Selling Motorcycle parts on eBay

[NC Steve]

I'm beginning to think I must be taking the wrong approach to selling on Ebay.

Lately, I've been getting rid of a few older BMW Airhead parts, and I just don't get it.
I'm including thorough but not overblown useful info on the parts, their condition, honestly how things fit various models, good pics, etc, and pricing my stuff for much less than other sellers.

Meanwhile, the other guys are giving the buyer a crusty pic or two, telling potentials "check with dealer for correct fit", (yeah, on a 35 year old model), starting "good shape", and pricing the same parts in lesser condition than mine, at 35-40% higher, and they're selling their sh*t.

WTF? Maybe I should raise my prices by nearly half, and tell buyers not a damn thing other than how to send me $$$.

[NCAmother]

I'm beginning to think I must be taking the wrong approach to selling on Ebay.

Lately, I've been getting rid of a few older BMW Airhead parts, and I just don't get it.
I'm including thorough but not overblown useful info on the parts, their condition, honestly how things fit various models, good pics, etc, and pricing my stuff for much less than other sellers.

Meanwhile, the other guys are giving the buyer a crusty pic or two, telling potentials "check with dealer for correct fit", (yeah, on a 35 year old model), starting "good shape", and pricing the same parts in lesser condition than mine, at 35-40% higher, and they're selling their sh*t.

WTF? Maybe I should raise my prices by nearly half, and tell buyers not a damn thing other than how to send me $$$.

Do you have good feedback?  If I see the same item from two different sellers, I generally go with the guy that has 1,000 positive reviews

[NC Steve]

Absolutely.
100%, high numbers, going back for years.

[NCAmother]

Absolutely.
100%, high numbers, going back for years.

Hmmmm, I don't know.  It might be a fun experiment to raise your prices, maybe people think used expensive parts are better because they cost more?

[BigDave in PA]

I'm beginning to think I must be taking the wrong approach to selling on Ebay.

Lately, I've been getting rid of a few older BMW Airhead parts, and I just don't get it.
I'm including thorough but not overblown useful info on the parts, their condition, honestly how things fit various models, good pics, etc, and pricing my stuff for much less than other sellers.

Meanwhile, the other guys are giving the buyer a crusty pic or two, telling potentials "check with dealer for correct fit", (yeah, on a 35 year old model), starting "good shape", and pricing the same parts in lesser condition than mine, at 35-40% higher, and they're selling their sh*t.

WTF? Maybe I should raise my prices by nearly half, and tell buyers not a damn thing other than how to send me $$$.

Do you ship world wide or just the lower 48 states? When I started selling world wide I got a lot more for my stuff. A lot of my Guzzi parts went to Italy and Germany. It seems that people in some of these counties have more money to spend so even if a U.S. buyer wanted it he had to bid higher to get it. If you're only shipping domestic you're cutting yourself short.

[canuck750]

Opening up the market International will really help sell your items. I have been a Ebay user for a long time and when I sell its typically Europe ad Australian buyers.

Cheers
Jim

[pete mcgee]

Which airhead?
Which bits?
I'm in the middle of resurrecting a 1977 R100 RS that hasn't run since 1993.

[Perazzimx14]

You need to take pictures of your parts next to an old worn out coin and charge 10x  or more what you could buy it new ;D

[menzies]

I have learned you can price too cheap, you can always start higher and then lower the price, hard to raise the price, good luck.

[Crusty]

I put my Norge up for sale a couple of months ago. I put an absolute bargain price on it, and nobody was interested; or if they were interested, they wouldn't even come look at it. It finally sold to a guy who got a jewel of a deal (he paid less than half of the Blue Book value). I had several people telling me that I needed to raise the price. Maybe I should have; I probably would have sold it a lot quicker. Sometimes people are afraid of a bargain; they think if it's selling so cheap it must have something wrong with it.

[rocker59]

I'm beginning to think I must be taking the wrong approach to selling on Ebay.

