brent
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2008
Posts: 1,316
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Post by brent on Apr 13, 2009 11:06:46 GMT -5
What is everyones prefered site to sell on, (ebay, etsy, etc.). I am ready to start cataloguing and selling my wares....finally....lol ;D .
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Post by Michael John on Apr 13, 2009 12:13:10 GMT -5
It's a catch 22...
Ebay's relatively new policy that the seller doesn't see a dime (NOT EVEN THE SHIPPING!) until the buyer has received the merchandise and given positive feedback was a deal-breaker for me. There's no way that I'll pay to ship my stuff to someone and wait to see what happens.
Other auction sites ... generally, not enough traffic to get your merchandise seen by enough people. Sales are few and far between (if at all).
Craig's List is too localized to be very effective.
Given that you're in Canada, it puts you at a bit of a disadvantage. The US is the largest market, but shipping costs from Canada to the US are going to make American customers' total cost high. They'll generally get a better deal buying similar stuff from someone in the US (especially when flat-raters are involved).
If you happen to find a place to sell gemstone where there's decent traffic, reasonable fees, and merchandise sells well, let us know. A lot of us here have been searching for a decent auction site for a long time, but haven't found one yet.
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brent
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2008
Posts: 1,316
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Post by brent on Apr 13, 2009 13:01:56 GMT -5
I can include shipping and make a trip across the boarder to mail flat raters. I haven't seen a good place to sell yet. I really want to test the waters before I load up to go to a show somewhere.
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Post by Michael John on Apr 13, 2009 13:23:57 GMT -5
Shows can be hit-and-miss, too. You can have the same stuff to sell, yet do real good or bad on any given day. A lot of that depends on how many people are there, and what other vendors are selling / at what prices. Everyone I've talked-to that does shows likes it though ... regardless if you sell well or not, at least it's fun.
As far as "testing the waters", selling online isn't really going to be much of an indicator of what will sell at shows. They're "different animals". In person, you can target product for "impulse buying", plus there's the advantage of customers being able to actually see and hold the product. Pics seldom do "our stuff" justice. I'd suggest just doing both ... shows AND online.
If you don't mind traveling across the border to ship, then that's a plus for you. As long as you sell your stuff with "shipping included", nobody is likely to bust you for it.
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brent
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2008
Posts: 1,316
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Post by brent on Apr 13, 2009 13:36:11 GMT -5
Thanx for your input.
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Post by Michael John on Apr 13, 2009 13:54:06 GMT -5
Wish I could help more, but it's mostly just "what works for you". Good luck!
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Post by 150FromFundy on Apr 13, 2009 15:24:22 GMT -5
I'd be curious to see if you can come up with a shipping method that is affordable given that most of your customers are likely to be in the US. Given the high rates for international postage from Canada Post, it's hard to even give rock away for free by the time the postage gets added on. The US dollar buying $1.20 CDN helps, but it is often still not enough to offset the postage. I'm going to check out the UPS Store sometime, but I don't think the flat rate boxes that make this addiction affordable are available north of the 49th parallel.
Let me know if you come up with something.
150FromFundy
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brent
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2008
Posts: 1,316
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Post by brent on Apr 13, 2009 17:03:48 GMT -5
The only way to do mail order is to time my mailings with field trips in the Estevan area which I will be going on. Other than that, I will do a show or two this year and then a few in Arizona early next year.
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Post by stonesthatrock on Apr 13, 2009 18:59:25 GMT -5
michael has just about said all there is to be said. Ralph and i have done shows for 2yrs. We have found that every show is different. People buy different stuff at everyone of them. Some want finished jewelry others want slabs. Ralph and i do mostly slabs and rough so if you go to a new show and find out that no ones does lapidary, we are dead before we start. So, first you have to go to the shows and find out what ppl like. Like, apache show here loves slabs because of all the snowbirds out here staying in the resorts all have lapidary classes. Now deming, they like large rough, not slabs, they like to cut there own. So, see it matters where your are and what your selling. We have lost our butts many times in 2 yrs. But, its alot of fun meeting the ppl. Now the cost of the show isn't cheap. Most of the good gem and minerals shows we have done have cost $40 a ft. The lower cost arts and crafts show we can't do because everyone wants finished product.
Now i'm gonna venture out and get a website, soon i hope.
