Today I posted my first sale item ever on EBay.
This was a long time coming folks. I first started thinking about posting some of my more valuable items on EBay twenty years ago. But I procrastinated because I wasn't sure how to do it.
I had briefly considered hiring someone to sell my items but then I thought "I can do this." Then I put it off again. Now twenty years later I finally did it!
The past two years I have been slowly downsizing items in my storage room that I haven't been using and never will use. Many of those items have little worth. I've been donating those items to local thrift stores. However, I do have some items that have value. Actually, I have quite a few items of value that I just can't justify giving away to thrift stores. Why not make some money off of them?
The first items I have put up for sale are twenty-eight boxes of dollhouse furniture. I had subscribed to this place called "House of Miniatures" from Terre Haute Indiana. What was I thinking? I was going to actually put together this furniture and have a dollhouse? Really? Chalk it up to youthful folly.
I bought these kits for an average of $14.95 a kit about forty years ago. Yes, FORTY. Man oh man, how fast time goes by.
I figured these kits would be worth something today. Especially since the House of Miniatures went out of business. I checked EBay to see if anyone else was selling these kits. They were.
I checked the prices. Reality check, the kits were averaging $5.95 a box. There goes my get rich quick scheme. These kits match my house, worth less now than it was when I purchased it in 2006. Heck, I guess I'm worth less.
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| House of Miniatures kids and shadow boxes for sale on EBay |
Now to do my research and learn how to see on EBay. First the cost of mailing the kits and two shadow boxes, tool kit and glue. Total weight nineteen lbs. I check at both the local multi-purpose mailing store (FED-EX, UPS) and U.S. Post Office. Max mailing cost (depends on distance) was 90210 (yep, Beverly Hills, California) was $77.95, plus the cost of the box to mail the kits. Hmmm, a lot more expensive than I thought.
Armed with my cost information I took my photos of the items and posted them for sale this morning on EBay's website.
I posted them as an auction item. Now I'm feeling the excitement. This is fun.
Now already I've received an inquiry from a potential buyer. She questioned the mailing costs. I had posted a $50 flat Fed Ex rate. She thought that was too much. I'm glad she sent me that inquiring. I made a change on my sell posting and put in to calculate the postage charge.
I have to tell you folks, this is going to be fun. It's going to be interesting to see how much I can sell these kits for.
Next up, I have about two dozen vintage jeans of all brands that I've been accumulating all my adult life. I've never thrown away jeans. They have to be worth somethings especially after seeing those $500 distressed jeans for sale in Nordstrom's when we were in Beverly Hills.
Why do I have so many jeans for sale? Don't tell anyone but these jeans don't fit me any more. For many years my waist size was 32 inches. About ten years ago it crept up to 33 inches. Now folks, my waist size is 34 inches. I kept these jeans assuming I could get my waist size down to 32 inches. That's not going to happen folks. I have to face reality, my shape has shifted. Shape Shifter Ron.
I'm entering another new phase of my life folks with my entry into the EBay seller's market.
Exciting times.
18 comments:
I bought the book E Bay for Dummies last fall. It's been sitting in my office ever since. Please let me know how this goes....I too have "treasures" to sell. good luck!
Post office flat rate boxes are likely the lowest cost options. My guess is the shadow box is 1/4 of the weight, and not 1/4 of the value, it might not be worth shipping.
Hello- I sell on ebay. Just a tip....check out the USPS Priority Mail envelopes and boxes ( there are different sizes and you get the envelopes and boxes free)....they are a flat fee to anywhere in the US. If you can get your items in them they ship for that set amount...no need to worry about weighing them or what zone they are going to. It's all I use on ebay to ship.....makes the packaging and mailing and calculating of costs SO MUCH EASIER! Good luck.
great! Let us know how it goes. I'd like to get rid of a few things myself.
Hey Ron - this is exciting. I'm curious as to how you do. I've bought from Amazon and eBay but never sold. But certainly I'd consider what you are doing with my smaller items. I recently purchased an out of print book for $100 which sold for less than $50 ten years ago. I could probably sell it for the same if I chose later. Big items, like when I change a sofa (which I've done so often in a very short time frame) I see locally. But it's win win. You get to purge and make some cash. Way to go!!
Pat
Ron,
I bought many items on eBay over the years, but I never sold anything on the site. I really wasn't too sure how to do it. At least, I have your guide of potential success. It is fun and exciting for you. Glad to hear it.
Thanks for this blog post.
Welcome to eBay! I have been selling off and on since 1999. Mostly Boyds bears but I have been branching out into other things as well.
My brother in SC sells lots of Radko ornaments and he gets big bucks for them.
It's exciting to see your first listing go up and it will be even more exciting when you sell your first thing! :)
If I could offer any advice, take good pictures (I find taking them outside is the best), don't gouge on shipping, don't be offended if someone offers you less than you think an item is worth, and above all...Have Fun and make some moola! :)
Great...Glad to see that you are downsizing and being smart about it...Who knows you might make enough money to take Bill out to dinner and or a local weekend getaway...Good Luck...
Good for you!
I suspect you could have a lot of fun AND make a lot of money AND clear out crud all in one hobby.
Just don't sell Bill or the Spo-shirts.
Ron,
Good Luck with your items, I hope you sell them quickly. I have procrastinated a long time about selling items on EBAY. Never got around to it at all. I donate items to Goodwill.
Linda
bob,
I also bought that "EBay Book for Dummies" years ago. I leafed through it once and then put it aside. It's downstairs collecting dust in one of my bookcases. I'm glad I waited however, because I found the whole process so much easier. I suspect over time, since I bought that Dummies book that EBay has smoothed the process. I found the whole process very easy and actually fun. 'm going to sell something every week now.
Ron
Ur-spo,
NO WAY would I ever sell a Spa shirt on EBay but I suspect I could probably get at least $5.00 for one of your beautiful shirts. However, I have threatened Bill to sell him on EBay. Seriously though, I'm glad I finally got started selling on EBay. My sale was very successful. I plan to sell every week now. I found the whole process very easy and actually fun. This is a win-win for me because I get rid of a lot of things plus I get money for it!
Ron
VRC-Do You,
I am so happy that I'm finally beginning to downsize and as you say "being smart about it." My first sale was very successful. I'm on a roll now!
Ron
Pat,
My first sale was very successful. I got what I was expecting which surprised me. And the whole process was so easy and actually fun. I'm on a roll now.
Ron
Travel (David),
Thanks for the tip about flat rate boxes. I am aware that you can stuff those boxes and the rate is always the same. However, I think there is a change now, depends on the ZIP code where I'm mailing it too. I will try to keep down the mailing costs.
Ron
Joel,
Like you I had purchased many things over the years from EBay but never sold anything. I found the process of selling very easy. I have plans to sell a lot of my stuff now. Not only to I get rid of things but I make money and I found the process fun and interesting.
Ron
VickyL,
Thanks for the tip on mailing in the flat rate boxes through USPS. I've sent books that way to friends of mine (Jon, you know who you are). I can't send everything through a flat rate box but some of my items I can. I'm looking forward to this new activity which will be so good for me. Not only do I get rid of thing, I feel good about finding my things a new home and I make money while I'm at it!
Ron
bob,
I'm going to post now about my experience selling my first item. I will tell you this Bob, it was much easier than I thought it would be. You should try it!
Ron
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