SRL Archive - Jr. Member General Help and Discussion

Dad and I plan on starting our own little business online, decided ebay flipping is a nice route to take. We are brand new to ebay and could do with all the tips we can get xD. Haven't got any ideas on what to sell yet really still in the research process(which of course includes asking people who have already done it (hence this thread :P)).
So any advice is great free feel to tell me any stories of your past;)

Edit: It's also worth mentioning that we have a good friend in hong
Edit2: I'v printed off a few guides to highlight and let my dad read, bookmarked them awhile back :P

New to Ebay, expect to lose money at the start, you will. It happens as you learn the system.

ALWAYS keep good records of any and all transactions, Buying and selling. If they are ever disputed, You need to have overwhelming evidence in your favour. The worst thing that can happen is you end up with most your money locked up in a long process of chargebacks and Disputes..They can take ages if you dont have the right records.

Never buy something you dont know anything about, More you know about the item, better off you will be. If it seems like too good of a deal, it is :P

And just common sense, you should be fine. Don't freak out if it doesn't go your way at first, takes a while to get into it

Buy a bunch of cheap jump to improve your reputation so that people will trust you.

Small tip: try looking up misspelled versions of items (dad did this back in like.. 2006) and a lot of times they have less views because of misspellings and therefor a higher chance of winning at a lower bid :d

From: Officer Barbrady
Small tip: try looking up misspelled versions of items (dad did this back in like.. 2006) and a lot of times they have less views because of misspellings and therefor a higher chance of winning at a lower bid :d

Heard of this. There's a website that searches them for you too :P
Thanks for replys, Keep em coming :p

From: Officer Barbrady
Small tip: try looking up misspelled versions of items (dad did this back in like.. 2006) and a lot of times they have less views because of misspellings and therefor a higher chance of winning at a lower bid :d

Weren't you like 10 or 11 back in 2006?

From: BMWxi
Weren't you like 10 or 11 back in 2006?

dad did this back in like.. 2006

…

From: Officer Barbrady
…

Haha sorry, misread as "did this back in 2006" :p

Setup PP, linked cc and bank account
Turned out we already had a ebay account, linked pp. Looking for mega cheap stuff to buy to build feedback :P
Just bought some fishing hooks for 99p with free p&p.

My uncle did this like 10-12 years ago. Start building feedback, one thing he did was list an uncommon item he didn't have, but could be ordered from the manufacturer(ie. lawn mower part). Then when you have a buyer, order the part from the manufacturer shipped directly to the buyer.

One good thing to flip on eBay are graphics cards. You can buy them off of Newegg when they have special deals or promos, such as this one atm:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202025&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

You get 2 free games and the card for $160. You could sell the card on eBay for $170-185 easily and sell the games afterwards as well, easy flip.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=SAPPHIRE+100352-4L+Radeon+HD+7950&LH_Sold=1&_osacat=0&_from=R40&LH_Complete=1&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.XSAPPHIRE+100354OC-2L+Radeon+HD+7870+GHz+Edition+2GB&_nkw=SAPPHIRE+100354OC-2L+Radeon+HD+7870+GHz+Edition+2GB&_sacat=0

There's multiple deals on various cards like this, you just have to keep an eye open for them. PCPartPicker is a good place to see them:

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/video-card/

Good luck!

Why not try dropshipping? You can get stuff for cheap on dealExtreme and the like.

From: Austin
One good thing to flip on eBay are graphics cards. You can buy them off of Newegg when they have special deals or promos, such as this one atm:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202025&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

You get 2 free games and the card for $160. You could sell the card on eBay for $170-185 easily and sell the games afterwards as well, easy flip.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=SAPPHIRE+100352-4L+Radeon+HD+7950&LH_Sold=1&_osacat=0&_from=R40&LH_Complete=1&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.XSAPPHIRE+100354OC-2L+Radeon+HD+7870+GHz+Edition+2GB&_nkw=SAPPHIRE+100354OC-2L+Radeon+HD+7870+GHz+Edition+2GB&_sacat=0

There's multiple deals on various cards like this, you just have to keep an eye open for them. PCPartPicker is a good place to see them:

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/video-card/

Good luck!

New egg doesn't ship to the Uk :/

From: Sin
Why not try dropshipping? You can get stuff for cheap on dealExtreme and the like.

Intresting. Had to do some research since I didn't really know what drop shipping was. I'v been on deal extreme before however. Had another look and deal extreme doesn't look that cheap
On the other hand I found this website: http://www.buysku.com/
And the prices look worthwhile.

