Ebay sellers thread (other platforms too)

[disneysteve]

I went to an estate sale last Wednesday. The house was packed, bordering on hoarder status. My favorite kind of sale because you never know what you'll find. There were boxes piled everywhere, sometimes 2 or 3 deep and 3 or 4 high. I realized there was no possible way to see everything on day one of the sale. I bought a number of items that day. I then went back on Friday, day 3. As expected, a lot of stuff had been unearthed that I hadn't seen on Wednesday. My big score was a complete set of Lenox spice jars from 1994 that are highly collectible. A full set sells for about $400 ($500 with the rack, which they didn't have) or about $25 each sold individually. I had to get them cleaned up as they were filthy but I started listing them and have already sold 3 for $24.90 each so $74.70 total. I paid $15 for all 24 pieces ($0.63 each). Assuming I sell them all for that price, that will bring in just under $600. Nice return on a $15 purchase.

[james.hendrickson]

I went to an estate sale last Wednesday. The house was packed, bordering on hoarder status. My favorite kind of sale because you never know what you'll find. There were boxes piled everywhere, sometimes 2 or 3 deep and 3 or 4 high. I realized there was no possible way to see everything on day one of the sale. I bought a number of items that day. I then went back on Friday, day 3. As expected, a lot of stuff had been unearthed that I hadn't seen on Wednesday. My big score was a complete set of Lenox spice jars from 1994 that are highly collectible. A full set sells for about $400 ($500 with the rack, which they didn't have) or about $25 each sold individually. I had to get them cleaned up as they were filthy but I started listing them and have already sold 3 for $24.90 each so $74.70 total. I paid $15 for all 24 pieces ($0.63 each). Assuming I sell them all for that price, that will bring in just under $600. Nice return on a $15 purchase.

Dang Disneysteve, you're cleaning up.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I had to look up what Lennox spice jars looks like, I learned something today. I see it has labels on each jar (ie, cinnamon, parsley, basil, pepper, etc). Do certain ones must fetch more than the others. Nice score, Mike & Frank from American Pickers would be proud.

[disneysteve]

I had to look up what Lennox spice jars looks like, I learned something today. I see it has labels on each jar (ie, cinnamon, parsley, basil, pepper, etc). Do certain ones must fetch more than the others. Nice score, Mike & Frank from American Pickers would be proud.

Lenox has made a number of spice jar sets over the years and they’re pretty much all quite collectible. This is the Canterbury Crossing set but others do well too. Actually I had gotten really into selling their Disney spice jar set back in the 90s when I connected with a flea market dealer who had them. Then I learned the outlet store was near me and went there weekly to buy items to resell (not just spice jars). I made a ton off Lenox for several years.

[disneysteve]

May 2023 wrap up

Ebay:
$1,121.11 gross
$820.35 net

Marketplace:
$65.00 gross and net

Total:
$1,186.11 gross
$885.35 net

I didn't make it to $1,000 profit but that's okay. Still well over my $500 goal. I picked up quite a few items in May so I'm hoping that continues to drive steady sales for the next few weeks. I also subscribed for an ebay store which became necessary as I now have over 300 listings and the breakeven point where it makes sense is 289 items. That means I now pay $21.95/mo but that lets me have 1,000 listings before I have to pay any additional fees. Without the store it was only 250. It also means I get a quarterly $25 coupon to use toward packing supplies like boxes, tape, and padded envelops.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

That is so cool that you scored such a big win

[disneysteve]

Unlike QMM, I rarely run auctions on ebay. The only time I do is when I really can't establish an asking price for an item.

I listed something last night for auction with a starting bid of $19.99. By this morning, it already had about 25 views and 10 watchers. Around 9am someone messaged me and asked if I'd take $30 for it. I politely declined. Around 2pm, he messaged again and asked if I'd take $150.

I knew from the views and watchers that it was something special, but with him upping his offer 5-fold I'm sure of it now. I declined again and wished him luck bidding on it.

Hopefully it sells for at least $150 and I don't regret turning him down. It's always a gamble but I'm committed to letting auctions run their course.

The item is a 16mm film from RCA and the US Air Force Reserve put out by the Government Marketing Office in 1961. Multiple copies were made (this is print #11) but who knows how many are still in existence today. This could well be the only one. I'll report back when the auction ends with the final price.

[QuarterMillionMan]

$30 was a low ball offer then he upped it to $150 to try and get it now. I always get a few asking if I'd take a certain amount but I always politely decline and let the auction run its course. And sometimes I have bids already and they offer to buy it now but I tell them that it's too late because once the bids come in I cannot just stop auctioning. Good luck on your auction.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Also, 10 watchers is a lot which indicates buyers want it. Sometimes my item bids up to the max in a few days and no other bidders participate at the end. Conversely, sometimes I get only a few bidders within the first few days then at the end of the auction the bidders start making their bids. And sometimes within the last few minutes left in the auction buyers start bidding until the time runs out. In all cases though I don't sweat it and realize market prices in the end will prevail. As long as 2 people are bidding they will pay the market price. Only once did I have only 1 bidder for .99 cents for an item and no one else bidded so I had to sell the item for .99 cents. It was a used generic bluetooth earphones that I paid maybe $10 and wasn't using it so decided to sell it and thought maybe I'd get $5 for it. I was wrong but not a big deal.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Once or twice when the auction ended the buyer never paid which is such an inconvenience because eBay allows the buyer about 3 or 5 days to pay. In the meantime I would have to wait then at the end of the grace period then I can file a claim against the buyer which wastes times. Then I can relist it. I often wondered why the buyers do that and maybe the buyer intentionally drove up the price without planning to pay because maybe the buyer was trying to sell the exact same item that I was selling so their item would sell at the highest price and knock my item out without paying for it.

