Subject:
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Re: Streamlining the parts selling process
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.market.theory
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Date:
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Thu, 30 Nov 2000 01:57:21 GMT
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Viewed:
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584 times
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In lugnet.market.theory, Lindsay Frederick Braun writes:
> In lugnet.market.theory, Frank Filz writes:
> > Larry Pieniazek wrote:
> > > What you see when you go to Mike Stanley's store is what's left after all
> > > the big buyers in GoB have picked it over. A lot of the good stuff doesn't
> > > make it out to the public because we snap it up.
> >
> > This discussion is getting me thinking about how to clear out some of
> > the parts overstock I'm experiencing. I have not typically been buying
> > sets to break down for parts,
There are many sets that I bought only for certain parts...there are very
few available sets that I buy for the model nowadays...In the past I was
able to auction the rest of the parts, so as to make the parts I kept
*free*... the market is more competitve now, so it is increasigly harder to
keep the Lego hobby self-sustaining, let alone profitable.
> > but there are some types of parts which
> > are probably desireable that I have tons of. Large orders would
> > certainly make it easier for me to get going on selling stuff.
>
> You know what I'm going to say...sell what you can, and then
> when you get a significant backlog of certain sorts of parts,
> it's eBay time...
I *used* to put up half or 3 quarters of the total amount of a certain
element for auction...saving the rest for trade or future use/sale. I have
a better grasp of my consumption/utility priorities now, so I have
discontinued ths practice...
> > I'm also imaginging that I'll be selling some lots on eBay for
> > approximately shipping cost just to avoid having to decide to throw away
> > parts in low demand.
>
> ...I've almost never had to do this. Case in point: An insane
> number of grey and tan 1x2 plates with 90-degree 1x4 half-thickness
> plate w/studs. (Don't know what else to call it.) I had about 100
> of them on offer--and pulled in about $20. I was really quite
> shocked, and it's less than ten cents per piece, but I was prepared
> to get $5. When you get to a certain level of bulk, I'm now almost
> convinced you'll always get enough to make it worthwhile...and
> there's almost always someone out there who *needs* that many for
> some unknown reason.
Quantity is often key...remember Lindsay when 10 Biker Scouts fetched
$25-$30 but 30 or 40 of the same figure fetched much more... I imagine
sellig stormtroopers by the dozens could be lucrative in the short term = )
> > One question is how to easily connect with what people are looking for.
>
> I don't know, it seems that Brickbay should be the perfect method.
> Only the tools might be refined, over time.
>
> > Another issue is that much of my overstock is sorted into my parts bins.
> > That means I can no longer guarantee it is new (but I could fulfill
> > parts orders as "like new" since 95% of the parts are new [and I've
> > started putting bricks and basic plates from used sets into a "used"
> > bucket instead of my parts bins]).
>
> Ack, you've started a *second* bin system? I'm still without
> a clue as to how you store the new stuff in the first place!
>
> > There are definitely parts which if I got clued into a bulk need for,
> > would be worth my while to dig up...[snip]
>
> All of my intel comes from reading LUGnet and clues gleaned
> from other trades and sales...and browsing eBay. There's also
> a lot to be said for correspondence with other sellers--I've
> gotten a lot of good hints from John Kanehl, for one, in themes
> that I don't usually follow.
HIGH PRAISE, indeed! (Lindsay taught me more about the selling cycles and
the eccentricities of the Pirate theme than months of eBay searching.) Safe
to say, I learned as much or more = )
> > On the flip side, I haven't bought many individual parts recently. Even
> > AucZilla which has been my largest source of individual part buys (as
> > opposed to mixed parts lots bought on eBay which are most of what I buy
> > these days on eBay) is getting pretty small purchases from me. One
> > factor is that I am still in sorting mode, so don't have specific needs,
> > but another factor is ease of use. It just isn't easy to "browse" for
> > parts.
I guess my attention span has dwindled...I need pics and lots of them to
make purchasing decisions.
> For me, it's the realization that only special niche parts are
> in my needs--for example, in the last aucZILLA, most of my purchases
> were 2x2 dark-grey med-slopes with copper Stingrays computer pattern--
> I use those everywhere, and if anyone has them lying around or doesn't
> like them, I'm happy to take them. Reading AucZILLA lists is usually
> an evening or two by itself, but my purchases there have become very
> small dollarwise.
I have never used Auczilla due to the inherent time lag and the prohibitive
cost of the items I generally look for... I also tend to enjoy auctioning
off items more than purchasing. I have also been able to establish good
trades...
> > Perhaps an interesting search option on Brickbay would be to be able to
> > enter a list of parts you know you don't want, and then pick a category
> > of parts, and see all the parts in that category which aren't on your
> > don't want list.
I think Dan should just have a "Bargain Basement" ... One Brickbay Kiosk
where all the sellers can dump there wares...a garage sale, flea market
page. Maybe a once a month or standing featured sale space. Maybe as a
last resort for other shop owners who don't have the traffic or the large
client base. Essentially a "flier" or "lost leader board" that lists these
slow moving elements and then directs buyers to individual stores or allows
them to purchase right then.
> Maybe an arbitrary 'banality level' assigned to pieces? ;)
> "I'd like to see all pieces below banality 3..."
Short of minifigures, I don't think I ever buy 3 of something...I like a
small pile (chances are if I need 3 of something, I could use 10)
> > Of course it also probably isn't a bad thing that I'm not buying many
> > parts. I had even practically sworn off eBay, but happend to look there
> > at a moment when someone was clearing out a huge collection of older
> > parts. Then another seller jumped in also (interestingly, both of these
> > folks are in Canada). I've been buying large quantities of older parts
> > which I've known I've wanted, but wasn't willing to pay outrageous sums
> > for old space sets to get. Now I've been buying lots with a significant
> > number of angled windows and other such nifty parts, to the point now
> > where I'm really slowing down on buying those.
>
> When I'm back in New Jersey, I may have to engage in some joint
> used-collection buys--I'm also in the game for older parts, esp.
> 6x5x2 inverse-slope Classic Space 'bucket' cockpit pieces.
Hmmm, what color? what sets?
BEWARE the big lots on eBay ... I have been less than satisfied on the last
3 despite exhaustive emails and investigation ... Maybe after I unload
50-100 pounds, I may try again. (My living space is quite full, not as full
as Frank's, but quite full, nonetheless)
>
> Incidentally, Frank, your departure from eBay buying hasn't made
> Pirate bits any cheaper. ;)
I have seen plenty of Imperial Guards + some BSBs / SESs go comparatively
cheaper than same time last year when the Pirate People were in acqisition...
> > Well, enough rambling on about that. I'll be watching these discussions
> > with interest.
>
> Likewise.
>
> best
>
> Lindsay
Hey Lindsay ... the "bunny" box is FULL = )
I am gonna be unlaoding TONS of stuff soon ... Let me know (gotta move and
put soe stuff in storage...gee, that sounds familiar)
John
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Streamlining the parts selling process
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| (...) Really? I wonder if any of the other big sellers would chime in and say whether or not profit has remained stable--I did really well last summer, and a part of me wants to engage in it again this summer (God knows I've got enough pieces). (...) (24 years ago, 30-Nov-00, to lugnet.market.theory)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Streamlining the parts selling process
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| (...) You know what I'm going to say...sell what you can, and then when you get a significant backlog of certain sorts of parts, it's eBay time... (...) ...I've almost never had to do this. Case in point: An insane number of grey and tan 1x2 plates (...) (24 years ago, 29-Nov-00, to lugnet.market.theory)
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