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eBay

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

Original poster

Poor DD - it looks like it's going to hard work selling her dinghy; should we ebay it?

38 replies

KatyMac · 27/06/2011 21:49

It's been on the market weeks & no interest

But I am worried about selling something so high value iyswim

How much do I lose to ebay if I put a high reserve on it? Is it better to put a high starting price?

DD is saving up to go to summer school, so we need to get the best price possible

OP posts:
NetworkGuy · 27/06/2011 23:13

Ebay has both listing and sales fees which you can check on the site. Gumtree ads on TV say it is free.

Do think about how to accept payment - eg deposit of cash at bank to avoid forged notes. Paypal takes 3.4% if you use it.

Original poster
KatyMac · 28/06/2011 07:47

Thanks I'll have a look

Payment does worry me, you are right.

OP posts:
fergoose · 28/06/2011 08:46

you wouldn't accept paypal for a collection item anyway so you can forget those fees. You should only accept cash to protect yourself from chargebacks.

You are probably looking at roughly 10% in fees if you sell on ebay

Original poster
KatyMac · 28/06/2011 09:21

That's quite a lot for a little girl

I'll keep trying on Gumtree & maybe NM

OP posts:
PurpleFrog · 01/07/2011 10:50

You are probably better targetting specialised sailing places. Where does she sail? Is there a noticeboard at the local Sailing Club or something? Or try to find a sailing website/magazine/forum that won't charge for adverts.

TalkinPeace2 · 01/07/2011 17:43

Ebay will be EXCELLENT for a dinghy.
I have friends who buy and sell on there.

Have a GOOD look at the completed listings
see what descriptions work, how many free pictures you get etc etc
start at the minimum you'd accept - say £100 - and let the auction run to the end.
I always do high value for 10 days, start on a friday night to finish the following Monday (2 weekends worth of searching)
aim to finish around 8pm - when people will remember to be back at their puters

cash on collection only
go for it

Original poster
KatyMac · 02/07/2011 13:10

Really

The prices aren't great, but I suppose a sell is better than nothing

Poor DD it has cost her loads

OP posts:
TalkinPeace2 · 02/07/2011 20:23

Katy
It really all comes down to the description, quality of photos etc etc

It may also be worth her "chatting" about planning to sell it on every forum, bulletin board, social network etc that she has access to - so that everybody who knows anybody she knows who might be interested can find the item number without a problem ..... otherwise known as viral marketing

and remember if you do use ebay, all the action is in the last 40 minutes especially on a 10 day listing

Original poster
KatyMac · 02/07/2011 21:40

Oh - do you fancy doing crash course in "how to sell your dinghy"?

DD is giving up sailing so she can go on the stage......we need all the help we can get

I have photos; would you like to see them?

OP posts:
seeker · 02/07/2011 21:46

Am I the only person who think that's sad - why can't she go on the stage AND keep her dinghy?

Original poster
KatyMac · 02/07/2011 21:49

She needs to rise £1000 by next summer; I really can't fund it Seeker, I'd love to

She has raised £65 so far, by ebay/carboot/pocket money

She has decided not to sail as it 'takes too much of my dancing time'

I am heart broken as I sailed into my 20's

OP posts:
TalkinPeace2 · 02/07/2011 22:13

Katy,
I'm not a sailor. But I've been selling on ebay since 2001 odds and sods
which type of dinghy is it (Laser / topper / etc) and I'll do a quick check of ways to advertise it....

seeker · 02/07/2011 22:17

Oh, ksty, are you sure? Please don't let her give up a lifetime of pleasure for one summer school!

reallytired · 02/07/2011 22:18

could you not try and sell it on mumsnet? Depending on where you live and what type of dingy it is I might be interested.

I had a Topper when I was 18 for two years. I sold it for the same price that my parents bought it. Where have you advertised it?

Antidote · 02/07/2011 22:18

What kind of dinghy is it Katy?

To sell well she will need a good description and lots of photos.

I've bought and sold a fair few in my time, some on eBay and some not.

Original poster
KatyMac · 02/07/2011 22:22

It's topper (Norfolk Broads)

I can't over-rule her Seeker; I want to, but aren't I supposed to be teaching to be independent and make decisions for herself

OP posts:
seeker · 02/07/2011 22:23

How old is she?

Original poster
KatyMac · 03/07/2011 05:44

13 (& a half Wink)

OP posts:
seeker · 03/07/2011 06:38

Could you put off selling it til the Spring? That way she'd know how far she had to go towards her 1000, and whether selling it would get her enough money?

What's the summer school - it must be pretty amazing to cost that much!

Original poster
KatyMac · 03/07/2011 07:05

We have to book in January apparently in order o get the accommodation

I'm sure there are others tbh; but teenagers are difficult to reason with

here it was about £800 this year so with train fares etc

OP posts:
seeker · 03/07/2011 07:21

Oh katy - are you sure? So much money for just a week! Sorry - not what you want to hear, is it?

Original poster
KatyMac · 03/07/2011 08:04

I really don't know; I know I need to put a lot of effort into keeping her off 'Britain's got talent' et al. I feel (perhaps mistakenly) the best way to do this is to support her in doing 'safe' (ish) stuff

But who knows?

OP posts:
Heifer · 03/07/2011 08:14

I agree with Seeker, even if she doesn't have time to sail now, she may well want to again when she is older.

Also, if she does sell and goes to the "very expensive" summer school this year, what is she going to do next year, she will want to go back.... and you will feel bad if you can't fund it.

Are they are in your area for her to attend? or even in other cities that may well be cheaper. Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts is an example. Obviously accomodation not included, but only £150ish. There may well be others closer to home.

She could sell the dingy and make the money last a year summers, so she can attend several over the years... or you feel you can fund a cheaper one.

Sometimes not matter how much our children want to do something, it's just not realistic. If you can't afford to keep it up, I personally wouldn't start.

saltyseadog · 03/07/2011 08:20

Rather than ebay what about a boat specific sales website? I used one to sell my Laser and had loads of interest. It was free to list IIRC. Also, what about ad on Topper Class Association website?
Will try snd remember the name of the other website.....

saltyseadog · 03/07/2011 08:22

It was Apollo Duck that I used. Good luck :).