Customer Reviews

How to Start and Run an eBay Consignment Business

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This is a great idea for a book, and I was glad to see it was written by a longtime, successful Powerseller with experience running his own eBay consignment business. This is a how-to book from a real entrepreneur, who is giving some real-world advice. He tells you exactly what works, what doesn't work, and why.

It's clear that eBay has some momentum with its "Trading Assistant" program. Since its launch last year, 80,000 sellers have signed up, and eBay drop-off sites are popping up everywhere. People with stuff to sell are becoming aware that this is a real alternative to yard sales and newspaper classifieds. Once you sign up with eBay to become a Trading Assistant, you're listed in their Web site directory, where potential customers can find you by Zip Code.

How big is the opportunity? The author estimates that just one company, AuctionDrop, is closing about $50,000 worth of auctions a week on eBay. With a commision rate of 40 percent, that comes to a gross margin of $20,000 a week. Ramping up to a scale this big would certainly require some employees, rent payments, and advertising. But once you've proven your business at a smaller scale, you can expand at your own pace. Any one-person eBayer relatively skilled at selling could generate $1,000 to $5,000 in weekly profits, the author says. That sounds pretty darned good.

So this book solves the main problem for someone starting a new online business -- finding enough merchandise to sell at prices low enough to bring a profit. With the consignment model, people bring the merchandise to you, and after you sell it, you pocket a commission less your expenses. If it doesn't sell, you return the item to its owner.

Of course this book will have limited appeal to casual hobby sellers who aren't interested in devoting much time to selling. Only those ambitious enough to try -- and disciplined enough to follow the advice in this book -- will be able to carry it off. But by the same token, there are real opportunities here for people willing to do the work. Think of the millions of people interested in getting cash for their old possessions, but aren't interested in learning how to sell to sell on eBay themselves. Many of these folks probably realize they could get a much higher price for their items by letting someone else sell it for them online, where a worldwide pool of buyers can bid up the price.

But there are pitfalls to a consignment business. To do it right, you need to set up a real bookkeeping system for consignments. You'll need good insurance coverage if you store merchandise that belongs to someone else, in the event of fire, flood, or some other disaster. There's also the problem of managing the expectations of the folks you're accepting merchandise from. Popular shows such as "Antiques Roadshow" have convinced too many people that treasures are lurking in their attic or basement. Lots of the stuff isn't valuable, it's just old.

Fortunately the author provides sound advice on this and many more issues that the average seller probably hasn't thought through yet. For example, how can you represent yourself as a bonded auctioneer? How do you protect yourself from illegal activity such as stolen goods? The author provides bulletproof answers to these issues, so the peace of mind you'll have from reading this book will be worth its cover price many, many times over.

Lots more ideas you've probably never thought of are here in this book. For example, an online consignment business could target the lucrative business of estate sales. Online sellers could probably do a better job of selling more of the items, and at higher prices. And they could do this at a lower commission rate than traditional estate-sale operators, who conduct weekend-long walk-in sales require staffing and expensive newspaper advertisements.

There are lots more topics covered in this book, too numerous to mention them all here. In addition to the helpful tutorials on eBay selling skills, I thought the most essential sections included:
How Much Should I Charge?
Find Consignment Customers
Sell Retail Store Closeouts
Raise Money for Nonprofit Organiations
Conducting Estate Auctions
Conducting Bankruptcy and Repossession Sales
Corporate Consignment Sales
Set Up a Consignment Storefront
Organization and Record Keeping
Write Your Business Plan

The book also includes sample agreements, forms and letters and provides access to a Web site with these types of materials.

I think anyone contemplating an online consignment business -- or looking for ways to expand their current online business -- should pick up a copy of this book and read it cover to cover. It's a thoroughly researched book with up-to-date advice and resources that can be tremendously helpful to anyone selling merchandise online.

