eBay, etc. General Question/Answer Thread

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I found a few Fisher Price little people in storage and was wondering if I should sell or donate. I don't have much, just a couple people, a car, and a bed. I listed some legos yesterday and they sold within an hour, which leads me to believe I underpriced them or had some rare pieces.
I was surprised at how in demand they are...especially the older "choking hazard' ones:) I was originally going to list all I have as a lot on my local yard sale page - I am glad I checked ebay first. I sold a swimming pool and some playground pieces...next I am going to list some fire trucks and motorcycles. Definitely check completed listings...last week a motorcycle driver sold for over $5....
 
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I was surprised at how in demand they are...especially the older "choking hazard' ones:smile: I was originally going to list all I have as a lot on my local yard sale page - I am glad I checked ebay first. I sold a swimming pool and some playground pieces...next I am going to list some fire trucks and motorcycles. Definitely check completed listings...last week a motorcycle driver sold for over $5....
I've made money on American Girl. I have a lot of Playmobil. I haven't checked yet to see how well that sells.
 
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I've made money on American Girl. I have a lot of Playmobil. I haven't checked yet to see how well that sells.
Playmobil might sell better on a local FB yardsale page if you use one. I have had a lot of luck with my local ones (I refuse to ship...just meet me and hand me the cash:)). I just sold 5 Hess trucks, and around Easter I sold Jello Jiggler egg molds (yes, I am old) - someone paid me $20 cash for one set...I have to admit I get a thrill from the cash transactions:). I meet at a local bank down the street from me...so buyers don't come to my house and we meet at a set time.
But some items just need a larger audience, and I find you can definitely make more on some items using ebay...
 
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Playmobil might sell better on a local FB yardsale page if you use one. I have had a lot of luck with my local ones (I refuse to ship...just meet me and hand me the cash:smile:). I just sold 5 Hess trucks, and around Easter I sold Jello Jiggler egg molds (yes, I am old) - someone paid me $20 cash for one set...I have to admit I get a thrill from the cash transactions:smile:. I meet at a local bank down the street from me...so buyers don't come to my house and we meet at a set time.
But some items just need a larger audience, and I find you can definitely make more on some items using ebay...
I don't use FB. I might try Mercari local. I like Poshmark for cheap heavy items due to the shipping label. If I sold them on ebay, the shipping would be too much relative to the value of the item.
 
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The listing currently has 6 views, and 1 watcher....no bids..the offers are directly from ebay and show up on my ebay page...thank you this is why I am confused:smile:

I bought a handbag just this way last week. The auction had no bids and four more days to run. It was ending at a time when I knew I couldn't bid, so I just sent an offer to the seller. It was over his starting price but, to me, lower than I thought it could go. There were a number of watchers on the bag at the time. The seller accepted my offer and it arrived yesterday. So, the offer itself is not suspicious. I wonder about the zero feedback (I know we were all 'zeroes' at one time) so I would suggest you check when those potential buyers became members. If it they were members for a while, months or years, I would take the offer. If they joined the day they made the offer, I might wait. That's just me. Hope this helps.
 
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This is just a rant--not about eBay in particular, but about the USPS. I sold a pair of earrings on Sunday May 8 and mailed them on Monday May 9. They have not been scanned since the following day. I live in a Philadelphia suburb and the package was going to Hawaii. I opened a 'missing mail' case and was called last night by someone from Consumer Affairs (long story how it got to that point, all involving no response from USPS). It seems that, since last fall, all first class packages going from the mainland to Hawaii ( and other US possessions in the Pacific) go by BARGE. No first class mail will be flown to those destinations, only Priority. Now I understand why I see some sellers on eBay won't ship to Hawaii. Time frame for this method: 4-6 weeks. If I had known this, I wouldn't have shipped this way. I have shipped to Hawaii first class many times, obviously prior to last fall, and those packages always arrived in a reasonable time frame--4-6 days from mailing. I hope this helps other sellers avoid this mess.
 
This is just a rant--not about eBay in particular, but about the USPS. I sold a pair of earrings on Sunday May 8 and mailed them on Monday May 9. They have not been scanned since the following day. I live in a Philadelphia suburb and the package was going to Hawaii. I opened a 'missing mail' case and was called last night by someone from Consumer Affairs (long story how it got to that point, all involving no response from USPS). It seems that, since last fall, all first class packages going from the mainland to Hawaii ( and other US possessions in the Pacific) go by BARGE. No first class mail will be flown to those destinations, only Priority. Now I understand why I see some sellers on eBay won't ship to Hawaii. Time frame for this method: 4-6 weeks. If I had known this, I wouldn't have shipped this way. I have shipped to Hawaii first class many times, obviously prior to last fall, and those packages always arrived in a reasonable time frame--4-6 days from mailing. I hope this helps other sellers avoid this mess.
OMG, this is terrible! If you sold them on ebay, what did ebay give as the estimated delivery time?
 
OMG, this is terrible! If you sold them on ebay, what did ebay give as the estimated delivery time?

