Ebay or yard sales

**cicy33** · 12-29-2009, 08:56 AM

the problem with ebay or should I say FEEbay is that the fees between them and paypal make it almost impossible to sell anything that is low cost. there is a fee to list, a fee to sell, a fee to put in a buy it now, and then when you do receive the money there is a fee for that too. Then there is the increase of people reporting to paypal that they didn't get the item you sent and then you lose all your money and your item. You have to offer the use of paypal in the auction or risk getting reported (unless this has changed recently) at least with yard sales you can sell and keep your money.

**Fern** · 12-30-2009, 03:10 PM

I've never made much money at yard sales and the work that goes into it, plus sitting around all day, doesn't make it worthwhile in my eyes, but then, i never had the mental energy to "learn" eBay. I have successfully sold a number of items on Craig's List, but that can be hit or miss. At least it's 100% free.

**PennyPrincess** · 01-01-2010, 06:18 PM

I have had luck in the past with ebay, but I agree the fees now are insane. I have never had any luck with yard sales, and I price items very reasonable. The amount of energy that goes into the prep is just not worth it. Some people have good luck with flea markets.

**disneysteve** · 01-01-2010, 06:24 PM

I've been selling on ebay for nearly 13 years and have done quite well over that time. It is true that you can't really sell low priced items partly due to the fees and partly due to postage costs. Nobody is going to buy a $2 coffee mug that will cost $6 to ship. Save that stuff for the yard sale or just donate it to Goodwill. For anything worth at least $10-15, though, I think ebay is still the way to go.

**PennyPrincess** · 01-01-2010, 07:20 PM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

I've been selling on ebay for nearly 13 years and have done quite well over that time. It is true that you can't really sell low priced items partly due to the fees and partly due to postage costs. Nobody is going to buy a $2 coffee mug that will cost $6 to ship. Save that stuff for the yard sale or just donate it to Goodwill. For anything worth at least $10-15, though, I think ebay is still the way to go.

if you don't mind me asking, do you purchase items to resell? Or are these items you have around, or found items....
thanks

**disneysteve** · 01-02-2010, 05:25 AM

Originally posted by PennyPrincess View Post

if you don't mind me asking, do you purchase items to resell? Or are these items you have around, or found items....
thanks

All of the above. I started selling Disney collectibles in 1986, long before ebay. I used to sell through a mail-order catalog and at antique and collectible shows from New York to Virginia. In 1994, I got online and started selling through ads on newsgroups and then my own website. In 1997, a friend introduced me to ebay and the rest is history. Sales skyrocketed and I soon expanded well beyond just Disney items, selling all types of collectibles and antiques. That was all stuff that was purchased specifically to resell.

In addition, I've used ebay to sell unwanted household items, outgrown children's clothing and more. I've helped sell off stuff from 3 different relatives when they moved and I'm preparing to do a 4th later this year. I've sold items rescued from the trash. I've sold items received as gifts that we didn't want. I've sold items that I've gotten through my job - promotional items for products, items received in return for doing surveys or market research programs, etc.

I've sold a wide variety of items on ebay and I'm always on the lookout for other things that I can sell.

**savingandgiving** · 01-02-2010, 05:07 PM

eBay is also offering 5 free listings per month right now. I found out the hard way that you have to create the listing via the website (the hard way), not with Turbo Lister. But at least that cuts down on the insertion fee. You still have the Final Value Fee and any PayPal fees. But that might help!

**Saving_spree** · 01-04-2010, 04:16 AM

I have little experience with both of them, no idea as who is better..

**Snippa** · 01-06-2010, 12:08 PM

What about Craigslist? I've sold some things on eBay, but never done much with it. Though I agree that higher priced items are best there. I do buy things from eBay. And I've held hundreds of yard sales, though I'm over that. I've gotten too old for all the work.

But I've done well with them. However, while others say Craigslist is a good option, and it's free, I've not had much luck with it. What's your experience?

Dee

**cicy33** · 01-06-2010, 08:16 PM

Craigslist is dependent upon your area and the usage of your area. For example, I briefly moved to Raleigh/Durham NC and the use of it there is 100 times what it is where I live now which is southern illinois. While there is still scammers at least I was able to make sales there. Here, very little. The other problem I have is that everytime I list something at least 10 emails come at me to increase my wages, make money at home, sell my car faster (even though I listed video games) etc. I still use it but not a lot.

**Mike75** · 01-06-2010, 11:37 PM

According to my experience, ebay is much better to sell things which are still in good condition, but you don't want to use them. You can sell almost any kind of junk in an yard sale, but don't get a good prize.

So, its 50-50 on both sides. For good stuff, try ebay and for junk, go for yard sales

**SoCalifrugal** · 01-10-2010, 02:24 PM

Craigslist is the best. It's local but also a larger audience than a garage sale. Half.com is good for textbooks, or in front of the college bookstore. If you are buying or selling handmade, check out Etsy.

Ebay or yard sales