Is Anybody Selling Stuff On Ebay From Thailand - Pros And Cons?

[meatballs]

Sounds like a hard way to make money.

I earn money promoting websites. No shipping involved.

[Phronesis]

Make sure you establish a Henry Ford conveyor belt approach to your online business.

I love that line Phronesis.......too many people try to be all things to all people on ebay and other online shopping portals. Pick the items you believe will sell and run with them.....if they don't sell out quickly enough then reduce them and clear them.

Every single retailer I know, and I'm included in this, makes misjudgements and buying mistakes. The mistake is not in the buying.......the mistake is in not realizing you have made a mistake quickly enough and clearing the stock, even at a loss.

I don't know Phronesis, but I bet he can tell you about some nightmare items that he bought........one of the worst I bought were ornamental elephants. I still had them 3 years later......I couldn't even give them away they looked so stupid.

Anyone that hasn't made a mistake in business hasn't been in business........over to you Phronesis, what was your bad buy that still scars your dreams?

Blether...there are lots of tossers on this forum with plenty of advice, but little actual experience. Your initial post on this thread was a cracker, as was the one above. I know you have real experience because of the question you posed...

Many first timers in the retail trade fall over because of what I refer to as "sticky" items. Their business is humming along with a nice turnover and they think everything is rosey...until they realise that ALL of their profit is tied up in those ornamental elephants that haven't sold yet. Your advice regarding sticky items is absolutely correct. As soon as you realise they are sticky get rid of them...even if you sell at a loss...because you need to avoid having your profits tied up. You cannot pay your monthly operating costs with ornamental elephants.

If someone asked me for the most important piece of advice regarding selling online, I would advise as follows:

Always remember that you make your money when you buy your stock...not when you sell it.

If you buy items that are popular, store easily, are a good size for cheap postage...and at a great price, then your profits are assured at the end of the conveyor belt.

I was mindful of the sticky items issue when I suggested to the OP to onsell stock already available at Tesco. He can experiment with different items with little risk to his capital.

Personally, I adopted a different strategy to deal with the sticky items issue. I got out of the rag trade and started selling rare and precious metal coins. The fact that something is sticky is no longer an issue if it appreciates in value while you hold it.

And finally, to answer your question: What was my bad buy that still scars my dreams...

The ex wife.

Edited September 2, 2012 by Phronesis

[expatsupreme]

I was a Ebay powerseller in Australia for over a decade. I had two stores. One sold stuff for blokes and the other stuff for women. I had agreements with designer labels to buy what they called "close out stock". This wasn't seconds, but rather larger orders, that for some reason (i.e. the orderer going broke or not paying their bill) were returned to the factory. I used to purchase job lots from these companies for $10 per item regardless of the item. It was a bit of a lucky dip. Sometime I would get cartons of tee-shirts that had a RRP of $29.95 so hard to make a profit there. But on other occassions I would get boxes of high value items such as jeans or winter jackets with RRPs in the hundreds of dollars. I used to put about a day a week into running both stores and the year I finished trading I made $45kAUD PROFIT. Not bad for a day a week.

For what it is worth here are my tips for success:

1. If possible do not even use Ebay. Learn to build your own website and promote it. As with any small business there are two ways to make money. The first is profit on the things you sell. The second is the capital gain you make if and when you sell your business as a going concern. For many small business they slave away on minimum wages for years but when they finally sell the business they get a lump sum from the sale. You can slave away building the most popular store on ebay...but when you want out you have nothing to sell. The feedback system Ebay uses is also unfair and bias towards the buyer. You can do everything perfectly, and even provide a refund, and then still have some B_STARD leave you with negative feedback. Sellers can no longer leave negative feedback for a buyer.
   
2. When selecting products to sell online make sure you pick items that are post friendly. Also try to select items that appeal to the gen Y customers that are currently shopping online. Here is an example from my own store. A few years ago the skater dude Bam Margera was all the rage with the young skater/emo crowd. I puchased thousands of A4 sized sheets of BAM stickers (each sheet had dozen or so stickers on it) for $1 per sheet. I had a STARTING price at auction for ONE sheet of $9.95. Many of the auctions bid up to over $20 and the record was $42.95. Yes, some kid (and he paid immediately via Paypal) spent $42.95 on a set of stickers.
   
