Ebay sellers...

[Erfolg]

I think I no where you are coming from Martian, although the purchase price means nothing to me, even if I could remeber.I

In many ways I do not want some one to get a bargain. I want the buyer to do what I did not do, build it. Rather than stand in a corner, every so often looked at like a fine piece of useless china, where the owner congratulates themselves at purchasing it at a bargain price. I want the price to be so high that purchaser feels compelled to build and then have a price low enough that they feel able to fly it.

What I do not want, is what recently happened to me, in that I sold a Triumph Spitfire Mk 3 with a Le Mans fast back, modified engine, banana exhaust, gas flowed head, adj shocks, modified rear suspension, new body panels, for £100, on the basis as a rolling restoration only. Then saw the bits for sale at a price that was already at over circa £700. Another case, where i recognised I was getting to old to provide it with the attention it deserved.

I have two models in my building room, going nowhere, a Bachem and a small Panther autogyro. The Bachem is awaiting time, more shamefully my Panther was awaiting a blade set, I now have the blades, 2 off which came from Tim. Models need to be built as a minimum, better still flown. So I want the purchaser to feel compelled to do something. Rather than admire the box of bits.

[Martian]

is this the lovely looking Vega at 4m wingspan.I see a guy on this forum got 1 for £150 he seemed to think it was a bargain (it was used)

[Andy Green]

Let me know when its up I'll bid, and I will build it. Been looking for one for ages.

Andy

[Erfolg]

Martain

The model is about 4m, I would have to open the box to confirm the exact span. Its back in its corner

[Pete B]

I have no doubt the Vega will attract a great deal of interest on Ebay judging by previous listings, Erfolg - they are much sought-after models and an untouched kit will be very desirable.

Indeed, I don't think you even need worry about setting a reserve - buyers will bid it up to a realistic price. If you do set a reserve, don't make it too high - that can deter bidders. I wouldn't set it at more than £50 if you have to.

Add some photos of the contents, disturbing the kit as little as possible (ie leave the wing pack intact) - people like to see what they are getting.

Most importantly, make sure you get the description right - it is Teakle, not treakle. You'll miss buyers who have set up a search for Teakle items if you get it wrong!

Presented properly, I don't think you'll have too much trouble reaching into three figures for this one.....

Once you have listed it, pop a post on this thread so forumites are aware of it.

Good Luck!

Pete

[Erfolg]

The Treakle was just dumb fingers.

I have just been cutting my hedge, perched on a ladder, whilst thinking about price perceptions.

From a money investment for a built model of the size £150 would be cheap. The servos, air brakes etc, would be quite an investment in themselves.

I was then thinking about building a kit of this size. The space required is enormous. Probably more importantly the skill necessary, is also high. What skill I had is not up to it now. The ability to glass cloth the wings, to obtain the finish, this is a must. Film just does not cut the mustard. The trouble is I do not have the skills, or even remember clearly exactly what is required. Now I no longer have the building space.

Then being able to set up the wings to fuselage, not only takes skill and space, but patience. I thought finishing a model of this type and size would take many hundreds of pounds, not withstanding time, which is also large.

Which made me think, that £150 for a well finished model of the type, truly is a bargain, from a commercial point of view. No wonder that the Czech commercial models cost thousands, not withstanding their higher levels of technology.

Which makes me think that the above is why many never get built and the seller of the £150 model thought it was a bargain. His and my trouble is that the market often sees things differently, and they get pushed back into storage.

A PS, I have just had an after thought, models of this type, jsut cannot make use of my Frsky Rx or the cloned servos, even though I have little doubt as to their safety.It is that chink of dobt that requires all those fancy modules and reassuringly expensive servos etc. Unfortunately a 4m model can never be seen as cheap.

Edited By Erfolg on 10/09/2013 13:20:30

[kevin b]

Hi Erfolg.

