Selling that doesn't make sense to me...

[sin-n-dex]

So I found out people sell recipes on here for 99 cents. I have a handful that I made myself (which might not be much more than a bunch of instructions on how to put something together... like a lasagne).

I thought for 99 cents it might be worth a try to see if anyone buys them.

So I do my research, and I find out there are sellers who sold their recipe for 11 cents (at auction with more than one bidder).

The part that doesn't make sense... won't paypal eat that 11 cents leaving the seller with zero? If you end up with zero what's the point in selling it?

Also what do you want to bet that the Chinese sellers are reselling copyrighted recipes found on the internet.

C.

[southern*sweet*tea]

They're basically buying feedback and upping transaction counts. I would be willing to bet they're all email delivery.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Feedback shilling. So unethical sellers can build feedback to enable their scams.

[femmefan1946]

I sold recipes by mail pre-internet and made a bit of money, but my costs were shipping and printing. 

The other cost was advertising. Classified ads are much more expensive and reach fewer eyeballs than online.

With eBay the first 50 listings each month are free.

And digital items require no postage.

There are also fewer Protections (for buyers and sellers) from eBay and from Paypal.

And PP offers a micro-payments account with lower fees.

Then there is the possibility  of multiple sales from one buyer with a single payment made through PP. 

Penny sales are not going to be profitable, but at 99c  could be pretty good earners.

[mr_lincoln]

@sin-n-dex   IMHO ... eBay needs to have a minimum sale price of at least $ 5.00 for anything sold on the venue.

[pink.fish.rule]

I beg to disagree.

That would rule out a whole bunch of legitimate (profitable) listings for less than $5 but which most often sell as multiples.

While their profit may not be up to your standards, if there wasn't any to be made they wouldn't be selling and small sales can add up.

[eunster1313]

FIRST BID WINS !

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=FIRST...

[this*old*attic]

What are they selling? I’m confused.

[yuzuha]

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

@sin-n-dex   IMHO ... eBay needs to have a minimum sale price of at least $ 5.00 for anything sold on the venue.

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... why?  There are many low-cost items that buyers usually purchase in bulk.  Beads, for instance: almost never will a buyer purchase one or two, they will buy a whole bunch of them.  If a buyer buys 20 beads at $1 each, that's a $20 sale right there.

[wesk_36]

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@eunster1313 wrote:

FIRST BID WINS !

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=FIRST...

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I don't get it, they are selling feedback for 1 penny but then they say Don't bother with checkout! I mark all buyers as paid.

What's the game here?

[rockusone]

They are trading feedback. You give one, you get one back!

[southern*sweet*tea]

Hopefully that "mark as paid" button will disappear when managed payments is fully implemented.  They won't be able to do that once that happens.

[ten_o_nine]

Can't you email the recipe?

[eunster1313]

Feedback

[sin-n-dex]

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@ten_o_nine wrote:

Can't you email the recipe?

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You can, but I didn't think you were protected against an INR in this case. So I would send a print out with a stamp.

It's just an idea because I like to cook and would like to share my recipes with others. I'd have to make all this stuff and take great photos for my listing first.

C.