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 Replies: 17 / Views: 5,337 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
I want people's tips about how to start selling items on ebay. Right now I have no experience buying or selling besides what I learned watching this forum. Is there any good sources I should read before jumping in. I'm starting to think about starting to sell items various items and coins on ebay. I'm not looking to make a living, but want it to help support my silver coin addiction and serve as a outlet of my picker hobby. Coins will probally be 25% of my sales since I don't have a constant source where I can get them wholesale so the profit margins would be tougher and irregular. I like to dabble in it but I don't know if that part of the buisness model will be profitable since I can't really invest in coins over $25 apiece, With summer coming I can work on it full time without any issues. I have been playing with the idea but my parents really want me to do it to keep me busy and I have seed money. I don't think it will be hard to find items to sale as I can adapt to what is profitable. I also have access to a major goodwill distribution center that I can look through large volumes of unsearched donations and pay .80 a pound tax free. I been finding a decent amount of collectables and since I go for small lightweight things I think I can do well. The best find there so far as been a envelope stuffed full of 20 old nasa misson badges mint state from the early 70's for 20 cents. Completed sales on ebay have been $15-20 apiece so I think I can make profit finding random stuff like that. So do you guys think I can do it ok? I'm over 18 so I don't have to worry about my age haha. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7621 Posts |
I've been on ebay for 14 years. Things I've learned: 1). Keep good records, 2) ship everything ASAP with delivery confirmation, 3) treat your customers with respect and do not argue with them even if they are wrong, 4) learn how the blocked bidder list works (see #3), 4) avoid selling and shipping internationally, 5) take plenty of pictures, 6) describe your items with 110% accuracy, 7) start and end your listings at times and days when the most Buyers will see your items ....for me that's Sunday evenings at 6 to 7 PM. I'm sure others will chime in with more suggestions/hints. Good luck! |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1192 Posts |
I have some coin lots I want to try selling here but they pretty common world coins and wheat cents. Do you think there is much interest for it with Do you guys think I need to get my paypal vertified? I mostly just want hobby money so I could bid on stuff on ebay and maybe buy stuff on Amazon. While I guess I could do it I kinda just want it as a closed loop with me just placing some intial money in paypal. I plan on using a little percentage of my profits from mowing lawns and design consulting towards getting inventory, unless it takes off. I also wonder if I can just start selling stuff like below $20 and people trust me enough to buy from me even though I haven't build up a ebay reputation yet. Edited by Bertensgrad
05/12/2015 01:15 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7621 Posts |
Definitely get PayPal verified. It is to your advantage and your Buyers will see that you are serious. Eventually, PayPal will start releasing your funds faster when they see you playing by the rules and doing what you agreed to do.
You might do "ok" with bulk lots of common stuff but it will not be a slam dunk. As a new Seller it is up to you to attract bidders/buyers to your listings with accurate and detailed descriptions.
You have to "test the water" and see what works/sells and what doesn't work or sell and adjust your listings and selling tactics accordingly. Do not expect to have results overnight. It is time consuming and frustrating at times, but for me it was/is worth it.
Good luck!
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New Member
United States
6 Posts |
End auctions on Sunday
Offer a return policy
Start your auctions at $0.99
Use a gallery picture
Write a good description
Optimize you listing
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
Yeah I'm going to try my vintage lion brothers apollo patches first a few at a time. They go for $15-30 apiece on ebay but I got them as a lot for less than a quarter for 20. They were such a cool came with some papers and their orginal shipping envelope no idea why they were donated. Edited by Bertensgrad
05/12/2015 04:11 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
946 Posts |
I usually will end the auction for fri-sat time. (When people get paid usually). I'll also make sure the auction doesn't end at a random weird time. It will be like 7-9 oclock at night when mostly everyone is home from work and they have their own free time to use how they want. I use my Droid for ebay. Its pretty simple. I find what I am trying to sell and I save that as my own draft and pretty much 75% of the listing is done there. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
Bert, I am a professional picker. I started out by going to estate sales and after I time and again, on a consistent basis, bought items for $20-$50 and resold them for $500ish I realized I had an amazing eye which is a MUST for a picker. The knowledge you gain over time about the generalities of collectibles and market trends will.help you grow tremendousLY but THE PICKER EYE is what cannot be taught. You either have it or you dont. Others have answered your questions on ebay selling quite well but I would like to add something... I am almost done with ebay. When I was new to it I would find similar items that sold and "sell one like this" not knowing it was a banned item like an old BB gun that was so rusty it was a wall hanger but it didn't matter the just ended the listing like I was selling a fake coin. If you get 2 or three of those they suspend your selling account indefinitely and you are screwed. So read the rules (something I omitted doing early on regretfully) and TRY to follow them... I say this because as a general picker you are going to get a wide range of items. If you were selling one thing like coins or clothes or whatever it's simple. The bane and pleasure of a picker is the wide array of very cool items that will pass through your fingers. Happy hunting!... and go to estate sales. Much better than thrifting if you do.have the eye in terms of the amount of quality items at affordable prices (usually). Nowadays I travel and put ads in local classified mags like pennysaver in the towns I go to advertising what I am and what I'm looking for but a good estate sale still pulls at my heart string a bit because I cut my teeth with them and made some good $. But lost some too while training my eye but I just consider that as paying for my education when it happened |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1911 Posts |
Common world coins and wheat pennies would generate the interest I believe. I am looking for both currently as long as they are the cheap ones! ;) But as for ebay like others have said be nice even if people are foolish and also I have found it is amazing to people when I actually answer back their questions early instead of waiting hours. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
Ok I will try a auction on some excess coin lots I have on here.
