How do most sellers handle their forum sales?

"What mechanism (? PayPal, ? checks) do most people use to conclude the sale?  Granted, the vast majority of folks selling here and in similar venues are totally honest.  I have a PayPal account.  If a seller only wants the buyer to pay "actual" shipping how does one come to a final price before the item is actually shipped?  Thanks for any advice."

    I prefer paypal payment as it's fast and requires no trip to the bank to cash a check, payment and shipping can often happen same day using paypal. To get a postage price the post office and UPS have a calculator on their website that lets you put in the zip code, the weight,and box size then gives you the price.For most shipment priority mail is the best deal as it includes insurance and tracking for a little bit more than the parcel post cost. If you think your items are more desirable than common trains you'd probably clear more on ebay by letting bidders do their thing. or maybe list here as fixed price at a higher price than you expect then if it doesn't sell lower it a bit in a few days?( if the first guy that sees it buys it then you know it was priced too low ) :> .....DaveB 

I agree with DaveB and can add that pictures are a HUGE help in selling any item either here on the Forum or over on "The Bay".  I agree that you will probably do a bit better on eBay but don't forget that there are many "hidden"  cost that the buyer incurs that will lower your net return as well.  I've listed items here on the forum that didn't even get a look and eventually sold them on eBay for more than I was initially asking on the forum.  Also, you have a MUCH larger audience looking to buy on eBay.  Either way, best of luck to you!  

Chief Bob (Retired)

The one piece of advice I'd give is the first post explicitly stating "I'll buy it", gets it. Anything less is just a tire-kicker.

YEP!  Forgot that one and it is VERY important

On the forum,I prefer a check,I have had two Paypal transactions in the last six weeks that were supposed to be friends and family and they were sent the regular way,I am not into paying the percentage when it is already a good deal.

Mikey

US post office money order gets your package shipped the very same day.

A couple of bad checks will take the wind out of your sails!

When a person purchases a USPS money order does he have to then physically mail it to you himself or is there some electronic way it can be sent to the seller or can it be sent electronically to the seller's local post office (so as not to have to wait for a letter to come)?

Thanks

I do not accept nor do I use "Friends and Family" option when paying for or selling an item via Pay Pal.  I encourage buyers to use the "Goods and Services" option (where the buyer adds 3.5% to the amount they send to Pay Pal) if for no other reason but to have the Pay Pal "Buyer Protection".  I consider it to be an Insurance Policy of sorts which mostly protects the buyer.

Chief Bob (Retired) 

Even those who accept USPS Postal Money Orders, (I have done so on several occasions) should delay shipment until they are sure the funds have cleared.  It is a rare occasion but there have been isolated incidences where USPS Postal Money orders have been counterfeited.  Ask me how I know.

Chief Bob (Retired) 

I personally do not know of the USPS electronically sending Postal Money Orders.  That is the whole objective of services such as Pay Pal.  Postal Money Orders are still one of the safest ways to send a "physical" payment but they can be circumvented as well.  I've recorded hundreds of transactions via Pay Pal through eBay without one problem to date.

Chief Bob (Retired)

Bob,

Ditto! Ditto!

I'm curious if anyone has used Square- Cash to make forum purchases?  https://squareup.com/help/us/en/topic/139-square-cash

I've used it a few times with business associates, but not with 'strangers' as of yet.  I do use Square card readers for my business, and while the 2.75% fee is annoying, the service is nice to have.  As of the last time I used the 'cash' service, there was no fee.  

I wont use paypal. Too easy to be locked out from accessing your money.

 My buddy had his accounts frozen by E-idiots too often.

The USPS Money orders being faked. Recently? Cashed at your bank, or at a PO?

 Because I thought that they had control numbers to verify with, if you cashed it at the P.O..

 You may not get your money, don't ship the goods.

And you might lose some time answering questions. Just think about the grin from a federal counterfeiting case against an idjit.

No deal is 100% without risk.

I like the USPO MO or cash. I cash them at the PO just before I ship the things.

Track the high $ stuff. 

USPOMO-Just to avoid any "stop payment" scams too.

Here is my take on waiting for a check to clear:

The buyer is trusting you to actually send the merchandise, and that it is in the condition you say. Why aren't you trusting him/her to send a good check? If you want instant payment, eat the fees and take Paypal.

IMO it is the sellers responsibility to pay the PayPal fees...it's their account, and the price of doing business.  I never do the friends and family or gift because my understanding is, as a buyer you have no protection at all.

-rog

I tried Paypal...didn't like it at all nor did I really feel comfortable linking credit cards, etc online. I do it the old fashion way - check or USPS MO (or cash for local pick up). I ship when it clears unless I know and trust the person I'm selling to. Never been burned but have had a few folks, with the "I'm sending payment" line that goes week after week and you never see the $$$. After about 2 weeks of that, I tell them have it to me by day X or no sale. Either you never hear from them again or see the $$ next day. I do everything on my end to get the sale done quickly, you, the buyer, should do the same. 

