EBAY!!

[Moley]

Where are you, Miss Ebayanca, honey? :D

That's right, my hobby is Buy, Buy, Miss American Pie! :mrgreen: I love to call up my Ebay search lists on a weekend and spenda money. Luckily I'm a cheapo and my bids are on affordable things. Last night I snagged a 1930 Minnie Mouse hanky for 8.50, including shipping. :boyears:

Do you Ebay? What is your favorite thing to look for? Do you sell, too? What is the best bid you ever won?

[pixie]

I LOVE Ebay! :lol: :lol: I buy mostly limited edition Disney pins. I bought my favorite Mickey necklace, a Mickey tie clasp (to replace the one DH broke, and they no longer sell), and a dancing graduation hamster to celebrate my DD graduation. I also just purchased a lightweight wheelchair for my Dad, new in box, and it was much less expensive than in the store. Oh, and my first purchase, that I bid against myself, was a hula Minnie bobble dol. LOL I have found if you are patient everything goes on Ebay in time.

Barbara

[Pinky]

I have never bought anything on Ebay... its way too much to look at and I get frustrated! :shock:

[Pacha]

I love e-bay, just ask DW(actually I got her kind of hooked too). I usually look there for things after looking at what the new prices on the web are. I have bought lots of different things on there, but the best deal so far was just last week (and got it in the mail yesterday. It was a brand new Sony trv118 Hi8 camcorder. Our old one of 10 years finally gave out this last Disney trip (luckily on last day). It retails for $269, but I got it on e-bay for $184.


Pacha

[dturner]

I also Ebay, I've gotten lots of different things - hard to find video games, old Power Ranger stuff my son collects, Home School books since I homeschool my son and recently I started selling and in one week I have over $150.00 bids on 7 things, trying to get money for next trip to WDW - hopefully in September.

So far my best bid is on a Hummel dated 1948, it's at $61.00 (whomever gets it will get a steal since it retails for $300.00)

Donna

[MissBianca]

MolEbay!!!

I only just got around to this board! Sooo many posts to read.

I am still Ebaying. I've even gotten Bernard hooked!

Currently I am trying to resist buying a set of the locker pins, have you seen them? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2171334508&category=13841
I haven't been a pin collector to date, but they may have hit my weak spot!

Pinky, if you want help, Moley or I could chat you through the basics. Pixie is so right that everything is available there eventually! I call it America's Garage Sale :lol:

My favorite item is a one-of-a-kind original "soft sculpture" handmade Cacomistle (a.k.a. Ringtail or Ringtail Cat). Without Ebay, I never would have found this artist!

[Lisakma]

I love Ebay! I think it is the thrill of victory that gets to me every time...sneaking in at the last second! I mostly buy books and video games for my kids. They can be great deals over retail and I have never had a problem. My best deals are hard cover books for less than $5.00 and an xbox game, brand new for $13.01. THey usually sell for about $50.00. That was a good day!

[WillCAD]

I've bought a few things from Ebay but never sold anything.

I have found some excellent bargains, some not-so-good bargains, and a few things that were selling for more than you could get them in the corner drug store.

[Tagrel]

I love ebay, and have been buy/selling for several years now.

I have sold lots of stuff, including old digital cameras (made money on the first two!) :D

My favorite purchases have been mostly Disney finds
Tokyo Disney pins and coins (right Moley?!) :mrgreen:
CM first year Steamboat Willy Pin.
coins (AK Opening coin and another from Imagineering anniversary)
Imagineering licence plate frame.
Several hard to find pins like CM sorcerers hat with flag colors, Cinderella and Aurora for DDs (Aurora is VERY hard to find - these are from Euro-Disney and very pretty) and a bunch of others.

I can only visit there so often, or I buy WAY too much! DW likes to look there too, and has be buy stuff for her on occasion.

[Steph]

Okay, I have long been with Moley on the dark side (snipper bidding etc.)of Ebay, but now I want to start selling and want some opinions. I don't bid on items that don't have photos posted. I just won't do it. The only problem is, I want to sell but don't have the capabilites or knowledge to post photos. Well, will I be losing bids because of this? I really hope not, because I really need to get some more money saved for our next trip.

[Pinky]

How does the whole process work to sell stuff of ebay? I have a digital camera and can upload photos pretty easily.

