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Author Topic: My First Big Risk  (Read 3761 times)

Offline reimagination

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My First Big Risk
« on: May 25, 2014, 03:26:47 »
I'm very excited about something I bought on ebay, but I'm also kinda nervous.

So I really wanted the French maid and tea cart from set 5320. I know many sets have maids, but I specifically wanted the black and white maid with the bow tied around her head, and she's hard to find. I would check for her periodically on ebay, and she'd be as much as $18 and be broken or missing a piece or something. Ridiculous. Then, the other day I came across someone selling an incomplete 5320 set for $35, but it was listed oddly, so I was betting that not many people were coming across it. I thought, what if I get this for $35 and sell off the other pieces that I don't want? I looked around and saw many of the furniture pieces selling for 5 dollars or more! So potentially, there's enough pieces I could sell that I would basically be getting the maid for free. So I'm very excited, because this is the first risk like this I took for my Playmo collection. But I'm also very nervous because what if none of my items sell, then I just paid $35 for a maid and a cart.

While I'm at it, does anyone have some ebay selling tips?
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Offline playmofire

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Re: My First Big Risk
« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2014, 07:52:39 »
Congratulations on your buy.  Well done for taking the risk.

As for whether you will sell all the parts you don't want, well, that's a risk too as you may not - some you win, some you lose, as they say.  But even if you don't cover the cost of your French maid, you've got the key piece you wanted.  You could try selling on a buy-it-now basis, setting the total prices of the pieces at enough to cover your $35. 

In general, when it comes to selling on eBay, good photos help sell, and a number of each item showing it off well and clear  descriptions.  And not "listing it oddly" - as you  have found out, "listing oddly" can give other people bargains!
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Offline Ismene

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Re: My First Big Risk
« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2014, 08:33:11 »
Yay, great find!

In my experience, the pieces from that set sell quite well on Ebay. Just be sure the pics and titles are good, so people actually find them. Also, if you are doing an auction, don't set the opening prices lower than what you are willing to accept.
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Offline playmofire

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Re: My First Big Risk
« Reply #3 on: May 25, 2014, 12:36:47 »
Quote from: Ismene on May 25, 2014, 08:33:11
Also, if you are doing an auction, don't set the opening prices lower than what you are willing to accept.

I usually set the opening price at 99p and it's rare that I've been disappointed with the final selling price.
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Offline GrahamB

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Re: My First Big Risk
« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2014, 12:41:12 »
Quote from: reimagination on May 25, 2014, 03:26:47
While I'm at it, does anyone have some ebay selling tips?

I agree with Ismene and Playmofire: good photos, good description (who searches for 'l@@k'? No-one I bet, but it appears in ebay titles often!), careful pricing. Don't forget ebay fees and PayPal fees will cut into your profit!

You could try selling a 'bundle' or 'job lot' of parts, with one or two desirable parts on prominent display. Sometimes, bundles go for quite good money. You could set a buy-it-now price. If no one bites, you haven't lost much. You could also try padding out a bundle with any other parts you no longer want. Some people will buy a bundle because it contains just one part they have been looking for (well, I have!).
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Offline Rasputin

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Re: My First Big Risk
« Reply #5 on: May 25, 2014, 14:23:37 »
Great that you found the klicky you wanted. The other odd bits you do not want could easily be sold off. Auctions can go any which way. You could have great pictures and description and the end date is bad. You could have bad pictures but for some reason a few get into a bid war. You could put the nice parts in the front and have a pile of random junk in the back giving the illusion of grandeur.

There is a buyer for almost anything.

I tend to avoid auctions that have high starting prices, not really an auction now is it. If its a good part and the pictures are fine starting at 0.99 typically does not mean that it ends low. It cold stimulate more interest and perhaps a bidding war, your best outcome. 

If it does not sell then you did not pay $35 for a maid and a cart. You paid $35 for an incomplete 5320

good luck
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Offline playmofire

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Re: My First Big Risk
« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2014, 14:36:29 »
Quote from: Rasputin on May 25, 2014, 14:23:37



If it does not sell then you did not pay $35 for a maid and a cart. You paid $35 for an incomplete 5320

good luck

Sound, positive thinking, Ras
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Offline reimagination

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Re: My First Big Risk
« Reply #7 on: May 27, 2014, 00:44:44 »
Quote from: Rasputin on May 25, 2014, 14:23:37

If it does not sell then you did not pay $35 for a maid and a cart. You paid $35 for an incomplete 5320

good luck

Good way to think about it. I am actually kinda thinking I want them, but I know I don't really since my collection is mainly klickies and animals. ha ha. However, it wont really be a total loss if they don't sell.

I don't actually have it yet. It's in the city ready to be delivered according to the tracking, but today was a holiday, so I'll get it tomorrow. Ah! The anticipation!

Also, I should be able to get good photos because of all the advice everyone gave me on another topic I posted.

I'll let you all know how the selling turns out.
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Offline playmofire

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Re: My First Big Risk
« Reply #8 on: May 27, 2014, 08:11:17 »
If you've got the necessary number of posts, you could try selling them on here.
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Offline Birdie

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Re: My First Big Risk
« Reply #9 on: May 27, 2014, 12:50:31 »
I'm curious to see what happens. Usually, when I have spare furniture (Victorian, modern or medieval), that just gives me a reason to buy another house  ;D
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