posted on October 24, 2000 08:19:53 AM new
I need some opinions. Ebay is just not getting the prices or the bidders anymore. Plus the fees are getting higher. I am thinking of going back to the "old fashioned" way of selling. Renting space in an Antique Mall.Is anyone doing that? Are the sales good and are you getting fair prices? Any help is appreciated.
posted on October 24, 2000 08:55:34 AM new
Interesting question.
I quit selling in malls some time ago. In my area at least, it was a waste of my time because of slow sales. Of course if I wanted to "give away" my stuff with rock-bottom prices I'm sure it would have sold like hotcakes, but who can do that?
I believe, and this is only one person's opinion, that the market for malls has significantly changed. Particularly in the last two years. As more and more people browse and buy on ebay, fewer seem to shop the malls. Mall dealers are often saving their more desirable items for ebay, so less "good" stuff makes it to the shelves in the mall. It's a vicious circle and the antique malls are getting sort of a double whammy from all of it.
I used to be in a couple of malls, one was extra good. Always plenty of people coming through the door. You should see their parking lot now. Often it's almost bare, maybe four or five cars. You know business is way down.
I wonder if it's like this across the Nation? I think the malls are going to have to change if they want to stay in business. They'll have to drop the percentages they charge the dealers for sales and just go to a flat rate for space rent (instead of charging both) or the dealers will start dropping out of the mall business quicker than they are already.
Just an opinion.
[ edited by loosecannon on Oct 24, 2000 08:57 AM ]
posted on October 24, 2000 09:02:43 AM new
I've never sold in an Antique Mall, but I've done a fair amount of shopping in them. In particular I shop 2 or 3 in my area in Ohio, one being a very large well known mall in Southern Ohio.
Over the past 2 years, these malls have lost business from what I can tell. They have more open booths, and prices continue to go up. I visit the one in Southern Ohio about 3 times per year, and I see the same items in the same booths visit after visit.
I've talked to folks who rent or use to rent space in them as well. The malls have increased their rent and the portion that they take from each sale, but sales in general are dropping. I know of a couple of sellers who have moved out of the malls all together, because they just weren't making any money. The sellers have to price stuff so high in order to cover their overhead, and then buyers walk on by. I rarely find anything I can afford in any of the local malls anymore.
posted on October 24, 2000 09:14:29 AM new
Depends on the smalls, depends on the malls.
I sell out of two, one good quality, other exceptional quality. This year has been my best ever. For expensive items, I (and I think many others) do not feel secure about on-line sellers being honest and accurate. Have done no Ebay selling since spring, but was planning to start up again in the winter. Don't know if I will do so except for certain items.
I think the internet has hastened the demise of many malls, but I think the ones hurt the most had the lowest quality, and would have died a long slow death in any even.
posted on October 24, 2000 11:26:37 AM new
Well, you could take the rent you'd be expected to pay (plus your time - at least around here, mall tenants have to do "cashier" time as well as pay rent), take your projected monthly sales (be honest here) find out what your cost is per $ of sales, and compare that with ebay fees.
Assume that in a month you list 50 items on ebay starting at $25-$49.99 and use a gallery image on each - that's $1.25 x 50 = $62.50 in listing fees. Assume further that your gross sales are $1,250 on those 50 items; your FVFs are then $28.75. Total fees = $91.25, or $.07 per $1 of merchandise sold.
Or to put it another way, if you're paying more than $91.25/month in rent on $1,250 in sales, I'd say you're better off on ebay.
posted on October 24, 2000 11:49:08 AM new
Have always sold in malls--went down to one mall when I had been on ebay a while. (3 years ago) Right now I get MUCH better prices at the mall than at ebay and cost to sell is much lower. However, you do need to calculate in losses due to breakage and shoplifting--whcih can be considerable in some malls. I am selling my best stuff at the mall and my marginal or hard to display stuff online. I have tried but just can't get the same kind of return at ebay anymore. However, kitschy stuff and junk moves good on line for now.
posted on October 24, 2000 12:37:07 PM new
Diversification is the key to success in the antiques business. A dealer who limits him/herself to just one sales venue will not be as successful as one who does, regardless of the commission rate.
