posted on March 16, 2001 12:03:57 PM
I have been a kids clothes seller for alittle while now, but it just is not cutting it. I am looking for a reputable source with which I could offer items in auctions that could be drop-shipped. If anyone knows of a good source that you may have had good experience with I would appreciate all information. You can email me at [email protected]. Thanks Fluffy
posted on March 16, 2001 05:07:20 PM
fluffy, I know this probably sounds negative, but drop-shipping sucks. Most people here will be unlikely to encourage you because many people have been burned by drop-shipped goods sellers. Even 'the good ones' (if there are any) seem to be mediocre. It's the nature of the business. Since the (the drop-shippers) don't have to deal with your customers, why on earth should they care about timely delivery or careful packaging? Answer: they don't.
PLEASE, if you DO decide to go through with this....PLEASE tell you buyers in your AUCTION (not End of Auction letter!) that the item has to be drop shipped. That way they can make an educated decision whether to buy from you. Personally, I wouldn't. But you need to let the buyer opt out.
posted on March 16, 2001 06:31:43 PM
Drop shipping? Better start a new account for that because you will have a lot of negs from the things happening out of your control. - junk items - items not matching description - not shipped - poorly packaged.
posted on March 16, 2001 09:07:04 PM
OK, I agree about the drop shipping, I can understand all your points, and I don't know about being against ebay's rules. So what other ideas do you have, was considering drop shipping only because I have very limited space. My home is very junky looking right now just with the items I am trying to sell. But at this time I am not having much luck. Just trying to find some place where I may be able to find my niche, that few items that I can count on being wanted. Not sure how to go about this, I have been doing alot of browsing, but no ideas have come to me yet. Thanks for your input, and Thanks in advance for any more advice. Fluffy
posted on March 16, 2001 09:13:31 PMJust trying to find some place where I may be able to find my niche, that few items that I can count on being wanted.
Not to be negative, but I don't imagine that there are many people selling items that they can "count on being wanted" who are interested in increasing their competition. Sorry.
posted on March 16, 2001 09:18:21 PM
Hi! My suggestion: If somebody posts an idea in response to your thread that is a sure-fire, can't miss, goldmine niche....Don't try it. Everyone who reads the post will be trying it and it will no longer be a sure-fire, can't miss, goldmine niche!
posted on March 16, 2001 10:31:56 PM
I would recommend finding that particular item that you can only find as being special. I have a friend that has a contact for Blue Mountain coffee only available from the Blue Mountains in Jamaica. I have another that has a bee farmer nearby and sells 1 gallon paint buckets of honey with the comb..I spoke last week to a guy who has a hobby as a glass blower and makes beautiful items..They all do well! I would try to find something that is easy to ship too. Find a good direct supplier nearby of something nice and talk to him and express how you could help each other and run with it.
posted on March 17, 2001 12:54:03 AM
Drop shipping is against ebay rules, and violates auctions rules in many states. If someone wins an auction of yours and you can't get the item to the bidder you are up the creek without a paddle. It may even get you into trouble with the law. There were a few sellers who sold beanie babies, and they ended up with fraud charges from their home states - all because they were auctioning bb that they didn't have and then they were late on delivery. I think legally a seller has up to 6 weeks to get an item to the bidder (falls under mail order with the post office)
posted on March 17, 2001 05:01:43 AM
I said I agree with you all about the drop shipping, OK?
Now I was not asking anyone to tell me what their items are, just some sources. I am sure there are places out there that have more than one item. Maybe I can appeal to my own market if I could just find a source that has been reliable. OH well guess no body want to share reliable sources. Fine I will just keep trying to find something to support my 3 little ones. Thanks Anyways!
I am also supporting my family through sales on ebaY as are many others.However we have a difference I took the time and it took me a long time to find an niche market.
I set up my own supplier source most outside of the US.I had to arrange for my own shipping from the source to here in the US.
It took me 2 years to establish those sources of supply a lot of time and effort went into finding those.I have a huge data base of sources of supply I have built up.
Point is never once did I ever ask anyone out there what sells well and where do you get your items from.
Why not go into the local Walmart ask for the store manager or any good retail business and ask them the same questions and see what answer you get.
No one here wants to create more competition in their category,so they are not likely to give you the info you need.
One thing I can tell you is you have access to the internet,start and search there,play around with words and you might be suprised at what you come up.
It takes time and effort to build up a good business and not something that built on the backs of others free of charge.
Sorry had to rant,this is one of the most annoying threads I find here on AW and they pop up about once a month or so.
