Advice wanted: Selling on Ebay

[LynneSin]

As you know, I'm an avid collecter of Vinyl. There seems to be a flush of used records out there at the flea markets & thrift shop that is about 98% junk but if you're patient enough to sort through it you can find that 2% that really makes the trip worth it. These aren't used record stores where the good stuff has been pulled out already - these are boxes of unknown where one sifts through the garbage to find the golden.

After about 2 months of doing this the first thing I've noticed is the duplicates I've been buying? Just recently I accidently bought a second copy of Joni Mitchell's Hejira (both in excellent condition) and some dupes are on purpose (I can't leave a Led Zeppelin album behind in those dusty boxes). But there is a ton of good stuff I've left behind in those boxes that I could have picked up for 50cents-$1 and possibly turn around and resell it for $2-$3 dollars.

So I'm thinking of testing the waters. What advise do you have for anyone who has done regular selling on Ebay?

[NMDemDist2]

1. I sell a lot on ebay (not records though)

do searches and on the left pane there is a "Completed items" box you can check that will show you all the auctions that have already sold.

I'd start there and get a feel for what is selling and for how much...

feel free to PM me if I can help further

[LynneSin]

2. Well what about tools for setting stuff up

I have a paypal account but I didn't get it certified (or whatever they call it)

And I"m guessing there are some EBAY software programs to help build your site.

I'm trying to figure out how much money I'm going to spend for stuff I might only make $1-2 profit on per sale. I mean, I don't even have a fricking digital camera!

[NMDemDist2]

3. well that's kinda a problem (no camera) but not insurmountable

they key to eBay is to be VERY descriptive in your auctions. you can use web pics as long as you note ANY damage to the covers

and if you are careful how you list them the list fees can be below $1 and you want to add a small handling fee that will (hopefully) cover those costs

the other problem I can see with vinyl records is getting boxes to ship them in. Ideally you want to use free Post Office boxes so your only cost of shipping is tape (the buyer pays the postage) It's also handy that your mail carrier will pick up Priority Mail packages from your house so you don't have to schlep them to the post office (saving you time and gas $$)

as for special software, you don't need any. ebay walks you through the listing process and it's easy to do


edit to add, I have a cheap digital camera for sale :evilgrin:

[Karenca]

5. I think it's important that you know that

if you're only going to make $1.00-$2.00 profit on an item
you'll have to sell a really large quantity to make any profit.

This is because:
1. Ebays listing fee
2. Ebays final value fee
3. Paypal's fee.

I sold alot on ebay...everything from bandages, to a car, to an entire house filled with furniture (not the house, just the furniture).

You can ask me anything you want.

[NMDemDist2]

6. that's what I'm doing too, I have sold off almost my entire coffee house

business equipment and since we're moving, I've started selling off the house stuff too

i've got 8 items to ship today and 4 more autions ending tomorrow and 12 more on thursday

:rofl: I spend a lot of time in my garage listening to AAR and getting busy with the tape gun

[Karenca]

7. Yes, I did much better on ebay than I would have done with a Tag Sale...I

sold the entire contents of a three bedroom house when I lived on Long Island...
Also, sold all the ex's stuff when I got rid of him ...clothes, books and all his sports memorabila.
That was really profitable, as he had a store, so there were alot of collectibles.

Then I sold the contents of my two bedroom apartment in New York.
I made more on some items than I paid for them. That was great.

(I moved alot).


GOOD LUCK!!!!!

[NMDemDist2]

8. i hear ya, I am amazed at what some of the items go for

some of my espresso equipment went for 70 cents on the dollar I paid for it after me using it for 3-4 years. I was thrilled (but it gave my accountant headaches LOL )

[speedoo]

4. Make sure you understand the ebay fees.

In other words, get a solid handle on your costs, so you can price your items accordingly. If you list something on ebay and it does not sell, even after re-listing, that's a loss due to their fees.

Also, you will probably want to invest in a postal scale and do some research on shipping costs.

Also state your shipping and handling fees to at least break even there, but preferably build a little profit for that piece of it. After all, you will be packing and possibly going somewhere to ship and you want to be compensated for that.

I have also learned a lot by visiting the seller forums on ebay. Learn from the experience of others.

Also make sure you understand how feedback works. If a seller has more than, say 5% negative feedback, it will really hurt, IMO. So you want to do everything you can to avoid any. Plus, it's nice to provide great customer service.

On edit: and if you decide to use Paypal, their fees can mount up as well, so make sure you understand them.

[sbj405]

9. You may want to consider selling the albums in lots

rather than individually. This will make the transactions more and also help you clear stuff out at a much higher rate.