Bringing Down the Shutters on my Ebay for Another Year

This evening the last of my ebay items for this year will come to the end of its listing.  To be honest, I won't be sorry to have a small break from the endless photographing of objects (VERY tedious in the half-light that passes for daytime at this time of year), listing, packing and, most tedious of all, standing in a HUGE queue at the post office to post them all out. 

I've done reasonably well this year on ebay, but have done very well since September when I really upped the ante with listing items for sale.  Since then I have averaged £50 - £60 a week of sales and have managed to declutter the house (to a certain extent!) into the bargain. 

I did really well with selling vintage Christmas items in September and October (but not so well in December - why is that?) which I'll certainly bear in mind for next year.  I've found that plus sized clothes sell well at any time of the year - but not in the run-up to Christmas (another thing to remember next year.)  I've managed to clear my wardrobe of quite a few items that I just never really wore and have now got a lot more room to store and use those items that I really do like and / or wear frequently.  This has been immensely satisfying both financially and de-cluttering-wise.

I also sold some vintage linen tea towels that were just lurking about in my large pile of fabric - I'd forgotten I had them so was well pleased to get on average £5 per tea towel when the listings finished.  I'll be keeping an eye open for more vintage linen items in the future - especially at next year's car boot sales.  I'm also on the look-out for copies of the Kit Williams book 'Masquerade.'  I'm sure I've seen them about fairly frequently (but, of course, not at the moment!!) as they are priced from £95 upwards on Amazon!!  I do have a copy myself but that's up in the loft and, besides, I really don't want to sell it as I've had it for 30 years.  I think I've always assumed it was the sort of book that the world and his wife bought at the time and that therefore would only sell for peanuts - which just goes to show how little I know about second-hand books.

Have you any suggestions about what sells well on ebay - and when?

Comments

[Caroline]

Well done, Elizabeth. It's so much more difficult to make a decent profit since Ebay and Paypal costs have gone up (and postage, too, of course!), but like you, I've had a good year, my best yet, in fact. Also like you, am very much looking forward to the break over the next few weeks, before starting up in January again.

[Ilona]

I listed a few things on ebay when I had my business, but only sold 1 out of 12 so I didn't bother again. I heard the other day that fixed price items on ebay, had overtaken the auctioned ones. I also heard that the Inland Revenue also monitor auction sites.

[Notes From The Frugal Trenches]

Well done you! I've never listed anything but marvel at those that do!

[Many A Mickle]

My ebay success seems a bit hit and miss of late. When I look at the amount that ebay and then paypal take, I get very annoyed! I was particularly miffed that you can no longer charge postage for books (and so increasing ebay's profits). Oddly, in the past three weeks four books that I listed on Amazon have sold. Two had been on there for six months! I was wondering if ebay's postage policy is driving people to amazon instead. Do you sell books on ebay or just amazon?

[jeanie]

Thanks for sharing your ebay experience.
I've focused recently on listing books on Amazon--much faster process than ebay-- and sold four in the last few days. In one sense Amazon is a pain because I can't print the postage at home as I can with ebay, on the other hand, things sit there without needing to be tended, unlike ebay. I finally followed your lead and designated a bookcase for Amazon books, which makes it far easier.

[apieceofwood]

Furniture seems to sell well in the autumn. I sold two pieces I bought in the summer and made £70 on them.. and jewellry in late jan (after payday) in time for February 14th!

Well done on all your selling!