My understanding from my friend is that the new rules on eBay make it possible for a buyer to give negative feedback to a seller, but not the other way around. There is no restitution for sellers who have who have winning bidders who don't pay and buyers seem to have the real only rights in a sale.
Could be wrong, but this is what my friend who was a power seller told me.
Whoa! That's not good. Though I have to say, I bought something and paid immediately. I was not given feedback until I had given the seller their feedback. Other sellers always gave me feedback when I paid quickly.
I'm going to have to go check this out. It doesn't sound good!
Yep, that's how it is. As a seller, I can't leave negative feedback so I never leave feedback until the buyer does. Ebay really changed their policies lately and not in favor of sellers. Most buyers are great but every once in a while I get a jerk. Postage has gone up so much and some people ask me to reduce what I charge. Unless I can clear at least $10, I just donate the item.
Well, y'all have just about talked me out of it.
What am I supposed to do with all this stuff? Any other suggestions?
We are poor. My MIL is close to poor. We can't donate it all to thrift shops. We've already given a lot of it away.
I'm sick of this economy. I'm sick of everything going up and up, and our salaries staying the same.
(I've pretty much hit bottom today. I've been angry all day. My husband asked me what was wrong with me, and I told him, "I hate my life!" That's pretty much the way I'm feeling.)
Cheer up, sounds like you are overwhelmed and you have good reason, you have been decluttering for a while. Lots of decisions to make and crap to deal with.
Ebay isn't all bad. I've sold a lot of stuff on it. I made $286.00 this month selling stuff I had that I didn't want.
Why don't you try listing a couple of items and see how it goes?
@Claycat, it sounds like you have hit an Uncluttering plateau - and for good reason. I think it is draining and a bit frustrating to have these piles of stuff that you now have decided you should remove through uncluttering - and then not only are you not sure how you should get rid of it all, but also I find it depressing to either: a) know I just wasted money if it's something I bought and now am getting rid of or b) no matter where it came from, it's got value but I can't figure out how to try to actually leverage that.
Also, I want to say that you have provided invaluable support to me - just a newcomer last week to these boards! - as I've been trying to start this process, so know that outside of this economy, you're making a difference and paying it forward in a different way. Not as good as a fat paycheck, I know, but important because sometimes it just feels like a grind.
It's hard also not to feel like you've done all this uncluttering but it's not PRISTINE - roomy, clutter free, like a room in the magazines! I still look at things and know I put it in a place that shouldn't be its final resting home but I just can't do it all right now.
Is there a friend or family member that you could decide to do eBay with together - I know you were talking about your husband, but someone who could come over and you two could make it fun? You and he / she both gather up ALL your eBay items for one fun eBay Blitz session! One can take pictures, the other can line up the listings, then work together (I think it's a little fun to decide what you put in the listing to make it sound compelling!) Have a laugh, tell the stories of the things, make it a social time - and in my scenario - I'd also have a glass of wine!
That might lighten the burden of doing it, but you'll still achieve the first listings on eBay. If it doesn't sell in the first batch, you'll know that it's not worth your time. Since Sunday is the best time to list for regular consumer things, then if you do a Sunday afternoon, you'd be perfect.
Other ideas:
- Is there any decent clothes consignment store near you? I take mine to one around the corner - and I probably could get more if I sold each item individually on eBay but I don't have the time. I get a check from her once a quarter - and it's a pittance compared to what I spent on the clothes but I still feel good all the same! And, best part for me, what she doesn't think will sell, SHE takes to Goodwill which lightens the burden on me and is also likely the same scenario for eBay or elsewhere.
- Do you have Junior League or community home consignment shop? Sometimes you can take things there and they'll sell - again, you only get a small percentage.
- A group garage / tag sale? The idea of having one myself is immediately draining - even though we could sell about 1,000 things. But, i did one with my neighbors once and it was easy and fun.
In the end, even if you don't decide to sell it on eBay, or actually no matter what you're feeling, you can come here to get support and tell us that you had a rock bottom day. We don't know you personally but can send you digital Uncluttering hugs because we've all been there before - and likely will be there again.
(Hug)
Alexa
Thanks, Sky & Alexa! I appreciate the moral support. And...I appreciate all the advice, Alexa. Unfortunately, I don't have such a person, Alexa. I've been in this itty bitty town in central Texas for 12 years, and I haven't really made any friends. There are some nice people, but it is a very closed town. I'm still considered an outsider. I have good friends, but they are far away.