About 85% of the book is in Titanium Ebay, and in the exact same words. Its just cut and paste. If this is your first Skip McGraph book, this is excellent way to start.

I love McGraph style, and incisive info on the Ebay business. He tells you insider secrets of PowerSellers, and their tactics. But the best are the cases he makes, examples of what to buy, how to sell it and profit. He opens up your mind that almost everything sells.

In his 304 page Consignment start up manual Skip McGrath has given you a virtual business-in-a-box that rivals what you would get from a $20,000 franchise.

What impresses me most about Skip is that he isn't just another writer who researches a topic and then pretends to be an expert. Skip actually writes from experience! He's a seasoned eBay Consignment seller and eBay Power Seller. He sells thousands of dollars worth of product on eBay every single month.

In "How to Start and Run an eBay Consignment Business" Skip starts with the basics and shows you how to set up your business. Topics covered include How To Structure Your Business, Business Licenses, Record Keeping, Insurance, and other mundane but necessary tasks.

In Chapter 3 Skip hits the ground running and gets into the nitty gritty details of exactly what you need to do to get your eBay Consignment Business rolling. You'll learn:

How Much To Charge
How To Find Consignment Customers
What Items Sell Well on eBay
How To Market Your Business
Selling Retail Store Closeouts
Selling Estate Auction Merchandise
Bankruptcy and Repossession Sales
Corporate Consignment
Automating Your Business
Auction Photography
Should You Set Up a Consignment Storefront?
How To Become an Auction Master
How To Perform Research
How To Create Killer Auction Listings
How To Write Winning Auction Descriptions
Sample Agreements, Forms, and Letters
And More, Including a Consignment Startup Checklist and an Online list of all the resources and links mentioned in the manual.

If you're still looking to start your own home based business eBay Consignment may just be the perfect business for you. "How to Start and Run an eBay Consignment Business" is a great place to get the full low down.

If you're already considering eBay Consignment as a business stop reading and get this book now!

And if you already have an eBay Consignment business, get this book and learn how to expand your business and run it more efficiently.

I have read more than my share of ebay info products online and in paperback. This book is a complete guide to getting your foot in the door and capitalizing from Skip McGrath's knowledge and expertise. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. This book gave me a road map on what exactly to do from start to finish when starting an eBay consignment business. Don't waste thousands of dollars or man hours when you can use this book to guide you every step of the way.
Kudos to you Skip McGrath!!

This is a great book with tons of info to get you started. It is so easy to read and written well. I was hanging on every word and re-reading it to soak it all up. I actually think there could have been more info. I have not ventured onto his website yet. That might be my answer for the additional info I need. I think he gave you all the basics, his opinion and his experience. And then not to bore people he gives you resources to find more info. The sample forms in the back and great. I would definitely recommend this book.

Buy this book if you want to sell on consignment. I used the techniques to find a James Bond collector, with a $10,000 collection. I sold every piece, net profit to me: $3000. Another collector selling Nascar diescast on eBay commissioned
me to sell his diecast cars. I sold every one, net profit to me: $2000....NOT BAD FOR A $20 BOOK!!!!
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A good overview on a patient use of eBay. This works well establishing long-term relationships with regular customers. Consignment is also an entry for those individuals not wanting to be sales people but creates them into one comfortably. I recommend it as a part of your library. Try it for knowledge of another way to source your business.

This book gives you all that you really need to know about running an ebay business including pitfalls and things to be aware of that you normally would have to learn the hard way. It is definately worth every penny I paid for it!!

A fantastic resource for people wanting to start an eBay consignment business. You can actually talk to the author if you have a question. This book is the real deal. If you're ready to start your new business, run, don't walk, to the book store and pick this up.

Skips book How to Start and Run an eBay Consignment Business is the best resource for zeroing in on becoming a successful Trading Assistant. There are many other books out there, but most of them cover many things about eBay. Skip covers every aspect of the business. I have been an successful TA for many years and still refer back to this book.