posted on July 7, 2001 11:39:49 AM new
Does anyone know if there is a place that you can go and share ideas and help others and get help on your auctions. Something for serious sellers who are doing this full time and you don't have to worry about being anonymous? Does this message board have anything like that or is it just something here for everyone and you really don't want to give your ebay name.
Thanks
posted on July 7, 2001 11:56:41 AM new
Lots of power sellers post here, not that I believe being a power seller means my/your advice is any better than a non power seller.
As far as being anonymous, that's a personal call.
posted on July 7, 2001 12:48:52 PM new
Don't get me wrong. You can get lots of great information here but let's face it so many people come and go most people don't give their ebay identity. I think I have only seen one person give their identity.
I am thinking along the line that there should be something where you can go and it is a little more (for the lack of a better term) 'exclusive' and you can let your hair down and really get to know other sellers and talk about different things. Maybe I am not sure how to word this. Just a thought.
posted on July 7, 2001 01:20:41 PM new
For competitive reasons, powersellers and others are going to guard a lot of information.
eBay's Powerseller designation isn't necessarily a badge of success. I read an article about one- had over 10,000 FBs, but sells an item that rarely sells for more than $2, and at a minimum, 25% of that price was the cost of the item. Is this "success"? - it is a poverty level income if that is all your income. Check out what powersellers sell, some may have a decent markup, many are selling low cost, low profit items, and hardly "making a living at it".
The bulk of the people doing eBay for a living aren't powersellers. The measure for a powerseller should be gross dollars in sales, but even that isn't a good measure. The mark of a professional is the amount of profit they make, and eBay's score keeping doesn't account for that - just the IRS, and they aren't posting.
posted on July 7, 2001 01:20:55 PM new
MY DEAREST SWEET BOO BOO...
Don’t get them started...some threaders will change the meaning of your
question...and make you feel like a like crap..when their done with you....
I feel that there are many fine people here I have made tons of friends
and I learned more in 2 months than in 2 years of trial and error...yet I still find it difficult to speak to my AW family with a mask on....
posted on July 7, 2001 01:29:04 PM new
Actually the easiest way to do what you're asking about might be to set up a "private" club on Yahoo. There's one club focused on net auction selling, "Sellerzone," already over there that anyone can look at and isn't restricted for joining so you can post. Many but not all posting there do so under the Yahoo ID with which they participate in Yahoo and its auctions, but I dunno many are eBay Power Sellers per se. Not real active since Yahoo disemboweled itself early this year.
A "private" Yahoo club type can be set up by anyone registered with Yahoo and has no charge. You're given access to a web page laid out already in a "club" format with chatroom, posting board, subpages for storing images, URL link list, etc. If "private" the founder has to issue invitations for you to join or you can't find it, after that anyone who's a member can invite others to join. The founder can moderate the posting by deleting messages, as well as booting members out, or even deleting the club itself altogether. (Yeh, you DO need a benevolent dictator type running one of these.)
For all I know, eBay Power Sellers, or specialists in some area, might have some of these hidden clubs going over there already. All you have to do is go to Yahoo, go to its clubs function, and look for the directions walking you through how to set one up.
posted on July 7, 2001 03:04:04 PM new
Hi, if you want to do selling outside of the auction forum, you can set up at shows & large flea markets. This gives you the chance to interact with customers face to face. This is great for feedback on your product. You also have the chance to hand out coupons & fliers. (Check out our auction at..., Save at our website...)If you have a website look into ads in local papers. If you have product you can not move look into donating it, this can generate good free advertising. This can come via word of mouth or if your donation is large enough they may notify a local paper. If you have a local store in your area who sells the same type stuff as you, work with them. Help fill each others needs on consigment. You both make money & your customers are happier.
posted on July 7, 2001 04:22:40 PM new
I just got my monthly invitation a couple of days ago to become a "power seller". I haven't seen any reason to join, I'd just get more spam from eBay. Most of those that are members here say the only real advantage is you get your "canned response" from ebay a little quicker. Now, maybe if I reach the gold level, I might consider it.
