Help with selling

[scarrman]

I have a decent collection, but way too many cards and looking at possibly/finally selling some. Never sold cards before, very familiar with buying and giving my money away - not familiar with selling and getting money back!

So, listings will include some low value stuff to start, some oddball inserts, some YG lots (thinking lots of 5, various years), even some of the kids' Pokemon cards - looked some up and the values are decent.

Questions:

Packaging, think I have this covered as I know how I want to receive cards so will package accordingly, no white envelopes, proper tape, sealed holders, etc.
Shipping, hoping most will ship within Canada, but likely some to go State side, will indicate ship to as Canada/USA only. But pricing for shipping in both countries?
Insurance, what is a good cutoff in sale value where a tracked package fee would kick in - just for my own protection.
The ad, think I'll be ok here, proper card description - year/series/number/card info/ condition. Good pics front/back.

So the above questions, and anything else someone wants to throw my way. Planning on starting small, 5 or 10 listings, and see how it goes.

Thanks, Toby.

[odjickfan]

If I understand correctly, you want to start listing on eBay? I listed a few items on eBay over the years, but not much. At some point, it becomes a business and you have to charges taxes and declare the income.

[30ranfordfan]

Toby,

Not sure if you mean here, eBay, or elsewhere.... my advice changes a little bit.

If I'm dealing on eBay, I typically chard $3 for shipping within Canada... unless the card is over $50, then I charge $12. If I'm mailing to the USA, I charge $5 & $20 instead.

Where I'm getting that from: It's $1.94 to send an oversized letter (bubble mailer) in Canada. The other $1.06 is the cost of the mailer, top loader, etc. Charging $12 on the $50 cards gets a tracking number. That actually costs me about $12.50... so I'm typically out about $1.50 on shipping costs on expensive cards, but I'm okay with that.

Going to USA, the price of postage is a little bit higher... thus my charges are too.


If I were selling on SCF, my threshold for "needs tracking" is higher. I'd be okay sending a $50 card through the regular mail... anything I'd post here for $75 & up: The asking price would include tracked shipping. Instead of me asking for $90 + $12.... I'd just ask for $100. That sort of thing (but make it clear that my price includes that delivery method).

If you want to sell stuff overseas, I've had nothing but good experiences doing that - but tracking is very costly. That same $3 charge in Canada (for a regular delivery of a bubble mailer) would cost more like $8 to Sweden.... but to get tracking, it's $60+ - and often not worth it, IMO.

[scarrman]

Thanks to both. eBay is where I would be selling, but didn't even consider selling on SCF. Was looking at the shipping cost/insurance guidelines mainly. Appreciate the feedback.

I'll throw up a handful of listings to see what happens.

Thanks!

[volkov956]

dont get discouraged if low feedback people sometimes with even 0 try and low ball you if you enable offers on ebay

[scarrman]

Good point. I don't think I'll put up pay Best Offer listings, just start at the good ol' .99 and let 'er rip. I have 100% feedback as a buyer, 0 as a seller. But starting low $ shouldn't matter.

[ac4760]

Some good advice above so I won't add to it as I'm in the states and you're in Canada so shipping and things are a bit different ( don't beat me up saying they're not. They are to me). My two cents is that I was just like you a few months ago. Tons of feedback as a buyer and only 1 as a seller. I just looked at completed sales of cards I had doubles or was willing to part with. I saw some big numbers for cards I had picked up for less than half of the sale price so I jumped in and made some good money. Just to say if the cards you are selling, "are selling", then you should do okay. I started most at $0.99 and they did very well.