I plan on mostly selling collectables, some coins, and vintage toys mostly. I just don't have the eyes for clothes fashion wise. I just know brands and usually just take a risk on them to platos closet to sell. I just want it for hobby money but if I can get it to start paying student loans that would be amazing. It super helps inventory being able to pick up good small stuff and clothes just by its weight while getting to pick through it before I choose what items to buy. Now if I can only figure out how to sell it.
My main place is like where goodwill donations go to die haha. It's all the excess they don't have room or time to ship to stores. A lot of corporate donations of goods and anything too weird for them to sale and they don't know what to do with.
I went ahead and decided to get my paypal verified so I should be able to start selling this weekend with the inventory I have.
Edited by Bertensgrad
05/12/2015 4:21 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1949 Posts |
Trial and error really the only way to learn. What works for one person may not work for you... Sometimes there are factors that are 100% outside of your control...
One huge tip I would give though is have a VERY thick skin- People seem to think that interactions online allow them to talk and behave in ways they would never to a persons face... Be prepared for that
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2189 Posts |
The advice westernsky gave is right on. I would also add, expect your funds to be held longer than you expect. As a new seller you may have limits, IE; 10 items per month, $250. total sales.Payments via Pay Pal usually will be released to you 3-5 days after the item shows delivered or a little sooner if feedback is received from the buyer.
After 3 months you can expect your limits to be increased, maybe 50 items and $2,500. if all goes well. Its a 3 month trial/break-in period.
so pick the items you list wisely, your 10 listings per month gets used up fast. Be very cautious on anyone trying to circumvent the system, especially when they see a "NEW" seller with 0 feedback on sales.
I started same as you exactly 2 years ago selling but had been buying since 2009.
Good luck!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
589 Posts |
Quote:
As a new seller you may have limits, IE; 10 items per month, $250. total sales.Payments via Pay Pal usually will be released to you 3-5 days after the item shows delivered or a little sooner if feedback is received from the buyer.
After 3 months you can expect your limits to be increased, maybe 50 items and $2,500. if all goes well. Its a 3 month trial/break-in period. When I started selling on ebay about a year ago now, my limits were 10 items or $100, which was automatically raised to 100 items or $5000 per month when I got around 10 positive seller feedbacks. I've had to call them to get my amount raised since then, and only by total items I can a month, not the total dollar amount. I'll need to start approaching $5000 a month before they'll raise that. |
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
I've been on ebay since 1997. Take the best photos possible of all angles of product. I have a ship in 2 business days policy. I track ALL orders over $15. I block anyone with less than 98% positive feedback. I block anyone with less than 10 feedback total. Make your terms crystal clear and I don't ship to any Country but US because of complex postal regulations and no way to track item. I've been burned once and that's all it took. Do these things for your protection and you'll be fine. swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5394 Posts |
Do not use 99 cent auctions. BIN best offer is the best way to go these days. If you go the auction route you are going to get picked off by bottom feeders. Ship items tracked only or you will get nailed by the I didn't get it by the lying buyer goofs that have just proliferated since ebay is 100 per cent buyer centric. Do not sell cheap items on ebay as the reward is very minimal for the time spent. Remember time is your most valuable and expensive asset. Have a good business sense or you are completely wasting your time and efforts. Other than that have fun selling. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7621 Posts |
As far as 99 cent auction vs fixed price, do what works best for you and your situation. As you start out try both and make adjustments based on results.
Yes, the bottom feeders show up on the 99 cent auctions but I've seen fixed price stuff get relisted over and over for years and still not sell. All it takes is a few bottom feeders to create a feeding frenzy on an auction and you can end up with a good old fashioned bidding war.
My experience is that quality listing practices, along with good value being offered, will sell your items no matter what format you choose to use.
Good luck!
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Replies: 17 / Views: 5,337 |
Posted 05/12/2015 01:10 am
