eBay & Half.com: noderaser
Information for Buyers (and everyone else)
Welcome to my eBay page. Here, you will find information about the various policies I use when selling, and the options available to buyers. There is also additional information here that any eBay user will find useful. For a current listing of items I'm currently selling on eBay, please see my eBay "about me" page.
If you notice any inaccuracies or technical problems with this page, please contact me so that I may correct the problem. I hope you find all of this information useful and informative.
Recent Updates - General Information & Tips - Payment - Shipping Options - Other Policies - Current Listings & Recent Feedback
4/26/04: Airborne Express has recently merged with DHL. The new company name is DHL, but little else has changed about their rates, procedures, etc. Their new website is http://www.dhl-usa.com/ . I have also updated the links in the "Shipping Options" section of this page.
1/28/04: Updated shipping information for Airborne Express. I don't really have a default shipper, so please be sure to specify your preferred shipper at the time of payment. Otherwise, I'll probably go with whomever is the cheapest. I also removed the "news" section, because it slowed down the loading time of the page and didn't provide any helpful or relevant information.
(Recent, being within the past year)
As an eBay seller, I must adhere to all of the guidelines and procedures that eBay has laid down. In order to make eBay a safe place for people to do business, I do my best to establish trust between the buyer and myself during a transaction. If you are new to eBay, you should read SafeHarbor, eBay's way to ensure that buyers and sellers can conduct business in a safe and enjoyable environment.
Since I have a few years of experience on eBay, and have run into a few complications, I offer the following tips:
-If you are a buyer, read the item description thoroughly before bidding. If anything does not make sense or seems suspicious, you should contact the seller and clarify. Only bid on an item, when you will be able to contact the seller within 24 hours of the auction's conclusion to work out final details. Send payments promptly. Remember, your bid is a contractual agreement to purchase the item if you are the winning bidder.
-If you are a seller, describe the item you are selling clearly and in detail. A picture can help to make this point, and usually helps an item sell. Only list an item for sale when you will be able to respond to any questions from bidders within 24 hours. At the end of the auction, contact the winning bidder quickly, insist that the winner send payment promptly and send your shipment promptly using an appropriate method. Use secure packaging.
-The most common method of business exchange on eBay is to have the buyer send payment first, and then have the seller send the item. This system is based on trust, and one of the major principles that makes eBay work. Breaking this system of trust will only hinder how eBay and other online auction communities work.
-When buying expensive items (usually classified as over $500), use an escrow service, to ensure you get your money's worth. An escrow service is a third-party organization, where a seller sends payment for the item after an auction. The escrow service then holds the money, until the buyer receives the item. When the buyer acknowledges that he/she received the item, and that it is in the agreed condition, the escrow service sends payment to the seller and completes the transaction. For escrow, eBay recommends escrow.com. Fees apply to this service; before the auction ends, determine whether the buyer or seller will pick up these fees.
-If you run into a problem after completing a transaction, you should first attempt to resolve the conflict on your own. If you are unable to do this, there are services that can help you solve your problem. One such service, SquareTrade, is certified by eBay, and is very helpful in reaching a resolution that benefits both parties.
-If you cannot resolve the problem yourself, and SquareTrade does not work, you should see eBay's Fraud Protection Program. In addition to recovering some of your invested money, you may help report a problem user on eBay, and save other people from enduring a similar problem. Please note that special time limits apply to this service.
-In extreme cases, you may also be able to take legal action. Before considering this, please try resolving the conflict yourself using SquareTrade, or going through eBay's Fraud Protection Program, as described above. If you have taken all of the above recommended steps, and still believe that you have been wronged, contact legal counsel.
My preferred method is with PayPal. However, I also accept other methods by mail, such as check or money order, sent by mail. For these methods, extra time will be required for bank processing.
As I stated before, PayPal is the preferred method of payment for all my auctions. It is an extremely secure, convenient way to pay. Through PayPal, you can send funds from your bank account, credit card, with a personal check, or money from other electronic transactions. If you do not have a PayPal account, you can get a $5 bonus, just for signing up. Sign up for your free PayPal account today!
On all of my auctions, the buyer will end up paying the actual shipping cost for the item in question. In item descriptions, an estimated shipping price may be used. This price is usually based on the DHl Ground Delivery Service rate, and is only an estimate. In the closing email, I usually list a few of the cheapest options. The buyer may also request another shipping option, such as those listed below. Options not listed may be made with special arrangement. If you live in a country other than the US or Canada, please contact me before sending payment.
I am a registered UPS shipper, and therefore can offer all UPS services to eBay and Half.com buyers. These services include UPS Next Day Air® Early A.M.®, Next Day Air®, Next Day Air Saver®, 2nd Day Air A.M.®, 2nd Day Air®, 3 Day Select®, standard UPS Ground services, and International services. For a description of each level of service, and the addition services available, you should look at the UPS Service Guide. If you are shipping your own package, the UPS rate calculator can be a useful tool. Track a current shipment.
However, many buyers prefer to use the standard Postal Service. This is also my default service for CD's, books and other small and printed matter. For a complete description of the services provided, use the USPS' Postal Explorer. If you're doing some shipping yourself, the USPS also has its own rate calculator. Tracking/Confirmation services only available for certain shipping methods.
One of the more popular international
shippers, FedEx can sometimes offer rates that are better than comparable service at the
Post Office.
Service Options -Rate
Calculator - Tracking
DHL Ground Delivery Service is typically my
default shipping method, because it is generally cheaper than UPS or FedEx. If you pick
DHL as your shipping method, please note that there are some additional fees that may
apply, such as a Delivery Area Surcharge. I will let you know which fees apply to your
particular auction.
Service Options - Rate Calculator - Tracking
Cancellation of Sale/Non-Paying Bidder: Usually, I am pretty understanding when it
comes to people who are unable to pay, or wish to cancel the sale of an item. In most
cases, I will let the incident go (without negative feedback, or a report to eBay) if the
other party is willing to pay for the auction fees. If the buyer does not want to pay for
the auction fees, I will leave neutral feedback. If the buyer does not respond to my
emails (I usually give three notices, in addition to the first winning bidder notice), I
will leave negative feedback on eBay. If it appears that this is a frequent problem with
the buyer, I will report the problem to eBay by filing a Non-Paying Bidder (NPB) report.
Escrow: If the buyer wishes to use
Escrow, he/she will have to pay all associated fees.
Feedback: If the buyer sends his/her payment quickly and makes good communication, this will usually result in a positive feedback comment. However, if communication and payment are slow, or there are complications experienced in the transaction, I will leave a neutral comment. The only time I will leave a negative comment is when the buyer does not respond to email messages, as explained in the “Cancellation of Sale/Non-Paying Bidder” section. I use a “three strikes” policy with NPB reports; if there are two other negative comments dealing with communication/payment/etc, I will file a NPB report with eBay. I will wait for the buyer to leave his/her comment before I post feedback.
Refunds/Returns: An item may be returned within 30 days of the auction's closing, if it is returned in the same condition that it was sold in. A refund will be issued, minus shipping & handling, upon receipt of the returned item in satisfactory condition. If the item is not in the same condition as it was when sold, additional fees may apply.