ewora
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posted on May 27, 2004 08:33:28 PM new
I just found out that one of my regular buyers turns around and resells my items. I'm sure it happens all the time and for the most part she's not making a lot more off the items then she bought them for but I am still having mixed feelings about it.
She's been copying my photo (not linking to them) and fancied up my descriptions and listing the items.
On the one hand she's a good paying regular customer who buys 5-10 items per order. I have been giving her a bit of a break on the shipping because she buys so many items at once. On the other hand...it's my pictures and descriptions.
I don't know what to think. We don't have 2Buck up here in Alaska otherwise it would definetly be time for a glass while I mull this over.
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fenix03
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posted on May 27, 2004 08:57:38 PM new
Apparently she is doing something different from you if she is consistantly getting higher prices that you are for the item with identical photos.
If I were you I would stop worrying about how you should deal with her and instead take a lesson from her more successful techniques and start adopting them for yourself.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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ewora
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posted on May 27, 2004 09:27:48 PM new
She gets maybe a dollar or two more then I do. Hardly a profit for her after she pays postage on the stuff. No lesson to be learned that I can see.
There is an advantage of living in the lower 48 because you can usually quote a cheaper shipping price. Nothing I can do about that except move.
[ edited by ewora on May 27, 2004 09:29 PM ]
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 27, 2004 09:37:49 PM new
It means you're a link in her supply chain.
I'm pretty sure most of my customers are reselling "my" stuff eBay and elsewhere. Their money's good.
What's interesting to me is how you could turn a perceived disadvantage (shipping from Alaska) into a marketing plus. As you say, you can't compete with shipping cost or transit time, but not everyone cares about that. What people like are interesting auctions. Sometimes it seems they can't get enough of 'em. I'd play up the Alaska connection: scenic borders, a comment in your Location field, etc. etc. If your auction causes them to recall the great cruise they had to Alaska last year, that sunshine reflects kindly on your auction. So what if you're not actually located in Sitka or Ketchikan or have never even been to Glacier Bay.
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jvj24601
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posted on May 27, 2004 09:50:46 PM new
It would seem that this is just helping out the economy right?
For example, there is a particular item that I buy (when I can find it) for $6.00 - $15.00. I sell it on eBay to another eBay seller for somewhere between $35.00 - $45.00. That seller that gets $78.00 - $80.00 for it. The only difference seems to be that the other seller waits for an appropriate time (it's an item that is effected by media attention). The person I bought it from paid around $3.25 for it (judging from old wholesalers catalogs when the item was still readily available).
My NET Profit Margin on the item is 73% (assuming: I bought at $6.00 sold at $35.00 buyer paid via PayPal, and I start all my auctions at $5 no reserve.)
The others seller's approx. net profit margin is 41% (assuming his buyer pays via PayPal -- and he starts this item at $29.00.)
The "original" seller's (the guy I bought it from) approx. net profit margin is 45% (No eBay or PayPal fees)
And ALL three of us go home happy. Now if I could just find a steady supply of stuff like that......
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ewora
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posted on May 27, 2004 09:55:06 PM new
I was thinking along those lines a bit last week. We are moving next month to a house about 3 blocks away. The interesting thing about the house though is that it sits on the biggest float plane lake in the United States. I was thinking about starting to take my photos outside in the summer facing the beautiful lake. Show a bit of Alaska.
It would be a different story in the winter however. Brrr.
I was shocked this winter when I sold some items of my father's from Texas. Shipping was so cheap. Sometimes it costs about $2.00 more for the same priority package to ship it from Alaska. I offer parcel post but it could take 5 weeks from Alaska.
Your right though Fluffy...I do appreciate her repeat business. Thanks for your insight.
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sparkz
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posted on May 27, 2004 10:09:28 PM new
"On the one hand she's a good paying regular customer who buys 5-10 items per order." That pretty well sums it up. Wish her luck in her sales. The quicker she can move it, the quicker she'll be back ordering more from you.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
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capolady
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posted on May 28, 2004 06:14:48 AM new
ewora:
I can understand your frustration at the buyer stealing your images but the rest has me baffled.
