Is eBay still worth the effort?

[DizzyDigger]

I was a bookseller on eBay back in the early 2000's, and did fairly well,
but as my one business grew I no longer had time to put into listing
and shipping, etc.

Wife and I are wanting to start downsizing for the move we will eventually
have to make to a smaller place. The remaining books in my collection
have been culled through several times, and the several hundred that
remain should all sell above the $10 mark, and up to maybe $150 for a few.

I've gotten my eBay seller account up to date, but before I start listing
I thought I'd ask those currently selling on eBay if it's worth the effort,
considering the higher fees they are charging in today's market.

So, what say ye?

 

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[pepperj]

I was a bookseller on eBay back in the early 2000's, and did fairly well,
but as my one business grew I no longer had time to put into listing
and shipping, etc.

Wife and I are wanting to start downsizing for the move we will eventually
have to make to a smaller place. The remaining books in my collection
have been culled through several times, and the several hundred that
remain should all sell above the $10 mark, and up to maybe $150 for a few.

I've gotten my eBay seller account up to date, but before I start listing
I thought I'd ask those currently selling on eBay if it's worth the effort,
considering the higher fees they are charging in today's market.

So, what say ye?

There was a member @

• CreakyDigger (hasn't posted for 11 months) He sold books online and would have been a great person to ask.

 

[DizzyDigger]

I know Creaky had a website, and he was also active on eBay. He specialized in religious books, and much of what I have is also focused on assorted Christian doctrine(s).

 

[tamrock]

I need to know the same thing. I started ebay in the late 90s. I bought and sold stuff fairly frequently. I never used any special shipping label options and shipped everything usps domestic and international. PayPal and even checks in the mail was how I was paid. Recently at my age I've decided to retire in a month and have collected treasures that I bought only because I felt it would do well on ebay or some other way to peddle online. I now have a healthy stock pile to get started. Should I get an ebay store or what?. The last time I sold on eBay was maybe 6 years ago now and it seemed buyers revealed with the idea they can just bitch more now since eBay stopped holding them accountable. Soon I'm going to have more time to focus on selling. I'm thinking on contacting this local gal, to maybe get a refresher on how now what to do... https://shari-sells.com/. I'd love to hear from any of you who are today's power sellers who frequent treasernet. Looking at TN's seller forum seems like a decent option also for some of what I have, as that looks super simple and to deal with mostly you good eggs would be assuring, which brings to mind, can I sell Ivory on TNs buy, sell and trade forum??

 

[Surf_Pirate]

I was a bookseller on eBay back in the early 2000's, and did fairly well,
but as my one business grew I no longer had time to put into listing
and shipping, etc.

Wife and I are wanting to start downsizing for the move we will eventually
have to make to a smaller place. The remaining books in my collection
have been culled through several times, and the several hundred that
remain should all sell above the $10 mark, and up to maybe $150 for a few.

I've gotten my eBay seller account up to date, but before I start listing
I thought I'd ask those currently selling on eBay if it's worth the effort,
considering the higher fees they are charging in today's market.

So, what say ye?

So much detail and you better consider their cut on anything. Can't stand Ebay and just about to delete them from my site

 

[dognose]

in my view, I would say it depends.

it depends on the what is being sold and the quantity of what is being sold.

it may be more efficient and less time consuming as a whole to sell to what may have been a like reseller or competitor.

ebay today is not the same ebay of 15 years ago.

 

[Hinterlander]

It all depends, as long as you know that Ebay is Ebay. They're going to get roughly 15% off of everything, including what you charge for shipping. They are also now big on promoted listings, where you pay an additional X% of the sale to get your items higher in the algorithm. You select the percentage, if you even opt in. But using them does get your stuff in front of a pretty large audience.

 

[pepperj]

I've sold things all my life it seems.
Not anything on the sites as I have an issue with what their take is/requirements/and certainly have a problem with the shipping fees.
I would like to start though, and the categories of what site might fit with the least amount of hassles is the option.

