Whats EBAY like for selling boaty stuff

[AlexL]

Is Ebay any good for selling boaty stuff? I've bought some Scuba gear from ebay and its good for this. Anybody know what categories boaty stuff is in?

Alex

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[JeremyF]

Its 'Automotive' then 'other vehicles; parts and accessories' for stuff apart from complete boats, which has its own category in 'other vehicles'

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>Jeremy Flynn/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif
Dawn Chorus</font color=red>

 

[HeadMistress]

Good for selling, but not always good for buyers 'cuz too many sellers of boat equipment don't really know what they have. They're not "boaty" folk...they may be selling it for a friend or relative, or even be "trading assistants" who sell other people's goods on eBay for a commission. I've seen equipment that's been obsolete for 10--even 20--years liste on eBay as "new in box." In fact it may never have been taken out of its box...but that doesn't make it new, or even mean that it'll still work. And if it won't, no parts are still available to make it work. I also see many things listed incorrectly--the seller thinks it's something else--or incomplete systems...for instance an old toilet bowl and base without a pump.

So while ebay CAN be a good source, "caveat emptor" is definitely the rule if buying or selling...'cuz misrepresenting, even if you didn't mean to, can come back to bite you.

<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[tyce]

caveat emptor
this statement could not be truer, all tho the vast majority of traders can be trusted, the odd one can not, i am in the process of being ripped off of a 100 pound for a vhf, i have tried to contact dealer to no avail, so be aware but dont be put off as there are bargains to be had, best to stick with people with plenty of good feedback

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[AlexL]

I'm planning on selling (an autohelm tiller pilot) so I was really asking wether there are enough serious boat equipment buyers on e-bay.

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[eebygum]

Hi,
I've bought quite a few things and would rate it excellent for Electonics (bought a good GPS), books (bought over 30 - never received one yet)....... just sold my old mirror dinghy..... you see a few ggod value boats.... there was a nice Hurley 22, long keel sold for £1400 last week and a nice MK IV Caprice for the same (seller was very nice and sent me loads of pics and detail - good bargin for some one but it was too far to view.

Cheers,
Andrew


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Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

 

[eebygum]

Correction... I did receive all 30 !

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Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

 

[HeadMistress]

I'd add one more thing to your advice, tyce: ask the right questions! If you don't know what questions to ask, find out from someone who does. If the seller doesn't know the answers, pass on the item.

<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[boatless]

I've bought boaty stuff, not sold any. But, the key thing is not so much the category, but getting all the key words into the listing title so that it will be found by a full search. I'd guess that most buyers will start their ebay search from the home page and not bother just searching in categories.... or at least, I do.

<hr width=100% size=1>the above is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[pvb]

Timing...

One thing which might help you on eBay is getting the timing right. If you think most potential buyers are likely to look at the weekend, then a 10-day auction starting on Friday can work well, because you get 2 full weekends of exposure.

You can also put a reserve on the item, so you don't end up giving it away.

Good photos and accurate info are absolutely crucial too.

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[Rigger]

Another word of wisdom. Check the postage charge.I thought I'd got a real bargain ,paying £10 for a new anode,then had to pay £12 for postage!!!

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[Shanty]

And yet another word of wisdom. Make sure you know the new price of the item in question. I've seen nearly new items going for more than the new price.

Also, don't rely on the seller's idea of the new price - you will often get the list price quoted, rather than the typical discount price. And then there was the guy selling some Admiralty charts which he claimed cost more than £20 each.



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[HeadMistress]

Rigger, your advice to check shipping charges not only applies to buyers, but to sellers as well. I learned that the hard way after selling a few things--boaty and non-boaty--on eBay without first finding out what it would cost to ship it before quoting the buyer a shipping charge, and then found it actually cost much more...and had to eat the extra.

<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[tyce]

hi alec as luck would have it , i put a post a fortnight ago on the wanted forum for a tiller pilot so i will p.m. you

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[FullCircle]

Hi Alex, Jim again!
For something like a tiller pilot, why not put it on here in the For Sale area? or Boatsandoutboardsforsale.co.uk?
Both free, and some good responses.
Asked for an cylinder head for Second Chance this week, and got a whole engine and control panel for 50 quid. Not a rare occurence either.....

Jim

<hr width=100% size=1>Second Chance - First Love. No wind instruments, so how about Cylinder Head for Volvo MB2-50S?

 

[sailorman]

i bought a 1Kg extinguisher for total price £13.51 delivered not excessive as you can buy new @ Argos for £12.50 + delivery.
my experence below

Dear dave6840,

its arrived. i am very dissapointed as its NOT NEW AS ADVERTISED. IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2001 I.E. 3 years ( minimum ) OLD & 2 years from a service. it was also dented i accept this could have been "in transit" but no protection only the cardboard carton. this was my fist ebay purchace & most unsatisfactory. i will await your responce before POSTING FEEDBACK. roger winter



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[dickh]

I have both bought and sold stuff on ebay and as long as you get the description correct AND ask questions AND go and see it if possible, then yes, you can get good deals. Some sellers don't know about the item though, never reply to emails and ask silly prices - and some are obsolete items. As long as you know what you are buying and selling you should be OK. And check postage charges - some of them are excessive - if not listed ask what the charge is and query it if necessary.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by dickh on 15/03/2004 13:14 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[motornovice]

Ebay is the best. I bought my boat on Ebay and I have to say I got a great bargin. I am very happy with it. I also managed to pick up a very good GPS Fishfinder for under £150, Factory reconditioned but in perfect working order (I sometimes use Ebay.com-USA site- for real bargins.) Life jackets galore, fishing gear and numerious other bits and pieces. I have used ebay for 4 years and made mabye 3 to 400 transactions, during that time I have been only ripped off twice. So my advice is, go on, take the risk, you could save a fortune

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[Koeketiene]

Buying!

Well, as yet I have no experience of selling boaty stuff on eBay - but there are some very good deals to be had if you're buying.

Just bought a brand new Icom M503 VHF with a DS100 DSC controller for £370. The cheapest I have found this stuff elsewhere was £499.95. So a profit of £130 - feeling pretty smug at the moment.

Alas, not money in the bank - will have to spend it all on the wife to get back in her good books. Forgot our 13th wedding anniversary on Thursday (ouch).

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.