One thing with the feedback is that it looks better to have more sales than purchases. When using eBay I always view the feedback of sales of people because you will get more information from those.

It's important that the customer is always right! While we know that that's not always the case, to get messed up by having 2 or 3 negatives or neutrals in you first 100 feedback! List things that are not manufactured anymore! I know when I was younger my dad, myself and my brother would go to local junkyards and pull out things like steering columns and other miscellaneous car parts and get 8-10 of them from the owner for $150-200 dollars (plus about 2-3 hours of work).

My dad would then sell them on eBay for stupid money, I distinctly remember him selling a single steering column for $400.

List things that are niche items, do try to be into everything at once or you WILL lose money, not to mention risk sending the wrong item to the wrong person (which is embarrassing). Try to list things on Sundays for week long auctions (if that is what you plan to do). A niche can be as broad as computer parts or cars or electronics (outside of computer parts). Avoid things like art because the value of art is relative to the purchaser and seller.

Stick with a niche until you are not making enough money to bother with it anymore. I say enough money because simply making money is usually not worth the effort, to make $5 a sale on a $50-$60 item is usually not worth the effort of going to the post office, finding/buying shipping supplies, ect.

My suggestions (TLDR?)
- Sell items for feedback, don't buy items for feedback
- Try to work with your local economy to provide a service to people who may not have them available to them.
- Find a niche and stick with it until it becomes something where you can't make ENOUGH money to bother with.

From: The Killer
….

not sure if these shops are around your area of the uk but have a look around BnM or home&bargains you can pick stuff up from there for 1/4 the price on ebay i bought a large amount of candles couple years back they all sold double wat i paid for them.

was just too lazy todo it again.
Im actually going shopping again today( with the mrs :/) to those shops also so ill have a look and tell you what i see.

From: CRU1Z1N
not sure if these shops are around your area of the uk but have a look around BnM or home&bargains you can pick stuff up from there for 1/4 the price on ebay i bought a large amount of candles couple years back they all sold double wat i paid for them.

was just too lazy todo it again.
Im actually going shopping again today( with the mrs :/) to those shops also so ill have a look and tell you what i see.

Yeah Home bargains is great! I always go in there when I'm in town (mainly just to pick up a drink and/or munchies) Don't know if theres much stuff thats worth selling online but I'll have a look next time I'm in there :P(or I'll look on their website since they do deliverys on bulk orders iirc).
Haven't really been in BnM bargains much. We have loads of cheap shops in town (they thrive during recession and my town center is scabby). :P

All I can suggest is to check the persons profile before buying as you never know if they are reputable and the product is what they say it is. My dad has made that mistake a few times. Common sense I guess but w/e. I will post more if I think of anything.
Good luck TK.

From: kevin33
All I can suggest is to check the persons profile before buying as you never know if they are reputable and the product is what they say it is. My dad has made that mistake a few times. Common sense I guess but w/e. I will post more if I think of anything.
Good luck TK.

Thats just common sense, got plenty of experience with sythe and pb so that shouldn't be an issue :L. I'm hoping to be just be selling on ebay rather than buying.

@CRU1Z1N
Went into town today with Dad and had a look in poundland, poundstretcher, home bargains and the 99p store.
I had thought I had found a perfect item. £1 to buy, yet the lowest anyone was selling online was for £4.
So I was expecting around £1 profit after fees and postage.
However after buying one item to see how much it would cost to post, we discovered that the royal mail considered it too thick (it was a can of *something*) and would of cost £2.60 to post making it virtually unprofitable after fees. Nothing else really caught our eye apart from
1) Headphones (well caught my Dad's) but with them being next to nothing from china they weren't a good idea.
2) 15m belkin ethernet cable. Would be expensive to post but was only £1 to buy. Was hoping that it would be expensive on ebay but non-branded wire was at £5

@The Killer
before you buy an item sometimes you can be lucky and there is a weight printed on the product in this case you can determine a price using there online checker http://www.royalmail.com/price-finder`

Another thing to think about is its christmas soon so lots of people will be buying pretty much anything during this period
so keep an eye out for named products rather than cheap rip offs.

From: CRU1Z1N
@The Killer
before you buy an item sometimes you can be lucky and there is a weight printed on the product in this case you can determine a price using there online checker http://www.royalmail.com/price-finder`

Another thing to think about is its christmas soon so lots of people will be buying pretty much anything during this period
so keep an eye out for named products rather than cheap rip offs.

