Seven Points To Consider Selling Big Ticket Collectibles In Online Auctions
ByIf you are a kind of collector with very expensive tastes for 2nd-handsecond-hand big ticket merchandise, costly collectibles that are well worth keeping the dust off and encased in bullet-proof[spin] glass [spin]cabinets, you may not appreciate what I tell you here. But if you are somebody that enjoys supplying such precious keepsakes to the first type of individual, then these seven suggestions for selling expensive collectible merchandise, like threads from Michael Jackson’s first glove, splinters from Babe Ruth’s first bat or clippings from Liz Taylor’s first pedicure, might be your piece of cake, your cup of tea and right up your alley.
It is an incontrovertible fact, not to be denied, that the guidelines for selling expensive collectible merchandise on an online auction website like eBay maybe, or preferably Big Ticket Depot, are exactly the same even if you’re moving something totally different from those three [spinitems|collectibles|examples[/spin], whether it is something really cool like one or more of only six documents containing William Shakespeare’s signature, which would sell for about $3 million, for the Joyce junkies, or an orangish-pinkly-purpled natural Sri Lankan oval mixed cut padparadscha sapphire going for around $13,000 for the gem junkies.
But it actually matters not a twit what it is that you want to sell.
Before we get into these seven points to remember when selling expensive collectibles online in an auction, there is an aspect about this that it is imperative that you really ought to concentrate on, and that is — still film images are essential to the process of listing these babies regardless of how unique and rare and expensive the merchandise is or isn’t. This is always true. Don’t forget it. Do not neglect it. Images sell. And on top of that actually rather obvious point, costly collectibles provide both opportunity as well as precautionary tales of a sort.
Number One — [Does anybody actually want this thing?|Is there a demand for this item?[/spin] Yeah? Okay then, do this: set the price extremely, like one Indonesian rupiah. If the rupiah is not a convenient currency to work with, then just stick with the US dollar for now, but be sure your opening bid remains in the absolutely cheap range. You may balk at a suggestion of one USD, you may feel offended; then just bump it up to, oh, I don’t know . . . okay, let’s get serious about this. If you actually want, oh, $1500 for that adorable piece of Popeye poster art from before WWII, begin the bidding at around $10 or $15. This is a risk-free scenario due to the fact that you will not have to sell it it at that price unless you suddenly get all altruistic or something. A low price like this for such a cute little expensive keepsake is just to draw in buyers that would otherwise refrain from looking at your offer. Setting the opening bidding price for the amount that you really want for this item is not the way to go, and this can be seen from stats on this kind of mistake [spinon|in[/spin] eBay. This might make your teeth grind at night, but an opening bid of $25K will not pull in nearly as many interested parties as one Indonesian rupiah, or failing that, fifteen bucks.
Number Two — Receiving a loosely-packed bundle via snail mail, where the contents within this package bang around like a million pachinko balls in a Japanese arcade, that does little to reassure the person that gets this package that nothing is broken inside. So be certain you are very specific that it will be packaged most carefully before being shipped out, cushioned as securely as a baby in its mother’s womb. Be totally clear for your potential buyer that the item purchased is guaranteed safe passage. This is of vital importance since almost every buyer will feel some paranoia about getting a package that sounds like shattered china when it’s shaken, and the upset feelings involved in trying to get a refund or a replacement for a broken Barbie doll may prevent that individual from giving you the moolah you’re seeking. That Barbie buyer will, at least unconsciously, appreciate the reassuring words from the seller on the listing page that there is nothing to worry about.
Number Three — Insisting the buyer pay for some insurance for the collectible is a must. You will both feel much more protected knowing that the item is protected with insurance. This is not to be an option. The proper insurance will protect not only Hello Kitty but the buyer and seller as well, so you, as the seller, have to be quite firm on this point. I mean, who wants to be liable for a busted up Hello Kitty collectible; that’s a pretty quick way to become a social pariah, people casting askance glances your way when you enter a room, the sudden and embarrassing silence. Nosireebob, nobody wants to hurt Hello Kitty, not to mention the innocent eager to collect that doll. And a person that might refrain from paying this insurance is probably not such a serious collector anyway and not the type you want to do business with. A genuine collector would be very happy to add to a collection and would want that it safeguarded.
Number Four — Fraud is and always has been rampant anywhere you find humans, both on and offline. Caveat emptor, baby, caveat emptor. {spin]Therefore|So[/spin], to help avoid your being labeled a shyster, it is good to spend time providing proof of your honesty and the authenticity of your collectible item. Using the the original container if it’s available or having some special marking on the item will help, so take a picture of it and display that info on the listing page. Is there a label that you can also post a photo of? Then by all means, use it. A certificate of authenticity? An appraisal by a well-known authority? Include photographic proof of that as well to stress your own auctioneer authenticity.
Number Five — Be careful about offering more than just a very basic guarantee. Basically, merely insist that you are telling the truth about the the item. There should actually be very little concern on your part that the buyer would return the item because most of the people buying such things online will be knowledgeable about what they are doing in the first place. If a disgruntled buyer sends your item back to you, it will probably be broken. You do not bother trying to collect on broken merchandise or putting yourself into a [s[in]lawsuit|litigious[/spin] situation with someone who refuses to believe that the collectible was broken via return shipping. You do not want to have to take a loss on your eBay fees either, which could be substantial if the price is high.
Number Six — With a costly item, always give the idea of using of an escrow service — at the customer’s expense, naturally. They may not take this service, but make certain they have the option. You, of course, know that your merchandise is legitimate, but the buyer may not be as certain. eBay recommends an escrow service that is available for its members.
Number Seven — If you choose to ship anywhere on the planet, you need to take special steps to protect yourself. In the US there is AVS (Address Verification System) which offers some protection. A very large portion of the fraud suffered by buyers takes place outside the United States, and you really should consider 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 how long it takes to verify foreign funds. Be certain to let any potential customer 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.
selling expensive collectibles
selling on eBay
online auction make money
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Selling big ticket items over the Internet via online auction sites like eBay perhaps, or Big Ticket Depot in particular, requires first of all that somebody actually wants to buy what you are selling. And with the slow economy, while there are certainly previously well-to-do types that might be looking to unload a piece of beachfront property, it may not be all that easy to get a rich oli sheikh to browse the site and find that big ticket item for dale.