Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Is eBay still the ideal place to sell last years model?

ebay has a big problem with non paying bidders too.

I think it's a scam - it's like people setup these accounts in order to block sales in order to drive prices downward...

I'm trying swappa now after having 2 non paying bidders. I love how I currently owe almost $130 in fees (while my unpaid item claims are still open) and have yet to make any money on my old iPhone. How ironic.
 
JPIndustrie said:
ebay has a big problem with non paying bidders too.

I think it's a scam - it's like people setup these accounts in order to block sales in order to drive prices downward...

I'm trying swappa now after having 2 non paying bidders. I love how I currently owe almost $130 in fees (while my unpaid item claims are still open) and have yet to make any money on my old iPhone. How ironic.
Click to expand...

Non-paying bidders are part of selling on ebay, just like no-shows on Craigslist. Filing an unpaid item claim is not the best way to approach them. What you should do if you don't get a payment within a day is you send them a message to let you know by the morning if they plan on paying or you will relist that night and send them a cancellation request. If you get no response by 12 noon, initiate the cancellation request. You'll get your fees back when the bidder honors the cancellation request, or you can close the case after 7 days if they never respond to it and you'll get a final value fee credit. From experience, buyers who don't write or pay within the first 24 hours usually never pay, and filing an unpaid item claim scares them off into doing absolutely nothing. Just like no-shows on CL, most just have a change of mind and are usually more than happy to honor the cancellation request. It's also much faster than going through filing an unpaid item claim.
 
Selling through eBay is a massive pain in the rear. You still of course get good buyers, but as a seller you are completely at a disadvantage.

Just be sure to be absolutely clear about the device in your description so some wise guy doesn't try to get a refund through PayPal because the charger has scratches or some BS, and send through a recorded delivery service that requires a signature upon delivery, is insured, and is trackable.

Keep in mind of course eBay and PayPal will show up a few weeks after a sale has gone through to take their cut.
 
Just posted my 64GB iPhone 6 on Swappa. My first time selling there, we'll see how it goes. You're supposed to ship within 2 day of receiving payment, so if it sells I might have to go phoneless for a week or use my 4-year-old 64GB iPod touch...hahah. I guess I'd rather do that than take a hit on the value by trying to sell after release of the 6S.
 
wborisenok said:
Just posted my 64GB iPhone 6 on Swappa. My first time selling there, we'll see how it goes. You're supposed to ship within 2 day of receiving payment, so if it sells I might have to go phoneless for a week or use my 4-year-old 64GB iPod touch...hahah. I guess I'd rather do that than take a hit on the value by trying to sell after release of the 6S.
Click to expand...

The prices on there are so much lower than on eBay though... Almost seems like its not worth selling there.
 
Swappa is normally good but right now the prices are low compared to almost all other venues due to the flood of listings. I'd try eBay, craigslist, or Amazon for top dollar.
 
Whenever I sell my iPhones on eBay, I change the requirements, especially the feedback, unpaid item and paypal, so less of a chance of getting ripped off.

You can block buyers from bidding on or purchasing your items by specifying buyer requirements. You can block buyers who:
  • Don't have a PayPal account
  • Have unpaid items recorded on their account
  • Have a primary shipping address in countries you don't want to ship to
  • Have violated eBay policies
  • Have a Feedback score lower than the number you specify
  • Are currently winning or have bought 1-100 of your items in the last 10 days (you can specify the number)
 
JPIndustrie said:
ebay has a big problem with non paying bidders too.

I think it's a scam - it's like people setup these accounts in order to block sales in order to drive prices downward...

I'm trying swappa now after having 2 non paying bidders. I love how I currently owe almost $130 in fees (while my unpaid item claims are still open) and have yet to make any money on my old iPhone. How ironic.
Click to expand...
List your phone as "Buy it now" with "immediate payment required". Totally eliminates non paying bidders. Don't waste time with auctions. Just look at the recently sold listings and set your price accordingly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sunking101 and Cuechick
Yes. Especially if you sell it before the 30th. They are currently offering a promo where final value fees for iphones are capped at $5.

