Back in 2021, I sold most all of my HO MR stuff on EBAY. I've been buying and selling on the site since 2001, but this episode of over 100 auctions was obviously work. But, it was successful.
I stayed away from the site for two years due to the IRS 1099 limitations, but of course that lessened quite a bit this year. Anyway, I had accumulated "stuff" for 50 more auctions, and began the listing process yesterday.
Well, I have to say EBAY has made it significantly easier to list and review. And their selling "hints" - in many cases - actually are helpful.
I know we are quick to complain about the various sites we use, so I thought it would by appropriate to give an "attaboy" when a site deserves it.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
mobilman44Well, I have to say EBAY has made it significantly easier to list and review. And their selling "hints" - in many cases - actually are helpful.
what specifically, made a difference?
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
The overall process is just more user friendly. Nothing major, but it seemed like every step was - for me - more intuitive.
That said, you still need to pay close attention to it. In example, EBAY loves to set the "accepting offers" button on default, and they still have a few other hurdles that need watching.
mobilman44 The overall process is just more user friendly. Nothing major, but it seemed like every step was - for me - more intuitive. That said, you still need to pay close attention to it. In example, EBAY loves to set the "accepting offers" button on default, and they still have a few other hurdles that need watching.
What's wrong with accepting offers? As long as it's not set to accept automatically, it shouldn't be an issue.
IC_Tom mobilman44 The overall process is just more user friendly. Nothing major, but it seemed like every step was - for me - more intuitive. That said, you still need to pay close attention to it. In example, EBAY loves to set the "accepting offers" button on default, and they still have a few other hurdles that need watching. What's wrong with accepting offers? As long as it's not set to accept automatically, it shouldn't be an issue.
In my experience in selling on eBay, especially for hobby stuff, I've been inundated with lowball requests for stuff that I was already listing for stuff below what you'd get from a hobby shop. I'd be selling stuff new in box at $190 when MSRP was $250 and hobby shops were selling at $225 and getting requests for $140 with free shipping. It goes both ways of course - some sellers do list stuff for delusionally high prices, but many buyers don't even look at the market before making an offer (or view "make an offer" as a way to get very low prices). Since I never "need" to sell any of the stuff I am listing, I just don't have that as an option any more.
Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner, I've been pretty busy (Ebay).
The "buy it now" feature is a default when you write up an auction, and IMO at a way too low price. So I "disengage it", at least for the auction's first term of duration. Given that most of my 52 auctions were for similar items, I just used a previous format for a base, changing the particulars as I went along.
Actually, once you do a few, it does go pretty fast. I'm especially happy at the speed of bringing in pictures and moving them around.
As they are already sold, I can safely relate how I found a box of structures I had forgotten about, put them up for auction, and each and every one sold. Yet, "no one" seems to want to buy kits. Sign of the times of course.
mobilman44 Yet, "no one" seems to want to buy kits. Sign of the times of course.
Kits are my "purchasing default" - unless the particular model is only available in RTR. I've put together three Accurail outside-braced boxcars this week. Easy to assemble, look really nice when completed, and can be upgraded, if desired. I always outfit them with Kadee #58s and ribbed wheelsets.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
The Unpleasant Surprise is seeing how much less your payout is than your item's listing.
Yup, that's a truism! The thing is, seller's on Ebay are kind of like wholesalers and not retailers as some of us would like to think.
But still, I've sold an awful lot of stuff - mostly MR related over the last 23 years, allowing me to buy new stuff that I otherwise would not have done.
IC_Tom The Unpleasant Surprise is seeing how much less your payout is than your item's listing.
Rich
Alton Junction
Thought I'd update you all on this year's Ebay experience. Today the last buyer paid, and the item will hit the PO in the morning.
Fourteen (out of 47) items remain, but since they didn't garner much interest thru 3 relists, I just deleted them from the system. So now there is nothing for sale.
While I listed everything in the auction format, after the first round I added the "buy it now" feature to all remaining. While I didn't have any of the "bidding wars" that were once common, I do have some observations to share.
- All but one of the MR built structures sold. That made me happy in knowing someone would get some pleasure (hopefully) from my efforts.
- Thru the first round (each round was one week), none of the RR books sold. These were all premium books, mostly on the Santa Fe and Illinois Central. Well, just over a week ago someone did the BIN on TEN of them. That was a nice surprise, but it sure gave me a lot of work to get them safely to the PO - which I did the following day.
When I got home from the PO - believe it or not - the same person bought another ELEVEN of them. Of course I was happy for the sales, but as many of you realize, getting items ready for shipping is WORK. Curiosity got the best of me, and it turns out the buyer has a specialized book store in Arizona.
- One auction / BIN was (IMO) a super buy, but it garnered little interest. It consisted of 4 HO cars - three higher end kits and one built up Silver Streak 50 ft wood boxcar. This particular lot was the only rolling stock left over from my "big sale" of four years ago.
The final price was (IMO) a steal at $5 per car plus $15 shipping, but obviously no takers. I guess it kind of goes with the trend that few folks are interested in kits, versus getting RTR stuff. Ha, maybe next time around I'll build them up and hopefully "make a killing" on them! HA !!!
Thank you for letting me share!