When I traded out my static/slot car collection to provide funds for this hobby the bulk of it was listed, over time, on Ebay. Initially I spent a while looking at listings on that site to get a feel for what buyers were looking for and what made the best prices - i.e. what seemed to give people, from many countries, the confidence to bid/buy from a UK seller. It soon became apparent that the old adage, "A good picture is worth a thousand words" was the line to follow. With a slot car it was - Front 3/4, rear 3/4, from a highish angle, underside and box + end label. All decently composed, focused, lit and with as high a resolution as practical so that that they would display well. That usually would act as a sufficient "proof statement" and contain pretty much all the information that a potential buyer would need to instill a confidence to bid.....and keep bidding.
I also learnt quickly the phrases that some non-English speaking buyers favoured and used "Google Translate" friendly English equivalents dropped in, where true, to bolster further buyer confidence. Apparently the Germans were hot on - "Alles original verpackt" and the Spanish, "Todos originales". It's the little things that matter.
It never ceased to amaze me then and now how many listings ineptly, or downright misleadingly, are worded and essentially miss the above points. Invariably with multiple images of the subject of what are principally near identical irrelevant or badly chosen views, generally poorly composed, framed and focused and of too smaller resolution to display in detail.
Although I am still, and was a private seller at the time, I got wind that some of the "trade" sellers had dubbed me "Maxi-Price" (I use the same handle here as on Ebay). Interestingly nearly all my lots were listed in an auction format with a 99p opening bid. I wonder how that happened ? Do your research. Max
Max
