How to profit on eBay

[Poptart]

I need to know. It has become obvious to me that the post office and eBay itself are making all the money.
If anyone has worked out a profit-making formula, please post it here. My bank account is dangerously anemic.

 

[Frank Granovski]

There is a E-pig book from IDG Publishing (PC World). It's either in their "Secrets" or "Idiot" line.

 

[Poptart]

Is that a thinly-veiled insult?

 

[Kim Coxon]

I thought you knew from the lessons here. You hijack someones account. List some very expensive items and accept payment by money order or cahiers cheque and then do a runner when the money arrives. Simple really 😀

 

[Frank Granovski]

Is that a thinly-veiled insult?

No. I suggested that book from IDG Publishing. It's an excellent book. I looked at it a few years back.

 

[ray_g]

Seriously, though, I think there was some discussion recently about how to increase your chances of selling on Ebay: Good detailed description that shows you know what you are talking about, many clear photos, prompt reply to questions, and, probably most importantly, ending the auction on a good day and time. Usually on weekend nights, when you will probably have most buyers online, on both east and west coasts.

 

[Pherdinand]

buy non-working cameras, repair and sell for more.
🙂

 

[Poptart]

Alas, I am not handy at that sort of thing.
I do the best I can with listings.* About 1/3-1/2 of them never sell. What does sell typically goes for too little; often the postage is double the value of the item.
*I haven't found that caveat about weekends to be necessarily true, either.

 

[raid]

Coincidentally, I saw today a special program on CNN (or similar) about ebay frauds. They had interviews with VP's at ebay and they showed how ebay employees work to stop fraud, amy it be rather late sometimes.

 

[Rob]

Best luck I have is with clear photos, accurate descriptions, listed in the proper categories, end the auction late enough for west coast bidders, end auctions on Sunday & monday nights, have reasonable shipping charges and low or no reserve prices, ship fast, dont list the item when there are 20 others just like it on Ebay, dont end them on holidays.

 

[o0dano0o]

mmm, how bout some french toast with HCB emblazoned into the burnt eggy goodness?

 

[Frank Granovski]

How does someone hijack an account?

 

[Poptart]

Apparently, by obtaining the password, often through a spoof e-mail response.

 

[Frank Granovski]

Oh, thanks. I get those types of e-mail almost daily. The Paypal types twice daily. 😡

 

[Kim Coxon]

This thread might prove illuminating http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13536

Kim

How does someone hijack an account?

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I don't know if I'd like to make my living off eBay sales. Most of the times I've been lucky as a buyer, but as a seller... my stuff only sold after two weeks in the listings, and this was done by opening and closing auctions on weekends (late evenings), at a low price, with low reserve, on Paypal, with abundant photos and information. Probably the fact that I was offering items that are easy to find elsewhere at sometimes lower prices had to do with it.

My first eBay sale was of old rangefinders: my Minolta G, Konica S2, Yashica GS and a Nikon case. They all sold... on the second week... after I lowered the reserve on all of them. After that, they were gone in almost no time. When later I put some Nikon gear on the block, only one lens sold through eBay; the other went to a store in FL.

In all cases, however, the killer of my profits was not the USPS, but the eBay fees.

Is that your experience too, Pop-tart? 😕

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I am confident the vast majority of eBay sellers don't make any profit.
Most are cleaning out their closets and getting pennies on the dollar.
But that's better than they'd do selling their stuff at a yard sale.
Plus they don't have to miss church and Sunday dinner...

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-

 

[Poptart]

Yeah, I think I have to go back to being an artist. Since I started selling on eBay I don't have any time for art anymore anyway. Why did I spend all those years in college--to hock crap on the internet?

The p/o fees are compensated by the buyers but it takes time and effort to pack and ship all this stuff.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Go for the ten day auction starting at the end of a week.

That way you get *two* weekends for the 'at home' crowd plus a week in between for the 'at the office' people.

And sell before you buy. That is find an item in a shop locally, ask them to keep it for you, list it on eBay, if it sells go back and get it from the shop. Works for me.

 

[iggers]

I agree

I agree

All good advice.

How much does the starting bid amount matter? I often start at $9.99, and sometimes at $1. I have a notion that if an item is likely to sell for more than, say $50, it is more likely to get there from a $9.99 start than from $24.99. I guess the idea is that low starting bids draws more bidders, some of whom might stay in when the price rises.

Best luck I have is with clear photos, accurate descriptions, listed in the proper categories, end the auction late enough for west coast bidders, end auctions on Sunday & monday nights, have reasonable shipping charges and low or no reserve prices, ship fast, dont list the item when there are 20 others just like it on Ebay, dont end them on holidays.