[Doc]

Some of you do, some of you don't know that I sell little knick-knacks on e-bay. Mostly to 'ricers'. I make custom leather shift and e-brake boots mostly for civic's, Integras, 350Z's, etc.. I've been doing this for years. I never planned to get rich doing it, it was more of a free time filler and 'gas money' hobby than anything else. The reason I started was because the products paid for themselves and left me with cash to burn for gas, or my other e-bay purchasing.

Anyway. recent changes in e-bay price structuring and paypal fees have left me looking at a 'break even' or just barely positive cash flow to continue buisness as I have been doing for over 5 years now. My price point has always been between $15-20. I figures most kids can part with $20 without too much worry. Well, sales have slowed and costs for raw materials have gone up (skins). I've sold 4 boots over the last 2 weeks (about average) and after paying shipping and e-bay/ paypal fees I have exactly $39 in my paypal account. It just doesn't seem worth my time anymore.

Roughly, it costs me $2 to list one item (generally 3 per week), $1.50 in paypal fees if one sells, and $4.05 postage to mail one domestically (my Buy it now gimmik is free shipping). Leaves me with about $12.50 per boot. Selling one or two boots a week just isn't hardly worth the hassle of listing.

I have literally made and sold thousands of these things over the years, maybe $20k or more in sales totals. It's just sad to see the sales declining now.

I guess it's time to either re-evaluate the market and perhaps move on to different vehicles or pack it in and have more free time at home.

[72FJ40LandCruiser]

Have you tried to bump up the price a couple dollars and taken away the free with buy it now shipping to see if they'll still sell?

[sk8salomon]

man, i'm almost certain you would sell tons of those on another site i'm a member of. ever made a boot for MR2's? i've got an 88 mk1 that needs a new one if you have any? might look into this site and post this same thread to see if there might be some biz for ya. www.mr2oc.com

that really sucks about ebay!

[Doc]

Originally Posted by 72FJ40LandCruiser

Have you tried to bump up the price a couple dollars and taken away the free with buy it now shipping to see if they'll still sell?

I just bumped the price 85 cents last week to help with it all, we'll see what happens.

When I first started selling the stuff 5 years ago, I tried many different pricing structures. The only time they sell with any success and regulartity is if I can keep the price under $20. However, there is some leeway here, if you can keep the SALE price below $20 the shipping doesn't seem to figure into sales drop. So, theoretically I still have some room for price hike. Not much, but some.

[sisukid1975]

I've been off of there for years.


From time to time something will pop up that I gotta get, usually some rare diesel cruiser part form australia that I'll eventually need, but other than that, I don't go there anymore.

It used to be full of great deals years and years ago. Now everyone in their dog is using it. You may as well go to the store and pay retail after all the trouble you go through with the bid snipers, the shipping, sellers that don't ship right away, etc...

Ebay has become just like going to the mall, IMHO. It used to be cheap and convenient, and great source to find rare items. But now it seems all corporate, mega sellers, buy it now only auctions (at that point, why call it an auction-- just call it a classified ad) ... To me it's just like the mall. Just a different set of hassles.



That's my view as a customer.

If I were you, I'd try to find a way to market directly -- set up a website. Give some free samples at the car shows... get your name out there yourself.

Or just find a new hobby.

[Doc]

Originally Posted by sk8salomon

ever made a boot for MR2's? !

Not yet, want to be the guinnea pig?

My problem, with most vehicles, is that I don't know enough about them. Lets say I start making Miata boots... lets pick 1996. So I make a 1996 Miata boot. How do I know if it will fit all models? I don't, unless an enthusiast tells me.

The first step, and sometimes the hardest step is getting the actual vehicle or boot in my hands to make a pattern. I don't make generalized boots, all of mine are vehicle specific. Once I have the OEM boot in my hands to make a pattern, then I have to determine what years it will fit... then I can start advertising.

[sk8salomon]

[quote=Doc;1672420]Not yet, want to be the guinnea pig?

for sure man! i'd be happy to send you my worn out boot. i'd be glad to help you out with the different models too. probably just the shift boot tho. the e-brake has a hard plastic shell...or maybe we could come up with a better looking one? Also, my plastic shifter knob used to be leather wrapped but eventually the stiches came out and i had to tear it off. i miss it!

[Doc]

The civic/Integra e-brake boot also has a cheesy rubber boot. I cover or replace the OEM boot with a new leather boot. So, we could go that route if you like.

Shifter knobs are hard to do as an aftermarket add on/replace item. You'd be better off replacing with a MOMO knob or new OEM.

Sent you a PM on details.

[tsobrado]

I am a software developer and have a question for the group. It is sounding to me as though EBay is not meeting your needs.

Question for you guys. Any ideas on what would meet your needs? What are you guys looking for? What would be the ideal set up?

I am interested in hearing what you have to say....

[Doc]

E-bay has mass exposure, and that's good for me, really the only thing about it as a small time seller that hurts me is the pricing structure for listing/final auction fees/paypal fees. Too many fees.

EG: since e-bay owns paypal, there shouldn't be a fee associated with purchasing/selling items on e-bay via paypal. It's like double dipping.

[Trunk Monkey]

I've been seeing more and more auctions that say they won't take Paypal or are using Bidpay.

On the shipping note, I've noticed a lot more sellers jacking their shipping prices through the roof. I think they're hoping to lure someone in with their cheap buy it now, maybe the buyer doesn't look at the shipping charge, and pow - you've bought a $5 cell phone charger that's going to cost $25 to ship.

Short story on just how much they make. I used to work for Marriott. We held a yearly golf tournament, all proceeds benefiting a charity for kids. Hotels from around the country would send in gift certificates for stays, we'd auction them off at the tournie. I'd put the ones that didn't sell up on Ebay afterwards. I listed 50 of them, gallery pic, no other specials features. The numbers are apprx. from memory. Total sales of all the certificates was $7k.

Listing fees - $120 (~$2.40 per + .35 for gallery)
Final sale value fee - $350
Paypal fees - $450

So, Ebay/Paypal made over $900 or about 12% profit on my sales. Pretty good.

[fj40charles]

Ebay has gotten too greedy.. Paypal fees are just too expensive. Paypal generates 25% of net income for ebay.

I won't take paypal when I sell stuff on ebay.. Why should I lose money? Yes, you could argue the point that you'll sell it at a higher price since some people use a credit card tied to ebay.

Another thing, I don't believe ebay and paypal are secure. I've gotten scammed buying something on ebay and using paypal to pay.

I hope other auctions sites such as yahoo does better.

[cruiser88]

i stopped selling this year when i realized where did my dam money go .and there responce.fees sucker ive got crap laying around right now i can sell but refuse to use ebay at this time.still buy anyway

[cruiser88]

Originally Posted by fj40charles

Ebay has gotten too greedy.. Paypal fees are just too expensive. Paypal generates 25% of net income for ebay.

I won't take paypal when I sell stuff on ebay.. Why should I lose money? Yes, you could argue the point that you'll sell it at a higher price since some people use a credit card tied to ebay.

Another thing, I don't believe ebay and paypal are secure. I've gotten scammed buying something on ebay and using paypal to pay.

I hope other auctions sites such as yahoo does better.

have you tyed livedeal.com

[tsobrado]

Do you guys think that there would be a market for an auction type website exclusively for auto enthusiasts? What additional or specialized tools would one like to see?