[slowmo]

It looks likely that later this year I will be selling my Paul Insect Bunny Girl on Ebay. I have never bought from Ebay and have never sold, so would have zero feedback, something that is frowned upon.

Question is this, should I buy and sell lots of meaningless articles to build up feedback, or should I give it to someone with lots of feedback to list on my behalf. If people ask them questions they may have to say, its not my print the seller will get back to you which might put people off.

Whats the best path here?

[tadghostal]

I trust sellers who's behavior suddenly appears to change (lots of garbage, then--POW!--something nice, and expensive) MUCH less than a seller who has no feedback but all the right answers. I'd say, you can overcome a lot of apprehensiveness by overdisclosing. Spend a little extra $$ and load up lots of good, large pics. Answer questions, and be sure to post them all to the listing--regardless of how good/bad it may seem--post them all.

And let us know when you do it. Heck, you might even reference this website and your username in the listing so buyers could do a little research on your posts/etc. if they wanted to.

Seems the best way to be categorized as dodgy is to start acting dodgy--and anybody who sells using their friends account, or buys/sells a lot of crap to build up feedback certainly seems to fit that bill.

Sorry to hear about your Bunny Girl!

[pjotr101]

yeah. Buying lots of smallfry stuff looks even more dodgy in my opinion.

You could just tell the truth in your listing: That it's your first time selling and buying, but that you have provenance for the print and so on...

[corblimeylimey]

What would be the problem selling through a mates account? You wouldn't need to say that's what you're doing.
As long as you answered questions daily people would just assume you only had access to a computer at certain times, in fact you could put that on your listing.

[tadghostal]

Yeah, that would probably work, but then you'd also be lying. Feedback is an earned reputation, its like a job resume. If you use your mates account, then you're misleading all of your sellers by creating the impression that you are in fact, your mate (intentionally and willfully) who has completed "x" number of transactions with other ebayers. All those positive comments, while they may represent how you *will* complete the transaction, are attached to how your mate already *has* completed transactions. That's the only reason feedback has any value whatsoever.

Besides, I just don't see the need to do it at all. Just be up-front, provide lots of pics, answer inquiries and you won't have a problem The very first thing I ever sold on ebay was a piece of electronics for several thousand dollars. Sold it without a hitch. Everybody has to start at zero.

Things like feedback are there for a reason--to try and make ebay a decent place to buy and sell. When you circumvent those protections, you degrade the marketplace and community that much more.

Then again, what do I know about these things?! Do what you will, and good luck on whatever you choose.

[corblimeylimey]

Not exactly lying, just economical with the truth.

I do agree with the other comments above about as much detail, pics, knowledge etc but I'm sure there's loads of people here that are wary of zero feedback and that's sure to affect the price a little (not too much though)

[slowmo]

Interesting feedback, thanks all.

[Aza]

slowmo said:

Interesting feedback, thanks all.

No pun intended

[stuey09]

Have you thought of trying to sell it via this forum. If you have a realistic price in mind you maybe able to get a simple deal done, without all the hassle of using ebay. I remember someone advertising some Banksy on here last week. That said I'm not sure how Silky would take the site turning into a mini-mart.

[tomhills1]

i think you'd be best off starting you're own account for all the reasons that have already been mentioned. be aware that you cannot sell using a buy it now until you have ten feedback or a direct debit from your bank taken. i would be forthright in my sale description and put it on a ten day listing so it gives plenty of time for anyone unsure to contact you.
feel free to ask any other questions regarding the bay, the best advice is to include any information you would want if you were buying.

[pezlow]

Everything said above is true but the sad fact is that you will get slightly less for your print because of zero feedback. If anyone who regularly trades on ebay is honest they will tell you that they are always cautious when dealing with someone with zero feedback. Nevertheless I agree with all of the comments above and agree that you should list it yourself - just with your eyes open that it may go for slightly less than if it were being sold, for example, by a powerseller.