Selling high value item

[Roszie]

DS wants to sell a computer part that's worth about £800 on my eBay account. I've only ever sold clothes and low value stuff, is there anything we can do to safeguard ourselves against scammers?

Thank you.

Anyone?

Just sell as normal but pay for insurance on postage and make sure it's tracked and signed for. Or put it as collection only

Thank you. I'm more concerned if they try and return it and switch the item or something like that.

I'm probably over thinking but I'd hate for him to get scammed.

If you sell it to someone that wants to collect make sure they pay cash and not by PayPal so they can't claim they've not received it.

For me it would be collection only and either cash on collection or bank transfer on collection (so you can verify the money has been received).

I would never use PayPal for a high value item as they seem to always take the buyer’s side, which leads to scams.

I would t sell anything high value on eBay now. It's far too risky, unless cash in collection, in which case just advertise on your local pages.

Maybe write a number/name several times on different parts in a UV security pen? I know this wouldn’t help if they swapped internal parts but gives some protection at least. And absolutely send recorded special delivery.

Also with high value items you are guaranteed to get messages from people that want to complete the purchase outside of eBay. Just don’t engage with these people.

Me too. I only do cash on collection now as eBay is full of people trying it on. It used to be a great place to sell things.

I wouldn't sell something of that high a value on Ebay. If you do, don't use signed for post, use Special Delivery Guaranteed, its fully tracked and insured.
If the item is lost in the post, you'll have to refund the buyer and then claim back from the Post Office. The buyer can also raise a claim with Pay Pal several months later.

Thank you. He listed it and said he'll post now. I think I'll suggest he takes it down and sells it collection only.

Sorry I've another question. I've never sold on Facebook market place, if I put it in there do I just get them to do a bank transfer once they collect?

Is there anyway that can be a risk? Thanks very much.

I'd ask for cash. If there's only the two of you, I'd ask an ID beforehand and take a photo of it just in case they want to do a runner with it.

I do fb market place sales all the time, with e transfer. Just agree to the pass word, you both get electronic conformation it's gone through , you hand off the item in a socially distanced way

Thank you. It's a risky old business selling stuff isn't it?

I have sold lots of high value Apple items and a designer bag and watch on eBay.

Years ago I was scammed, exactly the way you mentioned. Sold a Nokia phone, one of the first smart phones, for £250. Buyer didn't have a long feedback rating, new member. Paid by PayPal immediately and i sent it by Special Delivery, so all insured and tracked. Buyer received the phone, contacted me and said it was a blocked phone (which is what happened when someone reports a stolen phone). It definitely wasn't but the buyer asked for a refund. I said I wanted the phone back first, as I didn't want any bother. They sent me back my box with a phone which was the same model but different serial number and blocked, so probably stolen. I spent hours on to eBay and PayPal but they refunded the buyer and I lost out.

So now on listings I include photos of every serial number on the item and on the box. I also mention in the description that I have done so to prevent any fraudulent returns. I believe you can also block bidders or buyers with less than a feedback rating of 1, or you used to be able to do so.

My husband has asked me to sell a £2500 watch on eBay and to be honest I'm very reluctant, as I know in the case of any disputes eBay always side with buyers.

Hope that may help. Also if it's a good brand laptop, such as Apple, I use Gumtree now. I find they go for slightly less but eBay have extortionate fees now so it balances out. Gumtree does seem to attract a few idiots offering silly money, but it's pretty easy to weed them out when they message you. Also if you use Gumtree DO NOT post the laptop out. Always get cash on collection.

Also, don't agree to do a sale outside of ebay to avoid fees. I tried once and had my account suspended for 7 days (I have a 2000 100% feedback rating). I wouldn't put collection only items on eBay as I've never had any luck personally, people want them posting.

If you put an item on for collection only you always run the risk of someone buying it and then asking you to package it up so they can send their own courier. That's happened to us a couple of times.

My DS sold his gaming laptop at the end of last year but we decided to opt for FB Marketplace instead. He had lots of offers but sold it for the asking price (£500) within two weeks. Cash on collection and no selling fees.

The problem with computer parts is that it’s very easy for buyers to break them while fitting and then claim that it was faulty to begin with. Then eBay will always refund them.

It's a risky old business selling stuff isn't it?

It can be but the risks can be reduced massively if you learn how to reduce them by using the correct selling platforms and payment methods.

He's currently left it for sale on eBay, we're going to decide today whether to continue with it or take it off.

I think I'd like to do collection only really but as someone else said they could send a courier.

@Roszie

He's currently left it for sale on eBay, we're going to decide today whether to continue with it or take it off.

I think I'd like to do collection only really but as someone else said they could send a courier.

Do you mean the buyer could send a courier?

If so that's really not a good idea, and opens up a lot of potential problems.

Also you're really limiting your final price by saying collection only which attracts a smaller pool of buyers, but then allowing a buyer to arrange for it to be collected by a courier on their behalf. If you're happy to allow a courier to collect, then you might as well offer postage that you're actually in control of and maximise the pool of potential buyers.

No I meant I don't want them to send a courier, that's just added hassle I think.

I think then it might be best to just let it continue and pray a decent person buys it.

I just hate how eBay is so heavily in favour of the buyer.

@19lottie82

The problem with computer parts is that it’s very easy for buyers to break them while fitting and then claim that it was faulty to begin with. Then eBay will always refund them.

This happened to us. Expensive graphics card. Buyer claimed it didn’t work and was refunded of course. He returned it and dh said he’d fitted it wrong and broken it/blown something. Sorry for lack of technical wording here Dh is an IT engineer.