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| | | Author: | WooderIce64  | | Posted: | May 23, 2023 16:45 | | Subject: | Getting Started as a Seller | | Viewed: | 118 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| There is a lot to take in with this. I apologize if this comes off as incoherent.
When I was a kid in the 00s, I was a huge Lego collector, according to Brickset
129 sets in total. I'm done with them, and some of them have accumulated
some serious value. I estimate their accumulative value to be at least $5,000.
The prospect of selling them is appealing, but there are a lot of hurdles to
clear. Here are some thing I am unsure about.
1. I'm somewhat concerned about getting a positive feedback as a buyer.
Is it standard to give positive feedback to anyone who buys, or will it take
a few tries. I'm also not sure why a seller would give a buyer a negative
feedback. I'm not sure what purpose that would serve.
2. What are some good resources for getting started at the level I'm on?
Most articles online are about becoming a sort of Lego mogul selling all sorts
of new sets rather than just selling off your old sets.
3. How do you ship sets out? I don't have any idea how I would get the boxes/packaging
equipment, or how to label everything right before sending it out. I actually
used to work at GameStop so I know how they look when you send them out, I just
don't know how you go about doing that on your own.
4. How do you determine the price of your sets? I was thinking of targeting
the average price you see on the BrickLink market.
5. How does one anticipate the rising or dropping of the price of sets?
6. I also have the fronts and backs of the boxes for these sets, can I throw
those in as well?
If there's any other essential information I need to know, please let me
know.
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| | | | | Author: | macebobo | | Posted: | May 23, 2023 16:56 | | Subject: | Re: Getting Started as a Seller | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| In Help, WooderIce64 writes:
| | There is a lot to take in with this. I apologize if this comes off as incoherent.
When I was a kid in the 00s, I was a huge Lego collector, according to Brickset
129 sets in total. I'm done with them, and some of them have accumulated
some serious value. I estimate their accumulative value to be at least $5,000.
The prospect of selling them is appealing, but there are a lot of hurdles to
clear. Here are some thing I am unsure about.
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This is totally coherent.
| |
1. I'm somewhat concerned about getting a positive feedback as a buyer.
Is it standard to give positive feedback to anyone who buys, or will it take
a few tries. I'm also not sure why a seller would give a buyer a negative
feedback. I'm not sure what purpose that would serve.
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It serves a couple purposes. 1) It validates your address. 2) You see what the
buyer experiences.
If you buy and pay, you will likely get a positive feedback.
Look at sellers feedback left for others to learn if a seller even leaves feedback,
very FEW don't.
| | 2. What are some good resources for getting started at the level I'm on?
Most articles online are about becoming a sort of Lego mogul selling all sorts
of new sets rather than just selling off your old sets.
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This forum,the help pages, youtube and nubs-gpt.
| | 3. How do you ship sets out? I don't have any idea how I would get the boxes/packaging
equipment, or how to label everything right before sending it out. I actually
used to work at GameStop so I know how they look when you send them out, I just
don't know how you go about doing that on your own.
4. How do you determine the price of your sets? I was thinking of targeting
the average price you see on the BrickLink market.
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That's a good start.
| | 5. How does one anticipate the rising or dropping of the price of sets?
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By diligent observance.
| | 6. I also have the fronts and backs of the boxes for these sets, can I throw
those in as well?
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I am not sure I know what you're asking. Can you include the picture of the
box in the listings? Yes, with some guild lines.
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If there's any other essential information I need to know, please let me
know.
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Never stop learning. Some learning is inexpensive, and some is costly.
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| | | | | | | Author: | Nubs_Select | | Posted: | May 23, 2023 18:05 | | Subject: | Re: Getting Started as a Seller | | Viewed: | 32 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| | | This forum,the help pages, youtube and nubs-gpt.
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| | | | | Author: | peregrinator | | Posted: | May 23, 2023 17:43 | | Subject: | Re: Getting Started as a Seller | | Viewed: | 43 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| In Help, WooderIce64 writes:
I have to say, I think your name gives away your location somewhat. As long as
you're cool with that 
| | 1. I'm somewhat concerned about getting a positive feedback as a buyer.
Is it standard to give positive feedback to anyone who buys, or will it take
a few tries. I'm also not sure why a seller would give a buyer a negative
feedback. I'm not sure what purpose that would serve.
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There are reasons a buyer can get a negative feedback: sometimes buyers place
orders and don't pay, for example. Admittedly there are reasons that aren't
always so good.
| | 2. What are some good resources for getting started at the level I'm on?
Most articles online are about becoming a sort of Lego mogul selling all sorts
of new sets rather than just selling off your old sets.
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Ignore anything talking about becoming wealthy selling Lego on BrickLink or anywhere
else.
| | 3. How do you ship sets out? I don't have any idea how I would get the boxes/packaging
equipment, or how to label everything right before sending it out. I actually
used to work at GameStop so I know how they look when you send them out, I just
don't know how you go about doing that on your own.
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I don't really sell sets but it's going to depend on a number of factors:
for example, do you have the box? Then you have to put the box in a bigger box.
If you have a printer, definitely create a Pirate Ship account so you can take
advantage of commercial shipping rates.
Invest in a cheap postal scale.
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| | | | | Author: | wildchicken13 | | Posted: | May 23, 2023 18:06 | | Subject: | Re: Getting Started as a Seller | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| In Help, WooderIce64 writes:
| | 1. I'm somewhat concerned about getting a positive feedback as a buyer.
Is it standard to give positive feedback to anyone who buys, or will it take
a few tries. I'm also not sure why a seller would give a buyer a negative
feedback. I'm not sure what purpose that would serve.
