Selling estate fine jewelry

[sablinadesigns]

Hi, Considering selling expensive collection for family member on eBay. But every attempt seem to attract nothing but scammers. How do I protect myself as a seller from fraud besides asking for Paypal address to match shipping. Can I ask for an ID? What else? thank you

[kensgiftshop]

@sablinadesigns 

To be honest, Ebay isn't a good place for a new seller to be selling items like those.

With no selling history, you're a prime target for scammers.

Ebay has very little seller protection and it's easy for sellers to loose their items and payments.

[sablinadesigns]

do I bother establishing history with small items (under $50 or $100) or auction house? Thank you

[terrycece62]

I also would NOT recommend selling this jewelry on eBay

I WOULD recommend considering other options to sell these valuable items

Good luck

[releasethekraken_1]

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@sablinadesigns wrote:

Hi, Considering selling expensive collection for family member on eBay. But every attempt seem to attract nothing but scammers. How do I protect myself as a seller from fraud besides asking for Paypal address to match shipping. Can I ask for an ID? What else? thank you

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Even if you got an actual buyer, i.e. someone who pays you, they can file a "not as described" complaint and send back a rock in a box, and eBay will still force you to refund.

I'd never sell that stuff here, but I'm risk-averse all the time.

[maxine*j]

Do not sell anything on eBay unless you are prepared to lose it, the money paid for it, or (very often) both.

As an inexperienced seller, do not sell for anything for someone else -- unless that person is also willing to lose the item, the money, or both. 

eBay is a great place for selling lots of things.  But it is not a place for a brand new person to sell high-value items, and most especially it is not a place for a brand new person to sell high-value items for someone else. 

Sorry if that sounds negative or harsh, but you asked.

[ittybitnot]

But every attempt seem to attract nothing but scammers. 

@sablinadesigns 

You have been given good advice here.  The "text me" and "change address" scammers that come through the eBay message system are easy to ignore.  They are not going to pay (or have paid) anyway.  Though annoying, there is nothing in place to stop their attempts. 

As suggested, the ones that actually have the "front money" to pay, can still get your item for free by filing a fraudulent item not as described claim and returning something else.  If they bypass the eBay system, and do a reversal through their payment provider, a return is not required to get a refund from your proceeds. 

There is no seller protection for "item not as described" claims or chargebacks.  There is no seller protection for 'faulty returns'.  

[dabunk2000]

Do not sell on eBay scammers abound looking for items just like this to scam sellers

[monster-deals]

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@sablinadesigns wrote:

How do I protect myself as a seller from fraud 

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On ebay?

You must be joking, there is no way to protect yourself.

[caldreamer]

OMG...you are putting yourself at high risk by selling high value items.   Do you realize that customers can purchase item and then claim "not as described" and return a "box of rocks" to you and still get refund.   Or they can have credit card "reverse charges" after they receive their item.

[chapeau-noir]

The big problem is being a new seller selling high dollar items here.  The 'new seller' puts a target on your back when in fact, eBay is not full of scammers, but they do prey on those they think might fall for their scams.  It's not just eBay, either.  When I was a new seller on Poshmark, I got the same "text me...contact me on [email address] to 'discuss' purchase, blah blah."  After I had a bunch of sales under my belt, they left me alone. 

As a new seller, you might want to deal with estate jeweller consignment or alternative method of selling these pieces.  I'm a risk-taker, but even I wouldn't sell high dollar items if I were a new seller.

[jayjaspersgarage]

Don't do it.  There must be a couple jewelry stores you can sell these types of things.  

[dbfolks166mt]

     As others have stated you have too much risk in selling this type of merchandise on eBay in addition to being a new seller. Look for other avenues to sell these items. There is no seller protection on eBay to speak of and your risk is too great. Get the items appraised and find other ways to sell the items. Even if you have to take a little less factor in what your eBay fees would have been if you had sold the items here and everything had gone smoothly. 

[jayjaspersgarage]

"

I also would NOT recommend selling this jewelry on eBay

I WOULD recommend considering other options to sell these valuable items

Good luck"

So much for following good advice.  Who wants a ring currently listed for a starting bid of $13,500?

[jayjaspersgarage]

At the very least could you buy a digital scale and add the weight in grams to the description?  

Again, you are at risk of losing your high priced jewelry to nefarious potential scammers by listing these things on ebay.

Best of luck that you make some sales that don't end up in the epay H.O.F..  It will be a first step in repairing the damage to the faith of experienced sellers who have given you plenty of warning on how quickly things could go south for you by listing expensive jewelry that you could sell in ten minutes all over the Los Angeles area at established stores.