The least risk is?

Hi,
I've been reading some aweful things about selling goods on ebay. It sounds like sellers face a lot of risk; and there are a few stories of great loss. The compulsary regulations regarding paypal seem very problematic. Is it really just greatly exaggerated?
Up to now I have been purchasing quite nicely. I have only ever received decals because they can be posted in an envelope. Other items purchased, whether purchased on ebay, or my first item purchased here (an alter) are sent to my sister in Ealing. She'll bring it, when she visits soon, or I may ask some friend going on a trip, if its possible. I've somehow managed to accrue parts in the US, Germany and Austria. All in all, buying, doesn't seem problematic and paying with paypal is truthfully very simple.

Obviously, here at home, in my corner of South Africa, I've managed to amass a considerable collection. Introspection output = TOO much! Considering that I'm 6'7", some of the beautiful frames I have, are of no use to me. They have served only to satiate my want for a collection of beautiful Italian steel frames. Now, however, I labour for space and want to sell them. Although a feeble rationale, I also need to prove to the missus, that, I don't "have a problem" and "need to talk to somebody about it".
At the moment I've earmarked 5 frames and framesets.
Yes, I have tried to sell them locally. I follow similar frames on e-bay and hence am aware of values achieved. I haven't expected to duplicate that because its just a different market. But, regrettably I am unable to achieve a fraction of that locally. They are not as 'in demand' as modern frames and I am honestly not prepared to let something so precious go for nothing. Like every other cyclist, I'm already eyeing that beautiful wheelset or other latest and greatest, so I may as well make a decent sale.

So, I started to invetigate the requirements for sellers on e-bay. One week later, my head is still reeling. All the homework is done regarding logistic options and costs to various key Cities in the world. I also looked at the costs from ebay and paypal. Now, it alls come down to: Payment method and risk. This is the matter leaving me hesitant to take the first step.
Is it that risky?? Does it only have to happen once that your transaction is reversed?
Do I engage in 5 seperate transactions, 5 seperate efforts and 5 seperate risks?
Do I ship to my sister and insist on collection only?.. Which limits me to buyers in London only?
Are there any inside tips and tricks? Do I open an account to receive a paypal payment, clear it, withdraw the funds and close the account to ensure that it cannot be reversed? Do I do this for each transaction? Will this be difficult with first time seller rules?
pfff..I'm I supposed to adopt an attitude that this is like gambling and that if you loose you loose, and that you accept that even before you place the bet? I'm not prepared to take that chance to be honest. Does that mean that: ebay selling is not for me?

As a completely separate question: are there huge duties and clearance fees that will have to be paid when these frames reach British shores?

I'd really appreciate your help here. Please dont torch me, I just would like to dabble in this and if I can extract a good value through this, then that would be great.

OK, so what do we have to buy then?

The EC90 fork, and a new wheelset are burning my arse

Got a feeling you'll have a Colnago titanio 1996 up for sale. £500 rings a bell as well somehow ;-)
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread27371.html

International money transfer is usually the cheapest are get your sister to sell them for you locally.

Put an ad on here first and see how it goes. At least you don't pay the listing fee and you still have the PayPal protection.
The only advice would be to wait for the payment to clear (ie. is transfered from PayPal to your account) before you post. If the payment is made with the credit card (and not with a debit card) the buyer can always use the chargeback facility if they're dodgy under the excuse, that the item wasn't as described or they haven't received it.

are we allowed to bitch about your prices, tarbaby?

only send items using a service that can track it to the person front door.

remember its a buyers market in that people can complain about the slightest thing and use feedback a leverage tool and they know it.

setting up and closing paypal accounts is not the way forward and you will find problematic as the new account will have to be verified each time.

shipping to your sister will be fine but not every buyer is going to want to collect from your sister where ever she lives.

Put an ad on here first and see how it goes. At least you don't pay the listing fee and you still have the PayPal protection.
The only advice would be to wait for the payment to clear (ie. is transfered from PayPal to your account) before you post. If the payment is made with the credit card (and not with a debit card) the buyer can always use the chargeback facility if they're dodgy under the excuse, that the item wasn't as described or they haven't received it.

Thats the part I dont get. Paypal protection as i understand it, is for buyers only.

only send items using a service that can track it to the person front door.

*remember its a buyers market in that people can complain about the slightest thing and use feedback a leverage tool and they know it.*

setting up and closing paypal accounts is not the way forward and you will find problematic as the new account will have to be verified each time.

shipping to your sister will be fine but not every buyer is going to want to collect from your sister where ever she lives.

enormously concerning..and a basis for a buyer to do reversals.

