The Cost of Selling on eBay

bziddy · 02-08-2011, 05:16 PM

I was working on some bookkeeping for my eBay sales, and broke down a recent sale. This is what I came up with:

$19.99 -- Sold an item w/free shipping
($0.05) -- eBay insertion fees
($2.40) -- eBay FVF
($0.88) -- Paypal fees
($4.75) -- Cost of postage
($0.05) -- Cost of label
($0.40) -- Cost of packing #1
($0.55) -- Cost of packing #2
($8.07) -- Accounted cost of product from BO

$2.84 -- Net to me (before taxes)

allsportstalk · 02-08-2011, 05:17 PM

So 20% profit? Not bad I must say.

JLR0747 · 02-08-2011, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bziddy

I was working on some bookkeeping for my eBay sales, and broke down a recent sale. This is what I came up with:

$19.99 -- Sold an item w/free shipping
($0.05) -- eBay insertion fees
($2.40) -- eBay FVF
($0.88) -- Paypal fees
($4.75) -- Cost of postage
($0.05) -- Cost of label
($0.40) -- Cost of packing #1
($0.55) -- Cost of packing #2
($8.07) -- Accounted cost of product from BO

$2.84 -- Net to me (before taxes)

You have some more money leaking here. You can ship for much cheaper.

bziddy · 02-08-2011, 05:24 PM

The item in question was a 330 Card Base Set. $4.75 is a steal (IMO).

bziddy · 02-08-2011, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allsportstalk

So 20% profit? Not bad I must say.

Not at all in my book. If I make money opening cards -- it's the best hobby in the world.

bziddy · 02-08-2011, 05:34 PM

Different Item, single card.

$22.71 -- Sold an item w/shipping
($0.00) -- eBay insertion fees
($1.75) -- eBay FVF
($0.96) -- Paypal fees
($1.58) -- Cost of postage
($0.05) -- Cost of label
($0.08) -- Cost of packing #1
($0.08) -- Cost of packing #2
($0.01) -- Cost of packing #3
($13.47) -- Accounted cost of product from BO

$4.73 -- Net to me (before taxes)

bziddy · 02-08-2011, 05:47 PM

This was mostly an exercise in me seeing how much money comes in and goes out with my sales. I'm keeping accurate records this year in the event I trigger the 1099 from ebay/paypal, and I'd like to know exactly how I'm doing for once, rather than guess.

jrandPensfan · 02-08-2011, 10:23 PM

What's the accounted cost of product? Cost of box divided by what? Just curious as I had something like this set up at one point and I really need to start keeping track of more before I go broke...

Also, I'm guessing you use something like Selling Manager to import data from ebay? I need a best practice for importing things / keeping track of sales other than hand-jamming numbers into excel. I could do that, but busting wax is way more fun...

bziddy · 02-08-2011, 11:01 PM

What my father-in-law (who is also my accountant) told me as far as accounting for my purposes:

Because I know more than the IRS about the product, I need to account for the full purchase price of what I sell....so, the way I do it....

(simplified)

If I buy a case for $1000

After fees+shipping+everything except my accounted cost...I sold 4 cards.

one for $1000, one for $500, and two for $250 -- I value each one as a percentage of total sales vs total acquisition cost.

So in this case, I account for the $1000 card as $500 acquisition, the $500 card as $250, and both $250 cards as $125 each. This adds up to total acquisition of $1000.

In the case above, I 'made' 26% on the case I was breaking, so all my acquistion costs I figured at 74% of my net (before cost of acquisition).

That may be really crazy -- but what he said, I can divide it however I want, as long as at the end of the day, I account for every penny of acquisition (and I inventory everything else as an acquisition cost of 0.00)

I believe that is how he told me to do it.

pmannings#1fan · 02-09-2011, 12:12 AM

Wow man, that's too much sh?t for me to take in!!! I'll just take the 5 yrs in Federal prison. All I know is I only sold a few cards on ebay $2.84 outta $20 doesn't sound too good. Last card I sold went @ $22 w/ $2 shipping & I ended up with $18-19 dollars after everything was taken out!!!

bziddy · 02-09-2011, 12:34 AM

the $2.84 out of $19.99 means that after paying fees and everything, I made a little over $100 on a $400 case. This is just accounting for everything such that if I ever do get audited, it's hard to argue with good records.

bboi30 · 02-09-2011, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmannings#1fan

Wow man, that's too much sh?t for me to take in!!! I'll just take the 5 yrs in Federal prison. All I know is I only sold a few cards on ebay $2.84 outta $20 doesn't sound too good. Last card I sold went @ $22 w/ $2 shipping & I ended up with $18-19 dollars after everything was taken out!!!

That response was hilarious.

pmannings#1fan · 02-09-2011, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bboi30

That response was hilarious.

