Payment for lens sale.....how?

[Liz]

I'm selling a lens and need to know what options - besides paypal - I have to make the deal. The last time I sold something, the person was a businessman with references. This person I have no clue about. I don't want to set up a paypal account unless I have to. But if it comes to that, is it easy? Do you have to "pay" paypal?

Thanks for any help or advice.

Liz

[Asylum Steve]

Liz,

Yes, Paypal is easy to set up, but they take a cut of every transaction you use them for, both selling as well as buying...

What are the circumstances of your sale? Most, if not all ebay transactions, you don't ship the item until you're sure your payment is good.

I guess what I'm asking is why you'd be wary of your buyer...

[Peter_AUS]

As the seller Liz you have to pay fees on the money that is paid to you. A bit like a handling charge. You could also considered them wireing the money to you as well. Or a bank transfer. Easiest I have found for me has been Paypal.

It isn't hard to setup, they need an account to confirm your valid, in my case used a credit card, they debit a small amount out of your account and then recredit back to you when you make a payment, my understanding anyway. Last time they did it, it was $2Aus that they debited.

[Chunk]

Why not ask for a postal money order? I've never heard of a problem with them.

[JSPhoto]

Yeah, you beat me to it Chunk.....

Funny, I'm in the same predicament right now

JS

[livin4lax09]

Personally, I never use paypal. I don't like it, and I've had my account be investigated because my "safety was compromised." always offer money order, I find it much simpler to use.

[Liz]

Is it ok to ask the buyer to send the money order first - and when I receive it I'll ship the lens?

Liz

Personally, I never use paypal. I don't like it, and I've had my account be investigated because my "safety was compromised." always offer money order, I find it much simpler to use.

[Liz]

I'm not exactly "wary" of the buyer, I just don't know him. I got an email from him telling me he noticed that I was thinking of selling an 85mm/f1.8 lens and he was interested. He asked me to email info and a picture which I did. Now he wants to buy it. The price I'm asking is $250 shipped (USA). I've mentioned quite a few times here and other places that I'm selling the lens. The last time I knew who the buyer was in the sense that I had seen him around here once in a while.

Are most people willing to send the money first?

Liz

Liz,

Yes, Paypal is easy to set up, but they take a cut of every transaction you use them for, both selling as well as buying...

What are the circumstances of your sale? Most, if not all ebay transactions, you don't ship the item until you're sure your payment is good.

I guess what I'm asking is why you'd be wary of your buyer...

[Liz]

Thanks for the information Peter. It's a little different and more difficult when you're shipping overseas. I could most likely do everything Steve did for you easier because I live in the USA - the buyer lives in Miami and I live in NJ. I'm just not as brave as Steve. That's my problem - plus I've only done business on the web a very few times, and each time I knew the buyer/seller. Most were from here.

Liz

[Trevor Ash]

Liz,

I just sold almost $10,000 worth of camera equipment. I refused PayPal from all but ONE person (I wanted to sell the items and trusted the person, asked for references, etc).

Ask for personal check or money order, tell them the item won't ship until payment has cleared your bank. Be sure to ask for enough money to cover shipping expenses which usually include Delivery Signature (helps you) and Insurance (helps both party). It's a myth that cashiers checks/money orders don't require time to clear in your account. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Ask your bank.

There is nothing wrong with this model. It forces the buyer to have to trust you first and foremost. A good buyer will be a cautious buyer and will ask you questions or for references.

#1 piece of advice; don't sell to someone you don't feel comfortable selling to. If they're demanding or rude at the beginning of negotiating a deal they're not going to get nicer. They could give you a hard time after they've received the item.

Remember, you don't owe anyone anything trust wise, just honesty and good communication.

[mjs1973]

Liz,

I think Trevor has some solid advice for you. Ask for a check or money order, and tell the buyer you need 7-10 business days for payment to clear, then you will ship the item.

[Liz]

Thanks Trevor

It's good to hear from someone who has done a lot of this - and wow! can't beat your record! Altho I could use the money.

I'll most likely go the postal money order route. He can take it or leave it. Sometimes I'm such a wimp when it comes to doing stuff like this. But I'm getting better. In the past a couple times I just sold things to B&H. They only offered me $130 for this lens - KEH offered me $188. Forget those offers as this lens will do better than that.

I'm not sure if I feel comfortable with this person or not. I must not, or I wouldn't say that. I'll see how he responds to my offer.

Thanks again.

Liz

Liz,

I just sold almost $10,000 worth of camera equipment. I refused PayPal from all but ONE person (I wanted to sell the items and trusted the person, asked for references, etc).

Ask for personal check or money order, tell them the item won't ship until payment has cleared your bank. Be sure to ask for enough money to cover shipping expenses which usually include Delivery Signature (helps you) and Insurance (helps both party). It's a myth that cashiers checks/money orders don't require time to clear in your account. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Ask your bank.

There is nothing wrong with this model. It forces the buyer to have to trust you first and foremost. A good buyer will be a cautious buyer and will ask you questions or for references.