1. How do you ship the stuff to the buyer?
2. How do you make sure you get your money?

I would love some help... I think this would be a GREAT way to make money for WDW trips!!!

[dturner]

I just started selling stuff on Ebay last week so I can help you somewhat. First of all, you have to open your account on Ebay (you need to link up a checking account and/or credit card, most people I know set up a different checking account just for Ebay for safety reasons, I use a secondary checking account that usually doesn’t have much money in it) then after all that is done, you go to “list your item to sell” and it takes you through step by step and it’s very easy, it tells you if you forgot to fill in a blank, etc. Shipping is paid by the buyer. I guesstimate what the shipping will cost and list it in my listings. I also list how the person can pay me when the auction ends. I have a Paypal account where the buyers can electronically forward their money to me, when I see that someone has paid, I will ship their item to them.

Believe me, I listed 17 items last week (mostly old Fisher Price toys, books) and as of this afternoon have over $200.00 in bids and I never ever thought I’d make that much on my stuff. I started this to make extra money for a trip to WDW in September that would otherwise not be happening. I can’t tell you how glad I am that I started selling on Ebay. Before last week I only ever bought stuff and now I’m looking through all my boxes in closets trying to find more things to list on Ebay. Always remember, someones trash is another person’s treasure.

[Tagrel]

Sounds like we need an EBAY 101 chat (maybe 2, buying AND selling!)

Hey Moley (and any other Ebay veterans!) Are you up for that?

who all would be interested in a chat of this type?

I'll try to answer a few questions when I get home tonight.

[Rosebud]

Tagrel,
A chat would be good. I probably wouldn't make it, but I could read the logs.

I've never used it other than to look around a bit - very little bit.

Seems like much easier than doing a garage sale though.

[pixie]

Tagrel,

Great idea, I would love an Ebay chat. I really need to get the courage to sell considering I purchased a digital camera last July so I could list items. Let me know when and I will be there.

Barbara

[Lisakma]

I would love an ebay selling chat! I have only made purchases but this summer I will be off from school and would have plenty of time to get rid of some of this junk, oh, I mean treasure LOL! I also have a digital camera and scanner but I will probably need help using those also. :D

[MargaretJ]

I want help too if Lisa gets help. I would love to slowly try selling things on E-Bay just never had a scanner or digital camera until lately.

[MissBianca]

MolEbay and MissEbayanca hosted a fine Ebay 101 chat sometime in the past. I'm sure I'd love to do it again and I'd bet Moley would also be up for it!

I'm not a seller, but I've bought enough to know, for example, that you will lose bids without a photo of the item even if it's a commodity item. Especially if you're a new seller!

looking forward to chatting and ebaying at the same time--

--eBianca? Ebayanca? Anyway--

[MargaretJ]

Oh yes MissB I would love for you and Moley to do an EBay chat. I have to admit I have brought a few Disney items. I have gotten really good deals on those little Pewter Disney Trains they sell & have lucked out with Rainforest Cafe Gift Certificates too.

[Moley]

I'm on for an Ebay Buying chat with Miss Bianca as long as she agrees to lead. She rocked the last time we did this. I've never sold a thing and want to be a student like Pinky on any selling chats. dturner gave some awfully good tips. Maybe we could at least get a tips sheet going for prospective sellers as well as a kickoff chat. This would be a great way to raise money for extras at WDW or many even the whole trip. I'll get with MissB and see what we can cook up. I feel a disturbance in the Dark Side of the Force. heeheehee :twisted:

[Esmerelda]

I would love to see us have a chat too! I am so overwhelmed that I have never sold anything and only bid a few times. There is nothing in my house I wouldn't sell except my daughter or my computer!

[Pinky]

I would be very interested in a chat... Lord knows that I have a basement full of stuff.

Maybe I can make enough money for Consierge at Animal Kingdom!!! :D

[dvcreg]

I started getting a little too "addicted" to ebaying, so I quit cold turkey. I never spent more than $20.00 on an item.

My best buy was a wavy edged DL candy dish that I purchased for $3.00. It matched a WDW plate that I bought for a quarter at a garage sale.

The best part was spotting one of the dishes behind a glass display at MGM's "Walt Disney, One Man's Dream" attraction.

When I got home, it got moved to a place of honor in my china hutch.

