To eBay or not to eBay - what do I do with the stuff meanwhile is the question?

Unclutterer ForumsWelcomeHello!

To eBay or not to eBay - what do I do with the stuff meanwhile is the question?

(140 posts) (24 voices)

Started 1 month ago by akcorcoran
Latest reply from Claycat
RSS feed for this topic

Overall Rating: 3 votes

Tags:

« Previous 1…345…7 Next »

akcorcoran
Member

Argh - I appreciate all the info but now I'm even more confused, plus perplexed about pricing. On Ebay, I see people with the same Buy It Now price with condition of Acceptable - all the way up to Very Good! Price seems higher on half.com plus only 7 people selling same book. Prices for same book higher (by $2 - $3 or so - which as a percentage is much higher) on Amazon. So, how do I figure out *where* to list and how to price?

And, when I read specs for Very Good, etc. it sounds like I've been way too conservative. None of these books have any marking in them, remainder marks, many don't even have binding cracked - if anything the cover is a little dull or has evidence of being shelved, but not scratched or anything.

I'm sorry to push out more about my confusion - but I have about 50 books in a box next to me and then (gulp) 4 HUGE bins of books from my Masters degree. I mean about 60 - 80, up to 100 in each bin! I think for those am I better for half.com because that's where people look?

Or, sigh, do I just pick one and go there for all of them? I do ALL my book buying at Amazon - period. Don't know if that's the most common place or if I should stick with eBay or Half.com.

Eek! :o&

p.s. one last thing - if I DO sell on Amazon, is there a way to set my name so it's not my personal name?

p.s.2 - How do I know if it's a First Edition? If in the printing information it doesn't say anything? Or should the ISBN tell me?

Posted 1 month ago #
akcorcoran
Member

Oh, and @NellieB, can the lots be sort of loosely related - like "Fun Reading" or "Beach Books" or "Chick Lit" (is that last one offensive?) For example, I have (all next to me on the couch right now - all in v. good or like new, I guess?):
Bridget Jones Diary (paperback)
Divine Secrets of YaYa (paperback)
4 Blondes (Candace Bushnell) - hardback
I Don't Know How She Does It - hardback
babyville - hardback

Would that be a good lot? And, how would I price it? And, if a lot, I can't use any pictures through the automatic book feature, right (when you put in the title or ISBN number?)

Thx for all your help -

Posted 1 month ago #
themusiclivez
Member

akcorcoran - Textbooks (in my opinion) sell best on half.com. They aren't usually in high demand so it's better to list those on a site where you can leave it up for an extended period of time without a fee. Fiction usually sells best on amazon.com. If you have any books that are currently popular (for example, a new release) then I recommend ebay!

These are all things that I have found throughout the years. I definitely think that you can list loosely related lots on ebay. I see that done a lot!

Posted 1 month ago #
Claycat
Member

Themusiclivez, do discarded library books sell okay? They aren't in bad condition, but they have markings and library pockets (or places where pockets were). I was planning to group some of them in a lot for eBay.

Posted 1 month ago #
themusiclivez
Member

Claycat - I haven't sold any discarded library books before but see them up for sale often on amazon.com! I think the best way to sell them is in a group, like you mentioned. Just as long as you describe them carefully you shouldn't have a problem selling them! Some people are turned off from buying library books (I am one of them, just because I know that they have been in the hands of a lot of people) but to many people it has no impact at all.

Posted 1 month ago #
akcorcoran
Member

Thanks, so much. I think I'll grab all these books and step back here to organize. Then, maybe I'll feel less overwhelmed. I know I'll put the textbooks on half.com - I think that's the right move, esp because it's a go to when a book is hard to find (and then i make more money - whee!)

On the rest, I guess I just need to sort and figure out how they fall in the model you suggested above. It looks like on Amazon they sell for more but the fees ARE high - is it $0.99 to post + 15% of the sale?

I get stuck in the pricing too much. I was thinking about the lot I mentioned above, but should I look up each book individually and then sort of add those up but discount a little? I'm afraid if I start at $0.99, I'll get that! And, I get bogged down in picking a Buy It Now price always.

Sigh. I need about an extra day a week to figure out and do this! Not gonna happen! Figured at least I could do the books during TV time with the girls but it's even taking longer than I thought. :0(

Posted 1 month ago #
themusiclivez
Member

^One other suggestion: If you list a group of books together on ebay, you can always list it as "Buy It Now or Best Offer". That way the buyers have the chance to purchase the items at the amount you have, or they can make you an offer. You can then take time to decide if the offer is fair!

Posted 1 month ago #
akcorcoran
Member

That's a good suggestion. I seriously think I could do this - I have the stuff and the tech know how, but my decision making is my problem. (That's how I ended up in this mess in the first place.) I sort of get turned around and unsure of what i should choose for the price - or where to list now - and then put it back in the box for "another day." Panic clutter, maybe I'll call it!

