ewora
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posted on October 9, 2006 04:21:48 PM
I met with a guy yesterday who has a half a million in inventory warehoused in the Alaska bush. When he found out I sold on eBay and took consignments he was delighted. Apparently he buys a lot on eBay but has never sold anything. He would like to fly me out to the warehouse so I can take a look at the stuff. (He's in construction - as in runways and road construction, etc...)
Anyway he didn't blink an eye when I told him I take 30% plus fees. He said it could take 3 or 4 years to sell it all. He would even hire me as an employee if I'd prefer.
Employment would have it's advantages as I would be getting benefits again. I'm guessing if I opted for employment I would ask for it to be a salaried position??? Should I ask for a bonus if sales exceed a certain amount every year.
The job would most likely involve me traveling to the warehouse at least once a month.
I'm supposed to call him in November to set up a time to go out and see the stuff. I want to go in with an offer/plan.
I've been out of the serious job market for so long....
I'm looking for opinions on what would you do?
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niel35
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posted on October 9, 2006 04:28:53 PM
if you meet with him out in the bush, take your husband or a guard dog.
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ewora
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posted on October 9, 2006 04:34:08 PM
He has a wife. He's about 60 years old. I feel pretty safe. He's the COO of the company and they are affiliated with a Native Corporation here. They have offices in Anchorage and in the bush. There are about 450 people in the town.
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ebayvet
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posted on October 9, 2006 04:38:50 PM
30% of half a million is $150k - Over 3 years that is 50k per year. Not a bad chunk of change, but of course that is assuming a 100% sellthrough. My sellthrough on ebay has gone down a lot. Even a 50% sellthrough reduces thht to $25k per year. It would seem to me the guy would be losing money if he pays someone 30% plus all fees - Especially for stuff that he purchased on ebay. I would certainly talk to him more before even going out there. It's a good idea to see what people's expectations are. I once met with a stamp dealer who had an extensive inventory, and wanted to sell it. He knew I was on ebay, so we met. Before even talking about commission and all the other ground rules, I chatted with him about what his expectations about selling on ebay were. I never had to get to the commissions, because I knew it would be a waste of time. This guy wanted to sell things on ebay to make a profit, and not to sell an inventory. The prices that he would have wanted would have meant a very very low sellthrough, and I would have been wasting my time.
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ewora
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posted on October 9, 2006 04:43:16 PM
It's not stuff he bought on ebay. It's left-overs from major construction projects. I'm not sure what that means exactly. He's been on eBay and seems to feel it's worth something.
That was basically why I thought being an employee would be better because then I get paid no matter what.
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profe51
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posted on October 9, 2006 04:50:24 PM
Typical, it's stuff that his clients paid for and he got to keep. It's pure gravy for him. Too bad you didn't quote him 40 or 50%.
____________________________________________
Grow your own Dope. Plant a Republican.
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irked
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posted on October 9, 2006 04:52:28 PM
I would not go anywhere with him without a strong body guard. You never know about people and any deep dark secrets, especially if you are female. Don't want to rain on your parade but be careful either way. Background check would not hurt either. Guess I am being overly paranoid but been watching some court TV today while sick with crud and its got my mind in the criminal cutter so to say.
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on October 9, 2006 05:20:14 PM
You have to think why he doesn't just hire someone for an hourly rate to sell the stuff for him. Chances are that he would pick your brain and then do just that. I would think a contact is in order after you see the stuff. It could be 1/2 million in junk!
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on October 9, 2006 05:50:37 PM
Leftovers from major construction projects, shipped from Nowhere, Alaska.
I'm just wondering who is going to want to pay to have this stuff freighted to the lower 48.
fLufF
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ewora
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posted on October 9, 2006 06:18:38 PM
It wouldn't cost any or much extra then it would be if it were coming from Anchorage. Postage costs are just one of the disadvantages of living up here.
The post office has some special postage deal with the bush communities. Becuase so many items have to be mailed in they get some sort of a bulk discount or something.
The village is on the water and things can be sent out via barge. Also, small planes, both float and regular, can fly in.
I am hoping at least some or most of the stuff isn't huge because getting heavy freight shipping quotes are a pain in the you know what. The last heavy things I eBayed were around 250 pounds each...I swore never again. They were some of the items I sold last year that generated the most interst however and the sales bumped me up to silver level for a time. So people do pay the freight from Alaska depending upon the item. There was a lot of overseas interest.
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hwahwa
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posted on October 9, 2006 06:44:05 PM
why you??
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ewora
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posted on October 9, 2006 08:00:51 PM
Chance. Large town with a small town mentality. We are moving across town and had a for rent sign up on the house. This guy came to look at it as he needs a part time place for when he is in Anchorage. In the course of conversation it came out that I did eBay consignments.
I don't believe there are that many people in Anchorage that take consignments. Certainly nobody with my experience.
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sthoemke
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posted on October 9, 2006 09:36:36 PM
30% sounds about right.
I don't know how someone acummulates $500,000 in items in an Alaskan town of 460 people(?).
The type and size of the items seem to be the key factor.
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hwahwa
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posted on October 10, 2006 05:25:41 AM
The more you talk to him,the more you know about him and his expectations,I would not ask to be on his payroll yet.
He may say he does not mind paying you 30% plus fees,but if he is not happy with the prices fetched on Ebay,he could change his mind.
Also dont forget all that Ebay craps like item not as described,item significantly not as described,insurance claims,shipping snafu etc etc.
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on October 10, 2006 05:42:58 AM
Make it his account, with his credit card etc. Don't put yourself at risk in anyway at all if you can help it.
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hwahwa
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posted on October 10, 2006 06:22:22 AM
No risk no reward,30% of 1/2 million inventory,you have to take some risks!
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jackswebb
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posted on October 10, 2006 07:57:15 AM
Leftovers from construction sites.....backloaders, skiploaders.etc. Texas is FULL of that stuff. NO rust most likely. How much is RENT and FOOD in Alaska? Sounds like you'lll just be doing the same thing we all do, living from hand to mouth. $50,000 a year can be made right here. Not to mention Brrrrrrrrrrrr. You make sales he's happy, you don't,,,,YOU don't eat. No sweat off his,,,,,,,
Pass.....
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ewora
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posted on October 10, 2006 06:17:22 PM
Thank you all for chiming in with your opinions. You have given me ideas for more questions. I suppose I will move forward cautiously. Maybe take a trip out there and get an idea what I'm really dealing with.
Sorry my response took so long. I was flying into Vegas. Big Sweet Adeline convention this week. I'm loving the weather!
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agitprop
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posted on October 10, 2006 07:15:42 PM
You might want to check freight fees from Alaska to the Middle East as I know at recent heavy- & construction-equipment auctions (real world not online) locally in NZ and Australia, a lot of surplus equipment was sold to Kuwaiti and Jordanian outfits. It's then resold at huge markups to Iraqi contractors (to be paid for by USA taxpayers of course)...
Home of the best eBay auction fee & PayPal calculators: http://auctionfeecalculator.com
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irked
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posted on October 11, 2006 12:34:27 AM
sell in his name not your name or ID If it did do well then you pay all taxes. You sell in his name he pays the taxes. Well there is more to it but that is main idea to think about.
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