Anyone up for an Ebay/Amazon challenge?

emmaglet

I was thinking about a dealer but I am scared they take advantage. But I think it is the best bet - they aren't earning me anything sat around.

I can't imagine how many parcels I have to take today. So far I have 9, with a lot more to go! Eeep. I get dirty looks from the people in the queue behind me.

Lucycat

Sorry I haven't been around for the last week, we're now in the midst of the dreaded birthday week (just joking, but both kids & OH within four days - ay-yiy-yiy! :eek:) so I've hardly had time to sit down!

Sig is going up (slowly but surely!), have a stupid amount of things still to list, am quietly horrified at how much we seem to have accumulated over the last few years, frankly almost without thinking about it. Still, am getting back on track now, and I suppose that's the most important bit.

Wow bing0, you're doing brilliantly - you'll be through your target and out the other side if you keep going at this rate! :T

nellis10 I am *loving* you 'theming' your listings! When I finally get around to eBaying I'm going to do the same and have a beauty weekend, a sling weekend, a craft weekend, clothes weekend - so much more organised than my usual page of oddments - always feel vaguely embarrassed in case a click on 'view seller's other items' reveals my total randomness! Actually, must boost the chance of knock-on sales too, no?

emmaglet - (being super-lazy!) what's the new free p&p rule on media? Not planning on listing those on eBay atm but would be interested for future reference.

Anyone had any experience with MusicMagpie yet? Am reading very mixed things about them online, not considering using them for anything worth trying to sell elsewhere, but for fairly standard stuff - 25p, after all is better than nothing!

It's also a better return than I got on Amazon the other day! Note to self - don't list for under a pound - as a non-Pro Seller it just ain't worth it. I think I walked away with 10p after fees & p&p, and probably spent more than that on Brasso shining up the disc!

Oh well, you live & learn! :rolleyes:

Ooh, one last thing before I potter off - am obviously trying very hard not to buy anything at the mo, but my friend and I are having a fab (and thrifty!) time melting down all our old candle stubs & making new ones.

I know there are a fair few crafty girls on here - would any of you have any candlemaking kits or bits that you'd like to swap (I have jewellery-making supplies more than anything else, and a truly shocking amount of it, but also lots and lots AND LOTS of other crafty bits.)

I know we're not allowed to exchange addresses on here but if anyone has any they'd be happy to swap we can thrash something out elsewhere (and also avoid thread clutter!)

Thanks in advance, and well done if you managed to read this far, another epic post from me I'm afraid! :rotfl:

Lucycat

emmaglet wrote: »

I was thinking about a dealer but I am scared they take advantage.

How about taking them to a couple/a few dealers (or even emailing a few) to get a ball-park price (you could say it's for insurance purposes, but remember their 'buying' price would be much less), and then going with the one that offers the most?

I used to collect stamps as a kid (I was the coolest! :cool:) but alas would have no idea now.

Sounds promising for you though!

emmaglet

I rung up a dealer earlier, and I am taking them in after lunch! What I've done is taken around 10 of the stamps, written down a valuation from a collector's book I have, so when I get given a valuation I can gauge if I am being taken advantage of.

This free postage thing is a joke. All listings in media categories, which includes DVDs, have to charge free postage. Which means that I am being charged eBay fees on postage, because obviously I have to include postage in my original prices. Which also means that prices went up.

That said, my sales have REALLY increased. I would actually suggest free postage for a lot of things, seeing the success of this. At first I argued with eBay (they rung me up to tell me) but now I see it is working.

emmaglet

Okay everyone, new aims!

I am going to keep the DVDs separately, and still aim to list 200 of them, with no due date. The money from those goes into a separate Paypal and bank account. That will be used for...well I am not sure yet. But kept aside never the less!

My other aim on eBay will be £500 by the end of February. Except I won't confine it just to eBay, I will include Play, Amazon and TSUK (which is a selling community on Livejournal).

Just off to update my signature now! I will list a few DVDs on eBay and start gathering things to list. I also think I will make a post on TSUK today with reduced prices.

novagirl

Ah Lucycat, you have now got me wanting to make some more candles! Used to make loads as they are so easy to make. Not sure I have much that I don't use but I will have a hunt around for you.

I too have tonnes of crafty bits and bobs as I used to have a little business but it's gradually decreasing due to this challenge

LittleAnna

I am an e-b ay virgin or at least I have never sold anything.How do u work out postage when u dont know where its going.What sells well .whats not worth it?
Ta

prudence41

I have just lost my Ebay cherry and I have found the New to Selling guides on the eBay site and the user forums really useful. So far they have answered all my stupid questions.

As for price and what sells, do check what is currently for sale and what has sold (through advanced search, check completed listings). Plus I found this great website which seems to do pull all this info together quickly - http://www.get4it.co.uk/ .

For postage, I have learned the hard way - weigh your products and your packaging; and get the "pricing made easy" leaflet from the Post Office (it might even be on the Royal Mail website). Then calculate how much it costs you so you are not out of pocket.

Good luck!

prudence41

Hi Guys,
Can I join the eBay challenge as well? As an eBay newbie, my target will be modest until I get into the mindset of selling everything that moves!

My target will be £500 by end November 2009.

Well done and good luck to everyone who's already started.

Nic25

Woohoo, got the £50 I was expecting from Paypal into my bank account yesterday! Must update my sig...
Hopefully will have to re-think my target as I'm managing £200 more easily than I though (keeps fingers crossed!)

Anyway, hoping to get another 5 things on today