What is the deal with ebay knives?

[JDBLADE]

Further, to my previous post - as a seller on eBay it is getting harder to sell at a decent profit on eBay because of all the "johnny come lately's" who think they can make a quick profit. In my view there are only 3 ways to make a consistent profit on eBay:

1. sell volume;
2. sell something no-else has (this works for a while but the others soon jump on the bandwagaon; and
3. use eBay to link with your regular business (in other words use it as an advertising tool).

I have found that it is necessary to establish a pricing formulae and stick to it and not be swayed by what is going on around you. I have sold knives for a higher listing price then other sellers because I have built a reputation and I get return buyers.

As knife dealers buying/selling we have to recognize eBay is a tool and as such you have to use it correctly. It is nothing more than a tool and we should not expect it to be.

One thing I have noticed about eBay is that it has brought more knife lovers into the business - it is a good and can be exciting way for a person interested in knives building a collection. This must be good for the knife industry as a whole.

 

[DeadManWalking]

No, if you sell below cost, volume only loses more money. It is possible for an individual to sell 10% lower than internet dealers, as an example for weekend beer money.

I'm talking about the latter not the former in my post as I highly doubt that anyone on Ebay who's not clearing out stock or trying to build feedback ratings sells anything not at a profit.

I'd reckon though if you put the time in and did a good job of keeping customers happy you could make money like you would at a part time job at the lumberyard or something. Like I said it'd be something to do if you had nothing else to do. I agree wholeheartedly you couldn't make a living at it.

Truth be told if I could find a brick and mortar dealer I'd skip Ebay altogether.

Also 1000 feeback means you've sold knives to 1000 different people not that you've only sold 1000 knives, right? Or am I mistaken? I don't sell on Ebay I just bargain hunt so maybe I'm wrong.

 

[ichor]

used to get good knife deals on Ebay, but it seems that everyone lately is using bid snipeing software to beat my last bid by a dollar. Very frustrating! Now I look to the forums for knife sales. I'm surpised that snipe software has not been a subject of conversation here.

Maybe because the so-called sniper software beating you out at the last moment is a myth. Folks who buy sniperware are being ripped off. The built-in ebay proxy bid is faster than any sniperware. You make your highest bid, as late in the game as you can manage, and you will win many more times than you will lose. If you lose, it's simple.......someone wanted it more than you did. So you try again on the next one. If your highest bid is high ebay proxy will put in a bid at the last second. If no one bid higher you win. Simple

 

[Patryn]

Also 1000 feeback means you've sold knives to 1000 different people not that you've only sold 1000 knives, right? Or am I mistaken? I don't sell on Ebay I just bargain hunt so maybe I'm wrong.

Correct. Each feedback point is from a different individual. If the same person leaves you 5000 positives, it counts as 1 towards your overall number. It does keep track of how many total you receive though, by clicking on thier feedback number.

 

[riddleofsteel]

Sometimes lesser known knives are good ofr E-Bay deals. It is easy to get in a bidding war over a Cold Steel or a Randall but I was the only bidder on a Fallkniven A1, only slightly used, and got it for $80.00.

 

[sunnyd]

You have got to put the time in to get deals. But there are many problems w/Ebay as a buyer. You are depending on human nature in regard to integrity and finances. And I have found over my multiple years that when you get that mixture stired up you very often get lots of BS on the sellers page.

Know what you are buying. Know the knife. How it is made. Who made it. Condition of it. Study the knife[cause u can not handle it prior to purchase] in the pictures and ask lots of questions. And most of all... Buy The Knife Not The Story!.. This is the best advice I ever got while trying to attain Vintage Bowies & Dirks from.. THE MAN.. Bernard Levine @ www.knife-expert.com You can go to his web site, and in a couple of hours, be one hell of allot smarter knife buyer than before you went. Great articles! Good investment of time!

My advice is to know who your seller is. Know his reputation. There are good guys out there that are selling in such volume that they are willing to take a hit now and then. Especially on anything less than Dead Mint. They are makeing it up... trust me... in the rest of the other 19 knives they sold for 17%~29% margins during the same time period{5~7 day auctions}and they do not fret over the few they lose money on. Once you find him, stick with them. Usally they will give repeat customers deeeeep discounts on shipping fees and the like.

But there ar allot of hairballs to be sure... So, Yes, Buyer Beware!! ALWAYS!

 

[sunnyd]

Correct. Each feedback point is from a different individual. If the same person leaves you 5000 positives, it counts as 1 towards your overall number. It does keep track of how many total you receive though, by clicking on thier feedback number.

It is actually the number of transactions or auctions. In other words: If you have, lets say [10] auctions, and I prevail in [5] of them. I will then have [5] transactions = [5] Feedbacks. Consequently you will be able to leave [5] Feedbacks for me as the buyer as well. You may only leave feedback ONCE for each transaction or auction, regardless of what you say, and it can not be recanted.

Hope this helps.

Cheers!