posted on January 30, 2004 11:54:55 PM new
Someone here asked for an update on the orchid magazines & catalogs I got. I picked up 3 boxes worth for $2.00 and decided to try & sell them on eBay:
To stick a toe in the water, I put up five auctions: one single "Orchadian" issue for $2.00, a complete year of Orchid Digest for $9.00, a complete year of American Orchid Society Bulletin for $9.00, an Orchidglade catalog for $3.00, and a 1971 Sears Suburban & Ranch Living catalog I found stuck in one of the boxes for $3.00.
The auctions ended tonight: got the minimum bids for the Orchadian, the Orchidglade catalog ^ the AOS Bulletins. Got $14.01 for the Orchid Digests, and $6.51 for the Sears catalog. Total: $34.52.
In addition, a guy contacted me off eBay about some of the magazines, and already paid me $30 for some of them, and tonight asked if I had certain other issues.
So, all in all, I've more than made my money back. I plan to list more this weekend.
posted on January 31, 2004 12:36:35 AM new
Once the buyers realize that you have a lot of the items the prices will probably drop considerably. The guy cherry picking the key issues was pretty smart. Those issues may have inspired bidding wars. ( maybe not though )
Good find though. That's what makes it worth while.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
[ edited by auctionACE on Jan 31, 2004 08:41 AM ]
posted on January 31, 2004 06:29:07 AM new
Good for you. I think the orchid society is very active. Not a bad weeks work and return was good also. Maybe not in some sellers eyes but in mine you did good.
posted on January 31, 2004 12:26:34 PM new
Thanks, Libra. I think so, too. Just got another email from the off-eBay buyer: he is buying $63-worth more. So far, I've made $127.52 off a $2.00 investment, so I'm happy. And I still have lots of these left!
******
Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
[ edited by bunnicula on Jan 31, 2004 12:28 PM ]
posted on January 31, 2004 12:47:35 PM new
Someone above said your off buyer was picking the best, Why not, if he wants to pay the price more power to you and NO FEES. I think quite often we as sellers pass by items that we don't know will sell. You took that chance and it is paying off.
posted on January 31, 2004 01:57:42 PM new
And you'll never know if those issues you sold on the side were worth many times what you sold them for. In general, it's almost never best to let buyers hand pick items of unknown value to the seller.
Since you're only in $2 who cares if the guy possibly took advanage of you as it's all profit. That was a very nice find and a find that is very difficult to come by.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on January 31, 2004 02:27:22 PM new
I have found through the years if I have a lot of one type of item I list them all to end in one day. Space them out time wise a little to give buyers time to buy more then one auction. This way it creates a lot of interest and competitive bidding. That works on older stuff anyway I don't know how it works on new items.
So far, I've made $127.52 off a $2.00 investment, so I'm happy. And I still have lots of these left!