My ebay experiment Year One - Page 2

600 feedback(600 sales) in one year just about says it all (and that doesn't include the ones who don't leave feedbacks) There's definitely other avenues, but not one of them, not even all of them combined, has the traffic that Ebay does.

I hate their business practices too, with a passion. I hate the multitudes there who rip sellers off(ebay itself being the biggest). I hate the way some there will do the craziest things you can imagine, beyond comprehension.

I've been there, done that, and full well understand Mikes wish to take a break, maybe a permanent one, and Mike I wish you well with it, I know it is well deserved

But still the fact remains, traffic, traffic, traffic(to borrow from an older cliche "location, location, location")

Like anything else
there is the good and the bad
and like anything else, You need to weigh that out when selling on eBay and or Craigs
I have not had any problems with eBay or PayPal
Coming up on 4000 Feed Backs with less then 5 Negs
Highest PayPal amounts taken have been between $2000 and $2500 for "Salvage cars"
The car parts I sell on eBay are the Easy to pull, Easy to store and Easy to ship kind >> That I would be getting 8 Cents a pound for if I left on the cars

Like other things in my life >> Not Getting rich BUT Not going hungry >> Says the Fat (240 pounds 5' 10") guy

Craigs list is all Ca$H all the time

Are you guys sure that a small amount of negative feedback really does damage a seller with a large number of positive ratings? FWIW, just speaking for myself, I do buy (old computer stuff) on eBay occasionally when the price isn't too insane, and if I see a seller with a lot of feedback, of which at least 99% is positive, I don't hesitate to buy from him/her. If there's any recent negative feedback, I will look at it, but most of the time I end up concluding that the buyer was either uninformed or just a troublemaker.

I guess the biggest problem with eBay is also its greatest strength: It essentially has a monopoly in the consumer-oriented online auction market. Since it has no competition, it's the best (only!) place to go, but that also means eBay can get away with practices that its customers, the sellers, really don't like.

It's just like the cable company where I live. Why do I have a land-line home telephone and a cable TV package when I could just use my cell phone and Internet TV? Because I need the Internet.

I think it comes down to what you are trying to sale.Like John said he sells car parts easy to pull stuff.I just started doing this a couple of months ago and have sold around $800 in that time.When if i would have left it on the car i would maybe me $8.00 ahead lol.I would say out of the $800 after fees and shipping i made $500 or more.But regardless of the profit it is still a profit in which i make more than i would if i left it on the car.
You spent $1000 on tape then to me sounds like you have no clue on how ebay works.Why not ship through USPS priority mail where the boxes and tape and well pretty much everything is included in that price.75% of the time priority is cheaper or the exact same price as standard.The other 25% you would only pay a few dollars extra if that per item.

As far as paypal i love paypal i have had it for 10 years and have never had a problem.When i first started they held money and stuff a few times but not a big deal.Now i have it set as a business account and there are no limits and the fees are cheaper.

sorry to hear the stress and all the bad experiences i myself have had very little trouble with ebay from selling boards lots to gears from printers and things. i hear a lot of horror stories and do not wave a proud ebay flag cause i get some of the same troubles but its rare for me as i do a lot to limit all the crazy things that can happen from direct wording to were i sell and a lot of contact with buyers so if there is trouble i have the upperhand in dealing with that issue. this is why i have never lost an ebay case (should start a ebay lawyer firm lol ). it is full of scams and troubles just like the world or a flee market but if you part those seas the ebay moses dollar sign will lead you to a bank account with a few extra zeros in it. its not as much as some that sell but $3lb for hard drive magnets and $4-5lb for platters and 10cents a plastic gear i can not get elsewhere along with so many other things.

Bear makes a good point, it's the main reason people who hate it, are still on there. It's just like Walmart. Lots hate them, but still shop there. Far as I see, it's like letting a toddler do what they want, long as you let them keep doing it, their going to keep coloring the walls. Folks refuse to try something new, (not you folks, but general) so eBay continues it's practices. Same with walmart, if people would stop shopping there, they might get the hint, and change things. I'm not holding my breath on either one. lol.

eBay is not what it was several years ago. They are a giant beast, that knows it's got a captive audience, an one that's grown comfy with them. For every great story I hear, I hear 3 more bad ones. Once again I don't blame anyone for using them. Just if you get bit, and you come to me for comfort. I'll hand you a tissue an say, "Did they lest buy you dinner?"

I totally understand why the majority of you use them. I just refuse to now. I've said it before, if I don't like a business, I don't give them my business. This list includes a lot of big companies. Does it suck having to work harder? sure does. Do I still achieve my goals of buying/selling? I sure do. I just have to work harder then the rest of you to sell my stuff. I do just fine not using eBay.

An..the Paypal graph was a joke.

Dance with the devil long enough an you'll feel his pitch-fork in your backside at some point.

Sirscrapalot - I am in no mood to be deceived any longer by the crafty devil and false character whose greatest pleasure is to take advantage of everyone. -Camille Claudel

Ebay is a valuable tool. Obviously dont like everything about it but until the newer tool comes available that is what I have to use. There are ways to simplify it and limit your headaches. I have a basic template and just copy paste everything. Pretty fast and straight forward process. When I do have to refund an item I am truly not out the cost of the whole item, only what i have into it which is usually next to nothing.

Originally Posted by BurlyGuys

Here's the only way I will use eBay today. I will list an item as local pickup only. I will list the starting price as the lowest amount I am willing to let it go for. No matter how much they beg plead or cajole I will not ship. This eliminates the claims of the item not being as described.

I love the pie chart about using PayPal because you have to. In my listing I state I will accept PayPal as a form of payment. (This is a lie.) Because I have to. I would offer the option of cash paid at pickup, but evilbay will not let me. (May they and seven generations of their progeny burn in hell!)

Then when I have a winning bidder I make arrangements for them to pay cash at pickup. Most people are fine with that. No one has refused so far. If they did I would cancel the transaction and refund them anything they have paid via PayPal. With no PayPal transaction they can't f&$) me demanding a refund.

In this way I also avoid the bottom feeders on CL.

Best of both worlds. You attract only more serious buyers and there is less of the fear from buyers about dealing with someone on CL.

John, that is a fantastic idea about local shipping only, and about cash sales. I might do that. Maybe. I seriously dislike ebay selling for the same reason other people do - hassle and heartache.

I don't mind craigslist, though.

Ain't nothing wrong with it PTS. Just not for everyone.

I say good for you, you enjoy it keep at it. Hopefully you'll never feel the pain of the eBay sting like some folks have. I walked away from them before I got bit.

I really hope you folks know I don't judge anyone for using them. It's your choice, just as it's mine an others not to. I said it above an I'll say it again..More power to you if it works, an I can respect that. I hope you all can say the same on my choice.

Either way, good luck to all with them. I hope it continues to work for everyone who uses them.

Sirscrapalot - Don't hate the player, hate the game.

PTS, i am glad you do the ebay sales, and it is a nice service you offer to the forum members. Win-win.

I lack the people skills and mental tolerance to do it. My parents are great at sales - it seems that gene never made it down to me.

Slight hi-jack..

Jill, whenever I see your avatar I keep expecting Gollum to pop up an try an steal it.

Sirscrapalot - I think I just showed my inner nerd.

All the metals are my Precious.

I've taken about an 18 month hiatus from ebay but I've accumulated piles of weird stuff that would have an extremely limited local market. TIME is my limiting factor right now, so week by week the pile of weird grows larger...