I know it shouldn't be so hard but how are things I have not on eBay - is that a good thing or bad thing? I have Clifford Sound Bingo (Scholastic) brand new (factory sealed) - it's on amazon, but not on eBay. Should I do the former then? Or go for eBay b/c less fees and it IS the only one?

And, when should I group together - have Fisher Price Digital Arts Studio (opened) and then a new Barbie Fairytopia software (unopened) - should I sell separately or group together? Prices for this stuff are all over the place!

Not necc looking for advice on these specifically, just indicating the rabbit hole I'm falling down, down, down...

Posted 1 month ago #
themusiclivez
Member

I think that when an item ISN'T listed on ebay, it could be a rarity. I usually list items such as these for 30 day Buy It Nows. You can always ask a little more than you expect to get and see if people are watching/have looked at your item. If you have a lot of viewers, but no buyers, I would add the "or best offer" option. This is usually what I do!

Posted 1 month ago #
Claycat
Member

Thanks, themusiclivez!

Indecisiveness is my major problem, too, Alexa. Are you a Libra, too?

Posted 1 month ago #
akcorcoran
Member

No, Aries - I should be bull headed but I've been burned so many times that now I'm just a waffling Aries! The worst b/c I'm impulsive about BUYING but indecisive about REMOVING. Sigh!

Posted 1 month ago #
Claycat
Member

Woo Hoo! I just signed up to be a seller on eBay. I'm nearly there!

Posted 1 month ago #
akcorcoran
Member

Hooray, Hooray! Great job ... you are indeed on your way!!! Or at least may meet me on the path of indecisiveness and confusion! :-D

p.s. Now my husband that this is an easy, grand 'ol plan and has started bringing home things from his office that I can just "pop" on eBay - ink cartridges for printers he no longer has, speaker set to a computer that's gone, etc. G-R-E-A-T. Just what I need!

Posted 1 month ago #
nellieb
Member

Just start listing a few items. Group the books in any type of lots you want. If you have a lot of textbooks, do a search for book companies that specialize in buying textbooks. You might be able to sell all of them as a lot to a technical book company and be done with it! Saving time...which equates into money.

My suggestion is to begin with either something that is new (so you can list as New in Box, or NEW, in original shrinkwrap) or something that sells on eBay. (Do an advanced search for the items and look for the prices in green ink...those are the final sale price.)

The only thing that matters is that you list one thing now! Stop agonizing over how to group items or where to put them! Just list one item on eBay so you get the feel for it and I agree that you can also consider listing as a BUY IT NOW or Best Offer...I do this frequently. It allows people who want an item to purchase it on the spot rather than going through the bidding process. They will forget!

Final comment...once you begin to list on eBay, you will be notified about listing specials. Take advantage of these! Sometimes there is a one day special and you get the subtitle for free. Or the listing fees are reduced to 5 cents per listing. When I see those specials, I put on as many items as I can, particulary when the special is for a lower listing fee.

Good luck!

P.S. I just wrote again in my personal blog about the common ways to convert clutter into cash!

Posted 1 month ago #
akcorcoran
Member

@nellieb, OK - I think I can, I think I can. Claycat, can you?

I did sell a few things in December (namely a mini-Boden coat that was too big for my daughter and went for $62!) It was a rush and definitely helped me recoup the investment. So, I know I can do it.

I do need to get over analysis paralysis. After my daughter's bday this weekend (good lord, more clutter!), I'm going to have the time to line 'em up and put 'em out there. I need to think - any $ is better than no $ and this clutter. Right? I may sell some for too low but at least they are gone and money is in my Paypal account.

Thanks for tips! I didn't know about searching completed listings until this thread - that's super helpful. And, didn't know that final prices were in green OR about listing specials! See, I'm an eBay expert already thanks to you!

I think I can... I think I can...

P.S. How can I get to your personal journal to read more! :-)

Posted 1 month ago #
Claycat
Member

Alexa, here is her link. I bookmarked it, so I can check for new posts.

http://drawerbydrawer.wordpress.com/

Thanks for the encouragement, you nice people! :)

Where would I sell collector, vintage, and antique books? Thanks!

Posted 1 month ago #
Claycat
Member

Alexa, these people buy textbooks. You might check to see what they offer.

http://buyback.abebooks.com/

Posted 1 month ago #
Claycat
Member

Alibris is a place to sell books, music, and movies. Has anyone had any experience with them?

http://www.alibris.com/sellers/casual-sellers

Posted 1 month ago #
misskittin
Member

Whatever you do don't try to sell textbooks to bookbyte.com, they will try to scam you!
I got an email from ebay saying that up to 100 listings a month will be free to list starting March 30th if you start the price under 99 cents.

Posted 1 month ago #
akcorcoran
Member

Thx for the tips on the textbooks! I'm going to be snowed in here in Baltimore this weekend so I'm going to use the time to Unclutter!

Posted 1 month ago #

« Previous 1…345…7 Next »

Reply »

You must log in to post. If you do not already have an account, you can register here.