Back on eBay for a Trial

I started selling on eBay in 1997, when total listings on the site were about 400,000 items. I have sold things on eBay, off and on for the past 13 years. The changes to eBay, mostly made by the brain trust that succeeded Meg Whitman, made selling in the auction format less desirable and much less profitable. The continued economic problems has also decreased sales on eBay. (When you can't pay your mortgage you aren't looking for my kind of junk as a whim). I listed a few items during the past year, but sales were marginal and not worth the effort.

I like to list paper items. Mostly postcards, but books, manuals and other ephemera were my items of choice. I also often listed pottery, mostly because I know a lot about pottery and I am often able to find pieces at auction for a good price. Most of the postcards that I sold were city views. Something like a real photo of main street from Decorah Iowa from 1909. These almost always sold and often sold well. (A pair of postcards of main street in Watson Alberta sold for $134). I listed some city views earlier this summer and no bids. Nothing. I listed some souvenir glassware (which also was usually a good seller) only one item sold and it only had one bid.

Yesterday I listed 9 items on eBay. Some souvenirs, a book, a piece of Scandinavian pottery and a great advertising piece. Now we'll see if there are any buyers still on eBay. Wish me LUCK.

Mr. Flannery