Anybody Buy and Sell?

The_Hurricane

Hi All,

It doesn't have to be serious buying and selling, it could just be a few items a year and if you do how do you find it? Is it profitable or a loss making exercise and is it difficult to re-sell items etc?

Thanks in advance.

soolin

The_Hurricane wrote: »

Hi All,

It doesn't have to be serious buying and selling, it could just be a few items a year and if you do how do you find it? Is it profitable or a loss making exercise and is it difficult to re-sell items etc?

Thanks in advance.

That's a very open question.

I buy and sell and if I didn't make a profit in my business I wouldn't bother.

I sell different stock across several platforms and do quite well. As soon as a stock item stops making me a profit I dump it and move on to something else. I am also trading correctly as a business registered with HMRC even though it is a very part time past time for me.

The_Hurricane

A lot of dealers talk about being unable to shift stock or selling it at a loss etc - my query was basically if the buying/selling trade can still turn a profit?

paddyrg

The_Hurricane wrote: »

A lot of dealers talk about being unable to shift stock or selling it at a loss etc - my query was basically if the buying/selling trade can still turn a profit?

Yes, that's how shops work. Some stock may not shift because it was the wrong stock, bought at the wrong time, for the wrong market. This week though I spotted a bargain, thought I could find a market, did so, and made some cash. If you can spot the right product at the right price, and think you can move it on, then do so. It's not my usual business, but I spotted an opportunity and took it.

As with Soolin, I did this all very much through the books, legitimately, chip&pin, VAT accounted and taxes paid.

The_Hurricane

I was more inferring dealers rather than traditional shops etc. Even on Ebay things seems to sell for peanuts.

paddyrg

So they must be buying it cheaper! If you hunt around, you might find a deal on liquidated stock, local crafts, etc then take a punt :-)

The_Hurricane

paddyrg wrote: »

So they must be buying it cheaper! If you hunt around, you might find a deal on liquidated stock, local crafts, etc then take a punt :-)

You still feel it's a profitable segment regardless of what dealers are saying?

soolin

The_Hurricane wrote: »

You still feel it's a profitable segment regardless of what dealers are saying?

there are plenty of us on the eBay board who make a very nice living on eBay

paddyrg

The_Hurricane wrote: »

You still feel it's a profitable segment regardless of what dealers are saying?

Must be, unless they are crazily subsidising each sale. It may be that margins are low, but so are overheads compared with running a shop! If a particular line has a good GP and sales it will attract undercutters, absolutely, but that's pretty much how capitalism works! Then you can compete on service, add ons, extras, keeping your back office costs lower, etc. Or find a new line and innovate and ride the wave beforethe copiers show up.