EBay as an export/import business?

by admin on March 13, 2010

I am going to use Ebay to sell products outside of the USA. How can i find out what products SPECIFIC countries might be MOST interested in buying based on the exchange rate? Like when USA residents go over the border to Canada or Mexico to shop and are able to buy more for the US dollar. How can i find out which countries would get the best deal for their currency by buying from me?

I have been a top Ebay seller for 4 years and just recently when the fees went up again I decided it if just not worth all the time and effort I put in. Wait until you see all the fees incolved? You have to look at your bottom line to see if you will acutally make any money.
Here are the bases for the fees:

Listing fee (Ebay)
Final Value Fee (Ebay)
All the Extra Fees to get your products NOTICED (Ebay)
Paypal fees (for payments especially out of country)
Materials fee (for shipping)
Cost of doing Business (all the computer ink to print invoices, the paper for notes to buyers, the paper to print on, the printer ink as I go through tons of cartridges)

Add all these fees up. Ebay loves you to list your items at less than a dollar but they now have a new policy that you can not list low and have a high S&H to cover the costs incurred. They call it circumventing fees. What is happening to Ebay is that it has become a BUYERS PARADISE. Low cost items sent cheap. Ebay does not even want us to recoop our time involved by adding a handling fee. This is ludicrious.

Many Sellers are pulling out. Just jump on there now and you will see less items offered. Pick one item and search for it. When all this was going down I was involved in the Powerseller discussion boards and many sellers were bailing out. I think Ebay is close to being FINISHED unless they change in 2007.

Also to get CHINA involved as a seller on Ebay, they have offered them listings for FREE while you and I pay standard rates. Why is this fair? The other problem is CHINA can sell anything cheaper than us USA sellers. Some of it is cheap knock-offs but some is good. Buyers are always going to buy the cheapest items on Ebay so they will buy all this junk China is peddling.
I even saw custom made Bridal Gowns sold (and shipped to US) for $39 full price. Are you kidding?
So I would suggest you do extensive research before you buy products to sell on Ebay. Many of us are finding that WEB Stores are the best way to go.

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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Nevada Pokerqueen March 13, 2010 at 11:56 am

I have been a top Ebay seller for 4 years and just recently when the fees went up again I decided it if just not worth all the time and effort I put in. Wait until you see all the fees incolved? You have to look at your bottom line to see if you will acutally make any money.
Here are the bases for the fees:

Listing fee (Ebay)
Final Value Fee (Ebay)
All the Extra Fees to get your products NOTICED (Ebay)
Paypal fees (for payments especially out of country)
Materials fee (for shipping)
Cost of doing Business (all the computer ink to print invoices, the paper for notes to buyers, the paper to print on, the printer ink as I go through tons of cartridges)

Add all these fees up. Ebay loves you to list your items at less than a dollar but they now have a new policy that you can not list low and have a high S&H to cover the costs incurred. They call it circumventing fees. What is happening to Ebay is that it has become a BUYERS PARADISE. Low cost items sent cheap. Ebay does not even want us to recoop our time involved by adding a handling fee. This is ludicrious.

Many Sellers are pulling out. Just jump on there now and you will see less items offered. Pick one item and search for it. When all this was going down I was involved in the Powerseller discussion boards and many sellers were bailing out. I think Ebay is close to being FINISHED unless they change in 2007.

Also to get CHINA involved as a seller on Ebay, they have offered them listings for FREE while you and I pay standard rates. Why is this fair? The other problem is CHINA can sell anything cheaper than us USA sellers. Some of it is cheap knock-offs but some is good. Buyers are always going to buy the cheapest items on Ebay so they will buy all this junk China is peddling.
I even saw custom made Bridal Gowns sold (and shipped to US) for $39 full price. Are you kidding?
So I would suggest you do extensive research before you buy products to sell on Ebay. Many of us are finding that WEB Stores are the best way to go.
References :
Ebay Powerseller, older and wiser

Michael P March 13, 2010 at 12:01 pm

When selling overseast the exchange rate is already changed over to their currency. Prices are similar so if they want it they will pay for it. Furhtermore, when shipping overseas you need to some research on Shipping overseas. It can be extreamly costly. I dont sell overseas anymore. To much of a hassle with customs paperwork and such.
References :
http://www.usps.com

David D March 13, 2010 at 12:33 pm

There may be something of use here.
References :
http://ebay-marketing.jims-info.com/

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