Have sold an iPhone on eBay to non-paying buyers 4 times! How to sell the thing?

[salema]

I’ve got an iPhone X in really decent condition, as it was kept in a case for the 12 months I used it. I have another phone now and could do with the extra cash, so stuck the phone on eBay before Christmas. Nice clear photos, honest and thorough description, etc. I have 100% positive feedback gained over the last 15 years I’ve been on eBay.

Person who won the auction didn’t pay. I chased up and got an apology message: she’d changed her mind. Did ‘second chance offer’ to the next 2 bidders but no response.

Relisted the phone and the same thing happened again. The buyer had bid but accident’ and didn’t want the phone.

Take 3 and I did buy it now/immediate payment. Sold to a guy in the Ukraine, despite me only offering UK postage. PayPal put an immediate hold on the payment and the buyer deleted their user account. Spoke to eBay who advised relisting due to a suspicious buyer.

4th buyer was in Saudia Arabia (again, I specified UK postage only) with 0 feedback and never responded to messages.

I just want to sell the thing! I’ve been trying to get rid of it for over 2 months. Have tried both auction and buy it now. Starting price from £200-£250 (final price has always been £370-£400). In getting daily messages from people asking me to post around the world, when I don’t want the complication.

I’ve never had problems like this on eBay before. Any tips greatly appreciated.

I sell hundreds of items a week on eBay, but I wouldn't sell a phone there. Think of eBay as a city, and the phone section as one of the rougher areas of town! I trade in the much calmer and more friendly crafts section.

You will probably get less money through phone-selling sites, but you are also less likely to get scammed. Honestly, the stress isn't worth it, there are just too many ways to lose both your phone and your money.

Hmm that’s interesting! Yes, previously sold items are stuff like baby clothes and furniture. No problems with those. I’ll have a look at the phone-selling sites, thanks. I didn’t think of that. I looked on FB marketplace but can imagine the same issues on there as eBay.

I just use music magpie for phones now. Too much heartache trying to sell phones on eBay
The number of buyers who then report that the phone isn't working etc etc, don't have time for that! Rather sell for a bit less to music magpie than go through the grief

Oh let me know if you want a discount code for music magpie

I'll buy it for £200 if you pm me the link.

You could try Cex if there is one near you, they'll give you a choice of cash or store credit.

What a palaver. Thanks @babychange12 - music magpie code would be great.
Have found:
Giff Gaff offering £304
Music Magpie £286
CEX £255 cash / £308 voucher

It’s annoying to sell for 25% less than I hoped for but might have to be the answer I think!

Yes I didn’t even think of eBay buyer complaints - haven’t got that far yet!

It’s annoying to sell for 25% less than I hoped for

You're right, it is - but even if you had sold it on ebay, there's every chance someone would have claimed it wasn't working and returned a fake item / different phone for a refund (and tracked it so ebay would side with them)

Better to make less on it than to lose both your phone and your money ...

Here's the referral link for music magpie - it's only an extra £5 I'm afraid!

bit.ly/37CXeI0

But yes I got scammed a few times on eBay by buyers complaining that the item was broken etc etc so electronics only get sold via music magpie now!

It’s annoying to sell for 25% less than I hoped for but might have to be the answer I think!

Don't be in the least surprised if the company receives your phone and then reduces the amount they are willing to pay.

It's a very common tactic that they hope you'll just acquiesce as they have it already (bird in the hand etc). You can get it returned but it's a bit of a faff.

Take it to a shop

I wouldn’t buy electronic via eBay as there’s no guarantee.

Places like game give a 12 month warranty now, so you shouldn’t expect the same level of payment.

You are so right happened to me and their revised offer was 10% of their original one @BuzzShitbagBobbly

I always take my old phones to Game. It’s hassle-free.

I hope this helps but if someone fails to pay on a purchase you can report them and they get a strike on their account.

If you go on the settings you can change your options so that your selling post is limited to people that have less than 2 strikes on their account. So it’ll limit the time wasters to some extent.

Hope that helps!

I usually trade in our old phones via one of the online companies (whichever one gives me the best price) and they have never revised the offer. Always get the price that they agreed on originally.

Yes I could get more by selling via Ebay but it's not worth the potential hassle.

Take the phone into game/cex/cash con n get a price.. find out which one price matches and go there with your prices n they’ll give you a little bit extra. For all the time you’ve wasted already it’d maybe get you a little more than music magpie etc.

Or whack it on gumtree, at least then you know whoever’s coming is local. Pick up only etc obviously so you’re not asked to deliver/post it somewhere else.

I have had the same issues with eBay and iPhones. I would use Gumtree and make sure you meet in a public place. I am in the US and ended up selling mine on Craigslist.

I took my last phone to CEX and got £175 for it. They were going on EBay for about £220 so when I took into account Ebay fees, paypal fees, postage and the chance of it being bought by a scammer...there wasn’t much in it!

you can change your options so that your selling post is limited to people that have less than 2 strikes on their account

This is true, though it won't stop the real scammers who open account after account

Years ago when I still sold on ebay, I once stumbled across a list of the bids which my "no more than 2 strikes/negs" had blocked ... there were hundreds of them, and it seems ebay's just got worse since then

I'll buy it for £200 if you pm me the link

Yes because absolutely selling it to a stranger on a chat forum for £200 is so much better than sending it to a company like Giff Gaff for £304
😂

You need to check your ebay settings OP. It's not enough to state no overseas buyers you need to have that selected in the auction itself. You could also list on a BIN with immediate payment required meaning it wouldn't be a confirmed sale until they have paid up.

If you do go down that route check your Paypal account yourself (don't use links sent via email) to make sure the cash is there and only post to the address Paypal tell you to.

My sympathy - selling high(er) electronics on eBay is a nightmare. DH is really into his AV equipment and is forever buying and upgrading amps and speakers. I am the designated 'seller of stuff' in our house, but I won't sell them on via eBay anymore. Too many times, whatever I sold was mysteriously 'damaged' when the buyer received it or got it home, and eBay just automatically refunds them no questions asked. So ridiculously easy to literally steal stuff.

I'll only consider doing it now cash on collection, so there's no easy comeback.

Yes because absolutely selling it to a stranger on a chat forum for £200 is so much better than sending it to a company like Giff Gaff for £304

What's not to like?

Gumtree or Facebook. Cash on collection.

I would just take it to CEX and accept whatever they offer. There can’t be any come from that.