A little Buying/Selling survey

[SionGilbey 1]

I'm just starting selling a few coins and was thinking about what the coin market wants, so I thought I'd start with some of the expert coin buyers/dealers here!

I think it will be quite educational.

What would you like eBay sellers to do in general that they don't at the moment?

Thanks, Sion

Edited April 3, 2011 by SionGilbey

[Peter 615]

Hi

Don't buy and sell on the same ID.

I've been raped on Ebay but also made silly money for crap.

I will put about 15 coins at a time .99p start and enjoy.

[TomGoodheart 400]

Hmm ... I think scans plus photos are useful. Those photos when someone holds a coin pick up the detail, but a scan can show surface problems.

As for listing times, well, when I buy obviously I want the listing to end when everyone else is at work and I'm not!! When I sell I tend to aim for the weekend from 7pm on because I'm generally expecting to sell to UK buyers and assume most people are around weekend evenings.

As for buying and selling I've ticked 'Other' too as I've bought and sold to other collectors I know and px'd my coins for one I want from a dealer.

Edited April 3, 2011 by TomGoodheart

[Red Riley 2]

If you're selling on e-bay;

1) Never put 'no returns'. It's an e-bay default but it puts me right off.

2) Use a sensible rate of postal charges.

3) Insert the best photos you can.

4) Always come across as a reasonable guy. Don't include great long lists of people banned from bidding. I saw one misanthrop last week get buttons for a very good coin. Since he banned half the world from bidding in the most miserable and mean-spirited way possible, I felt it served him right.

More when I think of it.

[argentumandcoins 70]

If you're selling on e-bay;

1) Never put 'no returns'. It's an e-bay default but it puts me right off.

2) Use a sensible rate of postal charges.

3) Insert the best photos you can.

4) Always come across as a reasonable guy. Don't include great long lists of people banned from bidding. I saw one misanthrop last week get buttons for a very good coin. Since he banned half the world from bidding in the most miserable and mean-spirited way possible, I felt it served him right.

More when I think of it.

Wasn't me was it Derek?

[TomGoodheart 400]

I'm fairly sure that in the UK the distance selling regulations mean that you can't refuse returns anyway. Admitedly, the right to return the item is limited to if it doesn't match the description given by the seller (or it wasn't theirs to sell) but it's still there.

Online auction rights

[Rob 3,152]

What would you like eBay sellers to do in general that they don't at the moment?

Thanks, Sion

To only list things that have a reasonable chance of selling, thereby filtering out a huge amount of dross. Ban anything where you can't identify the variety. Place a cap on the number of items of any one type listed at a time.

No way of enforcing any of the above though, so we are stuck with having to plough through the mountains of crap to find that coin in Fine. Better still, search dealers' sites where the crap isn't listed. That goes in the 10p bin.

[Red Riley 2]

Wasn't me was it Derek?

Noooooooo... You're a pussycat.

[Red Riley 2]

To only list things that have a reasonable chance of selling, thereby filtering out a huge amount of dross.

Don't know whether it's just me but the amount of garbage seems to have dropped off lately. Leastways, I seem to be finding it easier to navigate my way through recently. Fully agree with the sentiment though.

[TomGoodheart 400]

Oh, yeah. One thing not to do is .. if you happen to have 200 of those very rare Charles Darwin £2 coins (or similar multiple items) .. please don't list them individually!! Save some money and combine them in a multiple listing. Then people can see you have 199 left or whatever and can use the same listing to bid for theirs.

[SionGilbey 1]

Oh, yeah. One thing not to do is .. if you happen to have 200 of those very rare Charles Darwin £2 coins (or similar multiple items) .. please don't list them individually!! Save some money and combine them in a multiple listing. Then people can see you have 199 left or whatever and can use the same listing to bid for theirs.

VARY RAR ONLY TEN NUN BY THE COIN COLLECTOR EXPERTS

(17 sold, 101 remaining)

[Gary 7]

If you're selling on e-bay;

1) Never put 'no returns'. It's an e-bay default but it puts me right off.

2) Use a sensible rate of postal charges.

3) Insert the best photos you can.

4) Always come across as a reasonable guy. Don't include great long lists of people banned from bidding. I saw one misanthrop last week get buttons for a very good coin. Since he banned half the world from bidding in the most miserable and mean-spirited way possible, I felt it served him right.

very good advice.

My pet hates on any site selling coins is poor pictures and only one side of the coin showing. Always show both sides of the coin you are selling. perfect your coin photography and look into external picture hosting, ebays picture size is poor!

Have a look at these listings, a good example of showing the coin you are selling Argentum , a bit of free advertising for one of our members

[Peckris 579]

If you're selling on e-bay;

1) Never put 'no returns'. It's an e-bay default but it puts me right off.

2) Use a sensible rate of postal charges.

3) Insert the best photos you can.