All i know is if you want to make a living doing this, you must do something better then ralph and I. Thank god he still has a full time job. ;D
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jcinpc
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2009
Posts: 722
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Post by jcinpc on Apr 13, 2009 19:13:33 GMT -5
what is it your selling? Flintknappers love slabs to pressure flake points (cheating ;D) they look for flat rate boxes of good material and are always looking for different materials. I sold coral on ebay for a couple of years in the flintknapping art section and did well. I Have a arge enough customer base who trusted me and my coral that I was able to get away from there. Now I have to worry about my supply meeting the demand. Do you have a web oage to attach a link to your post? that drives in traffic also, We love the flat rate boxes. good luck
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brent
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2008
Posts: 1,316
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Post by brent on Apr 13, 2009 19:35:01 GMT -5
I think at this point, making a living at it is wishful thinking(would be nice though). I would just like to have some money coming back, and making room for new material. Hate to think I am going to collect, slab, and make things that have nowhere to go. When I was in the hobby 30 years ago, I went to farmer's markets and fairs. I did well for a 13 year old...lol
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,494
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 13, 2009 20:09:43 GMT -5
Dang, I was just about to do some E-Bay selling but most my stuff is one of a kind, goes to foreign destinations, is fairly expensive, and shipping costs a bunch so damned if I'll send a piece clear to Germany or France at great expense and just hope I get paid sometime down the line. You don't walk into a store, pick out a TV and take it home and say well, I'll pay on down the line if I like it! The store gets paid and then you get to take the TV home. If that's their new policy, E-Bay has sure lost me as a seller!....Mel
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Post by cpdad on Apr 13, 2009 21:04:26 GMT -5
mel....yep you might get stung badly with the new policies....as mj said.
the so called confirmed addresses of paypal....are not really confirmed anymore also....dont send unless you got money up front....preferbaly a check or money order.....but ebay doesnt allow that now either.
dont get me wrong....paypal is easy for a lot of folks....and a good fix for some....i just refuse it to sale anything worth a damn.
in other words get your money first....protect your material....kev.
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Post by catmandewe on Apr 13, 2009 21:15:34 GMT -5
Paypal only holds your funds if you have low or no feedback ratings.
If you have good ratings and are an established seller, they will not hold your funds at all.
But the rates are getting up there, so you have to figure that into the price, also.
My last sale they got %18 with all the ebay and paypal fees.
If that's your only reason for not using them, it can be worked around...............Tony
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Post by stonesthatrock on Apr 13, 2009 21:18:07 GMT -5
i have never done ebay and now i know i'm not gonna start.
Oh i did forget the cost of my material to sell. As ralph and I are not able to go collect it ourselves i do have to depend on other ppl. to buy it from at a not high price. Whenever i buy if i get a good deal so do the ppl that buy it from me.
Mel, you do have some beautiful stuff and i bet it would be high dollar stuff.
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Post by Michael John on Apr 13, 2009 21:35:51 GMT -5
Yeah, the new mandatory PayPal payment method sucks, too. The only seller advantage for using PayPal is instant payment. Since Ebay has now made waiting for payment mandatory, there's no reason for the seller to pay for PayPal, yet eBay is forcing them to do it. Friggin Nazis.
Unfortunately, the Hitlers at eBay know that they've got themselves a monopoly, and they're milking it for every red cent. There are laws against monopolization, yet eBay seems to be skating right along.
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Post by Michael John on Apr 13, 2009 21:43:18 GMT -5
Tony, I have a 100% feedback rating on eBay ... they made me wait for my money.
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brent
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2008
Posts: 1,316
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Post by brent on Apr 14, 2009 8:54:55 GMT -5
Seems ebay has found a new way of making money. Money comes out of your account at time of purchase. Depending on when your item gets shipped and the time in the mail, it could take maybe two weeks. Then after the item is recieved and a feedback is given could be a day to a week or longer, depending on the reciever. Now , I don't know where the money sits untill it's finally payed out(I'm assuming in an ebay account), but imagine the intrest collected over two weeks X the amount of transactions at any given time.
Just my two cents plus intrest...lol.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Apr 15, 2009 20:41:29 GMT -5
I think paypal and ebay are really taking advantage of people too. Of the items I sold, I paid nearly 10% just in ebay fees! That doesn't include the paypal fees yet!  I do have to say that I know nothing of the payments being held. I have parted out my motorcycle I crashed last fall, and sold 3 items so far on ebay. NONE of the money was held. I have been registered on ebay for several years, have less than 100 feedbacks (all 100%+ BTW) and these 3 auctions are the first I've ever sold. The only difference being the parts I sold were on ebay motors. Nate |
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rockmadman
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2007
Posts: 22
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Post by rockmadman on Apr 17, 2009 14:45:19 GMT -5
Once you get a customer base you can reduce paypal fees by asking the purchaser to send the money through paypal as personal 'money owed'- you dont get shafted for paypal fees then!!
here in the u.k we have to get FRB's from you guys in the States and Canada- its the only way to get decent rock at reasonable prices. I buy off e bay once from prospective rock sellers then the next time , having sussed out the quality -i do the deal outside e bay next time!
I am a compulsive buyer of rock and have got a cellar full that will take years to cut- you guys are so ssoooooooooo lucky with all that beautiful rock all over the States!!
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