Demystifying the eBay selling experience

Daylong seminars, held in locations around the country, introduce people to "Selling Basics" in eBay speak.
The New York Times

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Ebay Selling Experience

I'd hate to say the hype ebay gnerates is not worthy of the fact that millions of people lose money on ebay on listing fees.

Why can't ebay release stats on what percentage of it's members actually go on to make a positive income?

This will seperate the ebay myth from reality...

[lingsun]

eBay's listing fees are very low.

eBay's listing fees are very low.

<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/fees.html?fromFeature=Sell%20Your%20Item" target="_newWindow">http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/fees.html?fromFeature=Sell%20Your%20Item</a>

I can sell an item at $9.99 and the fees total just $0.87. I buy and sell stuff all the time. I just bought a sealed copy of Windows 98 SE upgrade for $15 at Goodwill and should get $40 for it on eBay. eBay exists to make money. They don't have an obligation to make sure their sellers earn a living.

[lingsun]

Writer is too lazy to list items worth $200???

The writer is too lazy to list items they could sell for $200? Sounds pretty stupid to me.

[Rusdude]

I agree, losing 50% isn't good

I totally agree. eBay prices go at a discount, but losing 50-60% of the value isn't smart.

[johnmarzy]

What about Shipping Fees?

You left out an important aspect of what an items sells for. The iSold It stores, as a rule not an exception, typical doubbles the actual shipping costs and sees it as an additonal profit center not to be shared with the seller. Nothing wrong with an additional profit center, however most "buyers" add in the cost of seller shipping to determine what the will pay for an item. So the higher the fees charged the lower the buyers bid.

[Rusdude]

It's not that difficult! / Better Idea

Seriously, I don't see why it's so difficult to go through a short learning process in a FREE eBayU -- not only do you save 30%+ commission but also the time it takes to drop off the item (you could list the item in a time it takes to drive to the drop off location).

Of course, if the writer was a savvy shopper, he'd return those sabers to a retail outlet (I'm pretty sure big stores carried them). Even without a receipt, they at least would've given a store credit in a form of that store's gift card.

[thedevilbegone]

Not for me.

Often even the least prices at ebay at bidding is costlier than the local hardware. (Specifically electronic items) And if there is one around the market price, the shipping costs are more than enough to increase the prices by another few price points. Also if the hardware is defective, it's a long run around. And the rating system for vendors can be spiked by some vendors. I prefer not to use it anymore. It's too bad for my finances.