I used to sell as a hobby on ebay (and Yahoo) back in 1999-2004. Never had a problem, and knew what was going on then. Used Vendio (or AuctionWatch if there is any old school sellers here) as my sales tool then. Made small amounts of extra money, not a lot. Had to give up the hobby when my daughter was born.
Now, it's 6 years later and I have some stuff that I'd like to get try and sell. Checked a couple things on ebay and actually saw bids and sales on some of these.
But before I jump in, I was curious what I should know, if anything, now as compared to 6 years ago? Has much changed? And is it still worth it?
posted on May 21, 2010 06:19:48 AM new
Ebay fees are higher and insurance is not optional,the seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the buyer in good shape.
More competition and lower final bid prices!
Paypal only !
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on May 21, 2010 09:20:03 AM new
all kidding aside, much has changed... some for the better, some for the much worse.
if you are just ridding yourself of some items you want to sell, then i wouldn't use vendio. vendio doesn't offer much to the casual seller any longer because eBay has added many features including free images (up to 12) per listing, better post sale management/checkout, shipping integration with paypal (print labels directly from paypal), and a few other small tools.
the benefits of paying fees to vendio include having templates, free scheduled listings, and inventory management... most things the casual seller doesn't need.
eBay is easier to use, but at the same time it is more expensive than ever, and new rules on sellers give more weight to buyers that have problems. basically, if you misrepresent something (even the most benign representation) or the item arrives damaged, you can expect the buyer to file a dispute and you will be subject to giving a refund (including original shipping costs) to the buyer once they return the item to you (they pay to return it).
there are many other changes, but those are the most obvious and glaring that i can think of that weren't already mentioned by others above.
posted on May 21, 2010 09:28:42 AM new
oh, feedback... sellers can't leave negative or neutral feedback for buyers. buyers can leave anything they want. there is also a new system referred to DSRs that allow buyers to rate sellers on 4 different categories on a scale of 1-5. The problem is that you need to maintain the most absurd highest rating (generally above 4.7) in all categories otherwise you won't get discounts or even be able to list in many cases. These categories include: Item Description, Seller Communication, Shipping Time, and Shipping Costs. Obviously, these are all subjective and oftentimes buyers consider paying any shipping costs at all, or waiting more than 3 hours for something arrive as negative... giving you a lower rating.
posted on May 21, 2010 09:29:50 AM new
Insurance is not optional?
Yes, I'm just going to rid myself of some stuff. As much as I would love to try and recreate the business I was doing before, I have a feeling that I wouldn't get very far. It was hard enough then to sell stuff for a profit, I'd imagine it's just as bad today.
You are probably right, listing directly with ebay would be better. I always liked the Vendio tools.
posted on May 21, 2010 09:57:00 AM new
So, does the seller still have any control (shipping options) or are you at the mercy of the buyer?
Personally, I was going to try and only use flat rate Priority and ship only to the US customers. Seemed as the simplest and easiest option for myself.
posted on May 21, 2010 10:19:31 AM new
yes,you can use USPS priority fixed rate shipping which comes with free DC if you print your label on line.
Once again,depends on what you sell,USPS prority fixed rate shipping is what about 9 dollars,so it could be viewed as expensive if you are selling low priced items.
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on May 21, 2010 10:23:23 AM new
Dont listen to Kozersky,if you have a few items to sell ,Ebay may just be your only venue if you want to raise money fast.
There is ETSY if your items are either home made or more than 20 years old.
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on May 21, 2010 10:48:59 AM new
are you aware you can list 100 auction items at starting bid of 99 cents free each month,if you do not have a store.
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on May 21, 2010 11:17:25 AM new
Hi. I just got a computer and found there is this thing called the internet. I see there is something called eBay where people buy and sell things. Can you people please explain to me what this is all about? I bought something in a store once. Is it like that?
posted on May 21, 2010 01:14:48 PM new
I mean for those who have more than one seller ID,the store ID cannot list items at 99 cents free,but non store ID can.
I am not thrilled with my 99 cents auctions,most ended at 99 cents.
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on May 21, 2010 03:47:57 PM new
So wgonzales, I assume that is ebays way of trying to force PayPal use, which in turn makes them more money. That change doesn't shock me for some reason. Did they do that recently? Kinda strange it wasn't implemented when they bought PayPal.
posted on May 21, 2010 06:18:13 PM new
If I recall correctly, they advised sellers of the policy in 2008 with a full implementation in 2009. So many new rules the past few years, it is hard to remember.
Although sellers are allowed to use other online payment options, your reasoning is right on the money.
No pun intended
posted on May 21, 2010 09:33:32 PM new
They dont accept paypal on Ebay Motors! or any industrial equipment sale!
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on May 31, 2010 03:33:50 PM new
Thanks again to everybody who responded with advice and insights.
I listed one whole auction! Woohoo! Hahaha
I will say, from my vague memories of the few times I used it, the ebay listing seemed smoother that it used to be. Oh course, once I found AuctionWatch I never looked back.
Is there a way to host your images off site yourself still? Either my web skills are rusty or something is wrong. Was in a hurry and just used ebays image service.
[ edited by tfseth on May 31, 2010 03:34 PM ]
[ edited by tfseth on May 31, 2010 03:35 PM ]
posted on May 31, 2010 04:05:32 PM new
yes,you can do it the old way,use your own photo hosting site but Ebay image hosting has improved.If you are listing collectibles,you can have up to 12 pictures free.
or is it 6 free?
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on May 31, 2010 04:39:20 PM new
Actually without a store, it depends upon the category. I don't have a store - I list a lot in collectibles - free pics, I also list a lot in jewelry - only 1 free pic.
posted on June 1, 2010 07:18:17 AM newHi. I just got a computer and found there is this thing called the internet. I see there is something called eBay where people buy and sell things. Can you people please explain to me what this is all about? I bought something in a store once. Is it like that?
Ha-ha. "Computer". "Internet". That's funny. What are they?
You've dreamed it all in an opium haze. You might think I'm speaking to you now but I'm really just a byproduct of that day-old sushi you had for lunch.
Next you'll be telling us about an emperor and his stately pleasure dome. As if.
posted on June 8, 2010 03:10:55 AM new
Thanks again everyone!
First listing ended successfully.
Received PayPal payment. Not eligible for "seller protection" which I stated it needed to be (I know, not really protected but I like following the guidelines). Checked the buyers recent history on ebay, he's purchased 20+ of these or very similar items in the last 2 weeks.
posted on June 8, 2010 04:05:37 AM new
Yes, ship it, he paid. I get those from time to time, doesn't seem to be any reason and so far, knock on wood, everything has been fine.
