Yard Sale vs. ebay?

[crazymomof4]

I have found my yard sales to be pretty profitable but have heard that many people sell their gently used goods (books, baby clothes, toys) on ebay with success.
For those who have done both, which do you think is the better way? Is ebay easy to use for beginners?

 

[DMRick]

Yes, it is very easy. They have a great tutorial. You will need a digital camera, or a regular camera..but the regular camera eats up the profits if the pic doesn't come out good. No comparison IMO. I had a little Tyke's dollhouse at a garage sale for $25 this past summer..didn't sell...it sold on ebay for about $120 (and they paid for the shipping). You have a lot more people looking, and if you are willing to sell out of the country, the bids go even higher. Sometimes the peopel out of the country can't get the things you are selling.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Ebay can be profitable but it is a Russian roulette. You can have bidders that won't pay or the winning bid is lower than you expected, don't forget you have to apply shipping charges and ebay fees too!

I suggest you hold your yard sale, since you seem to do well, and then whatever you don't sell just toss out on ebay, maybe everything in a single box. Some people are attracted to that kind of stuff, plus you may have others that buy all your things for just one or two items in it.

 

[elgerber]

In general, I have found e-bay to be much more profitable than a garage sale. I have had brand name kids clothes that people wouldn't pay $2 for at a garage sale, go for $10-15 on e-bay. Granted the packing and shipping part can get old, but you make much more money that way. People on e-bay are usually looking for specific items, where a lot of people at garage sales are just browsing for cheap stuff.

Erika

 

[RamseyTrio]

Hi - I do both. Certain items I don't deem good enough for ebay will be sold at a tag sale and I sell other items that I know will sell on ebay.

Here's what started me on ebay - I had a tag sale and was selling (or trying to sell) cookbooks from Williams-Sonoma. I listed them at $1.50 each and people were still trying to "talk me down" in price. So...none of them sold (all were in perfect condition) and I figured I'd give ebay a chance. Not only did they sell but in most cases each one sold at higher than their original retail value!

Here's a few pointers - ebay is VERY user friendly.

Always start your auction at the lowest price you'd be happy getting for the item. That way if you only have 1 person bid you'll be happy with the money you made.

Sign up for an online pay service (like PayPal). It makes everythiing go a lot quicker.

If you decided to ship items priority mail (my personal choice) go to the USPS website - you can order shipping supplies FREE OF CHARGE which makes for easy packing at home.

Always check to see if others are listing the same item you're trying to sell. It'll give you an idea of what the demand is and an idea of what to price it at.



Good Luck!

 

[beansmom]

, don't forget you have to apply shipping charges and ebay fees too!

You do have to pay ebay fees, but usually the buyer pays shipping.

I also do ebay and I DON"T do yard sales---tho I may try one this spring. It is also my experience that people want to get something for nothing at a garage sale. Ebay at least gives you the opportunity to get more than a quarter for that $50 dress.

I love ebay.

 

[patsal]

E-bay has been far more profitable than yardsales for me. I also like that you can get set up on your own time (evenings, late at night , very early on weekday mornings). With a yardsale what doesn't sell sits around for another year, with e-bay just change the picture/price and it will sell with the second listing(free if the item sells). I'll e-bay over ever having another yard sale! Over 100 items sold and I've only had two customers not pay, just file for the credit and re-list.

 

[bobcat]

As a bargain shopper when I go to a garage sale I want something for next to nothing. On the other hand when I am looking on ebay it is for specific items and I am willing to pay a decent price for what I want.

I need to take a little time and learn how to sell on ebay.

 

[twinklingstars4u]

Once you try to sell on e-Bay you'll be hooked! There is nothing like logging on and seeing how your auctions are doing.

I buy and sell on e-Bay. I love bidding on cloths for my DD. Even if you don't have a digital camera, you can profit. Take pictures outside in full sun. Have the film put on a disk so you can download them onto your computer. There are free programs to help crop and fix pictures.

Go to the community boards on their website and you'll find all kinds of info.

Good luck!

 

[Kallison]

Here is my ebay question? Do you use your home address or set up a post office box? Is anyone nervous about strangers knowing your home address?

 

[twinklingstars4u]

I have a Post Office Box, just the small one that I have payments sent to. I even use my initials so it's not imediately obvious that I'm female (my husband just answers with his first name)!

Also, something alot of people do is in your terms of sale always say "we" and "us", like:

"we" always answer e-mails within 24 hrs.

Hope that helps!

 

[DMRick]

I have a po box, and use my cell phone on my ebay contact info..since I have to have contact info, and it has to be accurate or risk suspension. If I use my regular phone..all they have to do is a reverse lookup, and they have my home addy. I don't want them having my home addy.

 

[beansmom]

I think ebay wins hands down over yard sales...I just sold a copy of John Grisham's new book "King of Torts" for $9.51...I would have had to give it away at a yard sale for 50 cents or $1.

 

[dahess]

I might try selling some of my dd's clothes on ebay