Aquabid...Tips and Experiences
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Aquabid is simple, effective and generally speaking satisfying. Try and get a photo of what you're selling. I almost never buy from people who do not provide photos. Paypal is a convenient means of accepting payments - but I don't like the fees on my account. Nonetheless, it is hard not to use Paypal.
You could always place an auction on APC! I check in there and recently got a very nice Anubias petite.
Andrew Cribb
You could always place an auction on APC! I check in there and recently got a very nice Anubias petite.
Andrew Cribb
Often sellers will encourage buyers to win multiple auctions to combine and save on shipping fees. Along these lines would it make sense to combine a few plants into a package deal or do you get more when each plant type is sold separately?
Also, what are the rules on promoting your auctions on the plant forums? Finally, any thoughts on shipping plants, especially via Priority Post or during winter months?
Also, what are the rules on promoting your auctions on the plant forums? Finally, any thoughts on shipping plants, especially via Priority Post or during winter months?
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6,356 Posts
It could work either way for packages or selling them individually. It depends on whether or not people need or want all of the kinds of plants you are offering. I generally lean toward buying one certain individual plant and if the same person happens to have more of them, I'll bid on just the ones I'm looking for.
A big thing is to get all of your details worked out before you post so you don't forget something like "will ship to the US only" or important things you don't want to have to go back and edit.
I always type mine out in Word first, then copy and paste it.
Other things (aside from the good photo) are:
Good communication. I've had some who will barely grunt out a bill, and won't tell you when or how they're going to ship, and I won't do business with them again.
Always leave feedback (positive if at all possible). But I've made it a rule to wait until the person has received the item and says it's okay before leaving it (if I don't know them). I got stung by a deadbeat once, and that was enough.
For shipping, it's best to use heat packs and something like packing peanuts this time of year. I've used the hand or body warmers you can buy in the sporting goods section of most stores with good luck, but if you want the 30 hour ones, you can usually find them at AquaBid.
Good luck. Sorry, I didn't mean to write a book.... :roll:
A big thing is to get all of your details worked out before you post so you don't forget something like "will ship to the US only" or important things you don't want to have to go back and edit.
I always type mine out in Word first, then copy and paste it.
Other things (aside from the good photo) are:
Good communication. I've had some who will barely grunt out a bill, and won't tell you when or how they're going to ship, and I won't do business with them again.
Always leave feedback (positive if at all possible). But I've made it a rule to wait until the person has received the item and says it's okay before leaving it (if I don't know them). I got stung by a deadbeat once, and that was enough.
For shipping, it's best to use heat packs and something like packing peanuts this time of year. I've used the hand or body warmers you can buy in the sporting goods section of most stores with good luck, but if you want the 30 hour ones, you can usually find them at AquaBid.
Good luck. Sorry, I didn't mean to write a book.... :roll:
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2,499 Posts
Generally if you are an active member of the forum then posting relevant Aquabid or Ebay auctions is not an issue. By relevant, items that one would use for their aquaria, so don't post your gently used F-16 for sale on APC.
Feedback, I always give positive feedback as soon as payment is made, provided it is withing the terms I specified. Usually, payment within 72 of auction close via the method specified.
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4,002 Posts
I don't see assortments selling often unless they are really, really cheap. There are tons of plants listed on Aquabid every day that nobody EVER bids on....particularly those quasi or full fledged retailers that list a hundered different plant auctions. Mostly what they end up doing is advertising their WEB site. That would be a big no no. Don't list too many plants individually, keep it to a small number. Even "Lowcoaster", who probably has the best reputation on Aquabid of anyone, more than half of his listings never even get bid on.
There are many exagerrations and flat out made up names of plants out there. Keep it simple and honest and people will take you a lot more seriously. It is real easy to call a plant rare or hard to find to make it sell faster, but for those that know better it won't make you look to credible.
There are many exagerrations and flat out made up names of plants out there. Keep it simple and honest and people will take you a lot more seriously. It is real easy to call a plant rare or hard to find to make it sell faster, but for those that know better it won't make you look to credible.
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2,499 Posts
Good looking auction S, don't expect to get rich from it tho. Selling off extras and trimmings is a good way to supplement the expense of the hobby but rarely to fund it and less often to even make money.
Glad you didn't fall into the trap of adding 3% for PayPal as many others on Aquabid do. Adding a surcharge is against PayPal's Terms of Service. Nothing turns me away from an auction faster then seeing a PayPal surcharge.
Glad you didn't fall into the trap of adding 3% for PayPal as many others on Aquabid do. Adding a surcharge is against PayPal's Terms of Service. Nothing turns me away from an auction faster then seeing a PayPal surcharge.
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6,356 Posts
I would never add the surcharce, but why would it be against Paypal's policy when they charge you an extra 3% for credit card payments?
I agree, it's best just to figure it into your price to start with if you're worried about the few extra cents they charge.
I agree, it's best just to figure it into your price to start with if you're worried about the few extra cents they charge.
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2,499 Posts
[quite]but why would it be against Paypal's policy when they charge you an extra 3% for credit card payments? [/quote]
You have to factor it in as a cost of doing business if you have a Premiere account that allows you take CC's. Keep in mind that before PayPal there really was no easy way for an individual to accept a CC payment from another individual.
From the PayPal User Agreement, or the fine print most no one reads.
You have to factor it in as a cost of doing business if you have a Premiere account that allows you take CC's. Keep in mind that before PayPal there really was no easy way for an individual to accept a CC payment from another individual.
From the PayPal User Agreement, or the fine print most no one reads.
So as to why, it's against the law in several states.
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124 Posts
Very good point, Robert.Robert Hudson said:
And I like to see sellers post some water parameters of the water that they keep their plants in. Or any particular experience on the species that she/he is selling. I like to see not only trade ad, but also some information sharing between hobbyists....)
Max
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4,002 Posts
Why? Why else would someone clutter Aquabid with pages and pages and pages of auctions that nobody bids on, and do it month after month after month? They have to be doing it for some reason! The good stuff is what Gomer and a few other people here sell, and I get sick of having to go thru all the worthless auctions in search of something good. It is supposed to be against Aquabids rules to duplicate an auction, listing the same item multiple times, and yet these guys do that as well. Gee, my auction has been up for 6 days and nobody wants to bid on rare hornwort, so maybe if I list Hornwort 5 MORE times at once somebody will buy it! AHHHHG
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