#1 piece of advice; don't sell to someone you don't feel comfortable selling to. If they're demanding or rude at the beginning of negotiating a deal they're not going to get nicer. They could give you a hard time after they've received the item.

Remember, you don't owe anyone anything trust wise, just honesty and good communication.

[another view]

#1 piece of advice; don't sell to someone you don't feel comfortable selling to. If they're demanding or rude at the beginning of negotiating a deal they're not going to get nicer. They could give you a hard time after they've received the item.

Very good advice. I've been buying and selling on ebay for awhile, and the money always goes to the seller before the item is shipped. Since you're the seller (and it's your lens), you make the rules. If you're not comfortable with Paypal, that's fine - it's your choice. It's easy for anyone to go to any post office and get a money order. The fee he will have to pay for the money order is very reasonable, too.

I do accept paypal for my ebay stuff, and haven't had a problem with it. I don't do international sales (there's a way to block bidders that aren't in the country that you will ship to) just because that's where most of the problems seem to be, and it's a lot of extra work on my end. I don't mind paying the small (maybe 2-3%?) fee from paypal because I think it encourages bidders. My theory is that I might get an extra fifty bucks for an auction, which might result in a $10 fee, so I'm ahead. Plus I've almost always gotten the money within a day or two (I have flat-rate shipping charges to anywhere in the US, so the buyer can figure out what the total is as soon as the auction is over).

[Liz]

Thanks for the information. I'm learning a lot, that's for sure. I do have one other option now. Someone told me that a friend of mine sells items on Ebay. If you bring her the item and give her the price you're asking, she will list it, sell it, package it and mail it. She charges 10% of the selling price plus shipping fee. She also knows how to sell and handle situations - and will follow up if need be. It sounds good to me. Hope it's not illegal to do things like this. I wouldn't want to be the one to put her in jail

Just kidding. I think.

Liz

Very good advice. I've been buying and selling on ebay for awhile, and the money always goes to the seller before the item is shipped. Since you're the seller (and it's your lens), you make the rules. If you're not comfortable with Paypal, that's fine - it's your choice. It's easy for anyone to go to any post office and get a money order. The fee he will have to pay for the money order is very reasonable, too.

I do accept paypal for my ebay stuff, and haven't had a problem with it. I don't do international sales (there's a way to block bidders that aren't in the country that you will ship to) just because that's where most of the problems seem to be, and it's a lot of extra work on my end. I don't mind paying the small (maybe 2-3%?) fee from paypal because I think it encourages bidders. My theory is that I might get an extra fifty bucks for an auction, which might result in a $10 fee, so I'm ahead. Plus I've almost always gotten the money within a day or two (I have flat-rate shipping charges to anywhere in the US, so the buyer can figure out what the total is as soon as the auction is over).

[another view]

Hope it's not illegal to do things like this.

Nah, there are a ton of businesses that do this. If you're not comfortable with doing it yourself it might be a good option. I haven't had any "horror stories" by doing it myself, and almost everyone I've dealt with has been very good. Two were a pain, but that's less than one percent so I think that's to be expected. Didn't lose any money or anything, just a hassle to deal with.

One thing, when I'm looking for something to bid on I like to deal with people directly that own the equipment that they're selling. If it's a fair amount of money, I send them an email asking a question (sometimes a question that I already know the answer of) just to see how soon they get back to me (and if they do) and how helpful they are. Gut feeling, I guess. If something feels wrong about it, then I'll pass. I wouldn't buy from an estate sale place selling a lens or camera that claims to know nothing about what the equipment is or how it works - but a lot of people will. The thing about ebay is that you just need two people that really want something to drive up the bids... ;)

[Liz]

Thanks again for taking the time to type out all this information and your experience which helps a lot. I feel better about doing the sale now. I'm emailing the guy tonight to tell him I'd like a postal money order and when I receive it I'll mail him the package the same day. I'll cash it - then mail the lens. I decided to forget about my friend who does the Ebay. The reason is the fact that I have an interested buyer, and it will probably be just a simple process - sell it - buy it - done. ;) Hopefully.

Liz

Nah, there are a ton of businesses that do this. If you're not comfortable with doing it yourself it might be a good option. I haven't had any "horror stories" by doing it myself, and almost everyone I've dealt with has been very good. Two were a pain, but that's less than one percent so I think that's to be expected. Didn't lose any money or anything, just a hassle to deal with.

One thing, when I'm looking for something to bid on I like to deal with people directly that own the equipment that they're selling. If it's a fair amount of money, I send them an email asking a question (sometimes a question that I already know the answer of) just to see how soon they get back to me (and if they do) and how helpful they are. Gut feeling, I guess. If something feels wrong about it, then I'll pass. I wouldn't buy from an estate sale place selling a lens or camera that claims to know nothing about what the equipment is or how it works - but a lot of people will. The thing about ebay is that you just need two people that really want something to drive up the bids... ;)