Chinese Export Silver Tuck Chang & Luen-Wo Teapot & Bowl

Moon,

This sounds more like being impatient with a process, rather than scamming.

Also, in the past, whenever I registered as a buyer at an auction house, I don't recall ever being "vetted". I mean; they ask for the basic personal information and credit/debit info to make sure I can pay for an item if bid/won, but I don't recall them ever conducting an NCIC check on me......................at least not to my knowledge.

I would also like to add... From my understanding, theft at these postal facilities in China are very minimal. This is most likely due to the stiff penalties imposed by the government. Penalties for theft (or in general) in China are much more severe than they are here in the States. These penalties probably are, but are not limited to: long prison sentences, maiming (cutting-off of hands) and in some cases, death!

 

"Impatience" would be if they had never purchased anything online from America before. This was a seasoned buyer who it's obvious would have known not to expect the package a week out from paying.
Re: vetting. I have a friend who works at an auction house. He told me that the auction houses are now actually doing checks (not intensive or anything) on buyers because there is a problem with non-paying bidders even in the mid to high range of auction houses.
But whatever. If you prefer to sell through Ebay most of the time, 'Nuff, then that's great for you! Really! Whatever works for each individual, you know? I personally don't prefer to, because of past experiences for any item likely to sell at or above about $500. It's all about your perception of risk based on experiences, and how much you can afford to lose if things go wrong in some way.

 

and how much you can afford to lose if things go wrong in some way.

Which is what insurance is for. If you don't play you can't win.

Or lose, to be fair.

 

Fair enough...

But what I prefer and what you think I do most of the time is besides the point.

My point was/is: maximizing sales, marketing and profit margins. Using eBay as a tool to directly sell and market her (CX) low-high-end Asian items to their million+ Asian buyers, therefor maximizing profits. This (eBay) is a far better direct marketing tool than any local auction house can provide her.

Also, to insure her and whomever else that may be reading this thread, that eBay (based on my 10+ yrs exp selling higher-end items there) isn't this big ol' scamming boogeyman that some make it out to be. Especially if you follow basic rules and proper procedures such as having the proper insurance coverage which minimizes losses.

 

I agree Nuff, for lots of items ebay is the best place. I'm not worried about scamming, I have more concerns with ebay and the glitches it seems to be experiencing.

 

IMO, she shouldn't take it to a local auction house but a mid-range one with national appeal and a lot of advertising, I should think.

However, it's totally her choice and I'm just putting my opinion out there, which *could* be right, even if I don't have "10 years experience of selling higher end items," as you have stated more than once. You're just lucky you haven't had a problem yet. You should count your blessings! Check out Peter Combs blog to see the trouble that he has had, even though he has years of experience AND some of the most top-tier quality Asian antiques to be found on Ebay.

I think I've stated at least once in this thread that I did have insurance. However, if the buyer is not compliant and won't discuss the matter with you, the post office or whoever, the seller is SOL.

 

Dear God, that's patronizing. Do you even realize how patronizing that sounds? FYI I DID follow "basic rules and proper procedures".I just happen to have a different experience from you and therefore different opinions. Jeez, just drop it! I'm not commenting on this thread any further or maybe even this board. I hate being flamed when I haven't done anything wrong or tried to malign others' opinions simply because they don't agree with me. I would hope for the same from them.

 

I think I've stated at least once in this thread that I did have insurance. However, if the buyer is not compliant and won't discuss the matter with you, the post office or whoever, the seller is SOL

Insurance from USPS is not insurance proper. Deal with a company offering a commercial service, like Shipsurance or U-Pic and you will get a more flexible commercial grade of service.

Some sort of problem now and then is inevitable. Properly managed they will be less than 1 % of turnover and no more of a problem that the occasional armed robbery to a well organised business. Just part of the overhead.

 

Moon,

I was generalizing, not patronizing. I do apologize wholeheartedly if you feel as if I was. All I've ever done was try to help,....be it you, CX or anyone else. So again, I do apologize if you feel as if I was taking a shot at you.

 

Apology accepted, Nuff. It's fine, really . It struck a nerve with me because I thought I had done everything right (getting insurance, mailing things in a trackable type way) and then getting burned anyway. I know you said it hadn't happened to you before, but it has several times to me at a time when I really couldn't afford to lose all that money, don't want to get into details but i wasn't and am not in a position right now where that doesn't sting....A LOT! Anyway, thanks for your apology and no hard feelings. You've helped me out a ton in the past with research and i truly appreciate it and remember it.