3. Research postage costs very closely to maximise your profits. For example, I sent the BAM sticker sheets in an A4 Australia Post tough bag with a piece of thick cardboard on each side of the sticker sheet to protect it. With Australia post an A4 envelope that is less than 20mm thick can still be sent as a "large letter". By memory the rate back then for a large letter was 95c. But I used to charge $2.95 as a postage and handling fee. The A4 tough bags I purchased in bulk for circa 30c each. So regardless of the final sales price of the stickers I would still make a $1.50 on the postage and handling component. It is a good idea to try to make enough just on your postage and handling to cover the cost of your listing. Back then it was $1 to list. I also used to sell designer name Bikinis. I also packed them flat and sent them as large letters.
   
4. Try to ensure there is continuity from your supplier of the items you wish to sell. For example, I also got my hands on some BAM wallets. These things also sold like hot cakes (for ridiculous bid prices) but once my initial stock sold out, I was unable to get any more. Selling one off high profit items is okay, but there is a lot of additional work created by taking new photos and drafting new listing content. One advantage of being located in Thailand is that this problem is easier to address. For example, you could start by selling items commonly available in Tesco. This would give you two advantages. First you would not need to have any of your capital tied up in stock. You need only buy one item to photograph it for your listings. The second is that you should always have continuity of supply. What is a good product to sell from Tesco you ask? What about the Fitna style weight loss coffees brands. Good offshore market for weight loss products and readily available at Tesco for a fraction of what they cost abroad.
   
5. So, in summary, don't use ebay if you can avoid it. Start your own site. Make sure you establish a Henry Ford conveyor belt approach to your online business. This will maximise the return on your efforts. Sell items that have continuity of supply. Try to buy items that are of similar dimensions (flat items are great) so that you only have to buy a minimum selection of packaging. Buy your packaging in bulk to minimise cost. Get friendly with the staff at your local post office (though if you haven't got a WP then it would be better that your partner does the postage). I often had a bikini in a envelope that was way thicker than 20mm but because the lady at the Post office knew me she would let it go as a large letter instead of a parcel. Sometimes this amounted to a saving of more than $7. Sell items that appeal to the types of people that are shopping online. Stay at home mums and Gen Y kids are two relevant examples. Communicate regularly and clearly with your customers throughout the delivery phase.
   

Good luck and remember to have fun...

great reply thanks, one thing, are you selling BAM stuff that is made in Thailand? I have never came across it here.

Waht I was thinking is selling Thai paintings, non buddha ones, sadly you cant export that, but you can in Bali!!

Also women kimonos, they were like dirt cheap, and looked really good.

Also wooden vases.

If I am frank, I had an online store, gots some traffic never sold anything.

Tesco idea is good, but dont you think they can buy weight loss items in Europe for same price?

I saw some big statues for like 5000 usd, anybody dared to sell that?

I would not....

I am seeing Ebay frozing my paypal account already though.

Need to research more, if at least I would earn like 2000 usd per month, that would be a big hit.

SOmebody mentioned jewelry, do you mean diamonds, or regular cheap jewelry that girls sell near bts stations?

[daftpunker]

Why is it that nobody believes my wife when she tries to sell he r genuine mullberry handbags on e bay ,from here in Thailand?

Because shes thai?

[shiroboi]

I brought up this topic last month about working from home on the computer. The response I got back was that Thai authorities generally don't care much about people working from home, unless you're exporting loads of goods like on ebay. There's no way you can get a work permit for that, so your only option is to keep it very low key or say its your wife's business (if you have a Thai Wife).

[Scully]

I knew a bloke that shipped dvds through Amazon. They were Thai dubbed but could revert back to English.

These were old black and white movies that either couldn't be purchased elsewhere or were very hard to come by.

He would make it very clear on Amazon about the Thai products and once a few reviews got posted then the sales began.

The right products are key.

