Questions about selling a knife on here.

- Provide lots of good, high quality photos (ideally, photos which indicate you are actually in possession of the item for sale. Photos from as many angles as you can for a good overall assessment (video is always a plus. Stock/website photos or photos ripped from others’ sales/show off posts are no bueno)

- an ACCURATE, detailed, and honest description, of actual condition, including any known issues or flaws,

- make sure your terms of sale are crystal clear (payment options, best means of communicating between you and purchaser, any processing time, whether you are interested in trades, etc).

- I, personally, appreciate tracking info as soon as possible, and communication after the sale regarding status. When I sell, I try to follow up with the buyer after the item is received to make sure all is good.

Read and abide by the rules of the Exchange.
 
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Centermass said:
- Provide lots of good, high quality photos (ideally, photos which indicate you are actually in possession of the item for sale. Photos from as many angles as you can fit a good overall assessment (video is always a plus. Stock/website photos or photos ripped from others’ sales/show off posts are no bueno)

- an ACCURATE, detailed, and honest description, of actual condition, including any known issues or flaws,

- make sure your terms of sale are crystal clear (payment options, best means of communicating between you and purchaser, any processing time, whether you are interested in trades, etc).

- I, personally, appreciate tracking info as soon as possible, and communication after the sale regarding status. When I sell, I try to follow up with the buyer after the item is received to make sure all is good.

Read and abide by the rules of the Exchange.
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Thank you for all that information. I see a lot of posts with *Sold* as the headline. Does that mean the knife has already been sold?
 
Yes, putting “Sold” in the header on the front page keeps people from unnecessarily opening the thread when the item is already sold.
 
Hank2508 Hank2508 , I'll take a stab at answering your question.

Take good pictures, or a short video, of the knife you are putting up for sale or trade.
Just look at a range of for sale threads, in the Exchange, and you will soon come to see what I mean. Some good, some bad!

Be honest and forthright about the condition of the knife.
Even though good pictures or video can show any cosmetic flaws, they don't always tell the whole story.

When the knife is sold, be prepared to ship the knife immediately, or ASAP.
If a member buys your knife, and pays you quickly, you owe it to them to ship quickly.

If you have any specific questions that you would like to have answered, feel free to PM/DM me.

JS
 
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Ship fully insured only and only to the listed address on the buyers payment type aka PayPal confirmed address. If the buyer asks to ship to a different address that is a red flag. I only accept PayPal goods/services for the buyer protection and I factor in the 3% fees on my end. Have the buyer put a note in the payment indicating what it is for. There are a lot of scammers out there so don't be afraid to look up the buyers name here before accepting payment. Heavy knives almost always ship priority due to weight so factor that in when quoting a ship price. I prefer usps shipping and the insurance is usually about 3.00 per hundred insured.
 
Hank2508 said:
I’ve never sold a knife on here before. I’m a gold member and have access to the exchange. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Honesty, integrity, communication.

Participation in threads outside the exchange is helpful too. Get to know some of the members. This is definitely a community of people whom try to look out for one another (most members anyway). If someone is too pushy, move on. If someone is apprehensive, don’t take it personally. You’ll establish feedback as you buy / sell.

Seeing as you’ve not sold before, PayPal goods and services is probably the best payment option. Factor in taxes if you plan to exceed $600 dollars in cumulative sales. Goods / services offers a decent amount of security for the buyer and seller.

I try to treat people like I would appreciate being treated. Provide tracking information asap.

Welcome to Blade forums by the way. We talk about knives. I love this place.
 
To add to what’s already been said…

Communication is important too. Use the notification settings so you can be reached easily. Respond to offers and the buyer, once the knife item is sold, in a timely fashion.

Honesty is key. You’re not “selling” like a salesman.

Protect yourself- payment is required immediately. Ship nothing until a payment is made.

Check the buyers Feedback before committing to sell.
 
If you are planning to show the knife via video, please (Please, PLEASE) still post good pictures. Far too many of the people posting videos suck at it. I've gotten to the point where, if there aren't accompanying pictures, I won't even look at videos.
Images should be in good focus, and without things (esp fingers or thumbs) obscuring the knife. I do close up of handle both sides, close up of blade both sides, and extras to highlight imperfections. For folders, I also include pictures of centering and lockup (for frame & liner locks).

As far as insurance, that is for the seller's protection. It is also OPTIONAL - there is no guarantee that you will be able to collect if there is a problem. That acknowledged, the seller is responsible for getting the item to the buyer...if it doesn't get there, the buyer must be "made whole". (The insurance thing is relevant here because it is paid to the seller IF the claim is acknowledged/paid. It takes time, and the seller typically compensates the buyer out of pocket.)
 
Also may want to build up some sort of presence before selling or buying anything. Folks may be reluctant to transact with a relatively new account, buying from or selling to.
 