Yeah, we've already thought about seasonal stuff. Christmas stocking fillers is a possibilty. And we got caught out not on weight but thickness :/ Weight isn't a big issue with the royal mail…

I do this currently. My brother works for a phone shop (not going to say because money is still being made using the method) and basically we buy a product, that comes with this *free gift* basically, both for 240. But on ebay they sell for 200 each of the products. Keep in mind you pay 10% ebay fees on sales! so keep it in consideration when selling high price products.

But before, I used to import stuff from china, via DHGate.com. Like Snapbacks (when i was 16 lol), Fake beats, Fake Nike Free runs, and sold them. Until i got banned lol. and then sued by Nike. Was making 500%+ profit on all sales.

My tips, find a product that is difficult for the average person to get, but that is accessible by you through people and places you know.

Selling things on ebay is a great way to make extra cash for pretty much not doing anything, but paying for postage online, then placing the item in a postage box 1 minute away from my house haha, its great.

Heres some other ideas:
- Justin Bieber bracelets - Buy for 60 cents each. Sell for 15 dollars. <– look for popular people merchandise, that losers would buy. 1 direction etc.
- Iphone 5 Cases - Buy for 50-99 cents sells for 5 dollars.

If you can stand low price selling, theres always people buying these. It just requires alot of attention and work to make little $$. Dhgate is always good for products like this, but get away from the branded products, you will get fucked.

From: BobboHobbo
I do this currently. My brother works for a phone shop (not going to say because money is still being made using the method) and basically we buy a product, that comes with this *free gift* basically, both for 240. But on ebay they sell for 200 each of the products. Keep in mind you pay 10% ebay fees on sales! so keep it in consideration when selling high price products.

But before, I used to import stuff from china, via DHGate.com. Like Snapbacks (when i was 16 lol), Fake beats, Fake Nike Free runs, and sold them. Until i got banned lol. and then sued by Nike. Was making 500%+ profit on all sales.

My tips, find a product that is difficult for the average person to get, but that is accessible by you through people and places you know.

Selling things on ebay is a great way to make extra cash for pretty much not doing anything, but paying for postage online, then placing the item in a postage box 1 minute away from my house haha, its great.

Heres some other ideas:
- Justin Bieber bracelets - Buy for 60 cents each. Sell for 15 dollars. <– look for popular people merchandise, that losers would buy. 1 direction etc.
- Iphone 5 Cases - Buy for 50-99 cents sells for 5 dollars.

If you can stand low price selling, theres always people buying these. It just requires alot of attention and work to make little $$. Dhgate is always good for products like this, but get away from the branded products, you will get fucked.

Thanks for the reply :)
You've told me about your nike and beats selling before when I was intrested in selling some beats in school. I never did that in the end due to risks with customs aswell as no one being home to take deliverys.
However my Mum is now home fulltime so taking packages is no longer a issue making dhgate a option.

My tips, find a product that is difficult for the average person to get, but that is accessible by you through people and places you know.

Current looking at stuff like this. But finding it hard :/

Heres some other ideas:
- Justin Bieber bracelets - Buy for 60 cents each. Sell for 15 dollars. <– look for popular people merchandise, that losers would buy. 1 direction etc.
- Iphone 5 Cases - Buy for 50-99 cents sells for 5 dollars.

If you can stand low price selling, theres always people buying these. It just requires alot of attention and work to make little $$. Dhgate is always good for products like this, but get away from the branded products, you will get fucked.

Not bad ideas tbh. Will be sure to look into more of that crap ;):')
But aren't one direction themselves branded?
I plan on staying far away from branded products anyway. Dad doesn't want to take risks :P
I don't mind selling stuff cheap, but postage is pretty expensive tbh.

From: The Killer

Current looking at stuff like this. But finding it hard :/

Welcome to the world of business haha. I ponder on the internet hours a week to find that perfect item to sell, it takes time. But I guess in the end its worth it. Ive gone to the extent of getting in contact with protein producers. Was getting quotes of $20 (rough figure not 100%) a kg of protein isolate (unbranded could have my own logo printed on it) in plastic wrapped in aluminium cased bag. delivered to my door. Minimum 50kg order. Was so tempting, but then dad was like NEVER sell food products, cause if someone gets sick, your in shit. But supplements is a mass market to hit at the moment.

#Dreamswillcometrueoneday .

