Selling things online on behalf of someone else

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mattwnz

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#1523493 31-Mar-2016 18:14

linw:

Charities don't want 230V elec goods as they have to get an electrician sign off.

OP, i would take aboard andrew027's post above!

I didn't realize that. You would think some may do it as a charitable service? But I suppose they don't know the history and how it has been treated, so don't want to put their name to something that could be a risk.

Thanks to andrew027. That is certainly the way I feel too. I feel refusing to do it for them when they requested it, is perhaps worse than taking a fair commission myself. Basically whatever I do, I wouldn't be able to fully compensate for my time. So it probably isn't the most fair position for someone to put you in when they ask you to sell stuff on their behalf, but you do these things for family, and you do expect a fair bit of give and take with it.

Athlonite

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#1523536 31-Mar-2016 20:19

Your going to charge a FAMILY member that's unbelievable

mattwnz

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#1523539 31-Mar-2016 20:29

Athlonite:
Your going to charge a FAMILY member that's unbelievable

No read the post, I said share the profits. They aren't being charged anything. They asked me to sell their stuff for them, and they don't expect not to share the profit, the topic is about what is considered a fair split of the profit. Also taking into consideration I am increasing value with cleaning and presenting them better, than just selling the product dirty.

Linuxluver

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#1523610 31-Mar-2016 22:59

mattwnz:

I have been asked to sell some things online for a family member, who doesn't have the time to do it themselves, as they have busy work and family lives. I told them they would be better to sell the stuff themselves, and they can keep all the profit, but they said they didn't have the time. It isn't something I really want to do but will help them if they want it. These are second hand things/junk they have in the garage, there are a few things that maybe worth $100, but I doubt the rest will make much above $30-50. I was wondering peoples opinions on what sort of money split would be considered fair for doing this. I would need to clean some of the things up etc, and would be doing all the actual selling and handling for them. I would price them fairly high to begin with so they get good price, rather than price them at $1 reserves, and I would be storing all the stuff too. So far 50-50 split is a suggestion I have been given considering I am doing all the leg work, and the auction website takes around 10% itself. Would be interested in peoples opinions.

I wouldn't do it. One item, maybe......but lots of stuff? No way. They are telling you your time is worthless.

Stuff that. End of story.

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mattwnz

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#1523629 31-Mar-2016 23:31

Linuxluver:

I wouldn't do it. One item, maybe......but lots of stuff? No way. They are telling you your time is worthless.

Stuff that. End of story.

Thanks, that is actually exactly what someone else told me today when I was discussing it. So it is possibly what I am going to do after giving it more thought.

Hammerer

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#1523936 1-Apr-2016 12:47

All the issues about how to or if to share the profit can be avoided by using the profit for the benefit of both your families. They provide the stuff and you do the work so use the money for a family celebration, a family gift, a family holiday, or whatever will be given by or benefit both of you or a wider group of family members. If $100 or so profit then a BBQ/meal is great. If $100s then all sorts of options open up.

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mattwnz

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#1524065 1-Apr-2016 16:12

Hammerer:

All the issues about how to or if to share the profit can be avoided by using the profit for the benefit of both your families. They provide the stuff and you do the work so use the money for a family celebration, a family gift, a family holiday, or whatever will be given by or benefit both of you or a wider group of family members. If $100 or so profit then a BBQ/meal is great. If $100s then all sorts of options open up.

Thanks for that, that is actually a pretty decent idea. However I can't see the family member agreeing to do that from their side, as they are wanting some cash to buy things for themselves.

KrazyKid

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#1524128 1-Apr-2016 17:05

I'd do an estimate of the time it will take you.
Just a rough and ready number.
Time for photos, listing, answering questions, wrapping and posting soon add up.

If you work out min wage x hours worked you will soon see why they don't want to do it themselves.
I'd say it takes 20-30 mins to list items and sell individually.
(5 min to photo, 5 min to list and describe, 5 min to answer stupid questions, 10 min to estimate postage, wrap then post items, maybe more if post office is far way)

So that's a cost of 7.50 per item at min wage to sell on trade me.
More if you relist because it didn't sell.

Anyway armed with this number estimate a profit share or flat rate based on what you will get for selling them.
(Don't forget sellers fees)

Then decide how much you like the person and how much of a charity case this is.
(for example I'd do more for my dad rather than a sister-in-law)
That determines the discount (mark-up) they get.

Personally listing stuff on trade me is a hassle and I'd only do it as a favour

Good luck

mattwnz

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#1524163 1-Apr-2016 18:34

KrazyKid:

Personally listing stuff on trade me is a hassle and I'd only do it as a favour

Good luck

Well both family members each earn more than me, so they are doing pretty well, and they own an expensive brand new house I designed for them at no cost (being family) etc. When I did discussed it with them, they said they were thinking of giving me a 15% commission. Even trademe gets about 10%. So I am not going to do it, because I think they are taking advantage and are not valuing my time, and it simply isn't worth the potential hassles.

SepticSceptic

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#1524444 2-Apr-2016 09:44

mattwnz:

----

Otherwise it isn't worth my time dealing with buyers. I have used this method when selling my own stuff, where something well presented does sell at a better price. But I think if they are asking me to do it, they have to be realistic and respectful that I am spending my time doing it, and they are also getting rid of junk they aren't using, so they have to pay a fair commission. For example a Real estate agent selling a house for a friend will still expect a commission. They won't do it for free. If they don't have the time to do it themselves, then they are really valuing the stuff at nothing anyway, so 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing. What I think they should do is tell me the amount they want for teh item, so anything I make over that, I keep. But potentially they could do a lot worse out of it, eg I sell and item for $150, and they only wanted $50 for it, so I think the sharing of the profit is far more fair for both.

Your time would be worth what the other family's hourly income would be. They consider their time to be more valuable then yours.

SepticSceptic

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#1524446 2-Apr-2016 09:48

mattwnz:

Hammerer:

All the issues about how to or if to share the profit can be avoided by using the profit for the benefit of both your families. They provide the stuff and you do the work so use the money for a family celebration, a family gift, a family holiday, or whatever will be given by or benefit both of you or a wider group of family members. If $100 or so profit then a BBQ/meal is great. If $100s then all sorts of options open up.

Thanks for that, that is actually a pretty decent idea. However I can't see the family member agreeing to do that from their side, as they are wanting some cash to buy things for themselves.

Walk away. They are too busy to invest their time, but are expecting some kind of decent monetary reward ? It's gonna in tears.

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