My husband did say something nice today. He told me to learn how to do eBay and teach it to him. He said then he can quit his job, and we can do it together. With the shipping costs going up like they are, I don't know if that is feasible.
I posted a large easel on craigslist yesterday. A guy in Austin sent me an email saying he liked the easel, but it would cost him the price I was charging to come pick it up. Gasoline, like postage, is totally unreasonable.
Sky, I was encouraged by what you've said you made this month.
Thanks for putting up with me! Hugs back!
You may not see me for a couple of days. I'm not coming back until I've put something on eBay.
@Claycat - That's what we're here for...
I'm sorry my suggestion won't work out for you - I haven't actually done it myself but it sounds like a great idea! LOL. What if you and your husband try to make an evening or a bit of time to do it together each week? You can learn together while you do it - which is actually nice husband/wife time outside of the whole issue of selling?
Or, since you have found an online community, maybe we can try to set up our own challenge where those of us trying to (or actively eBaying) start a thread where we post one item (or as many as we can) a week and then share our auction to show our success! We'll be your eBay Blitz buddies!
I hit an eBay roadblock today when I went with new determination because of this thread to list these Ariat Riding Boots that I have brand new (NIB) and figured out they don't make this style # anymore. Mind you, I didn't realize this until I had built the WHOLE listing - went to pull a picture from Google and realized I couldn't find one b/c they don't make it anymore. Not sure if anyone would buy them... bugger.
That's great about Craigslist! Maybe you should put things on Craiglist first, then if no takers, do eBay since it's more effort?
Three final thoughts -
First, if you decide to do more eBay listing, there are sites and softwares out there that make it easier so you don't have to do the same thing every time. I'm sure some of the more active sellers here on this thread can tell you more about them.
I'm not sure if you're on a Mac but I got this iSale software (downloaded) for $29 and it is the ONLY reason I think I can do this. It has templates for the different types of auctions (or you create your own with their easy tool), then it keeps all your info so it's reloaded into new auctions, has this research assistant thing that immediately finds your item for price comparison and creates an auction in one click with the pictures or info. Was worth the $ for sure - and I know when I have made sales, the price goes higher when the appeal of the auction is higher.
Second, I know you are an artist and mentioned that you have a lot of art, your children's art and now your grandson's, right? Have you ever thought about selling keepsakes made of your art as a side business? Two websites I use - http://zazzle.com and http://cafepress.com sell cards or other designs that people make - and hand-made art cards or notebooks or more are very popular. You set your commission price. Or, take your handmade works and create something special that could be sold on etsy.com since it features handmade crafts. Oh, and it's very easy to order linen or fancier cards these days that you could make into a box set and take to local retailers to see if they would sell them? If art is your passion, then you'll feel energized to create a few possible channels to distribute products and make a small amount of side money. Just some ideas...
Last thought ... it's been a tough day - surrender to it, go to bed, give up all exhaustion and emotion and frustration in your sleep, and begin again tomorrow. I'm from North Carolina, and my mom have always had this ritual when either of us had a bad day... at the end of the day, we'd go to bed with a silly smile, work up our best overthetop southern accent, and say in the immortal words of Scarlett O'Hara framed against the sunset, "After all... tomorrow is another day."
:o)
Thanks, Alexa! You are a sweetheart!
I'm already registered with Etsy. I'm looking forward to making art.
*Another Deb, you asked how often items go unsold on eBay.
A lot!
I have often listed an item two times, then hold back for a few months, and try again if I haven't disposed of it.
On the other hand, some items usually sell quite well...such as electronics, camera and photographic equipment, and items that are still new in box or with tags/labels that are priced way under retail mark up.
Claycat, I, too, live in Texas, where in Central Texas are you? Send me an email with contact information or your email address and I'll send you my phone number, and I am happy to walk you through listing items on eBay. I've been doing it since 2001 and sold over 1,000 items. Speaking of which...I've got a bid on an embroidery kit that was an impulse purchase last year...so it will be going out the door soon! And tomorrow afternoon is my eBay listing day!
