posted on February 11, 2002 08:21:04 PM new
I've thought about asking this question before but backed off because I wasn't sure if the AW masses would deem it "appropriate". But what the heck- I'll risk getting my head handed to me for a couple of good responses. My question is, can ONE person realistically expect to clear 60,000/yr selling sportscards/collectibles on ebay if willing to work his you know what off?? I'm not asking for free advice on how to do it. Just want to know if that kind of number is at all feasable through ebay in this day and time. I am 42 and make a good living in the 9 to 5 world but don't particularly enjoy it. Life's too short to not be excited about what one does 5 to 7 days a week. I'm very willing to put in the 14 hour days and research. I live in a large city (Dallas) where finding adequate quantities of inventory is possible. Would doing ebay and having a B&M location be a better way to go if that kind of income is desired?? Many thanks for your responses.
posted on February 11, 2002 08:32:22 PM new
With sportscards, my guess is yes if you deal in the right material - Probably graded cards, or unopened product. It probably requires having a lot of capital to get started, easily a six figure amount for those kind of sales.
Sportscards are usually not a product you can buy, and expect to double what you pay for. It's a pretty small markup. To clear $60,000, you might have to move $500,000 worth of product. Unless dealing with very high value cards, you will be working a lot (but it is more fun than most 9-5 jobs) - I don't do this full time, but I do this in addition to an internet consulting business. I love being self employed.
posted on February 11, 2002 09:40:32 PM new
With sportscards, the question is can you get the inventory at a cheap enough price. I have been attending sports card shows since 1976, for most of that time as a dealer. I have found that in the last two years my ability to buy cards at shows from collectors has absolutely dried up. The folks that used to sell to me now sell on ebay themselves.
On the other hand, if you have the buying sources, the sky can be the limit.
posted on February 11, 2002 09:57:14 PM new
It's probably affected a lot of hobbies. Only 5 years ago, there were few places for a collector to sell their material. These days, Ebay generally will get better results than a dealer can offer, considering the dealer has to buy low enough to make a profit to support their business. Maybe this is why so many hobby shops are gone too, they probably get very little in terms of collectors selling to them, in addition to many collectors now buying online as well...
posted on February 12, 2002 06:11:09 AM new
And don't forget that half.com also has a trading card section. Half.com has had the effect of lowering the prices you can expect on ebay, especially in the last year or so.
As a previous poster said, "Don't quit your day job."
posted on February 12, 2002 06:21:39 AM new
I have been selling sportscards for about 20+ years. Started out doing mostly small shows and graduated to the larger shows around the country. The costs of doing shows in relation to the sales prompted me to start selling on eBay about 3 years ago part-time and full time since last April.
You can expect an average Sportscard produced from 1990-up to return less than 25-50% (sometimes not even that good) of Beckett price guide for ungraded material. Graded material will return 40-70% of book depending on the grading company, the grade and the demand for the player.
Pre 1980 cards in graded condition bring closer to book values while ungraded material returns are usually less than 50% of book price.
Sourcing enough inventory to support a return of $60,000 annual net income will be the most difficult chore you face. Not to mention the scanning, listing and fullfillment of orders. You should try to buy material for not more than 10-15% of book.
You may want to expand beyond the eBay arena to include your own web-site, advertising in some of the hobby publications, attending major card shows around the country.
You can make a nice living doing this. Substantial capital and existing inventory to get started is essential. Plan on working as much as 10-12 hour days sometimes 6-7 days a week. Offer accurately described product, give oustanding customer service and your chances of success increase.
posted on February 12, 2002 08:21:02 AM new
Before you quit your 9-5 job to work 14 hour days on your own, how about committing to TWO hours each and every evening for a month, starting tonight?
You'll learn a lot, test the waters and hopefully make a few bucks with only a little risk.
After a month, you'll be in a lot better position to decide what to do.
As others have mentioned here, selling on eBay is easy. It's buying quality merchandise at good enough prices for resale that can quickly become a problem for you.
Another thing- committing two hours each evening after work will also show you how well you will work on your own. After a 9-5 jobs, two hours each evening can seem like lot of work. If you can't handle it, maybe you shouldn't be thinking about working alone. There's only one wat to know for sure!
posted on February 12, 2002 09:23:03 AM new
You need to diversify enough with your products to cover the cyclical nature of business. Collectibles is a very soft market. Also I don't see a real future with eBay but that's quite another issue.
