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Post by luvsdragonflies on Dec 4, 2007 3:48:08 GMT -5
Hey all, I'm interesting selling items on ebay any sugestions as to what sell well?
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Post by Connie on Dec 4, 2007 10:52:21 GMT -5
I sold all kinds of things.. It's hard to find "one" product unless you are planning on using a dropshipper which is REALLY risky. Everyone I have ever known who was really successful with ebay sells things they find in thrift stores, yard sales, around the house, etc.
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Post by chelle on Dec 5, 2007 16:03:57 GMT -5
Ditto to what connie said. I used to make good money selling the junk I picked up at garage sales. empty cabbage patch kid boxes were my best find. Sold them for over 30.00 a peice. they were actually out by the curb to be thrown away when the lady cleaned out her attic for the garage sale.. LOL Baby clothes sell really well, as do maternity clothes and nursing (breastfeeding) items. even bras. I would shy away from electronics, jewerly, and such. I have even doubled or tripled my money on things I bought on clearence at walmart or buy at the dollar store. Unless you are really good at books and know alot, I might shy away from them too.. book people are REALLY picky. to the point of scary.. LOL a nice antiqued yellowed page might not look bad to you, but when tey get out their magnifing glass and see mold they freak.. always disclose that this is something you bought for resell and therefor if it smells of smoke or what ever you cant help it. and launder every clothing item in a NON SMELLING detergant. people get testy when they dont like your brand and they might demand a refund or neg you. The biggest thing is, dont put alot of terms in your auctions. be flexible and dont overcharge on shipping. charge your costs. GOod luck!!
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Post by Connie on Dec 5, 2007 17:16:34 GMT -5
Now you see.. that has always been the best thing about ebay.. you NEVER know what people will buy.. I would have never dreamed an empty cabage patch box would be worth anything.. lol..
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Post by luvsdragonflies on Dec 5, 2007 19:28:09 GMT -5
that is to funny.
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Post by kaylinda on Dec 6, 2007 9:04:29 GMT -5
I'm currently working on selling my husband's record collection on e-bay (he used to be a dj in the early 90's, so he has HUNDREDS). I managed to sell all his CD's on craigslist, but records seem to be too specialized to sell in a market like that. I put 22 of them up for auction last week and haven't had one bid yet on any of them (one of them has stirred up some interest, but nothing else). I think I chose the wrong ones to put up - I pulled out the vintage Christmas ones and movies soundtracks, since I thought they might sell better during the holidays. Anyway, DH is not wanting to pay listing fees for things I can't sell, so I might not have a second chance in trying to sell some of the more sought after ones. I'm not trying to discourage you, luvsdragonflies, but I guess I'm just trying to confirm what Chelle told you - that you need to find something that will sell quickly and easily, and isn't too specialized.
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Post by Connie on Dec 6, 2007 19:16:01 GMT -5
Oh I wish Samantha was still here! She loves records and Im sure she would be bidding!
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Post by chelle on Dec 8, 2007 14:59:16 GMT -5
Kaylinda, check your terms, when you do things like records, fishing lures, bakalite etc you are going for a TARGET audience. meaning these folks are usually old time ebayers, they rememebr how it used to be. Like me, I used to shop on ebay for EVERYTHING. but now 9 times outa 10 I back strait out of an auction cause of terms, the attitude I feel is being portrayed (whether they mean it or not) by the seller, and the feel it gives me. I talk with a minimum of 25-30 long time ebayers on a daily basis, (I chat there) and they feel the same. Ebay has changed itself alot in the last few years, but some of the attitude has changed too. its no longer a friendly community where we feel comfertable, but a pure buisness approach or a rude approach doesnt have the same vibe.
just an example. I go in and find what I want, If shipping is outragous I will pay MORE for the item in a differnt auction, than I will for one that is gouging me on shipping. That is my MAIN pet peeve.. Dont charge me 5.30 and send it for .87 cents. I am paying for priority and I expect it. dont charge me for your gas, meal at micky D's and tire wear. Realize that you can take all of that off your taxes and add to your income at the end of the year!
Dont tell me that you are not responsible for it getting to me. I know the laws, I know the rules and I know you are. If you sell me something and dont insist on ins and it gets broken you are responsible for giving me back all my money. no ifs, ands or buts about it. its not my responsibility as a buyer to ask and beg for it.
are other records like yours selling? what do they do differnt?
are you accepting paypal, checks, cash and money orders? do you say "you HAVE to pay me in 3 days or I neg yoU?"