Who Need's a stink'n Sig. File?
posted on July 7, 2001 04:35:16 PM new
I sell on ebay full time, yet am not a powerseller because I don't make enough. Yet, with fees, I figure my average ebay bill of $100 a month or so is about what a powerseller is charged. Powerseller means nothing to me except that you sell a volume of high priced stuff. Never mind the peons like me who sell hundreds of low priced items a month.
You'll learn much on these boards. Just keep hanging out here, and you'll learn tons.
posted on July 7, 2001 04:38:34 PM new
Jumpin Jack o (ol buddy ol pal) you are right. I am in no way saying that a powerseller is by any means smarter, better or even cuter (although that hasn't been proven wrong)
What I am saying (not successfully) I guess since Jack and one other poster here has gotten the true meaning of this post is that it would be nice to get to know some people better who can relate one on one to what full time ebay sellers do. Whether it is to have a friendly competition or just get to know someone better...without being constantly jumped on because your opinion is different. There are a lot of negative opinions and sometimes you really have to spend a bit of time weeding out that to get to something that will be useful. And if you do give your id out to maybe get some type of feedback on your auctions you are stuck with saying daily prayers that someone you might irk tomorrow doesn't remember your id.
Well, I like the idea about a private club that was given earlier on yahoo but what would you do to find out where and how?
As for the positives and negatives on powerseller status - DO or Don't...we have all been through that and that is a useless thread that will go on till the day we all go blind from reading about it.
I hope everyone is staying out of the scorching heat today! Good luck listing and getting super high bids!
Making you living selling low priced stuff is a lot of work. Don't let the lack of a "power seller" invitation from ebay get you down, it doesn't amount to much anyway. If it did, I'd sign up....
Who Need's a stink'n Sig. File?
posted on July 7, 2001 05:08:36 PM new
2 years ago,there were 13,000 powersellers,about 500 are gold,5000 silver and the rest bronze.
now i am sure there are a lot more.
some powersellers earn their status by uploading repetitive low priced items every month using bulk loading program,same items which start at 9.95 got bidded up to 20-40 dollars at first,but gradually as every one who wants one have one,the price fall to 10-15 and now they cant even give these items away at 6.95.
think of the ebay listing fee of 5000 items at 30 cents,and the mister loader does not go back and relist the same items,so you are looking at a monthly bill of 1500(or 1250 before fee increase).
i would think this is a big burden when you get your monthly credit card statement every month??
i think that the bulk loader is good for books but not good for collectibles and antiques,we just plainly kill the goose which laid golden eggs,relentlessly flooding the market with identical items day after day,month after month.
and it is not just the us dealers,same goes on with canadian,chinese,europeans as well.
where will ebay find more buyers is beyond me??
posted on July 7, 2001 05:14:03 PM new
Sweetboo~~
I doubt that you will find any place better than AW, I would like to get into sharing some of the nitty gritty, ins and outs of daily business but you have to be careful over here.
All to often over here, it seems to be more lately, people take too much to heart and launch their own crusades against fellow AW users. Sometimes it boarders on road rage like posts where you worry if this person lived in my town I really hope I never run into them in person. It's a trend that has taken some of the fun out of these boards.
I've always posted under my ebay seller name, and I'm sure that there are several people that do if you want to check them all. I always did this because I feel pretty strongly about what I post here, enough so that I have always been willing to use my seller name so that it might carry a little more weight. For whatever it is worth I am/was a silver power seller, ebay has put me on probation because I stopped selling when they started making all the changes. I pulled back until I could get in compliance where as even one of their companies that they use to sell on ebay was breaking the rules even after the grace period. (whole nother story)
I never had a problem with using my seller name that I know of until about a week ago, I received forwarded email from one of my bidders, it said basically that I broke ebays rules because I charged to use PayPal and that PayPal and ebay have been notified and that I would soon likely be a NARU. That is a paraphrase the actual email was over a page long of ranting. The person that forwarded me the email asked if this was the case and wanted to know what a NARU was.
