Just say NO.

I think it would be great if I had someone to list some stuff of mine that I think would sell, and then watch all those items, and when they sell, pack them up and get them on their way to the buyer FAST, rain, hail, sleet or snow! Gee, that would be fun, just sitting back and waiting for the money to come rolling in!

I did ask a KTer to buy something for me, since I don't have an account and have no plans for ever having one. She very graciously did that and even worked with the seller to have it shipped to me. I won't mention her name because she might be inundated with others wanting the same help. She can identify herself if she wants to.

Again, just say NO, because if you do it for one, you will be expected to do it for others (DM excepted).

Sue

I once asked a friend to list some things for me as she had already done it and knew all about it. I offered her a part of the profit after all the fees. She explained just how much work it was to do it from start to finish (on dial-up even) and she wasn't interested. I knew she had listed some things for another friend, and she explained that it wasn't really worth her time for what she ended up making on it.

I know of 2 different eBay stores...places that will do the listing from start to finish, including the shipping for a part of the profit. Possibly you could find such a place for them to contact and use.

Sue

I wish I had someone to do that for me (someone I knew) There is a place in town that does that as a business. I went in and got their list of charges etc but didn't have time to look at it and now I can't find it.
I have so much stuff to get rid of DS did sell some Kitty Cucumber figurines for me (brought great prices)but he has slacked off.

i've had people ask me...i told them to set their price...put a reserve on it...I'll take the picture, list it under my account, ship it out...for 20 percent...that's what most of the places that sell on ebay charge around here...That usually shuts them up...i figure if their really serious they'll have me do it...

I'm still stung by my first negative (from someone with ZERO feedback) so I haven't been selling since late October...it took me 7 years to build up 202 positives and in one felt swoop she ruined my perfect feedback! oh well..

MIL is sending a bunch of old china home with us at Christmas to list..(FIL had a jewelry store for years that sold china, silver, stainless) so i'll give it a try...i'm afraid she's gonna be disappointed, but maybe not!

I'm really just out there selling to clean out my own house...so I know where you're coming from about helping someone out...I think it's great you do it for your Mom...she probably gets a charge outta the hunt at yard sales...i've thought about doing that as well..but still have lots more cleaning out to do of my own stuff!!

I tell them no. It is not worth the time and effort.

And the rather sad part is that even if it doesn't sell, there is still a fee...right. One does have the option to relist it one time for free though. Then if it still doesn't sell, all of the time, trouble, and fee has been for nothing...right?

Is it wise maybe to start with a really low list price of say 99 cents?

Sue

I do from time to time, to help others. Recently sold some football tickets for a friend, but it took three listings because the team wasn't doing well. Since that was the only thing I was selling that month, I just printed off the invoice and showed him, then deducted that amount from the payment, and gave him the rest. He was pleased, even tho he lost money on the whole thing.

In the beginning I did list a bunch of Longaberger baskets for a friend who used to sell them, and she was really picky about how much she wanted, and only one or two ever sold. She was really difficult to work with, so I eventually gave the ones that didn't sell, back to her.

I did it once and it was a nightmare. I lost sleep over it and made a measly $20, I think. I had the bidder from He!! and she made my life miserable for at least a week, maybe longer. I should have cancelled her bid and blocked her, my life would have been easier for sure. AND I had to package it up to HER specificatations, not mine, and I sweated the delivery to Canada, not knowing if it would get there in good condition or not, and then I sweated her feedback. I would never do it again. I risked MY feedback for someone else, it's just not worth it.

Lydia, if you offer to help someone set up their own account and they choose not to take your help, I would consider that enough. Otherwise, just say no, it's more time-consuming than I have time for now. And be sure to tell them that there are Ebay Sellers all over the place that take about 35% of the sale and they can be found in the yellow pages, usually. We have one just down the road from us.

Yes, it's happened to me, too. I always say no, except with one close friend who's also a widow. I've sold some larger-ticket items for her, on eBay and Craigslist.

I remember how I bugged my DS to sell stuff for me on eBay until he convinced me that once I got into it myself I'd enjoy it.

And the rather sad part is that even if it doesn't sell, there is still a fee...right. One does have the option to relist it one time for free though. Then if it still doesn't sell, all of the time, trouble, and fee has been for nothing...right? That is true Sue.

Sometimes starting at 99 cents gets a lot of bidders - other times you end up selling the item for 99 cents. :-)

A couple of the people did offer me a percentage of 10 or 20 percent...but it's so not worth it unless you are selling Rolex watches or other expensive items. The businesses around here that sell for you charge 40% to 50%, sounds like a lot but that covers everything including fees.

I haven't sold on ebay for almost 2 years, but I had a few people that used to ask me to sell stuff for them. I told them I would charge 50%. A few took me up on it. But it is a huge hassle to do it for only $3-$5. If they don't like your terms, direct them to an ebay sellers store.

When I was doing a lot of Ebaying, I had people ask me all the time to sell their crap - very annoying, I agree!
What I did and will still do if someone asks is look up the item on ebay in the completed listings to see if it sold for anything decent, and how many people bid on it, translated to how much interest is there in this item.
If one person bid 99 cents forget it, not worth the time and effort. If 10 people bid and it sold for $99 - well it might be worth your time if you get a percentage, or if you are feeling charitable towards a family member.
Think about the steps to "ebay" something -
Gather the item, clean if necessary.
Take a picture of it or multiples.
Upload those to your computer, crop and/or clean up.
List the item.
Field questions from potential buyers about size, shape, color etc.
Investigate shipping on postal site or wrap item and take to post office so you know shipping cost.
Communicate with buyer regarding payment.
Take item to post office and ship it out.
For an item that you are gonna get 99 cents for is all this work really worth it?
Suzan J

they don't realize the amount of work that goes into an auction

Yes, they do. That's precisely why they want you to do it for them.

Just say no, or charge a hefty fee.

Like most have said, just say no, it's not worth it.

I haven't sold on e-bay, may someday, but I have a small thrift shop and have people all the time wanting me to take their crap and sell it. I tell them no, I don't do that.

I do sell things for my DDs and that's no problem and they accept whatever price I put on their things, most times more than they would themselves if having a yard sale.

Then they want to know where I get all my things if not from other people, I tell them I take donations and it's amazing how many people drop off things when they're cleaning house and want to get rid of it.

If you have offered to assist them in selling and they don't accept, then they don't want to sell their items very bad. You don't need the headaches.

Introduce them to craigslist. It's easier to outright sell something than auction it, pack it, etc. etc. etc. And YOUR feedback numbers aren't in jeopardy.