Someone wants to hire me to list. What should I charge?

[qualitycustomercare]

Someone selling antiques wants to hire me just to list the items. They will send me photos, all I have to do is research the item and create a listing.  He's asking for my rate. I'm thinking 30% but I really have no idea.

[d-k_treasures]

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@soh.maryl wrote:

Not a great idea.  All you have to do is "research the item"? Do you have any idea at all how much time that can take?

Furthermore, any issues with any item will damage your account, not the owner of the items.

Too many negatives.  Personally, unless I were starving and homeless, this is not a task I would take on for any amount of money.  

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I have items in my personal collection that I've been researching for 20 years without finding another anywhere yet.

[jayjaspersgarage]

Not a good idea by any stretch.  I stopped taking on consignments in 2014.   If you do it on your account you owe the taxes.  

There are so many questions it would take too much time to sort out your particular situation on a message board. 

There used to be businesses that would sell antiques on consignment.  They are called antique stores and they still exist.  The split ranges from 40 / 60 to 60 / 40 in my area.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

[youn2240]

how many antiques is the dealer trying to put onto your 1099? lol I just don't see anything good that can come out of this but maybe you found the eccentric antique dealer that isn't trying to put his tax burden onto your shoulders. 

[terrycece62]

Not a good idea imo only way I would consider it has already been stated in other responses.

Which is being paid hourly wage using antique dealers eBay account and their computer

as a part time job duties being carried out at their 'store' location using their account with you having physical access to items you would be researching and listing on eBay.

Dealer should be 100% legally on paper responsible for any and all selling fees and taxes on their own selling account.

[farmalljr]

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@qualitycustomercare wrote:

Someone selling antiques wants to hire me just to list the items. They will send me photos, all I have to do is research the item and create a listing.  He's asking for my rate. I'm thinking 30% but I really have no idea.

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You have 12 items in your store. 12..... You photos look good, but that certainly doesn't make you a pro at this. 

What is being proposed, is not a very good idea, FOR YOU. Unless you psyically hold the inventory, you are begging to run into trouble and lose your account. 

If you want to grow, go buy your own inventory. Consignment is a horrible idea. Listing someone else's stuff in your store, is a horrible idea. You only get ONE shot at this. You screw up and eBay closes you down, you are done for life. 

[downunder-61]

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@ustabee1 wrote:

30% of what?  If the item doesn't sell it's 30% of nothing. Not very good wages. 

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Exactly. I read the OP as doing the research and listing ONLY - no further involvement.

@qualitycustomercare 

If this is the case and you do the research and then go to thier place to list on their account, you charge an hourly rate, and I wouldn't get out of bed for less than $35 an hour.

[theteamsetguy]

Here are some rates major consignment houses on eBay charge. I'm sure there are many other consignment houses out there.

https://www.sportscardradio.com/rick-probstein123-ebay-consignment-rates/

https://4sharpcorners.com/consign-with-us/

[usgamecollector]

are you just listing the item, or are you actually taking care of the shipping, customer service returns etc?

If all you are doing is listing I pay my employees $1-$2 per listing.

I would never pay 30%, especially if you don't even need to take photos!

[katzrul15]

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@usgamecollector wrote:

are you just listing the item, or are you actually taking care of the shipping, customer service returns etc?

If all you are doing is listing I pay my employees $1-$2 per listing.

I would never pay 30%, especially if you don't even need to take photos!

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What do you sell?  Surely not antique/collectibles items...........  without having the item to hold and examine, listing it, unless generic items, would be hindered.

[rabites-n-chocobos]

Naw, min wage for this task,

[rabites-n-chocobos]

Not much at first. You should earn minimum wage, then as you learn more, you should be paid more.

[rabites-n-chocobos]

You can learn you're owner's antique's in a few months....maybe a year. If you can learn to identify what makes that antique valuable, then you can either ask for a raise, or use that information to become a seller yourself.

[7606dennis]

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@rabites-n-chocobos wrote:

Naw, min wage for this task,

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I'm not sure what kind of data entry person, let alone advertising copywriter one could get for minimum wage. 

[downunder-61]

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@7606dennis wrote:

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@rabites-n-chocobos wrote:

Naw, min wage for this task,

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I'm not sure what kind of data entry person, let alone advertising copywriter one could get for minimum wage. 

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Not a good one that is for sure, I laughed when I saw that post, pay minimum wage and it will take 10 weeks, where an experienced data entry operator would get the same work done in 10 hours.

Pay peanuts and you will get monkey's working for you.............

[fuzzface50]

I refuse to list stuff for other people. 

they always think it is worth more especially antiques brought years ago or new tools used once for a special project. 

Will they ship if the price isn't right?

Will they tell you about flaws?

Not worth losing a friend over

Not worth losing your ebay account over

I can make more listing my own stuff. 

There is a reason all those ebay resellers on every street corner from years ago are gone. 

Like I said I refuse to resell for other people when they find out I do this but I will offer to help them get started but none of them seem to want to learn to do it themselves. They want to see the easy gravy money handed over not actually have to do anything.