Advice for a new ebay seller 1 1

[Fineas J. Whoopie]

I collected comics in the 1970's and 80's and bought some books on line  for a couple of years some time ago. Now I'm in a position where I'm looking at my aprox. 2500 comics (silver and bronze age) as a source of much needed income. I'm doing a completed items search to see what issues that I have are hot right now. I never did learn the elusive skill of grading. I like my comics to be in high grade condition but I just never thought in terms of numbers and decimals. One thing I know I have to do is acquire the skill of recognizing restoration. That is a must considering part of my collection was bought on line within the last ten years.  I have been reading nightmare stories about the disadvantages to comic book sellers and free reign to buyers on ebay. I'm looking for advice on how to list comics without committing to a grade so that the quality of the book is represented but at the same time protecting myself against buyers who buy it to get their hands on it and decide if they want it at that point. Or worse, do a switch during the return process. It is obvious that the statement "I am not a professional grader please grade for yourself" has no meaning as far as protecting yourself and is a target of much derision on the forums regardless of how honest a statement that may be. If I provide high resolution scans and pictures but do not include a number grade (which has no meaning in an ebay dispute and is highly subjective anyway) will that turn off buyers? Will it protect me against return abuses? (I know, not all returns are an abuse) After reading these stories on line it feels like selling on ebay is fraught with peril and I might as well scatter my comics to the wind and see if anyone feels like paying me for them. Any advice on how to protect myself while still interesting buyers with a good faith honest description would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Edited June 30, 2017 by Fineas J. Whoopie

[Mystafo]

I've sold lots of books on ebay and so far (knock on wood) I haven't had any bad experiences.  Just be sure and

1) take plenty of clear scans or high res pics,  

2) mention any significant defects (tears, large creases, stains, moisture damage, pages missing or detached, etc.),  

3) mention any resto and/or pressing status if known,  

4) give a grade range to avoid any misunderstandings about grade,  

5)  package books VERY WELL (get some cardboard mailers for raw books) and don't overcharge for shipping,  

6) offer combined shipping rates for multiple book purchases,  

7) make use of the blocked ebay bidder list here on the boards...will save you from dealing with quite a few deadbeats.   

Just remember, the more honest and thorough you are in your descriptions, the less trouble you are likely to have.

Edited July 1, 2017 by Mystafo
learning to count list items

[Fineas J. Whoopie]

Thanks for the response Mystafo. Just browsing through this forum I see that I have a LOT to learn.

[Tony S]

What Mystafo said. Plus....

Just give up on the idea that you can prevent returns. If it looks like you are trying to prevent returns it will scare buyers away.  They will be concerned you are trying to cheat people. Plus you can't prevent returns  People are buying something from you they have not had an opportunity to inspect.  PayPal, credit card companies. NO ONE that matters shares your viewpoint about preventing returns. They will force you to take returns.  So ultimately, you will enjoy the most success by appearing to cheerfully take returns

Most returns occur when buyers receive something less than what they expected. So take good pictures and describe any defects the pictures don't clearly show. 

Welcome to the boards

Edited July 1, 2017 by Tony S

[Fineas J. Whoopie]

Thanks Tony S. I guess my post does make it look like I'm trying to prevent any returns at all. That's my fault for not being clear in my original post. I have much more experience selling vintage toys on ebay and in that market once you take good pictures, list any flaws and describe the item in good faith, returns are practically nonexistent unless there is damage during shipping. That makes me feel like I have control over the rate of satisfaction with my listings. I guess I was spooked by the posts about how it doesn't matter how accurately you grade a comic book, the buyer only has to say they disagree and ebay sides with them. Also the posts that describe how ebay does nothing to stop switches during comic book returns. I never heard of that happening until I started to look at the comic book market. That makes it seem like the comic book market offers less control over the satisfaction rate unless you deliberately undergrade. Perhaps I'm getting a skewed impression of the market. I have a 100% positive feedback rating after over 1,700 transactions and my reputation is more important to me than any single transaction so cheating people is furthest from my mind. Anyway, I'm reading more on this site and have come to the conclusion that my only choice is to learn how to grade conservatively, how to spot restoration and expect some returns as business as usual. Thanks for the replies.

[Bomber-Bob]

On 6/30/2017 at 1:53 PM, Fineas J. Whoopie said:

I'm looking for advice on how to list comics without committing to a grade so that the quality of the book is represented but at the same time protecting myself against buyers who buy it to get their hands on it and decide if they want it at that point. 

