On line selling

I still use eBay, although not as much. I started in 1996, so I've been using it for nearly a quarter century.

I've sold some collectable kits there as well as an unopened Gameboy Advance SP that I was going to take to Iraq with me but didn't. I had bought it at the Fort Knox PX for around $60 and sold it a couple years ago for $425. Yes, over four hundred dollars.

I still find some good deals, but I do not search it very often. It's more hit or miss.

If you're on Facebook, there are many model selling pages. I get updates from one page, Scale Model Graveyard, that is popular but lots of fine print and a "mother may I" attitude. https://www.facebook.com/groups/258721994328056/

And there is scale model trader: https://www.facebook.com/groups/175984932455181/

People like to bash eBay, and believe me, there are good reasons to. I have been on there over 21 years now, and it has become steadily more onerous and unfriendly to small sellers. It is largely dominated by big sellers and stores now. 

You can, however still carve out a niche as a small guy. And NOWHERE ELSE will your items be exposed to as many potential buyers as they will on eBay. The price you pay for that reach is their 10% fee, plus possibly a payment service as well. I still think it is a deal as opposed to meeting people in person in a secure well lit area, and using websites that outright abuse your privacy and personal info like Facebook and CraigsList. It may not be actual cash, but you're still paying a price for those 'free' transactions on the Marketplace or List. 

plasticjunkie

 

 

scottrc

Selling stuff, I have used Craigs List and Facebook. Just be careful how you give out your contact information so you don't have Second Crowned Prince of Nigeria calling you.

 

 

 

 

Yes I've sold several things on Facebook Market Place and I meet the buyer in a secured area like outside of a busy gas station near my house. 

 

 

 

Its strange that in order to protect ourselves from criminals, we have to act out our transactions like criminals.  In parking lots under secrecy and distrust of the other party.

scottrc

Selling stuff, I have used Craigs List and Facebook. Just be careful how you give out your contact information so you don't have Second Crowned Prince of Nigeria calling you.

 

Yes I've sold several things on Facebook Market Place and I meet the buyer in a secured area like outside of a busy gas station near my house. 

plasticjunkie

I hear you Greg but then if it's tossed in the trash you get nothing. I understand ebay has bills to pay and they are in it for a profit but the fees and regs are just getting out of control.

I guess I did make it sound like I have an unfounded grudge against eBay. I truly don't. I just don't like doing business with people. If eBays rules and procedures can be challenging to learn and deal with, that might strengthen my aversion, but is is definitely not the cause of it.

I wish that weren't the case, becuase I agree with you completely that the alternative of the trash bin isn't the best.

Greg

BK,

Seems whenever I mention the various 'stuff' I have that I hate to throw out becuase some of it is saleable, the ususal response is "Sell it on EBay!!!". This ususally invokes a sense of doom in me. No particular reason, no experience, just a feeling.

It's nice to hear an opinion that isn't all rainbows and roses from someone who actually has experience.

Thank you.

 

That phrase "Sell it on ebay" is dated.  Sure, fifteen years ago, all you had to do was sign up, upload some pics, chose your payment method, and like any auction, watch the bidding and wait for the close.  Now, ebay has become complex and about as easy as dealing with a government agency.  I too used to buy and sell, until the large sellers got involved and pretty much pushed out the one and two a month listers.  Ebay now is just an offshoot of Amazon.  In fact, I can buy through Amazon something listed on ebay and get free shipping.  I just did it with some parts for my swimming pool. 

Selling stuff, I have used Craigs List and Facebook. Just be careful how you give out your contact information so you don't have Second Crowned Prince of Nigeria calling you.

plasticjunkie

fees and regs are just getting out of control.

This is why I closed my store. You just can't make any decent money anymore.

BK

Greg

BK,

Seems whenever I mention the various 'stuff' I have that I hate to throw out becuase some of it is saleable, the ususal response is "Sell it on EBay!!!". This ususally invokes a sense of doom in me. No particular reason, no experience, just a feeling.

It's nice to hear an opinion that isn't all rainbows and roses from someone who actually has experience.

Thank you.

 

I hear you Greg but then if it's tossed in the trash you get nothing. I understand ebay has bills to pay and they are in it for a profit but the fees and regs are just getting out of control.

castelnuovo

Are you selling kits? If so please PM me a list of what you have.

 

No plastic kits but OOP Radio Control balsa kits. Just sold a .60 Top Flite F-8F Bearcat mint in the box with some extras and ebay took a considerable chunk of $ out of the equation.

Hi;

    I have found much better ways of doing things. I just put the question out there "Does anyone have a Blah-Blah they would part with?" Then I have them contact me in the Messages and we communicate by E-Mail or phone. Done deal. Postal M.Os and "Bob's Yer Uncle!"

      I do buy of the Bay occassionally, and I have never gotten Burned. First there's my Bank, then Public Opinion and such. I carefully research the seller before I jump though. Got three I absolutely will continue buying from! !

BK,

Seems whenever I mention the various 'stuff' I have that I hate to throw out becuase some of it is saleable, the ususal response is "Sell it on EBay!!!". This ususally invokes a sense of doom in me. No particular reason, no experience, just a feeling.

It's nice to hear an opinion that isn't all rainbows and roses from someone who actually has experience.

Thank you.

Are you selling kits? If so please PM me a list of what you have.

THanks BK. 

I had a store on Ebay for nearly 20 years, on and off. It is a pain in the backside and the rules and fees just get worse everyday. As far as other sites I've investigated none really had themselves set up to take care of the seller with fraud prevention and such and the fees are not all that different than Ebay, just structured differently.

The largest turn off for me was that nearly all of them set up how you get paid is no longer directly from the buyer as it used to be, but rather to the site who then holds the money for 3-5 days or more before they then pay you. And they won't set up your selling payments without having a proven direct link to your bank account and you have to agree that they can pull money from you directly without notice when they deem it necessary.

SO, in short, I've given up on the online selling as it is just not what it once was and all the new sites that are available really don't do things all that different than Ebay, even though they profess to be better. It may be a pain, but Ebay is still the safest and easiest platform to use. I closed my store last year due to all the hastle and the new payment system the set up. Good luck, it's a huge time sync to sell on the web.

Before you go with anyone go to their forums page and read up on what the sellers are complaining about so you can see what is truly happening to the seller. This will give you a clear idea of what it is like selling on this platform.

BK