Ebay / Hunting questions and answers thread.

[Buff4]

On your laptop or desktop, pull up the main Ebay page. Let's say you are researching Men's shirts (which I have sold a lot of), type in the word shirt.
On the left hand panel, scroll down to where you see "Show Only", you may have to hit the drop down arrow if it's not showing, and check the box saying "Completed Listings". Now what you should do is go to the "Sort by" drop down which is just above the 1st picture (right hand side), and sort by Highest price first. If you are doing resale, you can research any item this way. When I was doing men's shirts, I would type in Shirt, then check off Completed, then select Highest first, and I would write down the top 10 or 15 names or any shirt over say 25.00, as on average I would pay 5.00 per shirt. I once found 3 shirts by Bobby Jones, with the 1998 U.S. Open (golf) on them (Tiger's 1st U.S.Open), 1 was new with swing tag, and the oter two were new with no swing tags. The 1st sold for 150.00, 5 minutes later someone who missed the auction offered me 150.00 for the 2nd, and the 3rd sold for 125.00. So 425.00 total, not bad for spending 12.00 at the "Goodwill" store.
Any other questions, feel free to ask.
P.S. here's a few tips... look up Hard hats (I bought 2 used for 10.00 ea & sold for 165.00 ea within 24 hours) Coleman lanterns, waffle irons, camera lenses, Sony Walkman's. I can go on and on. RESEARCH is the MOST IMPORTANT way to learn WHAT to sell. It is time well spent.
John (Top Rated powerseller)

 

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[Buff4]

Message for 2ndisbest. Unless you have a great deal of glasswear, I would stay away from it. But if your lucky enough to buy stuff like Waterford, or Prussia plates, or some high priced items at great prices then it's worth it. Here is another trick. Wrap the item in a small plastic grocery bag and place in a small box with the plate standing on edge, be sure the plastic reaches each side of the box, not get a can of foam insulation (3.95) from Lowes or Home Depot, and spray it into the box (1 side at a time). It will expand and form to the plate, This has to be done on each side of the package. Now you can take it out of the smaller box and place it into a box a little bigger. You'll be able to kick the plate across the room and not break it ! But you must make sure the plastic bag reaches each side of the box, so the buyer can easily separate the item from the insulation. Once you get the hang of it, it's fairly easy and only takes like 10 minutes. But like I said earlier, unless you have a large amount of high priced glass, I would consider selling something other that glass... Just my opinion from 20 years of online sales. Hope this helps.

 

[famous turtle treasures]

Exactly.

In the grand scheme of things, ebay fees are nothing if you know what you are doing. I can sell items for $100 that you couldn't give away at the local antique mall for $50.

Ebay keeps throwing more rules at me and I just don't seem to even notice them anymore. Somehow I'm a top rated seller without putting much effort into the site. So when I see people complaining, it irks me, since this is the easiest time in history to make money from home. People should be thankful for these opportunities. Ebay as it is, no matter how poorly it is run, is still better than no ebay at all.

I sell items that would end up in the trash can at many auction houses since people just don't see the value in them. I couldn't do that without ebay.

And for those that complain... well here is some inspiration... With the help of ebay, I have paid cash for my last two houses. I don't have a job. Selling online is what I do.

This wouldn't be possible even 20 years ago. I can wake up at 10am and be lazy and go ship orders at my own pace and then smile and wave at the fedex guy when he shows up for his daily pickup.

But, some days I'm so busy that I miss my afternoon nap.

Bazinga,

I seem to remember in one of your posts in another thread you said that you quit selling on ebay years ago. Start up again ? I am sure there are lots of people on this board that would like to check out your sales. You should post your ID.

 

[bazinga]

Exactly.

In the grand scheme of things, ebay fees are nothing if you know what you are doing. I can sell items for $100 that you couldn't give away at the local antique mall for $50.

Ebay keeps throwing more rules at me and I just don't seem to even notice them anymore. Somehow I'm a top rated seller without putting much effort into the site. So when I see people complaining, it irks me, since this is the easiest time in history to make money from home. People should be thankful for these opportunities. Ebay as it is, no matter how poorly it is run, is still better than no ebay at all.