HexY3co said:
Ship fully insured only and only to the listed address on the buyers payment type aka PayPal confirmed address. If the buyer asks to ship to a different address that is a red flag. I only accept PayPal goods/services for the buyer protection and I factor in the 3% fees on my end. Have the buyer put a note in the payment indicating what it is for. There are a lot of scammers out there so don't be afraid to look up the buyers name here before accepting payment. Heavy knives almost always ship priority due to weight so factor that in when quoting a ship price. I prefer usps shipping and the insurance is usually about 3.00 per hundred insured.
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I would recommend asking the buyer NOT to include any notes in the PayPal payment. I know many people that have had their account permanently locked/shut down for simply buying and selling knives using PayPal, even though they state only certain knives go against their use policy. It doesn't make sense to me either since there are knives all over eBay, but I've seen it happen. PayPal use policy:

You may not use the PayPal service for activities that:

  1. violate any law, statute, ordinance or regulation.
  2. relate to transactions involving (a) narcotics, steroids, certain controlled substances or other products that present a risk to consumer safety, (b) drug paraphernalia, (c) cigarettes, (d) items that encourage, promote, facilitate or instruct others to engage in illegal activity, (e) stolen goods including digital and virtual goods, (f) the promotion of hate, violence, racial or other forms of intolerance that is discriminatory or the financial exploitation of a crime, (g) items that are considered obscene, (h) items that infringe or violate any copyright, trademark, right of publicity or privacy or any other proprietary right under the laws of any jurisdiction, (i) certain sexually oriented materials or services, (j) ammunition, firearms, or certain firearm parts or accessories, or (k) certain weapons or knives regulated under applicable law.
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hhmoore said:
I Ilikesharpstuff were those "many people" perhaps misusing PayPal and taking f&f payments for goods?
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No need to be condescending, but perhaps some of them were, anything is possible. All I know is I've been buying and selling using PayPal since the early 2000s and I can never remember a time when they were considered "weapons" friendly. Technically all knives are regulated under various laws (blade length restrictions, automatic/locking restrictions, concealed carry restrictions, etc.) which largely leaves it up to PayPal's discretion since their terms are so vague, and I'd hate to get my account locked because someone threw in an unnecessary note. If I'm selling an item I know when to expect payment, and how much it is going to be, and use that information to determine what it was for. Why risk it?
 
Consider leaving the selling price in the posting. This is controversial. Most people do not do this. Leaving the selling price visible helps members of this community who are attempting to determine a selling price for their knife. Every selling price left visible is simply another data point. Leaving the selling price visable does not set the selling price for the knife. You can ask for whatever selling price that you desire. If a person is ok with the price you are asking, you will sell your knife.
 
I Ilikesharpstuff My question was not intended to be condescending... It was (in my mind) a legitimate question.
Most of the people I've seen saying not to leave comments were the ones insisting on f&f, and this was well before the current tax situation. That practice seems to have taken hold and spread just like only shipping to CONUS...simply because people coming in saw others putting it in their ads.
 
Ilikesharpstuff said:
I would recommend asking the buyer NOT to include any notes in the PayPal payment. I know many people that have had their account permanently locked/shut down for simply buying and selling knives using PayPal, even though they state only certain knives go against their use policy. It doesn't make sense to me either since there are knives all over eBay, but I've seen it happen. PayPal use policy:
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When you use PP for goods and services there must be a reference to the purchase for buyer protection to be in effect. They will not honor a claim with no reference of the item purchased.
 
^^^All these folks gave top-notch advice. Good.

Assuming you have SOLD a knife, now you are a shipper. That's its own logistical quagmire.

I have a page dedicated on my website to knife shipments. Here's my experience:
_____________________________

ALL the shipping services use automated handling equipment, and they literally get PUNCHED around.

If it is at all loose, it’s going to act like an impact driver inside, pounding it’s way out of your box.

No movement inside = GOOD!

The MOST protective way of packaging a fixed blade is *inside it’s own sheath*.

You can protect the finish on the blade by oiling the blade and then wrapping it with clear food cellophane wrap, and THEN inserting into the sheath. (I do this all the time.)

Bubble wrap and shipping tape are nearly permanent. It also requires cutting with a razor or knife to unpack without destroying; VERY precarious.

I prefer easily-removable masking tape or rubber bands. (If the crooks have gotten this far, no tape is going to dissuade them.)

Cork tips fail. Unsheathed fixed blades can be made safe by making a temporary cardboard sheath:

Cut a rectangle piece 1″ longer than the blade length from the guard, and 1″ wider than *double* the width.

Fold it in half and tape the raw open ends. Slip it inside and it will disallow the tip to penetrate (Protect the guard area with tape, if fragile.)

Inside of lined zipper pouches are slippery. Wrap your knife in newspaper or cloth or something extra to keep it from sliding inside.

Tape up EVERY seam. Make it 'watertight'.
 
HexY3co said:
When you use PP for goods and services there must be a reference to the purchase for buyer protection to be in effect. They will not honor a claim with no reference of the item purchased.
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Can you link to the terms & conditions where this is stated? I've read through the buying & selling agreement and the purchase protection program agreement and didn't see this noted anywhere. Surely you'd have to provide details about the purchase once you've filed/opened a claim, but I've never heard that you were required to reference the item purchased in the notes when you send payment.
 
jeronimo said:
Hank2508 Hank2508 , I'll take a stab at answering your question.

Take good pictures, or a short video, of the knife you are putting up for sale or trade.
Just look at a range of for sale threads, in the Exchange, and you will soon come to see what I mean. Some good, some bad!

Be honest and forthright about the condition of the knife.
Even though good pictures or video can show any cosmetic flaws, they don't always tell the whole story.

When the knife is sold, be prepared to ship the knife immediately, or ASAP.
If a member buys your knife, and pays you quickly, you owe it to them to ship quickly.

If you have any specific questions that you would like to have answered, feel free to PM/DM me.

JS
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Thanks for the feedback, really appreciate it.
 
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