Just put my first item up on Ebay!!

[Fontella]

After years of being a buyer I've finally done it.

Have a pair of (expensive and sought after) boots that I love but are so uncomfortable I can't walk in them. They rarely come up on Ebay but when they do they usually sell for a good price, so fingers crossed.

I'll see how this goes and maybe try some other items - but I must admit it's scary how many things get no bids at all.

I got a lovely jewellery box for Christmas, but I will never use it and it's just sitting there so I thought I might try that - but looking on 'jewellery boxes' - hardly any of them have got a single bid!

Like you, I used to be a prolific ebayer. I purchased so much stuff, We were literally drowning in it.
Last Autumn I decided to start selling again - sold a ton of stuff the previous year and got absolutely crucified with ebay and paypal fees. They took a bloody fortune off me.
So now I only list when I get the 'Pay Maximum £1 Fee' offers.
I've come to realise that most buyers won't budge unless either its dirt cheap or near pay day
If I can give any advice it would be to ensure your description is 100% accurate and that packing and delivery are top notch.
Ebay always favours the buyers, so if the buyer wishes to return save yourself a huge amount of stress and possible neg feedback and just accept the return.

Best of luck

And if you're selling on eBay don't use PayPal as the buyer can receive your item by hand (don't allow pick ups otherwise you cannot prove the took the item from you) and then take their money back from your bank account within 14 days and you never get told. Don't go there.

Well unfortunately I've already done the Paypal thing as I thought that was the safest method.

However I have stated I'm sending the package tracked and 'signed for' and I will - as I'm not having anyone saying they never turned up.

If I have any problems at all with this transaction I'm not going to attempt to sell anything else again.

The description is very accurate - two paragraphs (!!) and I've posted 8 photos from all angles. I will also ensure packaging and posting are top notch. I've literally got a Post Office 50 yards from my house - so no problems there.

You've scared me to be honest .... so I'll see how this one sale goes and then whether it's worth trying other items or not.

Tracked and signed for is fine. You can prove they received it. The problem is if they take their money back it's very hard to get in touch with anyone. No one at PayPal or eBay are helpful at all and there's no way to contact any of them. I'm sure yours will be a fine transaction.

It's ridiculous that Ebay make it so difficult for the seller.

As a buyer I've brought a few wrong things - but I've just accepted it. A top that turned out to be miles too small - I just donated it to a charity shop. I've got some boots in the cupboard that I will never wear - no point trying to resell them as I was the only bidder. But it wasn't the seller's fault - their descriptions and pictures were all great, I just made a mistake with the purchase.

I bought some cheapie earrings and the rings kept coming apart - but I paid a tenner for four pairs! So I just accepted their cheapness and fixed them myself.

I ordered a 'large' fisherman's smock as I wanted something to wear when I do my arty crafty stuff, and I like really baggy things. Only it was really, really, large. You could have got two of me in it!! So I contacted the seller explained the problem and posted it back and paid the postage, and she sent me a smaller one. Why is it their fault that I picked the wrong size?

I almost wish I hadn't put the boots on there now because they are gorgeous - but so bloody uncomfortable I can't wear them! But they were nice to look at.

No bids so far, but two 'watching'

Selling fees are extortionate and I hate the way you are also 'charged' on postage costs. If you keep P&P to a minimum you lose out if you charge more to account for the ebay fees then you lose out as customers think the postage is too high. I never understand customers either. I have had lovely items, unworn and still with tags attached not sell and then random things like half bottle of perfume, used bra, used nailpolish end up in bidding wars! Very bizarre

The “don’t use PayPal” thing only applies to items that you are selling to be collected. Don’t worry.

We'll I've got 48 watchers and one bid at the starting price, but I guess it's only day 1.

Hi Fontella. I'm sure it will be fine.
As Lottie has mentioned, Paypal is fine and you should have no trouble - just accept cash only if someone is collecting in person from you. (Personally, I've only done this a couple of times and I've been selling on ebay for years). I've sold thousands of things on ebay and had very little problems - most buyers are lovely so don't worry.

Good luck with the boots.

Just to update - I've got 292 views, 56 watchers and 6 bidders - currently at £46 with a day and a half still to go.

The same boots as mine have gone for around £80 already this year - I watched a couple of auctions before deciding to put mine on there - but that's not to say I'm going to get that amount.

Well they sold but not for as much as I'd hoped to be honest. Similar pairs have gone for £25 to £30 more recently

No last minute bidding war in fact they only went up by £1 today - so final price was £55, and the buyer paid within seconds of the auction ending.

So all in all, I'm reasonably happy, as they were just sitting in the cupboard doing nothing, and I would never wear them.

Will post off tomorrow and hopefully the buyer will be happy and my first sale will be straightforward.

Thanks for the help and advice everyone!

For future reference you usually get more for boots in Autumn and winter. If you have any summery things now is the time to list them.

I have stopped selling footwear, it is the only thing I have had repeated problems with over the years, hope yours works out for you.

Well the transaction went absolutely fine and the woman has given great feedback so I'm really pleased.

Have now got four more items up - and three all have bids on, so I've made nearly £100 already and hopefully will be a bit more by the time the auctions end.