tin can I sell everything via auction, and I start the bidding low, most of the times at a penny. If it sells for a penny, so be it.
I sell everything via auction, and I start the bidding low, most of the times at a penny. If it sells for a penny, so be it.
Rich
Alton Junction
I have no complaints about USPS.. I bought three Accurail 40' boxcars last Sunday and recieved them today.
For any enquiring minds wanting to know those three boxcars was two Santa Fes and a West India Fruit & Steamship with the car ferry logo.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Good evening
I never dabbled with selling things on eBay. I'm a good buyer though I probably should try it. I have a lot of stuff I could part with. I don't know that I would be concerned about having a reserve on selling something that's not in use. I think I would set a below reasonable starting bid though.
It seems some here are not having delays with the Postal Service. I hope I can have some good luck like that as I'm pretty anxious to get the stuff I bought.
I have one of those West India Fruit cars with the Steamship on it somewhere in these Stacks Randy. I like that one
TF
Personally, I find a seller that won't accept returns a red flag. It's often a sign that there may be an issue that they know about.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
And that is the way I think Marlon. My point exactly.
A seller should preview all their products for sale to the best of their ability so they don't have problems with their buyers in the first place. It's to their own best interest to keep their buyers confident buying from them.
A problem and a return once in awhile maintains their satisfied customer rating. That is a good thing.
Once upon a time it was called excellent customer service. I noticed the sellers in the top 90% rating still have it. I'm always confident buying from them.
Medina1128 Personally, I find a seller that won't accept returns a red flag. It's often a sign that there may be an issue that they know about.
One might think that. But I've noticed a lot of sellers list no returns. Are they all selling dodgy items? As someone pointed out earlier, it might be they've had dodgy buyers who have remorse or soemthing.
Following up on my two items that were 10 days and hadn't shown up, they showed up later that day and took 10 days. A long time compared to last year before the pandemic, but they arrived. My wife reported she ordered a new screen set for our gazebo and it never did arrive. Supposedly the tracking says it was delivered but we never got it. She disputed it via PayPal and we got our money back. So that's two things we never did get. One was a spice rack ordered from Amazon - tracking trail went cold at the post office (never received) and the Gazebo mosquito net, tracking says it was delivered be we never received it) Both situtaions were rectiifed. My wife to this day thinks we have a dodgy mail lady.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I'm pretty sure I've bought from sellers who
riogrande5761 Medina1128 Personally, I find a seller that won't accept returns a red flag. It's often a sign that there may be an issue that they know about. One might think that. But I've noticed a lot of sellers list no returns. Are they all selling dodgy items? As someone pointed out earlier, it might be they've had dodgy buyers who have remorse or soemthing.
Another good point well taken.
I agree with you on this point as well. I see sellers that have a way around this issue. A seller having in thier policy- Returned items, unless defective or damaged, the buyer will pay return shipping.
I have never had a problem with a policy like that as I understand why. It makes a buyer think twice before kicking tires when they realize they will have out-of-pocket expenses for a returned item just because they didn't like it.
Sorry to hear you didn't receive some of the things your wife bought Rio. That would really suck if you have a five finger discount mail lady.
My E-Bay experience has been good for non model railroad items and has been poor for model railroad items. My model railroad items was a matter of spending more money to correct the problem or bite the bullet and live with it, I took the latter. Also I read somewhere where USPS is having problems, expect delays, but I did not see the reason why. I do know that some of my Amazon items which normally come via USPS are now UPS.
Track fiddler I have never had a problem with a policy like that as I understand why. It makes a buyer think twice before kicking tires when they realize they will have out-of-pocket expenses for a returned item just because they didn't like it. Sorry to hear you didn't receive some of the things your wife bought Rio. That would really suck if you have a five finger discount mail lady. TF
I'm pretty sure I've purchased from sellers that list no-returns. I know Ebay protects the buyer anyway so it hasn't put me off. Usually the sellers have a 99.9 or 100% rating. I've had a couple items with a defect in the past year. One arranged for me to return the items and refunded me, the other refunded my money and didn't require the item be returned. All was made satisfactorallly well.
