Selling for others on ebay
February 15, 2006 1:10 PM Subscribe
How much should I charge to list to sell things on ebay for people, and is there anything tips I should follow when doing it for other people?
I've been on ebay for 5 years now with mint feedback. As a student, I'm looking to make money doing something that I can do whenever I have the free time. Selling things for friends and strangers on ebay sounds like the way to go, and I was thinking of getting around the likes of the "I Sold It" stores by offering to try to sell anything.
I'm not sure how much to charge though. I figure a percentage of the final total, after I do all the work (handle payment, shipping, feedback, etc.). But what percentage I would go with.
I was also thinking that I would make sellers agree with my general auction rules (I will start the auction at the absolute lowest you'd be willing to accept for the item, for example). Should I get this in writing?
I plan to offer the service to friends first to see how it goes, but is there anything I should be warned about? Unforeseen concerns?
I've been on ebay for 5 years now with mint feedback. As a student, I'm looking to make money doing something that I can do whenever I have the free time. Selling things for friends and strangers on ebay sounds like the way to go, and I was thinking of getting around the likes of the "I Sold It" stores by offering to try to sell anything.
I'm not sure how much to charge though. I figure a percentage of the final total, after I do all the work (handle payment, shipping, feedback, etc.). But what percentage I would go with.
I was also thinking that I would make sellers agree with my general auction rules (I will start the auction at the absolute lowest you'd be willing to accept for the item, for example). Should I get this in writing?
I plan to offer the service to friends first to see how it goes, but is there anything I should be warned about? Unforeseen concerns?
The search item you are looking for is " Ebay Trading Assistant"
posted by priorpark17 at 1:44 PM on February 15, 2006
posted by priorpark17 at 1:44 PM on February 15, 2006
Get them to give you the item and hold on to it until the auction is closed. Unless the auction closes with no bids (or doesn't meet the reserve) do not give it back no matter what!
I wouldn't trust ANYONE (except maybe direct family) with my feedback and if you don't have that item in hand when the auction closes... bad mojo.
posted by shepd at 2:48 PM on February 15, 2006
I wouldn't trust ANYONE (except maybe direct family) with my feedback and if you don't have that item in hand when the auction closes... bad mojo.
posted by shepd at 2:48 PM on February 15, 2006
When you do this, though, you actually become a pawn broker or auctioneer in some sense. So, if the law decided they wanted to question where you got those things you're selling, they would have every right to demand pawn-shop-type paperwork (ie., asking for IDs from your customers, etc.)
'course, I doubt they'd do that. But I know there's been at least one article on the subject in the past while.
posted by metaculpa at 5:14 PM on February 15, 2006
'course, I doubt they'd do that. But I know there's been at least one article on the subject in the past while.
posted by metaculpa at 5:14 PM on February 15, 2006
It goes without saying that you should secure the item in your possession before listing the item. You don't want to end up with somebody who feels they haven't achieved their expected price and are therefore not going to hand over the item. Items for sale should be dropped off with you, and if you can, get some sort of reasonable written agreement drafted whereby you are not responsible for their dreams of wealth being shattered. They should also, if possible, give a full description and provenance of the item should you need to field any questions about it without you having to go back and forth to them again and again. This is especially important with art and antiques.
I would say you need a flat fee for every item, PLUS a percentage. You could even categorise this - a diamond bracelet will bring in profit for little physical work, but when it comes to selling a chest of drawers or even a TV or stereo you need compensation for the exertion of handling and packaging such an object. You could work out a small base fee scale for items depending on their size and desirability (small fee for quality stuff that will fly, large fee for awkward stuff that will gain only a small profit and be a hassle to handle etc.) and then add a percentage of the total achieved on top.
You will become attractive to a lot of people who are not tech savvy and who have little idea of the workings of eBay beyond the positives they occasionally hear on tv. I have thought about doing something like this in the past but have been put off by the thought of having to explain reserve prices, fees etc to old women who want a fortune for their heirlooms and can't understand anything else. I would say the most important aspect is stating clearly what eBay is about, what you are about, and bringing the customers expectations down to something approaching reality then proceeding from there. And making sure you are on a steady legal grounding.
posted by fire&wings at 5:16 PM on February 15, 2006
I would say you need a flat fee for every item, PLUS a percentage. You could even categorise this - a diamond bracelet will bring in profit for little physical work, but when it comes to selling a chest of drawers or even a TV or stereo you need compensation for the exertion of handling and packaging such an object. You could work out a small base fee scale for items depending on their size and desirability (small fee for quality stuff that will fly, large fee for awkward stuff that will gain only a small profit and be a hassle to handle etc.) and then add a percentage of the total achieved on top.
You will become attractive to a lot of people who are not tech savvy and who have little idea of the workings of eBay beyond the positives they occasionally hear on tv. I have thought about doing something like this in the past but have been put off by the thought of having to explain reserve prices, fees etc to old women who want a fortune for their heirlooms and can't understand anything else. I would say the most important aspect is stating clearly what eBay is about, what you are about, and bringing the customers expectations down to something approaching reality then proceeding from there. And making sure you are on a steady legal grounding.
posted by fire&wings at 5:16 PM on February 15, 2006
When you do this, though, you actually become a pawn broker or auctioneer in some sense. So, if the law decided they wanted to question where you got those things you're selling, they would have every right to demand pawn-shop-type paperwork (ie., asking for IDs from your customers, etc.)
I don't think this is true. You must know something I don't (which is really quite likely). Can you show me where this is addressed?
Ebay assistants (or whatever they're called) are basically seller's agents. Pawnshops are a different creature altogether. If it were true that drezdn would actually in some sense become an auctioneer, thus requiring IDs and inventory reports, then so does everyone who sells on ebay.
I'm interested to know if I'm wrong here...
posted by jaysus chris at 7:03 PM on February 15, 2006
I don't think this is true. You must know something I don't (which is really quite likely). Can you show me where this is addressed?
Ebay assistants (or whatever they're called) are basically seller's agents. Pawnshops are a different creature altogether. If it were true that drezdn would actually in some sense become an auctioneer, thus requiring IDs and inventory reports, then so does everyone who sells on ebay.
I'm interested to know if I'm wrong here...
posted by jaysus chris at 7:03 PM on February 15, 2006
You're acting as an agent. As such, 15-20% of the gross selling price is reasonable. If they mandate reserve bids, you shoud mandate a reasonable minimum service charge per item; say, $2-$5, in addition to that percentage. (Let's say it takes you ten minutes to produce a listing; this is not unreasonable. You are working as a contractor doing low-skilled deskwork, so $30/hour is not unreasonable as a base pay rate, which would work out to $5 per item.)
It nearly goes without saying that they would have to eat PayPal fees, listing fees, and any shortfall in shipping charges in addition to your own fee.
posted by solid-one-love at 11:47 PM on February 15, 2006
It nearly goes without saying that they would have to eat PayPal fees, listing fees, and any shortfall in shipping charges in addition to your own fee.
posted by solid-one-love at 11:47 PM on February 15, 2006
There are at least 3 actual brick-and-mortar businesses in my area that will take, photo, list, track, sell, and ship items for you.
30% of the closing price is generally their cut, but it's a graduated scale.
posted by Wild_Eep at 6:24 AM on February 16, 2006
30% of the closing price is generally their cut, but it's a graduated scale.
posted by Wild_Eep at 6:24 AM on February 16, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
Yes, you should set your policies in writing. But keep it short, clear, and simple. If you hand someone a 5-page contract for a service like this, they're probably going to walk away. A paragraph or two should suffice.
posted by cribcage at 1:28 PM on February 15, 2006