Is the DU Marketplace eBay for the faint of hearts?

[question everything]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=213

To try to sell stuff while not daring going through the hoops of eBay? (That would be me, of course..)

Thanks

[old mark]

1. I am going to try selling here - eBay has very little to offer small sellers

anymore...they are geared toward businesses rather than individuals. I sold there years ago, and did well - I can barely break even now.

DU marketplace.....how can ya go wrong?


mark

[question everything]

4. Thanks. Just was not sure

I think that the only time I've heard about that forum was when we were raising funds for poor Andy some years back.

[old mark]

6. First time I heard about it was your post.....thanks. nt

[rcrush]

2. Havent tried the Marketplace but Ebay has became a haven for scammers

Its almost impossible to try and sell something valuable and not deal with someone trying to steal from you. Ebay of course doesnt do anything about it.

[question everything]

3. Thanks. This is my concern

and, for the same reason I would stay away from Craiglist.

The local paper that publishes police reports had two stories about people being cheated by someone replying to their Craiglist.

[MineralMan]

5. Just about every selling venue has the potential

for scams. Craigslist works very well for selling items locally, as well as for getting rid of free stuff you don't want.

Of course you have to be aware that scams exist. They're not hard to spot, and Craigs List explains the most common ones so you can avoid them.

eBay is what it is. I've used it successfully many times, both to sell and buy, and have never had a single issue. Stuff I've sold has always gone for top dollar, and things I've bought have always been shipped quickly and were as described. Again, caution is needed...along with a recognition that it's not a good place to sell low-cost items that are being sold by lots of people. For individual sellers, it's best used for items that will sell for more than $50. Careful, accurate descriptions and selling only to US bidders solve most common problems.

If you're not comfortable with selling stuff on either of those two places, then garage sales are about your only option, and you won't realize the prices you might have on CL or ebay. In fact, you may be better off loading the stuff in your car and taking it to Goodwill. No risk there.

Life's risky.