Need to sell a few things but am hesitant to set up an e-bay acct.

[yy4me]

My husband used to make furniture and one of the things he bought was a Queen Anne Tea Table kit from Bartley Collection. As with other things he made, he let them sit for a while so the any moisture in the wood would dry out.

He died before putting the table together and I certainly am not up to doing it. He paid $597.00 plus shipping from Bartley. I listed it several times on Craigslist for $250.00 and got 2 replies. The first one changed his mind but at least he let me know. The second one promised he would buy it and would send a postal money order to cover the table and shipping. At first I told him no shipping but he was so insistent that he pay for it first and then I could ship, I fell for it.

Needless to say, I never heard from him again. Lesson learned.

How much of a big deal is it to cope with the rules and reg's of e-bay. I read lots of comments here and most are not really favorable. I need to reach a larger market.
Thanks for any suggestions.

[grasswire]

1. have you researched to see if any similar items are being sold there?

That would at least give you a clue about how they have done.

[yy4me]

2. Have not really searched in that regard. I do check out e-bay

for things I am looking for in all categories. Have scored a few goodies with local importance (antiques) and of course things like shoes, small appliances etc. I tend to use the "buy it now" feature because if the price is fair, it is over with and I don't have to keep reminding myself to check what is going on. Missed a few things early on and that taught me a lesson.

It is more the set-up process for a few items, I wonder if it is worth the time. If I was still in the Antiques business, I would use e-bay as a seller. Now it would be to move things along that I no longer need or want.

I haven't had time to read all their info. Have too many things going on here that I must take care of.

In addition to the table I mentioned, I have some silver that I'd like to sell. This is interesting.
I contacted one Boston Jeweler who said "not interested", items are monogrammed (beautiful intertwined script). The next one, to whom I offered the silver "on consignment" said business is so bad that he feels no hope in selling the items. He'd buy for scrap only. Heck, I could do that myself and eliminate the middle-man. The goods are too good to scrap.

Trying to downsize is not as easy as it should be. My husband and I bought the things we have because we enjoyed them. Somehow, just seeing a lot of it now bothers me. My girls will take some of it but things like opalescent glass sugar shakers are of no interest. Neither is the silver. He would never understand why I feel compelled to move this stuff along but the memories are too sad.

[2Design]

3. Sounds like you are not READY to let them go - put in a box

and put them away - when you are ready you can sell them - or give them away or whatever - just put them away out of sight for now

[KoKo]

8. Agree...and maybe silver prices will pick up...one never knows

if some other generation won't value what you have. Unless you need the money...maybe putting them away for at least a year would help give you distance until you can decide. And, perhaps things will change in the marketplace.

[sandnsea]

4. I worked with a woman for months

on a drawing last year. It was right when one of those hurricanes hit so we didn't want it to go missing in a flood. Then she had to help a family member, etc. She eventually sent me the money order. I had another woman take a few tries on an amberina plate, but she finally followed through. It's up to you of course, but sometimes people do just have emergencies come up and have to put a purchase off and are too embarrassed to admit it.

[InvisibleTouch]

5. If you're only selling a few things...

...in order to get them out of your way and bring in a bit of extra cash, it's worth putting them on eBay. The help files do talk you through the listing process pretty well, even if it's become somewhat lengthy and convoluted. Don't sign up for a store unless you're going to be selling on an ongoing basis. If you're making a living at it (or trying to), it's a little more complex, but for a few items, I'd say go for it.

Keep in mind that an item like a table is going to be a hassle to pack and ship, and also expensive to ship, which will turn off a lot of potential buyers. You can list it as a local sale/pickup only (I sold a couple of pieces of large furniture this way in the past), but then you may as well re-list it on CraigsList and save yourself the fees. You will have the people who swear they will show up to buy it, and then you'll never hear from them again - but keep re-listing it, and hopefully someone will come through.

[InvisibleTouch]

6. Oh, another idea:

If you don't want to bother with the account and listing yourself, you might see if there's a trading assistant in your area who will do it for you, for a percentage of the final sale price. You will want to be sure the person you give your item to is trustworthy and won't just disappear with it. Also the commission charged is usually high enough that I still think it's worth doing it yourself (I usually charge 20% plus fees, which is on the low side; some will go as high as 50%), but it depends on what kind of time and energy you have to deal with the process.

[yy4me]

7. Hi InvisibleTouch, are you anywhere near me? I checked to see

but you have no profile posted.

I'd do 20% in a flash.

[InvisibleTouch]

9. Sorry, did not see this reply until now...

...check your PM....