posted on July 4, 2005 06:42:34 PM new
WOW! Then the final value FEE not even mentioning the pictures or the .35 gallery. And Not to even mention if it DON'T sell,,,ebay keeps the $3.65. No wonder more are doing $1.00 start with a $300.00 packing and shipping fee.....
posted on July 4, 2005 09:08:21 PM new
Quit yer grousing! To make $299 I have to sell about 38 postcards...listing fee for those is $13.30 - with another $ 26.60 listing fee for the 66% that don't sell. I wonder if the guy who wrote the "get rich selling postcards" wrote about that??
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posted on July 4, 2005 09:23:01 PM new
Sth,,,,,,,,my exact thoughts......For 3 x's that amount i can sell hundreds of "items" at a LOCAL SWAPmeet........
posted on July 5, 2005 06:20:52 AM new
Tut tut. Quit yer grousing indeed. Just ask those with B/M shops how much their overhead is ... or a space in a mall ... or a show. Or sending to conventional auction. A $299 item would cost you $30-$60 to sell at an on-site auction.
The rule of thumb is that you should sell ten times your booth rent to make any money. So if your swap meet fee is $15, you should sell $150 worth, etc. etc. Most of the time, most mid-level dealers I know in the business don't even do that magic number any more PLUS all expenses have increased much more than eBay's.
For the fees eBay charges me, I couldn't even back out of the driveway. And I get to sip coffee, list in my pajamas, and read boards at my leisure. For everything else, there's MasterCard.
posted on July 5, 2005 06:37:22 AM new
birgittaw: I heard a similar lament from a dealer at the flea market. But, I was thinking to myself (this dealer in particular)
just throws a bunch of chipped-up, dirty, what-evers onto his table. I, and most ebay sellers can't do that. I have to know what it is; the measurements of it; clean it for a good picture; get a good picture first off; and generally use my brain and word power to sell it.
They dont have to do that. Frankly, they might see more overhead, but I think they have it easier in terms of actual work input into selling the item. Also not to mention the post sale shipping one has to do,..
.
[ edited by dblfugger9 on Jul 5, 2005 06:39 AM ]
posted on July 5, 2005 07:20:04 AM new
BUT dont the fleamarket sellers have to get up real early in the morning,load up his truck and get there to have a good table and be there and answer all questions and look out for sticky fingers??
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on July 5, 2005 07:48:55 AM new
Bad time to ask me. Just spent the last two hours doing a PARTIAL load for a show; that's in probably 110 degree "real feel" temps. I will get up at 4 am tomorrow, drive 250 miles, unload everything, set it up, arrange and fluff, price it if it isn't, spend FIVE days (that's shows in the south) using my charm and word power to try to sell it from 8 am to 6 pm each day, hope nothing breaks in the packing, pray for good crowds/weather, no winds or breakage, then pack it all back up again, drive another 250 miles and get home at midnight on Sunday. That's after I've done research to see where it would sell best -- eBay or show -- and pondered prevailing price levels.
And why do I do this? I for one belong to the society of latter day gypsies, and in general, have more degrees than teeth (figuratively anyway) but choose this life over corporate America. I am absolutely passionate about my choice, despite all the work, time, effort and expense. I relish the interaction with customers, with other dealers, with the pulse of the market place. I wouldn't give up either one, and I'm grateful to have both.
Yes, there are people who toss broken and dirty things on tables -- but there are eBayers who do the very same onto their listings. Neither one will do well.
Successful sellers in both venues do their research, clean, repair, pack, and use their salesmanship (in whichever form) to sell it. My point was that the cost of doing business is generally much much less on eBay -- and it's a lot less physical work.
posted on July 5, 2005 09:43:48 AM new
agree,agree!
I just pat dry a virginia hen and is hanging it to air overnite , roast it tomorrow,it should turn real crispy.
and serve it to myself with Basmati rice grown at the foot of the Himalayas,the water which helps it grow come from the melting snow of the mountains.
Will have a side dish of grilled zuchini to go with the hen and the rice!
care to join me,i am in the south too where the melons are bigger and better!!
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on July 5, 2005 11:58:17 AM new
lol Stop, what does a virginia hen have to do with working????? hahaha! But you are maken me hungry thats for sure
And youre right they do have to get up early and watch out for theft. But they also get their money and the person walks away with the thing. They dont generally do returns...lol!
A reputable antique BM might. The ones at the flea swap here wont do ebay because they cant be bothered with the shipping and emails.
Guess its six of one, half a dozen of another. Both selling venues have their pros and cons!
[ edited by dblfugger9 on Jul 5, 2005 12:02 PM ]
posted on July 6, 2005 04:57:47 PM new
I had 3 shops all at one time in different locations and also owned an outdoor flea market on 26th S,t New York City, I can tell you from all my experience that selling on Ebay from the comfort of my home, and at my hours are worth the fees that Ebay charges.
Working 7 days and long hours making good money but paying high expenses is not worth it to me anymore.
And when doing the flea Market it was good when the sun was shinning but when you get rained on and all your antiques get wet your in deep trouble.
Sure the customer handed you money and walked away with the item but if any of you have done flea markets you know the work and effort that you put into making the money. Its hard work, long hours, lots of hunting for different merchandise to have each weekend...........dam as I am typing I am getting tired just thinking of how hard me, my husband and my kids worked.
I would like lower fees on Ebay like the rest of you but I compare how my life was and how it is now ............the fees do not matter to me.
I sell cars in Ebay Motors once in a while and the cost is 40.00, and another 40.00 when you receive the first bid.......I have been lucky that all the cars I listed sold but what if they didn't sell........but when you figure how much it cost for an ad in the news paper Ebay Motors Fees are cheap for the coverage your Car gets.
posted on July 6, 2005 06:46:55 PM new
Give craigslist.org a try for your cars next time. Free,,,,find your area or ANY area you wish.....post it and see what happens. It's an EBAY Company so you are SAFE...... I've only been relisting mine for about three months now ......lots of e mailers NO buyers have EVER showed up to actually look....Hey! it's FREE.....
