"selling books and videos on eBay"

[squeegee]

in another thread, user dsharpe mentioned this guy Terrance who says he sells nothing but books, ebooks, videos, software, and kits on eBay, and makes a decent return.

http://www.sellbooksandvideos.com

it sounds like a lot of fun to me. Can anyone speak to the income potential for this strategy and/or its appropriateness to the 4HWW style. I'm wondering if selling multiple cheap products may be harder to automate (versus selling one or two expensive products). Anybody? Bueller?

[EditorDude]

Sorry if this is an obvious question but I noticed that Tim's site was taking credit numbers - is it better to, use PayPal or is there a reason not to?

[ejdub]

It seems that he gives away a good deal of information in the blurb on the home page of the site. Just reading through it got my wheels spinning. Anyone have anything to add about making their own 'howto' books and videos for the eBay market?

[daelx]

It seems that he gives away a good deal of information in the blurb on the home page of the site. Just reading through it got my wheels spinning. Anyone have anything to add about making their own 'howto' books and videos for the eBay market?

Don't kid yourself. It's not as profitable as he makes it sound. I've been selling my books and software on eBay since 1999. It used to be very profitable, but eBay is losing it's once dominant power. There have been so many poorly produced products sold that when people see "Download Instantly" or "Immediate Delivery" they question the content.

I still make a reasonable income from eBay, but things have flip flopped for me. I used to make the majority of my money off eBay and a little from my own website. Probably 80% eBay and 20% Website... Now it's 80% from my Website and 20% from eBay.

Just my thoughts.

[squeegee]

@daelx
are you selling any physical hard copies, or are you selling instant downloads only?

[daelx]

@daelx
are you selling any physical hard copies, or are you selling instant downloads only?

I sell both. But I just recently switched to 100% download. The people that ordered hard copies are a pain in the bum. They are generally not very sophisticated and have the highest rate of return and problems. I don't won't the problems in exchange for their money.

Download products work the best for automation. For me I spend 80% of my time working on new products and 20% handling sales.

Hope this helps,

[kamakiri]

It used to be very profitable, but eBay is losing it's once dominant power.

The people who were selling on ebay a decade ago are the ones who made the real money, and people after that have been trying to catch up to them ever since. With the barriers to entry almost non-existent, anyone can get in the game. You can buy content, videos, and software for early nothing, re-brand it and have it selling on ebay within hours.

At this late stage in the game, it is the people who are producing content who are making the real money, not the guys at the end of the line selling it to the end consumer.

[daelx]

The people who were selling on ebay a decade ago are the ones who made the real money, and people after that have been trying to catch up to them ever since. With the barriers to entry almost non-existent, anyone can get in the game. You can buy content, videos, and software for early nothing, re-brand it and have it selling on ebay within hours.

At this late stage in the game, it is the people who are producing content who are making the real money, not the guys at the end of the line selling it to the end consumer.

I couldn't agree more... I have only sold my own content. I will stay that even doing this has slowed down considerably. I've noticed my eBay income drop by 50% over the last 3 years.

I personally think eBay is a dinosaur. Especially with their high fees, both eBay and paypal fees. You can sell all you want on E-Junkie for only $5.00 a month. Much better way to achieve sells. The money I used to spend on eBay now goes into building my marketing strategy and brand. Something that will last for a long time.

Personally I wouldn't put too much emphasis on eBay. I slowly reducing my listings there.

[ejdub]

Daelx-

Thanks for sharing the E-Junkie site with us. It looks like a really solid resource. I have an idea for my muse in the form of an e-book which I am currently writing with a friend. More to come on that later when the idea is a bit more developed. However, I'd like to take a look at your products/website to see how you've implemented E-Junkie. Can you post a link?

Thanks,
Ethan

[daelx]

Sure, send me a PM and I'll send you a couple of sites I'm using with E-Junkie.

[Mike Rhodes]

daelx

some great info - thanks for sharing.
must admit, I've hardly ever used ebay, but many of my US clients are going the same way as you & moving from ebay to their own store - the fees are just too expensive

build your own list, your own brand & market again & again over time - with valuable content (not junk)
it's a nice simple proven method :)

cheers,
mike