A Hustler's Guide To Buying And Selling Anything (Part 2)

[smartman]

I absolutely hate talking to people on the phone, and texting is sick, but when I'm buying from craigslist I have a near 100% follow through with meeting the person if we speak on the phone. When I just text, I get stood up or the item gets sold to someone else before I can get there.

 

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[SBS.95]

Well, woke up at 6 AM to go meet a guy this morning for an easy $100+ profit. On the way back after meeting.... pulled over for speeding. Fine comes out to $170. Good stuff.

Unfortunately I don't have text message. Yes, very sad lol. So I have no choice but to pick up the phone sometimes. What make this even more difficult for me is I am highly introverted. Every time I am about to pick up the phone, my heart starts racing. Then I have to remind myself in the spirit of the moment, that my heart beating fast lets me know I am still alive.

Dude you need Google Voice. It's free and allows you to text all those freaks on Craigslist with fear of them having your personal #.

 

[DeletedUser394]

I just woke up after a nap and feel even worse. I'm just going to whine here for a bit haha.

Seriously it's fking debilitating, I rarely get sick so I don't remember what it's like.

Barely enough energy to lift my head, never mind doing deals or anything.

When this is over I'm attacking the deals.

 

[samuraijack]

Dude you need Google Voice. It's free and allows you to text all those freaks on Craigslist with fear of them having your personal #.

Is there any danger to using my own personal number like I have been doing?

 

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[SBS.95]

Is there any danger to using my own personal number like I have been doing?

Not really "danger" it's just annoying.

When I had my personal cell # I would get people that just have no tact and would call me between like 11 pm to 2 am, sometimes when I was trying to sleep.

Plus you never know, there's some weird people out there. I'd rather they have my fake phone number where I can easily block them.

Also it's good for sending out offers because you can type the texts on your computer way faster than you can text on a cell phone.

 

[samuraijack]

down $18.99 today, buyer requested a return on a textbook that I didn't check carefully before selling (Lesson learned). So I just refunded the item amount and told her she could keep the book (I know how annoying it is to mail an item for return).

I bought a new battery for my laptop a month ago and when it arrived it had a crack in it, so I asked for an exchange. The company just sent a replacement and told me I didn't have to return the damaged one. Best feeling ever. Kinda funny to look at it on the other side (even though I have no replacement to send her).

Also (Lesson #2 learned), don't give up on your inventory too soon. I had two people flake on a book, and its been sitting here for two weeks. Just sold it today.

 

[Lathan]

I had 3 items listed on ebay. I listed a 4th item and one of the original 3 items disappeared. It still shows up under "selling" but it does not show up on my profile page where it says "items for sale". Why is this?

 

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[RisingStars]

Wait some time to see if it is persistend.
After you waited like 2-4 hours call the ebay support. They will know what to do.

 

[samuraijack]

Anyone ever flip any furniture? There's always moving sales, estate sales, etc...every day. Since most people are on a deadline I'm sure you could get tons of stuff for cheap. But since there is such a high supply, I'm not sure about the demand. Plus I can only fit certain sized items into my car (small coffee tables, chair, etc...)

I've heard about people working for 1-800-GOT-JUNK that make pure profit from the furniture they get to take home. Thoughts?

 

[DeletedUser394]

I found some gold today hahahahahah http://i.imgur.com/KrA9vhX.png?1

 

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[DeletedUser394]

Anyone ever flip any furniture? There's always moving sales, estate sales, etc...every day. Since most people are on a deadline I'm sure you could get tons of stuff for cheap. But since there is such a high supply, I'm not sure about the demand. Plus I can only fit certain sized items into my car (small coffee tables, chair, etc...)

I've heard about people working for 1-800-GOT-JUNK that make pure profit from the furniture they get to take home. Thoughts?

Not only can you get stuff for cheap. Many people just want that shit out of their house and you can get some good stuff for free.

Yeah, it would be more advantageous if you were able to pick up and deliver (once they pay you).

 

[edward222]

whoa, people here are talking BIG MONEY.... Give me some!

 

[DeletedUser394]

whoa, people here are talking BIG MONEY.... Give me some!

Attempt at sarcasm?

 

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[edward222]

Attempt at sarcasm?

sarcasm?... no I'm not, I was reading those messages of yours where your talking about $1.5k something, isn't that a big money for you?
sorry but that was a big money for me sir.

 

[DeletedUser394]

oh ok, what country do you live in?

You should be aiming for a lot more than that.

 

[edward222]

oh ok, what country do you live in?

You should be aiming for a lot more than that.

well I'm asian, wow, $1.5 k is not enough for you, how can I achieve that ?

 

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[DeletedUser394]

Mini rant time.

I wish more people possessed the common decency to reply after getting past the initial (is it available, when are we meeting) stage.

For example yesterday afternoon a woman contacts me wanting to buy a PS3 that I have listed. So we go back and forth, half a dozen emails, etc.

Then suddenly nothing from her. So I email her saying that I understand if she has changed her mind, to please let me know as it would affect my plans today slightly.

No response whatsoever. It would take 15 seconds out of her life to say, 'yes I've changed my mind, sorry'. But no. No response.

You know, when things like this happen, considering I have all of these people's emails I feel like signing them up to a bunch of porn sites so that it floods their inboxes lol.

Still haven't ruled it out

 

[samuraijack]

Mini rant time.

I wish more people possessed the common decency to reply after getting past the initial (is it available, when are we meeting) stage.

For example yesterday afternoon a woman contacts me wanting to buy a PS3 that I have listed. So we go back and forth, half a dozen emails, etc.

Then suddenly nothing from her. So I email her saying that I understand if she has changed her mind, to please let me know as it would affect my plans today slightly.

No response whatsoever. It would take 15 seconds out of her life to say, 'yes I've changed my mind, sorry'. But no. No response.

