it can be real hit and miss! One time I sold 1 or 2 out of the comic auctions I had up. More recently, I sold most of the comics I had up, but didn't do to well on non-comic stuff.
- be sure of your shipping charges. I hate accidentally undercharging for shipping!
- I'd keep the stuff cheap, but not SO cheap it's barely worth the bother it takes to sell it.
- Small items are SO much easier to deal with and ship than big items. Yes, this is obvious, but it's still a factor.
"The thing I worry about with ebay is that there are so many people selling the same items as you, don't you have to pay extra money to get your item to appear high in search results, etc? "
I NEVER pay extra for anything (except sometimes more pics), so don't worry about that. I honestly don't think that makes a difference, anyway. There's all SORTS of extra options that simply aren't needed, unless you're selling a REAL big ticket item and want as much promotion as possible.
- CDs: check first to see if there's a demand for that particular CD. some common stuff you're better off selling cheap to the cd store. (I do this, too). I just copied some pearl jam, STP, and Red Hot Chili peppers. THOSE will go to the store. they'e stills somewhat popular groups, but their random albums form the 90's are SO common. I tend to specalize in selling heavy metal, it's also most of what I usually buy, so I tend to KNOW more about it, and guess how much in demand it'll be. Also, the market on ebay is better for some random death metal band that it would be at the CD store, which has little need for the really-lesser known stuff.
- I generally have better luck with LOTS than individual items. I've got a lot of 2 Bjork CDs up now, for example. I have a few lots of related comics up. A set of all 5 issues of a mini series, plus one issue of a semi related series. I try to group comics together as well as possible.
- Flat rate envelopes for the comic lots, unless it's a HUGE lot. I can fit about 14 regular size comics in a flat rate envelope, w/cardboard protection inside ($4.90). Most of my lots are form 5 to 10 issues.
- While I'm not familiar with most anime, I know those little paperbacks are bought and sold by most bookstores now, so that's an option you have that doesn't apply to regular comic books (except in trade paperbakc or hardcover form).
Oh, thank you for all of the helpful ideas! I've tried searching google before for "tips," but it's a lot more helpful to hear from someone with some experience.
Selling things as lots sounds like a really good idea. Also, thanks for telling me about how many comics would fit into a flat rate envelope for shipping, that is so helpful! I always get screwed on shipping because I end up undercharging and it's SO frustrating.
You've given me the motivation I needed to start putting some things up on eBay (especially since I'll be moving in only a month now), so really, thank you so much! All of these suggestions are really helpful. In particular, I have a bunch of Japanese CDs and it seems like if I try selling them in lots that might be something that could sell well, because they're difficult to get in America.
Are you listed on eBay under the same name? Would you mind if I checked out what your auctions look like?
"I have a bunch of Japanese CDs and it seems like if I try selling them in lots that might be something that could sell well, because they're difficult to get in America."
Import stuff? That'd probably do well! 2 cds can be sent first class for slightly under 3.50. A big group would need to go media mail, parcel post, or priority. (In addition to the flat-rate envelopes, there are flat rate-priority boxes of a couple different sizes.)
any metal? or is it all "J-Pop"?
"Are you listed on eBay under the same name?"
not for my auctions! I'll PM you the link for my auctions later this week. I've got stuff up this week, too! Bids on 3 out of 11 auctions so far.
Actually, none of it would really classify as J-pop, but it's not exactly metal... More like J-rock? But some of it borders on metal (I'm not particularly a music connoisseur so you most certainly know more about metal than I) , particularly Dir en Grey and Miyavi. I don't know if you've heard of them :)
I put up 3 lots of anime VHS tapes and they're not doing so well, I don't think, but that'd be expected. Who wants VHS, really? Haha
I've heard the name, as vomitrocity likes them, I think!
"VHS tapes"
yeah, that's a dead market. The local store I sell stuff to doesn't buy VHS or cassette tapes anymore. I imagine there's out-of-print stuff on tape that will still sell (on ebay). otherwise VHS are 50 cents at my families garage sale! They sell ok that way. I'd try a 1.00 each on the anime stuff, if you have time/inclination to do a garage sale before you move.
