Selling on Ebay - Interesting results from 29 recent auctions

[Nicholls9]

With UM12 coming out and the chance to track down some new Nicholls cards, I decided to sell a few things on Ebay. I've not sold anything on there since last year and wondered how the postal increase to Canada would affect sales coming from the US (Colorado). I put in the auction details that shipping to Canada is $6 which is a loss for me as postage alone is more than that. I also stated that I would send up to 3 cards for that amount.

I grabbed a stack of cards from the front of the box which included some Dominion (Klingberg, Eakin ARP Rookies), Wings Pen Pal (Nyquist & Smith) and some Prime including a Paajarvi Prime Namesakes Auto "P." Nothing major with more PC stuff then hot rookies or hard to find cards. I set up 29 auctions, 24 received bids and sold for a total of $149. By country, here are where the auction winners are located:

USA - 23
Sweden - 1
Canada - 0

Although I never kept track before, I would estimate that 50-75% of my ebay auctions went to Canada.

I've seen a lot of posts about how this recent USPS rate increase is hurting the hobby and this is the first time i've experienced it. It's a bummer for sellers and it must be hard on everyone up north. Probably not many "Ebay Steals" with shipping in the $6-7 range.

It will be intersting to see what the traffic is like at the expo as there might be a lot of lower end cards selling if people didn't want to pay shipping.

Thanks for the read.

 

[rhcardinals3]

That is pretty crazy that not 1 card was sold to someone in Canada.

 

[quincy]

The new shipping charges are killing it.

 

[dismonkey1]

I sold approx. 20 cards on ebay lately from U.S. to Canada. Listed shipping to Canada/worldwide as $5.50 (loss for me) and $2.50 to U.S. I sold 1 to Russia, and then pretty much split the rest between Canada and the U.S. Few of the cards were under $10 cards, most in the $20/$30 range. One canadian buyer did buy 4 of my lower end cards (approx. 5$ a piece) as a bulk shipping. It is a good deal for him, not so good for me as shipping cost me almost $9.00 due to the weight. I think HI members need to work something out where shipping in a manilla envelope at around $3 is an acceptable HI option for one/two low/mid grade cards. I have never had a regular non-mem. card the was shipped PWE or similar arrive damaged. It is the thick cards you have to worry about as they won't make it through the sorter/ and or need extra protection. If cheaper shipping became an acceptable standard from U.S. to Canada, then we could hopefully resolve this problem.

 

[Burner]

I've noticed a big surge in US buyers over Canadian buyers. Even on cards of players that would almost 100% sell in Canada (ie. Luongo, Sedin, and Guy Lafleur for example).

 

[Craig2]

I've created a second Ebay account using my in-laws' address across the bridge in Buffalo, so that I can bid on cards from American buyers and save on shipping. That jump from free shipping or $2 to $6.50-$7.00 is a serious detraction on mid-end cards. I also like not having to wait for Customs, which means getting items quicker.

If I didn't have this American address, I would no longer bid on anything but high-end cards because of those shipping costs.

 

[timber09]

I am not going got to beat the horse of the PWE between countries but I will not be doing it as a seller. Sorters are far do damaging.

Back on point though -
I have seen a huge influx of international buyers and am nearly back to the pre-hike split between domestic and international purchases. I charge $7.50 for all cards shipped and haven't heard any grousing about the price over the past month or so. Obviously there are likely many affected but many are still out there buying and have likely changed the way they approach international purchases a bit.

 

[pens1fan]

I'm still using $3.50 to ship to Canada. There is a way to ship US Post Office without the new increase and still ship in bubble mailers. You tell the clerk you want to send First Class International Large Envelope. A #000 bubble mailer with up to 4 regular or 1 100pt w/ jersey is thin enough to go through USPS automated sorter. I make sure to tape all 4 edges nice and neat. The last month I have about 50 auctions and I think about 40 of them went to Canada, so 90%. My buyers have received cards in as little as 4 days, shipping from US to Canada using this method. Of course on thicker cards like Cup cards I will send them International Package, but I eat the difference in shipping.

 

[chefjason]

as a Canadian buyer, I dont buy from American sellers anymore due to the shipping rate, its just to much to justify. that said, I have missed out on some pretty good PC cards that I just sucked it up and let pass, Just have to wait till a Canadian seller offers the same, I am learning hobby patience

 

[Frendo]

No matter how much I does despises allt hose crazy new rates but I can't just stop to buying cards from uSA-sellers...$3-$4.50 extra in shipping for every card is pretty brutal yes but it's stupid to avoiding to buying from USA-sellers (those who still offers shipment outswide USA) because it's pretty usual that USA-based sellers often has more cards than their canadian counterparts.

But there is a thing I hates even more is that more and more sellers has a very low thresshold for requiring tracked shipping who often exceeds $20 or even more!
The threshold can be as low as $20!

Come again! $20 now that's laughable!
Makes so much more sense if it's +$100 absolutely but not below IMO.

It's pretty sad to seeing the hocky hobby slowing dying at lately almost just because those new shipment rates....