I know what you mean. They made it awful for sellers now - both eBay and PayPal. As long as you keep the proof of posting it should be OK. It's good to make up some simple rules and both sides agree on them (ie. no refund, item as seen etc.)

@jaw: yup its one of them

@BRM: bitching could be part of the process. I use it, successfully.

Are there any inside tips and tricks? Do I open an account to receive a paypal payment, clear it, withdraw the funds and close the account to ensure that it cannot be reversed? Do I do this for each transaction? Will this be difficult with first time seller rules??.

I think alot of people have their PayPal account connect to separate bank account which they the periodically empty to their current account. I not sure that your PayPal account can be overdrawn. Hopefully someone can give more info on this.

As a completely separate question: are there huge duties and clearance fees that will have to be paid when these frames reach British shores?.

Yes.
Personally I'd be up front about posting from SA, and that all duties are the responability of the buyer. As someone based in Norway, I never expect the sellers of the bits I buy to be experts on the various duties involved in importing goods here. That said I have asked that certian values be marked down to reduce these costs, but only at my own risk. I have heard of the buyer protection rules in the PayPal system being used to abuse this.

I think alot of people have their PayPal account connect to separate bank account which they the periodically empty to their current account. I not sure that your PayPal account can be overdrawn. Hopefully someone can give more info on this.

Yes it can be overdrawn if there's a reversed charge. What's worse, they'll try to charge your current account repeatedly (incurring bank charges) through DD if you established one previously to finance the eBay fees.

The only solution I can see, is for you to sell your lovely italian frames to us on the cheap. Cuz you can trust us, cant you.
See, look, a smilie :)

I ride a 53/54 effective top tube.

The only solution I can see, is for you to sell your lovely italian frames to us on the cheap. Cuz you can trust us, cant you.
See, look, a smilie :)

I'm under the impression most members are looking for track frames. Get this idea when I rifle through your bike porn threads. Well, these aren't track frames

Yes it can be overdrawn if there's a reversed charge. What's worse, they'll try to charge your current account repeatedly (incurring bank charges) through DD if you established one previously to finance the eBay fees.

These are the dangers that I have made myself aware of and don't like to read.

I'm under the impression most members are looking for track frames. Get this idea when I rifle through your bike porn threads. Well, these aren't track frames

I think there is a fair few that have a taste for classic road frames. Not nearly as big a market as Ebay though, and if you are goning to find the buyer with the right size, right taste in brand/tubing/colour etc. you really need a big market. Seems popular on higher price item to request bidders have a minimum feedback rating. cant see how this offers much protection though.

I *Seems popular on higher price item to request bidders have a minimum feedback rating.*

Never knew that you could specify that. Thats valuable, thanks

i think personally, the best idea is to ship to your sister, collection only, or she could post by a tracked courier, only payment via paypal, i think you should be fine.

i've had problems with ebay but it has just been people selling me shit without mentioning the problems.

edit: and it all worked out for me in the end.

never had any problems selling, if you describe the item accurately, and ship tracked, you're golden

As long as you keep the proof of posting it should be OK. It's good to make up some simple rules and both sides agree on them (ie. no refund, item as seen etc.)

proof of posting means nothing in the computer brain of paypal. there is no human to solve the problem and if there is they are working from a script.
paypal - "have you got proof it was delivered ie signature?"
seller - "no"
paypal - "then you refund the buyer"
seller - "but they said they wanted cheap postage with no tracking"
paypal - "have you got proof it was delivered ie signature?"
seller - "no"
paypal - "then you refund the buyer, good bye and thank you for using paypal"

remember also most buyers below a certain selling price do not read descriptions.

the lower the price of an item the more chance you have of having a problem with the buyer (i promise you this)

even though it might not be read its best to highlight every flaw you can find even if it sounds or feels like you are talking the item down.

sorry if i missed something.

you can just do cheap tracked and enter the code and paypal gets it. you can also open a dispute and get a human to review it.

To be honest, I'd be weary of a new eBay user (with no feedback) from overseas sellings loads of expensive road frames.

To be honest, I'd be weary of a new eBay user (with no feedback) from overseas sellings loads of expensive road frames.

Shall I build up a rep first? Say sell a few stems or skewers to get some points? The question then becomes: how many? Or the corollary: is 10 enough for example?

Yep, start selling some low value items first. Maybe buy a few things too.

Include as many pics and as much description as possible in your auction listing.

BTW a tip to get around fees for pictures is just to upload them to a site like Photobucket and link to them from there. Saves a few quid. For example here's one of my recent listings:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260476686627