Selling on ebay
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What's your seller name?My eBay auctions are under the seller name "daflash00", there are several auctions still going at the moment. My jaw is still on the floor... last night I had a Sasieni Four Dot Bent Bulldog (pre-transition family era) go for $366! Most of the bids were from China, and yes, most seem to have their own US shipping locations.
Wow, I have been watching your Sasieni's. Nice job on the ads and pictures. I tried to snipe that Walnut Grosvenor with an 8-secong to go $197 bid......yeah right. The GBD Virgin also did very well. It's all about the timing, your auctions ended around 9 PM EST, perfect for a seller. Where did you find these unsmoked pipes?
I bought them all new... 30+ years ago. I had a rotation of maybe two dozen that I smoked regularly, and the rest just sat on the shelf and got admired. I haven't smoked in a number of years, and just decided that someone else should be enjoying these. Just not sure it should be everyone from China! I really had no expectation that the prices were going to be that high.
Well, I'll keep watching! The Chinese are the wild card, which is why I would hate to exclude that country.
Tony, my memory is starting to get feeble, but I want to say those Four Dot Bulldogs were in the $50 to $60 range in the late 1970s. I've seen some old catalogs and price lists that support that. Funny thing is that they never seemed to be "cult" back then, like some of the other makers. Granted the quality suffered after the family sold the business, but it looks like that era has finally been discovered!! I have a couple other Four Dots (a Stratford, and a Rugby) ending in a few hours that look like they will do the same thing. The mind boggles...
Thanks for sharing Randy. Also I'm glad these are selling well for you. Im sure you didn't think you'd get that much for them back then. Especially compared to the other popular and sought after pipe makers at that time. Like you said they quite a following and cult status today. It makes you wonder what pipes would be worth another 30+ years from now. Maybe a brand we are overlooking will be discovered or maybe re-discovered.
This eBay thing gets complicated...
It seems a few eBay buyers from China are ignoring the shipping terms in my several initial listings that clearly stated "Shipping to US Locations Only", and bidding anyway and winning the auctions. Now I'm getting peppered with messages after the auction is over asking me to "please ship directly to me in China, it's not that much trouble", etc. etc. My reason for not shipping internationally was to avoid the headache of customs forms, and long delivery times that hold up payment credits. I also found that many buyers from countries like China have a US address available to use. I opted-in to the eBay Global Shipping Program, but I'm now reading about bad experiences and excessive charges that are causing some buyers to avoid listings that use the GSP.
I guess there is no easy way to go about this. Does anyone have firsthand experience successfully shipping pipes directly to places like China and Japan?
Randy
It seems a few eBay buyers from China are ignoring the shipping terms in my several initial listings that clearly stated "Shipping to US Locations Only", and bidding anyway and winning the auctions. Now I'm getting peppered with messages after the auction is over asking me to "please ship directly to me in China, it's not that much trouble", etc. etc. My reason for not shipping internationally was to avoid the headache of customs forms, and long delivery times that hold up payment credits. I also found that many buyers from countries like China have a US address available to use. I opted-in to the eBay Global Shipping Program, but I'm now reading about bad experiences and excessive charges that are causing some buyers to avoid listings that use the GSP.
I guess there is no easy way to go about this. Does anyone have firsthand experience successfully shipping pipes directly to places like China and Japan?
Randy
Unfortunately I see a lot of pipes on Ebay that I want but many of them are GSP options. I will not buy another pipe that has this ridiculous program. I know it is not the sellers fault. I have sent private messages to sellers and some of them will pull the ad and sell it to me without that crap.
My concern shipping to China is how do you receive proof of delivery, if there is no tracking number. I know you can ship from the US to some places, like Canada, with tracking, but I doubt you can do that to China. So if the buyer says they never received the pipe, you have a mess on your hands.
