Best way to exit eBay

[km181177]

I'm just tired of trying to sell on eBay and want to quit.   The problem is I have a lot of money tied up in inventory.  How foolish do you think it would be to just list everything at auction for 99 cents and just take what I can get?  Or do you think just keep using the 50 listings a month and drag it on forever in the hopes things eventually sell?  I don't know.  Just don't want to bother anymore.  Could I right off a loss on taxes?

[jason_incognito]

how much inventory are you talking?

[kaelykat]

Having just looked at your listings, I think you'd take a heck of a loss if you just put them all up for .99 and hoped for the best.

[kathieskorner]

Considering what you are selling and the price points I wouldn't go the 99 cent route.  You've already done most of the work by creating the listings.   I'd list 50 items per month - reducing the price 5-10% each time until most of the items sold.  Use a 3-4 day handling time so you don't have to rush to the post office when you make a sale.    For the jewelry you can sell 2 or more items in lots at auction, but I wouldn't start them at 99 cents.  

If you have a good consignment store nearby - that is also an option.   Before listing anything at 99 cents on ebay, I'd donate it to a worthwhile charity thrift store.

[pburn]

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@km181177 wrote:

I'm just tired of trying to sell on eBay and want to quit.   The problem is I have a lot of money tied up in inventory.  How foolish do you think it would be to just list everything at auction for 99 cents and just take what I can get?  Or do you think just keep using the 50 listings a month and drag it on forever in the hopes things eventually sell?  I don't know.  Just don't want to bother anymore.  Could I right off a loss on taxes?

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You are the best person to decide how to liquidate your inventory and close your business. Your tax obligations should be addressed by a profession rather than a member posting on a discussion board. 

Here is a link to a page you'll find most valuable as you move toward closing your business:

Closing your account

[rixstuff]

You might put all of one kind of item in a lot (say all of your dishes, all of your mens clothes, all of your electronics) then list the different lots starting at a reasonable $100 or so.  One person may want the dishes, another the mens clothes, another the electronics for resale or use.  Just note AS IS, WHOLE LOT - NO CHERRY PICKING.  (You would be shocked at how many buyers I have had who bought lots only to want to pick out one or two then send everything else back for a refund - uh NO.) Take photoes of what is in the lot, list what is in the lot wiht a general description (5 shirts - 3 ralph lauren, 2 holister, etc.)

[km181177 · Accepted solution]

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@kathieskorner wrote:

Considering what you are selling and the price points I wouldn't go the 99 cent route.  You've already done most of the work by creating the listings.   I'd list 50 items per month - reducing the price 5-10% each time until most of the items sold.  Use a 3-4 day handling time so you don't have to rush to the post office when you make a sale.    For the jewelry you can sell 2 or more items in lots at auction, but I wouldn't start them at 99 cents.  

If you have a good consignment store nearby - that is also an option.   Before listing anything at 99 cents on ebay, I'd donate it to a worthwhile charity thrift store.

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Thank you, I found that advice very helpful.  I appreciate the time you took to answer and offer great suggestions. 

[craftysandy1961]

I downsized my ebay listings a few years ago due to family obligations and then have started up again....when I liquidated my inventory I did several things. First, I listed things at auction at the rock bottom starting price I would take (but not 99 cents). Some went higher, but most did not, but I sold quite a few. But then I also took my items and grouped them in lots, as suggested above. This worked quite well for me. I also listed groups of items on craigslist and local garage sale facebook groups. That is actually how I sold a lot of my stuff. For example, I listed two very large boxes of stampin up stamp sets on craigslist for a reasonable price (But with a little bargaining room), expecting someone local. I ended up mailing the boxes to someone in a very rural area who was delighted to get such a deal. I would not have listed them that way on ebay because of the shipping costs, which she paid without any question. Dealing with local people has its own challenges, but I deal with very low scam items, so no real problems have ever arisen except people not showing up when they say they will. And you can go a little bit lower since CL and FB have no fees.

[keziak]

I have a similar CL story. I got several boxes of Korean romance novels from a commission and they went nowhere on ebay. I created two lots of them  and listed on one CL for a decent amount and it was snapped up. Listed the other, same situation. Basically some Korean folks came from quite a distance away, thrilled to get the books. Everyone was happy. 

[lightwing_studios]

The Best Way To Exit ebay is on Horseback and preferably in The Buff...show some pinache. 🙂

[*coins]

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@pburn wrote:

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@km181177 wrote:

I'm just tired of trying to sell on eBay and want to quit.   The problem is I have a lot of money tied up in inventory.  How foolish do you think it would be to just list everything at auction for 99 cents and just take what I can get?  Or do you think just keep using the 50 listings a month and drag it on forever in the hopes things eventually sell?  I don't know.  Just don't want to bother anymore.  Could I right off a loss on taxes?

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You are the best person to decide how to liquidate your inventory and close your business. Your tax obligations should be addressed by a profession rather than a member posting on a discussion board. 

Here is a link to a page you'll find most valuable as you move toward closing your business:

Closing your account

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That would be a bad idea for the OP. They don't have to close their account to stop selling.

They would no longer be able to buy either if they did that.

[turquoisetulips]

The Best Way To Exit ebay is on Horseback and preferably in The Buff...show some pinache. lightwing -studios - unquote  ---------------

I will be offering some Lady Godiva  memory lockets on my site  this summer when the weather gets warmer , if you're interested  🙂   tulips

[turquoisetulips]

I wasn't serious  but now that I think of it  humm 

[bradandamber]

Find a local auction house. You would be surprised how much you can clear there. We do that once a week with things we dont sell on ebay. Mostlt bulkier items to expensive to ship. Dont have to ship they take home and all we brought is gone..

[forestthrutrees]

Just a suggestion. But most of this stuff can be sited on PoshMark. I sell there now with a few listings here. Works for me. Good luck

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@km181177 wrote:

I'm just tired of trying to sell on eBay and want to quit.   The problem is I have a lot of money tied up in inventory.  How foolish do you think it would be to just list everything at auction for 99 cents and just take what I can get?  Or do you think just keep using the 50 listings a month and drag it on forever in the hopes things eventually sell?  I don't know.  Just don't want to bother anymore.  Could I right off a loss on taxes?

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