Tips for selling online

By Christopher Ryan DeForge

It had been a long but satisfying day of play as I shoved my pod pack into my gear bag. I listened intently to the younger player standing before me, trying to think of the best advice to give him. Unfortunately, my answers to his quandary were not the ones he wanted to hear. “No man, I don’t think you’re gonna get that much for it. Did you remember to take pictures?And you’re still having trouble getting replies? Here, this is my email, let me take a stab at it later tonight.”

Chances are, if you’re reading articles on The Paintball Times, then you play paintball on a regular basis. And what do we like to do as paintball players? Look at, test, and buy new and different markers. I wondered in awe at the addiction of a co-worker, whose Matrix-Intimidator-Angel-Intimidator spree took place over a mere few months. To criticize from a distance would be hypocrisy: I personally collect vintage paintball markers and am always looking for new toys to tinker with.

Inevitably, we end up with old stuff. The Spyder we started out with as a newbie, the Autococker we just don’t use anymore, the Angel that needed a new ram that we never got around to replacing. Sometimes we part with our guns with fond memories, and other times the prospect for a cash return is the only thing keeping the marker out of the trash can. Whatever the history though, the reason is the same: sell things we don’t need, get some money back, and put it toward new purchases.

While some players try to sell their stuff at the local field or pro shop, large paintball forum webpages such as the extremely popular “PB Nation” (www.pbnation.com) serve as a nexus for paintball players across the globe, linking people that would have never met into a comprehensible (and often times, delicate) mixed network. It is here that thousands of dollars worth of new and used merchandise changes hands every hour. Even Paintball Times has their own classifieds section where paintballers can post their used equipment.

For many players, selling used markers is the first encounter with the world of sales.While you don’t need to be a scholar of neo-liberal economic hegemony, there are still a few tips and tricks that’ll help get cash in your pocket.

1. Be descriptive. Below is a mock example of a very common style of advertisement:

“I have a Spyder Compact Deluxe Java Edition. Has vertical ASA and a few scratches. 70 OBO. My AIM name is dontselllikethis”

Your description is one of the most important aspects of your marker. It can act as a selling point, even if your sale thread has photographs in it. Try to be clear and concise, listing all of the notable parts of your gun without seeming desperate (don’t list the blue trigger shoe you bought as a major upgrade.) Having the company names or model numbers to certain upgrades is also a major plus. Who wants to buy an “expansion chamber” when they don’t know how many sections it has, what color it is, or who it’s made by?

2. Have photos if possible. As the proverb goes, “a picture says a thousand words”. And while the quote may be cliche, the advice it provides holds quite true to paintball. Markers can take a lot of abuse on the field, and potential buyers want to know an honest appraisal of the marker’s condition. While you may out-write Dickens in the description category, buyers may still have reservations. Taking high quality, large, clear, and well lit photos from multiple angles will make your marker much more appealing. Some players have even video-taped their gun being fired to demonstrate the rate of fire or accuracy of their marker.

3. Write properly. Pretend that your seventh grade grammar teacher is standing behind you with a yard stick and an attitude. While the internet provides a medium for people to communicate with others over great distances and with much ease, we only usually see text as the representation of a person’s personality. While we may make our first impressions in “real life” face to face, our first impressions online have a lot to do with the way we type. W00d u truhst a riter hoo tiped leik dis? Similarly, a buyer wants the security of knowing he or she is dealing with a mature and reputable person. Because these potential buyers don’t know you, they may be quick to judge you despite your true character. Minimize the potential risk of a bad first encounter by presenting your sale as clearly and business-like as possible.

4. Know the market. Over a decade ago, a small box of around one hundred and fifty balls would cost around fifteen dollars. Today we can get more than five hundred for the same price. As technology changes, so do the factors for supply and demand. A few things to consider.

-Was my marker relatively inexpensive to buy in a new condition?

-Is there a lot of the same type of my marker on the trading boards?

-Does my marker have any upgrades that enhance its aesthetics or performance?

-Is it unique?

-Is my marker an older or discontinued model?

This brings me back for a moment to the story at the top of the page. A young man asked for my assistance in selling his private label autococker on the internet, preferably on either PBNation or PBreview. This immediately posed a challenge because of the criteria of issues that his case met. The marker was in good condition and had no operating faults. It had not been used for more than a few months. However, the marker was an older model when compared to the latest line of autocockers that Worr Game Products had released that year. By this time (2004), WGP products had effectively defeated AGD as the more popular gun (to avoid being emailed over the issue of the Automag, I have nothing but praise for the venerable AGD creation, but it is an objective fact that more Autocockers are seen on the field than mags) Additionally, as mid-range electronic gripped blowback guns (sear trippers) and lower end electro-pneumatic guns became more popular, the demand for the cockers increased.

Subsequently, players wanted to sell their autocockers for cash to help pay for their new investments. The market became flooded with autocockers of various models, styles, and years of production. The final nail in the coffin was that the new 2004 Autocockers (the Prostock) had been released with an MSRP of around $400 USD and included a STO three way, hinge frame and trigger, and nickel plated regulator to replace the older style black inline reg. Earning an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10 on pbreview.com, the Prostock was also taking up a share in the market of potential new Autococker owners. As a result, I was only able to help sell the gun for around 250 dollars, despite the fact that the player claimed to have put a significantly higher number of dollars worth of upgrades into the gun.

5. Have feedback. While this isn’t the most essential aspect to selling markers, it can be an important one. This especially pertains to you if you’re trying to sell something over one hundred dollars. No one wants to be scammed, and on webpages as easily accessed as most paintball message boards, there is always legitimate suspicion on part of both the buyer and the seller. If you’ve dealt with other people in the past, whether you were the buyer or seller, have them vouch for your reliability. Similarly, use feedback as a way to warn others about dealing with certain individuals. Just remember, keep things intelligent – flaming only hurts you.

6. Know the lingo. RTed 98C FS/FT 130 OBO LMK on AIM. While most thread titles are obvious and use abbreviations, make sure you know what they stand for.

These simple tips will help you sell your paintball equipment online.