Tips for a new seller to reduce risk of disputes with buyers?

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Consign to an auction house and press the “easy button”; the AH deals with all of that and you likely get a much wider audience.

Depends on what you are selling. Lots of dealers make a living breaking up AH lots and selling the cards at retail. If you have a Gehrig RC, sure, an AH is a great bet. At that level you could probably even get a piece of the BP to go with a zero commission. But a run of 1960s Topps cards in less than an 8, those get thrown into a big lot in an AH setting.

[swarmee]

Comc.com may be what you're looking for.

But now at the $500 level for raw cards on ebay, they all get sent to CSG to confirm they are what you listed them as. Once CSG signs off on them, the buyer can't return if you have no returns set. They have to deal with ebay instead.
And that's quickly going to include cards priced over $250 even if they're graded.

[nwobhm]

Ebay sales:

1) .99 start auction
2) Condition stated is always listed as poor
3) Clear front and back photos
4) 30 day returns
5) Ship within 2-3 days after receiving payment
6) Combined shipping available

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by nwobhm

Ebay sales:

1) .99 start auction
2) Condition stated is always listed as poor
3) Clear front and back photos
4) 30 day returns
5) Ship within 2-3 days after receiving payment
6) Combined shipping available

1) Maybe, but huge risk for someone with no selling history. Cards will be low in the search engine algorithm compared to COMC, Greg Morris, etc.
2) Nah, if you want to play that game, state "Judge condition for yourself based on images"
3) Yep.
4) Nope. Give buyers no returns and no reason for INADs with the answer to #2.
5) Fine. Use tracked mail, even the new eBay letter for inexpensive ones. Upsell to Priority mail for anything over $50.
6) Also fine.

[nwobhm]

Originally Posted by swarmee

1) Maybe, but huge risk for someone with no selling history. Cards will be low in the search engine algorithm compared to COMC, Greg Morris, etc.
2) Nah, if you want to play that game, state "Judge condition for yourself based on images"
3) Yep.
4) Nope. Give buyers no returns and no reason for INADs with the answer to #2.
5) Fine. Use tracked mail, even the new eBay letter for inexpensive ones. Upsell to Priority mail for anything over $50.
6) Also fine.

Savvy buyers will figure it out quickly. Understated condition will bring few returns too. GM has a following for a reason. Condition is usually correct or understated. On the occasion it isn't he graciously takes the return without complaint. Smart, honest business brings buyers.

[swarmee]

Marking every listing with "This card is in poor condition" is not honest.

[nwobhm]

Originally Posted by swarmee

Marking every listing with "This card is in poor condition" is not honest.

It's certainly not dishonest. It's an overly conservative grade that eliminates complaints and allows the maximum upside for buyers that can determine what the grade actually is.

Dishonest is the thousands of cards on ebay listed as NM/M when they clearly aren't. Those same sellers don't want to take returns either.....go figure....