Well off to my new sales job where I can supplement my ebaY due to the increase in competition and items now currently listed on ebaY compared to what it was a few years ago.
Not a complaint just a fact of life so like anything else you adjust with it.
posted on March 17, 2001 07:43:57 AM
Well this is not what I asked for! Was not asking for any trade secrets, no one's favorite item to sell. You can not tell me that out of all the resources that all the ebay and aw people are using that they only supply one item, or one kind of item. Maybe my likes are different from yours. I was just wondering about resources, these companies that supply you with merchandise have a broad spectrum of merchandise, you are not all selling everyitem. I am done. Just had to vent also!!!
posted on March 17, 2001 08:08:13 AM
fluffy, suppliers often do sell just one kind of merchandise. when i worked for a retail company (department store) we bought our purses from the purse suppliers, our scarves from the scarf suppliers, etc. I hope you can understand that giving you names ofted *does* mean giving away your source. Companies who supply a whole lot of things (such as discounters) are often not reliable, what they have this week is not the same as next week, so they are often not a good person to recommend to a newbie.
Having said that, I would say that your best bet would be to stay away from new items and locate your vintage items through the same sources that most of us here do: garage sales, thrift stores, auctions at storage spaces, etc. There is no 'magic supplier' who can give you the things that sell well all the time. That definition changes from week to week or month to month. I can understand your frustration, but ebay is genuinely not an easy way out for a person without a specialty or some kind of niche. To find your own will take some soul searching. What items do you know well? If you have kids, maybe it's toys or kids clothes. Then you have to search under completed auctions to see if those items are selling for good money. If they are not, then you have to come up with some other field that you 'know' well enough to have skilled judgement at picking items. I know that people here toss around the idea of supporting a family with their earnings, and I know some do. I personally make a nice second income. But it's not as easy as having someone tell you a source. You have to do your own homework----what sources are available right in your hometown? Look in the yellow pages, or call up the Chamber of Commerce and ask who the manufacturers are in your area. Then call and see if they are selling something you can re-sell. I still say used items are better for the small seller, but it sounds like you don't want stuff cluttering up the house. I'm afraid there's not much alternative to that unless you rent a storage space.
There is an item that's been a runaway hit for several people, and it can be purchased in huge quantities direct from overseas distributors.
You know those cheap Taiwanese Pocketwatches? They make them so well now that you really have to look hard to be able to tell that they might not be the very expensive collectible ones made late in the 19th century.
I've never done it myself, but people have described how they were able to make contact with suppliers through postings here, and then were able to buy thousands of the watches for as little as $.19 each, depending on the quantity ordered.
Once they had them, it was a simple thing to flood the collectibles:watches:pocketwatches category with their listings because there's alway room in that category for more items without making a search too cumbersome.
During several periods over the last few years many sellers have been able to achieve wild successes by offering the interested bidders for pocketwatches a realistic alternative to the extraordinarily overpriced real items.
Many of the people who have done this have reported that they received hundreds of thank you type messages from their buyers for giving them a way to escape the pretentious stuffed shirt types who seem to feel as though they are an elite class of ebay seller.
posted on March 17, 2001 08:56:29 AM
Fluffy - While you may not need the pre-sale info, someone else might. So please allow me to use your thread to share ebays rules.
RainyBear & Kellyb1 - Pre sales are ALLOWED on ebay. Do a search on their site map if you don't believe. I've copied and pasted from ebay's site.
Pre-Sale Listings
Pre-sale Listings are those that advertise the sale of items that are not in the control or possession of the seller at the time of the listing. These listings generally consist of items that are sold in advance of a delivery date to the general public.
eBay does permit pre-sales on a limited basis, as long as the seller guarantees that the item will be available for shipping by the 30th day from the closing date of the listing. You may not list an item where you cannot ensure that the item will be available for shipping by the 30th day after the listing ends.
A seller who lists a "pre-sale" item on eBay must clearly indicate within the listing the fact that the item is a pre-sale item and a delivery date that indicates the item will be shipped by the 30th day from the end date of the listing. Additionally, this text must be HTML font size 3 (at a minimum.) eBay will end any listing that is a pre-sale, which does not include this information.
Such a policy ensures that bidders can pay for an item and still have the option to use eBay's feedback system, insurance program and other protections.