Now here is the thing, I have never charged a service charge for PayPal, but just before I was sent this email I posted over here on Auction Watch a way to pass on the PayPal fees to the buyer. NARU is something that you will find often on these boards but unlikely that you will see it anywhere else. I asked them to send me the email header and they use AOL and they claim that they can't find where the header info is, I tend to believe them as they use their AOL address as a buyer name and not just a ID. They still completed the auction and used PayPal and of course there was no fee.
So JJ if your still watching this thread, I contacted AW and asked, right after you had your come out and play thread locked, what is involved in changing your name. It looks like I will be posting under a new name in the next few days unless I find a reason that changes my mind.
posted on July 7, 2001 07:43:24 PM new
HELLO MY BROTHER AIRGUY
That’s a shame...airguy...I really love your posts
I have been to your me page and a few times...
When you post ..I know the comments you leave here are from true eBay
events that have happen to you.....why ? Because
I can see for with my eye who you are and I can take you concerns, problems
and mistakes to my own eBay camp... I will leaner from that and transfer my new found
advice into more profit ..thank you...
I was very upset with my Come out and Play thread that I could even find it in my heart
to close it..I had one of my staff type the last post in it...
I do not see the reasoning behind ..under minding both bidder and sellers
in this forum....It makes me feel like the day after a family reunion...
You know ...everyone starts bad mouthing everyone again..
yet the day before they where all hugs and kisses and “we should not leave it so long
next time”
SWEET BOO is just trying to make the most of her time here as I am...
And you are...
...I do under stand your new position
on the matter....I ‘m also aware of the PAYPAL problems that never seem to
leave you alone....please email my and let me know you new handle...
I would hate to miss any thing you may have to say..
posted on July 7, 2001 10:47:56 PM new
"serious sellers"......
I don't know anyone, no matter if they do this full time or part time, who isn't serious about what they are doing.
Seems to me that starting a forum based on free exchange of information is a rather idealistic notion in this environment.
The market is too competitive and you really don't know who is sitting at the keyboard.
Sellers who are at all successful put in a lot of time developing a market niche and a presentation style. Drawing attention to yourself outside of eBay by "sharing" this information in a public forum is like extending an open invitation for others to sell in your niche and copy your style. I don't believe in the long run it would be in a "serious sellers" best interest to participate in such a forum. This isn't paranoia,,,unfortunately it is the reality of selling on eBay.
posted on July 8, 2001 08:29:36 AM new
i agree,successful sellers have developed a niche and it does not come free or cheap.
lots of hours and hard work and money went into it,
but then sooner or later,a determined and persistent newcomer will find what he needs,the key is to recoup your investment before competition shows up in the horizon.
one common practice is to cede the low end market to newcomers,ebay is doing it,let epier and bidville and whatever have the cheap items;honda toyota cede the subcompact car market to the korean??? or to detroit??
big integrated oil companies leave all that wildcatting to the small independent oil companies and go after elephant finds overseas.
once a company grows to a certain size,its cost structure is such it cannot deploy its assets profitably with small ventures.
ever wonder why neiman marcus,home depot etc do not list their goods on ebay one by one starting at 9.99?? and leave feedbacks and quote actual shippingZ??
posted on July 8, 2001 09:02:18 AM new
I just think you don't get it Jacko, sorry bud, but you and Boo may think the keys to the kingdom are in high volume, but it ain't.
I think the one thing about ebay that I like is the fact that I can go head to head with powersellers.
Yes, you can go to yahoo groups (perused the offerings? weak is one word for it) and e-lists and clubs, but I have a hunch you won't find much more than you will find here.
Except maybe some more networking to buy and sell amongst yourselves or have some buying power - if it gets that organized, more power to you. I personally would not be interested in having the competition in my backpocket, but that's me, eh?
I have been selling in association with some local collectors and aficionados. It's been lucrative and fun. My profit has been just right and I am not a "shop" that gets photographer's widows in and rips them off.
