The Pros and Cons of Selling and Buying on eBay?

[tfunch24]

I do not have a lot of room for storage and an excess of film and video-making equipment. I'm toying with putting some of the stuff for sale on eBay. While I've purchased stuff on eBay, I've never sold anything on it. I've heard many people speak negatively of it (especially of rising fees). Is it worth it to sell on eBay, especially if the items in question are not worth all that much?

On another note, does anyone use any bidding strategies to win auctions? Or do you just bid as much as you can afford and hope no one tops it?

My opinion of eBay in general is that it's something you utilize only when you absolutely need something and can't find it anywhere else.

Tom

[Guest]

). Is it worth it to sell on eBay, especially if the items in question are not worth all that much?

It depends on what you sell of course. I never had negative experiences with selling on ebay, except that it takes some time, if you have a lot of stuff, of making pictures of your items, uploading and describing them. Shipment costs are for the buyer, and fees can be included into the price.

E bay can be very strange. I once tried to sell a good camera voor 350 USD. I didn't get a bid at all; after reoffering it I didn't get any bids either. Six months later I had about 11 bids on it and sold it for 600 USD! Pictures and descriptions were the same. E bay has strange ways.

It may be a good idea to search for your items you like to sell on ebay and then click "completed items". This way you will get a hint about what your items are worth and if it is worth offering them.

Paul

[studiocarter]

Go for it. Use PayPal. Now I have the ability to accept credit cards ( I wonder what THAT will cost more per month). I just sold a thing over $800 to a guy in RU. Can't do that any other way. I'm selling a 15 dollar item and it is about 20 now. You get one free photo. Just put it on your desktop in a jpeg format to upload it during the making of your sale item.
Describe what it is completly, the more you write about the thing you are selling the better, show at least one good picture. You can put your pictures on your web site server and they will upload as extra picture, but each costs more. Choosing the catagory is the hardest pare. Good Luck.

Michael

PS No, it's up to $26 dollars, wow.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 35507&rd=1

[Split8mm]

On another note, does anyone use any bidding strategies to win auctions? Or do you just bid as much as you can afford and hope no one tops it?

I've sold quite a few items on eBay and am pleased with the cost. They can nickel and dime you to death though if you buy some of the options.

As far as bidding goes, I just bid my highest price and check back when the auction is over. But, I've got friends who will ONLY bid using a "sniping" service. This service will place your bid in the last few seconds (last few milliseconds???). The theory is that other people don't actually bid their highest amount using "proxy" bids. Instead, they check back every day and rais their bid as they deem needed. The "sniping" service will get those types of bidders.

Good luck!

[wahiba]

I have recently sold cameras, Dinky Toys, coins, books and cigarette cards on eBay. The main nuisance is people who bid, then do not send the money. As these have been for relatively small amounts I don't pursue the matter. Items that made real money, a few of the cameras, were no problem.

Use PayPal. The extra, and probably higher bids, one attracts from overseas more than pays for the cost of the service. I accept Sterling Cheques or PayPal only.

I always put at least one picture, that is free anyhow, and show the picture in the listing. Clearly describe the item, warts and all.

So far I have sold books, cameras, coins and a slide projector to the US, France, Holland, Italy and Korea.

Pack anything well and there should be no problems.

I have bought cine stuff from the US and Canada without problems using PayPal as well.

[booper]

I've bought a few things over the last year. The way I do it is I wait until 2 minutes or so and bid then. If you're outbid, you'll find out in time and be able to make a higher bid. I have a cable modem which I believe give an edge over dialup. It's a good idea to decide ahead of time what your highest price with be. Out of 4 bids, I've won 3.

It's always a good idea to read a seller's feedback. Personally, I wouldn't buy from anyone outside of the US. Paypal for sure.

Good luck.

[tfunch24]

Thank you for all your assistance.

Tom

[mIke]

Buing at ebay:

Pro:
huge choice
good prices possible

Contra:
possible many other guys interested in the same item leading to an "uncertain availability/price status"
crime
distance between seller and buyer (time as a factor)
transport risk and fee
ebay membership and fees
Wasnt there someone complaining about globalisation?


By fun I actually tested "manual sniping" by placing a radio controlled clock on the top of the PC monitor. Reaction time about 1 s! (the bid hit the auction in the last second) Therefore manual sniping too seems to allow pretty accurate last minute bidding. Question is - if this is always necessary or advantagous.
The following link gives an report on the topic in german:

[Guest]

... titled "We create a new world"

http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,228740,00.html

[orangefunk]

My strategy is to wait til the absolute last moment to place a bid. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

But that is assuming that my schedule permits me to sit in front of that computer at that very moment.