I sell items that would end up in the trash can at many auction houses since people just don't see the value in them. I couldn't do that without ebay.

And for those that complain... well here is some inspiration... With the help of ebay, I have paid cash for my last two houses. I don't have a job. Selling online is what I do.

This wouldn't be possible even 20 years ago. I can wake up at 10am and be lazy and go ship orders at my own pace and then smile and wave at the fedex guy when he shows up for his daily pickup.

But, some days I'm so busy that I miss my afternoon nap.

Bazinga,

I seem to remember in one of your posts in another thread you said that you quit selling on ebay years ago. Start up again ? I am sure there are lots of people on this board that would like to check out your sales. You should post your ID.

Why would I want to advertise what I sell? It's just like posting my detecting finds. The less competition, the better. I don't need the pat on the back for making a big profit on an item like some people do.

I never really stopped selling on ebay. I slowed down to 10-20k a year in sales just because I find it fun a couple of months out of the year, but I often get bored with it and don't like doing it year round anymore. But I may have to go on a listing blitz this spring as I have too much piling up.

 

[diggummup]

Exactly.

In the grand scheme of things, ebay fees are nothing if you know what you are doing. I can sell items for $100 that you couldn't give away at the local antique mall for $50.

Ebay keeps throwing more rules at me and I just don't seem to even notice them anymore. Somehow I'm a top rated seller without putting much effort into the site. So when I see people complaining, it irks me, since this is the easiest time in history to make money from home. People should be thankful for these opportunities. Ebay as it is, no matter how poorly it is run, is still better than no ebay at all.

I sell items that would end up in the trash can at many auction houses since people just don't see the value in them. I couldn't do that without ebay.

And for those that complain... well here is some inspiration... With the help of ebay, I have paid cash for my last two houses. I don't have a job. Selling online is what I do.

This wouldn't be possible even 20 years ago. I can wake up at 10am and be lazy and go ship orders at my own pace and then smile and wave at the fedex guy when he shows up for his daily pickup.

But, some days I'm so busy that I miss my afternoon nap.

Bazinga,

I seem to remember in one of your posts in another thread you said that you quit selling on ebay years ago. Start up again ? I am sure there are lots of people on this board that would like to check out your sales. You should post your ID.

Why would I want to advertise what I sell? It's just like posting my detecting finds. The less competition, the better. I don't need the pat on the back for making a big profit on an item like some people do.

I never really stopped selling on ebay. I slowed down to 10-20k a year in sales just because I find it fun a couple of months out of the year, but I often get bored with it and don't like doing it year round anymore. But I may have to go on a listing blitz this spring as I have too much piling up.

Darn Brian, just when I thought you were turning over a new leaf but alas a tiger doesn't change its stripes.

Okay here goes-

As far as "posting finds and advertising what I sell" for fear of more competition, I find that laughable and borderline absurd. That is what this board is for. It's called contributing not "needing a pat on the back". Your reasoning (or excuse) is a cop-out. Believe me, anything you post on here is not going to reduce your sales on Ebay, nor is anything you find in your little town of Muncie a nationally guarded secret (much less in your ebay username).
Speaking of which, I'm wondering why (after almost 1700 feedback received) you don't sell using your original Ebay seller name? Run into a spree of bad feedback or something? Get banned or just decided to close your account voluntarily? Seems a little strange??
Myself, I post finds in the hope that others can learn something from me (what little I know) and in return when they post theirs, I may learn a thing or two from them. I know you haven't learned anything on this board but I've picked up a few tricks of the trade here and I've given a few too I think.
So please forgive us if we post our finds in an attempt to share in the knowledge of them. Contrary to your opinion, members posting their finds is not a cry for attention nor is it a planned endeavor to have our egos stroked, it's a categorical utilization of information being shared by those with a common interest.
Though I have yet to purchase a house, much less two of them (talk about a pat on the back) using my Ebay profits, I do hunt and resell part time for fun as well as profit. When it stops being fun, the profit won't matter.