From: BobboHobbo
Welcome to the world of business haha. I ponder on the internet hours a week to find that perfect item to sell, it takes time. But I guess in the end its worth it. Ive gone to the extent of getting in contact with protein producers. Was getting quotes of $20 (rough figure not 100%) a kg of protein isolate (unbranded could have my own logo printed on it) in plastic wrapped in aluminium cased bag. delivered to my door. Minimum 50kg order. Was so tempting, but then dad was like NEVER sell food products, cause if someone gets sick, your in shit. But supplements is a mass market to hit at the moment.

#Dreamswillcometrueoneday .

HA :') Nice to know I'm not a noob and people have the same issues.
#NeverGiveUp
It'll probably take awhile for us to find a perfect item. It's annoying though since every item I see is already done cheaply. Sometimes cheaper than I could even post it for… :/
Thought I had found that perfect item but posting it would of been too expensive. Still considering sell the item is groups of 3 (it is an item that runs out so wouldn't be a bad idea) but people still have already done it cheap. (Doesn't mean I can't join them and just hope people will see mine first :P)

Bought a ps3 controller today for £11. plan on selling it for £20 on ebay :)
@CRU1Z1N went into town and tried that method you said about on skype.
They didn't have the item in store :/

From: The Killer
Bought a ps3 controller today for £11. plan on selling it for £20 on ebay :)
@CRU1Z1N went into town and tried that method you said about on skype.
They didn't have the item in store :/

i sold that for my friend today for 5 quid he wanted me to go back lol he's been asking everyone now.
still thinking so i will let you know soon as.

My advice is no one will buy anything they can get cheaper. On eBay it's often hard to find things people are selling that you could sell for more. Too many people take the opportunity at hand. The real way to make money flipping on eBay is to buy items from garage sale, craigslist, etc and sell them on eBay. One item I have had success with is shirts. Especially name brands for junior high age like hollister and abercrombie. You can easily buy these 1 dollars for 2 for 3 at garage sales and on graigs list. Two shirts are easy to ship together and tend to sell for about 10 dollars including shipping. This means 10 - 4(about 4 dollars is the most shippign will cost) - 2(costs of shirts) - 1(eBay fees) turns AT LEAST 3 dollar profit. That is worst case scenario too. It sounds small but after doing it a while I was able to make 100+ a week flipping from garage sales. My best finds were two scope bought for 30 together and sold for about 150.

From: grahambr
My advice is no one will buy anything they can get cheaper. On eBay it's often hard to find things people are selling that you could sell for more. Too many people take the opportunity at hand. The real way to make money flipping on eBay is to buy items from garage sale, craigslist, etc and sell them on eBay. One item I have had success with is shirts. Especially name brands for junior high age like hollister and abercrombie. You can easily buy these 1 dollars for 2 for 3 at garage sales and on graigs list. Two shirts are easy to ship together and tend to sell for about 10 dollars including shipping. This means 10 - 4(about 4 dollars is the most shippign will cost) - 2(costs of shirts) - 1(eBay fees) turns AT LEAST 3 dollar profit. That is worst case scenario too. It sounds small but after doing it a while I was able to make 100+ a week flipping from garage sales. My best finds were two scope bought for 30 together and sold for about 150.

Thats way to much effort for such a little gain though. Would ruther pick up an extra 4 hour shift to earn that 100 lol.

From: grahambr
My advice is no one will buy anything they can get cheaper. On eBay it's often hard to find things people are selling that you could sell for more. Too many people take the opportunity at hand. The real way to make money flipping on eBay is to buy items from garage sale, craigslist, etc and sell them on eBay. One item I have had success with is shirts. Especially name brands for junior high age like hollister and abercrombie. You can easily buy these 1 dollars for 2 for 3 at garage sales and on graigs list. Two shirts are easy to ship together and tend to sell for about 10 dollars including shipping. This means 10 - 4(about 4 dollars is the most shippign will cost) - 2(costs of shirts) - 1(eBay fees) turns AT LEAST 3 dollar profit. That is worst case scenario too. It sounds small but after doing it a while I was able to make 100+ a week flipping from garage sales. My best finds were two scope bought for 30 together and sold for about 150.

From: BobboHobbo
Thats way to much effort for such a little gain though. Would ruther pick up an extra 4 hour shift to earn that 100 lol.

Thanks for the reply grahmabr however I don't really want to go down the route of spending my saturdays at car boot sales. I appreciate the fact that you are trying to help though :)
Still want to do this. Research is sort of at a standstill as I'v been busy :/