[expatsupreme]

I was checking ebay and yes many people are selling through egay and live in Thailand. I though that this was no allowed until there would be domain like ebay.co.th

i saw one bloke selling from chiang mai, selling fisherman style clothes. The guy must have like 1000 different items.

what I am afraid is paypal stuff, i use it for my regular work online and it is great. But I dont want to mess it up with ebay shop and they close it down. That way I am fuc_ked.

everybody is using paypal thesedays.

Opening different paypal just for ebay could be tricky. Very tricks. Maybe through girlfriend or something.

[balo]

OK without giving away too. much info , I have a small income from Ebay .

I have a Thai Bank account , a Thai Ebay account and a Thai Paypal account. So money can easily be transfered to my bank .

Its never big amounts , so never had any problems with receiving the money . You just need to find out what to sell that is a lot cheaper in Thailand than in Europe / US. And find your own style, it can be done with a little research, .

[expatsupreme]

so u have 2 paypals?

Edited September 4, 2012 by expatsupreme

[Scorpio1949]

As a buyer there are no problems even many sellers who not ship outside USA are willing for USPS costs are willing to ship to Thailand but selling from here is a real pain in the ass. Apart from the high extra costs and all the shit you have to deal with ( have two things on auction and I cannot revise the items and mail gives no answer and calling is impossible because it looks like they have a secret number ............. That plus the lousy service of PayPal makes that I will go on selling via my website and advertisements on websites that are related to the items I like to sell. I tried it but for me eBay sucks as a seller

[mommysboy]

Actually, as someone operating from Thailand, I would say the most immediate hurdle is just opening a sellers account in Thailand, as it is likely to be sidelined with a listing restriction straight away. So having a farang registered account is an absolute must in my experience.

You need to sell lightweight products, as postage costs become prohibitive otherwise.

And no brand names really.

You have to be professional from the outset and build up a presence of 200 listings as a minimum within a short period of time.

[tinfoilhat]

Jewelry is the perfect item in your case.......it's small and can be very high value, as well as very high profit margin. I have a friend ( more than one ) that visits Thailand every year and goes on a jewelry buying mission, they stay in Asia for 5 months all told every year and the money they make when they return to their home countries pays their holiday and living expenses for the whole year. That should give you a clue as to how much money can be made.

( Incidentally I have three friends that do this, all females........ and the shortest stay in Asia is 3 months, I say Asia as they move around to skip the visa issues, one English lady, one Dutch, and one from the US ).

I have a bunch of friends who have been living like this for the last 17 years. They travel India, Nepal, Thailand, Indo (bali) etc, usually taking a few months off down south, they then hit the festivals in the UK to unload over the summer then repeat.

They also do ebay, have other online shops and have arranged drop shipping with a number of manufacturers.

They make a dam_n fine living and lose all the UK wight they put on by they time they leave India.

one couple are jocks. the rest come from the other parts uk and aus,

I look forward to their return every year. <deleted> hippies

[Robbie67uk]

I have made quite a few quid over the years on eBay and as others have said supply and demand is the key to success.

Anyone can go to a wholesalers and buy say vases and sell them but if you do well two weeks later someone else will be selling them cheaper and with your pictures lol.

I would say something unique and specialised would be your best bet maybe jewellery (not gold) or birth stones (light and easy to ship)

[balo]

so u have 2 paypals?

Yes I have two,

When I moved to Thailand I created a new account , with my Thai address, another e-mail address, and used my Visa online card connected to my Kasikorn bank account . No problems to transfer , it takes about 5 working days.

Also I had to verify my Ebay account again , by sending in documents with ID and a copy of a utility bill , Took me about 1 week.

Edited September 5, 2012 by balo

[roamer]

" Waht I was thinking is selling Thai paintings, non buddha ones, sadly you cant export that, but you can in Bali!!"

Look I don't want to rain on your parade but, and its a BIG but, you need to understand both the mechanics of ebay and the mentality of buyers. Just how many buyers do you think wake up thinking "I must buy a Thai painting today and I'll do it on ebay" ? Don't happen, certainly not in the volume you require. Clothes ? Label, label, label. The "fisherman trouser" sellers ? They have certainly multiplied over the years, a lot of them run very finely tuned selling programs and my guess would be your coming somewhat late to the fair, think some of the profit margins must be very fine.