This is not my type of model, but if you come up wth a figure I suggest you let the forum know before putting it on e-bay. The fact is that by the time you have sold it e-bay (and Paypal) would relieve you of probalbly 22% of the final figure (including postage). Better to advertise on the BMFA site (or here) at 10% less. Either that or in the classifieds of the magazines. This is a specialist model and those who are interested in this type do scour the variou resources to find them. Also you don't particularly apperar to be in a great hurry to sell it, so take your time to explore the sales posibilities. No doubt you will get offers based on this thread alone. The only people who really do well selling on e-bay are e-bay, Paypal and the con merchants.

Good luck.

kevinb.

[John F]

I dont agree at all. Ebay is a good source and to completely dismiss it for selling is missing a trick.
People automatically go to ebay to find aircraft, if only because of the convenience. I am puzzled why you would think everyone is a con merchant who use eBay?

[Devcon1]

I agree, I get about 50% of my model gear from ebay (sold the odd item or two) and have only ever dealt with genuine people.

I'm in a similar situation as I have an original Multiplex 4.0m Alpina and a Krause 4.0m ASW 24 that I'm pretty sure I won't fly sometime soon but just can't bring myself to let them go.

Regards

[001]

No problem with ebay except for the occasional untrustworthy person who wants to mess with the system.

I have never been able to place a reserve price of less than £50, does it vary by type of item?

[kevin b]

Posted by Sarge on 10/09/2013 16:15:13:
I dont agree at all. Ebay is a good source and to completely dismiss it for selling is missing a trick.
People automatically go to ebay to find aircraft, if only because of the convenience. I am puzzled why you would think everyone is a con merchant who use eBay?

I didn't say that. I have bought and sold quite happily on e-bay. I was refering to the fact that commercially it is not the way to get the best financial return. That is unless you are geared to high turnover and low profit. Or unless you are very lucky, or you don't know the true value of your goods.

Erfolg wants to best return for his kit. If he sells it on e-bay he wil have to (understandably) have to pay for their services. If he uses alternative methods he may get a better return and the buyer may actually pay less.

E-bay is an auction like any other. The buyer dictates the final price, but the seller always has to pay !

kevinb.

[Paul Marsh]

I've bought and sold loads of items via ebay. Not only models, but bits for the car/home/caravan and stuff for my home cinema system. Bought a nearly new-ex demonstration Sherbourne AV processor a while ago for less than £1000 a couple of years ago. New they are over £5k, if you can get them, and looking round in shops in person would waste time and money traveling,but by using the keyboard, that is done for you.

[Peter Miller]

Any auction room charges commission. Up to 20%. Not only that, they charge both the seller and the buyer. At least Ebay doesn't do that.

The good reason for selling on EBay is that quite often you sell for far more that you expect. I could give a lot of examples of that. Yes, you may get less for common things but most often you get a fair price.

I can also say that I have been cheated with classified adverts including one on this forum when someone claimed not to have recieved my Paypal payment. I know that they did but they didn't accept it. They were asking too little and I am sure that they got a better offer. Had that happen before with a classified.

[Rob Jones 2]

Posted by Chris Bott - Moderator on 07/09/2013 15:39:24:

Posted by savedbytheground on 07/09/2013 15:06:21:

What a thing of beauty ......

Never seen one before

How on earth does that work then SBG?

Went for £536!

[pete taylor]

Has anyone suggested to ebay that they might start a new catagory for 'Any old tat' ?

There's an early contender here

Do these folks seriosly think that anyone will buy this stuff?​

Edited By Pete B - Moderator on 11/09/2013 10:01:09

[001]

What's a 'quinton'.

I am an ebay user. One of the main points in its favour is that nowhere else do you get such a wide exposure to the items you are selling. Everybody knows the name.

If you list an item, whether you want to post it abroad or not, it potentially can be examined by potential buyers from all over the World.

I buy items from my local car boot sale, within walking distance. on a casual basis. About half an hour wander most weeks, it is good excercise, costs me nothing in petrol or parking. Normally I never spend very much, twice I have spent £5, usually 25p. or 50p. After 18 months I am more than £250 up. One book went to Norway for £41. A plastic model motorcycle kit bought for £2.50 sold on ebay the same day I bought it for £22.50.

