Throwing it OUR Versus Selling - Why do they Do it ?

[518sportscardsandtoys]

Ok, I am just wondering for the People who are selling sports cards for 99 Cents and Free Shipping.  Help me if I am wrong, But Why would you loose money on something you are selling just to say you sold it.  To me the Math does not add up!

.99 cent sale

( .49) Cent Stamp

(.15) Item Cost /Top Loader/Envelope and Ink to print  - I think this is a low figure but lets go with it

(.09) Ebay Fee

(.33) Pay Pal Fee

So When I do the math,   You have a NET LOSS of (0.07) Per Card. 

Am I crazy or Is this just a way of Saving the Earth and Recycling Paper ?

I would Rather just Throw the  .99 Cent with Free Shipping Deals Out. 

Any Feeling On this. ?    

BTW- I am not trying to start a drama Session, I am just looking to try and figure out Why people would do this. 

Thank you and Happy Holidays to Everyone

[lookng2015]

On light weight items like cards (especially), the sellers often make sale of multiples where the shipping remains the same. They may also not be including a top loader if they're low value cards.

Also some are doing it to build up their transaction count, among other reasons.

[slippinjimmy]

PayPal micro-payments account (.33) (.10)

I've known a few sellers of old/common sports cards, they run a lot of 99 cent listings, some are Auctions that may go higher (and do for a percentage), some are Fixed Price which are there as "filler". People buy them as add-ons to more expensive cards or they buy  a bunch of them both of which reduce the shipping cost per card substantially.

It's not a way to get rich but you can pick up some easy pocket change and it's worth it when somebody buys 20 or 30 cards.

[mistwomandancing]

Plus it's a way to get a lot of common cards moved out when you buy a lot and you only want the few good cards in that lot that are worth more.  Get your money back, make a little profit after expenses, rack up some feedback numbers, and bring eyes into your store... where you have some more exciting, and expensive, cards waiting. 

[luckythewinner]

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@518sportscardsandtoys wrote:

( .49) Cent Stamp

(.15) Item Cost /Top Loader/Envelope and Ink to print  

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If they have a day job with a boss who does not monitor expenses, they may be getting this part for free 🙂

Also, if you are talking about auctions then you have to take the seller's entire activity into account, not just the ones that end at 99 cents. 

[duggmills]

It's an old textbook marketing scheme that apparently is a common practice (or funnier yet) or,  the marketing plan they adhere to.

While you lose money on every sale, the volume of sales makes up for the individual losses. 

[dbmm-media]

end of the year sales at a loss are quite common. get the product off the books, dont have to pay taxes on inventory. sales at a loss lower the sales at a profit, less profit, less taxes.