Anyone find selling on eBay profitable enough to do on a large scale?

[AmyAnne]

This is a just-out-of curiosity question. The past few weeks I have sold a handful of things on eBay -- all clothes from my teenage daughter's closet, some still with tags attached. Some of these I know she bought at Kohls but of course we don't have the receipt anymore -- and even though I know Kohls is pretty good about returning things without a receipt, these are things that seem to sell fairly well on eBay for about what she paid (on clearance). So to avoid the half-hour drive to Kohls, I thought I would see what I could sell on eBay before trying to return the stuff.

So far I have sold a few things. But with eBay fees and paypal fees and shipping materials (okay so just a large manila envelope, but still) and driving to the post office and waiting in line, I am not sure I wouldn't have been better off just returning the stuff to the store.

I am curious, though, if any of you all have had a different (better) experience with eBay. Can you really make enough to make it worthwhile?

 

[aliceindisneyland]

With the method you described, I would have waited until my next trip to Kohl's and had them look up how much the items were worth at that point.
If you want to do more on ebay with less time/cost, you could buy Tyvek type envelopes (I bought these recently on Amazon) - they weigh only .3 oz each and are very strong; perfect for clothes and shoes.
You also need to print your postage at home - you get a discount and free tracking. Then just put the small packages in your own mailbox; no need to go to the PO. If for some reason you do have to go to the PO, the prepaid postage means you can just get a clerk's attention and tell them that your items are prepaid and set them on the counter - no need to wait in line (or just put them in the drivethru box - most clothing items are under 13oz).
I would be happy that the Kohl's brands sold. Your daughter might like to try buying designer items gently used on ebay and then reselling them the next season - she could dress in high end brands and basically never spend any money on her clothes after the first round of purchases! For example, I buy Seven for All Mankind jeans on ebay for less than $6 including shipping, wear them out, then resell them - usually for more than what I paid!

 

[tvguy]

One of my co-workers quit 8 months ago because he was making more part time selling stuff on e-bay than working.

He goes to garage sales and flea markets and buys stuff, then marks it up 10 fold for sale on E-Bay. Only thing I really know about what he buys is that he never sells clothing.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I sold quite a bit on there last year but the fees are crazy! I have joined a few local Facebook groupe and sold on there instead.

 

[PatMcDuck]

It is difficult for me to "waste my time" on items under $30. That is just my opinion, based on how much time I have to get the item ready for listing, taking photos, uploading them, researching the appropriate pricing, baby-sitting the listings (answering any questions, my last one was "Will you ship to Turkey?"), getting the correct size boxes, and buying packing materials (or hoarding them from my own online purchases, takes up lots of room but at least it's free).

I used to sell on Ebay more, and would have the PO pick up boxes from my front porch, they will do that, you schedule it online. The tyvek envelopes are a good idea for clothing. I also have a scale, and do my own postage. Another storage issue, but I have most of the various boxes available (free) from USPS for Priority Mail, including the flat rate ones. Tip: larger heavy stuff, especially to be shipped cross country, is usually cheaper using UPS)

DH has me selling die-cast cars he got somewhere right now. Recently sold my kids Lego for $375 (almost 40 pounds)

For quick sales, the iPhone app for listings is pretty easy to use.

It's more work than it seems, but to sell stuff you don't need, that you already own, it can be very profitable.

 

[tvguy]

It is difficult for me to "waste my time" on items under $30. That is just my opinion, based on how much time I have to get the item ready for listing, taking photos, uploading them, researching the appropriate pricing, baby-sitting the listings (answering any questions, my last one was "Will you ship to Turkey?"), getting the correct size boxes, and buying packing materials (or hoarding them from my own online purchases, takes up lots of room but at least it's free).

I used to sell on Ebay more, and would have the PO pick up boxes from my front porch, they will do that, you schedule it online. The tyvek envelopes are a good idea for clothing. I also have a scale, and do my own postage. Another storage issue, but I have most of the various boxes available (free) from USPS for Priority Mail, including the flat rate ones. Tip: larger heavy stuff, especially to be shipped cross country, is usually cheaper using UPS)

DH has me selling die-cast cars he got somewhere right now. Recently sold my kids Lego for $375 (almost 40 pounds)

For quick sales, the iPhone app for listings is pretty easy to use.