I think we can all agree with that last statement.

 

[Shambler]

Quiet Bazinga! I come here (along with thousands of other lurkers) to gather up the good and bad ideas from these fooz

 

[cracker]

Quiet Bazinga! I come here (along with thousands of other lurkers) to gather up the good and bad ideas from these fooz

Me too but I don't call people names, grow up son. I agree that you can find anything you want on the internet. A few posts in this place aint going to hurt a thing. A little farfetched or paranoid maybe, I think.

 

[bazinga]

Exactly.

In the grand scheme of things, ebay fees are nothing if you know what you are doing. I can sell items for $100 that you couldn't give away at the local antique mall for $50.

Ebay keeps throwing more rules at me and I just don't seem to even notice them anymore. Somehow I'm a top rated seller without putting much effort into the site. So when I see people complaining, it irks me, since this is the easiest time in history to make money from home. People should be thankful for these opportunities. Ebay as it is, no matter how poorly it is run, is still better than no ebay at all.

I sell items that would end up in the trash can at many auction houses since people just don't see the value in them. I couldn't do that without ebay.

And for those that complain... well here is some inspiration... With the help of ebay, I have paid cash for my last two houses. I don't have a job. Selling online is what I do.

This wouldn't be possible even 20 years ago. I can wake up at 10am and be lazy and go ship orders at my own pace and then smile and wave at the fedex guy when he shows up for his daily pickup.

But, some days I'm so busy that I miss my afternoon nap.

Bazinga,

I seem to remember in one of your posts in another thread you said that you quit selling on ebay years ago. Start up again ? I am sure there are lots of people on this board that would like to check out your sales. You should post your ID.

Why would I want to advertise what I sell? It's just like posting my detecting finds. The less competition, the better. I don't need the pat on the back for making a big profit on an item like some people do.

I never really stopped selling on ebay. I slowed down to 10-20k a year in sales just because I find it fun a couple of months out of the year, but I often get bored with it and don't like doing it year round anymore. But I may have to go on a listing blitz this spring as I have too much piling up.

Darn Brian, just when I thought you were turning over a new leaf but alas a tiger doesn't change its stripes.

Okay here goes-

As far as "posting finds and advertising what I sell" for fear of more competition, I find that laughable and borderline absurd. That is what this board is for. It's called contributing not "needing a pat on the back". Your reasoning (or excuse) is a cop-out. Believe me, anything you post on here is not going to reduce your sales on Ebay, nor is anything you find in your little town of Muncie a nationally guarded secret (much less in your ebay username).
Speaking of which, I'm wondering why (after almost 1700 feedback received) you don't sell using your original Ebay seller name? Run into a spree of bad feedback or something? Get banned or just decided to close your account voluntarily? Seems a little strange??
Myself, I post finds in the hope that others can learn something from me (what little I know) and in return when they post theirs, I may learn a thing or two from them. I know you haven't learned anything on this board but I've picked up a few tricks of the trade here and I've given a few too I think.
So please forgive us if we post our finds in an attempt to share in the knowledge of them. Contrary to your opinion, members posting their finds is not a cry for attention nor is it a planned endeavor to have our egos stroked, it's a categorical utilization of information being shared by those with a common interest.
Though I have yet to purchase a house, much less two of them (talk about a pat on the back) using my Ebay profits, I do hunt and resell part time for fun as well as profit. When it stops being fun, the profit won't matter.

I think we can all agree with that last statement.

What makes it absurd? Let's say you have an item you can find semi-frequently for cheap. It sells for $50 online regularly and has a demand of 10 per week online at that price. Now let's tell hundreds of people about this great easy profit item. Now 15 are being listed each week and the price drops down to $30 since demand can't sustain the $50 price with 15 being listed each week. It's simple supply and demand. The fact that very few people on this board can see that really disappoints me and shows how badly our educational system has failed this country. It's just as bad as the beach hunters that post all of their gold finds one week and then complain the next week that there are more people detecting their beaches. Uh duh! And now people are complaining about TV shows about metal detecting... Well that's what you dummies get when you jump on the computer immediately at the end of each day to post your finds.