I do work with a couple of folks who have had me do some low quantity estate work. Lots of research into obscure cameras and peripherals paid off for a friends grandmother.
You know what? I am so glad I am able to take the time to do that!
So maybe I find it a bit disingenuous when folks come to what's been a FANTASTIC resource for me and then go on to insinuate that some posters are more equal than others.
I am sure the Moderators won't consider that insulting etc, but to be honest, it's a kind of mental laziness that makes the post reek of insult.
But...remember...leave the ego at the door...consider it's worth against your own and well, life goes on, right?
Anyhow...no offense, I'll be around ebay for a while, always honing the niche, always lurking and posting trying to learn.
Best of luck to you, no matter what you sell, or how many at a time. As long as you do the right thing by the customer I don't care if you sell one item a month or 1000 items a day.
And chances are if you post, I'll read it and use my logic chip to decide if the info is going to work for me.
ireee
Capriole
posted on July 8, 2001 09:44:49 AM new
One last time... I HAVE NEVER SAID THAT POWERSELLERS ARE BETTER THAN THE OTHERS.
Maybe this will explain what I am trying to say... but will never bring up again! Is that since we work on ebay (night and day) it seems.. it would be nice to get to know a few people a bit better. Originally I assumed that most others that are doing this full time are probably powersellers. But taken from another link..some people work full time for 50 listings and aren't powersellers. Geez, you folks act like the term powerseller is the worst thing in the book.
I just thought it would be nice to make some friends considering full-timers aren't making friends in an office surrounding. I came from a corporate job and worked with about 30 people in close proximity and made good friends with them. All I am saying is that it would be nice to get to know some people a bit better. But once again, as is done so often here.... a simple post meant to pull the good out of some people has turned into some kind of beat 'em up and tear 'em down forum. Get's real silly at times.
The post title did not say 'Powersellers are better than others' because who the heck says they are. All I was saying is that if you do this full time you probably are a powerseller. I would just like to get to know some people a bit better. And no, not everyone on here is someone I would like to know... I think we all agree on that.
I never once mentioned volume selling or trying to create some goofy debate.
I am trying to make a living and support myself. I quit my full time job about a year ago to do this full time and absolutely love it. I just miss being around people all the time. I belong to a few area activities but they have no clue what I talk about when I go into my job. I just moved when I quit my job and it is hard to get to know a lot of people when you do this full time from your home or office.
I wish that those of you who want to conduct some silly debate would please start your own thread of negativity and leave this one alone. This thread was meant to find a way to get to know others better. It was a positive thing and I wish it could have worked out that way. But hey, if nothing else, it proved my fact that you really can't give your true identity out here because it has proven that there is a lot of negativity floating around here.
Here is something to compare what I wanted to do: Let's say that your church has 1000 people that go every Sunday morning and everyone has different opinions and different levels of what they are going through, etc. You may spend time each week talking with, getting to know a bit, and learning their opinions about certain things. But let's say you would like to express your latest views on a particular topic. You may not want to get up in front of the entire 1000 people congregation and tell everyone that you are upset because your husband is bad in bed and you don't know what to do (only example I could come up with that might make some of you smile ) but if you had a group of say 10 people that you met with once or twice a week that knew you very well and you trusted them a lot... some places call them a cell group. Then it would be much easier to talk about with people who care about you.
Does that make more sense??? Goodness I hope so.
One of the biggest problems with success is that it has the same recipe as a nervous breakdown.
posted on July 8, 2001 09:54:42 AM new
Not to take anything away from a good Powerseller, but many of the Powersellers' auctions that I see say "Buy With Confidence From An Ebay Powerseller". "See My Fantastic Feedback". "I'm An Ebay Powerseller".
Sounds like you'd simply like to make some "internet friends".
I don't know how long you've "been around" the internet, but it will come in time. You'll meet a few people you can trust and will enjoy emailing or instant messaging.