What part did ya like? I know, the 5 yrs thing right lol

I always try to put funny in my posts!!!

dthimesch · 02-09-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmannings#1fan

Wow man, that's too much sh?t for me to take in!!! I'll just take the 5 yrs in Federal prison. All I know is I only sold a few cards on ebay $2.84 outta $20 doesn't sound too good. Last card I sold went @ $22 w/ $2 shipping & I ended up with $18-19 dollars after everything was taken out!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bboi30

That response was hilarious.

He ended up with $18-19 dollars after all the fees were taken out. But what he fails to mention is that card cost him $40 to start with.

fitch123 · 02-09-2011, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmannings#1fan

Wow man, that's too much sh?t for me to take in!!! I'll just take the 5 yrs in Federal prison. All I know is I only sold a few cards on ebay $2.84 outta $20 doesn't sound too good. Last card I sold went @ $22 w/ $2 shipping & I ended up with $18-19 dollars after everything was taken out!!!

haha this made me think of this:

Cheken · 02-09-2011, 12:06 PM

how do you make money getting cards from here? I mean, most of the people wants more than the value sold on ebay. At least thats what im running into all the time.

bigdaddyblue73 · 02-09-2011, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bziddy

I was working on some bookkeeping for my eBay sales, and broke down a recent sale. This is what I came up with:

$19.99 -- Sold an item w/free shipping
($0.05) -- eBay insertion fees
($2.40) -- eBay FVF
($0.88) -- Paypal fees
($4.75) -- Cost of postage
($0.05) -- Cost of label
($0.40) -- Cost of packing #1
($0.55) -- Cost of packing #2
($8.07) -- Accounted cost of product from BO

$2.84 -- Net to me (before taxes)

Go with Priority shipping in a flat rate bax. It will cost you $5 to ship it including the DC if you use the ebay/paypal shipping system. All you need to pack the cards in are a few team bags. Cushinon them with plastic shopping bags that you got for FREE at the store. That lowers your shipping costs by about .80 cents.

pmannings#1fan · 02-09-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dthimesch

He ended up with $18-19 dollars after all the fees were taken out. But what he fails to mention is that card cost him $40 to start with.

Wrong, cost me $8.99 at Target but thanks for ever so caring!!!

Also can you really expect to get BV price out of a card???? Some may think they can but I've been in this game since some on here been in diapers.

bziddy · 02-09-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdaddyblue73

Go with Priority shipping in a flat rate bax. It will cost you $5 to ship it including the DC if you use the ebay/paypal shipping system. All you need to pack the cards in are a few team bags. Cushinon them with plastic shopping bags that you got for FREE at the store. That lowers your shipping costs by about .80 cents.

I've never tried to cram a 330 card set in team bags/small flat rate box -- does it fit?

I can also lower my cost of shipping by buying certain items in bulk, but I don't see saving much more than .30 on my shipping. I also prefer to send sets in white cardboard boxes -- lots of people don't care, but I would rather not deal with the people that do care.

Sushiyoshi · 02-09-2011, 08:44 PM

I don't think you can fit 330 cards into a small flat rate box.

boxbreaker88 · 02-09-2011, 08:58 PM

No you cannot fit a 330 card set in a small box it sucks you sell enough you have to pay taxes I dont sell enough to pay taxes

hardballheroes · 02-09-2011, 10:04 PM

I've been selling 300 card team lots on eBay and shipping them in the small flat rate boxes. I have been able to fit 300 cards in there fairly comfortably (4 groups of 75 cards). 330 cards might be a little snug but could probably be done with cards that are of a thin card stock.

Care4Card · 02-11-2011, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bziddy

the $2.84 out of $19.99 means that after paying fees and everything, I made a little over $100 on a $400 case. This is just accounting for everything such that if I ever do get audited, it's hard to argue with good records.

100$ profit or a 100$ total?

jrandPensfan · 02-11-2011, 05:57 PM

He means $100 profit.

After thinking about the acquisition cost, it makes sense now. Took me a little while though.

Do you use anything for keeping records or is it all hand-typed into Excel?

02-08-2011, 05:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
bziddy Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,651 isosika BigJosh	The Cost of Selling on eBay I was working on some bookkeeping for my eBay sales, and broke down a recent sale. This is what I came up with: $19.99 -- Sold an item w/free shipping ($0.05) -- eBay insertion fees ($2.40) -- eBay FVF ($0.88) -- Paypal fees ($4.75) -- Cost of postage ($0.05) -- Cost of label ($0.40) -- Cost of packing #1 ($0.55) -- Cost of packing #2 ($8.07) -- Accounted cost of product from BO $2.84 -- Net to me (before taxes) __________________ They called me Mr. Glass.

02-08-2011, 05:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
allsportstalk Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: California Posts: 222 UnlimitedFantasySports	So 20% profit? Not bad I must say. __________________ Always buying sports card collections.

