The seller's field guide
List optics that sell. Stay out of disputes.
Most problems on a marketplace trace back to one thing: a buyer got something different than
they pictured. Photograph it honestly, describe it completely, and disclose every flaw. Here's
exactly how.
On this page
01 Photography02 Description03 Condition04 Disclosure05 Ship & get paid Start a listing01 / Photography
Photograph the glass, not the box
Shoot in soft, even daylight against a plain background. Wipe the lenses first. Buyers are
paying for optical condition, so the lenses, reticle and turrets matter more than a hero
shot. Capture all eight of these:
01 Full body, both sides
02 Objective lens, straight on
03 Ocular lens & eye box
04 View through the reticle
05 Turrets & markings
06 Serial number
07 Rings, mount & caps
08 Any wear, up close
Soft daylight
Shoot near a window or in shade. Harsh sun and flash hide scratches and blow out the glass.
Plain backdrop
A towel or seamless paper keeps the focus on the optic, not your kitchen table.
Real, not stock
Never use the manufacturer photo. Buyers want to see the exact unit they're getting.
Listings with a product video sell fastest: a slow pan through
the glass and a few turns of the turret beat any still. Add one in the Photos step.
02 / Description
Write what you'd want to read
A complete spec sheet answers questions before they're asked and filters out the wrong
buyers. Always include:
✓
Make, model & generation: exact, e.g. "Vortex Razor HD Gen III"
✓
Magnification & objective: e.g. 6-36×56
✓
Focal plane & reticle: FFP/SFP and reticle name
✓
Tube size & turrets: 34 mm, MRAD/MOA, zero-stop?
✓
What's included: caps, sunshade, rings, box, papers
✓
Use & round count: how hard it was run, roughly
✓
Reason for selling: builds trust, heads off "why?"
✓
Ships-from location: sets delivery expectations
Do
"FFP, EBR-7D MRAD reticle, ~200 rounds under it, zero turret wear, selling to fund a
new build. Sunshade + flip caps + box included."
Don't
"Great scope, barely used, works perfect. No box. Comes as pictured."
03 / Condition
Grade it the way a buyer will
Pick the grade you'd accept if you were buying it sight-unseen. When in doubt, grade down:
a buyer who's pleasantly surprised leaves five stars.
New
Unopened or unmounted, factory-fresh with all packaging and papers. Effectively never used.
Like new
Mounted and handled but shows no wear under inspection. Complete with box and accessories.
Used, excellent
Fully functional with only light cosmetic marks (faint ring marks, minor handling). Glass is clean and clear.
Used, good
Honest working condition with visible wear, finish loss or small marks that don't affect function. Disclose all of it.
04 / Disclosure
Note every flaw, then photograph it
A disclosed flaw is a non-issue. An undisclosed one is a dispute and a refund. Inspect in
good light and call out anything you find:
!
Ring marks: rub or impressions on the tube from mounts
!
Turret & dial wear: finish loss, mushy clicks, drift
!
Coating scratches: cleaning swirls or marks on the glass
!
Internal haze or fungus: check against a bright sky
!
Dings & finish loss: drops, dents, anodizing wear
!
Illumination issues: dead settings, flicker, battery corrosion
!
Reticle cant or fog: tilt, seal failure, moisture inside
i
Every order is escrow-protected: funds release only
when the buyer confirms the optic matches your listing. Honest photos and disclosure are
how you get released fast and keep your rating clean.
05 / Ship & get paid
Pack it like it's going to war
Optics are precision instruments. A knock in transit becomes your problem. Do it right and
payout is automatic.
1
Caps on, double-box it
Lens caps and turret covers on, optic wrapped in foam inside a snug box, that box inside a larger one with 2"+ of padding all around.
2
Insure for full value
Insure the package for the sale price and require signature on anything high-value. Keep your tracking and drop-off receipt.
3
Ship within 2 business days
Upload tracking to the order so the buyer and escrow can follow it. Fast shipping is half of a good review.
4
Let escrow do the rest
Funds release to your Stripe account automatically once the buyer confirms the optic arrived as described.
S
Once the buyer confirms delivery, escrow releases and Stripe pays you on a 2-day rolling schedule. OpticBroker keeps a flat 5% seller fee. No listing
fees, no buyer fees.
Ready to list?
You can come back to this guide any time from the footer.