Is this profitable?
julen23
Posts: 4,558 ✭✭
Do e-bay cardboard powerhouses like dsl or 4sc or 4 sharp corners baseball or 4 sharp corners store or new england sportscards or shaqfu (red zone sportscards) make profit from selling graded cards or from the charges associated with mailing cards or both?
i support all these dealers, trust me, but just wonder how much profit they realize every quarter or year or whatever?
i am not bashing anybody, like i said, i support them, but simply wonder where they are most profitable?
i will not state shipping charges for any of the companies, b/c i think they make look negative on my part, but i do wonder how much s/h helps them stay afloat or out of the red.
julen
i support all these dealers, trust me, but just wonder how much profit they realize every quarter or year or whatever?
i am not bashing anybody, like i said, i support them, but simply wonder where they are most profitable?
i will not state shipping charges for any of the companies, b/c i think they make look negative on my part, but i do wonder how much s/h helps them stay afloat or out of the red.
julen
RIP GURU
0
Comments
So they are charging you $4.00 for appr $1.25 in postal fees plus the padded envelope.
Ship out a couple of hundred items a week.............you do the math.
1955 Bowman Raw complete with 90% Ex-NR or better
Now seeking 1949 Eureka Sportstamps...NM condition
Working on '78 Autographed set now 99.9% complete -
Working on '89 Topps autoed set now complete
Side note:...thanks for the great Reggie RC! Got it yesterday.
mathew
north of the border
drugs of choice
NHL hall of fame rookies
<< <i>So they are charging you $4.00 for appr $1.25 in postal fees plus the padded envelope. >>
Not to nitpick, but USPS First Class shipping with delivery confirmation for a 3 oz package rings in at $2.22 and a 2 oz package is at $2.05. Not defending the $4 in charges by any means, but the recent hike in USPS charges has affected many sellers negatively. Coupled with feebay's new passive aggressive "shipping and handling" rating system, it's tough for some dealers to break even on shipping when you factor in packaging, etc.
Sorry, rant over.
<< <i>i've had 2 items lost by usps in a matter of weeks....one was mailed july 5th..the other july 6th...anybody else have this problem? >>
A seller sent a package with DC (confirmed) but I never received it.
He says it's my fault the package never made it to my mailbox
<< <i>i've had 2 items lost by usps in a matter of weeks....one was mailed july 5th..the other july 6th...anybody else have this problem? >>
once is a mistake, 2 is a problem. What do you know about your missing items?
<< <i>I'll agree...the "other insurance is a scam" I just had it pulled on me buy a large seller on Ebay.
Side note:...thanks for the great Reggie RC! Got it yesterday.
mathew
north of the border >>
While I don't condone the use of the "other insurance" in lieu of charging buyers USPS insured shipping costs, there are other options besides the USPS for insuring sportscards in the mail.
This company Collectibles Insurance Agency will insure your collection as well as any items you mail up to $2,500 for signature required and $200 without signature required. As long as the seller isn't misleading the buyer into thinking that he/she is paying for USPS insurance at USPS insurance rates, I don't see a problem with it. In fact, in my experience, it's a much faster refund than getting one through the USPS if your items are lost or damaged.
Jason
according to my values and my needs. Nothing holds dominion over me, I stand alone as the ruler of my life.
<< <i>Do e-bay cardboard powerhouses like dsl or 4sc or 4 sharp corners baseball or 4 sharp corners store or new england sportscards or shaqfu (red zone sportscards) make profit from selling graded cards or from the charges associated with mailing cards or both?
i support all these dealers, trust me, but just wonder how much profit they realize every quarter or year or whatever?
i am not bashing anybody, like i said, i support them, but simply wonder where they are most profitable?
i will not state shipping charges for any of the companies, b/c i think they make look negative on my part, but i do wonder how much s/h helps them stay afloat or out of the red.
julen >>
If you factor in the cost of using/selling on ebay with listing fees and FVF's, plus the cost of bubble mailers and shipping supplies, not to mention to costs associated with accepting PayPal payments much of your additional profit from shipping is negligible IMO. Personally, I always factor the cost of shipping into my bid..So if they charge more to ship, my bid is lower.
Its really not hard to make money in the grading game if you 1) Have a low cost provider of raw material, 2) Know which cards and what sets give you the most bang for your buck, and 3) Pay reduced grading fees to PSA. The dealers you mentioned do this on a VERY large scale. If I can make 15-20% profit busting a box or 2 and paying regular PSA grading fees just imagine what your profit would be if you are spending $100,000+ a month on busting boxes and getting them graded?
Jason
according to my values and my needs. Nothing holds dominion over me, I stand alone as the ruler of my life.
As for what 4SC and the like make...their shipping charges are high. No question, but for me, it boils down to the fact that it comes insured, it comes very fast, I always get feedback and they provide a service I can take advantage of... Do they make money on it? sure, they probably make a fair amount of money on it. But they also let you wait 14 days to pay before saying anything which has allowed me to win multiple cards over a 3 week listing period and get them all shipped together which has helped to offset the costs.
My eBay Store
BigCrumbs! I made over $250 last year!
Neither of those are considered lost yet by USPS policies.. I have had some slow shipping times recently, I think it could be due to the flooding in Texas and Oklahoma.
As far as third party insurance many sellers self insure or pay a service such as Upic to insure the item their rates are generally cheaper and are easier to deal with when it comes to filing a claim than the USPS.
lol some of you guys make me laff. how is it a scam if the seller PAYS out if your item is lost or damaged? Does it matter if he/she insures thru USPS, some other 3rd party insurer, or self insures. The bottom line is you are covered.
and fwiw I doubt very much that the guys you have stated above are makingall there money from the shipping.
Some of you guys need to take a course in business admin. or run a business.
Steve
He says it's my fault the package never made it to my mailbox.
This recently happened to me. Both within the same month 2 months ago.
Both items from different sellers both using Paypal printed DC slip. I didn't receive
either package and to this date, both DC #s still say "the post office was notified electronically
blah blah blah". One seller was cool about it, and the other wasn't. I got refunds on both
from paypal.
<< <i>Stown, fix the picture in your smiley face with the stick thing. It's really bothering me. >>
Ask and 'ye shall receive.
<< <i>
<< <i>So they are charging you $4.00 for appr $1.25 in postal fees plus the padded envelope. >>
Not to nitpick, but USPS First Class shipping with delivery confirmation for a 3 oz package rings in at $2.22 and a 2 oz package is at $2.05. Not defending the $4 in charges by any means, but the recent hike in USPS charges has affected many sellers negatively. Coupled with feebay's new passive aggressive "shipping and handling" rating system, it's tough for some dealers to break even on shipping when you factor in packaging, etc.
Sorry, rant over.
Totally agree. You guys think sellers are "making it" on shipping? Give me a break. Be happy with the card you receive and quit nitpicking Julen. chaz
Now julen, change your new avatar to something else. It's creeping me out. The avatar and sig line god has spoken.
DSL normally uses UPS for shipping and caps out at $8 max - that can be a bargain if you win several cards. I've shopped at DSL for a month and they let me keep the invoice open.
Randy