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The feedback system is used to build trust and to warn others about potentially
problematic members, both buyers and sellers alike. If you pay for your order
within a reasonable amount of time and don't cause any problems, you will
almost surely receive positive feedback. Some sellers are better about giving
feedback than others. The one positive feedback requirement to sell also gives
you a chance to experience what it's like to be a buyer which helps make
you a better seller.
| | 2. What are some good resources for getting started at the level I'm on?
Most articles online are about becoming a sort of Lego mogul selling all sorts
of new sets rather than just selling off your old sets.
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If you haven't done so already, I recommend using BrickEconomy to track the
market value of your collection. This forum is also a good place to start and
there are help pages that explain the buying and selling process in detail.
| | 3. How do you ship sets out? I don't have any idea how I would get the boxes/packaging
equipment, or how to label everything right before sending it out. I actually
used to work at GameStop so I know how they look when you send them out, I just
don't know how you go about doing that on your own.
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What condition are they in? If they are used sets that have been built already,
they will most likely need to be disassembled before shipping and the parts will
need to be packed into bags. You should also check the set contents against the
BrickLink inventory to determine whether or not it is complete. If the sets are
still sealed then they can be shipped as is or without the set box in order to
save space.
Most office supply stores (Staples, Office Depot, etc.) sell basic shipping supplies
like boxes, clear tape, bubble wrap, etc. You can also buy this stuff from Amazon
or Walmart. The post office also has some free shipping supplies.
You can buy postage at the post office, but if you have a printer, you can save
a lot of time and money by purchasing and printing postage at home. If you accept
payments via PayPal, then you can use PayPal to generate a shipping label. You
can also use Pirate Ship or USPS Click-N-Ship. To print the label, you can either
use a standard inkjet or laser printer or a special thermal label printer just
for printing shipping labels.
| | 4. How do you determine the price of your sets? I was thinking of targeting
the average price you see on the BrickLink market.
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It depends how fast you want to sell. In general, the lower you price your sets,
the faster they will sell.
| | 5. How does one anticipate the rising or dropping of the price of sets?
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It is rare for retired sets to go down in price. You can use BrickEconomy to
track the current market value of sets and see their predicted value. You can
also track the value using the Price Guide here on BrickLink.
| | 6. I also have the fronts and backs of the boxes for these sets, can I throw
those in as well?
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Yes, you can include the box. Some buyers want it, but others don't because
it adds volume to the order and increases the shipping cost.
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| | | | | Author: | Adjour | | Posted: | May 23, 2023 18:32 | | Subject: | Re: Getting Started as a Seller | | Viewed: | 41 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| Honestly if they aren't in boxes that makes your life 1000 times easier.
I would just keep the cut up boxes and sell them in one lot on ebay.
Since you are new, I would sell the cheaper stuff first. Expensive stuff brings
out both scammers and very picky buyers.
Also inventory you sets, not once but twice
I sold my Dad's star wars collection in 2015 from that era. You couldn't
pay me to do it again.
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| | | | | Author: | abriggs | | Posted: | May 23, 2023 22:13 | | Subject: | Re: Getting Started as a Seller | | Viewed: | 36 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| In Help, WooderIce64 writes:
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3. How do you ship sets out? I don't have any idea how I would get the boxes/packaging
equipment, or how to label everything right before sending it out. I actually
used to work at GameStop so I know how they look when you send them out, I just
don't know how you go about doing that on your own.
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IMO, shipping is the most important thing to get right. I recommend you get
an account on Pirate Ship or something similar, it's free. You will get
a discount on USPS rates which makes shipping cheaper for your buyers. Also
get a scale with enough accuracy to show you ounces. You need to know the weight
of the packages you are sending. Pretty much all of my boxes/packaging are re-used
from items I receive. Also, having Lego bagged in sealable plastic baggies is
pretty standard on Bricklink. I've gotten sets bagged up by color and others
that are all the pieces in one bag. I've been fine with either. Good luck!
That first sale is fun and exciting!
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| | | | | Author: | legoman77 | | Posted: | May 24, 2023 10:27 | | Subject: | Re: Getting Started as a Seller | | Viewed: | 36 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| In Help, WooderIce64 writes:
| |
If there's any other essential information I need to know, please let me
know.
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I did not read all the replies but here are my suggestions that made me a fairly
good seller"
1. Use your own pictures, not stock photos.
2. List everything that is not perfect with your sets and the boxes and bricks.
3. Keep your terms simple and easy to read and figure out what it means to the
buyer. Terms is not a way to get more money from a buyer.
4. Check the listings of what is for sale and price accordingly. Price is dependent
on condition and how quickly you want to sell your item.
5. If you put the item as complete, make sure. I inventoried or built all sets
months before I started selling.
6. Ship very quickly. You have their money, they should have their items quickly.
7. I used minimum purchases. If any asked me to go under the minimum I took
their order. If someone needed one part, I sent it for free. That is better
than all the advertising you can do.
8. Treat your buyers like you wanted to be treated, or better.
9. You will not become rich because of Bricklink, just picking up a few bucks
here and there.
10. Leave feedback once the order is paid. That is the quickest way to build
your feedback history.
11. If you have a sale make it a real sale. Don't flood the forum announcing
your sale.
12. Work with your buyers. Never get angry, just go by the facts. Be polite
even if a buyer has screwed you somehow.
13. Package very well, in a way they will be your items forever. Don't
let "your" items get damaged in transit.
14. Have fun and enjoy the people you come in contact with. Bad sentence (Churchill
said "Ending a sentence with a preposition is something I can not up with
put."
Hope this helps a bit,
John P
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USA, Pennsylvania
Canada, Ontario
