I was brousing ebay and found a seller selling a 1939 wheat penny for like 19 cents. I thought it was just to attract people to his store but as you can see by this (his store)http://stores.shop.ebay.com/1gtsfan-Collectibles__W0QQ_sidZ20953118QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em14?_pgn=1 he really doesn't have an inventory and what inventory he has is on auction at prices that would not even cover his fees- not to mention the free shipping. I thought it might be to get feedback but he has over 2700. I just don't understand it.
Maybe he is trying to get some new customers. A lot of people save stores are their favorites, perhaps some sort of advertisement? Who knows.
I don't know how so many folks sell so many things so cheaply either! I'd love it explained to me! Here's my dumb example: Last month, I saw somebody selling the new 2009 Proof Sets as a pre-sale, "buy it now" for $34.95 + $3.95 shipping. (Remember: the first day of release was June 1). So, I figured, since I can pick up the 2009 sets right at the mint store, I could advertise a "Pre-Sale, guaranteed to ship by June 2" and, what the heck, I reduced the price by a nickel -- so I offered them at "buy it now" for $34.90 + $3.95 shipping. Well, little did I know at the time that ebay's percentage for buy it now is like 11% or 12% or something. So, I sold three of them for that $34.90+3.95 price (a total of $38.85). My cost was 29.95, the ebay fee was 4.19, postage was 3.45, and paypal fee was 1.43 If you add that up -- I lost 0.17 on each set I sold. (At least it was only 0.17!) But that means that the pro who I was competing against, lost money, too! Did that seller know a way to cut expenses that I didn't know? Sheesh!
A lot of people sell things for losses, simply because they do not want the item anymore, and have no use for it I've sold some items for losses, but I got 5 star feedback, and returning bidders, so it works out You might lose on some auctions, but you will make up for it, if the buyer likes the service A lot of people also just sell low, to get their feedback up, to me, It doesn't matter how high my score will get, I see difference buying from a seller with 140 feedback, or 14,000 feedback, as long as the auction describes everything good, and I can get it at a reasonable amount, and has a return policy
True -- you gotta keep stuff flowing . . . but in my case it was an advance sale for items I didn't yet have!
Losing money on a deal or having one's spouse throw it out 1st sometimes balances out. I think of it as low cost therapy. I've just started using eBay this year and have learned that selling an item for $2.33 and then spending $7.95 for shipping is not the best way to go. (Know how I know?) But it saved the $60/hours for the shrink/marriage counselor so was not a bad swap. Sometimes I get rewarded for cleaning out a drawer or corner. But it is a learning process for me and now I've cleaned out enough of the garage I have a nice place to sleep nights when I get it wrong! I think of it as a poker night. Just today I received one ounce of uncirculated mixed US silver coins from the pre 50's that don't fit into anything I'm really collecting for $12 including shipping. But I just started bidding, won the auction, and now I have to figure out what they are! and where to hide them.....dd:
some times starting the bid low causes a bidding frenzy but that only works with better stuff. Also sometimes they do it to get more positive feed back. People are picky. I've come across individuals who refuse to by if the seller isn't a power seller.
That is true if he is a POWERSELLER! But the thing is, the difference isn't by that much, and if he is making money, it would be less than $5...
Discount on fees as a powerseller with good stars. Selling through the store is $.03 each listing and a % off that. Paypal can be setup for small $$$ sales.
