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GrandAmChandler
03-29-2007, 10:07 AM
I have noticed lately that some people are having trouble selling their items on here lately. I am putting together some tips for selling, to help you the seller make some sales, and to make the "for sale" posts easier to search.

1. Title your thread correctly

Make sure you title your thread appropriately. People want to know what it is generally that you are doing!


FS = For Sale
FT = For Trade
WTB = Want to Buy
WTT = Want to trade


Also, make sure you include some system names or abbreviations so people know what you are selling! (NES, DC, GEN, SNES, TG16, etc.)

2. PICTURES.

If you are selling, make sure you provide some pictures! There are tons of free picture hosting sites you can sign up for like photobucket, imageshack, etc. Did you know that items with 2 or more pictures are 9% more likely to sell on eBay? Yeah, this isn't eBay, but you get my point. This here is collector territory, we like to see the exact condition of our items before purchasing.

3. Always list prices

If you don't list prices, most collectors will not bother to contact you. Unless you have something unbelievably rare (ie: Prototype or impossible to find), 9 times out of 10, the majority of users are NOT going to "make you an offer." List prices! The online rarity guide is a good place to start. Keep in mind this is a collector's forum, so if we really wanted eBay prices, well, we could just go to eBay. Even if you list them at eBay prices or higher, the worst that could happen is that your item doesn't sell.

4. Describe condition as best as you can.

If your listing has pics of the front of a cartridge, but there is a big freakin' blockbuster sticker on the back, state that it is so. If a cat has peed all over your Turbo Grafx lot, make sure you tell people. Describe the condition of boxes, manuals, discs, carts, etc. ALWAYS. Also, make sure you note if the item you are selling is complete, loose, has manual, etc. That could help justify your price more.

5. Feedback

Make sure you know who you are dealing with! Everyone's feedback should be in the Feedback Forum. Here you can see the prior trades a person has done, and if they are a reputable buyer / seller.

6. Shipping

List your shipping method! No one wants to PM you to purchase a game they need quickly, come to find out you are gonna ship it media mail! Also, it'd be nice if you state if you use bubble mailers or boxes. Also, if you only ship to a certain location, please make sure you list that as well. It really sucks when you have to cancel a sale and refund money when you forgot to state that you don't ship to a particular location...

7. Payment methods

Be sure to list what methods of payment you accept! Most users on here use paypal, but others deal strictly in money orders, cash, and checks! Let people know how they can pay you!

8. Be up to date with your sales.

If something has sold, Edit your post and make it so. If something is on hold, make sure people know so they don't waste your time. Also let the people know how they can contact you! PMs, email, etc. And make sure you reply to everyone, even if an item has sold already!

9. Honesty is the best policy

Make sure you are up front with every buyer. If something is untested, let them know. If something is missing from the item make sure you state it. It's better to be up front than to deal with paypal or angry customers later!

That's it! Now you are ready to sell!

-GAC-

yok-dfa
03-29-2007, 10:26 AM
2. PICTURES.

If you are selling, make sure you provide some pictures! There are tons of free picture hosting sites you can sign up for like photobucket, imageshack, etc. Did you know that items with 2 or more pictures are 9% more likely to sell on eBay? Yeah, this isn't eBay, but you get my point. This here is collector territory, we like to see the exact condition of our items before purchasing.

Not sure if this is the right place for my comments, but here goes. You state that adding pictures is very important when trying to sell something (and i agree about that) but why are there all these limitations on using pictures?

*) forum software only allows 1MB of attachments in total per user
*) forum software only allows 5 attachments per post
*) forum software has very low limits on file-size (20kb for most filetypes, 97KB for .jpg)
*) If you use an external picture host only 10 images per post are allowed

Any chance these limitations can be lifted?

GrandAmChandler
03-29-2007, 10:35 AM
Not sure if this is the right place for my comments, but here goes. You state that adding pictures is very important when trying to sell something (and i agree about that) but why are there all these limitations on using pictures?