I'm always tempted to sell, but I'm the worst about getting to the Post Office. Everyone would hate me. :(

[AndyL]

Moley making pottery and sculptural ceramics is my main hobby besides surfing the internet's Disney Communities. I'm constantly in eBay searching for good buys on pottery related books and supplies. Most of my personal library is thru eBay.

[Moley]

Andy, another place to find books at a good price is on a sister site of Ebay, half.com. I buy most of my music and books there or at least look there first. The nice thing is it is a set price and you know up front what your shipping costs will be when added on.

[Margaret64]

Hi: I've bought tons of stuff and sold one item on eBay. You all have interested me in selling the stuff that I was thinking of having a garage sale for. As I can attest to, it's amazing what people (I) will pay for THAT particular item you are searching for. Like the teal / purple little Tikes rocking chair, etc.

I would love to know when you all hold the eBay chat.

[Tinkerbell]

I've been peeking at Ebay recently but have not actually done ANY bidding!!! How's that?

[Margaret64]

Tinkerbell:

Have you never bid on eBay, or are you just restraining yourself now?

[Tinkerbell]

Restraining myself!!! I've spent thousands $$$$$$ on Ebay!!!

[Cinders]

Ebay rocks!!!! The best thing to do if you're thinking about selling on Ebay is just jump right in and list a inexpensive item to get a feel for what you're doing. Be sure to check out the selling tutorial too!

Tips:
Just try it!

Dont cheat yourself on postage and handling....either use the http://www.usps.com/ website or visit your local post office to get the package weighed with a quote on postage. Dont forget to use media mail for books and videos. If you're using Priority then order free boxes, labels and tape online. Never use the Priority stuff for media or first class. If you have a scale you can find shipping costs online. For cheaper delivery confirmations print them online.

Give the calendar a try to see good days to start auctions http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/calendar/calendar.html

If you have several items check out a local store...liquor, grocery, bookstore or gift shops for boxes to use. All writing must be covered up so either wrap in brown paper or turn the box inside out and retape. Also check for packing materials.

Use a digital camera or scanner.....seems items with clear pics sell better.

Open a separate checking account (find a free one) for using with PayPal.

Price your items within reason. No idea on price then do a search and look at auctions that have ended. On the left under Display is a link for "Completed items"

Group like items together. For example group books by author or subject, group videos by character or subject, music cd's....

Items that seem to sell well include name brand "hot" items...Pampered Chef, Disney, Fisher Price, Vera Bradley, name brand clothing, Precious Moments, Avon, Coca Cola, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Hummel and homeschool items.

Be very honest in your listings so as to receive good feedbacks.

Books can be iffy....look into Half.com for books, videos, and cds too. If you do a search on a book and cant find it you may try listing it here (its free to list) so you can set your own price. People like me who have a "Wishlist" will be notified when the items they are looking for become available. You can sell books on Amazon too. For example...a paperbook I had to sell would have gotten me $.25 at a garage sale but I sold it on Half.com for $4. Sent it media mail with delivery confirmation and made a couple more cents on postage.

Decide what kind of payments you'll accept...so far I've had no problems just accepting Paypal transfers and Money orders.

Keep good records. Prepackage the item and maybe pencil in the auction number. When the auction ends print out the info from the buyer and tape it to the item's box. When you receive the money simply address or cut and tape the buyers address and you're all set.

Be patient! If the auction looks like it is going slow just remember the snipes (people like me who wait until the last minute to buy).

If you decide you are making good money consider going to garage sales and estate sales/auctions to pick up popular items to resell. I know my mom recently found a Vera Bradley bag that was like a briefcase brand new with tags for only $5. That I kept but I most likely could have resold it for $50.

If you decide not to check out the auction calendar above.....it seems auctions that end on Sunday evenings do better.

Last suggestion (I know its been long :wink: ) Copy and paste all suggestions into a word document to read over when you're actully listing your first few items.

[Steph]

Wow Cinders!!!! What great advice! What about pictures? How do I go about doing this. Is it easy?

[Cinders]

You can scan flat items. If you have a digital camera simply use your photo software to trim, size, reduce the resolution, and convert to jpg. I then store the pics of items I'm selling in a folder labeled EBay so I can easily upload them on the Ebay site. One pic in your listing is free and usually is enough. The more pics you use the more you'll have in fees.

[pixie]

Thanks for the great tips, Cinder. I am going to give it a try this summer when I get out of school and have time.

Barbara