Returning to selling

[shaden809]

I am thinking of returning to selling.  I have a lot of fabric to sell and I want to know if it would be worth it to start up my business again?  Any suggestions would be helpful.  Should I list my fabrics auction style or buy it now?

[bonjourami]

My thought is always if the fabric is unique and unusual, auction style, hoping for a bidding war. Otherwise, fixed price with ipr.

[Anonymous]

Buy it Now

[soh.maryl]

Don't know how long it's been since you last sold on eBay, but would like to suggest that you read over all the information about selling here because you don't want any changes to catch you by surprise.  First question I'd have to ask:  are you signed up with Managed Payments? 

[stainlessenginecovers]

You can fairly easily see if it's worth your time by figuring the following:

1.) What will it sell for

2.) Do others charge shipping or offer free shipping

3.) What will all costs be and what will my profit be (subtract shipping, fees, taxes)

To determine #1 above, just do a search for 'fabrics' and click 'sold' off to the left and see what others are doing (Are they doing Buy it Now or Auction;  are they free shipping?) 

Only you can then determine if it's worth while. 

[monroe67]

"I have a lot of fabric to sell . . . ."

That's a very broad statement.   Do you have cottons, wools, silks, polyester, acetate, nylon ??   Heavy duty for tents or vehicle/boat covers?  Brocade for dresses?  Cotton knits for baby clothes?  

My selling ID was pleasantly surprised about two years ago when two woven wools from a Jonathan Logan fabrics warehouse sold on eBay.  They were originally purchased 50 years earlier -- plaids for men's shirts or women's suits.   Each piece was at least 60" wide and about 2.5 yards long.   I checked carefully for moth damage before I listed them and the buyer didn't return them, so I guess the sale worked out OK.  

On the other hand, I have what I think is a lovely four-yard piece of cotton flannelette, 44" wide, that I cannot give away on eBay, and I have tried off and on for at least four years.   It's white with a red rose print.  I think I might just have to break down and make myself a pair of pajamas with it.  

On the main eBay page, find the word "advanced" in small print, to the right of the field where you would search for anything you might want to buy.  On the Advanced Search screen type in a description of your fabric, and choose either "Ended Listings" or "Sold Listings" to see what other sellers are asking and receiving.  

Hoping for the best for you!

[caldreamer]

EBAY no longer uses PayPal for their money management.   All SELLERS are required to enroll in the new MANAGED PAYMENTS.   You must provide you checking account (routing# only) and social security# (for tax purposes).   Name on your checking account, social security card and EBAY profile must be EXACT MATCH (or your application may be denied).

As far as selling your fabric...bidding only makes sense if you have "unique items that everyone is searching for".   Usually better to put "buy it now" (that way customer must pay immediately).   Bidders often "change their mind" and never pay.

[kathieskorner]

I've been selling fabric on my crafts account for the past five years.  It sold really well during the pandemic, but sales have slowed this year.   It also usually sells better during the winter months unless it is holiday themed.  Unless the fabric is vintage or very unusual - fixed price is the way to go.   Keep in mind that shipping prices have increased significantly,  and some shippers including the post office add a surcharge Oct-Dec. 

[bonjourami]

just a question..is Ebay still adding bo's to bin listings? I havent sold for awhile and Idk.thanks.If so, I would be leery of bin listings..I dont think you can add ipr to bo's can you?

[shaden809]

Thank you for your reply to my question.  I would never give any company all of that personel information, especially not knowing who could access it.  You have just made up my mind to NOT sell on Ebay.  

[onefootflipper]

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@shaden809 wrote:

Thank you for your reply to my question.  I would never give any company all of that personel information, especially not knowing who could access it.  You have just made up my mind to NOT sell on Ebay.  

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Any platform you sell on now will require the same thing. Changes in US laws on reporting online sales require it.  All of that information is already in a huge number of databases, most far less secure than ebays.

[jewelbiz]

"I too have a lot of fabric to sell . . . ."

I have Antique tablecloths, matching napkins & assorted material & fabric up in bins on the top shelf of the closet folded away for 5 decades or more.  

In fact maybe it’s all ruined by now as I think the folds in the fabric are permanent.

I never attempted to sell any of it because I have no idea if the fabric is linen, cotton, some velvet, etc.  You cannot really sell something well on eBay if you have no idea whatsoever what it is!

I remember when I used to sell for 31 consecutive years at the New York City flea market, a woman near my booth sold fabric & the multitudes, buyers would pound & bang on the doors to get inside & run in & grab up all her fabrics.  She was a true fabric dealer professional.  I know certain people love ❤️ material!  She’d go home empty handed every week but she knew what she was doing!

[maxine*j]

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@shaden809 wrote:

Thank you for your reply to my question.  I would never give any company all of that personel information, especially not knowing who could access it.  You have just made up my mind to NOT sell on Ebay.  

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Of course you must do what you feel is right for you, but consider this:

Your bank account number and bank routing number are printed on every paper check and if you don't use paper checks, the numbers are part of the electronic transaction.  The are hardly private information. 

You shoud never commingle personal and business funds, so for eBay you open a separate checking account, which you can do on-line and most are free.

As for your Social Security Number, you must provide it anytime you are doing anything reportable to the IRS or your state's tax department.

You must also provide it anytime you engage in any transaction subject to the Customer Identification Program provision of the US Patriot Act which includes, but is not limited to, giving it to:

-- Companies from which you are applying for credit: credit cards, loans of any type, cell phone service

-- Your department of motor vehicles

-- Employers
-- The three main credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
-- Investment advisors and brokerage houses
-- Banks
-- Companies with which you have a cash transaction of $10,000 or more: car dealerships, RV and boat dealerships, etc.
-- Companies facilitating real estate transactions

-- Federal and state agencies when applying for benefits: Social Security, Medicare, Disability, Medicaid, and other aid programs`

For decades, most schools used SSNs as student ID numbers, so if you are over about 40 years of age and attended any school in the US, it probably has your SSN.   SSNs were also commonly used as identifiers for medical records, and I'll wager it's in your medical records if you are over 40 years oa age.   And on and so on.

So worrying about eBay's payment processing  requiring you to have a bank account and an SSN seems a weak reason to not sign up for Managed Payments.  Better to spend the energy in vigilance, taking precautions to protect all that personal info that is already out there.

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[2010*minky]

When the Covid lockdown shut down my favorite sourcing stores, I raided my Fabric Stash for stock to sell. I had piles of beautiful cuts of wool, silk, lace & linen. I sold it all Buy It Now, because there is rarely a Brand attached to fabric, and who is out there scouring the internet for a yard of Raspberry Mohair? I just photographed it hanging on a clothesline, measured carefully and took good close-ups. Some of the wool had big moth holes in it but sold anyway to crafters who only need a small piece. Some pieces took over a year to sell, and I still have one plaid wool with many Watchers but no buyers yet. I was glad to clear out my cedar chest, and it kept me going on Ebay til the stores opened back up.

[inhawaii]

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@shaden809 wrote:

Thank you for your reply to my question.  I would never give any company all of that personel information, especially not knowing who could access it.  You have just made up my mind to NOT sell on Ebay.  

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The other 19 million of us must be plumb crazy.