Ebay's expected date was Friday May 13--this would have been reasonable before the barge. I haven't heard from the buyer and I'm just waiting. Thankfully, the sale wasn't for hundreds of dollars. Hopefully the buyer will be willing to continue to wait.
 
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I've made money on American Girl. I have a lot of Playmobil. I haven't checked yet to see how well that sells.
I’m thinking of selling some AG on eBay. Does it sell….well? It’s all vintage. my girls are in their 30s now and between them they owned a lot of the dolls that I have stored for years. My 5 yr. old granddaughter plays with some of them now but she does not need as many as I saved.
 
I bought a handbag just this way last week. The auction had no bids and four more days to run. It was ending at a time when I knew I couldn't bid, so I just sent an offer to the seller. It was over his starting price but, to me, lower than I thought it could go. There were a number of watchers on the bag at the time. The seller accepted my offer and it arrived yesterday. So, the offer itself is not suspicious. I wonder about the zero feedback (I know we were all 'zeroes' at one time) so I would suggest you check when those potential buyers became members. If it they were members for a while, months or years, I would take the offer. If they joined the day they made the offer, I might wait. That's just me. Hope this helps.

Thank you for the advice...I only started selling in November (all from my personal collection), and honestly, there is a huge learning curve:) The item did sell....I did not think to reach out to the sellers who made offers
 
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This is just a rant--not about eBay in particular, but about the USPS. I sold a pair of earrings on Sunday May 8 and mailed them on Monday May 9. They have not been scanned since the following day. I live in a Philadelphia suburb and the package was going to Hawaii. I opened a 'missing mail' case and was called last night by someone from Consumer Affairs (long story how it got to that point, all involving no response from USPS). It seems that, since last fall, all first class packages going from the mainland to Hawaii ( and other US possessions in the Pacific) go by BARGE. No first class mail will be flown to those destinations, only Priority. Now I understand why I see some sellers on eBay won't ship to Hawaii. Time frame for this method: 4-6 weeks. If I had known this, I wouldn't have shipped this way. I have shipped to Hawaii first class many times, obviously prior to last fall, and those packages always arrived in a reasonable time frame--4-6 days from mailing. I hope this helps other sellers avoid this mess.
Part of my new selling learning curve has been the Post Office...I bring boxes of items I have sold on ebay (purses, wristlets, and Fisher Price Little People...so nothing crazy) to my local post office and they do not help me....just say things like "wrong postage" (ebay printed labels) or "wrong box"...I started going to a local Postal Center and they walk me through everything...the best way to ship and best options overall...do you have a Postal Center near by? I know it doesn't help you with your earring sale...
I am currently waiting on reimbursement for three voided ebay printed postal labels...sigh
 
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I’m thinking of selling some AG on eBay. Does it sell….well? It’s all vintage. my girls are in their 30s now and between them they owned a lot of the dolls that I have stored for years. My 5 yr. old granddaughter plays with some of them now but she does not need as many as I saved.
Hi, I don't have AG dolls...but I am pleasantly shocked at how well my Vintage Fisher Price Little People are selling (dropped off my 3rd box today to be mailed, and I have one listed now with bids)...maybe check completed listings for an idea of what they are selling for?
 
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I’m thinking of selling some AG on eBay. Does it sell….well? It’s all vintage. my girls are in their 30s now and between them they owned a lot of the dolls that I have stored for years. My 5 yr. old granddaughter plays with some of them now but she does not need as many as I saved.
It depends. Most of what I sold was 10 years ago. What sells best are things they don't make anymore. Many items sold over retail. I sold clothes, a bit of furniture, and several accessories, like the typewriter and dishes. I don't remember what I did with the dolls. I can't remember if they didn't sell and I donated them. I don't have them. Now I just have a few odds and ends listed. I have the violin and flute but since they still make them, they aren't moving.
 
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Part of my new selling learning curve has been the Post Office...I bring boxes of items I have sold on ebay (purses, wristlets, and Fisher Price Little People...so nothing crazy) to my local post office and they do not help me....just say things like "wrong postage" (ebay printed labels) or "wrong box"...I started going to a local Postal Center and they walk me through everything...the best way to ship and best options overall...do you have a Postal Center near by? I know it doesn't help you with your earring sale...
I am currently waiting on reimbursement for three voided ebay printed postal labels...sigh
If you get a postal scale, you will save a lot of money on postage by doing it yourself at home. Ebay gives you a shipping discount if you buy your postage from them. You can arrange to have the packages picked up from your home. I wouldn't still be selling if I had to go to the post office.

When I first started selling on ebay, I sold some scarves and charged the buyers only a few dollars for shipping, because that is what other sellers were doing. I took them to the post office and they convinced me I needed to ship them in flat rate envelopes, which cost around $7 at the time. They didn't tell me about first class package rates, which are much cheaper and what you can use for your wristlets and Little People.

I believe you pay extra for delivery confirmation if you buy your postage in person versus buying online.
 
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