Do people really buy anything on EBAY?

[brunette8706]

Hi All!

I just read the EBAY post below and couldn't believe my eyes, how people were making HUNDREDS of dollars and one person stated a $1,000 dollars just FOR SELLING "STUFF" on Ebay.

Now I have alot of great clothes (Bloomingdales, and Lord and Taylor items) that do not fit anymore and they're about 3-5 years old. They are in GREAT shape and some still have the tags on them. Would people buy these type of items???

Would I make more on EBAY than say a flea market or garage sale?? I have a ton of stuff around the house (perfume antomizers, dishes, books, CDs, VHS tapes, stuff animals UNUSED makeup!) Do people buy those things??

How much out of pocket expense to you pay EBAY for selling your goods?

Thank so much for your help.

Brunette

 

[Mr.MouseFan]

This week alone I've made $165+ on DVDs I haven't watched in a long time and were just laying around the house. Right now, I've only got to dish out about $100 of my own money to buy my annual pass...the other $320 came from ebay sales of stuff laying around the house..LOL.

 

[the kabuki]

Well, I just bought some clothes for DS8. It was a lot of clothing, t-shirts and shorts, 50 pieces total for $44. He's easy to buy for, but DD11 I wouldn't be able to do that. She needs to try everything on. Also have purchased some horse tack and a Beauty & the Beast video for DD3.

What I was looking for was larger lots of clothes. Don't think I'd want just one or 2 items at a time, the shipping would be just as much as the clothing.

A new store just opened up not far from here. You take in your stuff, they photograph it, post it and sell it for you, taking % of commision, don't know what they charge but it seems pretty easy to do.

 

[t-and-a]

Do a search for completed items like the ones that you have, and see what comes up. The clothing category is very large and quite competitive, since there are so many brands and styles out there. If there aren't a plethora of items like yours on there, make sure and start your items at the least amount that you are willing to part with them, as there may only be one person who is interested, but keep in mind that the one person may be willing to pay good money for it. 3 - 5 year old clothing is desirable to a lot of people who like something, but can't get it in the stores anymore. Also remember that auction listing fees have breaks. What I mean is if $10 is the minimum you are willing to take for an item, then start it at $9.99. The fees are more if you start it at $10.00. The next break is at $24.99.

Good luck!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I sell on ebay, but unfortunately I seem to spend as much as I make! I'm very picky about what I will spend for items, I know how much what I'm looking for costs in the store and definitely won't pay that much or more on ebay, but I have bought clothes for my kids and jeans for me on there and have had pretty good luck getting what I was looking for.

If I'm wondering if something will sell I usually search for it first and see if anyone else is having any luck selling the same thing, or why they aren't (such as items are priced to high, unreasonable shipping, bad or no pictures, etc.). Ebay fees vary depending on what options you choose for your listing. There are fees for extra pictures, adding "buy it now", and other options. There are also paypal fees for accepting credit cards if you choose to do that.

It really is possible to make some money, it helps if you provide good customer service like answering questions as soon as possible and politely, packaging items well, shipping when you say you will, basic retail services that you would want to happen if you were the buyer.

 

[imsayin]

Would I make more on EBAY than say a flea market or garage sale??

In a word, YES! People that shop garage sales want to pay $1.00 for things. Items on Ebay sell much higher, in my experience. For example, an old video I had sold for $30, because it was out of print. I would never have gotten $30 at a garage sale.

 

[Skroops]

but I am one of those people that give up when an item starts picking up interest and the bid gets higher. I have gotten a great deal on a couple of things that I am sure the seller was dissapointed to sell for so little. I place my low bid, and if I don't get it, oh well. I have bid on a lots and lots of items I didn't win. I LOVE it when I get it!
I went to one of those E-bay University classes on how to sell. It was a day long course at a local hotel. I learned that it is a lot of work to sell and to make a profit on e-bay, and I am far too lazy to do that. Check into that in your area. I am sure that once you get the "hang" of it, taking good pictures for example, that listing and shipping multiple items is easier. As the previous posters have said, it takes researching your type of item to know how to price it, (or what price it will actually sell at). IMO, many items are priced too high anyway. It best serves people who do not have any discount shopping near by, like a TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, Centry 21, Filenes Basement, or Nordstrom Rack because better deals are at these stores! Also, be very leary of fakes on e-bay.
Also, be careful of what is termed "phishing" but a lot web surfers are aware of this.
Anyway...lots of people make lots of money. Why not get into it?? Good luck!

 

[barbeml]

DH and I buy on eBay all the time.

I collect vintage (pre-1973) Barbie stuff (so if you have any of that to sell and want to avoid eBay overhead costs, PM me!), and we have bought after-market car stuff, electronics, Warner Bros. collectibles, Disney pins, etc.

I only buy from sellers with excellent feedback and many transactions, and those who take PayPal.

Things may be cheaper at yard sales, but who has the time to go looking? An eBay search takes me seconds.

Good luck!

