Want to Open an eBay DVD Store

Ok so I know people always say sell what you know or what you like. Well, I LOVE movies, I have always wanted to make them and I have always liked to watch them. So I want to sell DVDs and of course I want to do this on ebay 'from the comfort of my own home'. But I have been looking around and reading and someone had said that ebay is a below wholesale market. So my question is this. I have a starting off budget of about 800 bucks (USD). How can I make the most of this money to get me a good start in this business so that I can slowly work my way up and expand? I have been looking at mountain view movies for an inventory but I am afraid to buy a bunch of old movies that wont sell and afraid that if I dont buy enough new movies I wont get enough exposer and they wont sell. Is this even realistic with only 800 bucks to start off with? How can I make this work? Thanks! :D

Do you live anywhere near a Wal-Mart or other big box (but preferably WM?) Wait for new releases at WM or sales elsewhere and load up. WM sells their DVDs for close to cost, as Jimmy has pointed out a few times (I'm also basically repeating his strategy here, so better info would no doubt come directly from him.)

Taking advantage of savings in your local market can really equal cash online. Along with the affiliate approach this is really a great way for newbies and/or people on limited budgets to get started out. It takes more work and more time, but less money and has been demonstrated to be profitable again and again.


Frank

I would suggest you find a dropshipper it would be cheaper and your start up capital could be used for registraton fees some dropshippers charge

I live right down the street from a walmart (maybe 2 minutes). So basically I wait for new releases, and buy a bunch and sell them for a tad bit more? I had heard about doing that before but I was always afraid they wouldn't sell because i thought people wouldn't buy them online when thy could just run to the store and get it. As for drop shipping the only thing that discourages me is that I have no control over shipping really, I have had one small business on eBay before that I am quiting and I always like to have my stuff shipped within 24 hours. But these are two approaches I am willing to take. Maby I can work my way from one to the other. I would much rather have the inventory on hand.

Also, if i bought a bunch from walmart, would i list them as auctions or as store inventory? 1 day auction or what? thanks!

I use to sell dvd's and it seemed like the new releases sold best on 1 day auctions on Tuesday the release date. If I had any left over I would just add them to my store inventory. That was just my experience, how about the rest of you??

I myself have made several thousand over the last few years selling hot new releases the same day they are released. I usually buy them early in the morning. Then immediately list them all at 1 -3 per hour. Generally when they all close you profit $5.00 or more off of each one. Make sure you make shipping avaliable to canada as they will generally bid the most for a new release. As many of them cant get the movie for several days after we get them.

Ive made as much as $500 in a single day buying dvd's

And as a note. WalMarts first day release price is actually below wholesale. They actually loose 230 million a year on new release dvd movies each year

Your average wholesale cost on these movies is $17.99-$24.99 Yeah I know it sounds hard to believe. But trust me I have actually checked with many distributers and this is the wholesale prices they quoted me for a minimum order of $35,000 on average.

What does Jimmy mean by 'immediately list them all at 1 -3 per hour' ? What type of shipping do you use? Media mail first class or priority? Do you have better luck with auction style or buy it now--- or do you use both?

Sorry for all the questions, but I can really relate to mattgonzales4000. I only have a few thousand dollars to invest, and am having a tough time finding a consistant product to sell on ebay that will actually sell for profit.

Any help / advise is greatly appreciated!

Wallmart would buy new release at considerable less than $17- the figure is more like $8 each or possible $6---direct purchase from the best sources in more favour than any-- drop shipping dvd method and you would be wise to keep clear- unless you enjoy shelf fillers---uk market is a extreamly difficult on new releases and not worth the light of day and to be of any use a investment $40,000 would not work out, but if state side you could work a wonders and at high margins :twisted:

What does Jimmy mean by 'immediately list them all at 1 -3 per hour' ? What type of shipping do you use? Media mail first class or priority? Do you have better luck with auction style or buy it now--- or do you use both?

Sorry for all the questions, but I can really relate to mattgonzales4000. I only have a few thousand dollars to invest, and am having a tough time finding a consistant product to sell on ebay that will actually sell for profit.

Any help / advise is greatly appreciated!

Based on how many I purchase. I would list 1 dvd per hour. Or 3 per hour If I purchased 50 or 60 dvds. Let them all close at random times. If you had them all close at the same time you would loose many possible bids and that could mean a ton of items closing at under $10.00 and you dont want that.

For shipping I used First Class Mail and I charged $5.00 US $6.99 Canada and $9.99 Worldwide.

Never use media mail. Its not reliable and takes forever especially on canadian shipments. I would rather risk a positive then a negative for a .17 savings over first class maIl.

Jimmy,

If you do that how much markup do you put on them. I am finding that with a lot of the business I do after e-bay & paypal fees, I don't make much money.

Jimmy--
Ok, I was a little unclear, and I never 'assume' when it comes to investing. Thanks for the shipping tip and the quick reply.
Matt

Matt

I am replying to your original message 'I have been looking at mountain view movies for an inventory but I am afraid to buy a bunch of old movies that wont sell'

If you purchase with Mountain View MOvies, you do not receive 'a bunch of old movies'.

You can actually pick and choose exactly what you want by title...
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Good Luck.
Tiffany
Mountain View Movies
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Whats great about the Walmart thing is who cares if they dont sell. Just bring them back to the store for a refund. List them for 2 weeks and then the ones that dont sell just bring back.

I dont mark them up at all. See I start every dvd at 99 Cents. But I only choose hot titles. No flop movies. Only blockbusters. The majority of them sell to canada. Since Im charging 6.99 Im profiting on shippping as well. It only costs around $3.00 to ship to canada.

Canada does not get movies this cheap nor do they get them as early as the US market. So the majority of the canadian bidders will bump the prices over $20.00 on many of them.
If Im paying $13.99-$14.99 Per movie thats around $12.00 profit per movie.

Scratch the listing fees and paypal fees and your generally paying them around $2.30 so On average I can make over $9.00 profit on each canadian sale.

If I buy and sell 50 of these movies in 1 day. Thats around $450 for one days work. :D Thats a car payment for alot of people.

GOOD STUFF HERE!!!!

Thank you for all of your thoughts and insight---- very helpful.

Well, I have been a member of salehoo for a whole 15 minutes now, and as I have read through these posts Jimmy has just answered SEVERAL questions I have had for the past few months. THANKS! : )