Current ebayers - How's it going?

[disneysteve]

I have sold on ebay since it's early days. I started in May 1997, so ebay and I go way back. I sold pretty heavily in the past, making as much as 2K to 3K per month at my peak. I haven't sold at all for the past few months, though I did a little stint earlier this year. I'm about ready to get back into it and I'm curious how sales have been going for everyone. Have higher postage rates been a problem? Has the new feedback system changed anything? I'm curious to hear all of your input.

[isiginamo]

How do you start selling on e-bay... I have the hardest time thinking of what to sell.

[momof1in150]

My DH sells on ebay and has done fine recently. He doesn't sell a lot but what he does sell typically sells fine. He is know for starting at $.99 and letting the bidders fight over the product. He does actual shipping and that helps with his sales because people know he isn't taking advantage of them. He did say that you can't charge a handling fee like you used to because people don't like to pay that either.

[biff]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I have sold on ebay since it's early days. I started in May 1997, so ebay and I go way back. I sold pretty heavily in the past, making as much as 2K to 3K per month at my peak. I haven't sold at all for the past few months, though I did a little stint earlier this year. I'm about ready to get back into it and I'm curious how sales have been going for everyone. Have higher postage rates been a problem? Has the new feedback system changed anything? I'm curious to hear all of your input.

Steve,
I buy and sell watches on Ebay..I buy them, wear them for a while, and turn around and sell them back on Ebay....I bought a $5400 Tag Heuer watch at about $1700, wore it for about 4 months, got tired of it, and sold it for $1900 last night, buy it now.
The star rating on the feedback system provides more detail, and there is no way you can really control it, but I have 100% feedback anyhow, so I do not notice a difference.
With the increase in shipping cost, I make up for it by only selling items that have a larger profit margin, and print the postage out myself, eliminating the need to drive to the post office.

[biff]

Originally Posted by momof1in150

My DH sells on ebay and has done fine recently. He doesn't sell a lot but what he does sell typically sells fine. He is know for starting at $.99 and letting the bidders fight over the product. He does actual shipping and that helps with his sales because people know he isn't taking advantage of them. He did say that you can't charge a handling fee like you used to because people don't like to pay that either.

mom,
Ebay has changed the shipping policy so that people cannot gauge with crazy high prices. If you were selling a $10 shirt for 50 cents, and charging $9.50 shipping.....(it really was happening..)

I actually always start my auctions at .99 cents. Very rarely do my items sell for much lower than what I am expecting. Usually it is something I wanted to just get rid of anyway, and it is not a big deal either way because I am looking to build my feedback.

[KatieNK]

We sell on eBay and have since it started up, too. The worst part now is all the scammers and deadbeats. Meaning, non-paying bidders. It is so crazy, I don't understand it but there are a lot of people who create an ebay name (have 0% feedback) and bid on something and never pay. Then they just delete their names. It is so frustrating! Also, sales have dropped this year.

[SnoopyCool]

I go back and forth on whether to get back into it because of the new rating system. I think I'll hang back a while longer.

[creditcardfree]

The rating system has not been a problem for me. I did have one non paying bidder not too long ago.

I think if you have a desired product that ebay is still a good way to go. Do the research, and charge actual shipping and it is still a good place to sell.

[biff]

Originally Posted by KatieNK

We sell on eBay and have since it started up, too. The worst part now is all the scammers and deadbeats. Meaning, non-paying bidders. It is so crazy, I don't understand it but there are a lot of people who create an ebay name (have 0% feedback) and bid on something and never pay. Then they just delete their names. It is so frustrating! Also, sales have dropped this year.

Katie,
There is a setting where buyers have to have a minimum amount of feedback before they can even bid...Also, I believe you can cancel any bid during the auction especially if their accounts are fishy. i.e. no feedback, or signed up within the month, etc.

[moneybags]

I Ebay in spurts, on & off for the last 10 years. I've listed a few things recently. Items just don't bring in what they used to. Maybe it will pick up before the holidays.

Also, check out the new fee structure on Ebay. There are different listing & final value fees based on categories and whether an item is auction or buy it now. Some as 12%. You really have to factor these costs into how you want to list an item.

[KatieNK]

Thanks biff!

[biff]

Originally Posted by KatieNK

Thanks biff!

No problemo

[aukxsona]

I lost more than I made on Ebay recently. I sold plenty, but sold less than I needed to. Normally this wouldn't be an issue, as it would turn around, but I haven't had quite the sales I once had. I sell used books, not a huge demand, but I do it for cheap. My stuff is always sent media mail with no handling charge. Some of the books I only charged the listing fee and shipping, just to get them out of here, and no buying.

[GoodBuyGirl]

I haven't sold much lately. But most things I list sell pretty well.
My main problem is people who bid that don't have the money to be bidding. Then they hold my stuff hostage until their payday a week or so later.
I never understood why people do that. You wouldn't go into a store to buy something if you didn't have the money to pay.

[Goldy1]

IMO it has been the worst I have seen sales wise in 7 years. Higher fees, items hidden with new search styles, FB system a mess( sellers like me with 4.8 in 4 out of 5 star areas and one 4.5 so my auctions are hidden in search) I sell one thing to make a few bucks, and then the next 6 do not sell so I am almost even with fees. Economy is also an issue.

[Bimmer]

I have had problems recently with a company having ebay pull my auctions for "trademark infringement", even though I use my own photo's, make sure to let people know I am not affiliated with the company, etc. I comply with all ebay rules, yet they do not respond when I inquire about the pulling of the auction (both ebay and the company).

The item is authentic, and I received it as a gift from a customer. It is a health product that I cannot use (upsets my stomach), but is pretty popular. This action has turned me off from ebay somewhat. It seems I can't use the company name, but who knows since I cannot get a response. I have taken the tutorial ebay suggests, I follow it, yet the auction gets pulled? The product is from an MLM company, maybe they have serious influence with someone at ebay.

It's like trying to sell, say, a coca-cola branded item without using the words coke or coca-cola. Those looking for that item are certainly going to use those words in their search criteria.

I miss the earlier days of ebay where you listed/sold your item with little trouble, there was a lot less crap and duplicate items, and it was easy to pick out the scammers. Oh well, fear of law suit strikes again.

[disneysteve]

Bimmer, there are a lot of companies that do everything in their power to prevent unauthorized resale of their product. MLM companies are notorious for this. They want you to buy it from them or not buy it at all. They don't want folks reselling it for less than full price on ebay or other sites as it pulls business from them.

Personally, I think it is ridiculous. Once I own a product, I should be able to do whatever I want with it. If I choose to resell it, I should have the right to do so.