Lately, I've been getting rid of a few older BMW Airhead parts, and I just don't get it.
I'm including thorough but not overblown useful info on the parts, their condition, honestly how things fit various models, good pics, etc, and pricing my stuff for much less than other sellers.

Meanwhile, the other guys are giving the buyer a crusty pic or two, telling potentials "check with dealer for correct fit", (yeah, on a 35 year old model), starting "good shape", and pricing the same parts in lesser condition than mine, at 35-40% higher, and they're selling their sh*t.

WTF? Maybe I should raise my prices by nearly half, and tell buyers not a damn thing other than how to send me $$$.

I think you'll be better off with shorter descriptions.  Say as little as you can and still say what the product is.

You don't want to talk someone out of your product with a lengthy, detailed description.  Or, put them to sleep.

[rodekyll]

I advertised a free recliner and couldn't sell it.  No interest at all.
I advertised the same recliner for $50 and couldn't stop the phone from ringing.  First looker bought it.

When I sell on ebay I look at completed auctions for similar things and decide on my pricing based on what people are actually bidding, and what makes a winning bid for an item in a given condition.  I did that after losing my a$$ on a Nikon F4 sale -- no opening bid amount and no reserve.  Thinking back on it, I should have been able to see the disaster coming.

[NC Steve]

I think you'll be better off with shorter descriptions.  Say as little as you can and still say what the product is.

You don't want to talk someone out of your product with a lengthy, detailed description.  Or, put them to sleep.

Yeah Mike, I know what you mean, but I try to at least give correct information so a buyer knows what he's getting. And worse than the sellers who tell a buyer nothing, are the ones that flat out misrepresent their goods. "Fits R50, R60, R65, R75...," blah blah. No it doesn't, and most of these sellers know it. I hate to see a guy buy a part that doesn't fit, based on inadequate or flat out incorrect info, then have to go thru the hassle, wait time, and return shipping expense to get what he needs.

[rocker59]

Yeah Mike, I know what you mean, but I try to at least give correct information so a buyer knows what he's getting. And worse than the sellers who tell a buyer nothing, are the ones that flat out misrepresent their goods. "Fits R50, R60, R65, R75...," blah blah. No it doesn't, and most of these sellers know it. I hate to see a guy buy a part that doesn't fit, based on inadequate or flat out incorrect info, then have to go thru the hassle, wait time, and return shipping expense to get what he needs.

FWIW, I have a bad habit of posting lengthy descriptions in my Ebay auctions.   :-[

[NC Steve]

I think you guys are right about the shipping, and I have indeed been specifying I'll ship to the lower 48 only, mostly because I don't know how to ship otherwise, or what the shipping costs might be. In these parts I can usually about guess shipping prices, or stop by UPS, USPS, or Fedex and compare. Sounds like I need to do a little research on opening new markets for my goods.

And the prices too; I'd hate to think it so, but I really have seen identical parts to mine, in worse condition, sell for higher prices. My thinking had been that most of these parts were things I've had for 10 years or more, don't need, will never use, so why not put it out there cheap for the guy that could use it. It looks like I either need to raise my prices a bit so it won't appear my parts might be inferior, or list things as auctions and sell to the highest bidder. I've seem a few thing go for crazy money when the bidding get going.

[rodekyll]

The post office delivers to all 50 states.  Priority mail flat-rate packages cost the same for all 50 states.  The post office DOES pick up and deliver packages.  Please consider it as an option that will let you sell to all of us.

Thanks

[Lannis]

It looks like I either need to raise my prices a bit so it won't appear my parts might be inferior, or list things as auctions and sell to the highest bidder. I've seem a few thing go for crazy money when the bidding get going.

I don't associate the phrase "need to raise my prices" with "eBay".

For me, eBay is an auction site.   I don't have "my prices".   When I have parts to sell, I want them to SELL, not still be in my shop and I don't have the money.   