This can be helpful, enjoyable and rewarding--like what you are describing above, even if it's not an "exclusive" type place for people to come to.
posted on July 8, 2001 10:33:56 AM new
I don't think the number of listings a week is much indication of how much "work" or "time" a person puts into selling on eBay. High volume is one one way to make a living, High ticket is another way. A cross between the two is a third way. (this would discribe what we do...)
As I said in another thread, I spend way more time packing shipments than writing listings. Outboard Motors take time to package for shipment. I spend more time finding and buying "good merchandise" than I do any other aspect of what I do.
Who Need's a stink'n Sig. File?
posted on July 8, 2001 11:07:25 AM new
Sweetboo: It is possible to get to know other sellers and have some interaction (albeit by text and not face to face),and it does help when you are sitting in front of computer screen for hours on end.
However, the amenities must be observed. There is an unspoken yet clearly defined etiquette that must be followed on public boards and privately as well.
1) Don't ask what the person sells.
2) Don't ask for sources.
3) Don't ask for their eBay user id.
4) Don't ask for any personal information.
If you get to know someone perhaps they will offer this information, usually in non-public private setting, such as by email.
If they do, it gets even more complicated. When you post on a Board and this person is about you cannot divulge anything that person may have told you privately. In fact there are times you cannot even acknowledge that you know this person in a private way.
It would take hours and pages to try to explain how this culture has evolved over the last several years. Suffice to say it isn't as if everyone works for the same company and the office staff can freely interact. Each seller is an entity unto themselves with their own business and agenda. I don't think most people are trying to be nasty or flame you. For reasons that defy description the word Powersellers evokes visceral negative reactions in people.
The other issue that is inferred in a sellers forum is sharing information, and it can be a touchy subject. I know you haven't asked, nor was it your intention to ask, but a lot of people do. Helping out is one thing, but it gets very tiresome on these Boards with people coming here and blithely asking," Hi there! I think selling on ebay would be a fun thing to do. Tell me everything you know starting with what to sell, where to find it, what camera and scanner to get, how to use the camera and scanner, what software to use to edit the images, how to edit the images, where to host the images and how to upload them, what categories to use, when to list the auctions, how to pack, where to get the supplies, and what shipper to use. Then I'll need you to tell how to accept credit cards, which service has the best deal, if I should only accept Money orders, and if I take checks how long to wait to know that they cleared. I'll be needing your auction template, the EOA email form you use, and whatever software you have developed for record keeping too. I guess that is all for now. But don't worry I'll be back if I have any problems and for anything I may have forgotten, and too, for you to identify and value the stuff I buy to sell. Thanks a bunch."
In other words just hand over your knowledge and work that you have spent years to develop. I have observed more and more people offering less and less "help" as the market shrinks and competition grows.
To quote the Godfather: "It isn't personal. It is business".
[ edited by smw on Jul 8, 2001 11:09 AM ]
posted on July 8, 2001 11:40:18 AM new
NEVER ASK WHAT PEOPLE SELL AND WHERE THEY GET THEIR STUFF?
Practically everything which is made or ever made under the sun has been listed on ebay.once i searched for COFFIN and i found a few.
a few people have inquired of what and how i sell in cyberspace and decide they can do what i do for less efforts and more money,these people are still milling around as before.
some have disclosed where they source their used items,it turned out that it did not work out as well for me as for them.
there is no monopoly and there is no secret society or buying club,all we can do is to stay a few small steps ahead of competition.
I too have wondered about a forum for full-time, making a living sellers. There are many here that say they are full-time sellers, but really aren't in the sense that their spouse works elsewhere and provides their living income.
I think I know what you mean, here's an example. Say a small town has a couple of dozen businesses in the downtown district. You have a bookstore, hardware store, bakery, jewelry store, coffee shop, newsstand, shoe store, etc. These neighboring sellers get together every now and then to talk business. They are not going to jump into each others line of business, but rather share ideas that they can all benefit from. A business association is what comes to mind.
A lot of posters here don't like the term "power seller". Full-time, making a living seller is a better phrase.