[disneysteve]

Also, 10 watchers is a lot which indicates buyers want it. Sometimes my item bids up to the max in a few days and no other bidders participate at the end. Conversely, sometimes I get only a few bidders within the first few days then at the end of the auction the bidders start making their bids. And sometimes within the last few minutes left in the auction buyers start bidding until the time runs out. In all cases though I don't sweat it and realize market prices in the end will prevail. As long as 2 people are bidding they will pay the market price. Only once did I have only 1 bidder for .99 cents for an item and no one else bidded so I had to sell the item for .99 cents. It was a used generic bluetooth earphones that I paid maybe $10 and wasn't using it so decided to sell it and thought maybe I'd get $5 for it. I was wrong but not a big deal.

Generally, bidding happens on the last day, especially in the final minutes, but sometimes bids will get placed earlier, especially on more desirable items. My item already has 2 bidders and the price is up to $51, and that does not include the guy who sent me those two offers who I know will bid later.

I always advise sellers to start auctions at the lowest price they're willing to accept for the item. You can do the 99 cent thing but as you've seen, that's a gamble, because it could sell for 99 cents. That said, I have occasionally started an auction lower when I knew the item was worth a lot more because I was confident it would get bids.

[disneysteve]

Once or twice when the auction ended the buyer never paid which is such an inconvenience because eBay allows the buyer about 3 or 5 days to pay. In the meantime I would have to wait then at the end of the grace period then I can file a claim against the buyer which wastes times. Then I can relist it. I often wondered why the buyers do that and maybe the buyer intentionally drove up the price without planning to pay because maybe the buyer was trying to sell the exact same item that I was selling so their item would sell at the highest price and knock my item out without paying for it.

Non-paying buyers are a huge issue that sellers are constantly complaining about. Ebay has been telling us for a couple of years, at least, that they are rolling out immediate payment and they have done it to some extent but it definitely hasn't become the standard yet. Buyers still have 4 days to pay when they make a purchase in an auction or through an offer. For Buy It Now items, the seller can choose to require immediate payment, and I always check that box. Many sellers refuse to do auctions or send or accept offers because of the non-payer issue.

Now that they are rolling out the payment requirement, though, buyers are complaining. They don't want to enter their payment info when they send an offer. They feel they shouldn't have to provide that until the offer is accepted, so ebay needs to thread that needle somehow.

[disneysteve]

One of the perks that comes with an ebay store subscription is that I get a $25 coupon every quarter to use toward shipping supplies. I went in yesterday to use the coupon for the first time and was actually a bit disappointed. I'm not sure what I was expecting but there really wasn't anything I needed, at least not at the moment. I don't buy boxes as I get all I need for free. I don't use polymailers at all. I do use tape and padded envelopes but I have plenty of both right now as I recently bought a 12-pack of tape and I bought 100 envelopes not long ago. That stuff will last me a while.

I used the coupon to buy 12 rolls of tape. I'll need it eventually.

Then I started looking at ebay listings and found that a lot of sellers sell the supplies they get with their coupon. For the 12 rolls of tape, with the coupon it cost me $9.53 or about $0.80/roll. I saw numerous listings where people sold the rolls for $5-7 each, 3 rolls for $16, 4 rolls for $18, etc. I suspect I'll be doing the same soon. I definitely don't need 12 rolls every 3 months but if I can keep a few and sell the rest for $4-5 each, that's not a bad deal at all. I'll actually make a profit on that coupon which further defrays the cost of having the store.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I need to up my game selling on eBay. For instance, I've always guesstimated how much ounces a package might weigh. I should buy a digital scale such as this $9.99 scale to accurately weigh the package and get an accurate shipping cost. I never lost money on shipping because I usually overprice my shipping costs but a scale will make it more precise.

Food Digital Kitchen Weight Scale Grams & Ounces, Small, Backlit Stainless Steel | eBay

[disneysteve]

I need to up my game selling on eBay. For instance, I've always guesstimated how much ounces a package might weigh. I should buy a digital scale such as this $9.99 scale to accurately weigh the package and get an accurate shipping cost. I never lost money on shipping because I usually overprice my shipping costs but a scale will make it more precise.

Everyone selling with any regularity needs a scale. For years I used a small postal scale but I upgraded last year when I got back into it for a couple of reasons. My old scale had a 6 pound limit and I found I was exceeding that more often. It also had a display like the one you showed so that boxes and large envelopes made it very difficult to see the readout. I asked online and this is the one many people recommended. 110 pound limit and detached display.

ACCUTECK ShipPro 110lbs x 0.1 oz. Digital Shipping Postal Scale, Black (W-8580-110-Black) https://a.co/d/evdcLLw