How to Sell on eBay

Switchman Sep 3, 2015

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  1. Switchman

    Switchman TrainBoard Member

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    Hello
    I'm not sure if this where or even if I can post this on trainboard. The mods will let me know.

    I have some excess train related stuff as well as a good bit of my wife's nick-knacks and dolls she would like me to sell for her.

    I'm looking for suggestions on how to start selling on E-Bay. Any ideas (please no picking on E-Bay) on where to research, books, and any personal ideas or methods would be appreciated.


    Thanks for you help.

    See ya
    Ron
     
  2. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Ron, we have the Swap Meet here on Trainboard, which you should consider using. This lets folks here get "first dibs". As far as posting on EBay, take a look at the threads which point out all the foibles of folks posting, and try to avoid repeating their errors. Take GOOD pictures, which show off the item, multiple angles. Don't claim something as new if it isn't; and think about what you would be willing to pay for it today, and set your starting price accordingly (lower than your target, but not so low as you would feel ripped off, if no one bids more than opening). Then, if people are really interested, you will probably get more.
     
  3. Switchman

    Switchman TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the reply Rick.
    I appreciate the information. Especially how to price stuff.
    See ya
    Ron
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Describe the item thoroughly.
     
  5. jdetray

    jdetray TrainBoard Member

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    Unless your items are very unusual, there is a good chance that others have sold similar items on eBay. You can search the past auctions to see what people have paid for those items in previous auctions. This will give you some idea of what to expect and how to set prices for your items.

    - Jeff
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  6. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    You can post up to 12 photos free, so take advantage and as Rick noted, take clear, well-lit images. I point out every flaw so as to avoid any Buyer disappointment. I do not accept returns, and in 50+ transactions I've never had a Buyer wish for one. Too, I usually combine small-worth items into one Lot so as to save the hassle of individual postings, boxings and mailing transactions. Pay close attention to the where you DON'T sell to section, else you might find that the winning Buyer is in another country and you'll be on the hook for figuring out export paperwork. Oh, and monitor your postings daily and respond promptly to all questions. If a potential Buyer's questions or demands seem fishy or incessant, decline their notions. I've even blocked a few people that smelled of suspicious intent.
     
  7. porkypine52

    porkypine52 TrainBoard Member

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    Selling on eBay (FEEBAY) takes some getting used to, I'll get to it in a minute. Before you jump on board with FEEBAY, consider several other places to sell Trains and other Model Railroading item. TRAINBOARD here, has a real good SWAP MEET forum. NO fees and you can make all the deals you want. YAHOO! has several GROUPS for selling TRAIN related items. There is an N SCALE YARD SALE Group. Since I am in N Scale, I've used this group several times. There is an HO Yards Sales group and other groups for magazines, books and railroad related items also. Check around your area, is there a Fall Swap Meet coming up? We have one here in Louisville KY coming up in November. Maybe get you table and sell what you want to. Or just show up and maybe make a deal with a Dealer/Vendor/Modeler for what you want to sell.
    Now on to FEEBAY. I call it FEEBAY because of all the FEES you will be paying to sell on FEEBAY. You can count on paying at least 10% to sell your items. If you have a lot of items to sell, it can be no problem, but if you are like me and only sell a few things at a time, that 10% can add up. And don't forget the only way that FEEBAY will let you collect your $ is thru PAYPAL. And PAYPAL gets their cut too!
    Now to some of the basic selling points of FEEBAY. FEEBAY has a fine listing program to be used when selling items. I recommend it: It is called TURBO LISTER. You can put in all your information and use the stored information to develop multiple listings, post images, payment (PAYPAL) accepted, return policy, etc etc on all of you listings.
    Price research: Check retail prices at hobby shops, check out items listed on FEEBAY. Just because you paid $100.00 for an engine, ran it for 6 months on the layout, don't expect to get $100.00 back for a used engine. Unless it is a RARE item, it won't happen. Again look at FEEBAY for what the engine is going for. If you really want to sell something BAD, start your bed at a LOW price and let the bidders have at it.
    Shipping: I ALWAYS have my listings open to WORLDWIDE SALES. Never had a problem, even when I sold some items to THAILAND. I always use US POSTAL SERVICE PRIORITY MAIL. USPS gives me the boxes, and has a program where I can print my own postage, receive a tracking number, custom's form and address labels FOR FREE. You pay for the postage only. Always works great, NEVER had a problem with the USPS postal program. UPS or FedEx can be used to ship out LARGE items, but it can be a little costly. DON"T ship out of the country via UPS/FedEx the export/custom's fees will eat you up.

    The bottom line is: I will use FEEBAY, if I cannot sell any of my items someplace else. And remember FEEBAY HAS WORLDWIDE EXPOSURE.


    Feel free to PM me if I can be of any other help.
     
  8. Switchman

    Switchman TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the info. It's all good. Before I try to sell anything, I'm going to study this E-Bay data. Then go onto E-Bay and just research some of the stuff as well as previous sales.
    Thanks
    See ya
    Ron
     

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