A friend of mine is getting out of model railroading. I have only seen his HO scale layout once (maybe 14 x 14 ft?), but it sounds like he has a lot of items stashed away in closets and what not.
He knows that I do a fair amount of buying and selling on ebay. He has approached me about selling the whole lot to me for $3k. From what I have observed of his items (not the ones in closets) and what I see as people's buying habits on ebay, that price is too high.
The approach I may propose to him is that I will sell his items on ebay, and take a cut of the selling price for doing all of the work. What would you consider a fair cut to do this for him, 20 - 30 - 40%?
Thanks,
Mark
I think you should get a better tour of what he wants to sell. Once you are satisfied you've evaluated his stuff, make him an offer you're comfortable with.
That doesn't seem to be where you want to go, but I do think it's the best way.
Ed
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Mark:
Friend eh? Sounds like he is looking to dump a huge task on you and get a tidy sum of cash out of it too.
What is your time worth? Figure out roughly how much time will be required to do all of the sorting, photography, listing, packing and running around. If you figure on 100 hours (which may be low) and you are worth $25.00/hr then you need to get $2500.00 out of the deal over and above your costs.
Maybe you should ask him to pay you!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Making money by helping out a friend?
Well, what kind of friend is he (or in fact, you)? Is he a pal, a buddy, a best friend or just someone you happen to know by name - like a Facebook "friend"?
Why is he disposing of his model railroad stuff? Is he in need of the money or has he just got sick and tired of it or developed other interests?
I would not want tao take a cent of a real friend of mine who is in need!
Sir Madog Making money by helping out a friend? Well, what kind of friend is he (or in fact, you)? Is he a pal, a buddy, a best friend or just someone you happen to know by name - like a Facebook "friend"? Why is he disposing of his model railroad stuff? Is he in need of the money or has he just got sick and tired of it or developed other interests? I would not want tao take a cent of a real friend of mine who is in need!
I recently had a close "friend" help me do a difficult project in relation to my professional work, that I'm getting paid well for. He was willing to accept whatever I wanted to pay him, mainly he just wanted to be of help, because I really needed it badly. He may have come in green, but he picked up the tricks of the trade so fast and so well, I paid him what I have paid other professional helpers who work in the same line as I, as he did every bit as good a job as they do. He was shocked at the amount of the check, said he can't accept it. I told him I couldn't allow myself to pay him any less than I would others for the exact same work. (I mean, what kind of "friend" would that make me?) Again this is a job I'm making money on.
Now, he and I help do each other for free all the time on those chores around the houses, or cars, that needs a hand. But when making money is involved, fair is fair.
Do make sure that you and your friend are in agreement with whatever arrangement you come up with, and that both parties are clear in all the terms of the matter. Honestly discussing this won't make you any less a friend, and could even make sure you stay friends.
One pointer I might add here, from a buyers standpoint: On the 'bay, I am willing to pay more for freight cars that are put in like groups (say, 4 to 6 box cars ) and ESPECIALLY with the same roadnames, than I do for singles, that eat up both the buyer and seller in shipping costs, or for mismatched items that may only have 1 or 2 items of real interest. And judging by the bid history at the end of the auctions, I'm not alone. Group '50s vehicles together in decent lots, same with '60s... Hope these thoughts help. Dan
Something you should think about. I have had a couple bud's ask me to do the same. Problem arises when the buyer makes a claim against you ( true or false, there are many scums on ebay who look to scam you ). Then the money gets locked up with paypal. If you lose, YOU pay the return shipping and have to give a full refund including original shipping ( double wammy ). Not knowing what condition his stuff is in or if there are any problems, you could end up on a loosing deal. Not to mention you could end up with a negitive hit on your feed back ( claim or no claim ).
I won't ebay anyone items for them, for this very reason. Craigs list might be a better option.
SHOW him how to list on ebay.
Then let him do it himself.
If he stands to make $3k {doubtful} HE should make all the efforts.
AS noted, if he has problems, he will blame only YOU for "not doing it right"....and NO ONE, unless sutpid is going to buy the whole shebang at $3k. He will have to sell off in smaller lots, like 10 RR cars for X $. Or auction it and see what he gets. If HE does it, he cannot blame you.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Ebay is a crapshoot. An item could sell for $10 one day, and $50 the next.
My advice........ List all the items the guy wants to sell. When done, take the NET proceeds (ex pp and Ebay fees and packing/shipping materials) and take your cut.
MAKE SURE that the above is fully agreed to and the percent of your cut is set in stone, etc. beforehand. Selling quantities on Ebay is WORK, so you both need to keep that in mind before getting into it.
That said, teach the guy to list it himself..................
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I would need to think twice before charging a trusted close friend since all I am doing is listing his items-he packs and ships not me.
However.. I would do my best to talk him into opening his own account and would help him price things as BIN.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I've sold items in the past for friends, did as mentioned bundled similar ones together. I charged 25% for my efforts, after shipping costs. I provided the owner(s) with links to the auctions so they could follow and verify, supplied them with a spreadsheet listing all costs and final amounts. Probably wouldn't bother do to it for such a large listing, as it can sure eat up a lot of your time - assembling lots, taking and processing photos, packaging, and delivering to the post office, etc. Even though I am retired, such a large selection would just take up too much of my time.