As for the two wifes orders that never came, Amazon replaced and resent the spice rack so we got it after a delay. As for the gazebo misquito net, we disputed it via PayPal and got our money back. The only bad thing is the item was on sale for a good price so we ended up not getting one at this time. The one we have now is ok, but they wear out so wife wanted a replacement one. It just seems odd the tracking shows it was delivered - only possibilities is it was taken by the postal lady, stolen off the porch (if so, first time i am aware of) or a glitch in the postal tracking system; and from what I've heard in past few months, that is not uncommon with the postal issues during the Pandemic.
The good news is, while while many of us have experienced some inconveniences, few have had any real losses. Mostly issues seem to be long transit times.
I have mentioned before in this thread that I use eBay to sell used items that I no longer need or want. I, for one, do not offer returns. And that is not at all unusual for individuals selling used items. In fact, a no return return policy is the default option when setting up an eBay listing. I don't believe that a no return policy signals any sort of mischievious behavior.
As for USPS shipping delays, I have recently sold items that have yet to be delivered three weeks later. Some have never been scanned, others have only infrequently been tracked. The problem is within the distribution centers where items lay stacked on the floor for days and weeks at a time.
Someone suggested that the problem may simply be my local distribution here in northern Illinois, but just Google "USPS package delays" and you will see that the problem is nationwide. The cause is understaffing, the elimination of overtime, and the mandate by the new Postmaster General that package processing and delivery be intentionally slowed down for budgetary reasons, but the issue is also political.
riogrande5761I'm pretty sure I've purchased from sellers that list no-returns. I know Ebay protects the buyer anyway so it hasn't put me off. Usually the sellers have a 99.9 or 100% rating.
riogrande5761 makes a very importnat point here. If you have a no return policy and you're 100% in your feedback over a significant number of sales, that's a really strong sign there's little to worry about the no return policy. I've got over 500 ratings and am still at 100% for instance.
If you're keeping people happy, then there's data that's solid.
As for those who do offer return policies for various reasons, often they are sellers with large numbers of sales, i.e. there's some sort of commercial outfit involved. That sort volume speaks to two things. First, there's plenty of sales in which the occassional misstep might happen because you can't really tell about all the problems that might arise in trading in what were orginally other people's stuff. Second, large sales volumes mean that the returns you do handle are just a small part of the cost of doing business.
For inidvidual sellers, that's really a different kettle of fish. You know what you're selling so can accurately describe the defects a used item may have.
That plus as was also noted, ebay and Paypal have policies that if an items is not as described, you can likely make the case for a refund from them and let them sort it out with the seller. That's also never happened with me.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
E-bay will make them return money for shipping defective or wrong item.
Evening
Well, I learned a lot about ebay here that I didn't know before and I thank you guys for the input.
I'm actually kind of new to eBay about a year or two ago. What I gathered here is between ebay and PayPal's policies, one can't really lose.
The tracking on the Dockside says it will be here Tuesday. I'm crossing my fingers for the postal service on time. I'm hopeful it runs good.
Hey! Thanks for all the feedback here
Got it
Dockside came today and this thing is like new in the box, Flawless. It doesn't even have any wear or blemishing on the wheels.
The thing runs like a top. It's not the Baltimore & Ohio I once had but who cares.
These little switchers are hard to come by in good shape and the price was right. $27.00 shipping included.
Happy here
P.S. This is the prime example of what stalls on the frog. Perhaps I will have to Gun-It periodically until I have some Frog Juice on hand.
I sell items I no longer want on ebay. I never offer returns. I'm not a store doing business, just a guy selling my personal stuff, and I'm not entertaining the notion of accomodating buyer's remorse.
Broken, damaged, or not "as described" items are protected under ebay buyers policy regardless if I offer returns or not.
Sometimes I get questions about an item I'm selling, and while I answer the question best I can, I encourage prospective bidders to educate themselves about what they are bidding on as to not have buyer's remorse in the first place.
I price my items at what is usually fair market value since most of my itmes sell with only 1 or 2 bids. I assume the buyer knows the item and its general value by taking time to shop around.