*) forum software only allows 1MB of attachments in total per user
*) forum software only allows 5 attachments per post
*) forum software has very low limits on file-size (20kb for most filetypes, 97KB for .jpg)
*) If you use an external picture host only 10 images per post are allowed

Any chance these limitations can be lifted?

No, but you can list links to your hearts content to sites such as Photobucket, imageshack, or your own hosting!!

-GAC-

yok-dfa
03-29-2007, 10:50 AM
No, but you can list links to your hearts content to sites such as Photobucket, imageshack, or your own hosting!!

-GAC-

Well i did that, but then i got an error message that said that max. 10 images are allowed in a single post

xtremegamer
03-29-2007, 11:04 AM
Well i did that, but then i got an error message that said that max. 10 images are allowed in a single post


Make another post in the same thread, thats what I have done in the past.

GrandAmChandler
03-29-2007, 11:12 AM
Well i did that, but then i got an error message that said that max. 10 images are allowed in a single post

Try using links, instead of embedding the pics. Like this:

Pic 1 (http://www.christopherchandler.net/images/buttondp.gif)
Pic 2 (http://www.christopherchandler.net/images/buttoncge.gif)
Pic 3 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/banner_dreamarcades.gif)
Pic 4 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/intv-banner.gif)
Pic 5 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/banner_mastertech.gif)
Pic 6 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/banner_playmessiah.gif)
Pic 7 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/micromusic.gif)
Pic 8 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/mobygames.gif)
Pic 9 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/banner_dlite.gif)
Pic 10 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/nwcge.gif)
pic 11 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/banner_nurve.gif)
pic 12 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/banner_oldergames.gif)

yok-dfa
03-29-2007, 11:30 AM
Make another post in the same thread, thats what I have done in the past.

I did that too, but it just screws up the entire thread. I had about 73 pics so i had to use 8 posts ...


Try using links, instead of embedding the pics. Like this:

Pic 1 (http://www.christopherchandler.net/images/buttondp.gif)
Pic 2 (http://www.christopherchandler.net/images/buttoncge.gif)
Pic 3 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/banner_dreamarcades.gif)
Pic 4 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/intv-banner.gif)
Pic 5 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/banner_mastertech.gif)
Pic 6 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/banner_playmessiah.gif)
Pic 7 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/micromusic.gif)
Pic 8 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/mobygames.gif)
Pic 9 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/banner_dlite.gif)
Pic 10 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/nwcge.gif)
pic 11 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/banner_nurve.gif)
pic 12 (http://www.cgexpo.com/img/banner_oldergames.gif)
But then you don't see the pictures while browsing the thread. (People are lazy. Why click on a link when it should be possible to instantly view the images?)

What exactly is the reason for limiting the number of pics to 10? The limit feels like it was arbritary picked. Any chance this could be changed to a higher limit?

GrandAmChandler
03-29-2007, 11:33 AM
I did that too, but it just screws up the entire thread. I had about 73 pics so i had to use 8 posts ...


But then you don't see the pictures while browsing the thread. (People are lazy. Why click on a link when it should be possible to instantly view the images?)

What exactly is the reason for limiting the number of pics to 10? The limit feels like it was arbritary picked. Any chance this could be changed to a higher limit?

No, the limit is put in place for forum stability considerations. My advice would be if you have 20 NES carts, embed 1 pic to show what you are selling, link to the rest. Then if you have SNES carts, embed 1 pic, and link to the rest. Or do what the other user suggests, and make another post if you feel the need. Also, if you take large pictures of multiple things, that way you can embed multiple items in 1 pic. If you get what I am saying.

maxlords
03-29-2007, 01:44 PM
Geez man...just put a link to the directory on the photo hosting site that your pics are in and we'll go thru it if we're interested. You don't have to cram a thread chock full of 70 photos....honestly if I saw that i"d just close the window anyway.

Qixmaster
03-29-2007, 02:14 PM
Chris,
thanks for the tips. hope to see you guys at CGE this year.
I'll be bringing lots of goodies again... and for cheap.
Josh