Good luck!
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
With all due respect to your friend, his proposal is the easy way out. Dump it on you for $3,000 and you figure out how to get rid of it.
As others have pointed out, there is a tremendous amount of work involved here. You need to inspect the items, photograph the items, categorize them. establish starting bids, write descriptions, determine shipping costs, find suitable packaging, manage the auctions, collect the sales proceeds, package the items, get them shipped, provide feedback.
And, then there is the question of the fair market value. $3,000? Maybe yes, maybe no.
The wiser thing to do is to encourage him to establish his own eBay account and do all of that work himself. Offer to advise him as he goes along. Let it be his problem, not yours.
Rich
Alton Junction
mobilman44 Ebay is a crapshoot. An item could sell for $10 one day, and $50 the next.
That can be true. Just in the last few weeks I saw an Athearn 5-car RTR set of D&RGW blue end Thrall gons (original MSRP $90, sold discount for $60-70) listed for $99 and it bid up to $240 !!!. Another set came on and sold for a straight $99. It just depends.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Its his mess, show him how and let him clean it up.
Jim
Soo Line fan Its his mess, show him how and let him clean it up.
I tend to agree. I sizable collection could be a good deal of work to sell on Ebay and get the most out of it. I haven't sold on Ebay for a good 9-10 years and don't miss it. YMMV of course.
How can this arrangement work where everoyne walks away happy? There's no reason for you to waste time and energy posting on ebay for someone else. I agree with others about showing the guy how to post and let him invest the time. By doing that you're not burdened with the trouble and logistics of packaging and shipping stuff.
Not train related but.. Back when I was in busness for myself, when a "friend'' or relative asks for me to help with a job, it really meant do this for me for free. It didn't take long to realalize that I would work for free. any material will most likely not be paid back,use of equipment/gas was on me. I just started saying NO. they might be offended but it didn't cost me any thing.
If you bought this whole lot of his stuff outright for X dollors and made a profit he would say you cheated him, if tou loss well too bad its a no win deal.
The most I would invest would be to offer free advice and walk away
just thinking
I have handled this type of issue in the past by explaining that I wouldn't feel comfortable charging a friend what my time is worth and wouldn't feel comfortable working for less.
Offer to show him how to list an item or two for himself and then get out of the loop.
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
I doubt you can sell the whole lot and get it's full value. You have to sell it as indiviual pieces.
Charge 30-35% of net sales. You have to remember to minus the ebay and paypal fees plus shipping and packaging costs or ebay and the USPS will make the money instead of you.
j.........
eBay consignment shops charge 30-35% above their listing and shipping costs.
For a total stranger, if I were in the business, firm 35% above listing and shipping fees.
For an "acquaintance", 25-30%, above listing and shipping costs.
For "a friend", I would discount the rate to 15-20%, above fees, just because I am taking my time to do this. (I have a regular job, plus other repsonabilities to attend to.)
For a "good friend", help him/her list on their own, for free. (Answer questions along the way, assist in first couple listings, etc.... Even help with photo and grouping of items as needed.) If absolutely necessary, list for them, for 10-15%.
For "best friend", assist with listing and photo, etc... for free, if he/she needed more than just a friends assistance in this, due to extenuating circumstances, I would consider doing it for them, for only shipping and listing fees. (Would depend on why they can't. And why they are getting rid of whatever is being sold. Only you can decide this.)
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
UNCLEBUTCHIf you bought this whole lot of his stuff outright for X dollors and made a profit he would say you cheated him, if tou loss well too bad its a no win deal.
Actually I never brag to a seller how much I made in the deal. If asked a simple I'm breaking even should suffice.
There's no reason a seller should pry into your business after you close a deal with the agreed amount.
The thing to remember a good poker face during the haggling and a general disinterest helps as well.
"A friend is someone that has been to your home socially, everyone else is an aquaintance". So says the RCMP to school kids on being social media savvy.
I can't imagine charging any friend of mine that needed help. I help friends all the time and they help me. We also give each other things like radial arm saws or table saws or other things that we don't need anymore. I have received more than one Rapido coach or other train related gifts in appreciation of helping out friends (It nice to have PWRS close to home, they help my friends choose something on my list). I have taken friends to Canuck games and done other things for them in appreciation of their help.
I honestly don't think people think about the time involved and cost of selling on E-Bay. The true cost of driving to the Post office alone would eat up any monetary gain on a lot of things people sell. I use to be involved in choosing the right vehicles for the job for the Federal Government in Canada. We had a book that told us the cost per KM. of driving just about any vehicle you could buy. I was really shocked that my own F-350/7.3 LTR diesel showed as a $1.05 a KM. to drive. That sure makes that 230 KM. return trip to my favourite train show expensive.
Anyone I know that runs a business shakes their head at small time E-Bay sellers. It is a pretty unproductive way to try and make a few bucks. Of course I know a very wealthy lawyer that delivers flyers door to door now he is retired, it keeps him in shape he says. To each their own.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I got rid of a whole lot of stuff, I paid 20% after fees, shipping being on the customer. I now pay 25% but most of the stuff is gone so the volume is way less.
If he is a befriend help him do it on his own. Or do it for labor free plus cost. But be careful I have seen many a friend ship go down thE tube over money.
YGW