4) Always come across as a reasonable guy. Don't include great long lists of people banned from bidding. I saw one misanthrop last week get buttons for a very good coin. Since he banned half the world from bidding in the most miserable and mean-spirited way possible, I felt it served him right.

I only have one quibble - if I am selling a coin worth more than the GPO compensation rate (£32 ?) I would INSIST on the buyer paying Special Delivery. Untracked mail isn't worth it, it seems, judging from all the horror stories relayed in these very pages. I want evidence someone has received the item before I even respond to a (probably fraudulent) "I haven't received the coin" whinge.

very good advice.

My pet hates on any site selling coins is poor pictures and only one side of the coin showing. Always show both sides of the coin you are selling. perfect your coin photography and look into external picture hosting, ebays picture size is poor!

Have a look at these listings, a good example of showing the coin you are selling Argentum , a bit of free advertising for one of our members

[1949threepence 3,367]

I'm just starting selling a few coins and was thinking about what the coin market wants, so I thought I'd start with some of the expert coin buyers/dealers here!

I think it will be quite educational.

What would you like eBay sellers to do in general that they don't at the moment?

Thanks, Sion

The main things would be 1) Decent photos with zoom facility 2) Always have the option of special next day deivery available.

Edited April 8, 2011 by 1949threepence

[SionGilbey 1]

I'm just starting selling a few coins and was thinking about what the coin market wants, so I thought I'd start with some of the expert coin buyers/dealers here!

I think it will be quite educational.

What would you like eBay sellers to do in general that they don't at the moment?

Thanks, Sion

The main things would be 1) Decent photos with zoom facility 2) Always have the option of special next day deivery available.

I agree with the decent photos bit but lots of the not serious eBay sellers don't have time to pop down to the post office esepcially if it is awkwardly located such as in a rural environment where only the most dedicated sellers can be arsed with a trip to a far away post office where the fuel to get there costs more than the stamp, especially these days with the higher postage rate.

[Peckris 579]

I'm just starting selling a few coins and was thinking about what the coin market wants, so I thought I'd start with some of the expert coin buyers/dealers here!

I think it will be quite educational.

What would you like eBay sellers to do in general that they don't at the moment?

Thanks, Sion

The main things would be 1) Decent photos with zoom facility 2) Always have the option of special next day deivery available.

Always have the option of special next day deivery available Is that where you come down for breakfast and your family bows down in worship?

[SionGilbey 1]

I'm just starting selling a few coins and was thinking about what the coin market wants, so I thought I'd start with some of the expert coin buyers/dealers here!

I think it will be quite educational.

What would you like eBay sellers to do in general that they don't at the moment?

Thanks, Sion

The main things would be 1) Decent photos with zoom facility 2) Always have the option of special next day deivery available.

Always have the option of special next day deivery available Is that where you come down for breakfast and your family bows down in worship?

When the postie gives it to you you get a wee kiss.

[davidrj 194]

The main things would be 1) Decent photos with zoom facility 2) Always have the option of special next day deivery available.

Make that

1) Decent photos of both sides of the coin with zoom facility

2) Always have the option of delivery available when Mrs davidrj is out shopping

David

[1949threepence 3,367]

The main things would be 1) Decent photos with zoom facility 2) Always have the option of special next day deivery available.

Make that

1) Decent photos of both sides of the coin with zoom facility

2) Always have the option of delivery available when Mrs davidrj is out shopping

David

Indeed ~ I would never entertain a coin where only one side is shown, Almost incredibly, it's often the obverse !!!

[1949threepence 3,367]

Always have the option of special next day deivery available Is that where you come down for breakfast and your family bows down in worship?

More likely I'd be totally ignored, Peck ~ or an acknowledging grunt at best lol (not that I'm at home anymore)

When the postie gives it to you you get a wee kiss.

If it was that healthy looking slim postwoman with the blonde hair, that would be a very acceptable option !!!

[SionGilbey 1]

Always have the option of special next day deivery available Is that where you come down for breakfast and your family bows down in worship?

More likely I'd be totally ignored, Peck ~ or an acknowledging grunt at best lol (not that I'm at home anymore)

When the postie gives it to you you get a wee kiss.

If it was that healthy looking slim postwoman with the blonde hair, that would be a very acceptable option !!!

Sadly it's that chubby bald bloke who sometimes "borrows" a few of the coins you get in the post.

[1949threepence 3,367]

Always have the option of special next day deivery available Is that where you come down for breakfast and your family bows down in worship?

More likely I'd be totally ignored, Peck ~ or an acknowledging grunt at best lol (not that I'm at home anymore)

When the postie gives it to you you get a wee kiss.

If it was that healthy looking slim postwoman with the blonde hair, that would be a very acceptable option !!!

Sadly it's that chubby bald bloke who sometimes "borrows" a few of the coins you get in the post.

A bit disappointing, Sion, but par for the course !!!