posted on March 8, 2003 07:58:22 AM new
I have been hearing this from my 83 year old next door neighbor, my son's godparents and more. It seems everyone I talk to is talking about this. I guess I live kind of close to silicon valley, california. Whether on not this has anything to do with it, I don't know. It seems that in the local papers, throw away mail and more someone in a city nearby is advertising that they will sell your stuff on ebay for you. As you can tell, they have a HUGE advertising blitz going on. Could this be a power seller? Must cost an arm and a leg.
posted on March 8, 2003 08:09:55 AM new
I am sure there are businesses (services) like this almost everywhere. Remember everyone is not computer literate. It takes money and time to sell on eBay and this is a way that people can sell their wares by using a service like this. How much it costs depends on what that person wants to charge.
I see nothing wrong with this. I think ebay has a list of sellers that will do this for people. It doesn't necessarily have to be a power seller. I think there are a lot of sellers on ebay that could be power seller but elect not to because of the stress that is put on them. I for one could not be a power seller because of that stress in trying to make a certain amount of money a month.
posted on March 8, 2003 08:41:22 AM new
With ads like this you could also come into some very high quality merchandise and make a very good living without hunting and scouring for inventory.
I have been approached about selling items for a 90 year old packrat...she has all of her childrens toys, many of her toys, and loads of jewelry and other items. We are still working out the details but I can hardly wait.
posted on March 8, 2003 08:53:24 AM new
yes, I know what you mean. I have two 80 plus year olds that are neighbors. I am getting the same thing. The last thing was an old turn of the century shoe last. I had to come to AW to find out what it was called!
posted on March 8, 2003 02:22:01 PM new
Paloma, I advertise seasonally in our local papers. I am on the east coast, so I don't know how advertising rates differ, I'm sure they are higher where you are. But I don't pay much at all for advertising. It costs about $60.00 per month for a large ad in 2 local papers. I only have to do this 4 times per year if that. I get such a good response, that referrals carry me through the rest of the year. The return is unbelievable! What a great investment for any seller dealing in higher end items. As I have mentioned MANY times before I sell for people for a commission. I could'nt be happier. I put out no investment from my own pocket for inventory, and lose nothing if an item does not sell as my customers pay all fees and I return the item to them. I also sell my own stock which I have plenty of...and oh boy do I have PLENTY!!!
posted on March 8, 2003 04:45:20 PM new
To be honest, I have been doing a little too. It has been friends of mine or friends of friends. Kind of word of mouth and that's about it. Let me pick your brain since you have quite alot more experience than I on the subject. How or what do you say in your ad? something like, " Willing to sell on ebay for you for a price" oh geez I am sorry. No good at this. Another thing is what do you charge? a percentage or flat fee? Again, sorry, this is all new to me.
Thanks alot to you, inott, and everyone else for your input. This has really been an eye opener
posted on March 8, 2003 05:37:58 PM new
paloma91: Are we seeing the same ads? This outfit in San Carlos? I've seen their ads in the Daily News and the Palo Alto Weekly.
Kind of reaffirmed my feeling that it might even work for an eBay seller to advertise locally, especially if as you say everyone is talking about it.
--
"I find myself having to apologize for being an American." --Belinda Carlisle, ex-Go-Go
posted on March 8, 2003 06:27:20 PM new
Well eBay is probably themselves that is generating the interest. I see their ads on TV all the time and they really are catchy. I guess it is better to do this than Garage sales where people fight over the merchandise. If a buyers wants to sell something on consignment and brings it to a seller that seller can tell that person what her item is worth. Not full worth because nobody can judge that but be somewhere in the ballpark. Then the buyer can decide if they want you to sell it or garage sale it.
posted on March 8, 2003 07:24:56 PM new
I am fortunate that no one else advertises in my area at all, so I beat all of my competition to the punch as far as that goes. Even if they do start, I have already begun establishing my name and good reputation in my immediate area. My consignors know I can be trusted and that goes a LOOOONG way. All the other dealers are still waking at the crack of dawn, scrambling to those increasingly scarce yard sales, trying to sniff out inventory. I begin the ad with something like "Why sell your valuable antiques and collectibles to "dealers", or at small time auctions and yard sales for pennies on the dollar? I will sell your items for you on the worlds greatest market place...ebay!" Then I include a list of items I am looking for (but not limited to) such as estate jewelry, old toys,
military items, old holiday decorations, advertising items, old art, dinnerware, stemware, silver and pottery...you know the stuff that is featured on the "road show" series that everyone watches and thinks they will retire on, LOL!
