Buying and Selling Online
The Look4Horse site enables you to find like-minded people who are buying and selling online, by being able to search by county or region you can find items within your travelling area but at some stage it is likely that you are going to meet and you should take some precautions to protect your safety.
Listen to your instincts if you are unsure about the seller/buyer for instance they are asking more questions about you than the item you are selling tell them you have changed your mind, if you still wish to go ahead with the transaction make sure that you are not alone, have a mobile phone with you which is fully charged and turned on and make sure that someone else also knows where you are, what time the meeting is scheduled for and how long you intend to be.
If you are selling a horse remember the following points
- Do not pass over any goods unless you are sure that payment has been made and cleared.
- Check identification including name, address, landline telephone number.
- Beware of internet scams, purchasers offering to buy your horse unseen.
- Beware of purchasers offering you more than the sale price and then asking for you to pay for shipping.
- If allowing your horse to go on trial, seek legal advice regarding a contract.
- Use your common sense - if a deal seems too good to be true it probably is.
- If in doubt over either selling or buying a horse consult a solicitor.
Other Tips for Successful Selling
Pictures
A good photo can help ensure that a potential buyer chooses your item and help differentiates your product from another similar item.
Set the camera to the correct resolution.
Ensure the item is well lit with no shadows and has a clear clutter free background behind.
If using flash beware of reflections.
Additional photos and descriptions may cost more money but they will convey far more information to the buyers and help them make a more informed choice.
Descriptions
Should be accurate and truthful this will help achieve response from parties who are genuinely interested as opposed to time wasters and will help avoid disputes.
Payment
If you are selling face to face then cash is king, if you are prepared to accept cheques or bankers drafts ensure that the funds are properly cleared before handing over the goods. Another secure method is through a paypal account.
Postage
If you have accepted payment and agreed to post the goods out discuss with the post office whether it is best to use recorded or special delivery for the item dependent on its value and compensation.