A camera accessory that I just picked up and the seller offered to me for £0.50 sold for £50, if I had waited I probably could have got more for it.

I don't buy antiques such as pottery or jewellery because I don't know anything about it.

Ebay make money out of it, that is what they are there for. Their charges are listed.

[Bob Cotsford]

Posted by pete taylor on 11/09/2013 09:20:36:

Has anyone suggested to ebay that they might start a new catagory for 'Any old tat' ?

There's an early contender here

Do these folks seriosly think that anyone will buy this stuff?​

Edited By Pete B - Moderator on 11/09/2013 10:01:09

for 99p? Yes, there's potential there for a builder - Jabberwok wing/fus and Panic would certainly get my interest if it was closer - or should that be if it wuz closir?

[Peter Miller]

I have made a lot from odd things. Just a case of knowing what to look for and what they could be worth.

M|y local aution hose was a little gold mine until they went on the internet.

[PatMc]

Posted by pete taylor on 11/09/2013 09:20:36:

Has anyone suggested to ebay that they might start a new catagory for 'Any old tat' ?

There's an early contender here

Do these folks seriosly think that anyone will buy this stuff?​

Edited By Pete B - Moderator on 11/09/2013 10:01:09

Hees speld Arfur rong.

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

Posted by pete taylor on 11/09/2013 09:20:36:

Has anyone suggested to ebay that they might start a new catagory for 'Any old tat' ?

There's an early contender here

Do these folks seriosly think that anyone will buy this stuff?​

 

Prolurby wurth it iv yu livid lowcally anned cun spik the langwidj. The Panck Bi Plan mite bee yousible.

Edited By Martin Harris on 11/09/2013 12:35:15

[will -0]

Posted by Rob Jones 2 on 11/09/2013 03:30:24:

Posted by Chris Bott - Moderator on 07/09/2013 15:39:24:

Posted by savedbytheground on 07/09/2013 15:06:21:

What a thing of beauty ......

Never seen one before

 

How on earth does that work then SBG?

Went for £536!

Aero 35(1)

Aero 35(2)

Edited By Pete B - Moderator on 11/09/2013 16:59:16

[Erfolg]

I do find it very interesting how we perceive EBay, and potentially business in general.

I am sure it is an excellent source for Ph.D. studies, with respect to social and economic attitudes and aspect of human behaviours.

I can see that some see or believe business exist in general terms to make money, otherwise , why bother?

Others have a different perception, with complex views with respect to social benefits, with various views emerging from this view.

Many see EBay as a convenient portal to goods.

Others despise the very idea, that trading in a mobile and complex sale environment as being distasteful.

Some preferring a charity or a state owned and controlled environment

The list seems that it is never ending.

In my case I have started to dip a toe in the Ebay experience. At the moment believing that it allows me to potentially sell goods that otherwise I would be offered a pittance by a trader, and potentially finding some one who values (what ever the value) items that otherwise would be destined for the dustbin and then land fill, or being ripped of by a trader. Oh, I belong to the camp, there is no evil in making a profit, or I would not bother. Will I make a profit, hmmm, time will tell. Is tax due, I believe not, I am disposing of surplus items, not buying to sell. If tax were due, I would probably not bother. Depriving others of items useful to them, whilst adding to the waste going directly to land fill.

[Dai Fledermaus]

Posted by PatMc on 11/09/2013 12:30:44:

Posted by pete taylor on 11/09/2013 09:20:36:

Has anyone suggested to ebay that they might start a new catagory for 'Any old tat' ?

There's an early contender here

Do these folks seriosly think that anyone will buy this stuff?​

Edited By Pete B - Moderator on 11/09/2013 10:01:09

Hees speld Arfur rong.

Dear God!! If he makes any profit he should spend it on spelling lessons.

[Daithi O Buitigh]

He'sasking 70 quid for a 'buy it now' offer.

Why do I get the feeling he's one of the 'travelling people'?

Maybe it's the caravan and the field

[001]

Well hidden valves on this one. **LINK**