Many items sell better/higher/faster at one venue than another. Regional tastes and availability are among the reasons that someone could get, say, $150 for a Hummel dealer sign in their mall booth, when it wouldn't even come close to reaching $100 on ebay. Likewise, there are scads of things that the mall shoppers here would snicker at were they priced for what they can realize on ebay.
I've been in 3 malls for several years. I also run an average of 50 auctions/week on ebay. The trick is knowing your market, what will sell better where, and placing it accordingly.
My advice is, obviously, rent some mall space and give it a try. But don't quit ebay; you're going to have shelf-sitters in your booth that the folks on ebay would love to have.
[ edited by fountainhouse on Oct 24, 2000 12:39 PM ]
posted on October 24, 2000 04:24:38 PM new
I agree completely with fountainhouse. Diversification is a must to survive. We have a 3000 sq foot shop, two booths in different malls, a web site with over 3000 items and also do about a dozen shows a year. We also sell on E-bay & Yahoo.
I would give it a try at the mall. Find a mall that has good attendance on the weekends. Offers good rental fees and most important check it out every week for a while and see if merchandise is being sold. Take a note pad and pencil and jot down items in various booths similar to what you will be selling at similar prices. See if these items sell as this will give you a good indication of turnover. I would do this for about 1 month or so. Also do not go into a mall that advertises they sell on the internet. Many people just leave as they feel any good merchandise has already been listed. Also if I am there today to buy why do I want to shop the internet (isn't that what a mall is all about) - On Site Selling. This is just my opinion. Good Luck on your search for a mall.
posted on October 24, 2000 07:04:23 PM new
I'm jealous, puppypumoo! I've been desperate to rent a storefront for months. I've seriously outgrown my basement, and moving out would allow me to expand the internet side of things, as well as let me have my house back again! lol
Trouble is, I know precisely where I want this storefront ... and I just have to be patient for the next vacancy.
BTW, what state are you in? I'd love to see your shop and compare notes!
[ edited by fountainhouse on Oct 24, 2000 07:05 PM ]
posted on October 24, 2000 07:07:45 PM new
I rent four booths at a mall in town. It has been very good to me. I typical stock them with what I consider impulse buys. Things that people will walk by and say "hey that's pretty cool. It'd look great on our kitchen shelf, and look it's only $8.95" With 4 million items on ebay, I don't know how I could sell to "browsers". I put things that appeal to specific collectors on ebay, or things that have no market around here. I don't know it works for the time being. I am very curious to see what is going to happen to the antique and collectible market in the next year or two. Gotta keep on our toes.
posted on October 24, 2000 09:35:38 PM new
Ditto I also agree with fountainhouse, in order to make money in the antique business, diversify, diversify! I rent space in three malls, do shows, and list about 60 items per week on ebay, there is a marketplace for everything, you just have to work at finding it.
I am continually amazed at the people who only sell on ebay and do this for a living! Not everything sells on ebay, at least not for a decent price. I have listed things on ebay that just don't make it, but when I put them in the shop they sold right away and for much more money than on ebay. The reverse is also true, some items bring phenominal prices on ebay that the customers in the shops wouldn't even look at.
Its still work there is no free lunch in any business.
posted on October 25, 2000 12:52:39 AM new
I don't know anything about antique malls, having never shopped or sold in one.
