pingpong517 wrote:
I read how ebay has changed, and how sales have slowed over the years....
Face it, it has changed, and in some categories it always will... good example: pyrex primary color bowls sets
when i started aboyut 5 years ago...I found pyrex primary colors, I foound spots, the strpes..i found them all...at thirft stores, tag sales...CHEAP. I sold sets (depending on condition of course) for $100 +/- ( the better condition, older bowls) and $75+ for most seminor scratches etc..very good --nice sets good color etc...
I watched the prices fall..more people selling sets and bowls, less at thrift stores...and now i can say I hardly see any at a thrift store...they may have been snatched up first, or just not showing up and being sold on-line...(antique store of course).. BUT noe on Ebay you see them selling--and I mean really nice color sets..for not more than $50 (and many for less)...
SO it just syhows me in one category one item...how things will change....I realize we all know this, but my point it...things do change, ebay changes, buyer change, expectations change, and either we change and figure it out to make a sale or profit...or fade.
I think the idea of selling the junk idea is fading... in that, so many have the same junk and if they all sell it on ebay...then my "golden junk" is **bleep** again..... not saying that there are gems out there..cause there are... BUT we complain about Ebay ads, and what they do drive sales...well it may be right under your nose...you stuff isn't what it was....even a year ago.....
and I think I am saying this to smaller sellers, not you big guys or speciality, high end stuff...there is a seasonal and market that changes there too, but good stuff is always good stuff.....
so what is my point?...nothing really, slow sales here and time on my hands....and just was reflecting on my progress over the years... and what I was hard at work driving around, buying and cleaning...
AND if you have read a recent thread i started...I am waiting for the VHS tape to come back in fashion!!!! well, i'll just listen to my 8 track player and look at my beanie baby collection...
Yes, eBay has changed over these two-plus decades to keep up with the boom that is e-commerce! But sales haven't slowed over the years.. they have mushroomed!
And many, many sellers have taken advantage of the mushrooming sales as well, growing their accounts and stores to cash in on the opportunity. And many sellers haven't and don't even want to. Like the little mom & pop shop along the street that is finally surrounded by huge shiny shopping malls in every direction, they don't see much business these days.
Your mention of all the colorful PYREX brought back good memories of that in past years. Getting in on the front edge of the next big collectible brings in a ton of profit. I sold a lot of that PYREX, and I made a lot of money when we couldn't keep Corning Blue Cornflower pans for more then a day or two after listing. Found a ton of that stuff so cheap around here, and sold the heck out of it.. fast.. on eBay. Now I hardly bother to give it a glance when I see it at garage sales and thrifts.
Made some very good profit during that more recent *Hollywood Regency* rage. Big profits in some of the Mid-Century Modern right now. I think that will last for awhile yet...
Knowing on the front edge what to deal in for awhile so that you can ride the wave of its popularity goes a long way toward selling success on eBay if you're dealing in a lot of Used Stuff.
You've made a lot of good points in your above post. There's still money to be made here, but (as always) it means keeping up with the trends, doesn't it.
