eBay Sellers - Worth their salt?

[LittleWoodWorkshop]

Hi all,

I run a new but rapidly increasing furniture / woodwork manufacturing business.

I'm not the best at eBay selling and have recently found the benefit of listing strategically. However, I'd much prefer to spend my time designing and making.

Do you think it would be worth getting an eBay seller, anyone have any stories to share? Good or bad!

I notice that 25% seems to be a pretty standard commission. To be honest, if someone is going to sell my products for me, I'd up the markup slightly and suffer the extra selling cost.

It's just an avenue I'd like to see how other people did with.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[beasty]

Do not forget your listing fees
paypal fees
ebay fees 10% approx

 

[arcon5]

Is this 25% including ebay fees or without? If the latter you are doing away with a big margin! Ebay fees can often account for 15-20%.

You'd be better off having somebody design a template and use that to list your own items.
Take advantage of the listing schedule feature.

 

[LittleWoodWorkshop]

Ah sorry both I should have been clearer. No, I'd be giving away 25% of my total sale (so, ebay fees + commission = 25%)

 

[TotallySport]

Why not take on a member of staff?

 

[LittleWoodWorkshop]

Why not take on a member of staff?

It's a bit early for that one unfortunately

 

[TotallySport]

why? look at as an investment.

You take on an employee to list for say 10-15 hours a week, the revenue they bring in should pay for them anyway, and if they can't bring in more business then ebay might not be for you so terminate the employee.

If the commission is going to be £150+ then employing someone for 15 hours at £8 would cover it anyway, even if you got an accountant to do the wages.

 

[Tronn]

Stick an ad up on Gumtree for person to list your items on eBay for you. There are lots of eBay experienced mums out there looking for a bit of part time work while the kids are at school.

Or grab your self an eBay book and learn how to do it yourself. Multi million dollar eBay seller Neil Waterhouse has just released a new ebay book called "million dollar ebay business from home"

 

[kihughes]

How come you feel the need for someone else to do your eBay listings for you? It's very easy to do so.

I've just sold a popular eBay business with 7200+ feedback and did all our own listings.

Remember if you're putting a good few listings on and want people to be able to select options like colours and sizes your also need to have a store on there that's £20 a month.

 

[arcon5]

Or try peopleperhour to find freelancers to do it cheaper if you don't have the time

 

[toastking]

I am not an eBay seller but I know how and might be interested in doing this part time, I'd like to think of myself as a fairly intelligent sort looking for a little more money.

The point isn't to advertise my services (I don't regularly sell on eBay as I say) but to point out that somebody might do this for a few easy pennies and be reliable. The problem I'd have (if I were you selling my wares) is trusting someone else using my name.

 

[urban33ltd]

How come you feel the need for someone else to do your eBay listings for you? It's very easy to do so.

I've just sold a popular eBay business with 7200+ feedback and did all our own listings.

Remember if you're putting a good few listings on and want people to be able to select options like colours and sizes your also need to have a store on there that's £20 a month.

Did you know that this is against ebays terms and conditions and could result in the account being banned? You can not transfer an ebay account, sadly even of someone dies, the account will always be linked to the person that set up the account no matter what.

If you have sold that account and setup another, then that account gets suspended it will catch up with your new account.

 

[Mystro]

I had a product a few years ago and done really well from ebay, however E-bay is not for everyone and depending on your product it can go either way.

But from my experience i made £150,000 in 5 months then my product became obsolete so can work very well if the products right, if your furniture is bespoke and expensive it can work, if its reproduction and expensive it wont

Just treat these people as affiliates 25% sounds good commissions, but a lot will depend on your product and pricing model.

Good Luck and give me a shout if you need any further information

 

[LED Lightworld]

Why not look at ebay as a cheap means of advertising your specialist products, rather than as a selling medium. There are loads of business that put up a 1p listing, just to generate exposure. I have found a couple of suppliers recently like this. I got a great deal that I couldn't get locally, and getting my business has hardly cost them anything.
Some good images, careful use of keywords, and as long as you are set up to handle the enquiries when they come in, could be a really cheap result, without the hassle of actually selling the products themselves on ebay.
From our ebay store we get as many people ringing up for advice, then buying, as we do people buying through ebay.

Good luck

 

[kihughes]

Did you know that this is against ebays terms and conditions and could result in the account being banned? You can not transfer an ebay account, sadly even of someone dies, the account will always be linked to the person that set up the account no matter what.

If you have sold that account and setup another, then that account gets suspended it will catch up with your new account.

Yes I do understand this. It was part of a business and so EBay allow this. The account t is still running strong.