*Please read part one of this guide, by clicking on the link.
If you have read part one, then we are now at the point where we need items to sell.
The first items that most ebayers list will be surplus household items. If you have spent a little time researching market prices, then you will be in a great position to list your unwanted items and you should have some idea of how much money these items will attract (remember please – no 99c listings).
Now it’s time to actively start collecting items to sell. The important thing to remember (when sourcing items) is to have an open mind. You do not need to have any expert knowledge of your inventory, as five minutes with a search engine can easily plug any gaps in your knowledge. Early on (in my “ebay experience”) I took a punt and bought a $5 typewriter from a local charity shop. I purchased it simply because it was red and retro looking. It turns out that the typewriter was a much sought after Olivetti Valentine portable typewriter. It sold for $280. I have since sold two more with similar results. The lesson here is that by spending just a couple of hours online, I now know some of the most collectable & high priced typewriters, and am constantly on the lookout for them.
Where will you find your treasures?
Most towns will have a variety of charity shops and these are an excellent source for stocking up your inventory; their stock is constantly changing and a little time taken in these shops can produce amazing results. What I love about charity shops, is the seemingly endless variety of original retro gear. Most anything from the sixties / seventies is viable and I am constantly surprised by what collectors want.
Visiting your charity shops at a regular (same) time each week, gives you the opportunity to get to know certain staff who may, (after some time) match items to your taste and have items awaiting your arrival. Several of the shops I visit do this.
Please remember when dealing with charity shops – The funds they generate are very often the only funding their particular cause receives. I personally will always pay the ticketed price and will not beat their prices down.
Shopping at your local charity shops is great for the environment as it’s an ideal way to recycle.
Garage or Car Boot sales are arguably the best bet for bargains as the seller is often just interested in clearing out the garage, spare room etc. This can result in some excellent cheap buys. Garage sales generally occur on weekends. You should prepare for an early start to get the best buys.
Placing wanted ads on local noticeboards can be a great way of collecting re-saleable items. This is especially handy if you have specific items in mind.
Work out your costs.
Always keep in mind what your selling price must be in order for you to make a profit. It may sound very basic, but you will need to cover your fuel costs, your time and all associated ebay costs. This is at a very basic level and as your ebay experience grows, you will also need to cover administration costs, stationery, internet fees, packaging costs etc. So please….No 99c auctions!
Online auctions by their very nature cannot present you with a constant steady margin although in time you will easily offset lower margins against the higher (“Wow! I didn’t think it would sell for that”) item margin.
Thanks for reading.
Next instalment will focus on specific items & categories and why you should consider selling these items.
Happy Bidding.