And I can't establish a price and be sure that it will sell.   Only an international market can establish a price at which it will sell.

I just sold a batch of parts from an Opel GT I once owned.   I opened it up to 'international' bidding, and a guy from Russia bought half of them and paid immediately.   (Once he saw the price of shipping to St. Petersburg, he had me ship them to a re-shipper in California!)

I started all the auctions at $.99 and no reserve, and I included the shipping cost (using zip 90210 as the bogie).   If you have something worth selling, people will buy it.

Lannis

[NC Steve]

The post office delivers to all 50 states.  Priority mail flat-rate packages cost the same for all 50 states.  The post office DOES pick up and deliver packages.  Please consider it as an option that will let you sell to all of us.

Thanks

See, in my ignorance, I did not know that.
I try to use the USPS flat rate boxes as often as possible too, they're a fantastic way to ship if your stuff fits inside.

Thanks for the great info

[NC Steve]

Lannis, I agree 99% of the time with listing items on Ebay as an auction.
I like to bid, and see what other will do as well.

I've bought quite a bit on Ebay over the years, but rarely list anything for sale.
However, with smaller items that I'm pretty sure of the value, I'd just as soon list them as a 'Buy It Now", to move them fast.

Theoretically at least, but my theory clearly hasn't been working too well so far... :P

[jabberwocky]

What's your ebay name? I was selling lots of BMW and Guzzi stuff for awhile, and lost interest for the same complaints you've listed. I suspect that some folks are up to some kind of trickery that I'm not wise to, getting higher prices. I had a few things sell for prices I was very unhappy with, and got out of the game. I like selling on here and on ADV.

[Lannis]

Lannis, I agree 99% of the time with listing items on Ebay as an auction.
I like to bid, and see what other will do as well.

I've bought quite a bit on Ebay over the years, but rarely list anything for sale.
However, with smaller items that I'm pretty sure of the value, I'd just as soon list them as a 'Buy It Now", to move them fast.

Theoretically at least, but my theory clearly hasn't been working too well so far... :P

Yep!   But it's that rascally "pretty sure of the value" thing that will get you.   Nothing like the international market for dispelling any incorrect notions you might have about value!

Good luck ... !

Lannis

[NC Steve]

What's your ebay name? I was selling lots of BMW and Guzzi stuff for awhile, and lost interest for the same complaints you've listed. I suspect that some folks are up to some kind of trickery that I'm not wise to, getting higher prices. I had a few things sell for prices I was very unhappy with, and got out of the game. I like selling on here and on ADV.

I'm on Ebay as scl2371. Examples: I had listed a very hard to find vintage /6 gas tank cover for $90 free shipping, and nary a nibble. Meanwhile, the next guy has the very same item at $115, and a dozen people watching. R65 left side covers, they love to jump off a moving bike and immediately vanish. Usually sell $50 plus s&h, I see them sell, and I'm trying to give mine away at $40, free shipping. There are other examples too. I did sell a nice Reynolds luggage rack and backrest to a friend, and some BMW crash bars thru an R65 site. I have a few more things put away for now, I think I'll try them on Internet BMW Riders and see what happens there.

[rodekyll]

I don't pay much attention to 'watchers' numbers.  I suspect a lot of watchers are shills rather than snipers -- I've seen obscure items up for less than an hour with double-digit 'watchers'.  It's against ebay rules to bid on your own auction or to bid on someone else's and not follow through, but you and your buddies can still influence an auction with inflated watcher stats for no penalties. 

[Perazzimx14]

I advertised a free recliner and couldn't sell it.  No interest at all.
I advertised the same recliner for $50 and couldn't stop the phone from ringing.  First looker bought it.

When I sell on ebay I look at completed auctions for similar things and decide on my pricing based on what people are actually bidding, and what makes a winning bid for an item in a given condition.  I did that after losing my a$$ on a Nikon F4 sale -- no opening bid amount and no reserve.  Thinking back on it, I should have been able to see the disaster coming.

