Dear eBay Queen:
I have been selling on the internet for several years. I have been an eBay POWERSELLER with 100% feedback, following all of the rules and regulations to the letter. When all the changes on eBay started, I tried to switch gears by selling items on Craigslist and other new auction sites. I’ve taken this past year off of full time eBay selling, but kept selling on Craigslist, niche auction sites and other person to person online transactions.
I am ready to start back up and would like to put together a business model for buying inventory online and selling online, if it can still be done on a small scale. I also know that I could sell consignment items for a percentage. I’ve noticed a lot of eBay stores that popped up in my area have gone out of business. Why do you think that is? Do you think the consignment business is a loss? I like the consignment part of the eBay business, that way the cash layout is $0 on our part and we make money when the person’s item sells.
I previously used independent auction management software to manage all my online auctions. I have figured out they are no longer in business. Do you know of new software for me? I would really like a software that would manage who is bidding, questions, payments, shipping details and tracking information. Doing all of this without software can become a full time job that sucks up your extra hours REAL fast!
I had another idea of a way to help others sell their stuff that I'm really excited about. I would love to start a business kind of like an on-site auction company or liquidator, in which myself and a team come in a house and setup to sell everything for a percentage (typically 30-40%). Of course, most of the time would be spent advertising for the event and getting a good following to attend these sales. I am wondering what your thoughts are about this. Do you have any suggestions for me that might get me back in the game of selling? Sorry for such a long background story, it's nice to share with others ideas of selling, especially when we are NOT in competition of one another.
Tony,
Topeka, KS
Dear Tony:
Welcome back to the world of selling. Your observations are pretty much correct. Consignments have never been my favorite. Mostly because I love finding and selling my own stuff. Finding the junk to sell makes all of the work of selling worth it for me. The one draw back to consignments for me is, I feel bad when the item doesn’t sell or the consignor is unhappy because it isn’t worth what they think it is. I believe there are lots of people who would like to hire someone to sell their items. With some advertising and word of mouth, you could have a pretty good business selling things for others. I probably would set up a place in my home to meet with people, instead of opening a store front at first.
When it comes to inventory/auction management there are quite a few options out there. My favorite is Blackthorne Pro (owned by eBay). There are others out there, but this one is a good starter, and manages consignment pay outs really well.
I love your idea of starting an estate sale/liquidation company. That would be my dream job, if I didn’t have a family with 6 children. The thought of going through peoples stuff, pricing it, and meeting the public that buys it would be a blast to me. I don’t have a lot of experience in this area, but I would think the worst part of this business would be getting rid of the stuff that DIDN’T sell. Let me know what you decide to do!
Strange eBay Item: Ebay Item: 220730555241 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page.) I've always wanted to learn to can. I wonder if this jar would make it taste better. Scarce Half Pine Millville Fruit Jar SOLD $490.00
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