When I sell on here, I make the price shipped to the lower 48. If the person is someone I know from the forum as a regular (or a TCA Member), I ship it right away. If not, I wait for the check (the only form of payment I accept) to arrive, then ship it.

  CHECKS CLEAR THE NEXT DAY AFTER DEPOSIT IN 2015!!!  Just a personal observation, but often, it is more prudent to pay the 13% Ebay/Paypal fees, and skip the "dog ate my homework" of SOME on here!  There is NO buyers remorse once you submit your bid on auction sites.  It's a shame that people abuse the free service provided by the Forum!  I would rather sell on here...I like the format, but I will be ****ed if I spend days setting up payments on a $200 item, and have the guy back out.

When buying I send a check.  I ask the seller to deposit and wait for the check to clear, then send the item.

Sellers here often send the item well ahead of then any way.

You can take what ever payment method your comfortable with. With PayPal the buyer can pay by what ever means they wish, it doesn't matter to you. The money is there instantly unless they do an E-Check. A few buyers hate PayPal and will send a check. They do not like paying for a money order and are willing to wait. When you receive the check or money order, be prompt and deposit it into your bank and wait for it to clear before shipping the item.

As for shipping, you can list your item as costing $X amount plus actual shipping. The buyer must send you their address where they want the item shipped. Open an account with USPS.COM  Pack the item(s), then measure and weigh the parcel. Enter the data into the shipping form on line and get the actual shipping cost with insurance. Do not save the label for now just close the web page. Add the actual shipping to the cost of the item, and send the buyer the total due.

If the item is large and heavy, you should consider shipping FedEx. They have a rate calculator on their web site you can get a pretty close idea of how much the shipping will be to within a buck or two.

Just a side note that both Chase & Discovery Banks accept checks via smartphone...when you receive a check in the mail just endorse it, take a pic of front & back and send via smartphone to your account...no more having to physically deposit checks! 

I've been using and accepting Paypal for private transactions for many years for several different hobbies (Electric Bases, LEGO, Wargaming, and most recently trains). I've never had a problem.  When sellers ask for the "friends" option, if it's a good enough deal already, I'll just send it normal and add 3% to the price.    It's worth it for my peace of mind to be able to get some or all my cash back in case of fraud, mistakes, etc.   

Sending money by "Friends" is only good for the seller as it completely eliminates the protections for the buyer.  I don't know for sure, but I think sellers asking for such payment could (though it's probably unlikely) get in trouble with Paypal as I think it's against the terms of use to use it when goods are being exchanged.  I only do it when dealign with folks whom I personally know and/or have done good business with in the past.

As for checks or money orders, I'm definitely willing to accept them if no one else is interested, but someone paying by paypal gets first dibs.   When I close a sale, I like to get my money soon and get the item out of my house.    I'm really not looking to have to wait a week to get my $, then have to go to the bank, and wait for the check to clear.  

A small paypal fee is more than worth the potential hassle of waiting, going to the bank and waiting again.  Paypal also is an easy way to keep a sort of pseudo-hobby-bank-account where I can easily see what I'm bringing in and sending out.

Lastly, as to shipping costs, over time you'll get a good idea for what things cost, though as long as you have some way to measure and weigh your package, all the shippers have a website where you can calculate the shipping.  On occasion when I wasn't quite sure how a package would be accepted or charged, I've offerd the buyer to accept payment for the item and then send them a bill for the exact amount of shipping after it is shipped. 

I know this is the way NOT to post here on the Forum but some people do it but  constantly and have undermined the rules... really gripes my cookies that they take advantage of such a good thing OGR has provided us...

1) First Post with no price so you get allot of interest and then it bumps to the top of the forum list every time some one has noted you did not post with a price...

2) Then post the price really high and bump it to the top by reducing it by 10 dollars a day!

3) Then take everyone's interested email and secretly sell to the highest bidder by telling the first emailer it needs to be repaired and you are sending it out for two weeks.

4) Don't reply that you have received the PayPal monies for two weeks after you have received it.

5) Don't reply that you have shipped it.

6) And don't send the seller any record of a tracking notice...

7) If it doesn't work or is damaged, always blame it on the shipping service.

8) Don't forget to not update your posting with what has been sold, although this will backfire as you will still receive many a emails,

9) Do not include pictures of many long list of rolling stock... pictures are useless

10) Don't update the posting as sold or please delete... no sense helping the moderator out... he has plenty of time to police this forum!

11) Don't combine your listings, besides you want your stuff on page one all the time...

12) reply to silly asked questions on the forum post to bump your item(s).

13) ship in a shoe box with no bubble wrap.

Again please have some courtesy and thank OGR for this service!

I really appreciate the time spent by all the forum members who have given me very useful information about their management of forum sales (and purchases).

post photos of everything, I take checks or money orders, and discount my prices

I like to buy and sell here, so far no troubles other than a few really low ball offers. I tend to set the price here at what I would net on eBay, roughly 13% less than what I want to get for the item, my net is the same, but someone here gets to keep their money rather than paying eBay. 

