eBay - how can I compete?

Hey everybody,

I'm somewhat new to the e-commerce scene, but it seems feasible, like there really is money to be made. I ended up starting a web site about 3 weeks ago and putting a couple things on eBay. The thing is I had done a little research before I got the web site and thought I can do this, but now that I have done so much more research, I'm thinking I might have made a mistake. I can't compete with the people on eBay. I can't find suppliers that allow for that (unless i want a $5 profit). Is it advertising, the products itself or what? Why would anybody ever buy from me when it is always so much cheaper on eBay? If anybody can give me any help at all please do.

Thanks,

Loren

I WOULD SAY IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU ARE SELLING I MYSELF SELL ON EBAY I SELL DESIGNER CLOTHES SOMETHING ALOT OF PEOPLE WANT AND WILL ALWAYS WANT AND GET AND CAN GET AT A VERY LOW COST AND I GET TO DOUBLE MY MONEY SOMETIMES TRIPLE ON SOME ITEMS IF YOU LOOK HARD AND WITH THE HELP OF THE SALEHOO TEAM YOU COULD DO THE SAME THERE IS A BIG MARKET OUT THERE AND EBAY IS THE BIGGEST SO FIND SOMETHING TO SELL ON IT AND WATCH THE MONEY ROLL IN. :D

Well, I do ebay myself ... I was afraid to do a store - because there is so much more to it.... ? You have to get the traffic to it ...

I would continue to do Ebay so that it will direct people to your website. Try to keep your prices low if you can.

Good luck ...

Can you post the web address?? :?:

i feel the same way too....example what i pay for lets say The Razor phone..i see on ebay for 100 bucks cheaper than my wholesale price. Its not just one item either its alot.

I hope more people post cause i would like to know exp. with this as well

i find that with some things here in NZ and also i spend hours on ebay looking. i wonder how people can get things so cheap. i guess they just know where to get it from.

I recently bought a 'wholesale list' off a well known person on ebay. i was bitterly dissapointed. the 2 places she gave me 1 had 1 item for sale. the other is a well known so called wholesaler who sells at almost retail prices.
I emailed her with my dissapointment and supprise suprise she never returns my email. Im going to give her few more days to reply.

She obviously doesnt want to give out her wholesaler cos she makes a fair bit of money.

It is really hard for us in NZ here being so far away and having to pay very expensive shipping costs.

Hi,
Also living in New Zealand and finding the cost of shipping from the US prohibitive. Saying that, I have sold a few DVD's (using compgallery - recommended and found through salehoo) for profit on TradeMe.

The fact that NZ is relatively small scale and not generally ebay centred can work to the advantage as I have found that people do generally pay a little more for items here. The fact that the items I have sold are not widely available here has worked to my advantage.

The other option you have is to drop ship. This involves finding a store which provides drop-shipping (in the US), setting up an eBay store and then hopefully watching the money come in. You don't even need to handle the goods. Thus, your shipping costs are drastically reduced.

Hope this helps.

Hi Members,

Please feel free to read our latest blog entry which covers some of these questions illustrated above about myths when importing and reselling online. It is well worth having a look at and should give you a greater understanding of this whole industry and some of the ways to get around common problems.

It can be found at Link hidden: Login to view and is free for all members to use.

If you have any questions or want to comment please feel free to use this tool as well.

Questions can be forwarded to Link hidden: Login to view with the subject heading