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[Plastic - RIP]

no - what I'm suggesting is the cheaper fees encourage sellers to list things at inopportune times - when there are fewer buyers during these periods - so if you are familiar with the repetitive patterns, there are optimum times to buy things.     The 20 years thing is because I'm very familiar with the patterns of ebay - there are better times of year to list certain items to get the best price - and some times where you will sell for a very low price.     It also fluctuates over the weekly/monthly cycle too - so getting to know the patterns is important if you don't want to get stung.

[tizdaz]

all depends what you are selling which determines best time to sell it on ebay, ie: trying to sell a fan in winter you would struggle as you would a heater in the summer!

My bro runs a small business on ebay, the product he sells is not seasonal etc so it sells all year round, christmas being the best time.. but the expensive things he sells he waits until the £1 offer is on then lists it for exactly same price as he would have done without the £1 offer. So he saves ALOT in terms of fees.

[Seacommander]

Very interesting thread.
I started boating in the mid 1970’s, I’m now in my late 50’s. I started off building and painting, but my interests and circumstances have changed. As has have situations of life, that controls available time. With work commitments, incumbents and other family commitments, sadly building and playing is long down the list. But I still hold an interest, and I can now also afford items and boats that I couldn’t years ago.
My boating interest is older wooden boats of the 50s and 60’s, so I’m pretty much railroaded into on line auctions and the like.
My Point is that it is everyone for themselves and everyone can get something out if it if you learn as you go, and invest a little and thought into doing this. My only annoyance is that allot of sellers will not always post boats. I would not advocate posting every item but allot of items I’m interested in, travel well.
Enjoy you boats and cheers
Mark 

[alan cantwell]

There are others avenues than evilbay, but you must be prepared to put a price on your item, Facebook is festooned with selling sites, Facebook marketplace is becoming huge, and reaches a large audience,  and, it’s totally free,  then there is Gumtree, preloved,  simple google search can uncover more selling sites, evilbay is just tooooo dear, your charged for selling, postage, and PayPal, its a racket, used to be good, but not anymore,

[alan cantwell]

Oh, and then there’s the must pick up cannot post malarkey, I use Shipley’s, you put a picture on of what you want picked up or delivered, and couriers compete to give the best price and service, pick it up, package it if needed,, ( but most boats can be transported in a simple box knocked up out of cheap ply, ) I’ve just had a model aircraft picked up and delivered from central London to Oldham lancs for £40,  3 pieces, it is 6 foot long, he even came back 3 hours later, because he had forgot the engine box, that I didn’t even know about!  If it’s Packaged securely, it’s fully insured, Explore selling places, and couriers, it’s easy enough

[Plastic - RIP]

Oh, and then there’s the must pick up cannot post malarkey, I use Shipley’s, you put a picture on of what you want picked up or delivered, and couriers compete to give the best price and service, pick it up, package it if needed,, ( but most boats can be transported in a simple box knocked up out of cheap ply, ) I’ve just had a model aircraft picked up and delivered from central London to Oldham lancs for £40,  3 pieces, it is 6 foot long, he even came back 3 hours later, because he had forgot the engine box, that I didn’t even know about!  If it’s Packaged securely, it’s fully insured, Explore selling places, and couriers, it’s easy enough

There's no way I'd risk sending any of my boats through the post or with any courier - when things arrive smashed, you won't be insured because the courier will just claim it wasn't packed securely - and the fact that it's smashed proves it.    It may be fine to send a simple speedboat - but something large, complicated & fragile will not survive.    Then you're screwed - the buyer will demand a refund, you're out of pocket with the shipping costs and you'll get your pride & joy back as a pile of junk.   

[alan cantwell]

I can understand your concerns, but you have to take safeguards, they don’t just chuck it in a van, that’s hermes and yodels style, and, as I found, royal mails, you take pictures before the event, the courier signs to say it’s in good order, then your fully covered, it’s in their interest to make a good name for their business, do you think the aircraft I had transported was any less frail? Its treated with kid gloves, these guys are professionals, this is the fifth fragile. Item shipleys have shifted for me, all arrived safe and sound, one company I will never use again is Royal Mail parcel farce, with them, a boat arrived damaged,  that’s why I go the courier route, much cheaper, and a better service, if you want to reach a wider clientele with your sales, you Have to ship your ship, or suffer low prices,

[Nordlys]

I recently sold a smallish boat with a postage price for UK address only - to an American collector! He got round the posting restiction by supplying a UK address which turned out to be a collecting centre for overseas postings in connection with Ebay. Worked out well. But I do not like posting larger boats as they are obviously delicate and besides its a problem to find boxes and packaging mat'l then a Courier who imposes size limitations on the package.
Obviously a wider market if you can post and better prices perhaps but I dont care for the risk involved.
N

[Plastic - RIP]

The problem with large model boats is that they are really heavy - but all the external features are incredibly fragile and unable to support that weight bouncing around in a box.   There's a huge difference between you carefully driving your boat to the lake and a courier getting it to the destination on a time crunch.     Also, the ballast normally sits still under its own weight - being bounced around and having the boat on its side may turn the ballast into a demolition tool.   Not something I will risk.    It only has to go wrong once to cost you a lot of money.

[alan cantwell]

Then remove the ballast, there’s ways and means round everything if your positive, and there’s no need for a time crunch, I told my guys there’s no hurry,just be carefull, I’ve had no problems, as for damage from a road journey, it’s all down to the packing,  guys, I am just trying to show you there are ways and means, if cold water is poured on every suggestion, your doomed to a local market at silly give away prices, don’t confuse my couriers as extensions of hermes and yodell types,  it’s far removed from that scenario!

[Shipmate60]

I have sent large boats to Hong Kong without any real damage. A few fittings loose. They were well packed and in decent boxes.
Most ebay sellers are wary of the buyers saying the item didnt arrive and claiming a refund and getting the item.


Bob

[alan cantwell]

My gear had to be signed for that A, it arrived, and B it arrived in good order, the shipper picks it up from you, same shipper delivers it,