by Diane Neill

Created on: September 16, 2008

It's all about shipping when your with eBay.ca. You can't compete with the shipping rates in the States, so if the item is not a rare antique or it is bulky or heavy, send it off to auction or try to unload it at your yard sale. If the item is common, forget it on both counts.

If you want to see if it's worth your while and listing fees, do your homework. Search the completed listings to see what yours might fetch you and price it accordingly.

I know you thought those little figurines that came in Red Rose Tea where very collectible, but the completed listings will show you that even if you list them for 50 cents, you are more then likely not going to get a sale because to ship them to the States, surface, is close to $5. Your market is in the States and the American's will purchase it from someone who can ship it to them for $1.98 and pay $2. for the item you could not sell for 50 cents.

I have done yard sales for over 20 years and Ebay for 8 years, so I know my stuff. If the item or book can not fit through the 20 mm gage at the post office your making sure that Canada Post is making profits. Shipping rates for small parcels are not available inside Canada, it cost the same to ship a pair of cuff links to Vancouver from Toronto as it does a pair of size 14 army boots. So make sure what you want to sell on eBay is small, light weigh, or very rare.

If I had to chose between a yard sale or Ebay, it would depend on the time of year. Spring and summer time, yard sales are a better venue. Ebay is very slow. Fall and winter on Ebay is your best bet. People are trapped inside and surfing the listings on Ebay is a good way to pass a long winter's night. Doing your seasonal shopping with out the hassle of parking and crowded malls, and the item is often delivered to your door. What could be easier?

Timing is everything.

A yard sale can be a fun social event but your tied to the house during the better weather. Sales on Ebay have a 3 day grace period where you can get around to responding to your customers at your leisure. I have many a customer that I have enjoyed conversing with on line, but it's more a business then the interaction one finds at yard sales.

You need to have excellent photography and copy writing skills, a magnifying glass to make sure there are no flaws that the customer finds as an unpleasant surprise upon delivery and it's never a guarantee that you will make the sale, because there is nothing like holding the item in your hands before one buys.

If your new to Ebay, it's not always easy to make a sale when you don't have a quantity of positive feed back. Your still going to be accessing a larger market but it will take time to build a reputation.

So which do I prefer? Both, depending on the time of year.

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