How to get rich selling razors on ebay?

[KeNd0]

Stumbled upon this last night, thought I would share.
Too bad he chose our "niche".

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http://www.squidoo.com/whattosellonebay

Excerpt

Finding A Profitable eBay Niche - Part III
Now that we know the basic criteria of a profitable eBay niche, we are going to look at one specific niche and see if it meets the criteria I set to further research it's profit potential on eBay.

The niche I've chosen to research is vintage safety razors. Let's see how they stack up against the first five criteria we've established for a potentially profitable eBay niche.

1. The item must be readily available in fair sized numbers - Safety razors fit this criteria. They can be found in nearly every antique shop/mall or flea market you go to. Most dealers won't have an extensive selection, but you will probably fine several dealers who have a small selection of 5 to 10 for sale.

2. You should be able to find numerous examples priced in the $1 to $10 range with most priced in the lower half of that range - While there are always exceptions, most of the old safety razors you will see are price with the $1 to $10 range. In the shops I go to $3 - $5 seems to be a popular price and the majority of them are priced under $10.

3. The item should be a small sub-niche of a larger niche that already has a large collector base - Vintage safety razors fit this criteria also. The primary niche with a large collector base is vintage shaving items.

4. It should be an item with a large number of variations - With many different manufacturers who frequently came out with new, and improved, models safety razors are an excellent fit for this requirement.

5. Ideally, there shouldn't be a book or price guide written about the item - There are two books devoted to vintage safety razors that have been published within the last couple years, but because they are from small publishers, I don't think many general-line dealers will be aware of them. And, if they are, most won't bother to purchase them because they don't carry enough safety razors to make it worthwhile.

 

[Shave A Buck]

It is one of the most active areas of the Bay in my opinion. They seem to get many bids and views which no one else would believe. How many people put them on there and get surprised at the activity I wonder. Maybe they think they will get a few bucks for them if that and bam...they did not know what they had. Of course others know like the cedar furniture guy and make out well too.

 

[mark the shoeshine boy]

or you could be like a seller or two that have been or still on now...they show one great looking razor and ship you another....and the famous blue tip razor that looked liked they just dipped it in a can of paint, because it was !!!

or the famous "better than new" after a seller's "restoration job"....

but to get "rich" selling razors on ebay...define "RICH"......

 

[Stubblefield]

Premise #1, #2, and #4 are no longer valid. Premise #5 is questionable, since many dealers go right to eBay when setting price.

 

[raisindot]

Premise #1, #2, and #4 are no longer valid. Premise #5 is questionable, since many dealers go right to eBay when setting price.

I totally agree with you. At the Brimfied Fair, the largest flea market festival in New England, I visited more than 300 tents. Only a handful had DE razors of any kind, and most were newer models. Most immediately shook their head when I asked if they had any, a number said they don't bring 'em anymore because they have discovered the Ebay market. My only score of the day (it was a good one) was finding a Fatboy and Superspeed (with case) with a guy who had to go back to his truck to dig it out. $15 for both of them.

Jeff in Boston

 

[ackvil]

Down here in Florida I have not found ANY DE razors in flea markets. I did come across one in Pompano Beach a few months ago - but it was in such poor shape nobody would be interested in it.

 

[KeNd0]

Being a long weekend, SWMBO and I decided to do some shopping across the border. I visited most of the antique shops in Great Falls. While I didn't come home empty handed, it was slim pickings for the most part. The one shop owner, when asked, remarked that there was a gentleman two weeks ago, who had come in and bought all the razors and she found this very strange. Well, it's good to see not every shop keep has hopped on the fleabay wagon. I was actually searching for the culprit responsible for the dry antique run , when I came across the site in the OP.

 

[DapperJames]

I totally agree with you. At the Brimfied Fair, the largest flea market festival in New England, I visited more than 300 tents. Only a handful had DE razors of any kind, and most were newer models. Most immediately shook their head when I asked if they had any, a number said they don't bring 'em anymore because they have discovered the Ebay market. My only score of the day (it was a good one) was finding a Fatboy and Superspeed (with case) with a guy who had to go back to his truck to dig it out. $15 for both of them.

Jeff in Boston

I second what Jeff said. I spent all day browsing Brimfield, 7am till 530pm or so. Saw tons of straights and came home with a few great finds but out of all the vendors (I visited almost all of them) only came across a few DE razors.

 

[Pumpkin]

I doubt I'd ever get "rich" selling razors on ebay...any profits I make tend to get ploughed back into funding my other emerging AD's!

The route to getting rich from ebay, seems to be write books telling other people how to do it!!!

 

[mark the shoeshine boy]

I doubt I'd ever get "rich" selling razors on ebay...any profits I make tend to get ploughed back into funding my other emerging AD's!

The route to getting rich from ebay, seems to be write books telling other people how to do it!!![/quote]


amen.....

 

[Shave A Buck]

Or create your own Ebay as many are ow trying to do.