otteropp
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posted on May 29, 2013 11:34:41 PM new
I came across this seller today and for the life of me can't figure out how they are making money. They have great feedback so I am not questioing their honesty or integrity just how they make money?
wendyw3612
It is posted using the 'Mobile' that eBay is so excited about but look at the description!
Can anyone throw any light on how after Fees they can remain solvent??
Could be I am missing a point here!
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Damariscotta
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posted on May 30, 2013 03:09:10 AM new
I looked at some completed auctions, and am fascinated with the bidding - three separate bids, with the winner at .17!
Will the under-bidders be fuming about some Mr. Moneybags that can come in and snipe their .04 bid?
I realize they are just mediocre post cards, but if they aren't even worth even .25 to you, why would you bother sitting in front of the computer to bid?
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ebabestreasures
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posted on May 30, 2013 03:58:52 AM new
They are either really bored with life or just got a new smart phone and love using it??
They even buy PC lots off ebay and it doesn't look like they are making any profit on them.
OMG they give free shipping too.
They must be trying to build their FB up or become a TRS.
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neglus
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posted on May 30, 2013 09:30:00 AM new
Beats me! She has to be losing money on every sale when you figure shipping costs and PayPal fees. You can't be a TRS unless you are willing to pay $1.64 to ship cards as first class package with EDC - hopefully she isn't doing that!
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http://www.moodymommy.com
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shagmidmod
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posted on May 30, 2013 10:00:40 AM new
My first thought when I read your post was that she was new and building feedback, but then I see she has sold plenty of items to no longer give things away.
Beats me.
When we first opened our store we had a dealer who rented space from us. I soon discovered that most of her items were purchased on eBay. A set of bowls would cost her $45 including shipping. Her price at our shop - $49. Huh?
She would buy furniture, invest $250-300 to reupholster it in some really tacky faux zebra fur fabric and ask $350.
She was with us for about 3 months. The funniest thing was that she sold one of these chairs the very first day she moved in, then never sold another piece of furniture the following 3 months.
To this day we point to her as the poster child of a person who doesn't have a lick of business sense.
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otteropp
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posted on May 30, 2013 12:35:16 PM new
ebabes...thank you for telling me that she gives Free Shipping. As she only ships to the US and I am in Canada I could not see how much (or little) she charges for Shipping.
Considering that she is in the red for every sale she makes no wonder she doesn't write descriptions!
Ok...so it's not just me that is totally baffled.
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shagmidmod
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posted on May 30, 2013 06:47:09 PM new
I'm tempted to ask them a question about this.
Maybe they received a lifetime free account???
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shagmidmod
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posted on May 30, 2013 06:49:12 PM new
oh and don't forget they offer a 14 day return!
that does it. I am contacting her to inquire.
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neglus
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posted on May 30, 2013 11:24:54 PM new
Let us know what she says. Looking at her completed listings - she hasn't made enough to pay for a stamp for her listings, let alone envelopes, inventory cost, and PayPal fees. Maybe she needs a tax write off?
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http://www.moodymommy.com
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alldings
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posted on May 31, 2013 03:15:14 AM new
Maybe she or he works for eBay and is running some sort of eBay test!
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merrie
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posted on May 31, 2013 05:45:36 AM new
Tax write off!
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shagmidmod
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posted on May 31, 2013 09:34:59 AM new
I emailed her yesterday and expressed my concerns about her listings with the "too good to be true" notion and wanted to know if there was a catch for her to take a loss on most of her items.
I have not heard from her, but the tax write off may be it.
Sell a bunch of cheap post cards for next to nothing and write off the room in her house, all collecting materials, her smart phone, computer, printer, furniture, etc.
She can get away with that for a few years, close her business and open another one. Pretty simple and legal.
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lostmymojo
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posted on May 31, 2013 10:10:24 AM new
She is not a TRS ,she is not shipping with DC,just an envelope and if you want to return it,you will have to spend $1.69 with DC to get your money back and how much is that .01??
But how much is she paying paypal,transaction fee would be 30 cents??
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neglus
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posted on May 31, 2013 11:02:11 AM new
Hopefully she signed up for PP micropayments - $.05 + 5%
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http://www.moodymommy.com
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lostmymojo
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posted on May 31, 2013 04:02:00 PM new
Can we all qualify for micro payments?
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neglus
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posted on May 31, 2013 04:36:26 PM new
Lostmy: You have to have a business account and it only makes sense if most of your payments are under $10. But yes, I don't think it's an exclusive club. Search "micropayments" on the PayPal site. I just signed up - I used to get higher prices for auctions and lots of combined orders so I thought it didn't make sense. Recent changes to eBay make auctions pretty much extinct and discourage combined orders.
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http://www.moodymommy.com
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lostmymojo
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posted on May 31, 2013 05:00:08 PM new
thanks,I would look into it
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neglus
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posted on June 7, 2013 11:25:15 AM new
I guess the seller isn't going to answer you, Shag. maybe she didn't realize how much money she was losing? Penny auctions just don't work all that well in the postcard category. You just can't be sure you are seen in the search.In fact, there are so many items listed that I think some buyers filter out the lowest priced items so they don't have to sort through a lot of junk. There will always be bottom feeders but those guys are never willing to pay close to what a postcard is worth. Free shipping is insane for postcard penny auctions!
Oh wait - she did make a total of $1.39 (not counting cost of acquiring stock) on the 12 auctions ended June 5th!
Total sales: 8.87
Postage Stamps FCM (assuming envelopes free): ($5.64)
Final Value Fees 9%: (.80)
Paypal Fees at .05+5%: (1.04)
Assume listing is free - net $1.39.
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http://www.moodymommy.com
[ edited by neglus on Jun 7, 2013 11:39 AM ]
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