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Fleamarket or ebay?

18 posts

  1. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    :?: What is better profit flea market or ebay? I've read some of these discussions and I'm seriously considering the flea market route considering all the charges incurred from the other.

    In my area it is $20.00 a day to rent a spot for selling at the local flea. This sounds to cheap to pass up and not try.

    Any input would be gratley appreciated. thanks
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  2. sergio

    Joined: August 2003
    Posts: 91

    Here in Toronto we have one of the best flea markets around and the rental is 350 $ for 9 days a month. I still wonder if i can sucess or not :?
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  3. aroma-bargains

    Joined: September 2003
    Posts: 435

    It depends on what you are selling and where. Local flea markets here are to saturated with incense / fragrance sellers that our customers who sell in flea markets are having to find new products to make any profits. Flea markets are ok for some products but certain items turn into bargain wars and lots of grief on the profit.

    Ebay though has turned into the same thing for certain products. Way to many ppl selling same product forcing people to sell for the lowest prices possible.

    It matters what you are selling.
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  4. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    Thanks for the response. I think I'm going to try thr flea market thing out.
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  5. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    Personally I would stay away from eBay, I lost a lot of money trying to sell on it. Then again maybe it was just the products that I was trying to sell or my lack inexperience on it.

    Burned Out On eBay,

    steptex
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  6. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    :cry: I agree. I've been selling on ebay strongly for two weeks now and have found it is more trouble than it is worth. I can make more selling my wholesale products to friends instead of paying high fees.

    Do most flea's take a percentage of your profits?
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  7. aroma-bargains

    Joined: September 2003
    Posts: 435

    As mentioned, on Ebay you just need products that will sell. And only way you can sell an make money on Ebay is if you can offer the best prices.

    Ebay is great for selling unique items you want to get rid of, but to do business on it you need to have very low prices or unique and rare products.

    I've sold in the past on Ebay products and they would not sell because of the large amount of competition. But I would always make good money and sell really quick unique items such as collectibles. I had no problem selling and making good money selling rare comic books for example. And collectible hobby figures also were hot sellers. Lots of the stuff on line but still rare enough that collectors want them badly.
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  8. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    AROMA,

    You couldn't have said it any better than you did about eBay. I agree with you 100%. Item has to be unique or dirt cheap to sell on eBay. After I recover from my eBay financial wounds I will try it again, but definetely in a different way.


    INTEGRITY,

    The flea market that I go to just charges a flat fee. I wouldn't mind trying the percentage basis if I was experimenting with a new line of products But if they sold real good I would want to go to a flea market that just charges a flat fee.
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  9. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    OK. now look at the whole picture. If you sell on ebay you are competing agianst the whole world. Your local flea market is your own niche.

    ex. If you have a products on auction in ebay the average page impressions you get on any products for a seven day run will be about 50 to 100.
    Now you have to sit and wait for seven days to see if it even sells.


    Your local flea market allows you to price your products at a good price for both parties. Ebay charges so much you have to jack your prices up to even make it work.
    If you are selling on ebay and see others selling products so cheap and you wonder how is this possible. ( Big time theft from the shipping dock workers selling to the public etc...) yes than can sell it cheap because they dont invest.
    A flea market will offer you thousands upon thousands of shoppers allowing you to make a good profit in one day in the sun! ( not on your !@#$ looking at a screen trying to cruch numbers!)

    I make 1300 to 2000 a weekend at my local flea market in San Jose, CA. On ebay I made 150 in a solid month. That 150 went to my insertion fees for all the products that never sold.
    Go look at the team I am involved with. It is the largest flea market vendor resource in the world. click here and you will see how we make so much money at our local flea market events. http://www.localprofit.com
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  10. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    :shock: You said San Jose.....hehe. Thats where I was gonna try for my first time :) That or maybe San Fransisco because its closer.
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  11. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    :D thanks for the input! I really feel that I can make good money at this flea. I hope my products will do well.
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  12. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    When you are in a retail environment selling any type of products or service the most important thing you must capture is IMPULSE BUYING.

    For those debating on either to sell on ebay or at your local flea market let me explain something to you that will help you make your final decision.

    If you are selling on ebay your products can go on auction for 3,5,7, or 10 days.

    You just lost your ability to capture that impluse buyer who will pay all the money. On ebay shoppers have the ability and up to the end of your auction to find a better price than you are offering.

    From real estate, insurance, care sells, etc... ALL the money is made on impulse buying,
    #2 most important which ties right into the emation that creates an impulse buying effect is the touch and feel. Ebay shopper can't see the products nor can they feel it. They also have to wait till they recieve their shipment.

    Selling at a flea market buyers are picking up every product the can lay their eyes on. They fall in love with items right their on the spot an buy it because they just got to have it. Do you have any idea how much more profit is available when shoppers feel this way.

    Flea market: less time invested, more profit, outdoors, you can create a clent base, much much less over head cost, and cash in hand that day!!

    ebay: bigger audience but it is so divided up it becomes very small, insane insertion fees, no impulse buying, much less ROI, and you have to stare at a screen. Shipping costs$$$$$

    The only reason the flea market has not had the same effect on the world as ebay has is because the majority of the world is lazy. People want the easiest route and be able to sit on their !@#$.

    *** Infomercial edited by admin ***

    Just be positive and work hard in anything you do! You all will succeed.

    Have fun.
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  13. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    Flea market 101 I like your advice. I totally agree with shipping costs. They are out the roof.
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  14. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    Fleamarketer 101

    Well said Flea. I agree with you.

    StepTex
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  15. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    Granted Ebay fees and jostling with low priced vendors are the S-u-c-k. I would say though do not give up and close that ebay avenue. Definitely do your flea markets, and try to supplement it with ebay sales as well.

    Ebay benefits:
    A. 24/7/365 store open, anytime anywhere with access to Internet.
    B. Want to take a guess of how many people visit their site monthly?
    C. Scalable to your business needs. Low inventory, or High inventory doesn't matter.
    D. Provides you flexibility of not having to attend to your merchandise on weekends possibly.(flea market/store front)

    Disclaimer: I do not own Ebay stock. But I do wish everyone success monetarily and in life. This post wasn't meant to say one method is better than the other. Just depends on what fits your lifestyle I guess. :D

    PS - Flea Marketer, beautiful post and insight into the FM industry. Wish you the best as well.
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  16. aroma-bargains

    Joined: September 2003
    Posts: 435

    Also to note, not the same as people doing impulse buying at a flea market, but if you got some rep on Ebay you can use the "Buy it now feature" which allows customers to buy on the spot without waiting. In my experience items that you offer a buy it now feature on, sell much more often.
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  17. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    At a Flea Market you control your price and profit margin. On eBay your competitor controls your price and profit margin.

    I also can sell for a higher margin at my shop because buyers know my indoor shop is going to be there every week. My salesman is also authorized by me to issue immediate refunds or exchanges for anything I sell. The motto: "the customer is always right" has served me well over the last 10 years. A lot of people won't purchase on eBay because of no customer service. I am not just selling a product, I am selling my reputation and service after the sale.
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

  18. Veronica Stone

    Joined: October 2007
    Posts: 10,556

    I never expected this topic to be so popular. I appreciate everyones input on this topic. Please add more because it keeps getting better.
    Posted 6 years ago  |  Login or Register to Reply

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