Note: You must activate the promo from the promotions section of the "Me eBay" page to be eligible
 
Last edited:
We have sold all of our phones on ebay, and will do the same for our sixes. The current deal that ebay is running is phenomenal, and will likely save us about $100. You have to activate it and list before the 30th. Doesn't have to sell by the 30th.

The only problem I have had with ebay is potential buyers from other countries (Russia). They are extremely rude and will NOT leave you alone. I had to have someone blocked last year because of harassment. I will NEVER even consider using Craigslist as an avenue to sell these phones. I like being alive.
 
jtrue28 said:
The only problem I have had with ebay is potential buyers from other countries (Russia). They are extremely rude and will NOT leave you alone. I had to have someone blocked last year because of harassment. I will NEVER even consider using Craigslist as an avenue to sell these phones. I like being alive.
Click to expand...

Do yourself a favor and exclude Russia, South America, Africa and Southeast Asia if you intend to sell internationally. Their unreliable mailing systems and/or scammers make it too risky.
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
But does it actually work, as that doesn't prove you didn't unseal it after the fact? In other words, have you ever sent ebay the video evidence and ebay sided with you specifically based on that?
Click to expand...
When I used to use eBay to sell my phones I would record it all the way until the point of giving it to the postal worker to ship.

I don't bother with any of that anymore and just sell on Craigslist.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Newtons Apple
bbplayer5 said:
The prices on there are so much lower than on eBay though... Almost seems like its not worth selling there.
Click to expand...

Many good buyers refuse to even consider eBay, though. From the perspective of a buyer, it is much better to only consider Swappa because phones on Swappa cannot be listed without a clean ESN.
 
Another vote for Swappa.

Sold both an iPhone 6 and 6+ on there this weekend within 24 hours. I was a new seller, too.

$560 after PayPal's 4% and Swappa's $10 fee for an unlocked 64 GB 6+ is pretty damn decent with the influx of iPhones for sale now. Sure, eBay auctions end up in the $600's, but that 10% Final Value Fee is a killer. And I don't have to worry about non-paying bidders.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Newtons Apple
bbplayer5 said:
The prices on there are so much lower than on eBay though... Almost seems like its not worth selling there.
Click to expand...

Just remember that eBay fees and Paypal fees apply plus there is less chance of something going wrong. I used to recommend eBay but unless you have a lot of experience selling an iPhone on eBay can be hazardous. I have been luck in my 700+ transactions on eBay but something like the iPhone will bring out the professional scammers!


Craigs List does good for me, just got to weed out the low ballers and tire kickers.
 
trife said:
Another vote for Swappa.

Sold both an iPhone 6 and 6+ on there this weekend within 24 hours. I was a new seller, too.

$560 after PayPal's 4% and Swappa's $10 fee for an unlocked 64 GB 6+ is pretty damn decent with the influx of iPhones for sale now. Sure, eBay auctions end up in the $600's, but that 10% Final Value Fee is a killer. And I don't have to worry about non-paying bidders.
Click to expand...

This is exactly why I posted on Swappa and not eBay.
 
bbplayer5 said:
Or is there some better way of doing things? I don't really like Craigs list so looking for a safe online sale.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Craig's list. No fees and all sales are final. Anything the uses PayPal means the buyer has at least 45 days to return.
 
Newtons Apple said:
I used to suggest eBay but no longer. I have had great luck on Craig's List and if you are will to put up with a few crazies out there, it will result in a sale.

eBay will get a lot of lookers and bidders but you are always taking a chance when you are talking about a desirable piece of electronics. eBay has also raise their fees to the point it is not worth it.
Click to expand...
The ebay fees are a joke.
 
617aircav said:
Craig's list. No fees and all sales are final. Anything the uses PayPal means the buyer has at least 45 days to return.
Click to expand...
Paypal has now extended that to 130 days I believe... which is crazy!

jtrue28 said:
I could have sworn I read somewhere that the fee for ebay right now is $5. Must have dreamed that.
Click to expand...

No you didn't, there is link on the first page of this thread, you must opt in to get the deal and list by a certain date.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back