I do know that for a more expensive or a breakable item I will buy at flea markets, garage sales, & thrift stores before I'll buy on Ebay, and chances are good that the seller will get more money from an in-person sale. To buy on Ebay, I bid less because I know I'll have to pay S&H& Insurance- it will be figured into the total price I'm willing to pay for the item- plus the price of the money order too. Plus I then have to worry that the item may break in transit, the seller may have misrepresented it, etc, so I'll bid a little less than I think the item is really worth just because chances are good that it IS misrepresented. It adds up to, the seller gets less money. When I can pick up the goods, physically inspect them, & see EXACTLY what I'm getting, viewed from all sides, well, then I'm willing to pay what I think the item is worth, and if the seller quotes a reasonable price I often won't even try to haggle, I'll just buy it.
posted on October 25, 2000 02:11:31 AM new
I do not sell in any Antique Malls,butI do sell at the local flea market and shows. I did just Ebay for 2 years and just recently returned to the shows and markets.
I am doing much better selling at them and I love getting the Cash again.
I will still be selling on Ebay for the items that do better there.
posted on October 25, 2000 04:49:19 AM new
I am quiting antique shows and flea markets to try eBay only sales. I had an antique shop, too many people killing time and not enough serious buyers. I've set up in malls where it seems the other dealers neglect their booths and merchandise. Legitimate shows and flea markets are expensive to do and are enormous comsumers of time and effort. I keep careful track of my time and expenses and so far my net from eBay sales is at least as good as B&M. I cultivate buyers that I first meet through eBay, this merchandise never gets listed. I can be more selective about the things I buy and I keep a lower inventory, no need to fill a shop and booths. Also, I get less grief from my online shoppers. RL shoppers constantly asking "Why can't I have a discount?", "Why do I have to pay sales tax? The other dealers aren't collecting it", "Where do you get your things?", "I want my own business, can you tell me how to start in antiques and collectibles?", "Why won't yopu let my kids play with your things?" and of course my all time favorite exchange: "When gramma died we threw this stuff away." "Really? When my grandmother died we got rid of the old lady and kept the goodies!"
posted on October 25, 2000 08:39:29 AM new
Interestingly, it is eBay that prompted me to start looking at antique malls, especially when eBay started playing games I didn't like earlier this year.
As a child, I always brought a book with me when my parents visited antique shops, because all that seemed to be there was glass, furniture, glass, romance books, glass, old kids toys, glass, furniture, and more furniture, and also glass.
eBay prompted me into thinking that maybe if I actually looked harder at antique stores, I could find stuff that interested me. Sure enough, I started finding old maps, aerial photo postcards, airline memorabilia and models, and some other neat things I didn't know about. They're not really "antiques" in the usual sense, which is why it took me so long to realize the potential connection.
I still can go through a whole whole antique mall without finding a thing, but since I turned them into a different excuse to take breaks from driving, and have been stopping at a few per month, somewhat over half of my eBay/"antique" purchases have been at those malls instead of eBay. eBay and then its own problems and its (IMO) user-unfriendly decisions (e.g. DoubleClick) led me to alternatives.
Just my story -- I don't really think this is a sign that the trend towards online auctions is being countered, but it might indicate some degree of "backflow" does exist.
Edited to add... I also am more prone to stop at rummage/yard sales (but only if they're on my way).
----
What's being done in the name of direct marketing nowadays is crazy.
The above are all just my opinions, except where I cite facts as such.
Oh, I am not dc9a320 anywhere except AW. Any others are not me.
Is eBay is changing from a world bazaar into a bizarre world?
[ edited by dc9a320 on Oct 25, 2000 08:41 AM ]
posted on October 25, 2000 09:00:49 AM new
I do both-Sell in antique malls and on Ebay.In fact I decided I would take this summer off on Ebay and just sell in antique malls.Last summer had really slowed down and I believe it was even slower this summer on Ebay.I did really well and I don't think it's as much work because of shipping etc.I've been back on Ebay since the middle of Sept. but I only list certain things such as rarer antiques and collectibles.I think it's good to have both places since I think Ebay does better in the winter and malls in the summer.I've noticed though since I started selling 3 yrs. ago I'm having to pay more for my merchandise and I imagine it's probably cheaper here in the rural midwest.
I've been desperate to rent a storefront for months. I've seriously outgrown my basement, and moving out would allow me to expand the internet side of things, as well as let me have my house back again! lol