Well, the lady at the local Post Office was most helpful this morning. The only way to get international tracking all the way to destination in China is to ship via Express Mail, though tracking is not available to destination in all countries. For this pending sale that amounts to roughly $50 to $60, including insurance to cover a value of $325, and delivery in 5-6 days. That's cheaper than the GSP rates, but a lot faster. It sort of sounds to me like some of these foreign buyers are just looking for a way to skirt paying a duty somehow. The customs forms are such a hassle, I'm going to go ahead with the GSP (opting Canada out so as to accomodate my northern pipe bretheren with standard shipping and tracking). I've discovered that many of the Chinese buyers regularly use a US address anyway, so I shouldn't be limiting myself too much.
Now my only problem is I have two pipes tied up until I can get these tranactions cancelled. There is the ability to "second chance offer" the next lowest bidder, which will maybe help if the cancellation doesn't take too long. Geez, what a project this has turned into!
Now my only problem is I have two pipes tied up until I can get these tranactions cancelled. There is the ability to "second chance offer" the next lowest bidder, which will maybe help if the cancellation doesn't take too long. Geez, what a project this has turned into!
My pipe went to a Canadian buyer via the Global Shipping option. The purchaser said they changed him an additional $18 to ship the pipe. My cost to ship directly to him would have cost an additional $10, so he spent an extra $8. He gave me positive feedback. He didn't comment on any customs charges.
I recently sold two tins of tobacco to a Chinese buyer thru that option. I didn't hear back from that buyer.
In 2013, I sold some tins to another Chinese buyer, who shipped to a NYC address for holding. I had good communications with that gentleman and hope to meet him when he travels back to NYC.
With the Global option, the sellers responsibility ends when the item is received at the Global shipper. They bear the responsibility for shipping to an international address. At least that is what Ebay told me.
I recently sold two tins of tobacco to a Chinese buyer thru that option. I didn't hear back from that buyer.
In 2013, I sold some tins to another Chinese buyer, who shipped to a NYC address for holding. I had good communications with that gentleman and hope to meet him when he travels back to NYC.
With the Global option, the sellers responsibility ends when the item is received at the Global shipper. They bear the responsibility for shipping to an international address. At least that is what Ebay told me.
I had an Ebay camera store for years, which did a good volume internationally. You need to get a large number of satisfied customers before you will be generally trusted. Offer great deals until then to raise your buyer count, and make sure each customer is satisfied, no matter what you have to do.
I forgot your second question.
To determine how many personal pipes you need, multiply the number of days of rest you want to give each pipe by the the number of smokes per day.
I forgot your second question.
To determine how many personal pipes you need, multiply the number of days of rest you want to give each pipe by the the number of smokes per day.
I'm already getting a feel for what's popular, and what's not. Several of my vintage unsmoked GBDs and a few family-era Sasienis have sold for way more than I thought they would bring in a Chinese bidding frenzy. On the other hand, an unsmoked 1970s Savinelli Autograph, and some Ben Wade Golden Matt Freehands (Preben Holm period) have seemed a bit soft, and haven't attracted many bids. What's been selling well for you guys?
I'm a fairly recent pipe convert and as such I've been fairly active on ebay trying to build a decent stable of pipes to rotate (and to be perfectly frank, I passed that point a while ago). I avoid the global shipping option like the plague since it efffectivly handicaps me in auctions to the extent that there's no point bidding. I'd have to be willing to pay 50-60% more than a native bidder in order to win.
Thankfully, the big name sellers on ebay seem to realize that it's not in their own interest to exclude international buyers and most of them don't use the GSP.
Thankfully, the big name sellers on ebay seem to realize that it's not in their own interest to exclude international buyers and most of them don't use the GSP.
Yes, I'm gathering that the GSP is not going to attract a lot of international buyers. Unfortunately, it's about the only way to get complete package tracking to destination in some countries, like China for example. If I shipped internationally myself, the only way to get the complete tracking is to use Express Mail, which is also expensive (around $45 to China for a pipe-package). I see a lot of sellers on eBay stating that they will only ship via Express Mail due to bad experiences with lost packages.
I think the biggest part of what makes the GSP so unreasonable is the fees that Pitney Bowes tacks on to the import charges when they broker the customs part of things. Of the 10 or so international buyers that have contacted me so far, most have been able to provide a shipping address in the US, so it may become a non-issue.