Please click here to view the FTC's Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule.
edited to add URL and correct my mispelling of RainyBear's name. Sorry.
posted on March 17, 2001 09:15:36 AM
Hi fluffy2966,
I see that you are in the Moderator's corner asking this thread to be locked. You came here asking for advice and there are some people that are trying to help you. You may not like the answers you are getting but that's just the way it is.
What do you like to collect? What are your interests? Do you have extra things around your house that you can sell? Do you make any crafts that may sell? Try lots of different items and see what happens. If you don't collect anything and you don't like going to garage sales or thrift stores you may have trouble selling antiques and collectibles.
To buy wholesale items you may need quite a bit of money up front and also have a tax #. Selling on ebay isn't always easy but there are still lots of opportunities to make money if you find the right niche. It will work better for you if it is an item that you have some knowledge of. I wish you luck.
posted on March 17, 2001 11:43:27 AM
"OH well guess no body want to share reliable sources. Fine I will just keep trying to find something to support my 3 little ones. Thanks Anyways!"
Fluffy - The GUILT trip is not going to work. We all have mouths to feed here, and have worked hard to build our on line businesses.
I have always wondered why when you do not give someone something they want (without working for it I might add) they try and give you a guilt trip. You are MEAN because you won't give me what I want.
Pack the bags we are going on a guilt trip. I think not!
[ edited by Drivingmetodrink on Mar 17, 2001 01:00 PM ]
posted on March 17, 2001 12:10:43 PM
fluffy2966....let's see if I can say this just a little nicer ....I have looked at your auctions and especially your "about me" page... Hon, I am just an old nana and I will tell you that the sympathy in this world runs short when it comes to something like Ebay! You must become POSITIVE!! PLEASE...change the "ME" page. The clothes you are selling, combine them into bigger lots..No one will pay a starting price of $3.00 for three pair of little girl pants. Search the category...very big lots start at $3.00 and do very well. Sorry, don't get mad at me or any of us; this board is very helpful IF you listen.
PS....your pics are great!
[ edited by nanastuff on Mar 17, 2001 12:12 PM ]
[ edited by nanastuff on Mar 17, 2001 02:50 PM ]
posted on March 17, 2001 12:42:01 PM
Hi again Fluffy,
Now I see that you are already trying to sell many different items. I think your auctions look really good and I also compliment you on your pictures. I don't really think you need the pics of the rings on the finger though as they show better otherwise.
I agree that your Me page should be changed as it sounds quite "depressing" and doesn't give anyone confidence to bid. Also there may be some men that would like to bid but if they read the comment about them being useless around the house it may be a turnoff.
I think you have to just keep trying and it does take lots of work. I do wish you the best.
I am leaving this thread open against the wishes of the originator. Since fluffy2966
did not ask for advice on her current auctions, I wonder if you would please edit the auction number.
Find retailers in your area that sell your specialty. Buainess is slow and many will split profits with you for selling their items on the internet. You take the photos and they hold the item. This menas you do not lay the money or the space, the reatiler does.
Don;t let anyone tell you this does not work, it does! But you must be positive, interview with retailers and really put your sales skills to the test to get their support. A retailer has to wait for 10, 12 even 50 people a day to walk into his store. You can show his goods to thousands each day! The key is within you! Good luck to you!
posted on March 17, 2001 05:23:31 PM
You may want to look at "Take It To Auction" (TTA). I don't actually recommend the site, as a matter of fact I hate it, but it's an interesting business concept. You pay a yearly fee of $500 minimum. The $500 turns into credits which you can select items to have listed. You don't carry inventory, list items, contact bidders nor ship items. That is all done by TTA. If the item doesn't sell, you're out nothing, your credits are always refunded back to you whether the item sells or not. You get any profit above the start bid. Most items are listed on ebay.
Now the bad parts. They list the items with a high start bid and hardly anything gets bids, and when it does you're likely to only get a $1 profit, no exaggeration. Not a good return on your investment. Also, at the end of the year you lose your origional $500.
A couple big sellers claim they make a ton of money with TTA. But after studying about 100 TTA auctions they are probably the only ones making any profit, because 80% of the items don't get a single bid.
There's always a huge tradeoff when you have someone else carry all the risk of carrying inventory, and that is your profits will not be good.
Decide what general categories you're interested selling in. The more focused and persistant you are the more likely you'll find sources. My best source I literally stumbled upon because I was persistant in searching. Most companies go to trade shows to make larger purchases. If you want to remain a small seller, hop on the internet and search and search and search. Eventually you'll find a company that is good for your needs. Along the way you'll probably learn a thing or two about your field.
not bid!