 

[va32h]

Ebay fees vary based on the starting price of the auction, and the price is closes at. You will pay an insertion fee, which is based on your opening bid (.30 for items starting at .99 or less, .35 for items starting at $1-9.99, etc.). Then you pay a Final Value Fee, which is a percentage of the highest bid for the item. There are other fees too - if you want to add more than one photo to your auction, or if you want to highlight it on the search pages.

Ebay prices are higher than yard sale prices because you are reaching a much bigger audience - your yard sale only attracts folks in your city - ebay has buyers all over the world!

Be sure to check out the ebay Help pages and discussion boards for lots of tips before you start listing. You might also want to buy an item or two off ebay before you start selling. Buyers are sometimes leery of buying from new members.

 

[mking624]

I do't have anything up right now, but I sell handmade crafts (i.e. cards, tag & quote for scrapbook pages, etc) on ebay. One week I had only 2 things up on ebay, but I wound up making $50. So I'm trying to get myself high in gear to continue doing this.

 

[4fordisney]

It is hard work, but if you can get the items listed most will sell...if your starting price is reasonable. I have such a hard time getting myself motivated enough to list items. I can't handle more than 12 items at a time, and then I feel like I have to complete all those transactions before posting more items.

I'm beginning to think I am lazy.

 

[ArielsMommy]

DH and I have made enough money to close in our porch to make a playroom for our DD. I agree with the previous posters that you have to start stuff at a price you'd be willing to part with it at and definitely research your items to make sure you are not starting too low or too high. HTH

 

[ArielsMommy]

DH and I have made enough money to close in our porch to make a playroom for our DD. I agree with the previous posters that you have to start stuff at a price you'd be willing to part with it at and definitely research your items to make sure you are not starting too low or too high. HTH

 

[ceecee]

I had a lot of name brand excellent condition clothes which did not sell. They were mostly size 4 that may have had something to do with it. DD's Gymboree and other name brand clothes have sold very well in the past.

 

[Aidensmom]

Yes, people (and I am one of them) buy things all the time on Ebay. Whenever DH or I are looking for something specific, ebay is the first place we go. We also shop flea markets and garage sales, but those are hit an miss. On ebay you can search for, and find, the exact item you are looking for, and get it at a great price. If I were to go through my closet and point out my favorite clothes, at least 75% came from ebay. (If you are selling clothes, I recommend you sell them in a "lot", which seems to sell better than selling individual pieces. I usually use "lot" as one of my search terms and do not look at anything else.) Besides clothes, we have purchased a lot of VHS/DVD's, sports equipment, jewelry, etc.

 

[d-man's mom]

I buy a lot of clothes for myself on Ebay for a few reasons. I'm a single mom that works full time outside the home. I really don't have the luxury of time to shop for myself unless I do it online. Because I wear a sz 4, when I do go shopping, it's always hard to find things in my size because the selection is limited (or sold out already).

I'd rather not pay full price, keep more $$ in my pocket, and keep things out of the landfills.

I've also sold a few things here & there. People will buy just about anything!

 

[Amor4Pooh]

I have found some really good deals on great Disney items. You just have to be willing to spend the time looking, and if your selling, listing your items. I sell Disney pins that are my extra traders when I want cash to use for my Disney trips. Most sell, and sometimes things that didn't sell 6 months ago sell like hotcakes now. I sell them a little below cost, and figure at least I'm breaking even. They sell at those prices, since I'm not marking them up at all. Then I have my money back to spend on more pins!
Amor4Pooh

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Hi All!

I just read the EBAY post below and couldn't believe my eyes, how people were making HUNDREDS of dollars and one person stated a $1,000 dollars just FOR SELLING "STUFF" on Ebay.
Brunette

I just sold over $2000 on ebay in the last two months! I sold kids and adults clothing, baskets, baby stuff, stamp sets, scrapbooking stuff, basically just stuff. I hit the $2000 mark just this past week. I am not finished either.

 

[jeepgirl30]

I buy a lot on ebay. I buy vitamins, clothes, books, movies mostly. I usually look for buy it now on new items that are less than i'd pay (with the shipping costs).

I like buy it now options. I know what i want to pay and don't have the time to always sit and wait for an auction to end. I've gotten burned so many times with someone swooping in at the last second and outbidding me by $0.50.

However there are a lot of things I can't believe people pay so much.

 

[kmwilson98]

We made $110 last week on stuff that was languishing in our garage!

Last week I also bought DD a flower girl dress. The bride told me the David's Bridal model number she wanted, and I found it on Ebay (in perfect condition). I got it for $41 instead of the $110 it would have cost in the store, and it got here in less than a week, instead of the "6 to 12 weeks" I was told at the store. It's actually in much better condition than the one they had in the store.

I have gotten DD some of the Disney prestige princess costumes off Ebay for the same price I would pay for just a deluxe one in a store. Most of the stuff for her upcoming "princess birthday" (which will include a surprise trip to the Magic Kingdom) is being bought off Ebay.

I have another...probably $200 worth of stuff that I am planning to sell on Ebay, and we're also having a garage sale this weekend.