Wishing you much success roybal44

The one thing I don't see on this thread is a reference to everyone doing their "due diligence"...in other words, their research! When I started out here, the first thing I did was to look up all the other Trading Assistants within 250 miles of my area by typing in our zip code into the search box to find a Trading Assistant in my area. Nearly all of them have their fees listed on their eBay site, and many of them like me, have a web site which gives them even more details. I also look at how professional they come across. Bad grammar, no capitalization, and poor typing in general tells me they aren't serious comptetition, I wouldn't want them listing things for me, and I assume other people wouldn't either! I look at their commissions listed, see where they are located, and then base my own prices according to location, my own expertise, and as always...what the market will stand, and how busy I want to be.
I have to agree with Jason, we are in this to make money, plain and simple. We can't mess with little $10 items unless there are a lot of them, and preferably in continuous supply! This is a business, like any other business, and we have to look at the bottom line as a whole, not individual items, but we also have to limit those items that aren't going to make us money!
By the time we drive to a person's location (and back), gather the information (which always requires a certain amount of "visiting" to make them feel comfortable), take the pictures, write the listing, upload everything, arrange for escrow when it's needed, and then complete the sale with doing all the paperwork, pack the item if necessary, ship the item if necessary, and then hand the seller a check, we can rack up as much as half a day on some items! And meanwhile what has the seller done? They've picked up the phone, spent some time visiting, and cashed their check! I've been in business for over forty years, the last eleven in online marketing, and we TA's earn every bit of what we make, and I make no apologies for it!
If people don't want to pay to have a professional sell their item for the most that it can bring, then they can spend the $90 or so to take the course and learn how to sell on eBay the right way, from an Education Specialist trained by eBay. And they can find those the same way they find the TA's...by punching in a zip code to see where the classes are, who teaches them and how much.
On another note, an experienced marketer will know what they are doing, just like Jason, and will know how to get the most out of an item. The average seller doesn't begin to know all the tricks we know, and therefore we can get more for their item than the seller ever could in doing it themselves!
Every transaction has to have winners on all sides, and that includes the seller, the TA and the buyer. If any of them come up short, then it wasn't a good transaction, and those kind, we need to walk away from before getting into them! Everybody has to get what they want and go away happy in order to make it work, and continue working! Those who don't charge enough will go out of business. Those who charge too much will go out of business! Those who don't sell through experienced sellers won't have any business! It's a self-regulating system...and it works.

I have read most posts here, but I still don't understand one issue.

If the store that I'm selling the items for in eBay spends let's say $100 to produce the item, in this case let's say it's a Shirt. Then the item is placed for sale for $175, then I can not charge 50% as the owner of the store would be loosing money.

So if I understand correctly then I will charge 50% of 75 Dollars ??

that would be more logic. what do you all say ?

regards.

How about that. All of a sudden we have to log into the boards separate again. What a pain ebay is becoming. The only company I know that goes backwards and calls it progress. Ok, not the only.


Anyway, Samual, yes, you are correct in your math. And looks like you came up with the correct answer.

When selling new items for a consignor that makes or purchases new items, you do have to sit down with them and figure out if the math will work for both parties.

Sometimes it is just not worth selling some items on consignment if the consignor has either unrealistic expectations of you working for nothing or just needs a return that does not work with your minimum expectations for your time and knowledge.

I have said to many clients that had a minimum $ return in mind that was too tight that if they sold the item for a fair price THEMSELVES it works. Adding me into the mix with my commission may make it not worth it to them.

Its all in the numbers.

Michael J... If you're talking, you're not listening....If you're not listening, you're not learning.

BTW, I would like to thank all of the HIGHLY KNOWLEDGEABLE Power Sellers and those who have taught me what I know so far. I have MUCH more to learn, but hope some day to reach the thousands in transactions. I must say, too many people want instant gratification/reward/money/etc. without either working for it or paying for it. "YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, AND YOU GET WHAT YOU EARN...HOWEVER LITTLE THAT MAY BE!"

Well I was planning on writing a long post about how this business works...but azgrand stole my thunder! Well say az...you were right on!

There are just a couple of additional things not mentioned, that HAVE to be factored into our pricing...certain overhead in addition to that already mentioned. For one, the months and years of long, hard work selling low dollar value items for the purpose of building the feedback trust that make it possible for an experienced seller to get FAR HIGHER prices than a newbie would ever be able to get on their own. Oh, and the time spent learning and necessary photography, marketing and customer service skills. TAs may not go to a formal "school" to learn this trade...but spend at least a year or 2 learning on the job...with many, many hours of unpaid time and down time that has to be covered.

And auctions...don't get me started on auction houses! Yes, when a newbie has stuff to get rid of, it's hard for a TA to compete with those low commissions. However, too bad for those newbies who don't realize that most of that stuff sold at auction is being sold to eBay sellers who are going to come back here and sell the stuff at a fabulous mark up. So, end the end someone is STILL going to make good money off the goods but the original owner won't be in on that and maybe that's exactly what the original owner deserves for being 1. cheap, and 2. totally unwilling to take a little bit of time to learn how this second hand business *really* works!

Karen

Never mind my question. I did a search and see that many of you have replied to this before and have posted samples. I should have known that the help on this was already here. Thanks for having the answer in front of me even before I asked the question.

New poster, are you partners or selling for him/her?  Set the boundries first.

 

  That said, I get several new people a day in my antique shop wanting to "learn to pick" plus the old hands who have done it for decades. The days of finding stuff worth $400 at goodwill marked 50 cents is passed. Everyone trolls yardsales with Ebay on their cel.

  We opened a shop after 25 years of doing it.

Good Luck, Ann

Well said, Jason. Couldn't have done better myself. Godd on ya, Mate!!!

good way NOT TO GET SCREEWED, YOU NITWIT!!!!!   JUST LIST YOUR OWN CRAP AND DEAL WITH ALL THE NUT CASES YOURSELF!!!!!

being on the brunt of someone elses greed yet TA's face the brunt of someone else's ignorance of what is involved with selling on consignment on eBay. Anymore these type people are good for a laugh when they post that carp on this board. YEP, ignorance is bliss. 

Just read this thread. I'm not a trading assistant nor do I desire to become one. I just have to say that 50% sound pretty darn reasonable to me. I've only dabbled in selling and it can be awful dealing with people who are just trying to rip you off. I've had people lie about an item just because I wouldn't give them a refund and let them keep the money. I've had to put up with negative feedback just because they want something for nothing. I know what a headache it can be. I've actually been asked by a few friends to sell for them and have always told them no because I don't want the headache. I'm glad I can now tell them about trading assistants and point them your way. In fact the next time I have an item to sell I'll probably use one and thank them for it. I think some people just don't understand how much of a pain it can be to sell items. I'm glad ebay started this because I'd rather shop and leave the selling to the pros (you all). So please don't think people won't use your services for 50%. Anyone who has sold before and does research will see it's fair and worth it.