Advice on the best shipping / payment option for a paintball sale

LoneWolf · 04-21-2011, 05:43 AM

Because of the huge amount of respect I have for my fellow MCB'ers here, I wanted to throw this one out to get your advice. I'm clearing out some of my old gear (markers, barrels, etc) & am having my first experience actually selling outside of my local group.

What would be your recommendations on a payment option (asking the buyer for the money upfront? Another option)?

And what about shipping? Looks like it'll just be a barrel this time, so I'm not overally concerned - but I don't want to get cheatered, and at the same time I don't want to be a douche either.

Thoughts?

Mirad · 04-21-2011, 06:36 AM

Use Paypal. I use USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate for what I need and I slap on delivery confirmation. If it's anything smaller, I weigh the item + box. Call the Post Office and ask them how much to ship it. If shipping is about the same as the PM Flat Rate, I go with that instead. Any other mail services will cost a bundle from where I'm shipping.

Stilgar · 04-21-2011, 07:44 AM

I am not sure about USPS, do they have an automatic insurance ammount attached to a package? Canada Post has $100 insurance automaticly, if your item is worth more than that automatic insurance I would also HIGHLY recomend purchasing insurance to cover the full cost of the item plus a bit...this way if anything happens you and the buyer are covered.

Paypal is probably the best and safest way to both make and accept payments. easy, quick and it has built in anti fraud and dispute functions.

Generaly accepted practice is the buyer pays you and you ship. Trades are a little different.

Always check the feedback of anyone you are doing business.

Flat rate boxes are your friend for anything heavy. Small light items can be shipped cheaper through other means.

If your shipping outside of the US, ONLY use USPS!!

JOESPUD27 · 04-21-2011, 08:30 AM

I try to use PayPal and USPS, I add Delivery Confirmation and Insurance, which requires a signature. I still accept Money Orders from time to time.

Jay

CJOttawa · 04-21-2011, 08:54 AM

Use PayPal.

The "e-check" option can take time to "process" and Visa/MC via PayPal have added fees. Factor the latter in to your asking price and wait for e-checks to clear before shipping.

Take photos and/or vids of the gear, if it's something that has moving parts. That way, if there's any dispute, you've got evidence it worked when you had it.

Ship USPostal Service and go with a service level that has tracking and insurance. If shipping internationally, this works very well too as the tracking number carries over to the foreign shipper. Make sure you properly fill out and affix a customs declaration. (item: "sporting goods - paintball" value: "$whatever was paid for it" - country of origin: "USA")

Try to deal with users who've been here a while with good feedback. (ME for instance! *laughs*)

Communicate like a mo-fo and don't sell if you can't ship out within 48 hours; when shipped, PACK IT LIKE IT'S MADE OF GLASS and you expect the post office to play football with it.

Seriously - if you were shipping a wine glass and your packing job wouldn't protect it from a drop on concrete, you fail.

Draken · 04-21-2011, 10:14 AM

Paypal and USPS for 99% of all deals, like most here have said

Also, to add to what cjottawa about trusted members, if you have ANY reservations at all about the deal, get their phone number and make a quick call, its worth it and this has saved my butt once on a deal.

Here, AO and CC, I don't worry to much because all have upstanding people as the vast majority of the forums, but on PBN, I am a little more strict when making deals.

LoneWolf · 04-21-2011, 11:22 AM

Excellent advice guys!

Stilgar · 04-21-2011, 11:23 AM

Advice specific to shipping to Canada...

Target · 04-21-2011, 11:30 AM

You can get shipping quotes on USPS.com with the weight of your package and the zip codes.

If you pay online, you can save a few cents, print the lable at home and bypass the line at the Post Office and it there is no charge for a tracking #.

You can pay via Credit Card or from your PayPal balance.

I just printed a shipping lable through PayPal ( click on "print lable" in the transaction summary line).

If you accept PayPal as a "Gift", it is against the their terms of service and you also do not have any buyer protection ( no way to get your money back if the deal goes wrong).

Jebus · 04-21-2011, 11:36 AM

Never use UPS....just sayin'

04-21-2011, 05:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
LoneWolf Active Member Join Date: Apr 2006	Advice on the best shipping / payment option for a paintball sale Because of the huge amount of respect I have for my fellow MCB'ers here, I wanted to throw this one out to get your advice. I'm clearing out some of my old gear (markers, barrels, etc) & am having my first experience actually selling outside of my local group. What would be your recommendations on a payment option (asking the buyer for the money upfront? Another option)? And what about shipping? Looks like it'll just be a barrel this time, so I'm not overally concerned - but I don't want to get cheatered, and at the same time I don't want to be a douche either. Thoughts? __________________ Ain't No Rest for the Wicked.... "Battle not with monsters lest ye become a monster; and if you gaze into the abyss the abyss gazes into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." "If you can't do something smart, do something right."