It's more work than it seems, but to sell stuff you don't need, that you already own, it can be very profitable.

My former co-worker indicated his biggest volume was in items he paid $1 to $5 for, selling them for $30 to $50.

 

[pate59]

Been selling on ebay off and on for a few years. Started with my Coach pocketbooks. Used one for a couple of months and sell on ebay as used.
Do ok with that item. I sell items (mostly clothes) I already own. Had lost weight and had alot still with tags. Rarely have I bought to resell on ebay. I stick with items I already own. My attitude is if it doesn't sell this week, maybe next week. More of a hobby for me. Yes, fees are crazy.

 

[minnie1012]

Try Poshmark to sell female clothes. They take a percentage of the sale but you set the price etc. and you don't have to pay for shipping. They automatically send you a shipping label (buyer pays shipping) and I use the free post office boxes. It's very easy, I have been doing it on and off for a few months and I have made about $100.00. My stuff is used and doesn't have tags so your stuff will sell better since you said a lot has tags. You take a picture and list your stuff then develop a following. (most people you follow, follow you back). Then you keep sharing your listing so that is why you need the following, the more that follow you the more people that see your stuff. Most stuff you have to do from the app but you can set up the initial account and share from the website. You have to do the pictures and set/change prices from the app.

Let me know if you wind up doing it I will follow you and share your items so you can develop a following.

 

[Disneyluv111]

One of my co-workers quit 8 months ago because he was making more part time selling stuff on e-bay than working.

He goes to garage sales and flea markets and buys stuff, then marks it up 10 fold for sale on E-Bay. Only thing I really know about what he buys is that he never sells clothing.

Our play money or additional income is from reselling things. We are garage sales snobs. We buy things, clean them up and resell. My husband said to never sell clothes. They are hard to sell. He knows what people want and he has a way with words so people buy from him all the time. We profit off stuff all the time. Such a gifted man!

 

[hollypoast]

I've earned the great majority of our Disney spending money by buying things at garage sales and selling them on eBay. Not sure you could make a full-time job out of it but over the past 9 months I've made approx. $400. My best item was a DevaCurl hair care kit that I bought for $3 and sold for $38. (before fees, etc.)

I've found that books and clothing is a hard sell. Have your smart phone handy so you can look up items you find online to see what they are selling for before you spend the money at the garage sale.

 

[AZMermaid]

I have a friend who sells stuff she buts at Goodwill on eBay. She focuses on children's name brand clothes and hard to find toys. Look at how much a little einsteins pat pat rocket with figures is going for!! I know she has sold a few of those! She says she does it as a hobby and enjoys it and makes a few extra bucks.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

I think it's worth it to sell stuff that you no longer need. We have done that a lot...totally worth it. Buying stuff to resell...I'm not sure. It would take too much space for me and it's a gamble. Ebay is great for cleaning out your closets and getting $$ for stuff that you were just going to donate though.

 

[Kies99]

You can eliminate a lot of cost and time wasting in regards to shipping.

Invest in a good scale and pay and print postage at home. Printing at home also gives you a significant discount.

Use the priority mail shipping supplies that you can order in bulk online through the post office. They are 100% free of charge and they deliver them
to you for free.

Once you're ready to ship, schedule a free pickup by the post office. Leave the packages outside your house and they'll come get them for free.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I think a key to selling on eBay is to do your research and know the market for what you are selling.

You can't just go to a yard sale or thrift store, buy a bunch of junk and expect to make money selling it.
You have to know what to look for. A previous poster mentioned toys. You have to know the difference between that toy people are looking for and will buy and the one that nobody wants. Its the same with clothes or anything else. I've made a little extra vacation money selling thrift store finds (clothes) but I have certain brands or items I look for. If I happen to see an item i think is good but unsure, I do a quick search on my phone before buying it.
You also have to be realistic in your expectations.