[Milsurplus] For Ebay Sellers Only: Listing Recommendation

[Peter Gottlieb]

I, too, have been with ebay since the beginning.

Different things work with different kinds of sellers.  I primarily buy 
on ebay, only sell once in a while, and for me I have had better results 
from private sales and the occasional few items at a hamfest.  For 
larger volumes, sure, that is unwieldy and you won't get the best 
prices.  Too much of a squeeze, though, and myself and many others will 
vote with our feet.  Perhaps ebay wants this.  Their BS patents only 
last so long, though.

As I've said, for smaller items, if I can't give them away or trade, 
they get scavenged for parts and/or scrapped for metal.  My last run to 
the scrap yard yielded well over $1000 from aluminum and wire harnesses 
and I can completely assure you was a heck of a lot less hassle than 
dealing with ebay and packing everything.  For heavy boatanchor items 
the boxes and packing materials are not cheap, and you have to use new 
materials and boxes if you want the insurance to be valid (and even 
then...).  Yet, people don't want to pay for these materials and the 
shipping charges, and ebay wants to double charge you for them by adding 
a fee on top of your expense.

Bottom line:  ebay is *not* the only "effective venue" out there for 
everyone.  You have tricks and techniques to optimize ebay, others have 
the same techniques to optimize private and hamfest sales.

As for buying, I am noticing that more and more dealers are selling on 
ebay, especially test equipment, and setting very high initial starting 
prices or high hidden reserve prices (I refuse to even "watch" a sale 
with a reserve price).  This is renewing my interest in hamfests and 
private sales from the buying perspective as well, and it is of note 
that in the last year, for the first time in over a decade, I spent way 
more out of ebay than in, and ended up with some really really nice 
pieces of gear, from boatanchor to modern.  And I have heard the same 
story from tons of people who were selling gear.  There is a resurgence 
in hamfests, and there are two young engineers I recently hired who, 
despite their extensive online presence, are hamfest hounds and spend 
all their money there.

This year I am going to Dayton and hitting Fair Radio as well.  Plus 
several more as I have time.  That is where the bulk of my money will go.

Peter


On 3/26/2011 10:48 AM, David Stinson wrote:
> Ya'll know I've always been a defender of Ebay.
> I've been with them since near the beginning.
> But Ebay has (as all sucessful human-run entities will)
> become fat and arrogant.   Looks like the narcissistic
> 24-year-old MBAs that have savaged companies like Dell
> have brought their self-serving, disasterous mis-management
> to Ebay. They're swiftly killing "the golden goose"
> by squeezing her to death.   Their CEO calling the
> very people that made them rich "garage sale people"
> is telling.  They should take a lesson from Vegas, which
> turned its back on the "family" crowds that made them
> to cater to the ubber-rich.  The result was predictable:
> they're drying-up and blowing away out there.
>
> As you probably know by now, Ebay's started charging
> a vig on shipping, just as on listing final value.
> This is, of course, designed to drive out the "garage sale people."
> I recommend that, if you have something boatanchor to sell,
> even if military, list it under "Electronics"
> instead of under "Collectables" or something
> For some reason,Ebay is charging only 8% for items
> under "Electronics," rather than the higher rates.
> Warbird guys and other mil collectors will still find your item.
>
> Please- and I mean this respectfully:
> Please don't start a thread on how hamfest or private sales
> are the answer;  those of us who regularly sell on Ebay
> don't believe that and it's not debateable to us.
> That thread will just lead to arguments.
> If you think they are, God bless you and good luck.
>
> Ebay has done what all human entities eventually do-
> get greedy and over-reach.  Someone will take advantage
> and unseat them, someday.  In the mean time,
> Ebay is the only effective venue out there.
> List "smart" and have patience.
> I wonder if "garagesalepeople.com" is available ;-)
>
> 73 Dave S.
>
>
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