by Lee P.
Member since:
September 2, 2008

Tell Me About Ebay.

February 13, 2009 10:32 PM EST
views: 68 | comments: 21

I've never sold anything on ebay.  I wouldn't even know where to begin, but I'm seriously thinking about investigating the possibilities.

I have a lot of small items from a rent house that I'm trying to clean up.  The renter died about 5 months ago and he had no family and the things left behind in the house have mostly been given away to friends who needed them but there are still a lot of small things.  There are a lot of books too.  The books are what I've been thinking about putting on ebay.  There is a nice 34 volume set of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1979 edition and I don't know if there would be a market for them or not.  Do books of this nature sell?  I think everyone uses the internet now and 1979 is quite old for a set of encyclopedias.  I asked the man at Half Price Books, bookstore and he said that someone always wants them.  I can give them to Goodwill but thought I would try something new.

Would like some opinions about ebay and books.  Has anyone ever sold books on ebay and do books of this nature sell?  What about shipping?

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Comments: 21

.* Sandi * Feb 13, 2009, 10:35pm EST
i dont think they would sell
but do a search on ebay and see if anyone is selling them and see if there are bids
and look at half.com
and do a search there too and see
jenn g. Feb 13, 2009, 10:35pm EST
maybe you could try craigslist.com
it is free and local
sarah g. Feb 13, 2009, 10:42pm EST
yup, try Craigslist. Ebay is slow right now
Marsha S. Feb 13, 2009, 11:30pm EST
I'm not sure....mom had 5 sets of encyclopedias down here ranging from the 40s to the 60's. I didn't list them anywhere due to the sheer weight of them and the cost of postage even media mail would be immense. We ended up selling them at the yard sale for just a few dollars per set.
karen h. Feb 13, 2009, 11:30pm EST
stopping by from points nation
R B Feb 13, 2009, 11:34pm EST
Shipping would kill something like that.
Donna T. Feb 13, 2009, 11:38pm EST
I agree with R B - it would cost too much to ship alot of books
Kim B. Feb 13, 2009, 11:38pm EST
craig's list
H M. Feb 13, 2009, 11:48pm EST
I don;t know about the encyclopedias per se, but for the knick knacks, you can probably do well - search on "completed items" and see the selling prices for them. You can also hire a local seller to do the estate for you, but they get a large portion of the sale. It is still more money than a consignment shop I think. If you could best use the tax write off, consider donating it.
j - Frugal Mom - r. Feb 14, 2009, 8:33am EST
I think I would do Craigslist as well or a garage sale. I have bought on ebay once, but I have never sold.
Debra H. Feb 14, 2009, 9:23pm EST
Don't even get me started on EBay .... I have nothing nice to say
Leora E. Feb 14, 2009, 10:02pm EST
I've sold on ebay, the experience was fun & a nice experience.
sandy sandy Feb 16, 2009, 5:10pm EST
Sorry, I have nothing new to add but dang there's some good advice here.
Beverly T. Feb 16, 2009, 9:22pm EST
Don't forget to try Freecycle. It's a little easier to get rid of stuff that way, if you don't mind donating rather than selling something.


Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics
Abby N. Feb 17, 2009, 6:19am EST
Hi, thanks for posting to Abby's Friends! Have a nice day!
Lexa Daily Feb 18, 2009, 1:17am EST
Craigslist is local, so someone could pick up the encyclopedias. I doubt they would sell on eBay because of the cost of shipping. Plus, selling on eBay is chancy, you have to pay fees and if there's not enough interest in your item you may have to sell at your starting low bid.

***A word of caution about craigslist.com, if you get a buyer, arrange to meet in a central location where there are other people around. I have read a couple of news stories where the seller was robbed in their home by unscrupulous individuals. Better to be safe than sorry.

Lexa -- Points Nation
Dana W. Feb 19, 2009, 12:21pm EST
Stopping by from
Janell R. Feb 22, 2009, 2:06pm EST
I agree that Craigslist might be a better avenue for something like this.
Solskin Iam Mar 18, 2009, 6:36pm EDT
encyclopedias probably would not do well .....too heavy
Leora E. Mar 19, 2009, 10:04pm EDT
Not so much interest in encyclopedias anymore due to the ease of finding the same info on the internet, I also have a set of Brittannica that even the Library declined for donation,& they are like new, so I don't know either, sorry :(..........Points Nation

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