posted on December 2, 2004 12:17:45 PM new
I've been ebaying pretty much full time for 3 years with varying degrees of success. I'm tired of tying up what little money I have in inventory that might or might not sell. I recently registered as a trading assistant. My question: Does anyone concentrate on selling for businesses as opposed to individuals? It seems to me that it might be better. They have a good understanding of sales, its ups and downs, and so forth. I know a few antique dealers and pawn shop owners I intend to talk with. Our local economy is real bad, so they have no trouble buying, but big trouble selling. Their prices are too high for me to buy to resell, but maybe the trading assistant is the way to go. Anyone have any success with this? Any tips? Thanks! Kevin Poore the_poore_house
posted on December 2, 2004 12:38:24 PM new
Hi Kevin! I've been a TA now for several months. I have approached a couple of the antique dealers near me and none of them have panned out. They don't like my percentage for one thing. Individuals have worked best for me. Of course, I did have to quit selling for one lady a few weeks ago. She wanted way too much as a minimum for her stuff. Anyway, I could go on and on, but just talk it up and go see those dealers - but have all your terms firmly in your head and don't waiver. It's a whole lot of work and the fees end up being 10-12%. That's part of my deal - I pay the fees, just because it's a cleaner deal and easier for people to understand. That's why at first they may balk at my percentage (it's only 30%, but it sounds like a lot when you first tell them). Good luck!
posted on December 2, 2004 12:47:04 PM new
I appreciate the advice! Speaking of fees, I was considering 25% commission + $9.95 for ebay and paypal fees. What do you think? I got those numbers from seeing a site that does trading assistants nationwide. I think it was Door-to-door auctions, or something like that. I was afraid that individuals might think their stuff was "gold," and if it didn't get what they thought it was worth they would be more of a pain than businesses. Have you run into that? Thanks!
posted on December 2, 2004 01:02:19 PM new
Kevin, I take a different angle on the trading assistant. I am doing fund raising for our Historical Society. Once a year they have a 'yard sale', I go through the stuff the night before and cull out what I think will sell. During the year different members bring me stuff to sell also. We have also been able to go through 2 homes after a member has passed and the family members want some of the stuff to go to raise funds for our new museaum.
Right now I have over 250 items to sell with another yard sale planned for March and no scrounging or advertising on my part!
I charge 30% and they pay for listings that don't sell. (It should really be higher). I pay for shipping. 2x a year we have our own yard sale and sell the items that don't sell.
I think there are a bejillion organizations that would love to raise funds and have members who would donate STUFF! They just need someone to list it for them.
Good luck, Louise
[ corrected & edited by herbscraftsgifts on Dec 2, 2004 01:03 PM ]
[ edited by herbscraftsgifts on Dec 2, 2004 01:04 PM ]
posted on December 2, 2004 02:12:13 PM new
Louise:
Thank you for the ideas. I never thought of fund raising. May I ask, where did you find your clients? Are they organizations you were already involved with or did you advertise? What type of advertisement works best for you?
Kevin
posted on December 2, 2004 02:14:55 PM new
herbs; why are you paying the shipping? I have done some T/A, but I never swallow the shipping, it is always the buyer who pays.
posted on December 2, 2004 08:46:42 PM new
The biggest problem with individuals is sometimes their belief of value that isn't really there. I've done very little commission selling on ebay, I've simply found it too much hassle, I seem to do better selling my own stuff. However, I won't reject it outright. I will talk to the person, and see where they are coming from. The biggest problem I have run into is perceived value over actual value. I deal a lot with collectibles, and in almost any variety, there is catalog value, and going value. It can be confusing, because some items can go above catalog price, and some can go for less than 5% - It really depends what it is. Most people who have collected something and later sell it (unless it is something they inherited or from their childhood 40 years ago) are going to lose money. They can't accept that, and it is a complete waste of time. I just politely pass and tell them that we can't do business because current prices and catalog prices are two different things, and I can't be listing stuff on ebay that simply won't sell.
posted on December 2, 2004 09:10:44 PM new
I do consignments for a few different businesses as well. All involve brand new items and sometimes clearance items where they simply can't move the product in their stores and don't want to get stuck having to count it in the year end inventory. I charge 20% of the gross plus all listing and final charges except for one company where they sell one of a kind items where the average selling price is usually in the $1200 range where I charge a flat $100 plus listing and final charges.
You may find trying businesses that deal in new items might be the way to go for you as well. Good luck either way.
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Alive in 2005
posted on December 3, 2004 04:27:55 AM new
I am a member of the organization, so I slid into it very easily.
When I said I paid shipping, I meant from the organizations point of view. The buyer actually pays but I keep any extra. I don't share that with them.
No need to advertise. I have more than I can handle now!!! The members of this group are very committed to the building project and it just happens that 2 prominent members died and their relatives are also officers. It was natural for them to want to donate to the cause from the estates.
Since it is a charity, I am not making alot of money from it, (that's my contribution to them) but for stangers I think I would charge 35- 40%. On low end things 30% barely covers costs. Louise
posted on December 3, 2004 04:39:34 AM new
<<The biggest problem with individuals is sometimes their belief of value that isn't really there>>
That is the best part of this plan. From the organizations point of view, each item is only worth what they can get at a yard sale $1.00 - $2.00, maybe only 10 cents. And what they don't sell gets donated to a local thrift shop. So there really are no expectations of value. Whatever it sells for is way better than what they would have gotten if they kept it - if it even sold.
When we have our own yard sale and sell the leftovers, we still get more for the stuff than what they had it originaaly priced.
Which bring up another question - How many times do you list a item? I cycle these 2 times. Louise
posted on December 3, 2004 06:05:12 AM new
herbscraftsgifts,
I am surprised that you don't put them in an ebay store for a couple of months also, for the nicer pieces. Just a thought. I sell some consignment stuff on ebay, for friends, and do this. Makes it nice this time of year having a variety of stock out already.
Kevin (More Coffee!)