You know, when things like this happen, considering I have all of these people's emails I feel like signing them up to a bunch of porn sites so that it floods their inboxes lol.

Still haven't ruled it out

"First world problems"

.

Another perspective - She changed her mind and feels embarrassed/bad for leading you on and rather ignore the whole situation all together (nothing against you).

 

[samuraijack]

When pricing a potential item on ebay's "Sold Listings", how do you deal with big variations in price?

Say one sold for $110, one for $130, a few in $150-170, a few in $190-200, 1 or 2 in the $200-$250 range, 1 $300.

Let's say I'm negotiating, I'd want to know what the highest I can pay, and still make a good profit. Which price should I go with?

 

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[DeletedUser394]

"First world problems"

.

Another perspective - She changed her mind and feels embarrassed/bad for leading you on and rather ignore the whole situation all together (nothing against you).

Do you understand the purpose of a rant?

She feels embarrassed? Like I give a shit? She isn't a child, she should grow the F*ck up.

I have no sympathy for idiots.

When pricing a potential item on ebay's "Sold Listings", how do you deal with big variations in price?

Say one sold for $110, one for $130, a few in $150-170, a few in $190-200, 1 or 2 in the $200-$250 range, 1 $300.

Let's say I'm negotiating, I'd want to know what the highest I can pay, and still make a good profit. Which price should I go with?

I'm assuming your resale market is local Craigslist? Then look at what people are listing the exact same item for on your local area Craigslist.

If something sells for $300 online, but everyone in your city is charging $150, then you don't buy.

 

[SBS.95]

I found some gold today hahahahahah http://i.imgur.com/KrA9vhX.png?1

DUDE you should have bought that. CRXs are big among the stupid Fast n' Furious ricers out here. That car would sell for $2000 to some kid. Guaranteed.

 

[samuraijack]

I'm assuming your resale market is local Craigslist? Then look at what people are listing the exact same item for on your local area Craigslist.

If something sells for $300 online, but everyone in your city is charging $150, then you don't buy.

I'm thinking about buying it locally, and then selling it on eBay. Locally, there aren't many sellers, actually just 1 or 2. So I went on eBay to check it out.

I'm thinking, if I buy for $120, even if no one buys from me on craigslist, I have the option to sell on eBay and still make a profit, just wondering how to gauge selling prices when they vary.

 

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[DeletedUser394]

DUDE you should have bought that. CRXs are big among the stupid Fast n' Furious ricers out here. That car would sell for $2000 to some kid. Guaranteed.

He's not legally allowed to sell it though, as he doesn't have the title and he doesn't own it.. right?

How can he prove that it's been abandoned.. even then, can you just take possession of abandoned property. I doubt it.

 

[DeletedUser394]

I'm thinking about buying it locally, and then selling it on eBay. Locally, there aren't many sellers, actually just 1 or 2. So I went on eBay to check it out.

I'm thinking, if I buy for $120, even if no one buys from me on craigslist, I have the option to sell on eBay and still make a profit, just wondering how to gauge selling prices when they vary.

Average it out. The most recent sold listings count for a bit more, and the others less. Try to find some middle ground. See what works.

 

[InspireHD]

I kind of just want to jump in here and talk about the variation in pricing. I like to relate the idea of the "margin of safety" to investments as well as business.

If something is consistently selling for $200 then you know that you can probably buy something for $150 and still make $50 profit. You wouldn't want to buy something for $250 and hope to sell it for $300 because nobody is buying at that price.

If something is widely varying then you have to make a judgment call on where you price yours. The real effort is in trying to buy it for less so that if you buy it for $100 and you're expecting to sell for $300, but only sells for $150, you're still going to make some money. The "margin of safety" comes in when you're buying at such a cheap price that even if you don't get maximum value, you'll still make money.

I don't know what you're buying so it'll be up to you to judge where your profit margin comes in and the risk you're willing to take.

 

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[ezio6]

hello guys, sorry for my newbies question, does any of you make a good profits selling on e-bay to international buyers? because I live in Indonesia and the tax is somewhat high, any good shipping company according to you?
And many of my friends who buys in e-bay from united stated, they told the seller to declare it as a gift so the tax can be minimized. mostly send through dhl and ems. because I do not fully understand how tax works in my country yet . thanks

 

[edward222]

hello guys, sorry for my newbies question, does any of you make a good profits selling on e-bay to international buyers? because I live in Indonesia and the tax is somewhat high, any good shipping company according to you?
And many of my friends who buys in e-bay from united stated, they told the seller to declare it as a gift so the tax can be minimized. mostly send through dhl and ems. because I do not fully understand how tax works in my country yet . thanks

Hi there ezio, you can try offshore company services. I knew someone who have the same problem as you before and tried this service, his business is now working well.

 

[DeletedUser394]

This thread's view count is about to surpass the total amount of money I've generated since starting it lol.

Let's go!

 

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[samuraijack]

$30 Printer bought 3 weeks ago, just sold for $129.97 on Amazon.
$80 Mixer bought 3 days ago, getting offers for $150 on eBay.



Packing and shipping these heavy items is like a part-time job for sure though.

 

[TheNextTrump]

Say one sold for $110, one for $130, a few in $150-170, a few in $190-200, 1 or 2 in the $200-$250 range, 1 $300.

All about the condition, and what (exactly) you are buying

For example, a random used video game can range from $15-$60. Depending on condition, and what it comes with.

If it's just a copy of the game, with some wear an tear, you'd bring $15-$25

Used copy, but in good condition/mint, could bring $25-$40

Used copy, with manual and case could bring $60. ETC.

When pricing items with ebay (sold listings) ALL of the small details matter.



Go through and read over each listing to see what is adding the value, and then you will know what to offer when you see the product in person.