Thanks, hittelusedpipes, for the eBay suggestions. All make sense, and I have pretty much embraced all of those. I have not tried putting several pipes in lots yet however, but that also makes sense, and I'll give that a try.
Cheers!
I think the biggest part of what makes the GSP so unreasonable is the fees that Pitney Bowes tacks on to the import charges when they broker the customs part of things. Of the 10 or so international buyers that have contacted me so far, most have been able to provide a shipping address in the US, so it may become a non-issue.
Thanks, hittelusedpipes, for the eBay suggestions. All make sense, and I have pretty much embraced all of those. I have not tried putting several pipes in lots yet however, but that also makes sense, and I'll give that a try.
Cheers!
1) how/can I be successful at selling pipes on ebay or anywhere else for that matter? Be honest, give an accurate description as best as possible, don't try to hide any damages or flaws, don't make up information and take several clear photographs from different angles.
2) how do i know what price to ask/accept for the pipes? Many auctions start out at $0.99, but if you feel a pipe is worth more then you can ask whatever you want at a Buy It Now price. Just don't start the bidding price to high unless you know the pipe is worth more. Most bidders are attracted to the low starting auctions.
3) how many pipes do most people have in their rotation, and how often do you get around to smoking all of your pipes? basically what is a good number of pipes i should have at a time? I have 30 pipes in my "rotation." I don't really have a rotation though as I just smoke whatever pipe I feel like. Some might sit a month or two without being smoked, but I smoke all of them. As for you, keep what you want whether it's 5 or 50. You don't have to have a set rotation.
2) how do i know what price to ask/accept for the pipes? Many auctions start out at $0.99, but if you feel a pipe is worth more then you can ask whatever you want at a Buy It Now price. Just don't start the bidding price to high unless you know the pipe is worth more. Most bidders are attracted to the low starting auctions.
3) how many pipes do most people have in their rotation, and how often do you get around to smoking all of your pipes? basically what is a good number of pipes i should have at a time? I have 30 pipes in my "rotation." I don't really have a rotation though as I just smoke whatever pipe I feel like. Some might sit a month or two without being smoked, but I smoke all of them. As for you, keep what you want whether it's 5 or 50. You don't have to have a set rotation.
I'm still interested in what anyone else is having any luck selling, or not selling as the case may be.
I have a half dozen unsmoked ~1980 Armellinis that seem pretty soft, not getting a lot of interest in them. Bjarne is another 1980s pipe not attracting much attention. Vintage 1970s Caminettos, on the other hand, are going ape s**t crazy! My jaw is still on the floor from the prices these are bringing!
What are you guys having your selling luck with?
I have a half dozen unsmoked ~1980 Armellinis that seem pretty soft, not getting a lot of interest in them. Bjarne is another 1980s pipe not attracting much attention. Vintage 1970s Caminettos, on the other hand, are going ape s**t crazy! My jaw is still on the floor from the prices these are bringing!
What are you guys having your selling luck with?
Don't buy or sell on ebay, so take me with a grain of salt on this one. But just lurking on ebay for an evening suggests
to me that, if you invest the time to learn the system, the market, the players, and the process, you had better be doing
some serious volume business, or your investment in time and the learning curve will eat up the profits (for the sellers)
or the savings (for the buyers). By the time you've bid, tracked, and counter bid, you've invested serious time. As with
the casino, I think the "house" wins every time, and you may lose far more often than you win. Some pros, like foggy's
camera business, likely turn a good profit, but you work for every dime. The rest of us may be happier at smokingpipes.com,
or another online retailer.
to me that, if you invest the time to learn the system, the market, the players, and the process, you had better be doing
some serious volume business, or your investment in time and the learning curve will eat up the profits (for the sellers)
or the savings (for the buyers). By the time you've bid, tracked, and counter bid, you've invested serious time. As with
the casino, I think the "house" wins every time, and you may lose far more often than you win. Some pros, like foggy's
camera business, likely turn a good profit, but you work for every dime. The rest of us may be happier at smokingpipes.com,
or another online retailer.
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