Selling things online - what is your experience?
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31366)
Denmark
March 30, 2011 1:38pm CST
My mother-in-law wants to sell her knitting machine and she created an ad on one of the local websites in my country. It was for sale for a very long time and then a woman finally wrote her and told her that she wanted to buy the knitting machine.
After a short while the woman who bought the knitting machine called my mother-in-law and told her that she wanted her money back. My mother-in-law was sad because it had been for sale for so long and when she finally found a buyer that person didn't want to keep the knitting machine, but there is nothing she can do. The rules in my country say that you can get your money back if you regret your purchase within 14 days.
Did you ever sell things online? How did it turn out? Which things did you sell and was it hard or easy to find a buyer?
2 people like this
6 responses
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
31 Mar 11
Finding right place is important in selling or buying online. I have tried with ebay for selling my electronic products, but I dont see any profit as rates were quoted very less. And infact I had many bad experiences and scams. So before selling things, explore the right place for the goods and read the reviews of the sites where you plan to sell. Even not paying on time also a biggest headache in selling things online!
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Mar 11
I have heard that there are many scams on that kinds of sites and it is definately something that we have to think about before we decide to buy or sell. I think it is a good idea to read the reviews like you said. Scams are bad, but sometimes even worse things happen. Some time ago there was a couple from my country who wanted to sell their boat and the buyer asked them if they could sail around in the area together so that he could get a better impression of the boat. They agreed, and the 3 of them sailed around for a while, then the buyer killed both the man and the woman, because he wanted to steal the boat 
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
1 Apr 11
Hmm thats so sad and shocking So selling and buying we need to do lots of research on whom we are dealing with and have to more careful. Its not just money, it also the lives
. And I would also add, before buying or selling always deal with a sample, say one or two products and not as bulk. By this way we can check the service, quality and legitimate of the other end.
So selling and buying we need to do lots of research on whom we are dealing with and have to more careful. Its not just money, it also the lives. And I would also add, before buying or selling always deal with a sample, say one or two products and not as bulk. By this way we can check the service, quality and legitimate of the other end.1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
4 Apr 11
Oh yes, I have tried once recently. My son
put it up for me on a local website. It was
a pair of limited edition 'Pirates of Caribbeans'
snickers/sport shoes. There was one guy called
me up but the deal did not take place because
the shoe that I have is size 6 and he wanted a
size 9. However, my brother managed to sell his
camera on the local website and everything is good.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
6 Apr 11
Maybe you will find another buyer for the shoes 
Sometimes the things that we are selling aren't exactly the things that people are looking for like in your case. That happened to me some time ago when I was trying to sell a table. One woman seemed very interested at first and we talked a couple of times, but then she dicovered that it wasn't exactly the colour that she was looking for and she didn't buy it.
Sometimes the things that we are selling aren't exactly the things that people are looking for like in your case. That happened to me some time ago when I was trying to sell a table. One woman seemed very interested at first and we talked a couple of times, but then she dicovered that it wasn't exactly the colour that she was looking for and she didn't buy it.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Mar 11
Customs etc are something that we should take into consideration when we buy or sell online. I live in Europe and I prefer to sell or buy things within the European union to avoid the customs. I once bought some cds in the US, and I had to pay a very large amount in addition to the price, I was a little shocked when I found out how much I actually had to pay. It is much easier for me to stick to countries within the European Union and if I want to buy English books I always try to find them in the UK instead of the US.
@chiepao (714)
• Philippines
2 Apr 11
I've set up my own online store for about 2 months now and so far so good. I haven't been scammed yet (hopefully I won't be). But I do not accept returns or exchange for any of my item, not unless that it has defects. Here in my country, usually a buyer can exchange goods baught with defects or anything within 7 days only.
Like what other mylotters here said, it is way better to sell it on ebay if you're trying to sell it online. Be descriptive as you can so that there will be no hassle when negotiating with interested buyers :)
1 person likes this
@mcowiti (232)
• Kenya
30 Mar 11
Your mother in law must be unhappy now but thats the experience one has to contend with.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
31 Mar 11
To be honest, I haven't sell a thing online before, but I would try to get rid one or two of something I got and I didn't use for long time. Online selling is a tough business, but it also create a brand new business for the last 2 decades. So, tell your mother - in - law, take a second chance, she might sell the knitting machine soon!
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Mar 11
I also think that she should try again. Maybe she will be able to find the right buyer if she gives it a second chance. I have sold some of the books that I no longer use and it went well, I didn't have the same problem as my mother-in-law. I have also sold some books to offline second hand shops, but I was able to earn more money when I sold my books online, and if I am going to sell books again my first option would be an online shop.