04-21-2011, 06:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mirad Stock Class Playa Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: In my space station.	Use Paypal. I use USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate for what I need and I slap on delivery confirmation. If it's anything smaller, I weigh the item + box. Call the Post Office and ask them how much to ship it. If shipping is about the same as the PM Flat Rate, I go with that instead. Any other mail services will cost a bundle from where I'm shipping. __________________ mcarterbrown +17/0/-0 customcockers +11/0/-0 customcockers itrader +4/0/-0 PbNation +9/0/-0 For sale:

04-21-2011, 07:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Stilgar Walking without rhythm Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North of 49	I am not sure about USPS, do they have an automatic insurance ammount attached to a package? Canada Post has $100 insurance automaticly, if your item is worth more than that automatic insurance I would also HIGHLY recomend purchasing insurance to cover the full cost of the item plus a bit...this way if anything happens you and the buyer are covered. Paypal is probably the best and safest way to both make and accept payments. easy, quick and it has built in anti fraud and dispute functions. Generaly accepted practice is the buyer pays you and you ship. Trades are a little different. Always check the feedback of anyone you are doing business. Flat rate boxes are your friend for anything heavy. Small light items can be shipped cheaper through other means. If your shipping outside of the US, ONLY use USPS!! __________________ Featuring Death on Facebook! Gravity League Ottawa - Like us on Facebook! GLO Season Opener *NEW DATE 25 May* 2013 Feedback here. Patagonia Down Vest NWT $99 Shipped! Need to sell!! How to Ship to Canada! How to make a 45* stickfeed for open class guns

04-21-2011, 08:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
JOESPUD27 Merc Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: St. Louis Area	I try to use PayPal and USPS, I add Delivery Confirmation and Insurance, which requires a signature. I still accept Money Orders from time to time. Jay __________________ Feedback Xtreme Paintball Robbed, CCM guns missing Xtreme Paintball Park CCM Art of Pump Play UWL

04-21-2011, 08:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
CJOttawa Immune to sales tactics. Join Date: Dec 2006	Use PayPal. The "e-check" option can take time to "process" and Visa/MC via PayPal have added fees. Factor the latter in to your asking price and wait for e-checks to clear before shipping. Take photos and/or vids of the gear, if it's something that has moving parts. That way, if there's any dispute, you've got evidence it worked when you had it. Ship USPostal Service and go with a service level that has tracking and insurance. If shipping internationally, this works very well too as the tracking number carries over to the foreign shipper. Make sure you properly fill out and affix a customs declaration. (item: "sporting goods - paintball" value: "$whatever was paid for it" - country of origin: "USA") Try to deal with users who've been here a while with good feedback. (ME for instance! laughs) Communicate like a mo-fo and don't sell if you can't ship out within 48 hours; when shipped, PACK IT LIKE IT'S MADE OF GLASS and you expect the post office to play football with it. Seriously - if you were shipping a wine glass and your packing job wouldn't protect it from a drop on concrete, you fail. Last edited by CJOttawa; 04-21-2011 at 12:11 PM.

04-21-2011, 10:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Draken Active Member Join Date: Jan 2007	Paypal and USPS for 99% of all deals, like most here have said Also, to add to what cjottawa about trusted members, if you have ANY reservations at all about the deal, get their phone number and make a quick call, its worth it and this has saved my butt once on a deal. Here, AO and CC, I don't worry to much because all have upstanding people as the vast majority of the forums, but on PBN, I am a little more strict when making deals.

04-21-2011, 11:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
LoneWolf Active Member Join Date: Apr 2006	Excellent advice guys! __________________ Ain't No Rest for the Wicked.... "Battle not with monsters lest ye become a monster; and if you gaze into the abyss the abyss gazes into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." "If you can't do something smart, do something right."

04-21-2011, 11:23 AM	#8 (permalink)
Stilgar Walking without rhythm Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North of 49	Advice specific to shipping to Canada... __________________ Featuring Death on Facebook! Gravity League Ottawa - Like us on Facebook! GLO Season Opener *NEW DATE 25 May* 2013 Feedback here. Patagonia Down Vest NWT $99 Shipped! Need to sell!! How to Ship to Canada! How to make a 45* stickfeed for open class guns

04-21-2011, 11:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
Target Old 'n Slow Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY	You can get shipping quotes on USPS.com with the weight of your package and the zip codes. If you pay online, you can save a few cents, print the lable at home and bypass the line at the Post Office and it there is no charge for a tracking #. You can pay via Credit Card or from your PayPal balance. I just printed a shipping lable through PayPal ( click on "print lable" in the transaction summary line). If you accept PayPal as a "Gift", it is against the their terms of service and you also do not have any buyer protection ( no way to get your money back if the deal goes wrong). __________________ Feedback:http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/f...-feedback.html

04-21-2011, 11:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
Jebus Ridin' The ShortBus Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cowtown...up North	Never use UPS....just sayin'

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