Selling inserts. How to move inventory??????

[klute14]

I have a very serious question.
Basically, what is the best way to move inserts?
I have hundreds of inserts that "book" anywhere between $2.00 and $20.00.
For the life of me, I can't move them.
I have tried on ebay and rarely sell anything, even in auction format. I only charge $2.25 for secure shipping in a padded mailer with DC. I charge .25 for each addtional card with a cap of $3.00.
Yet, nothing moves.
I have tried to move them on Blowout, FCB and the Bench at drastically reduced prices, most times between 75 -85% off book and again, nothing moves.
Why? Is it shipping costs?
I don't get it. It frustrates me that NOTHING moves. I'm not trying to recoup costs or anything like that but I am merely trying to free up space and get a little extra money to dump into my PC's.
I have sent in a batch to COMC with little to moderate success and until they get back on track, I am going to wait.

What can I do? Ebay with a reduced shipping rate with the understanding that they will be delivered in a PWE?
I like to bust a lot of older wax and after I make a base set and sell the GU and Auto's I am left with inserts that collect dust.

Anyone have the same issue?

 

[MojoDan]

Have you tried making player or team lots?

That's what I am doing with mine but haven't attempting listing any yet.

 

[maxe0213]

Yeah you should do player and team lots.

STOP TALKING ABOUT BOOK AS WELL. Book Value means absolutely nothing now and as soon as you say "book value" in a thread with your cards for sale most people will just dismiss the post entirely even if they like the cards.

 

[mmier118]

I would think about taking a couple of hundred and sending them off to COMC, then you could use the money built up to pay for the fees to send the rest in to COMC. If priced right and with enough time it seems that inserts tend to sell there. I know you tried this route and had "moderate success" however I think "moderate success" is about the best you can achieve on moving these.

 

[Hawk8]

I would buy more low end Andre Dawson cards if shippers would offer an option for a reduced shipping charge for a PWE.

 

[DeliciousBacon]

I've sold thousands of inserts on Sportlots, mostly numbered stuff and basic parallels. You may end up selling for less per card, but a team collector will buy in volume to make up for it. A while back I sold around 100 Phillies inserts for a nice chunk of change that I'd never have gotten if I tried to piece it all out one at a time.

Or maybe people got scared off by the ****

 

[mrmopar]

Let me know what volume of Dodger stuff you have and an idea on price and I may be willing to buy them.

 

[Stryk]

What are your starting prices on eBay?

 

[gracecollector]

I hardly buy any low-end inserts any more on any site except COMC. I'll buy $.50-$5.00 inserts on their site because I can combine shipping AND they will hold the cards until I have a large lot to ship. Plus, I don't have to pay shipping costs to multiple sellers like on Sportslots. To me, COMC has positioned themselves very well in the marketplace for buying inserts, all because of how they ship.

 

[PeteD]

Have you tried making player or team lots?

That's what I am doing with mine but haven't attempting listing any yet.

I've been selling insert sets with mixed results. If you get 20% of "book" you're laughing. Selling them singly is a waste of time unless it's rare, popular player and #'d really helps. I found the early Donruss Elites, for one, sell well by themselves.

 

[SINFULONE]

I would buy more low end Andre Dawson cards if shippers would offer an option for a reduced shipping charge for a PWE.

This.I hate paying $2.50 shipping on a card that is worth $1.

klute14, have any team lots available?

 

[Matsuicollector]

I would buy more low end Andre Dawson cards if shippers would offer an option for a reduced shipping charge for a PWE.

^ THIS

I occasionally message sellers aking for this option. I'd say it's worked 20-25% of the time. In one instance the seller said no first, but he was one of those guys with 1000s of positive feedback and just hesitant to take the risk. He had no negative feedback so I offered to leave feedback before he sent the card. This he was agreeable to and I got the card just fine. Personally I have had more cards arrive damaged via bubble mailer than PWE. Go figure.

 

[bobthewondercat77]

1) COMC for stuff that doesn't have copies on the site already
2) Ebay with PWE free shipping .99 auctions for the stuff that you're willing to make 10 cents on
3) set up at a show with all the cards in dime / quarter / 50 / dollar boxes -- make an arrangement to sell the remainder for a severe discount to another dealer at the end of the show.
4) Sell them all to me in a big lot. How many cards is it anyhow? PM me or post here.

Everything moves at the right price... it may be that these cards are worth less than you think... or that they're not worth enough to justify shipping individually / all the work that goes into ebay, comc, message board threads etc.

 

[klute14]

Thanks for the responses.
I haven't tried the team lot avenue and may entertain that in the future.
I start all of my eBay auctions @ .99 with $2.25 shipping with a cap of $3.00 no matter how many cards you win. That gets you delivery in a padded mailer with DC.
Is PWE the answer? I don't know. I guess that I could indicate that in the description but I don't feel right sending cards that way. I want to know that the card made it to it's destination.
Call me crazy, but with 4,300 feedback @ 100% I would like to keep that as long as possible.

 

[Erich]

I would buy more low end Andre Dawson cards if shippers would offer an option for a reduced shipping charge for a PWE.

This.I hate paying $2.50 shipping on a card that is worth $1.

klute14, have any team lots available?

^ THIS

I occasionally message sellers aking for this option. I'd say it's worked 20-25% of the time. In one instance the seller said no first, but he was one of those guys with 1000s of positive feedback and just hesitant to take the risk. He had no negative feedback so I offered to leave feedback before he sent the card. This he was agreeable to and I got the card just fine. Personally I have had more cards arrive damaged via bubble mailer than PWE. Go figure.

I refuse to ship in a PWE. All you need is a couple of idiots who file against you because there was no tracking, the card came bent....... Then you loose your preferred seller status and the 20% discount that come with it. Just not worth it.

Have you guys not read the horror stories of the frickin morons that buy on Ebay?

 

[olerud363]

I refuse to ship in a PWE. All you need is a couple of idiots who file against you because there was no tracking, the card came bent....... Then you loose your preferred seller status and the 20% discount that come with it. Just not worth it.

Have you guys not read the horror stories of the frickin morons that buy on Ebay?

The problem is there's no way of separating the morons from the honest collectors who just want the card at a reasonable shipping cost. Sellers have to always be on guard, to the point that nobody can be trusted anymore. I once asked a seller if he offered PWE shipping at a lower price and his reply was "No. When you file your ebay claim I'll be screwed." Way to paint all collectors with the same brush!

To the OP, I would say COMC is the best bet. Low end inserts that aren't worth most shipping charges seem to be their niche.

- Rodrick

 

[Hawk8]

I refuse to ship in a PWE. All you need is a couple of idiots who file against you because there was no tracking, the card came bent....... Then you loose your preferred seller status and the 20% discount that come with it. Just not worth it.

Have you guys not read the horror stories of the frickin morons that buy on Ebay?

I don't sell on eBay and I am an honest buyer so it's not something that I have heard about or dealt with.

 

[Erich]

I don't sell on eBay and I am an honest buyer so it's not something that I have heard about or dealt with.

It is an unfortunate part of selling on Ebay. A majority of people are good and honest like yourself, then there are the few that ruin it for everybody.

 

[u2me57]

I'm looking for Jim Thome inserts. If you have any I can provide a list of Jim Thome insert cards I need. Thanks.

 

[5toosweet]

Ive sold most of my low end inserts using the team lot method. I did a mixture of base and inserts with some low end GU and Autos thrown in. My team lots are usually around 500 cards or more. What I did was started my auctions at $15-$20 and offered free shipping. Shipping via Priority medium box cost me around $11 so even if I made just a few bucks I didnt care. I have free space and a few more bucks in my pocket.