Featured How do you get motivated to sell?

It can be tedious to sell -- are you listing on Ebay? A few months ago I had a hard time getting motivated for my selling on Ebay, and a trick for me worked. I made a deal with myself that I would just photograph and list just two items. I have hundreds of things I could be selling, but the thought of listing all of that would bog me down to complete non-productivity.

So I'd go to photograph only two things (even if a little voice said, "why not just photograph a third thing??... You've got the camera out!) but I would stop at two things. It seemed to work, and in the end, I got a number of things listed, two at a time.

Another idea to start -- make a short list of a few things you want to sell, and check things off. If you are like me, I tend to ruminate ... procrastinate. Lists can be magical.

Good luck!

 

Lists are magic for me.I wake up,do the essentials,then look at the list & make a deal w/ myself-'Get thru half of Chore 1,then check the forum (for a set time),then finish #1"-the carrot & stick approach.

 

I definitely need some drive to get into listing my stuff. That happens spontaneously and I try to ride the wave when it happens.
Making good photos is pretty easy these days (smartphones) and my item description are short and precise. I need less than 10 minutes for a listing, often less than 5 minutes. Some things sit for months, some only for minutes. I very rarely list items as auctions, not happy with the results. 7 or 10 days are too short to attract the right person for extraordinary pieces, especially in niche collecting-fields. I have very good experience with „buy it now + best offer“.
I have far too many areas of interest and bought much stuff over the last 10 years. I‘m happy to say that I sold more than 70% after enjoying it. When I buy something new, another piece has to go, without exception (otherwise my lady kills me). I also avoid buying stuff that is hard to sell in the future. I know myself, I enjoy most things only one or two years and I‘m happy to give them to another „custodian“ then.

 

I sell at shows and a flea market April through October, so no online selling then for me, just to busy. Usually November through March I get some things on ebay. Usually BIN with best offer works best for me.

Motivated? I just have to look around my office area

 

"7 or 10 days are too short to attract the right person for extraordinary pieces".
-I notice some folks list their items for months.I guess this is the best way to move big ticket items.
PS-Must admit,not finding as many 'extraordinary pieces' cheap these days (post Ebay,Google Lens,Roadshow),seems like everyone in my vicinity has become an 'American Picker'.

 

If anything sits for longer than 6 months, I lower the price, maybe make new photos and relist the item.
Works out for me. The hardest thing to sell so far are antique stone/glass beads. That's a bit frustrating. At least they don’t need much space.
You’re right, it’s hard to get a nice bargain these days. For me a bargain is something I bought for around 60-70% (or less) of the market value, as far as it can be determined. According to my personal definition I definitely made a dozen bargains this year, but I spend much time and hunt a lot. I mostly buy at prices I'd consider as fair.
The best motivation for listing my stuff is to finance new pieces.

 

items that sit for months........means they haven't moved...!

 

If someone is in a hurry, I‘d recommend listing items under market value or auction them with a lowball starting bid. But even then some items will sit a while. Not a problem if they don’t take much space, could be a problem with furniture etc. though.
The faster items are sold, the higher the probability they were listed under market value.
In 2023, I listed 75 items / item groups and already sold 47 of them. Some sold after 2 hours and some after months. I don’t care that some will sit for long. Atm only my beads sit longer than I hoped for.
Don’t be discouraged if your stuff sits for a while!

 

I don't recall things sitting for months on Ebay 10-15 yrs ago.Seems like they used to charge you more for doing it back then,not sure ?

 

It’s completely free now and also no fees for private sellers, at least in Germany. I pay 0$ for my sales now.

 

Soki-Where again do you list your items for free ?

 

eB*y. Since 01.03.2023 listing and selling on eB*y is completely free in Germany, but only for private sellers. I don’t know the situation in US and UK though.