I have multiple ebay names where I sell different kinds of items from each one.

I really could care less about helping others on this forum in terms of telling them what to look for to buy for resale. I have no desire to invite more competition for items I like to buy. Plus, any good things that are posted are just going to be sold to ebay newbies by our "resident expert" turtle.

 

[jerseyben]

What makes it absurd? Let's say you have an item you can find semi-frequently for cheap. It sells for $50 online regularly and has a demand of 10 per week online at that price. Now let's tell hundreds of people about this great easy profit item. Now 15 are being listed each week and the price drops down to $30 since demand can't sustain the $50 price with 15 being listed each week. It's simple supply and demand. The fact that very few people on this board can see that really disappoints me and shows how badly our educational system has failed this country. It's just as bad as the beach hunters that post all of their gold finds one week and then complain the next week that there are more people detecting their beaches. Uh duh! And now people are complaining about TV shows about metal detecting... Well that's what you dummies get when you jump on the computer immediately at the end of each day to post your finds.

I have multiple ebay names where I sell different kinds of items from each one.

I really could care less about helping others on this forum in terms of telling them what to look for to buy for resale. I have no desire to invite more competition for items I like to buy. Plus, any good things that are posted are just going to be sold to ebay newbies by our "resident expert" turtle.

Do you really believe that this Garage Sale finds forum on this little piece of the internet is actually influential on the global or even national economy? Do you truly believe that the items being posted here represent that much of a niche market that having them simply appearing here is influencing the market?

I find that way of thinking a little short sighted, if you ask me.

You say, "that's what you dummies get when you jump on the computer immediately at the end of each day to post your finds". To that I ask you, what are you doing here then? Is that not the purpose of this website?

Lastly, why use the educational system of this country as a crutch for your argument? Has our educational system REALLY failed this country - just because a few people disagree with your interpretation of the principles of supply and demand?

Just post your username and prove everyone wrong. I think that is really all that is being asked - that you back up some of these claims.

 

[diggummup]

What makes it absurd? Let's say you have an item you can find semi-frequently for cheap. It sells for $50 online regularly and has a demand of 10 per week online at that price. Now let's tell hundreds of people about this great easy profit item. Now 15 are being listed each week and the price drops down to $30 since demand can't sustain the $50 price with 15 being listed each week. It's simple supply and demand. The fact that very few people on this board can see that really disappoints me and shows how badly our educational system has failed this country. It's just as bad as the beach hunters that post all of their gold finds one week and then complain the next week that there are more people detecting their beaches. Uh duh! And now people are complaining about TV shows about metal detecting... Well that's what you dummies get when you jump on the computer immediately at the end of each day to post your finds.

I have multiple ebay names where I sell different kinds of items from each one.

I really could care less about helping others on this forum in terms of telling them what to look for to buy for resale. I have no desire to invite more competition for items I like to buy. Plus, any good things that are posted are just going to be sold to ebay newbies by our "resident expert" turtle.

Do you really believe that this Garage Sale finds forum on this little piece of the internet is actually influential on the global or even national economy? Do you truly believe that the items being posted here represent that much of a niche market that having them simply appearing here is influencing the market?

I find that way of thinking a little short sighted, if you ask me.

You say, "that's what you dummies get when you jump on the computer immediately at the end of each day to post your finds". To that I ask you, what are you doing here then? Is that not the purpose of this website?

Lastly, why use the educational system of this country as a crutch for your argument? Has our educational system REALLY failed this country - just because a few people disagree with your interpretation of the principles of supply and demand?

Just post your username and prove everyone wrong. I think that is really all that is being asked - that you back up some of these claims.

He can't tell anyone, it's a secret.

"why use the educational system of this country as a crutch for your argument?"
Because he's the youngest one here and has a degree in Business Administration, therefore he now qualifies as an equivalent h.s. graduate of the 1980's or earlier when the h.s. graduation standards actually required a student to be able to read before they received their diploma.