Well after having my V7R listed for $7,999 for the last 5 day and no action, I have raised the asking price an additional $750.01. Now prospective buyers  can talk me down to $7,999.00 and e able to tell all their buddies about their negotiating prowess.

In the past I have tried to give stuff away most notably a avocado green dishwasher that was in excellent condition. Put it in the paper for free and would get calls with people telling me they really wanted a white dishwasher or asking if I could deliver. I ended up throwing it away at bulk trash day and now never list anything for free. Mostly just throw it away so I don't have to deal with people.

[Cam3512]

I don't sell much on ebay, but when I do listing the "shipping" cost always confuses the hell out of me.  Flat Rate is easy, but with any other method I usually get beat.  Ebay won't let you complete the listing without something regarding shipping.  I've even asked in the item description for winning bidders to contact me first for EXACT shipping cost.  My mistake is assuming people can read.  Easiest way to list shipping costs?

[Lannis]

I don't sell much on ebay, but when I do listing the "shipping" cost always confuses the hell out of me.  Flat Rate is easy, but with any other method I usually get beat.  Ebay won't let you complete the listing without something regarding shipping.  I've even asked in the item description for winning bidders to contact me first for EXACT shipping cost.  My mistake is assuming people can read.  Easiest way to list shipping costs?

I take the loaded box down to the post office before the auction and get a price for shipping locally, and shipping to California.    I list the shipping price as the California price but indicate in the text that shipping will be "actual cost, and will not exceed X".

People appreciate being charged actual cost, and not use shipping as a "profit center".   I especially hate it when retailers do that.   Yes, I know that boxes and bubble wrap and your time cost money.   But that's why they call it RETAIL!    What's next, you're going to include my share of your electric bill and rent for the time you were boxing it up?

Lannis

[Abbienormal]

As for overseas shipping I try to use the USPS flat rate boxes. In the auction I check international shipping calculated and what box I am using. If it fits in those boxes this is so much simpler. I have seen stupid shipping rates and very reasonable rates but the buyer gets to decide if they want to pay it when they bid.
International shipping does seem to run the price up. I could hardly give away my 2007 Norge till a guy in NZ bought it for a steal. He flew over, rode it around the US for a month then shipped it home. It wouldn't fit in a flat rate box.  ;D

Rudy

[NC Steve]

I take the loaded box down to the post office before the auction and get a price for shipping locally, and shipping to California.    I list the shipping price as the California price but indicate in the text that shipping will be "actual cost, and will not exceed X".

People appreciate being charged actual cost, and not use shipping as a "profit center".   I especially hate it when retailers do that.   Yes, I know that boxes and bubble wrap and your time cost money.   But that's why they call it RETAIL!    What's next, you're going to include my share of your electric bill and rent for the time you were boxing it up?

Lannis

Listing actual shipping costs is fine for using USPS bulk rate packaging, but the problem with using actual otherwise is that you can't get paid by the buyer until that figure is calculated into the total price. I kinda like to get paid at the sale or auction's end, so there's no question of price, or worries of the buyer having a change of heart. That can especially be a problem if a box is already packed and there is a rate quoted, and the buyer backs out.  But again, USPS bulk rate is definitely the way to go if at all possible. I recently shipped about 100 motorcycle magazines to my nephew in California, that weight adds up quick, but they fit into the bulk rate $12.65 boxes just fine. I hate to think what it would have cost to do the same with UPS or Fedex!  :o

[father guzzi obrian]

In the past, I bought and sold older guzzi stuff, my ebay name was oldguzzi.  When I was doing this regularly, I would buy stuff that was poorly advertised, clean it up, take better pics and make pretty good money  on it besides selling my own bits.  I usually started with a $1 auction, and if I was serious about what I wanted, I would put in a reserve. It worked for me quite well