I've begun selling vintage jewelry by the piece. I buy "lots" of mixed vintage jewelry from sellers who don't want to take the time to take great photos - do the research on the items - and list each individually. I get the "lot", sort through it, put the junk in a garage sale and list the rest individually.
If I see a really good individual piece that has a low buy it now price I grab it, hopefully before someone else does, relist it properly and make quite a bit more than the original seller.
What is the problem???
This is called capitalism.
I would turn the person in for swiping your photos but to complain because someone is getting higher prices for your items than you received is just plain silly.
Just my opinion!!! Don't take it personally!!
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 28, 2004 06:57:37 AM new
I think Amy understands capitalism. I think she may not have pictured her business at that particular point in the supply chain. If you envision your customers as affluent vintage jewelry collectors buying select perfect pieces to keep and occasionally wear, you might be surprised to find out (for example) that your buyers are actually smashing the jewelry to bits to use in modern sculpture. Obviously your buyers have the right to do as they wish with their purchases, but you might be a little stunned at the fate of your gems.
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Roadsmith
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posted on May 28, 2004 06:58:46 AM new
About three years ago I realized that I was truly wholesaling, but I didn't care! If I get something for a set price and get 500% to 1,000% markup and often more for it, I'm happy. I'm turning the item around quickly, miraculously turning stuff into cash (like water into wine).
___________________________________
As I've Matured...
1. I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in...
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 28, 2004 07:53:11 AM new
I'm having a lot of fun cleaning out closets and cabinets, trashing stuff that hasn't been touched since we bought this house nine years ago. I'm blowing out all the DVDs I hate for 1 cent apiece (plus $3.74 shipping). Some of my regulars are having a ball with that one. I hope they're not too disappointed...maybe they can use 'em for skeet shooting.
It's kind of funny. You list it for $3.75 with free shipping and no one bids. Do a Buy It Now for 1 cent and $3.74 shipping and it's like someone poured blood in the water.
Marketing!
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ewora
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posted on May 28, 2004 10:40:19 AM new
Fluffy is right when she said I didn't realize I was in that particular point of the supply chain. It came as a bit of a shock that's all.
I list things as fast a possible. Just the basic facts in the descriptions. I still get a minimum of 300% on my items and most of the time much more then that so my knickers really aren't in a twist or anything..it just surprised me.
The picture thing bugs me the most. Even more then the description/html stuff.
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fenix03
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posted on May 28, 2004 02:20:04 PM new
Fluff - since you are having so much fun, wanna go back west with me this summer. Parents are selling their house and moving out of state and I am going beck every few weeks to help her clean out, pack and sell.
As for wholesaling - its almostt all I do now. I buy from far east manufacturers and distrubtors and sell in lots to ebay sellers and retailers picking up stoock online. Sure I could make a higher profit margin selling piece by piece but then I could also lose my mind doing it. Besides... wholesale buyers have a 99% completion rate. Individual buyers are muc more likly to end up being deadbeats. Wholesaling is less work.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 28, 2004 04:00:39 PM new
Fluff - since you are having so much fun, wanna go back west with me this summer.
I think we're almost as far west as we can get without treading water. OK, we had lunch in Sausalito today...which is probably a bit further west than here, but still.
Drop me a note if you want to source the bubble bags for me. Any of my addresses will work. Thanks.
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fenix03
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posted on May 28, 2004 07:38:13 PM new
I would love to but I have none. I haven't seen them list for awhile... ok... to be honest... I haven't looked to see whats listed.
When I mentioned back west I guess I mean slightly easterward to the western states region without actually being coastal. 
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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fenix03
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posted on May 28, 2004 07:40:36 PM new
Damn Damn Damn Damn Damn.... they just had 17k go for 225.00. Vinyl ones too. Damn Damn Damn!
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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