Caleb's guide on being an effective seller

Calebd2 · 06-03-2003, 09:04 PM

I posted this over in the “Trader Feedback” forum also, but I thought more people would read it here.

So, you want to sell some paintball stuff? You may be like me and others *coughCockerKidcough* and often change your marker and/or gear. Or you may just have some things you don’t need anymore. Whatever your reason for selling your paintball equipment you will be sure to want to do it in a way which will make the buyer happy.

Because I have a local paintball shop (sort of…. it’s not really official) I often sell used things. The used things I sell are always in great condition and my customers love how cheap it is. Where do I get these used things? Paintball forums. I find things for cheap, than resell them, still for a cheap price, but make a profit. I often sell some of my equipment that I’m upgrading. So, I have had a lot of experience in being the buyer. I’ve bough from excellent people. I’ve bought from good people. I’ve bough from outright terrible people. Although being a “good” seller is an ok thing, my goal is to try to make you an excellent seller and have your customers love you.

Now, although I sell most of my stuff locally I do a good amount of selling on the internet. I will share what I do to make my customers online happy.

Creating your ad.

*Do not use caps or big letters
People find it annoying, don’t do it. It’s alright to do it with a few words, but not in the whole ad.

*Proof read and check for errors
It’s not a hard thing to do and it makes you look much more professional and will attract more buyers.

*Make the ad understandable
Much to often I see ads such as this

“Ok, I have some stuff for sale. Dead On Style drop forward, Proteus mask, Nitro tank, vigilante reg, Reloader, and Spyder shutter. Make offer”

I hate these types of ads. It shows that the person put no time at all into making the ad. This is not impressive. Try using the following things to make an ad

Start with a short greeting, give the reason why you are selling
Number each item
Put the actual product in bold
Have a Price
Tell all information about the product
Shipping
Payments
Add a link to your trader feedback if you have some
Say where you can be contacted
Thank them for looking

Here is how the ad SHOULD have been made

“Hello, Thank you for looking. I have decided to upgrade to some new things so I have a couple of products for sale.

1. Green Dead On Style Drop Forward- 15
This drop forward is 6 months old. It is in near perfect condition except for one small scratch near one of the screws.

2. Clear JT Proteus Mask- 40
This mask has only been used once and is in mint condition, no scratches on the lenses.

3. Crossfire 47ci 3000psi steel nitro tank- 55
This nitro tank is in perfect condition, has no scratches. Hydro date is 10/02. Includes a blue nipple cover.

4. AA Vigilante regulator- 50
Regulator is in slightly used condition, no noticeable scratches. Has only been run on nitro

5. Black Empire Reloader Hopper- 40
This reloader is still in original box! Never been opened.

6. Blue Spyder Shutter- 75
Please note that this marker needs a new bolt, one is not included! It will not work until you get one. Included with this Shutter is the following;
Clear vl200
PMI adjustable elbow
Original box
Parts kit

All offers will be considered.

Shipping is included in the prices. I ship via USPS Priority Mail.

I accept Pay Pal, Money Orders, and Checks. I will ship the package out the day after I receive your payment. If you pay via check please give me two days for clearing.

You can view my trader feedback *here*

I can be contacted four ways;
Post here
Private Message me
Email (Calebd2@aol.com)
AIM (Calebd2)

Feel free to ask any questions

Thanks!

___________________

Now which one of those ads would impress you more? The second one of course. It doesn’t take much effort at all. I spent about 15 minutes making that.

*Start with a short greeting, give the reason why you are selling
This is friendly and a good way to start the thread off

*Number each item
By doing this people will not miss each item your selling

*Put the actual product in bold
By doing this the person will be sure what the exact product is

*Have a Price
Alright, a lot of people do not include a price. The potential buyer does not appreciate this and will often not offer a price because either they don’t want to waste time or they aren’t sure what to offer.

*Tell all information about the product
Give all information. Color, condition, age, or anything else that is applicable. This way they potential buyer will not have to ask questions which will save you time

*Shipping
Say if the prices include shipping or not, if they do not say how much shipping will be and how it is shipped.

*Payment
Tell them what types of payment you accept and what you will do when you receive the payment

*Add a link to your trader feedback if you have some
You have a MUCH better chance off selling you item if you include trader feedback

*Say where you can be contacted
This will allow the potential buyer to be able to contact you if needed

*Thank them for looking
It’s the nice thing to do, so do it.