I always pretend like I am trying to sell something to someone in person, I am nice, not demanding, and try to find a way to make them smile.
you will see people with thousands of feedbacks that have awful terms, rude sales pitches and crappy auctions in general. they dont have a large base of repeat buyers. and they get lots of negs. or they use feedback blackmail. not giving feedback till they get it so they can neg the buyer who got gypped in the first place if they complain.
another thing to keep in mind. do you offer combined shipping? I will spend lots more money with one person if I can combine shipping. I feel I am getting a deal that way.
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Post by kaylinda on Dec 8, 2007 20:39:00 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice Chelle. Unfortunately, none of the records sold, so DH doesn't want to got that route again - not sure what we're going to do with them, but I want them OUT of the baby's room by March!!! I don't think my terms were bad, but I did say the one about not being responsible (advice from DH's husband who has an eBay store - he's too busy right now to sell them for us). One thing I did wrong was I didn't offer international shipping, because I got a lot of questions if I would ship to Spain, UK, etc. I just didn't think it was worth it to complete the customs forms if I wasn't sure I would continue to sell them or not. I did offer combined shipping, since records are very light and I could easily pack more than one in the same box for almost the same shipping costs as one. I really think my biggest downfall was I chose records that probably aren't "hot" items. The questions I got were on my most expensive records, b/c they are collectables. The rest of them I had starting at 99 cents b/c they either were used or aren't all that collectable, but I also had NO interest in them whatsoever. Oh, live and learn, I guess. I'm wanting to take them to a record show in Cleveland, but DH is against the idea. I think he doesn't want to waste a whole weekend day doing that and then not selling enough to make it worth it (although I've had some collectors in the area tell me that I should make a killing with the ones we have). They're his records, so I'm letting him call the shots, but again, I want them gone!!!!
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Post by hswhite on Dec 8, 2007 22:48:09 GMT -5
I wholeheartedly agree with what Chelle has said. I used to buy a lot of things on Ebay and even sold a few things. However, over the last few years I really don't anymore unless I am looking for something unique that I can't buy anywhere else. For some reason I don't get excited to buy something from someone who treats me like they are doing ME a favor by selling me their product and then gouges me on the shipping. I think there are a lot of really good professional sellers on Ebay but there are also some really greedy, unfriendly people as well so you really need to be careful and research your seller as much as possible. I always read a lot their feedback to see how they have treated others. And if I feel offended by the wording or the tone of their terms I will not buy from them no matter how much I want the item. I think your tone and friendliness and flexibility shine through when you are selling a product on Ebay. There are so many people selling the same things that you have to come across as the most professional and helpful seller. It amazes me how some of the people sell anything by the way that they treat their buyers. Actually I have turned more to buying on Amazon. Lately I have found better deals there and they don't rip you off on the shipping charges. Plus I get to use the gift cards that I get from my surveys.
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Post by luvsdragonflies on Dec 10, 2007 23:23:28 GMT -5
I sale books and video games on amazon but, I find the books I have sale fore like 1 cent lol. I am thinking about going to garage sales and looking for books. I not looking for books that will make me a fortune just ones I know will sale for more than a penny tehee...
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Post by Organized Chaos on May 19, 2008 15:34:09 GMT -5
Well I must say now I'm a bit scared to even attempt making money with eBay. I've read over & over again that it isn't the marketplace it used to be, which is understandable. Back then it was new, fresh & exciting. Items being sold weren't listed in the hundreds & thousands alongside stuff just like it...now they are. Once something grows like eBay has it's never going to be the same. But the question is can a newbie like me, who plans on selling items bought at yardsales, auctions, flea markets & the like, still make a living there?
From what I see & read, it seems many of the old school eBay'ers don't care for the changes there now or the way sellers/buyers have changed along with it. So how is an honest, trustworthy person like me supposed to succeed at it? I've searched through items that I was interested in buying and have seen conditions that some people will not sell to new users who don't have feedback...and they're not talking about turning down neg. feedback, they meant those of us w/o any feedback at all because we're new. So how is a new user supposed to survive if the eBay veterans have a bad taste in their mouth over what it has become?
I'm reading the comments of a couple former long time users here who say they won't go back. Maybe it shouldn't, but that does make me wonder if I should even start. You obviously know more than I do about it. What's the consensus? I'm not interested in wasting my time & effort with it if it's a lost cause.
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Post by Connie on May 19, 2008 18:56:24 GMT -5
The best way is to just start small. We were all new once and as a seller you will find buyers.. there are always new people who don't care if you are a new seller as long as what you are saying and doing makes sense. Sell some small things and build up your feedback. It doesn't have to be scary and it doesn't have to be a pain. Just be cautious and honest and you will do okay and get to see if you want to make it a business.
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