When buying 3-D puzzles (or any puzzles for that matter) on eBay, the puzzles' completeness is probably the most important piece of a listing for the buyer (other than the price, lol).  I've already provided some tips that I believe can help buyers purchase puzzles on eBay.  But how can we improve the quality of the puzzles sold on eBay?  I have bought a lot more puzzles than I've sold, so I will try not to tell sellers how to sell, because I am not the proper authority.  But I hope this guide will act as a sort of puzzle-buyer's guide to selling puzzles and what sellers can do to ensure complete puzzles.  Finally, this guide is intended for sellers who want to be ethical and improve their products.  I suppose if your goal is to sell puzzles with missing pieces, than go for it, though I would question why.  And if your goal is to secretly sell puzzles with missing pieces and hope nobody notices, than shame on you. 

Selling 3-D Puzzles

Again, I haven't sold very many puzzles on eBay, so I hope this will act as more of recommendations for sellers from a seasoned buyer.  I've also witnessed first-hand, good sellers having to issue refunds for items that were not complete.  They could've saved themselves a lot of frustrations and shipping costs just by not listing it. 

1.  The first recommendation I will give to sellers to avoid issuing refunds is the same one I gave to buyers.  If you sell puzzles that are new or unopened, you can guarantee the puzzle complete and not have to issue refunds for missing pieces.  It's not your fault if the puzzle was not packaged correctly at the factory.  But make sure your listing hypes the fact the puzzle is new.  That can be a great selling factor and a good reason to offer it at a slightly higher price. 

A.  It can be difficult to locate unopened puzzles to sell, especially if you're trying to stay competitive by frequenting garage sales or flea markets.  I also understand that some of the best, rare finds will often come in opened packages.  Also, some sellers may be selling puzzles they once completed.  Selling open puzzles is fine, but sellers can take several precautions to ensure their products are top quality.

B.  DO NOT SEAL YOUR PUZZLES YOURSELF AND CLAIM THEM AS NEW.  As long as you list them as used, sealing your puzzles before you sell them may protect the pieces from getting lost during shipping.  But to seal them and claim them as NIB or factory sealed is just dishonest.  I can't say that I've encountered this, so let's keep it that way.

You've decided to sell an open or used puzzle. 

2.  You should start by knowing as much as you can about the product you're selling.  This is a great tip for people that only sell puzzles occasionally or anyone that sells ANYTHING.  If you received the puzzle from a friend or bought it used, don't rely on what that person tells you.  Find out for yourself.  Take a few minutes and look it over.

A.  For 3-D puzzles, start by looking for things that are easy to identify like whether the bag containing the pieces has been opened, whether the puzzle contains the puzzle guide, and whether the puzzle's paper components are present.  The latter is very important because it's very easy to identify if these cardstock sections are included and they can really ruin a great sale if they are not there.  So don't forget those.

B.  Puzzles are not only guides and cardstock components, so you're going to have to see if all the actual pieces are there.  Many sellers make the mistake of only counting the pieces, and then making the greater mistake of counting the pieces only once.  If you can't take the time to put the puzzle together, then count the puzzle pieces at least three times and get the same number three times.  If you do decide to put the puzzle together to ensure all the pieces are accounted for, make sure you account for every piece.  Often, sellers only put the puzzle's panels together and then forget to account for the panels that may only consist of one piece.  I can't tell you how many times the one missing piece in a puzzle ends up being a piece that makes up a small single-pieced panel.  I'm not saying you have to complete the puzzle totally, just take notice of sections that might fit into this category and check if they are present once all the panels are complete. 

1.  If you're selling a puzzle from your attic or closet that you once completed, you should still look it over.  I've found closets and attics are kind of like washing machines; things tend to disappear sometimes. 

a.  Some sellers only acquire puzzles and sell them directly to the eBay public without looking them over.  If you are one of these people, I'm not going to censure you for not taking the time to look them over.  I don't know what your life is like.  But you should inform the buyers on your listing that you are selling the puzzle as is.

What to do with your listing and with dealing with potential buyers to prevent missing puzzle pieces. 

3.  There are things you can do with your listing and with how you handle people interested in your puzzle that can inform to buyers you have protected them from missing pieces. 

A.  First, make sure the title describes if the puzzle is new or used.  Again, NIB or unopened puzzles are sure fire ways to prevent missing pieces.  Let your buyers know.  Also, use the Item Condition section on the eBay seller's form to let buyers know whether your puzzle is new or used.

B.  Next, if your puzzle is used, and you took the time to ensure it complete, be sure to include that the puzzle is complete in your listing.  It can even help if you explain to buyers your process for checking for complete puzzles.

C.  Pictures can really help you sell a used puzzle.  If you've taken the time to complete the puzzle, take a picture of the completed puzzle so you can demonstrate that your puzzle is complete. 

D.  If a buyer sends you a message regarding the puzzle, especially one that concerns the puzzle's totality, be sure to answer it quickly. 

E.  Finally, if you have not checked for yourself if the puzzle is complete, again, be sure to convey this to the buyer by explaining you are selling it as is.

Now, you're ready to ship your puzzle.

4.  Believe it or not, the American postal service is not always perfect.  This may come as a shock to Canadian and British sellers, but if you are selling puzzles to Americans, you have to pack your items very well.  Avoid wrapping the puzzle in a brown paper sack.  Also, try to protect the box by not taping anything to the box.  I have actually had sellers send me a puzzle that was not packed in a box, nor wrapped in a paper sack, but basically wrapped in packing tape with the shipping label stuck to it.  Good shipping not only protects the quality of the box, but also the pieces.  Sometimes, pieces can find their way out of the shipping box, thanks to the carelessness of a postal employee.  This will undoubtedly create an unpleasant situation between a seller who was certain they accounted for everything and a buyer who can't find that crucial piece.

A.  Karcin77, a regular eBay puzzle seller, suggests packing the puzzle pieces in a plastic bag inside the original puzzle box.  Make sure that the pieces are secure in the bag and that the bag can be closed or sealed.  This will add needed protection to the pieces making it more difficult for them to get lost during shipping.  Also, if you're a collector or a buyer who might sell a puzzle in the future, storing your puzzle pieces in a sealed bag or container from the minute the puzzle is opened will help insure the pieces stay intact.

Hopefully, these suggestions for selling 3-D puzzles on eBay have been helpful.  Please send me messages concerning anything I may have left out of these guides and I'll be sure to include them.  I want to make the eBay community as pleasant as I can.  Also, I have several puzzles with missing pieces that I am very interested in finding good homes for.  Many of them are very rare.  Let me know if you are missing a piece from one of these puzzles and I will try to list them on eBay for you so you can get them at a low price to finally complete your collection.