*Include pictures
You will sell your item much easier if you have a picture, especially if it is something on the more expensive side. Even if you don’t have a digital camera find someone who has one. It isn’t that hard.

*Never ever lie about the product
This is the most important thing of becoming a excellent seller. It’s common sense too. It’s obvious that you shouldn’t lie that it is working when it isn’t. Also obvious is saying that you have something when you don’t. I guarantee you if you do you will get bad feedback. It’s illegal, you could get in trouble. It’s common sense, it’s bad, don’t do it.

Now there are some things that aren’t exactly “lying”, more like deception. The product still works, but there is a small little thing missing or wrong. If there is ANYTHING that is wrong with the product or not included or anything that was been changed since it was purchased, tell them.

I’ve purchased probably about 50 used markers. You’d be amazed about how many little things they “forget” to tell you. No safeties, missing sight rails/beaver tails, scratches, broken o-rings, messed up cup seals, stripped screws. You most likely will not get bad trader feedback for it, but it is courtesy to the other person and will make them much more happy. There is no excuse for it, you need to tell the buyer.

Managing Your Ad

*Questions asked in the thread
If you are asked a question in your thread answer it politely. Don’t be pushy.

*Questions asked through private messages or email
Same thing answer it politely. Don’t be pushy.

*Questions asked through AIM
This is the way that I think is the best way to communicate. Answer there questions and don’t be pushy. After they are done asking there questions don’t just say bye, talk to them. Don’t say anything else about what your selling. You can ask them what marker they shoot or how long they’ve played paintball. Anything that has to do with paintball. Most people like that and will become more friendly. There is a much more chance of you selling your product if your polite and enjoyable to talk to. I’ll take one guy I bought from for example. He goes by CaptainFuzzy here on Pbreview. I contacted him on AIM and he was great. You couldn’t help but love the guy. Because I found him such a great guy I was more inclined to buy his product. Hey, you may even make some AIM buds.

*Offers
If someone offers you less than the price you listed always consider it. If it’s decent, take the deal. If you don’t like the offer, tell them no thanks, and tell them what you will take.

*Lowballs
Yes, I know it sucks. Your selling a JT Proteus Mask and someone offers you 15 bucks shipped. It’s rude, but just ignore it. Don’t yell at them and tell them there an idiot (or more colorful language). Just tell them you would like to get more.

*Pending
If someone has agreed to purchase one of your items and has put the payment in the mail don’t put sold just yet. Next to the price in red letters write the words “Pending”. After you receive the payment and ship it out, than you write “Sold”

*If you sell one of your items
If you sell one of your items edit your original post in red put the word SOLD in place of where the price was. This is better than making a new posting by saying “The JT Proteus Mask is sold” because not everyone will read the whole thread.

*If you sell all your items
At the top of the page in large letter write “Everything is Sold”. Also Private Message a moderator asking them to delete it.

Closing the deal

So someone wants to buy your item… now what?

*Getting proper information
Private Message or Email them with a message such as this

“Hello,
Thank you for purchasing my JT Proteus Mask
The total payment due is 40.00

Please send the payment to the following address;
Caleb Dean
(I’m not going to include my street addy, I don’t want everyone on the net seeing it)
Osprey, FL 34229

How do you plan to pay?

Please include your address with the payment. Could you also enclose a note with the payment specifying what item you purchased?

Thanks again!

-Caleb Dean"

(cont. in next post)

Calebd2 · 06-03-2003, 09:08 PM

*Backouts
Believe me, this will happen quite often, it sucks, but there isn’t anything you can do about it. Don’t get pissed and send them a nasty email. Just put the item back up for sale.

*Slow payment
If it has been at least a week and you haven’t yet received the payment email or private message the buyer with a short message asking how the shipment on the payment is going.

Shipping your item

So you receive the payment… now what?

*Contact the buyer
When you receive the payment email or private message the buyer informing them that you have received the payment. Tell them what day you will be shipping the item out. Be sure that it is when you said.

*Delay
If there is a delay in shipping the item email or private message them telling them that. Make sure you add a truthful legitimate reason for the delay.

*Item cannot be shipped
If for some reason your product gets lost, breaks, or something out of your power happens to it and you can’t send it to the buyer what should you do? You need to send there money back as soon as possible. I would also recommend that you include 15% of what they paid.. So if the item you sold was 100.00 send them back 115.00. Be sure to send them an email or private message with and apology and truthful explanation of why the item could not be shipped. Tell them you will be sending there payment back plus 15% of what they paid. Most likely you will not get bad trader feedback if you do this.

