how would you sell this stuff?

[KTP]

Ok, I am seriously getting tired of having no space. We have decided to sell off some items that have been in storage or boxed up for over 10 years (some boxes we have not opened at all for that long).

One of the biggest space takers is lego sets. Almost all of them have the orginal boxes, and a large number of them are even unopened. Mostly these are the castle set series from the 1980s and 1990s. A quick check on ebay shows some of them selling (in completed listings) for $100 to $200, with other smaller newer sets in the range of $5 to $25.

I am considering an ebay storefront or something, at least for a month or two to try and sell these, but I am skeptical about getting burned on shipping, and also I do not want to spend an hour packing up a few dinky sets that sell for $4 each. Ebay makes you put the shipping price when you list the auction now, so you really have to be bang on with your numbers or you can end up making little or nothing in the auction.

If it were a few sets I would just have a yard sale or something..but we are talking over 300 sets here.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I'd bundle the smaller sets into lots and offer them on ebay. I think your bundles will make you a bundle! Just don't do as I and let your kid play with them outside, thus obligating you to unearthing legos from the vegetable garden for the next 15 years.

[KTP]

thats actually a good idea...of course I don't have to sell them individually!

It is really hard to set a price on things now that ebay has reduced the completed listing database timeframe to only 2 weeks. They now charge you $25 to research completed auctions longer than that amount (but only up to 3 months). What a company!

[disneysteve]

I am skeptical about getting burned on shipping

Why would you get burned on shipping? The buyer pays the shipping costs. Before listing anything on ebay, you should know how much it weighs for shipping. You can go to usps.com to calculate shipping. You can order free Priority Mail boxes. I scavenge shipping supplies like tissue paper and packing peanuts anywhere I can and have never paid a penny for those things. The only thing I do pay for is bubble wrap, but you won't need that for Lego.

[creditcardfree]

Yes...sell them on ebay. I actually bought some legos a couple of years ago for my daughter's. They play with the set I had as a kid at my parents. I wanted them to have an older set at our house. The set I bought didn't have a box, which was fine with me. People will pay good money for legos in good condition, especially if the box is included in good condition and there are all the pieces. But, the will pay even if they arent!!

Ebay is definitely the way to go...there are flat rate shipping boxes at usps.com for free also. Same price anywhere in the US. Just check the sizes to make sure your legos will fit.

[disneysteve]

there are flat rate shipping boxes at usps.com for free also. Same price anywhere in the US. Just check the sizes to make sure your legos will fit.

True. You should still check the shipping weight, though, because I've often found that the flat rate was more than if I sent it in a regular Priority box.

[EEinNJ]

As KTP points out, it's not just the risk of underestimating shipping costs. Taking good pictures, a description, monitoring the auction, all adds up to a lot of work. Prices seem depressed on E-bay lately, and things don't always sell- my wife tried to sell some things like Star Trek figures and had no luck.
You might try Craigslist, or maybe there are sites for people into Legos?

[sk24iam]

I would suggest making a single large classifieds ad on craigslist. There are no fees involved so it won't cost you a dime.

Another route would be ebay as you said. Setting up an ebay store can get complicated fast if you don't have the time to monitor it. Maybe sell 10 sets a week on ebay through seperate auctions. Be aware, you will have to pay ebay as well as paypal fees.

[creditcardfree]

You don't need a 'store' to sell them.

If I remember correctly, your first 5 listings per month are free to list. You still pay if they sell. I've been off ebay for a few months.

Why not try a couple of sets first and see how it seems to work. You may also have better luck closer to the holidays(Nov & early Dec) when people are looking for gifts.

[MonkeyMama]

I'd sell them on ebay. Easy Peasy. The big ones anyway. Lump small ones and sell on Ebay or Craigslist. (Ebay is usually less hassle in the end, really).

As far as shipping, ebay sometimes has unusual shipping policies. (Like we prefer not to ship standard mail because it SUCKS and takes 20 times as long (literally!). But we are not aloud to charge the amount priority mail costs, on games - which is mostly what we sell. Different rules for different categories).

So, we eat the difference (it's not much). Not sure what Ebay's problem is, but people will pay slightly more for items with less shipping costs. IT's worth eating the difference for happy customers and less hassle.

We often list items as "free shipping" because then they get bid up WAY higher. So yeah - it all evens out.

I wouldn't sweat the shipping. Just get a scale and familiarize yourself with the USPS web site - shipping rates and such. Heck, all you need is the weight and ebay will figure the rest for you.

[creditcardfree]

Just get a scale and familiarize yourself with the USPS web site - shipping rates and such. Heck, all you need is the weight and ebay will figure the rest for you.

I actually use a food scale I bought at Walmart for $10! It's pretty accurate.

Most USPS prices are based on pounds not ounces. So, if your package weighs 1 pound 4 oz, you will pay the shipping for an item between 1 -2 pounds. I hope that helps.

[wnlbutterfly]

I have done two different rounds of selling my Barbie collection. First was a couple years ago, and I collected $400. This summer I weeded out the collection even more and pulled in another $400. I grouped them all into sets of some kind.

I did error on estimating shipping...go ahead and get them packaged and figure up the shipping. I lost a few $ on some, but was ahead on others so hopefully broke even. Decide if you will combine shipping ahead of time because some one WILL ask. Also if you don't want to ship international, besides marking the box on where you will ship, put it into your description because someone will ask.

You should do really well with Legos.

[Justice44]

Lego Sets

Ok, I am seriously getting tired of having no space. We have decided to sell off some items that have been in storage or boxed up for over 10 years (some boxes we have not opened at all for that long).

One of the biggest space takers is lego sets. Almost all of them have the orginal boxes, and a large number of them are even unopened. Mostly these are the castle set series from the 1980s and 1990s. A quick check on ebay shows some of them selling (in completed listings) for $100 to $200, with other smaller newer sets in the range of $5 to $25.

Your lego sets take me back to the good old days. Even though I should know better I am tempted to buy it.

[mom-from-missouri]

Have you tried unloading some of them by calling local preschool and daycare centers?? I once had a call about some items for sale in a storage unit back when I had a preschool center and I went to the unit and bought a lot of stuff