In in terms of payment, take them all! When I was little my grandfather owned a regional home improvement chain, he told about age five our customer is anyone with "green folding money," don't hinder your buyers options, let them pay you in the easist for them manner and smile as you have trains and they have cash, and cash can buy a whole lot more than trains.

Also, don't even attempt to guess shipping costs, I have goofed that a few times, use the online calculators to the buyers specific address. Rural delivery with a hefty surcharge can be to many places one would never consider that far out the way.

Good luck,

Jason

B of A also does this. I use it often.

Scrolled to the bottom on this.

I think for me, put the item in the title:

I like to see:  MTH GG-1 30-2222-22 for sale $150

Instead of Trains for sale.... There are lots of things to look through and putting the specifics really help  "ROlling stock" not so good.  Lionel MPC boxcars - good.

Cool stuff - not good.

Postwar diesels - Better.

Just how I like to shop.

Ben

like to add 2 more:

14) every time seller sells an item he posts a new reply

15)every time he adds a item ......he posts  a new reply

16) every time seller changes a price , he posts a new reply,but you never see the old price to see if it was ever changed

17) deletes old replys that had bumped his or. ad when a new reply is posted so we dont notice....

all these are is an excuse to bump to the top of the first page.all new info can be edited in the origional  ad. this really burns my butt.....Jim

Rough life if this is what gets you worked up 

 Paypal works for me, without issues. What did most of you guys do before email an stuff? I used to buy/ sell from a paper list with no photos and usually had no issues.

   Everyone is a little paranoid, but there is way more protection for Buyers now then before. Just gotta watch out for the Scammers lol

Al

Very helpful information. A tad off topic, but with all this talk of PayPal, I must say that I and others I know are strongly considering closing our PayPal accounts.  Now that eBay and PayPal have parted ways, PayPal's Terms of Use are changing soon and they basically are making users agree to telemarketing phone calls and a list of other evils.  I have found it to be convenient and sometimes required by sellers, but come July, I may be in the "wait for the check to clear" camp if I ever post anything for sale here.  Thanks for a useful discussion (and Forum service as others have noted).

Tomlinson Run Railroad

I've found the for sale forum rather annoying to browse because of listings that offer no information in the title.  Of course with many items listed things can get confusing, but with single offerings I'd love to see a title like that, Ex:

Mth Railking Allegheny Proto1 $350

"PayPal's Terms of Use are changing soon and they basically are making users agree to telemarketing phone calls "

   They can get in line with all the other calls my machine picks up and I delete :>  I think most companies have these terms of service somewhere in the stuff we never read so I'm not too worried about it.....DaveB

I am also considering closing my PayPal account because of the telemarketing issue. I receive far too many solicitations now even though both my home phone and cell phone is registered on the do not call list.  Don't know what sellers would do when they have to wait for a check, but as a buyer, I don't mind waiting a few more days to receive the item.  As also mentioned by others, a lot of banks let you scan a personal check on your cell phone to make the deposit to your account and it clears the next day.  I use Wells Fargo and they offer this service for free (for now anyway).  No need to make a trip to the bank to make the deposit.

While I agree with 'first come - first served', I have probably had more initial offers from folks via e-mail than a post on OGR.  I have also had several folks, who were not regular OGR posters, contact me by e-mail to purchase an item. 

So, for me, the first person to contact me, via either a post to the forum OR directly by e-mail, gets the item.

Jim

I'm a huge paypal fan myself.

From a sellers perspective, it makes live easier for me, as:

• With a check or non-postal money order, I have to take it to (or mail it) to my credit union.  If its from a forum regular, I'll ship the item the next day.  If not, I end up waiting until the check clears.
• With a postal money order, I find I have great difficultly cashing anything over $25 at the post office and usually end up sending them to my credit union as well.
• With paypay the monies are immediately available to me.  This is worth 3.5% of the total sale price.

From a buyers perspective, I also prefer the paypal option.  Saves me a special trip to the credit union or post office when I have no other reason to go there.  As a couple of other folks have mentioned, it also is a great insurance policy.  If you purchase an item and it doesn't ship, you can get your money back through paypal.

Jim

You can calculate the shipping cost by knowing the weight of the package and the entering the seller and buyers zip code on the shippers web site. UPS, USPS etc, web sites have calculators for determining the shipping cost.

I sometimes stopped by the UPS store with the package, had them weigh it and give me the shipping cost before it was shipped so that I could inform the seller.

depositing a USPO money order defeats the purpose of a USPO money order.

Always cash a USPO MO at a post office located in less prosperous neighborhoods.  Many low pay folks do not have checking accounts so they use money orders.  Hence those post offices have much more cash on hand.

Check with the post office in the later part of their hours for a large amount.

If nothing else, if you must deposit a USPO MO take it to a post office first and verify that it is genuine.