02-08-2011, 05:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
bziddy Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,651 isosika BigJosh	The item in question was a 330 Card Base Set. $4.75 is a steal (IMO). __________________ They called me Mr. Glass.

02-08-2011, 05:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
bziddy Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,651 isosika BigJosh	Different Item, single card. $22.71 -- Sold an item w/shipping ($0.00) -- eBay insertion fees ($1.75) -- eBay FVF ($0.96) -- Paypal fees ($1.58) -- Cost of postage ($0.05) -- Cost of label ($0.08) -- Cost of packing #1 ($0.08) -- Cost of packing #2 ($0.01) -- Cost of packing #3 ($13.47) -- Accounted cost of product from BO $4.73 -- Net to me (before taxes) __________________ They called me Mr. Glass.

02-08-2011, 05:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
bziddy Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,651 isosika BigJosh	This was mostly an exercise in me seeing how much money comes in and goes out with my sales. I'm keeping accurate records this year in the event I trigger the 1099 from ebay/paypal, and I'd like to know exactly how I'm doing for once, rather than guess. __________________ They called me Mr. Glass.

02-08-2011, 10:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
jrandPensfan Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Chantilly, VA Posts: 283 jdawg66	What's the accounted cost of product? Cost of box divided by what? Just curious as I had something like this set up at one point and I really need to start keeping track of more before I go broke... Also, I'm guessing you use something like Selling Manager to import data from ebay? I need a best practice for importing things / keeping track of sales other than hand-jamming numbers into excel. I could do that, but busting wax is way more fun... __________________ Penguins fan since '93 Got a Bucket! http://s1112.photobucket.com/home/justin_rand/index

02-08-2011, 11:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
bziddy Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,651 isosika BigJosh	What my father-in-law (who is also my accountant) told me as far as accounting for my purposes: Because I know more than the IRS about the product, I need to account for the full purchase price of what I sell....so, the way I do it.... (simplified) If I buy a case for $1000 After fees+shipping+everything except my accounted cost...I sold 4 cards. one for $1000, one for $500, and two for $250 -- I value each one as a percentage of total sales vs total acquisition cost. So in this case, I account for the $1000 card as $500 acquisition, the $500 card as $250, and both $250 cards as $125 each. This adds up to total acquisition of $1000. In the case above, I 'made' 26% on the case I was breaking, so all my acquistion costs I figured at 74% of my net (before cost of acquisition). That may be really crazy -- but what he said, I can divide it however I want, as long as at the end of the day, I account for every penny of acquisition (and I inventory everything else as an acquisition cost of 0.00) I believe that is how he told me to do it. __________________ They called me Mr. Glass. Last edited by bziddy; 02-08-2011 at 11:19 PM.

02-09-2011, 12:12 AM	#10 (permalink)
pmannings#1fan Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 7,964 lookin4deals36	Wow man, that's too much sh?t for me to take in!!! I'll just take the 5 yrs in Federal prison. All I know is I only sold a few cards on ebay $2.84 outta $20 doesn't sound too good. Last card I sold went @ $22 w/ $2 shipping & I ended up with $18-19 dollars after everything was taken out!!!

02-09-2011, 12:34 AM	#11 (permalink)
bziddy Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,651 isosika BigJosh	the $2.84 out of $19.99 means that after paying fees and everything, I made a little over $100 on a $400 case. This is just accounting for everything such that if I ever do get audited, it's hard to argue with good records. __________________ They called me Mr. Glass.

02-09-2011, 12:06 PM	#16 (permalink)
Cheken Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Queens, New York Posts: 1,824	how do you make money getting cards from here? I mean, most of the people wants more than the value sold on ebay. At least thats what im running into all the time.

02-09-2011, 08:44 PM	#20 (permalink)
Sushiyoshi Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 2,699	I don't think you can fit 330 cards into a small flat rate box.

02-09-2011, 08:58 PM	#21 (permalink)
boxbreaker88 Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: LOS ANGELES, CA Posts: 5,378 JAcollections	No you cannot fit a 330 card set in a small box it sucks you sell enough you have to pay taxes I dont sell enough to pay taxes

02-09-2011, 10:04 PM	#22 (permalink)
hardballheroes Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Harrisonburg, VA Posts: 60 hardballheroes hardballheroes	I've been selling 300 card team lots on eBay and shipping them in the small flat rate boxes. I have been able to fit 300 cards in there fairly comfortably (4 groups of 75 cards). 330 cards might be a little snug but could probably be done with cards that are of a thin card stock.

02-11-2011, 05:57 PM	#24 (permalink)
jrandPensfan Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Chantilly, VA Posts: 283 jdawg66	He means $100 profit. After thinking about the acquisition cost, it makes sense now. Took me a little while though. Do you use anything for keeping records or is it all hand-typed into Excel? __________________ Penguins fan since '93 Got a Bucket! http://s1112.photobucket.com/home/justin_rand/index

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