regs(or whatever they are called these days), this is the same if you are selling on your own website, no matter what your T&C's say.
As for marketing to your customers, it wouldn't surprise me if eBay don't like it, but if you include a leaflet thanking them for their custom and offering them technical support, I don't think that would cause an issue, of course, this would be on a letter-headed sheet with a subtle advert.

Under no circumstances try to make a sale outside of the eBay platform, that'll get you a ban, even if a customer asks if you can sell them something that's not listed, do not try to send them to your site, just make a listing on eBay and sell it to them

Good Luck
Jim