- Douglas
Doughless I sell items I no longer want on ebay. I never offer returns. I'm not a store doing business, just a guy selling my personal stuff, and I'm not entertaining the notion of accomodating buyer's remorse. Broken, damaged, or not "as described" items are protected under ebay buyers policy regardless if I offer returns or not. Sometimes I get questions about an item I'm selling, and while I answer the question best I can, I encourage prospective bidders to educate themselves about what they are bidding on as to not have buyer's remorse in the first place. I price my items at what is usually fair market value since most of my itmes sell with only 1 or 2 bids. I assume the buyer knows the item and its general value by taking time to shop around.
Makes sense to me Douglas.
I volunteer on a tourist RR and last Jan my wife ordered me a new conductor hat , from China. She just asked for a refund as a no show, (Jan. to Aug).
On the other hand I ordered two volt/amp meters from China, got them in two weeks or less. Cost was $0.35 each with free shipping. How can they sell something that cheap w/free shipping? It defies reason in my mind. Guess the world is wacky, but I've still got my trains and NOTHING EVER goes wacky in that world.
I
Do be aware that you often cannot return things shipped from China, as
1. it often takes more than 30 days to even ship to you, sometimes the return option expires
2. its a pain to ship things internationally, and often not worthwhile.
Charles
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Modeling the Santa Fe & Pennsylvania in HO
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLb3FRqukolAtnD1khrb6lQ
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
Bing MattsonHow can they sell something that cheap w/free shipping?
We can't discuss the reason for that in here because it will lead to a political discussion, and that is not allowed.
You can easily find the answer from online news sources.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I’ve been selling stuff recently. The “no return“ is the default from Ebay.
Many folk selling on ebay or for that matter at shows are not "train people" They buy estates and anything they think they can make a profit on and sell it at those venues. They might run it back and forth on a piece of track to see if it runs, but judging its running qualities is where the "but" comes in. As our perception of how it runs maybe different than theirs. The no return part is about the same as buying a model and taking it home, then trying to return it(used engines). IMHO, the best looking dockside outside of a brass one is the old AHM/Rivarossi version. But it has deep flanges, so code 100 track only. The older Varney that has had the valve gear upgrades done looks good as well and pulls much better. But finding one with the correct upgraded valve gear is not that easy and you cant just go out and buy those parts these days. A brass one is the top of the line route and once remotored with a modern can motor, will outperform all the others. I dont let the "no returns" dictate whether I buy or not. I let my own judgement of the model do the talking, its not a perfect system but works most of the time. Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
I buy and sell on Ebay often.
I routinely offer returns--if you don't, the items don't sell very well.
I refuse to buy from ANY seller that does not offer returns. I just recently made a mistake and goofed--and seller did not know the item nearly as well as I do. In fact the seller is not into trains at all. I got a defective item and am trying to return it for a refund, but I'll be out more than $50 shipping for both directions.
If you only buy from people who accept returns, you are LESS likely to receive a defective item.
John Mock
PRR8259If you only buy from people who accept returns, you are LESS likely to receive a defective item.
I have also found this to be true, but my sampling size is mighty small. The only defective items I have received (2 or 3) were from sellers not taking returns.
I also think that when a seller says "this item has not been tested, so I do not know if it works or not" actually means "I tested it and it does not work".
It amazes me that some sellers can test functional locomotives, and mark them as "tested and works correctly", but other locomotives from the same seller are "untested because I cannot test this type of item.
I'm still not getting the problem.
Defective items are covered under the EBAY buyer protection policy.
There is ample room for a clear decription of the item. Pictures also help describe the item.
If its defective, or arrives broken, or in any way different than how it was described, then the buyer claims the item is "Not as described", and the seller must refund the money AND pay return shipping.
Even if the seller "does not accept returns".
There is a gray area. That is when the seller described things not too clearly. Or waivers on condition. Or doesn't inlcude enough pictures. Or descibed it as New when it is not, etc.
But that is about a buyer gambling on something..buying based upon poor or unclear descriptions...making assumptions about the condition etc....that wasn't in the description.