To answer some questions about ebay not supporting its sellers: I feel this way too. I am a Power Seller on ebay and am constantly trying to "head problems off" before they start. For example, a friend of mine sold a $10 item and mailed it with delivery confirmation. The buyer said they never received it, opened a dispute with PayPal, and my friend had the $10 removed from her account. She called up PayPal and provided the Tracking Number on the Delivery Confirmation. PayPal then refunded her the money. This is scary because what if the item had been a lot more expensive? PayPal shouldn't be able to just remove money from a seller's account. Now I mail all items over $15 with Delivery Confirmation and charge more for shipping in my auctions.
themusiclivez, I, too, send almost all of my items with delivery confirmation and include that cost in my shipping.
eBay has provided great extra cash for me. My only dissatisfaction is that I am no longer able to rate buyers negatively. I have done this perhaps 5 times in 9 years. When a buyer does not pay, I believe the Seller should be able to post that as a warning to other sellers.
If you want to unclutter, but you want to make some money, have a garage sale or sell on Craiglist or something less complicated than Ebay. Our local used bookstore will give you cash for books (dvs, cds) OR trade 2-for-1. So you either declutter and get cash or decrease by 50% and get new stuff.
nellieb - I completely agree. I emailed ebay when they took away our ability to give negative feedback and told them that they are messing with the "Checks and Balances". I explained to them that now buyers feel no urgency to pay on time (or at all) because there are hardly any consequences. Of course, I got a generic robotic-style email response back from them. It's sad.
Hi folks - back again.
OK, super frustrated b/c my eBay pile is building up and I just haven't managed to list anything. Not sure this is the way to go for me, but I buy on eBay every week so I should be able to do it!
Anyway, here's my question - for books, can you list on both Amazon and eBay or just one? And, is there a different value - should I look it up on both first to see how much it's going for?
Second question was if I want the Craigslist route - how do you take payment? Can I use Paypal or do I need to take cash/check? I'm a little squeamish about people coming to my house so can I insist on shipping?
Thanks for MORE advice - I so appreciate it!
Eek - another question - Can you tell I am actually trying to do this with at least the books?
What are remainder marks?
And, lastly, I have this whole *motherload* of books on having babies and the first years of care - covering all sorts of things: naming, What to Expect, sleeping, etc. Should I sell individually or as lot through regular eBay auction?
Thx, y'all!
akcorcoran - This is how I decide where to list books/DVDs/CDs. I check completed listings on ebay and see how many of the book I want to sell has sold in the last two weeks. If none of have sold I either list it on ebay for 30 days or list on amazon.com because amazon.com leaves your listing up for a long time. However, I find that amazon.com's fees are high so I really try to sell on ebay more.
I wouldn't list on both sites at the same time because there is always that chance that you forget that you have a listing up and sell two of something you only have one of!
Also keep in mind that half.com (an afiliate of ebay) is an option. It has an amazon.com-like setting and you don't pay to list items you just pay commission upon the sale.
Hi again -
OK, wait, so there is a difference between selling on eBay or selling on Half.com - or do they cross register? Is one an "auction" where the other is just a book listing?
It's tricky because I'm intimidated by the sellers on Amazon.com - look way more official than I am. On the other hand, I definitely look at those when I'm buying books from Amazon, which is where I buy 99% of my books?
OK, now for my latest comedy for the group - How funny is it that THIS is one of the books that I finally managed to put on half.com (despite being well under $10)?
http://bit.ly/aXLiKu
(Hint: Too Busy To Clean?...) Ha! Sooooooooo ironic! :oD
List your books as lots if you want to move them faster...I'll list several by the same author or a series or two that are related.
The nice thing about eBay is that you can input the ISBN and they often have a photo and description so all you have to add are a few lines about the condition, if it's from a smoke free home, and anything else you wish to.
Remainders usually have a black slash mark across the top of bottom of the book, covering all the pages.
You should also indicate whether a book is a book club edition and if you know if it is the first printing, because I often have potential buyers ask me that.
Half.com and amazon.com have listings whereas ebay allows you to have an auction or a buy it now price. With half.com you need to have an ebay username and you get feedback on your ebay username but it is the same setup as amazon.com. And you can also input ISBN numbers for the site to pull up your book. There are fewer steps on half.com and it is really simple to do and very self-explanatory. Ebay is bit more tedious for a new seller.
Try not to be too intimidated by more experienced sellers! You will get there one day :o) I am not a big seller on amazon.com but even when I started out people gave me a chance. Just be very honest about the items you are selling, ship quickly, and you will be fine!
If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask!
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