Can I ask about gumtree and PayPal and car boot sales in here?

[Lexilicious]

I have some old electronics and army stuff I want to sell. I sold some before on eBay very successfully but I really CBA with them any more. Had a few non payers, or paid but never collected, etc etc.

So I'm looking at gumtree now. How do people usually pay - cash on collect or PayPal? I guess there is no such thing as a 'unpaid item case' process, but since that's had zero effect for me on eBay it doesn't feel much of a loss!

I also thought I might sell this stuff at a car boot sale but I don't want to do it on my own, and it's DH's idea of hell. But if army gear and electronics would sell really well at a car boot, (better than gumtree) I might try to find someone else to rope in. Anyone have any experience? How early do you have to get there to get a good pitch?

you must never take paypal for a collection item - cash only or they could claim not to receive and get their money back.

Sorry I mean does anyone expect things posted aft buying on gumtree (and would therefore do ppal as gift or purchase) or is it basically all collections?

I would expect that people search Gumtree for their local area and therefore would be planning to collect in person. I don't think you'd get good prices at car boot sales for the things you describe. I know you said you CBA with eBay but for army stuff and electronics it's really the best place - it's the first place people looking for memorabilia or parts would go.

Ok, deep breath and I'll give eBay one last chance!

Hi again, well I put them on for ten days and have got watchers on all the army items. Now I have a new issue. Two bidders want me to bundle up a number of the listings. How do I do this within the rules and to stay protected too?

Here's what I sent to one guy:

"Ok, well having had a think I'd take £120 for the whole lot. Or £40 for the clothing only.

Not quite sure the best way to make that sale - perhaps if I put the total figure as a buy it now price on one of them, then once you have confirmed to buy on that item I would take down the others too. It would have to be well ahead of the auction end point though so that I'm not racing against the clock!

I should also mention that there is someone else wanting to buy multiple items, I don't know which yet and I don't know for how much. "

Does that seem ok? Or should I let him bid like anyone else?

I would either put a buy it now price on each listing or let them bid what they want and then end at that price. Then you can send combined invoice. If you just do the full price on one item then they are only buying that one item for that amount not all of them I guess?

The thing is that if I split the BIN price between items then other watchers will see it and could grab single items cheaper than they might have ended up at auction, which also means the bulk buyer doesn't get the chance to buy the lot and could back out. I was thinking that a huge BIN price on one item wouldn't run that risk.

This has gone way into my CBA territory!!

And if I say 'ok you make a bid and I'll close the auction when I see your bid' then I have to sit around looking at the page while they click their bids, which is a massive waste of my time.

or end the auctions and set up a new one with the right price for all of the items - once live email potential buyer and tell them to purchase asap?

And make sure you post with courier or special delivery fully insured for the value too.

oh it's collection or arrange their own courier!!

I think I'll put on BIN prices on each item at a pre arranged time, and if someone else snaps it up, tough titties.

thanks for all the advice fergoose, you have definitely got ebay a bit of commission this week! :)

don't let them arrange their own courier - you must charge postage and arrange it yourself so you have the tracking info if they claim not to receive the item.

And of course only cash if it is collection, never paypal for collected items.

ask them what time and say i will put them on BIN at 3pm saturday then its up to them, use parcel2go or sometihng and bookcourier yourself as if they book courier as fergoose says you have no proof of delivery and you can not add packing charge so for job lot in a big box courier fee ( about£7 if big box ) plus £1 for packing or £2 if breakables and need loads bubble wrap poly peanuts etc

Well thanks for all your advice . I am just in the midst of the final minutes of these items, and the first few have achieved pretty good prices. I left it too late to put on BIN and postage prices - forgot that you can't amend a listing close to the finish, but I've sent messages to various people about what the postage costs would be if they win, and we'll take it from there. Most people have been very chatty and reasonable. I was rather short with one who started his message 'Hi bud,...'

I never use new packaging so there isn't really a cost there - I have a loft full of cardboard boxes, and parcel tape is cheap. None of this stuff really needs bubble wrap so there's no protective packaging required. Having thought it through, being prepared to do postage is actually less hassle than it being collection only when selling multiple items - because it's just one trip to the PO with lots of things, rather than waiting in for people at lots of different times.