Featured Questions

Also , no matter the venue....you have to get to know your clientele !!

 

Well said!

 

Words of wisdom. In terms of not buying the right inventory I look at that as part of the learning curve. Guilty as well of buying stuff I like not stuff on my list of what sells.

 

Well then I may have a bright future. Haha

 

You know they always say that you make money when you buy so buying at a price where you can sell at a profit is the key.

I also have been a collector more than anything else too. What I find is that it's a lot easier to let go of things if you know they're good things but not something you personally collect.

I will also say that it's much easier to have someone else sell for you than finding a way to sell something. It all depends on how much effort and time you're willing to put in to doing it yourself. If you get someone else to do it for you such as through an auction house or consignment shop you'll pay hefty percentages for that convenience but it all goes back to how much money you paid to start with if it's even an option.

 

I've sold on ebay and also on Etsy.

Regarding Etsy and social media, if I were you I would not let the social media aspect put you off too much. I didn't do any of that stuff at all and managed to make sales there.

I by no means was a huge Etsy seller (right now my shop is not open due to not being well) and I don't know if I would have done better had I used social media.
Many people on the discussion boards there say they don't do any social media and they still get many sales.

Anyway much good luck!

 

If you supply good photos and give a potential buyer all the possible info YOU would like to know... You shouldn't have any or many questions to answer.
If someone asks a question you've already covered with your info.....your call as to whether or not you bother answering them.

 

I've sold online through eBay and etsy and I pretty much avoid ebay now.
They have high % and flooded markets.

I sell at an antique mall and do pretty alright. It's not a sole income, but I make enough to grow my business, pay a couple bills, and put some savings away while being a stay at home mom.

I also work at an antique auction and estate company.
We get people who do shows and what they can't sell at shows they sell at auction.
We get people who strictly sell at auction.

I personally don't like selling at auction because I'd rather sell it myself and keep the commission. Even if it means holding a "dealer sale" type garage sale once a year and selling it at auction prices, but that's just the type of person I am.
Some are just ready to let it go. I'm notoriously cheap and a stickler
...but you have to be in this business.

The info about having a good eye is very true.

 

The fact that you can pay a couple of bills is way.....impressive.

 

Well etsy is cheap especially if you don't sell much. I will keep it open and see.

 

Im not talking monthly bills where I need to rely on the money, lol
Im more or less talking about putting some away here and there for all the dental work I need done

 

Hi KOT
I answer most any questions regarding a listing that a potential buyer may have. I know some are asking because they missed it in the listing, even tho it is there in black and white. It happens Also I hear that some of the descriptions can be missing on some mobile devices as well unless one scrolls down a lot so buyers don't see everything. I would rather answer a question than lose a sale.

I also think some potential buyers just want to know that the seller responds and is not MIA. It is somewhat of a reassurance to a buyer that the seller is paying attention to the site and the listing by answering questions.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Etsy is cheap even if you have sales compared to most other sites.

There many drawbacks there as well to be noted and are aggravating.

I could no longer stand to do Ebay so I picked Etsy instead.

 

VEEEEeeery inters-tink!
Thank you for that input!

 

Be better soon

 

Thanks so much SIS. I appreciate your kind words.

 

Yes - when my wife and I rented the table at the toy show we did a whole lot of business before it was even officially open. Dealers like sharks smelling the fresh blood circling around.
We don't buy for resale, but our mothers never got rid of anything, and we are the same way, so we have a whole lot of stuff. We managed to get a few things out of the closets - vintage tin toys, Schuco, Steiff; and it was all profit. Need to do that again, we have a lot more stuff in the closets....

 

Ooooooh, I'm late to the party... just happened across this thread.
My dos centavos... two cents...

Etsy seems to be the place for crafts, crafters, decorators.
Ebay seems to have the wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide reach for collectors... and/or diverse buyers.
I sold in both spots for a time, and sold many times more on ebay... finally let etsy go.

Mostly, I sell small paintings (portraits) and the vast majority of stuff goes to California, Texas, and Florida (my art is very Mexican... so I really NEED ebay to reach "my people". What am I doing here in Ohio? Lonnnng story!).

Shipping is a huge issue. That's why I developed my little "portraits"... they're small and ship cheaply. I rarely sell a larger painting except locally at art fairs and community events and such. So I had to develop items that are cheap to ship and trendy.

Anywayyyyyy... it all obviously depends on your audience and wares.

One bit of advice! When you make a sale, include a rack card or similar way for your buyer to find and contact you... OUTSIDE eBay's clutches. I have had many, many, many return buyers who have thusly requested and bought additional portraits!!!!!!


Gila