When selling a statue, should I open the box to inspect it?

[Kefka2200]

The problem with sealed is if anything is wrong with the statue, you'll get called a liar and get a bad review. The unfortunate thing about eBay is they're very buyer-focused. Couldn't care less about sellers. So you have to ask yourself: is it worth the hassle to risk not knowing the condition of the statues you sell or do you sacrifice some money and thoroughly document them to avoid returns

[qz33]

Originally Posted by SDguy

For those in the "new" camp, out of curiosity, if you buy a sealed statue off ebay any it arrives with a problem (paint flaws, poor fitting parts, breaks, etc) what do you do?

Originally Posted by SDguy

You really didn't answer the question though.

Originally Posted by qz33

I've only had 1 sealed statue arrive with a problem. A piece was broken off. I let the seller know and they said they would make a shipping claim.

So that is how it happened and that is what I did. Statue was returned and money was refunded.
Same I would I do if it happened again. Not sure what else you are mysteriously alluding to.

Originally Posted by Kefka2200

The problem with sealed is if anything is wrong with the statue, you'll get called a liar and get a bad review. The unfortunate thing about eBay is they're very buyer-focused. Couldn't care less about sellers. So you have to ask yourself: is it worth the hassle to risk not knowing the condition of the statues you sell or do you sacrifice some money and thoroughly document them to avoid returns

Many sellers are trying to protect themselves in a way they cannot be protected. In order to entice consumers to feel safe when selling on eBay the seller is the financial initiator and benefactor and therefore bears a majority of the risk.
If your statue arrives broken from Sideshow or BBTS what do most expect? Send it back for a full refund.

If a seller documents sending a perfectly fine statue and it arrives in perfectly fine condition but the buyer decides to break the statue and claim that was how it arrived to return for a full refund either you take the return and refund the money or eBay will let the buyer keep the statue, take the money from you and still refund the buyer.
Any pictures or vids or insurance will not prevent this.

[SDguy]

Originally Posted by qz33

Same I would I do if it happened again. Not sure what else you are mysteriously alluding to.
.

Not alluding to anything. Your answer was an example involving claimed seller fraud as a sealed piece. Thanks for clarifying you'd do the same, regardless.

[qz33]

Originally Posted by SDguy

Not alluding to anything. Your answer was an example involving claimed seller fraud as a sealed piece. Thanks for clarifying you'd do the same, regardless.

No I never claimed seller fraud. Piece could have been opened by Sideshow prior to shipping out. All I claimed was the broken piece. Seller never argued.
I told him it looked as though it had been opened previously and asked if he got it 2nd hand but he said he got it straight from Sideshow. Could have easily been a return.

No matter on what on eBay if I get a damaged piece it IS going to be the seller's liability and risk of loss.
Your photos and pleading will not change that.
Whether intentional seller fraud or happenstance the seller is going to bear the burden. A successful transaction is the burden of the seller.
The eBay guarantee is does not require a seller to be negligent or dishonest.

[SDguy]

I'll let the comments in this thread speak for themselves.

[qz33]

Yeah because that is how it actually works.

So if you sell a statue on eBay and it has problems upon arrival what do you do?

[SDguy]

If something happens during shipping of a piece I packed, I take that responsibility and make the buyer happy. If I sold a sealed piece, and it arrives broken or defective, and the buyer expects the same amount of CS from a private seller as the manufacturer, I personally think that's BS.

And that is really the end of the convo for me, and why I won't sell a sealed piece, or buy one, because I'd actually never expect the seller to be responsible for a sealed piece, so knowing I have no manufacturer equivalent CS for the piece, I don't buy them anymore.

Once I bought a sealed CW and had to dremel down her neck magnet which was causing a huge gap, after seller said tough ----, when I complained. Second time, I bought a "never removed from box/assembled" which was BS because clearly it was (all the tissue paper was gone) and it didn't assemble well. Both cases with technically nothing broken, Ebay also said tough ----.

With easily more than 1/3 of all statues I've ever bought direct from a manufacturer having a break or significant defect, there is nothing of value to a sealed statue, for me.

[IceDog]

Interesting discussion and views on both sides of the issue. I won two items from Sideshow this year and sold both on Ebay with no issues. The first, an Urban Aztec Darth Vader bust (Sideshow was supposed to send a steampunk Vader statue, but it was free so I didn't care), I opened and inspected. The other, an Iron Studios 1/10 Dark Trooper, I kept sealed.

99% of the items I sell on Ebay are opened/used, so it's usually a moot point for me, but I agree with qz that no matter how well you document the piece before shipping, Ebay or PayPal will almost certainly side with the buyer from what I hear. As a buyer, it really depends on the item as to whether I prefer brand new or used.

[SDguy]

Originally Posted by IcedDog

Interesting discussion and views on both sides of the issue. I won two items from Sideshow this year and sold both on Ebay with no issues. The first, an Urban Aztec Darth Vader bust (Sideshow was supposed to send a steampunk Vader statue, but it was free so I didn't care), I opened and inspected. The other, an Iron Studios 1/10 Dark Trooper, I kept sealed.

99% of the items I sell on Ebay are opened/used, so it's usually a moot point for me, but I agree with qz that no matter how well you document the piece before shipping, Ebay or PayPal will almost certainly side with the buyer from what I hear. As a buyer, it really depends on the item as to whether I prefer brand new or used.

Ebay will, paypal less definite (and shipping is a toss up more than with ebay), and honestly, the OP didn't specify Ebay to begin with.

[IceDog]

Originally Posted by SDguy

Ebay will, paypal less definite (and shipping is a toss up more than with ebay), and honestly, the OP didn't specify Ebay to begin with.

So with PayPal, you're saying there's at least a chance the seller won't get boned...good job PP