I presume you know you can use ebay tools to find out what others are selling from Thailand and analyse their sales rates ? Because others will do the same to you.

Also, like others, I would look for another earner, my own feelings are that Thailand and Ebay in the same sentence is probably not worth the effort.

[MrZM]

I have read all comments on the subject, and without repeating I would say I agree and disagree.

There will always be the thought in a buyers mind that items coming from Thailand won't be genuine. Buyers will also be put off by long dispatch/arrival times of the item.

The point about postage, postage worldwide is actually cheaper than ie UK postage to worldwide. But not as trustworthy.

I used to sell products from thailand on eBay using a UK based account, I had 10 lines and a turnover of £600+ a day, the products I sold had high profit margins which enabled me to use EMS postal service! Benefit from this was items arrived within 5 days. It is very beneficial and difficult to find these particular lines, and it cut out all the faffing!

Next people have commented on eBay fees, PayPal fees etc... These fees are minimal. You have to take all into consideration and include this in your price, then you know all areas are covered all costs are paid. I promise it's worth the paying the fees! After listing your first item your product receives worldwide exposure for a small fee of 20p, possibly the cheapest advertisement in the world!

People who have econmerce shops, believe they are getting a better deal cutting out the middle man and saving on fees, I know and guarantee your not.

eBay simple tips for listing products:

1. Picture: a stock photo is your best option, if not buy a light box and take them yourself! Remember it's the first thing a customer will see.

2. Listing title: all capitals, bold and keywords.

3. Description: Give the buyer a bit of wow, then straight clean description, no need for emoticons or fancy, and for extra advertising paste in product pictures.

4. Price: is a very important factor and always offer free postage.

5. This is also very important, make sure your product is in the right category. It will increase visibility in searches.

Comments welcome

[TukTukDodger]

I am an ebay powerseller in the US. My inlaws in Nepal send me things to sell - at this time the USD is still pretty strong against the NPR so even with the DHL cost(more expensive to ship from Nepal than from India, probably similar to Thailand) I can still make a profit - not enough to quit my day job but enough to pay for my travels. When I travel to Asia I travel very light and max out my baggage allowance coming back home. I have seen a lot of sellers based in Thailand - mostly selling clothing like T shirts, muay Thai shorts, those big monk style bags, fisherman pants, etc., also costume jewelry and silver jewelry and Buddhist amulets. Research is very important - look at completed auctions to see what sells. I would recommend selling non breakable items like this since they are easier to ship and you don't have the problem of someone claiming breakage(I learned this the hard way trying to sell papier mache masks from Nepal).

[bander]

On 9/1/2012 at 9:59 AM, LucidLucifer said:

A friend of mine in Thailand has been selling things through his own website and ebay for over 10 years now. He makes enough to live on (he's not a big spender) but he is far from getting rich. Personally, I couldn't live on what he makes, but it would make a nice supplementary income.

His items are high value items that he gets made for between 1500-3000 thb, and then sells for $250-450 US. Business is very hit and miss, and some months he cashes in, and other months makes virtually nothing.

A Ukrainian friend of his also started doing this (although different products) and has now moved on to large scale exports to the Ukraine and other countries. He has made loads of money, and when I say that, I mean he is loaded even by western standards.

It can be done, but with the cost of postage, high value items are the way to go if sending to Europe and N.America.

I know a guy who know somebody who heard in a beer-bar that a guy exporting containers of stuff to Ukraine and make loads of money. Same, same but different guy or what?

[fishtank]

5 hours ago, bander said:

I know a guy who know somebody who heard in a beer-bar that a guy exporting containers of stuff to Ukraine and make loads of money. Same, same but different guy or what?

As you are replying to a post made over 7 years ago I doubt the guy is even around to read it.

[tifino]

14 minutes ago, fishtank said:

As you are replying to a post made over 7 years ago I doubt the guy is even around to read it.

something usually only a newbie gets trapped by... the stuff down the lower Right margin...