OT Ebay help

Chris Jones · Sep 29, 2012

I need to get rid of some junk like some old Wheel Horse parts for one thing. Ebay would be good as it would give me a broad market and get things gone quickly. I have sold on Ebay before but it's been like 5 to 6 years ago. Everything sold but I remember that I didn't really get enough to make it worth packing and shipping.

I'd love some tips on how to use ebay. It's so complex with all the pennies they take for everything and it's hard to figure out how the best way to make money for myself is. I'm leaning toward a low starting price (like $5 for a fender) in a no reserve auction format and charge actual shipping charges--USPS.

But if it only sells for $5 then after Ebay and Paypal take their cut I'm left feeling robbed. It takes time to take pictures and post things on ebay and pack and ship and deal with all this crap.

Any wisdom anyone wants to pass on?

Anonymous-0 · Sep 29, 2012

Try Craigs List

farmerjohn · Sep 29, 2012

Try Craigslist or some other online classified. May not have as big of an audience but its no cost and get cash with person to person dealings.

Dean Olson · Sep 29, 2012

I've had good luck with smaller parts that ship cheap. When I decide to sell on ebay I resign myself to the fact that it brings what it brings. I've been disappointed a few times, content most of the time and on rare occasion gotten way more than what I thought it was worth.

Items sitting around unused taking up space makes them worth $0 if you don't sell them.

redtom · Sep 29, 2012

I've sold quite a few items on ebay although not a lot lately. They did add a more rules and some more fees. Bit, where else can you get an audience of millions that is world wide? I use craigslist for heavy cheaper items that only a local buyer would want and you have to deal with the local yard sale doofusses. I also have sold on ebay with local pickup for big stuff but it will sell cheaper accordingly. Like others said know your value and get what you get sometimes not so much, others a shocking windfall.

Royse · Sep 29, 2012

Shipping is a pain unless you can fit what you're selling in a flat rate box.
If you can ship flat rate, set your minimum bid at your minimum price plus the flat rate and "ship for free".
Yes, you pay a fee on the shipping but things sell faster with free shipping.
If you can't ship flat rate, set your minimum bid at your minimum price and base the shipping charge at actual shipping cost.
People can and will look it up. They'll know you're being honest.
Give people a way to contact you so they know there's a human on the other end.

36 Coupe · Sep 30, 2012

I quit Ebay when they went Paypal.The snipe bidders were trouble.Used to keep a list of them and made sure they paid more for stuff.Got supplies for the shop, tractor parts,old Ford parts.Always paid with check,money order or cash on small items.

Nebraska Cowman · Sep 30, 2012

starting bids low don't work any more. You have to start at a price you'd be happy with. + now ebay takes a cut for the shipping fees to which makes it hard to sell larger items. I'd find a Wheel Horse forum and see what I could do there.

Zachary Hoyt · Sep 30, 2012

Most important thing to remember in my opinion is that they take about 10% of the sale price and the shipping price, so if it costs $20 to ship a part and you only get $5 for it they will get $2.50 and paypal will get 3% plus 30 cents, in this case $1.05, so you will only get $1.45. If you inflate your shipping price or sales price slightly you can compensate for the fees. I shipped a $20 part to France that weighed 65# or so and had to charge an extra $18 for shipping since the actual shipping cost was $160 and the extra $20 also was docked 10%. The buyer understood why and was still happy.
Zach

Stephen Newell · Sep 30, 2012

Well if you were robbed 5-6 years ago I don't think anything has gotten better. I stopped selling on ebay because of their fees. The only way to make a buck on ebay is to only sell items that will sell and sell for the price you need. You have to look and see what people are bidding for each item you are wanting to sell. If nobody is bidding on a paticular item theres no point in you listing yours.

rustyplow · Sep 30, 2012

OK, now you gotta explan. How was a snipe bidder trouble and how did you make him pay more? Serious qustion because I could never understand the hatred for the "snipe bidder"

Walt Davies · Sep 30, 2012

Last item I sold was Wing Presentation Bow. I was it was worth about $50 by locals. So I put the starting bid at $50.
Severals gals got in a bidding war and it sold for $450 could have gone higher if it didn't run out of time. Wish there was a way to extend the time in these cases.
Walt

36 Coupe · Sep 30, 2012

If the sniper was bidding on something I could use in my shop I bid him up.He could not resist the urge to out bid you.

OT Ebay help

Chris Jones

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

farmerjohn

Well-known Member

Dean Olson

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redtom

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Royse

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36 Coupe

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Nebraska Cowman

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Zachary Hoyt

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Stephen Newell

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rustyplow

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Walt Davies

Well-known Member

36 Coupe

Well-known Member

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