>Chrstiane writes: > > I've never sold anything on Ebay, but I've already bought a little thing >> from it and followed auctions concerning view cameras there for a long time. >> So I'd add that you can add a "reserve" on your item, if that help you free >> your mind and put a lower bid entry : a reserve means that unless the biding >> get to that price, you won't sell it. I think (but I'm not sure) that you >> can decide to lower the reserve before the end of the auction (but I'm not >> sure of that).. Anyway, if you don't want to sell cheap, it's a good option. > >good points Chritiane > >have a look at one of my auctions as an example of how I describe an >item and the extent >I'll go to be as explicit as possible about what I'm selling and how >I am prepared to >trade: >http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1376040781&rd=1 > >language barriers can confuse transactions as well, but when I get >payment in Australian >dollars through a Mersyside bank account in the UK from someone in >Japan I have to smile >:-) > >Check the USPS site for countries that can cash US International >money orders, they are a >cheap and convenient way to make international transactions. Weird >thing is that even >though I can buy them here to send to sellers, they're not cashable in Oz.. > >karl What, no HTML Karl? Someone said (Sidney?) that the tariff problems should be the buyers - yes but the seller can ease the pain. For instance, used lenses into Canada should be tax free but only if you quote the correct exemption number on the customs form. Sometimes splitting the item - body, lens, etc - into separate parcels can avoid duty by keeping each parcel below a threshold (AU$1000 here). Postal Service insured air parcels tend to attract no duty while FedEx type couriers do, and the company will charge brokerage too. Labelling it a gift is a lie and could rebound. Underquoting the value is crazy if you're going to insure - that's all you can recover. I won't do either. Payment? US banks seem to have fainting fits if asked to generate a bank cheque in a foreign currency - banks in other countries can do this easily. Western Union is fast, simple and costly. Bank to bank Swift transfer is slower, awkward and still costly (it's a rip off). I take BidPay but wait two weeks for it to arrive and four weeks to clear plus a fee plus a lousy exchange rate. I don't think reserve auctions are a rip-off, like David (?) - just a seller trying to protect themselves from quiet weeks and the like. But you pay for setting a reserve and you can't reduce it except by relisting. Better to set your minimum acceptable price for the start price and set the price that you'd really love to get as the BIN (but keep it reasonable). Then drop both a little if you have to relist. That gives a buyer a visible bracket in which to operate - much fairer. An inducement to take the BIN price, like free shipping, is also a good approach for both sides. AndrewF
