The Saving Advice Forums - A classic personal finance community.

No Longer Needed

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    No Longer Needed

    For you Ebayer's out there, what is the break even point for making the hassle of it worth while?

    Over the past week I've been wiring my house with EtherNet for a set of NVR security camera, and moving my existing Ethernet cables to land in a closet where I am moving my modem. I had a set of Ethernet crimpers which I paid $50 for years ago, but decided to try a different style of crimpers (the wires pass through the plug and the crimpers shave them off) again about $50. They work great, I'm glad to have spent the money for the time and aggravation they have saved me. But now I have two sets of crimpers and I only need one.

    On Ebay, crimpers like my old set are new in the box at $20, and out of the box as low as $7. To me it is worth $7 to throw them away and not have to mess with it.

    Second question is I've got a 10" reflector telescope, probably $750 which I'd love to sell, but it's not exactly the sort of thing I can put in a box. Is something like Craigs List or Facebook better for a larger item like that?
    Tags: None
  • #2
    For the crimpers, if they are selling for $7, it's questionable for a one-off sale. For the month of July, I had 6 sales under $10 but 38 sales overall totaling over $900 so the little sales were a small bit of that. Ebay takes about 15% of the sale, so $1.05 of $7.00. Is it worth. your time to photograph and list and pack and ship one item to walk away with less than $6.00? Probably not.

    For the telescope, ebay will be your best bet to get the broadest audience and best price, but then you'll have to pack and ship it. Selling locally is certainly easier but makes it harder to find a buyer.
    Steve

    * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
    * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
    * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

    Comment

    • #3
      Thanks disneysteve, that is along the lines of what I was thinking.

      Comment

      • #4
        Where I am, there seems to be something in the air with regard to telescopes lately. People are talking about what they've spotted in the night sky with their telescopes and sharing photos on our Nextdoor and Reddit boards. I don't know if that is a trend nationally, but here locally I think it might be a good time to sell a telescope.
        "There is some ontological doubt as to whether it may even be possible in principle to nail down these things in the universe we're given to study." --text msg from my kid

        "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." --Frederick Douglass

        Comment

        • #5
          On the other hand, I wanted to add that the best way to get started on ebay is with stuff you have around the house that you no longer want or need. Just in the past few weeks, I've sold several items that we decided to get rid of while cleaning. From $13 for some charm bracelets to $35 and $42 for a couple of trinket boxes.

          If you're interested in selling on ebay on even an intermittent basis, I'd go ahead and list that $7 crimper. Making that sale can help boost your account, especially if the buyer leaves feedback after the sale.
          Steve

          * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
          * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
          * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

          Comment

          • #6
            This reminds me I have a good list of things I need for which I need to hold a virtual garage sale and post for sale online. It's the effort that kills me (listing/pictures, meetups, and/or shipping, dealing with flakes). None of it is high-dollar stuff, but it's stuff that's too specific to donate. Things like a pair of side steps specific to a 2-door Chevy pickup, soft top windows for a Jeep, etc.
            History will judge the complicit.

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by ua_guy View Post
              This reminds me I have a good list of things I need for which I need to hold a virtual garage sale and post for sale online. It's the effort that kills me (listing/pictures, meetups, and/or shipping, dealing with flakes). None of it is high-dollar stuff, but it's stuff that's too specific to donate. Things like a pair of side steps specific to a 2-door Chevy pickup, soft top windows for a Jeep, etc.
              You may find truck parts like what you listed are pretty easy to move.

              I agree with the effort part. Not that I don't go to town twice a day as is, but a 20 mile round trip to the post office to ship a package for example, would evaporate profits from small items in gasoline alone.

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by myrdale View Post
                I agree with the effort part. Not that I don't go to town twice a day as is, but a 20 mile round trip to the post office to ship a package for example, would evaporate profits from small items in gasoline alone.
                On ebay you can set your handling time. Many sellers who work regular jobs or live far from the post office only ship a couple of times per week. If you set 3 or 4 day handling, you can just go to the post office on Monday and Thursday for example. I use 3-day handling but still ship next day 99% of the time, but I only live a mile from the post office.
                Steve

                * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
                * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
                * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by ua_guy View Post
                  This reminds me I have a good list of things I need for which I need to hold a virtual garage sale and post for sale online. It's the effort that kills me (listing/pictures, meetups, and/or shipping, dealing with flakes). None of it is high-dollar stuff, but it's stuff that's too specific to donate. Things like a pair of side steps specific to a 2-door Chevy pickup, soft top windows for a Jeep, etc.
                  You can also list stuff on ebay for local pickup only. That gets you a much bigger audience. Also look for local Facebook groups for selling stuff. I'm in the South Jersey Yard Sale group and cross post all of my Marketplace listings there. There are several other similar groups, too, plus Craigslist, NextDoor, Offer Up, etc.
                  Steve

                  * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
                  * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
                  * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    marketplace helps for me. I think like $20 if I can sell something for $10-20 locally on FB marketplace that's my breakpoint
                    LivingAlmostLarge Blog

                    Comment

                    Previous template Next
                    Working...
                    X