As you know, we shut the shop down. Well, this meant bringing home YEARS of collected parts, small **** from brackets and all the **** most rods use as basics, to big stuff (bodies, motors and such). So, my house looks like 20 pounds of **** stuffed into a 5 pound bag. My question is: where do you guys sell your stuff online and have had good results? I'm trying to clear out stuff to have ROOM, so a lot of stuff I'm just selling cheap to make room, but obviously "collectable" stuff I have no interest in just "giving away". I have tried a few and here are my views, just looking for more input. HAMB: Good place to sell, mostly because of no cost and it is geared towards the right people. It is a GREAT place to lose "cost efective" stuff (ie, CHEAP), plus it goes to guys who can use it. The only issues I have selling stuff here is higher end stuff mostly has a bunch of "lookie loos" that want a ton of pics/info, and never contact you after. Plus, I'm trying to actually sell (leaving my hands is the idea) so I have room, but some guys pay very slow, or not at all. I actually have about 20% that call dibs and never pay. I send one reminder after 2-3 weeks, but I'm not losing sleep over a $10 part. Craigslist: what a joke. Also free and great to lose cheaper stuff, but dayumn, I bet 75%+ write/call and never show up. I even had some FREE stuff I just wanted gone, figured I would rather give it away to someone that can use it then have a part become landfill that will never be made again. Ebay: I used to sell a LOT on there, not so much anymore. The fees are rediculus (as is my spelling, I know). I have found on parts we make, you have to drop your prices so low to sell any you barely make any money, plus you still have to list a few times. One reason I list more stuff on HAMB is I would rather let you guys save the money I would normally spend on Ebays comissions. If you think thats ****, look at my plans we sell. Now, the point of this post is NOT *****ing, AT ALL. I'm just trying to clear shelves so I can actually work. I could post pics of how bad it is and EVERYONES reply would be "damn thats a lot of ****". To give you an idea, my shop at home is about 1500 feet, At one time not only was my home shop full of parts and tools, but I had a fairly full 5700 foot shop in addition to my home shop. Now, take an already full home shop and add the **** from a 5700 foot comercial shop, and you see my delima.Any ideas guys?
Make a list with pics..I know alot of work but you would be sure to get rid of 60-70 percent of the stuff on the Hamb. Another good choice would be to hit some of the big swap meets in your area. that too is a pain moving everything to another location and not selling having to bring it back home.
I think you are going to get lookey-loos anywhere you sell. its the nature of the game. But I'll bet there are a lot less H.A.M.B er lookey-loos than anywhere else. Just my thought. I'd start here first.
Here is what I would do. If you have a ton of stuff, let it be known and be right up front you are going to be a **** about it. I'm cool with that. First, if you are wanting a quick dispersal, I would list here first. Be a **** and list that if you haven't been paid within a week that the part goes back up for sale with his name listed in the ad. The more expensive rarer stuff is cost effective on eBay. The fee's are far lower than an auction anywhere else. An auction in your backyard is going to cost you 20% minimum and you reach 2% of the people eBay will. On Craigslist I would only list a general ad "Vintage parts business out of business, tons of parts, if interested in seeing call 999-9999".
Just an idea for ya.... If you're not interested in getting every single penny out of the stuff, maybe you should consider 1 really big auction? Ya know, sell it all in 1 large group or a few large groups and that will make it simpler for you??? Matt
I'm not a Big fan of BUYING stuff on fle-bay...BUT I SELL a ton of remote control helicopter stuff on e-bay...(I dont do car stuff on the bay, I havent figured that game out nor do I intend too, I know my market and keep the cars out of the "business" status, thats just me though) That said I have had extemely good luck listing my stuff on flea-bay for .99 cents opening bid, no reserve with one picture....two pics if its a larger item that warrents detail, listed as I have described will cost you 20 cents, then you gotta pick up your closing fees ena PP fees BUT the average cost of the stuff I sell is $40ish bucks, that works out to be about $3...that and I work a $2 into the shipping to semi offset the fees (though I mail it the way I say I'm going to mail it priority etc) thataway I'm only in it for the fees for a buckish... the down side, its a PIA with the listing, and shipping.... the upside, they are bound by prompt payment, I can clear stuff out fast. the other down side, some stuff that I think will sell well doesnt, the resultant upside, some stuff I dont think will sell well does....it evens out. Heck occasionally something sells so well it make me step back and say....damn, I wish I had more of those. your situation, I'd say, write your rules and a list, stick too em and clear out some ****. And ummmm send me a list, I gotta father-in-law that lives not too far from ya that can make a haul out to florida for me he owes me a car anyway....
And sometimes our PMs never get an answer. Some of us PM in good faith and sellers don't have the courtesy say sold, buzz off or adjust the ad to let us know its gone.
You could rent a storage unit. Make an inventory of each item by manufacturer part number and other information like year model of the vehicle, and any other useful information. Be sure to take pictures of everything also. What you're doing is building a data base. You could list the stuff where ever you want, print out the shipper tag on your computer, go to the storage unit, pack it up for the shipper and your done. That will free up your living room, kitchen, bathroom immediately and your wife will talk to you again. You could rent a decent storage unit for less than $200 a month and if you play your cards right, you won't have it more than a couple months. Good luck! Oh yeah, do you have any 39 Ford or 50 Poncho taillights that have the removable lens so I can change the bulb? I bought a set at a show and didn't pay attention. I can't get to the bulb. Damn Chinese junk! Nothing like the originals. Anyway, let me know, thanks.
Join with someone else that has car parts they want to sell and share the expense and SELL it auction style....find auctioneers that know car stuff and parts and do a little marketing and you'll unload lots of stuff.
if it's all paid for, sell the complete lot. No lookie- loos, no cherry pickers. Leave enough in it so the next guy can afford to sit on it awhile and still make a profit. If you're looking at getting top dollar for about 2/3 thirds of your stuff, this isn't the way to go, but if you're reasonable, it'll move and you'll get your space back. Let someone else deal with the onezee-twozees.
post the stuff here with a list of what you have. Do you accept paypal? I like many others of us are looking for a lot of parts
My 2 cents .... eBay is good if you do your research and know what the item will bring. If you are happy with what it is bringin' start items at $9.99 or less and let it rock to avoid hi starting fees. HAMB, great & cheap place to sell. I have meet alot of great people buyin' and sellin' on here. There are a few bad appels as with anything. I don't think anyone does it (flakes) in mean-spirits but it is frustrating either way. You can weed alot of them (flakes) out by only accepting PayPal as payment. There is no reason to wait more than a day or 2 that way. No "payment is on the way" blah blah blah BS of checks and money orders. If you have already done biz with them before or they have a good track record maybe take snail-mail payment but otherwise PP only. If you do go the HAMB route I suggest small lists otherwise it gets out of hand quick with multipule PMs for the same item(s). Then you have a bunch of extra work PMin' people just to tell them it is sold so on and so forth. OR a good idea maybe avoid the head ache and find someone local that is willing to buy in bulk to make a buck. Cheers KK
as for selling stuff here, why mark it sold if they called bids or even don't pay. Money in hand makes for a sold part. If you have a line of people for one item, the first to pay gets it, then you can settle the shipping when you figure out what item they bought. A little more work but at least you got your money.
It was more of a general thing. But I did PM you once about a 3in1 lathe in the winter sometime and never heard from you. Idle thought, is this why guys are always putting "PM sent" in the ads?
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