So one does the Google search on which site is best rated

The Best Sites to Sell Online: 10 Marketplaces for Selling Goods or Running a Business

Running an eCommerce business requires a platform to sell your items on. Here is a list of the best online selling sites to grow your brand.

www.hostinger.com

Who pays the most $$$ to get a good rating.
(Sometimes I feel like taking a shower after reading these reviews)

This site Shopify Canada I do know folks that sell through their site.
They have their own store on the site-huge set up but the benefits are paying off very well.
(To the point they have outgrown the bricks and mortar site in 2 years)

22 Selling Sites and Marketplaces for Selling Things Online (2024)

Stores and individuals can sell things on online selling sites. Here are 22 of the most popular selling sites and marketplaces for selling products.

www.shopify.com

What does it take? Time-simple as that.
For security reasons it's sometimes better to have a site than doing close personal sales.
Less folks that know the physical location is a thing to consider also.

 

[pepperj]

It all depends, as long as you know that Ebay is Ebay. They're going to get roughly 15% off of everything, including what you charge for shipping. They are also now big on promoted listings, where you pay an additional X% of the sale to get your items higher in the algorithm. You select the percentage, if you even opt in. But using them does get your stuff in front of a pretty large audience.

The latest comment from a close friend that deals in antique tractor parts is that Bay treats the small seller like any other business.
They requirements that they asked him to do over this past year is what it would take a tech. dept. to handle.
This effected his online sales then the PayPal on top to a point of loosing the use of it.
Just one small guy selling parts for decades without an issue.

Hard to keep all the candles burning at the sometime as there's just not enough time.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

EBay claims to have 132 million users, but that's a joke. I've had items listed for a month with ZERO views. How is that possible with that many users? I'll tell you how it works. If you don't offer 30 day returns with free returns, eBay will bury your listings. Hard to make a living on eBay when they stack the cards against you.

Another issue are the ridiculous fees. They charge around 13% of the sale price, another 13% of your shipping cost and to add insult to injury, now they're taking 13% of the sales tax the buyer paid! They pulled this off by eliminating Paypal and taking over "managed payments". Now I pay way more in fees and sometimes wait five days to get paid. They don't call it sleazeBay for nothing...

 

[bc5391]

I agree, it is not the same as it was 15-20 years ago. I believe I started in the early 2000's as well, books antiques, vhs, dvd's and in the later years 3D printed parts. Ebay take a larger piece of the profit compared to 20 years ago, and of course you can no longer take money orders, western union, just Paypal, so there goes even more of your profit. And lets not forget about Uncle Sam, if you sell over $600 he gets his share. (Political comment removed)

 

[relicmeister]

My opinion eBay Only really worth it if your selling something that cost you nothing.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

My opinion eBay Only really worth it if your selling something that cost you nothing.

Yup, some of my best eBay sales were items I picked off someone's trash! Pure profit!

 

[camichael]

I'm a top rated seller for over 25 years on eBay (camichael). Last year's 1099 was over 200K. So I'd tell you that selling as a side line is great if you don't mind the 15% eBay takes and the items are higher prices. $10 items are not worth it in my opinion. However, that is what i usually start items at hoping to get some action going. I'm not a fan of books....

 

[xracer550]

One thing about shipping , If you sell something out of Ebay & take PayPal the fees are almost the same but the shipping fees for Fed Ex or UPS are much higher out of Ebay, IE= 30lb Cal. to Atlanta , UPS $91 , (Ebay $47) , Fed Ex $87, Ebay $39-$47, Plus you Get buyer & seller protection , I don't like the fees but listing on Craigs list & others has a lot of Spammers & How would someone in Alaska or anywhere find what you have .

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

BC5391, per our rules please leave political comments out of posts.

 

[Johnnybravo300]

My son sells on Ebay and he seems to like it. He makes enough to survive just fine but he hasn't hit the 200k mark yet.
He buys storage units and sells for people, whatever others will buy.

I was thinking of getting into it too as a side hustle and backing away from the asphalt work but my wife doesn't want a bunch of junk stored at our place so I'd have to figure that out first.
He seems to think it's easy work and he doesn't seem to mind the fees at all.