Personally, I would never buy a book on E-Bay without a reference to grade. If you don't know how to grade, find someone local that you can trust and ask for assistance. Let's face it, the majority of your books may just be common drek.  Go through your whole collection, book by book, and using E-Bay as a guide separate the good from the bad. Sell the bad in a lot to a local dealer or LCS. You won't get much but you didn't pay much either. It's simply too much effort to sell 2500 books individually on E-Bay. You are correct, when dealing with raw ungrade drek on E-Bay the complaints by buyers may overwhelm you. If the good batch is worthy, you may consider submitting the books to CGC. It's so much easier to sell graded books.

[Tony S]

12 hours ago, Fineas J. Whoopie said:

Thanks Tony S. I guess my post does make it look like I'm trying to prevent any returns at all. That's my fault for not being clear in my original post. I have much more experience selling vintage toys on ebay and in that market once you take good pictures, list any flaws and describe the item in good faith, returns are practically nonexistent unless there is damage during shipping. That makes me feel like I have control over the rate of satisfaction with my listings. I guess I was spooked by the posts about how it doesn't matter how accurately you grade a comic book, the buyer only has to say they disagree and ebay sides with them. Also the posts that describe how ebay does nothing to stop switches during comic book returns. I never heard of that happening until I started to look at the comic book market. That makes it seem like the comic book market offers less control over the satisfaction rate unless you deliberately undergrade. Perhaps I'm getting a skewed impression of the market. I have a 100% positive feedback rating after over 1,700 transactions and my reputation is more important to me than any single transaction so cheating people is furthest from my mind. Anyway, I'm reading more on this site and have come to the conclusion that my only choice is to learn how to grade conservatively, how to spot restoration and expect some returns as business as usual. Thanks for the replies.

That's probably the case. People tend to post up their horror stories, not the hundreds of transactions that went smoothly. I sell comics occasionally on eBay. Off and on. I'll do a bunch - then not sell for a year or two.  Raw and slabbed.  So far - cross fingers - no problems.   There are scammers out there for sure buying books and cheating people.  But it must be worthwhile. You can look at a seller like comics4less that lists 100 or more books a week, 52 weeks a year and has for many years. His model is conservative grading, easy returns, cheap shipping.  Two pictures, one of the FC and one of the BC. He's been extremely successful. 

[Fineas J. Whoopie]

Thanks for the replies. BTW, not looking to sell all of my comics, just looking at possibly withdrawing value where it exists. The comics that mean the most to me (the ones I enjoyed the most when they were first coming out) are comics that have relatively low value. Titles like The Warlord and Starslayer and Superboy with the legion (obviously I'm a Mike Grell fan). I will gladly hang on to those comics. The stuff I see as a possible source of income are silver age books that I bought as vintage collectors items even back in the 70's and 80's. My question about listing without a grade was based on a post where a seller claimed it was not worth it because of potential abuses. I see now that is a bad idea. I wanted to run the idea by the members here and I have my answer. Thank you.

[Tony S]

35 minutes ago, Fineas J. Whoopie said:

Thanks for the replies. BTW, not looking to sell all of my comics, just looking at possibly withdrawing value where it exists. The comics that mean the most to me (the ones I enjoyed the most when they were first coming out) are comics that have relatively low value. Titles like The Warlord and Starslayer and Superboy with the legion (obviously I'm a Mike Grell fan). I will gladly hang on to those comics. The stuff I see as a possible source of income are silver age books that I bought as vintage collectors items even back in the 70's and 80's. My question about listing without a grade was based on a post where a seller claimed it was not worth it because of potential abuses. I see now that is a bad idea. I wanted to run the idea by the members here and I have my answer. Thank you.

Nice to talk with another Grell fan. Loved his Warlord, the others you mention and also Sable. If you've ever been or go to a comic con where he is at, he's friendly and easy to talk to. 

[Fineas J. Whoopie]

38 minutes ago, Tony S said:

Nice to talk with another Grell fan. Loved his Warlord, the others you mention and also Sable. If you've ever been or go to a comic con where he is at, he's friendly and easy to talk to. 

Yeah there was just something about Grell's art that was so futuristic. I loved his stuff with the Legion and have been a fan ever since.