If you're unclear, unsure, etc. its probably because that's how the item was presented. Don't buy.
It has absolutely nothing to do with the seller's return policy.
DoughlessI'm still not getting the problem. Defective items are covered under the EBAY buyer protection policy.
Hi Douglas, not sure if your post was directed towards me or not.
I was only stating that I do get defective items from time to time (rarely), not that I was unable to get a refund, eventually.
The ebay buyer protection system has worked for me when normal requests to the seller did not.
E-bay is a crap shoot, but I'd never purchase anything without a return policy.
I'd never get a loco 2nd-hand. Having been burned with a used car, I refuse to get anything motorized old.
Normally, I absolutely refuse to buy ANYTHING from a seller who won't accept returns, and this is WHY:
In my latest Ebay purchase, either I goofed and missed that, or the seller changed the auction after I bought, to not accept returns. It looks like I goofed and messed up big time this time.
I bought a BLI Santa Fe 4-8-4, actually number 3751, Paragon 3, latest run.
Smokestack does NOT fit right. Someone not only turned it on a lathe (it is still out of round), to make it fit "better", but it still won't fit flush (appears to be hitting smoke unit which is slightly out of alignment inside the boiler). It was also force-fit and has cracked the smoke box!
This item is not "new" or "mint".
Seller is 82, and bought it for his grandchildren. Clearly knows very little about trains.
I took the nice and civil approach of keeping things respectful. I even offered to eat the shipping cost BOTH ways if he'd refund my money for just the engine, which he agreed to do.
Now he has received the engine back, claims there is no crack when there actually is (his eyes are 82) and refuses to give me my money back. Stated last night he is sending the item BACK to me.
I immediately contacted Ebay to go through THEIR formal return policy, which is going to be a major hassle, to get MY money ($290 for just the engine, and I'm out more than $40 shipping) back.
Also, his shipping was horrible. Threw item into box with 3 or 4 pieces of crumped up paper. The BLI box was freely bouncing around inside the shipping box when I got the model the first time. By a miracle it had only one damaged corner.
If I don't get satisfaction from Ebay, I will out the seller and post his name on here for everyone to see, so they don't buy trains from him.
The crack is a hairline and I didn't think I could get a good photo of it. Stack will not fit flush as is supposed to but remains loose even if you try to force it tight.
SeeYou190 Doughless I'm still not getting the problem. Defective items are covered under the EBAY buyer protection policy. Hi Douglas, not sure if your post was directed towards me or not. I was only stating that I do get defective items from time to time (rarely), not that I was unable to get a refund, eventually. The ebay buyer protection system has worked for me when normal requests to the seller did not. -Kevin
Doughless I'm still not getting the problem. Defective items are covered under the EBAY buyer protection policy.
Nah, if I was directing something at you, I'm not shy about using the quote function. But yours may have been added to an environment that implied a buyer is more likley to get a defective item from a seller who doesn't accept returns. (Not that you were making that assumption) As a general rule, I don't think that assumption is accurate.
As a seller and buyer on ebay, I have had many more problems with buyers than sellers. If I accepted returns, it would encourage buyers, say, to win a bidding war, then return the item for what ever reason they wanted (including sleeping on it then waking up realizing they spent too much). Turns out to be nothing but a big waste of time for him, me , and the other bidders. My patient, 7 day listing just became fodder for somebody's emotions in the last 5 minutes.
I recently sold an item to a buyer who won a bidding war and paid $280 for a loco I spent $130 to buy. I think its a good thing that I don't accept returns. Good thing I described the item properly.
A reason that some may get defective items from buyers is because the seller never described the item correctly or with enough detail to begin with.
If they say, runs great, and the buyer finds out it doesn't run great, then the seller is responsible. Of course, "great" may be in the eye of the beholder. In this case, the issue is not whether or not the seller accepts returns, its whether the seller described the item clearly or the buyer was willing to buy somehting with a judgmental description. Buyer is taking the risk.
As a side note, interesting policy Train World has. Buyers who have "frequent returns" are banned from shopping at TW.