 

[GibH]

Bazinga, if you have no interest in anyone's finds, no interest in giving anything back, why do you continue to even participate? All I ever see are posts of you putting people down. Not just on this sub-forum, but everywhere on this site. Get over yourself.

 

[lostcauses]

Did not take long to get the thread off topic, and some one all the attention they seem to be demanding.

 

[famous turtle treasures]

From now on I am referring to Bazinga as College.

 

[Shambler]

Do you really believe that this Garage Sale finds forum on this little piece of the internet is actually influential on the global or even national economy? Do you truly believe that the items being posted here represent that much of a niche market that having them simply appearing here is influencing the market?

Watch closely, and you'll see just that. The man with the little wooden trinket in his listings routinely prices himself out with suggestions here. It's like he didn't like the 60% markup he was making but DID like all of the fake approval he got here so he took 20% instead.

You clearly have no understanding of Internet forums. People come here for information. For every poster, I bet there are 1000 readers. If they all run out to Goodwill and buy Woolrich shirts.... oh heck, if even 10 of them do, you've messed up.

 

[bazinga]

Bazinga, if you have no interest in anyone's finds, no interest in giving anything back, why do you continue to even participate? All I ever see are posts of you putting people down. Not just on this sub-forum, but everywhere on this site. Get over yourself.

Where did I say I had no interest in anyone else's finds? Of course I do. I love gleaning information from people who don't think before they post.

I actually offer lots of information on many posts. People just choose to nitpick my posts because I don't always post smiles and nods in agreement with everybody. I'm not going to tell a new user that their Ace 250 is going to find them gobs of silver.

I never take myself very seriously, and neither should any poster on this site. If you do, then stop. It's that easy.

turtle... you can call me college if you like, that's fine. You can call me whatever makes ya smile or laugh, it's cool with me. Heck, you can call me turd eater if it makes you chuckle.

jerseyben.... If you are foolish enough to believe that NICHE markets can't be affected by a few extra sellers, then you really don't have a clue. I've had items in the past where I was the only seller and made a killing on them. But then 2 or 3 other sellers find out about them and the $50 profit per item dwindles down to $10-20 each in a fight to get the sales. I'm not referring to sales of high demand / high volume items like an ipad where 10 new sellers will affect the market. I'm talking about items with a limited market and not a lot of buyers. Just because it's a global marketplace doesn't mean a few sellers can't dramatically affect the prices of items.

Hugs and kisses to all!

 

[famous turtle treasures]

Night College, don't let the people trying to steal your sales bite.

 

[jerseyben]

Point taken regarding my niche market comment...
I think my true "point" got away from me on that one. I was more or less trying to say that in the big picture, a couple buddies bragging about their scores on the internet is nothing compared to the many reality shows that reach millions of viewers that discuss and advertise the same things. A prime time reality show is going to reach a much wider audience of people who are more ignorant to the ideas being portrayed versus this thread, which at time of posting has received 1,658 views by people who are already likely "in the know" at least somewhat about these kinds of things.

My point is that I think the garage sales forum is more for broadening people's overall knowledge and fine tuning their ability to score and sell (not to mention brag about it). In terms of the big picture I think the reality shows that are geared towards the same topics are doing much worse harm to the market.

 

[SaturdayThirty]

Does anyone here use terapeak, worthpoint, or any of those other ebay data research sites? I'm curious if any of them are worth it.

I have a subscription to Terapeak and I find that for me personally, it more than pays for the $22.50 monthly subscription charge. Having 90 days of detailed completed sales (and 1 year of sale price data without details), compared to the 2 weeks that eBay offers, helps me decide very quickly whether to sell a garage-sale item I found or put it immediately into the box to GoodWill. But more importantly, I use it during the week as a research tool to see what items I should be looking for at garage sales. For instance, if I start to see Playstation 2 games frequently at sales, I'll look them up on Terapeak, which sorts them high-to-low price for the last 90 days, and I can quickly build a list of the titles selling for over $25 that I should be looking for. Or VHS tapes that still sell for more than $25. Or belt buckles. Or breast pumps. Anything at all.