Screening Buyers On Ebay

I am a beginner seller on ebay and have mainly sold clothing that's taking up room in my closet, but I also have a vintage electronics item around $150 that I am selling 'As-Is" no returns. I thoroughly described the item and that it worked the last time I used it 35 years ago, but cannot guarantee anything today, hence "As-Is." I receive a decent offer, but declined it because it came in at 3 in the morning buyer time on a Saturday without and comments. I was stereotyping that maybe people aren't thinking the best at that time, especially on a Saturday. Then this morning I receive another higher amount offer from the same potential buyer with no comments. So I send a message to potential buyer re-iterating the item is As-is no returns and ask if she/he has any questions about it. I receive a response back with no questions about my item, but that because my item is As-Is no returns, the latest offer (which is good in my opinion) is the highest they will offer. Potential buyer must have used his/her calculator because the latest offer amount is within cents of 10% off. First one was 15% off.

Potential buyer mainly buys stamps, knives and most recently the same type of vintage electronic item I am selling. Buyer has mentioned returning a couple of items in feedback left in the past, which I what I fear most and who knows what I will get back. Buyer has been member since 2005 and has around 1500 positive feedback comments as buyer.

I know some of you have a lot of experience selling, so based on what I described, would you take a chance on this buyer?

Do you have any ingenious ways to screen buyers on higher priced items?

Torin - The term as-is really has no meaning on ebay under their terms and conditions. If you state that a particular thing is wrong or does not work and picture damage/flaws you have a better chance but don't count on it. Also, the term "used" means that whatever it is works or is in the state that you describe (one button missing, ejector broken etc.) Just the way it is. It is always a roll of the dice.

Others will no doubt have differing opinions.

If the buyer has 1500+ feedbacks and a history of buying your type of item, I'd say they're legit, probably as legit as you're likely to see, to be honest. The next offer to come along is just as likely to be from a newly registered user, or someone with sub-50 feedbacks and no history of buying your item. I'm generally pretty leery of low-feedback buyers and will take some extra precautions with them, but I've had very few issues with higher feedback buyers. I don't generally sell electronics, though.

As to the time of day the offer came in - some people are just night owls, some might work a late shift, etc. I wouldn't let that sway you. I have buyers placing orders at all hours of the day and night (mine as well as theirs).

And as rogdcam mentioned, if they (or any buyer) wants to return it, ebay will let them, and/or will issue them an automatic refund, anyway. You could wait for the "perfect" buyer to come along in the hopes you'll have all your bases covered, and if something rubs them the wrong way, ebay is still going to resolve any dispute in their favor, almost no matter what.

Respectfully, you're overthinking this a bit. Buyer sounds as good as you'll see, and people buy things online at all hours of the day & night. I've sold considerably higher ticket items to buyers with much less feedback, and in thousands of sales, have only had a few I'd consider "bad".

Your comments are much appreciated. I am naturally cautious hence my OP. I even think that ebay should partner with social media companies or video conference applications to where buyers and sellers could interact and then form their own opinions. Done all the time when people buy a used car from a private party.

Speaking for myself, I'd pass right on by any seller who insisted on "interviewing" me prior to taking my money. As a seller, I also don't want to mess with this with potential buyers, either. ebay would also likely never allow it because buyer and seller could talk about how to buy it off of ebay, thus cutting them out of it altogether.

The whole point of marketplaces such as ebay, with their buyer protections, feedback system and other things, is to allow people to buy confidently from total strangers. People can already post things for sale on Facebook - and presumably other social media platforms - with their own terms and conditions. If it's important that buyer meet seller and vice versa, one of those platforms is a better fit than ebay and one should probably forego ebay altogether.

+1, automatic red flag as a buyer. I'd move along and look elsewhere.

Hi Torin

Would also not get too deep about your buyers.

The possibilities are endless on how buyers work things out. Just keep the door open.

What would you do if the Buyer didn't make an offer but just bought it? You would have no choice but to sell it to them. Buying and selling on ebay requires a certain amount of trust on both sides and for some folks ebay just doesn't work.

I've sold vintage electronic equipment (with tubes).I always test things and let them run for a while before even thinking about selling it.
If it is working ,then the proper listing should read 'in working order".
Componants could break down during shipping. One should consider that also.
Super packing is obligatory...
A buyer with experience with this sort of material will be able to decide on the spot.
good luck

The road goes on forever and the party never ends.

Rules and conditions:
1. Newbies should never sell an expensive item on ebay if they cannot afford to lose both the item and their money.
2. "as-is" and no returns does not exist. If ebay sides with the buyer in a dispute, they will fully refund the buyer and tell them to keep the item.
3. Selling items that don't work or are damaged is looking for trouble.
4. Never communicate with a prospective buyer outside of ebay messaging.
5. Don't be paranoid - I wake up almost every morning and see that I sold items during night.

Good luck,

I've sold all manner of items on ebay in the last 25 years, from stamps and coins, to music CDs and DVDs, to collectible wristwatches, to vintage audio equipment.

In today's ebay climate and ESPECIALLY as a newbie seller, I would avoid anything in the consumer electronics arena, including cellphones, computer equipment, audio equipment, etc..

1. If you are not 100% certain that the item is FULLY operational, you are asking for trouble unless you advertise it as "Not working, for parts only."

2. Consumer electronics are typically bulky, heavy items. Return shipping for a SNAD return could absolutely kill you, especially when ebay gets to determine how much you pay for the return (which is frequently the case).

3. Consumer electronics items, especially vintage items, are delicate creatures, fragile and easily damaged in transit. This is just asking for problems.

tl;dr: I wouldn't do it.

perf12: Thank you for the suggestion. I cannot test this item because it requires a part that's not readily sold anymore. Think of a typewriter (not the actual item) where the last time you used it it works, but because you need a certain part to test it and that part is hard to find for the average and now disinterested user, the typewrite cannot be tested to see if it still works.

Awardmasters and revenuecollector: Your points make sense and are valid from the more cautious perspective. Do you think a lot of sellers who sell mobile phones on ebay get scammed and regret not trading them in or selling to a online buying company for less?

IMO, you have this flipped. It's usually cell phone sellers that are scamming the buyers.

As an update to my OP, I decided to accept the offer from the night owl and everything worked out well and I received positive feedback as a seller.

I have one more electronic item to sell--a used film camera in high demand worth about $500. ebay prices for this camera are far higher (about double) than prices offered by used camera websites.

Since it has a lithium battery, I am limited to ground shipping. Would shipping it USPS Retail Ground/USPS Parcel Select Ground with Signature Confirmation be good protection against a claim of not receiving it? Is there less chance of a perpetual "In Transit--Arriving Late" status with USPS Ground shipping vs Priority Mail? Would be the worst luck if I get that status and had to refund buyer. Then I am out camera and have an equally disappointed customer.

Torin, you can state in you listing that the item will ship registered mail if sold or if sold over $400 (or some such number). While registered is a few dollars more in shipping, the buyer knows you are serious about getting the item to him or her with verification of arrival for yourself.

One buyer scam for camera equipment is to buy an item., body or lens, remove a needed part for repair and claim you shipped a defective or altered item demanding return and refund. Avoid low feedback buyers.