I just read your post Michelle and ooh I’d love to find someone with trunks of vintage jewelry! Sounds amazing!
Ebay loves vintage jewelry! Some are incredibly rare and very profitable!

There are some great ways to approach someone about purchasing their collection. Are they knowledgeable about the collectible jewelry names and pieces? Is it something they’re looking to sell, or have you sell for them?

Never throw out a price – let them give you a $ amount, then dicker with them based on what it is. If you offer to sell it for them, the going rate is around 30%, but if it’s someone you know, hey 50% would be great! With a contracted exchange, the client pays the fees. If it’s someone you know – you could always split the cost. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Kind Regards,
Rebecca

First thing, when approaching people, do just that. Approach them in just a kind way. When I did yard sales people asked me all the time if I had more in the house. I didn’t mind. And sometimes I did! So I would just nicely ask if they have more.

As for the jewelry, this the perfect opportunity for me to refer you to a member here who is a “selling vintage jewelry on eBay” expert. She wrote a book for us just recently and am so glad she did. Her name is Rebecca and you can find her book here.

Hopefully Rebecca will chime in also!

Is there a rule of thumb about approaching someone about purchasing their collection? They will put out small amounts during their yearly yard sale, but they have trunks full. Do you ever go into comission deals? In the VJ world what would be a fair split? and who best to cover fees?

I am thinking it can go 2 ways. EX- 50/50 split AFTER fees or I cover all expenses out of my portion?

Ya know, pricing things all depends on so many factors. Since you really are not in control of what something sells for (unless fixed price) then you always want to list something at the lowest you are willing to let something go for taking into consideration fees. If it’s a store item (fixed price) and you have something you think is worth a lot, then you can always put a high price and accept offers. Most vintage sellers do this.

PS Thanks for buying the book. I hope you enjoy it and it will definitely help to read it over and over.

Thanks again Brigitte,
Rebecca
PS – and I did buy your book late last night:) Great read, though I need to go through it again (and again) after the holidays…why do I think I can absorb info at 11pm???

I think it depends on what you sell and one’s priority. For example, the stuff I get is so cheap that I can start at a very low price and still make a profit. Therefore, the priority for me to have stuff sell. I have so much stuff that it needs to move or I can’t buy more! haha. So of course the lower you list it for the higher chance it will sell. I can do this since I buy for so low. Now, that being said, it doesn’t mean if I found some vintage shoes that are super rare I will start at $9.00. I would probably start at $59 because I KNOW they will sell for more than that. To me, that is starting low on a high valued item. But if say I found a skirt for 50 cents, I would start at $9.00 knowing this low starting bid will bring in buyers AND I make a good profit. Anything more than that price is a bonus. Does that make sense?

If one’s priority is to get rid of stuff then go as low as you are comfortable with (taking into consideration fees.) Decide ahead of time the lowest you would be satisfied with that way if that’s all you get then you won’t be disappointed. If it’s something special or that you paid a lot for then go ahead with your minimum price and if it doesn’t sell so be it.

My niece asked me this years ago about tons of beading supplies she had she didn’t want and was just taking up space in her closet. She said she paid a lot for it and didn’t want to just get pennies for it. I said , “How much are getting for it sitting there?” (I can be sarcastic) and she got the point. I had to explain to her eBay buyers are bargain hunters mostly. I then asked her how she would feel about someone handing her over cash to take it off her hands. She liked that. Making her see it in a different way got her to unload them. She sold them, got some side cash, cleared her closet and didn’t miss them.

I hope I’m not babbling too much here. I think it’s important to have an agreement with “one’s self” if that makes any sense? I also advise using Hammertap or Terapeak to see what items are going for.

If you are selling NEW items then you have to check out the competition to see what they are selling it for.