*Clean the Item
All to often I’ve received and item that hasn’t been cleaned. It’s pitiful, it’s not hard to do, neither is it time consuming. I’ve purchased a good amount of barrels and neither every single one had a break in it! Pull a squeegee thru it! It only takes 10 second, come on! Oil and clean a marker before you send it out. With a mask, take the lenses out, and clean it. Everything should be cleaned before shipping out, there are no excuses….

*Free item
If possible include a free item with the package. It doesn’t need to be anything expensive. Stickers, oil, squeegee, or whatever. If you got something you don’t mind with parting with, throw it in. Buyers will love this.

*Packing
This is a very important aspect of selling. You must pack it well to be sure it will make it to the buyer in the same condition it was when you shipped it! I once purchased a 12oz co2 tank from someone. I received it in a box that would have been big enough for 3 cases of paint… He did not pack it at all. He just threw it in there and shipped it. Needless to say, it did not come to me in the same condition as when he shipped it. So here is what you need to do when shipping the item

First, find a box that is the right size. Than you need to wrap the item in something. Even if you don’t have bubble wrap or official wrapping you can find things around the house that will work. Newspaper will work great. I once purchased a barrel from reneirwolfcastle and he put it in two (clean) socks.

Be creative, you’ll figure something out. USPS, UPS, and Fedex aren’t exactly the most careful people in the world… Pack it well you want to be sure that the item arrives in the same condition as when you sent it.

*Invoice
Include an invoice type thing in the package. There pretty simple to make, mine looks like this;

“Mr. Bob Smith, 6/03

Enclosed is the JT Proteus Mask. This mask is for the 40.00 Money Order I received from you on 6/02.

If possible could you please write me some trader feedback on Pbreview/Pbnation? Do a search for the user name “Calebd2”, there is already a thread made. I will be sure to do the same for you.

It has been a pleasure doing business with you!

(Sign your name here)

Calebd2@aol.com

After the package is gone

*Email the buyer
Email the buyer and inform them that you have sent the package out and that they should be receiving soon.

*Keep information
Even though the package is gone you should keep all information. This includes Private Messages, Emails, Letters from buyer, or anything else that had to do with your transaction. Keep these just incase something comes up with the buyer. If they claim something and you say it’s different, you can be like, “Bam check this out” and show them the proof.

*Trader feedback
After everything is done throw the buyer some feedback.

Well boys and girls that’s about it. It sure seems like a lot to remember, but once you do it a few times it’s not hard. If you do all that, I promise you you’ll costumers will love ya.

Thanks for reading

If you see something I missed or something that should be added, throw me a PM.

#1UkrainianPBer · 06-03-2003, 09:09 PM

Bravo!!

i like tictacs · 06-03-2003, 09:17 PM

Cool. Sticky anyone?

PartySquirrel · 06-03-2003, 09:27 PM

definately a sticky . maybe if there was a way to put this in each trading forum....

Calebd2 · 06-03-2003, 09:30 PM

I threw it over in the trader feedback forum as well.

Maybe over there.

joeballer · 06-03-2003, 10:06 PM

Here are few tips:

Use occasional colors on keywords...They are attention grabbers, but don't use them too often. I usually use it for the price. Dont be afraid to use VBCODE, its your friend...

http://www.pbreview.com/forums/misc....bbcode#buttons

Bullets and lists are your friends.

This point I cannot stress enough:

ALWAYS GET SOME TYPE OF TRACKING

This protects you in so many ways, espetially in trades. You can get Delivery Confirmation for like .80, WELL worth it.

Raptorz922 · 06-03-2003, 10:10 PM

Once again, VERY good work Caleb. This needs to be stickied.

straptrams · 06-04-2003, 06:59 AM

Do any of you guys actually spend time paintballing? It seems like all you do is make big threads for people to read.

taso_winforce · 06-04-2003, 07:05 AM

do you actually play because it seems to me that all you do is read those big threads. for real man its not like you go paintballing every day and for me i can only go like once a month if that.

joeballer · 06-04-2003, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by straptrams
Do any of you guys actually spend time paintballing? It seems like all you do is make big threads for people to read.

No way, I spend all my money upgrade my gun, so I never have enough for paint or air.