Anyway, I state in the ad that I charge a competetive commission, will give free "guesstimates" based on prior ebay sales and have references. The last time I ran the ad was in autumn....I had such a good response, and picked up another 20+ consignors, some of whom have referred friends to me also. One man called me in October on behalf of his 93 yr. old father, who has a garage packed full of beautiful old porcelain, stoneware and crystal. I have been selling for him since...ONE old crock sold before Christmas for almost $300.00. There is my advertising budget for the whole year! You have to spend money to make money, the trick is figuring out how to spend the least to make the most! Ahhhhhhh....Ebay
posted on March 8, 2003 08:50:24 PM new
Paloma, you will get alot of different opinions
on what to charge. I charge between 30 - 40% plus fees. As I mentioned, I don't have any real competition in my area...yet, except for the small local auction houses which charge 30% typically. I feel comfortable charging more than the auction houses because of ebays vast audience. I do alot of work for my commission, I pick up the items, take pictures, write descriptions, manage the sale and pack and ship the item. The consignor does'nt have to do anything. Bottom line is to charge what you feel your time is worth and what you feel you can get away with. As you stated, you do have some competition, so you have to take that into consideration. Here is some good advice, NEVER list anything you do not have physical possession of. I have read horror stories on the ebay trading assistant boards about people selling items for "friends" , but after the auction has ended successfully with a high bidder the consignor does'nt like the price realized and will not give the item up. The trading assistant board is also a great resource for
information, such as contracts, etc. You can really have fun with this, it has breathed new life into my tired old ebay business. Good Luck!
posted on March 9, 2003 06:47:50 AM new
Fluffy, I didnt know you lived near me! Yes, the place I heard of is in San Carlos.l have been too busy trying to get my foot back into shape to go back to work, dealing with my child etc to search this thing out but everyone I know is talking about it. Yes, I feel the same way. HEY, maybe you and I should go "stake it out" Check out the competition We can go undercover! hahahahaha
inot, thanks so much for the info. I really appreciate it. I am known in my neighborhood for having garage sales. It has become a social hangout of sorts. Kind of cute. I actually have "regulars" that come by every time I put up the same pink garage sale signs. They know those signs are mine. The say hi to me and the others and actually chat about the goings in their lives since they have all met at the last garage sale. THIS is where I am getting alot of my clientele. These regulars are asking me to sell for them and on the spot i give my guess-timate etc. I do have a good reputation on ebay and in garage sales and it is paying off on a small scale. I don't think I can quite my day job for it yet.
posted on March 9, 2003 07:37:14 AM new
"I have read horror stories on the ebay trading assistant boards about people selling items for "friends" , but after the auction has ended successfully with a high bidder the consignor does'nt like the price realized and will not give the item up."
Yes, that's precisely what happened to me, as well.
What was worse was that the `friend' demanded the high bidder's phone number and like a fool, I gave it to him. He called the guy and tried to finagle a better deal! Guess who got the neg!
--
"I'd rather have the German Army in front of me than the French Army behind me." --General George S. Patton
posted on March 9, 2003 10:44:35 PM new
OH Fluffy, I want to go! I want to go on a shake down too!!!! I dont even know where it is. Like I said in the beginning, I have just heard about it from neighbors and friends. I havent had time to even read the paper lately. So I havent seen the ads
posted on March 11, 2003 11:01:47 PM new
Fluffy, did you get a chance to check it out? I tried to look in the newspaper to find the address or anything on it and I couldnt. Just curious
