Registering with eBay and is a free and relatively easy process. You do have to pay listing and commission fees when items sell. So why would you pay someone else to sell for you, adding their commission to the eBay and Paypal fees?
Perhaps you’d do so because your time is more valuable and worth more than the cost of paying someone else to list and sell on their time.
The Time Factor
Listing items can be time consuming, especially when dealing with a large variety of different items. Unusual or potentially collectible items require research in order to get the best selling price. Necessary photos or scanning time must also be factored into listing cost.
When Items are Outside Your Area of Expertise
Most successful eBay sellers stick to certain items or types of items. The focus and experience is in that particular corner of the market.
When you need to sell items that are outside your area of expertise, you have two choices. One, take the time to do the research and learn what you need to know on your own or Two, simply pay a professional to list and sell the item for you.
When Items are Bulky or Fragile
Packing and shipping is an important part of the auction sale process. Items that are bulky, odd-shaped and/or fragile often require extra time and attention. Extra time and attention = more time spent on the listing process.
By dropping the item off with a professional eBay reseller, you don’t have to worry about packing it correctly or even handling it at all.
When Space Is a Consideration
Storing items until they’re sold requires space. When you leave your stuff with a reseller, you don’t have to store or oversee the welfare of the item until it sells.
When Physical Problems are an Issue
If you have items to sell that are too heavy or somehow beyond your physical ability to handle, listing with a reseller is a good idea. People with tremors and arthritis often have trouble using their hands. Use your expertise to find items and let someone else handle them for you.
When Selling on Ebay is a One-Time Thing
If you aren’t a regular seller on eBay and have no intention of becoming one but do want to get rid of a few things, allowing the reseller to handle everything is simpler and easier.
When You Don’t Have a Bank Account or Credit Card
A bank account and/or credit card is necessary to set up payment processing for eBay and Paypal. If you don’t have either of these (or don’t want to use them online) using the services of a reseller makes sense.
When should you consider allowing a reseller to handle your eBay listing and selling? You should consider it anytime that your time is worth more than the commission the reseller charges. It’s also worth considering when items require special care or intensive research.
Paying resellers a commission to list, manage the listing, collect payment, wrap and ship is worth that commission if you don’t want to give eBay and Paypal access to your checking or credit card account.
Just because you can do the listing and manage the auction yourself is no reason to do so. Stop and consider the time value factor. You might be surprised at the tally.
