7 TIPS FOR SELLING EXPENSIVE COLLECTIBLES ON

7 TIPS FOR SELLING EXPENSIVE COLLECTIBLES ON
EBAY
by: sydney johnston
recently, a friend asked me to help her brother
SELL HIS COLLECTION ON LLADRO GLASS FIGURINES ON
ebay. these are expensive glass collectibles and
i knew nothing about them - but i don't have to.
THE PRINCIPLES FOR SELLING EXPENSIVE
collectibles on ebay are the same, regardless of
what is being sold.

obviously, like any ebay auction, the seller
must have a powerful listing with great
PICTURES. THIS IS ALWAYS TRUE REGARDLESS OF WHAT
the merchandise is. expensive collectibles offer
splendid opportunities, but also need special
PRECAUTIONS.

1. price: decide the lowest amount you will
ACCEPT FOR EACH FIGURINE AND SET THAT PRICE AS A
reserve. then make your opening bid absurdly low
- yes, absurdly.

example: if you will accept $1,000 - make your
opening bid $25. there is no risk in this,
BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO SELL UNLESS THE
bidding reaches $1000, but the low price
attracts buyers, (assuming there is demand, of
COURSE).

looking at completed ebay auctions allows us to
TRACK PRICES, AGAIN AND AGAIN WE LEARN THAT
starting the price where the seller hopes it
will end is not a wise tactic.

for instance, a seller wants to get $750 for his
figurine. an opening bid of $750 won't attract
NEARLY AS MANY BUYERS AS AN OPENING BID OF $25
and - surprisingly - the lower bid almost always
gets higher prices. there is some psychology at
WORK WITH THE CHEAP PRICE. IT MAY NOT MAKE
logical sense, but it's the reality of life on
ebay.

2. devote space in your auction listing
explaining how you will pack your item to ensure
SAFE TRANSIT. THIS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
because in the back of every buyer's mind is the
dread of receiving a package that rattles. a
COLLECTIBLES BUYER WILL INEVITABLY BE THINKING
of the hassle she will have to go through - and
the possible loss of purchase price - if her
ITEM IS BROKEN. SHE NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THE
seller has carefully considered this issue and
has a solution.

3. for the protection of both of you, insist
that the buyer pay for appropriate insurance.
DON'T ALLOW THIS TO BE AN OPTION. YOU DEFINITELY
do not want the liability of a broken
collectible that costs hundreds of dollars. in
FACT, IF A CUSTOMER OBJECTS TO PAYING FOR
insurance, this might possibly be a red flag. a
genuine collector is very eager to add to her
COLLECTION AND WANTS HER FIGURINE TO BE
protected.

4. WE CAN SAFELY ASSUME THAT EVERY INTERNET
buyer has heard stories of fraud on ebay and
elsewhere on the net. therefore, anything you
CAN DO TO PROVE THE AUTHENTICITY OF YOUR
collectible is well worth your time. is there a
marking on the bottom? do you have the original
BOX OR OTHER CONTAINER? DOES IT HAVE A LABEL? IS
there a certificate of authenticity or an
appraisal by a respected organization? if the
ANSWER TO ANY OF THESE IS "YES", THEN BE CERTAIN
to emphasize your authenticity in your auction.
taking pictures of your proof is especially
EFFECTIVE.

5. i don't suggest offering a guarantee except
IN THE MOST GENERAL WAY - THAT IS, YOU, THE
seller, are telling the truth about the product.
anyone bidding on a collectible is knowledgeable
AND THEREFORE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE BUYING SO
there should be no reason for a return. if
someone expresses dissatisfaction and mails your
MERCHANDISE BACK, THERE IS EVERY LIKELIHOOD OF
it being broken. you do not want the hassle of
trying to collect on broken merchandise or
PUTTING YOURSELF INTO A LITIGIOUS SITUATION WITH
someone who refuses to believe that the
collectible was broken via return shipping.

also, you don't want to take a loss on your ebay
fees, which might be substantial if the price is
HIGH.

6. with a really expensive item, always offer
THE OPTION OF AN ESCROW SERVICE - AT THE BUYER'S
expense, of course. they may not take want this
service, but make certain they have the option.
YOU, OF COURSE, KNOW THAT YOUR MERCHANDISE IS
legitimate, but the buyer isn't so certain. ebay
recommends an escrow service that is available
TO ALL MEMBERS.

7. if you're willing to ship worldwide, you need
TO TAKE SPECIAL STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF. IN
the us we have avs (address verification system)
which offers some protection. a very large
PORTION OF THE FRAUD SUFFERED BY BUYERS OCCURS
outside the united states and you are justified
in protecting yourself. losing the purchase
PRICE ON A $5 ITEM ISN'T SUCH A BIG DEAL - BUT A
$1,000 collectible absolutely does matter.

YOUR BANK CAN ADVISE YOU ON THE TIME IT WILL
take to verify foreign funds. be certain to let
any prospective buyer know in your auction that
THERE WILL BE A DELAY IF THEY ARE OUTSIDE OF
your country. do not let your merchandise out of
your hands until you are sure!

if you follow these 'rules', the chances of
selling your expensive collectibles at the
HIGHEST POSSIBLE PRICES WILL BE GREATLY
increased.

about the author:
learn how to sell on ebay with 16 hours of
ONLINE INSTRUCTION TAUGHT BY A 10 YEAR EBAY
veteran. own an ebay business instead of an ebay
hobby.
HTTP://AUCTION-GENIUS-COURSE.COM [2]

CIRCULATED BY ARTICLE EMPORIUM [3]
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