"(I'm not particularly a music connoisseur so you most certainly know more about metal than I)"
"I know more about metal than MOST PEOPLE IN THE UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!" I said, bragging. :D
I've been obsessively checking to see how my auctions are going D: Haha. I'm not very confident they will sell but I figured I'd at least give it a try. I'm getting watchers but no bidders, though! They're probably all trying to snag the lots for $.99 right at the end, heh. (And yes, one of the VHS lots I have is for the Sailor Moon anime, which is now out of print in the US, so it's not surprising that it's the most popular of the three)
- be sure of your shipping charges. I hate accidentally undercharging for shipping!
- I'd keep the stuff cheap, but not SO cheap it's barely worth the bother it takes to sell it.
- Small items are SO much easier to deal with and ship than big items. Yes, this is obvious, but it's still a factor.
"The thing I worry about with ebay is that there are so many people selling the same items as you, don't you have to pay extra money to get your item to appear high in search results, etc? "
I NEVER pay extra for anything (except sometimes more pics), so don't worry about that. I honestly don't think that makes a difference, anyway. There's all SORTS of extra options that simply aren't needed, unless you're selling a REAL big ticket item and want as much promotion as possible.
- CDs: check first to see if there's a demand for that particular CD. some common stuff you're better off selling cheap to the cd store. (I do this, too). I just copied some pearl jam, STP, and Red Hot Chili peppers. THOSE will go to the store. they'e stills somewhat popular groups, but their random albums form the 90's are SO common. I tend to specalize in selling heavy metal, it's also most of what I usually buy, so I tend to KNOW more about it, and guess how much in demand it'll be. Also, the market on ebay is better for some random death metal band that it would be at the CD store, which has little need for the really-lesser known stuff.
- I generally have better luck with LOTS than individual items. I've got a lot of 2 Bjork CDs up now, for example. I have a few lots of related comics up. A set of all 5 issues of a mini series, plus one issue of a semi related series. I try to group comics together as well as possible.
- Flat rate envelopes for the comic lots, unless it's a HUGE lot. I can fit about 14 regular size comics in a flat rate envelope, w/cardboard protection inside ($4.90). Most of my lots are form 5 to 10 issues.
- While I'm not familiar with most anime, I know those little paperbacks are bought and sold by most bookstores now, so that's an option you have that doesn't apply to regular comic books (except in trade paperbakc or hardcover form).
Reply
Selling things as lots sounds like a really good idea. Also, thanks for telling me about how many comics would fit into a flat rate envelope for shipping, that is so helpful! I always get screwed on shipping because I end up undercharging and it's SO frustrating.
You've given me the motivation I needed to start putting some things up on eBay (especially since I'll be moving in only a month now), so really, thank you so much! All of these suggestions are really helpful. In particular, I have a bunch of Japanese CDs and it seems like if I try selling them in lots that might be something that could sell well, because they're difficult to get in America.
Are you listed on eBay under the same name? Would you mind if I checked out what your auctions look like?
Reply
Import stuff? That'd probably do well! 2 cds can be sent first class for slightly under 3.50. A big group would need to go media mail, parcel post, or priority. (In addition to the flat-rate envelopes, there are flat rate-priority boxes of a couple different sizes.)
any metal? or is it all "J-Pop"?
"Are you listed on eBay under the same name?"
not for my auctions! I'll PM you the link for my auctions later this week. I've got stuff up this week, too! Bids on 3 out of 11 auctions so far.
Reply
I put up 3 lots of anime VHS tapes and they're not doing so well, I don't think, but that'd be expected. Who wants VHS, really? Haha
Reply
I've heard the name, as vomitrocity likes them, I think!
"VHS tapes"
yeah, that's a dead market. The local store I sell stuff to doesn't buy VHS or cassette tapes anymore. I imagine there's out-of-print stuff on tape that will still sell (on ebay). otherwise VHS are 50 cents at my families garage sale! They sell ok that way. I'd try a 1.00 each on the anime stuff, if you have time/inclination to do a garage sale before you move.
"(I'm not particularly a music connoisseur so you most certainly know more about metal than I)"
"I know more about metal than MOST PEOPLE IN THE UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!" I said, bragging. :D
Reply
Reply
I've heard of that one!
"I've been obsessively checking to see how my auctions are going "
I check mine every day. I can't help it!
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