........................

[C.Ann]

 

[jgates]

Geez.... I was just hoping for enough to pay for a meal or two. Seriously, it seems like a little bit of everything sells. Browse around the categories for what you have and see what pops up. I seriously am trying to sell at least $1500 before Aug 2003 for my sons second year of college. (That won't make a big dent in a $13,500 cost estimate but every little bit helps).

Right now I'm doing a few small ones for food $.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Originally posted by jgates
Right now I'm doing a few small ones for food $.

That's what I do. I'll put up a dozen or so auctions, and at the end, I figure how to apply the profits to our trip. I have a little spreadsheet I use that tells the item, the closing date, the high bid, shipping, winner, when payment was rec'd and when the item was shipped. I also have a column to write in what the money is to be used for.

We've paid for lots of meals/boat rentals/mini golf, etc. this way. I'm sure if you have a good quantity and variety of stuff, you'll be able to do very well. When I put up 12 - 20 5-day auctions, I generally average around $200 in profits. That's just selling little things. I have made over $300 on single auctions before; it all depends on what you sell and who's buying. Good luck!

 

[jeleebeene]

In the last 2 weeks alone I have sold close to $350.00, and I am still selling. I guess I use my funds differently - DH and I split it down the middle, and we use it for "extra" money in Disney World. We may use it for a special souvenir we want, or to use a watermouse etc. We add it to our already budgeted spending money, so it lets us enjoy ourselves, and get something we really want.
The amount of money you make really depends on what the item is, and how many items you have. You may sell more selling 4 huge items than 20 little items, it just all depends. Some things go faster than others - I have found this out the hard way. My advice would be to see what you have, then check e-bay to see what similar items are selling for. This will atleast give you an idea on what to start the item at, and around what you may expect to earn from that item. Just do not forget to include enough shipping to cover costs to ship the item, as well as packaging materials. I have eliminated this a couple of times, and you get burned when you do.
Good luck in selling!!!

 

[mikess]

I started selling three months before our 2000 trip and raised over $1,200. I did sell some collectibles and out of print CDs that went way over what I thought they would go for. Over the past 2 1/2 years, I have made around $3,000+ off of personnal items.

RESEARCH YOUR PRODUCTS! Look at other's auction that have ended with items like yours. Find the ones that went for the highest amount and study them to see how & why they worked better than the others (the heading, the description, pictures, everything). Researching has double, sometimes tripled what I would have made by not. Good luck on ebay.

 

[MaggieMouse]

I've been selling for about a month. So far I've cleared over $400. I LOVE EBAY!

 

[cindala]

Wow! You guys make it sound so easy! I can't wait to get started too, but it'll have to wait till after this trip. I hope I get as good results as you all have! What 'types' of things have you found sell the best?

 

[bethsg]

I have bought things on ebay, and I have paid for them via paypal, which charges it to my CC... but I have never sold. You all now have me interested. How do you get paid on ebay. What's the best way to accept payment?

 

[jgates]

I accept thru paypal too. I do not have the Premium account so I don't take credit cards. When I get some $ in there, I just have it ACH'd to my checking account. (like direct deposit). Otherwise, I will take a money order. (No checks).

 

[DMRick]

I've been on eBay for a couple of years now. I won't lie to you..it's a lot of work. Remember how much work that garage sale was? Well this is similar. You have find the stuff to sell (even if it's hanging around, you have to clean it up and get it ready for ebay), and price it. You have to take pic's, and either use eBay's picture place (ugh), or another ftp server. I use Auction Watch..much nicer pic's than ebays service. You have to weigh and prepack your item, so you'll know what to say the shipping is (and shipping rates cahnge in two weeks..so be on top of it) in your description. Oh, yeah..first you have ot write the description. If you take checks, you have to decide if you will hold them to make sure they are good (all of mine have been..I dont' hold them), or if you are taking Paypal (I sell a lot each month, I use the business Paypal), or money orders. Will you ship out of the country?

Once your stuff is on, be available for questions..you can't leave for vacation, unless you are bringing your laptop (I do). When the auciton is over, you have ot write and let the person know they are the winner (ebay writes too, but you will have some info to give them..unless you are using eBay's checkout..a whole 'nother set of problems. Then wait for the payment to arrive and ship. Delivery Confirmation is free on line for Priority shipping, and will be for first class for a small cost after July first.

Ebay gets a percent when you list and a percent when you sell. Paypal, if you use gets a percentage. AW gets a percentage. I do it as a business, and so I pay income tax, and sales tax (which I collect from bidders) if I ship within my state. I pay (I sell too much to use leftovers) for bubble wrap, out of country boxes and tape. I go to the PO almost every day, and I pay for the gas.

Then start all over LOL (luckily, I haven't had to deal with complaints form buyers..clothes, I think are the hardest to sell..the condition is so subjective).

I did offer ot help someone who lived in my area, get started from these boards, but she never got back in touch with me..was it you Carol Ann?

Do I like what I do? I sure do, and I make good money....but it's work, and it all takes time!!

 

[C.Ann]

Thanks!

 

[WDW2002]

I have not really made anything so far on ebay the few things I put on just didnt sell that well. Oh well.

In regards to payment, I think Paypal is the best option, do not upgrade to a CC account it'll cost you. I accepted only payal from a checking account, which is free & money orders.

 

[hentob]

I am a sporadic seller. Sometimes a month will go by and I won't have any auctions. Then all of a sudden, I am crazy selling. So far, I have only sold my children's clothing. I sell only their name brand stuff, so I get some high bids as far as clothes go (like $68 for a babyGap leather jacket that I paid $19.99 for at the end of last winter!!! I love it when that happens). But, anyways, I currently only accept money orders and checks. Do you think people are more willing to bid when they can pay with PayPal? I am signed up for Pay Pal as a buyer (to send funds to other people), but know nothing about accepting funds. I just read that somebody has a "premium PayPal account". I don't think I would need that.

Any other PayPal people out there that have an opinion on what would be the best option for me? BTW--What %-tage do they take out?

TIA
Toby

 

[disneygals]

As a buyer, I love Paypal, it's so much easier than checks or money orders. I did sell a couple of things and if someone pays you by Paypal, it's immediate, so you better be ready to ship!

Good Luck
Vivienne

 

[bethsg]

I have 2 vouchers that I won't be able to use for my DEC trip due to blackout dates. I noticed that people sell these vouchers on ebay. While you can't actually sell the voucher, they sell the drink coupon book, which comes with a free voucher. So, anyone familiar with doing this? What do you provide to the seller to let them know for certain, you actually have the vouchers to sell?