If you have enough determination, you can make it work, but you need to plan to have a completely self-sustainable web site/B&M because dependancy on eBay is not a wise business model.
posted on February 12, 2002 12:55:53 PM new
As many have said -- DONT QUIT YOUR DAY JOB!.
I sold (past tense) full time for three years with Gross Sales of $250,000 with Gross Profits of $125,000 but then take off Ebay Fees, PayPal Fees, ISP Fees, Picture hosting fees, Expenses for getting saleable inventory. Then on top of that $5000 for healh insurance, Self Employment tax, Income Tax, State Tax, Local Tax, Sales Tax -- you are luck to end up with $20,000.
Then I have found the sports card market to be extremely low priced - Post 1990's your are lucky to get 10% of Beckett - Yes - Graded cards are better but then you have to put another $7 to $10 of cost into them. Plus grading is subjective -- I do not know how many cards -- I personally took out of packages - examined under the microscope - Yes a Microscope -- only to have them come back a PSA 7 or 8 -- making the plastic holder worth more than the card itself.
Then the next problem is sports cards seem to have an inherent higher level of None Paying Bidders -- Probably because a lot of kids look for their favorite player bids and then will not follow with a payment when Mon and Dad find out.
Unless you have a source where you can find $1.2 million dollar Beckett Price collection that you hope to be able to sell at 10% of Beckett or $120,000 that you can buy for something less than $60,000, you may want to rethink - LEAVING YOUR DAY JOB.
posted on February 12, 2002 05:19:02 PM new
Thanks to all for the great responses and info. Ahc3- We were both thinking along the same lines as far as inventory required. I figured that I would need 400,000+ each year. I think replaymedia's suggestion is valid: commit to a consistent part-time schedule and see where that takes me.
I have two people I know and trust that are willing to open a B&M location with me. That would allow me to diversify to the store/ebay/trade show option instead of putting all of my eggs into the ebay basket.
Your candid responses are not pushing me away from trying to be able to do what I enjoy. But you have given me alot of variables that I realize I need to figure out BEFORE I dive into the deep end. I'm looking forward to finding out if I have what it takes. Keep posting if you have more ideas and thanks again.
posted on February 12, 2002 05:21:23 PM new
years ago,a good antique dealer who has access to endless antiques and near antiques can clear 60,000.
then comes the dealers in electronic goods such as pc,laptop and digital scanners and cameras,they could have made 100,000 before the field becomes so crowded.
other than that,i dont know who else can,maybe booksellers who have good outof print books which he never have a chance to unload until ebay comes along.
what i want to know is how does one become a dealer of electronic goods such as sony mavica and brand name laptops etc,dont you have to have a store before these makers let you become a dealer??
can someone enlighten me?
i know it is too late ,but just want to know.
or are these relatives of someone who has a store ??
posted on February 12, 2002 06:12:14 PM new
The great thing about ebay is you can do it as little or as much as you want. Doing it part time to see if it is possible is a very good idea.
posted on February 12, 2002 09:10:37 PM new
a friend of mine who is 78 years old engineer ,his wife past away and left behind her collection of baseball cards.
if anyone is interested in purchasing it,email me at [email protected]
posted on February 13, 2002 08:09:47 PM new
If you have the stones to make it happen - 60 k can be made. With sports cards .... I dont know. There are people here on AW who easily clear 6 figures selling computer parts and hardware. Two years ago I wouldnt beleive one could pay the rent with ebay earnings. Today I pay my rent and expenses with ebay income - Im positive I could do much more . Lots of good advice in this thread - The suggestion to do it 2 hours daily and see what happens is one of the best.
Good Luck
posted on February 13, 2002 11:05:52 PM new
I admit this may sound corny. But, if you want it bad enough you can make it happen! Sports cards are tough, but hey, I have a friend who clears $280K a year selling life insurance door to door. Yes, he has been doing it a while. So what? He made it happen. Time and perseverance..... Have you got what it takes? You decide. We wish you the best of luck!
posted on February 18, 2002 03:57:15 PM new
HI, I sell sports memorabilia dn I know I could make that much but am scared to leave my day job as I make more there. I can provide you with info on the stuff I have if you wish to email me at [email protected]
posted on February 19, 2002 05:40:32 AM new
Add on an informational product about 'how to collect sports cards' and you can make $60,000! Write an eBook and use Adobe Acrobat to create a PDF file.
Get your own web site and newsletter and drive your eBay traffic to you...
I have GREAT success doing this with my product (I even wrote a book about it)!
