Selling on eBay

[RolfSis]

Top notch information! So it sound like we should sell other things c/o eBay and Paypal before listing our '71 240Z to get some feedback first. Sure appreciate the guidance everyone has listed in this thread.

[sblake01]

Asta, you might not even need eBay once you're ready to sell if your asking price is still $4100. Though I'm not in the market, I've been following your posts about the car and I doubt you'll have any problem selling at that price.

[dade280]

Good info.

When buying be careful of low priced items with high shipping costs. This is usually a scam. Ebay will refund the price of the item but not the shipping.

I wish i hadnt got scammed and that cold air intake for my 280 would of came but i learned my lesson

[FHPTOM]

I find myself trying to decide if I want to continue my next project a 1977 280Z that has rust issues on most body panels(small sections) but a nice interior and engine.

If I sell as a whole car all I want is what I have in it $500.00. Alot of people say part it out. What kind of cash increase are you looking at compared to the amount of time required to tear it all apart?

For me I think TIME is the most important factor. I have so many other things that need to get done it would have to be a great increase in revenue returned to justify the time involved.

Tom

[RolfSis]

Thanks you so much, Stephen. I've sent Email to this site Administrator to inquire about the Paypal options on this site to get things going to sell here vs. eBay or some AutoTrader, etc.

[WingZr0]

Awesome idea for a thread rdefabri.

Here tips from me.

What ever you do don't pay those ridiculous Ebay fees for listing more than 1

picture in your auction.

I remember being able to get 3 pictures for free if I'm correct, but now you

only get 1 free pic with .15 cents for each adittional.

I use Photobucket to host all of my images and

then use a HMLT Code (Hot Mail) to add pictures to my auctions for

free

Heres how it works

and the links to each step.

~1

Go to Photobucket.com and sign up for an account.

http://photobucket.com/

~2

Go to your auction description where you would type the description and

switch it from "Normal" view to "HTML".

At this point the description section of the listing will switch into HTML mode

whitch is a type of computer code for those who don't know, but don't worry

cause it's all in English and not 0's and 1's like computer programming.

The HTML code for pictures is IMG SRC="next.jpg" set in between

these 2 symbols < and > .

Had I typed this code the correct way above it shows up as a box with

an X cause there is no image linked to it yet such as this one below.

<IMG SRC="next.jpg">

Take his HTML code and cut and paste it at the top of the descrpition as

many times as you have pictures.

Then take the Photobucket Direct Link address of your photo and paste it between the

two perenthesis (" ") of the HTML Code above.

For example your code should look like this typed,

IMG SRC="http://classiczcars.com/images/z_sketch.jpg"

once again set between these symboles < AND >.

And appear as this.

<IMG SRC="http://classiczcars.com/images/z_sketch.jpg">

You can go back to Normal view and drag and drop your pictures around according to

how you want them in your auction description.

Your free ebay picture can be used as you Gallery image and with your Ebay

picture setup on "photos on bottom" it will be the last pic out of the

way of your other photos

Note this paticular code works for JPEG format images only as

far as I know but could work for GIFS and others.

~3

All of your auctions should come out looking like this for example.

Notice how many pictures I have on my auction and all of them are free

thyanx to Photobucket and a small bit of HTML Code

Auction example link click here!

To sum it up.

You can resize your images on Photobucket's website to whats

called "forum" size.

The Pics in my example auction are this size and are the 100% full size I set

them for on Photobucket whitch the HTML Code will

automaticly use.

So be sure to resize you pics to a resonable size so they

don't show up humongous.

Increments of 25%, 50% and 100% when resizing work best to

not make your pictures become pixalated

Also when taking pics treat it like artwork and remember "Composition"

and good clear shots with good descriptions.

Heres a link that describes some HTML Codes in further detail.

Do some reseach for other HTML codes on how to add music and such

and creating other kinds of links

http://www.pageresource.com/html/image3.htm

~Z~

[BRE-240Z]

I've been buying and selling on eBay for over ten years now, and the best advice that I can give anyone is to pay attention to buyer and seller feedback. If someone has a 95% feedback score or less, there's a reason for that and it might be a good idea to investigate. The other thing would be to communicate your desires and intentions to both buyers and to sellers (but especially when you're the seller). When someone buys something from you and pays for it, email them to let them know that payment was received, and send them a tracking number if you have one. Keeps everybody happy.

There are scammers out there, so be aware of that. If something sounds odd, it probably sounds that way for a reason....just listen to your instincts.

[bkelly]

I would highly advise NOT selling cars on ebay. I've lost over $100 in fees in the past two months. Long story short- I tried selling my Mustang that I don't drive anymore. 91, 19k miles, 100% stock, etc, etc. It's still new. The first time I list it I get about 10 emails asking for stupid trades and all that other BS. So this guy emails me saying its the first time he's bought anything and to walk him through it. So he uses buy it now and since he said he would drive up to pay me in a few days, I waved the deposit. So he gets here and is going over the car with a fine tooth comb. Then he gets all irate with me saying that I lied to him. The AC wasn't converted so that is what he was pissed off about. Even though he legally bought the car AS IS, he refused to buy it unless I knocked thousands off. I almost wound up calling the police on him because he was getting right in my face. So this douche bag finally leaves and drive 8 hours back home because he's a low balling Ahole.

I list it again a week later. Again I get literally 25 emails asking for trades and completely absurd low ball offers. This one guy was trying to offer me $5000 and he would drive down TODAY if I accepted. The car is worth $12000. I had 50 people watching the auction and it ended with not one person bidding. Why? All people try to do is deal with you outside ebay and try and get you to sell it at a lower price.

Guess who is responsible for the auction fee if you get a dead beat? YOU!!!!!! That's right, if somebody bids and they don't pay YOU get stuck with the fee!! Even though you are required to enter a credit card when you sign up, if you bid on something, no matter how much it is and don't pay for it, the auction lister is liable for the listing fee. Since a majority of people that would buy your car is from out of state, any type of legal action you could take against them becomes so expensive it's not worth it.

My advice is to stay the hell away from ebay for selling cars. Use Auto Trader, Craig's list, forums, etc.

[WingZr0]

Sorry ..

Also note the Code works for any image from any website as long

as you lnow the image addreas.

To find the addreas left click on the image, look under properties

and you'll see the address.

When copying it make sure you get the whole thing cause

sometimes there is more than 2 lines of informotion when cut and pasting

the address.

[sblake01]

I've been buying and selling on eBay for over ten years now,.......

Cars or other things? I only ask because these are two completely different ballgames. I'll buy parts or other things there but only after doing enough research to find that it's the only place I could find the item and that I like the price/shipping costs but I'd never even consider puchasing or selling a car on eBay. No more than I'd walk through a crime infested area to get to a grocery store.

[BRE-240Z]

Cars or other things? I only ask because these are two completely different ballgames. I'll buy parts or other things there but only after doing enough research to find that it's the only place I could find the item and that I like the price/shipping costs but I'd never even consider puchasing or selling a car on eBay. No more than I'd walk through a crime infested area to get to a grocery store.

I have only sold one vehicle on eBay - a hot 510 - and have never bought a vehicle on eBay.

Honestly, the experience of selling a vehicle on eBay was a mixed bag. There was a lot of interest in the car, and the price ended up at a level that I was comfortable with. Then the winning bidder flaked. "Oh, I just found out that I am really sick, the doctor thinks it's a bad idea for me to take on any projects", etc. You know, the typical BS.

I relisted and the sale went almost as high as the first auction, buyer came through, etc. So the relist was fine. But the stress associated with the first auction left a bad taste in my mouth.

So I'm not afraid of selling a car (or of buying one, as long as someone I trust checks it out first), but you have to know the risks going in. Member bkelly's experience is not unusual at all, unfortunately......

[MEZZZ]

I have been buying and selling on Ebay since 1999. For the most part, it is a GREAT TOOL for finding things, cleaning stuff up for $$ that I had laying around unused, etc. I have had great experiences on there, over 260 transactions, got burned once many years ago for a $20.00 item. I have bought 2 cars and a Harley and sold my Harley on Ebay, all positive experiences...

THEN.............I decided to buy my Z! BAD MOVE!!!

THe buyer listed the car as an unmolested, unrestored '77 bought from the original owner. Runs great, no smoke, no leaks, NO RUST, just a great car...new carpet just installed, needs seats replaced and with a paint job, this could be a show car! I send 23 follow up emails, asking VERY SPECIFIC questions...get the answers I was looking for, called seller and we spoke, I bid on the car, hit the reserve of $4,000. Bought the car, sent a cashiers check 8-17, supposed to get the title via Fed Ex once seller got my check and then he was going to drop at shippers. Waited 3 weeks to get it to DAS, and here it is oct 31 and I STILL DONT HAVE THE TITLE!

Seller claims he MAILED it regular mail on 9-07, must have got lost.

I pick up the car and it is NOWHERE near what the seller claimed. Rust hole on the inner front fender behind the headlight bucket about 3 inches long, RUST on the frame rail, about a 2 inch HOLE, the ENTIRE underneath of the inner hatch is RUSTED AWAY! The radio, blower motor, e-brake didnt work. The front end feels wacky and the paint was AWFUL! Looked like someone used rattle cans on it and there was OVERSPRAY EVERYHWERE! All over the engine, hoses, belts, etc as the idiot sprayed right through the hood vents...all over the windshield, weatherstripping, wipers, even the console inside the car, silver paint everywhere!

I called, no response, email, no response, finally I turn the guy over to Ebay Fraud Dept. They find out seller bought the car only 4 weeks prior on a BUY IT NOW of $1750! He then flipped it with a reserve of $4000 without so much as an oil change ( as the oil filter had paint all over it too)...he didnt even vacuum the damn carpet! Then they find out after much hassle that the guy only applied to have the title transfered into his name on 10-3....6 weeks AFTER GETTING MY MONEY!

And the SAD THING IS, as long as the P.O.(S) gets me the title, EBAY WONT DO A DAMN THING! He got the title 2 days ago, and is sending it to the Fraud investigator only after attempting to hold it hostage in exchange for me not pressing forward with my threatened LAWSUIT!

Basically, the guy LIED about EVERYTHING, in email, on the phone and SCAMMED me out of alot of $$. And the only recourse I have is to sue the idiot becasue Ebays Fraud protection is a sham in my opinion.

At this point, the only thing I can do, is keep the car, fix the problems and love the car,,,or...sell it and take my loss and wash my hands of the whole mess.

I have offered a compromise, send me the title and $1000 of my money back, he still makes $1250 and I feel some vindication, but the guy has the nerve to say I am an extortionist and now wont take my call or reply to email. I may sue the bastard just because I can.

So, moral is, BE CAREFUL...it only takes one idiot on Ebay to screw you up bigtime!