A question about : Ideas for selling unwanted card craft stash?
I recently moved to a smaller place & just don't have the room for all the craft stuff I've amassed over the years, so need to get rid of it. As a non driver, a boot fair or similar is out.
When I look on Ebay, there are hundreds of sellers private as well as businesses with craft items for sale, so obviously competition is fierce & prices usually very low. But then of course the buyer has to add the cost of postage, which does affect how much a buyer would be willing to pay in total for any given item.
I have nothing against listing at low prices, but when you take into account the ebay & paypal fees plus the hassle of going to the post office, buying packaging etc. I feel there is little to be gained from getting 99p for an item.
Also, as I really do have hundreds if not thousands of items to sell, due to an addiction to buying craft stuff that many will be familiar with, it could take me months & months to list everything I have stored away in boxes in the garage. I honestly believe I have enough to open a craft shop!
Ideally, selling in large mixed/assorted lots would be the best way to go, but of course, people will be reluctant to pay the courier cost for delivery, so this kind of listing might not go too well either.
It is the cost of delivery that is a killer for crafters everywhere.
I just wondered if anybody here had anything to suggest, especially as I have so much craft card, mostly Kanban, that in the end I might just feel I need to try to donate it all somewhere just to get rid of it, but wouldn't even know how to go about that. I don't know of any craft groups at all.
Best answers:
- It's not just craft groups who would be interested if you're giving stuff away - scout/guide groups, nurseries/playgroups, old peoples homes/daycare centres , hospices/hospitals would be grateful for any creative freebies.
As for selling stuff try craft forums (I'm not sure if I can mention any on here) for the larger items. You could make a list, publicise it on various forums and email it to interested parties. You could have a sale in your home or hire a table at a local market. Ebay is a good resource and things don't always go very cheaply so wait for a free listing day. Some things could be bundled together scrapbook papers, like-themed rubber stamps or you could do grab bags/boxes with assorted items for a fixed price. Hope this helps. - Scrapmate beat me to it.
Schools are desperate for craft stock.
I gave mine to a hospice.
Perhaps you could keep a few items just for yourself, always have time for a craft creation. - If your wanting to get rid of unwanted craft items I created a Facebook Group for this exact thing (I need to clear my stash a bit too!) if you search Craft Swap'n'Shop it should come straight up :-)
None of my friends are into crafting and neither is my family so I've got a whole bunch of items just ready to go to good crafty homes lol - Ebay might be ok if you offered cheaper delivery on multiple purchases. We use My Hermes as a courier and they really are far cheaper than Royal Mail and have the added advantage of picking up from your house.
- I work in a nursery if you want to get rid the kids would love it!
- Ahh I see! That sounds like a good idea message me what sort of stuff you have and a price and I may take them off you...paying for postage too of course
- Have you thought of selling at a car boot sale? (only just read this thread from over a month ago, so you may have already sold it all.)
I love searching boot sales for craft stuff. Last Sunday a lovely lady was selling a huge amount, and she said she was very surprised at how well it was selling.
It was her late Mothers. She was selling at very reasonable prices, but thought her Mum would have been pleased that the people who where buying would enjoy it. There were a few men buying paper, punches, inks and stamps for when their grandchildren stay at weekends.
We usually go to the boot sale very early, but couldn't last week as son needed a lift to work. The lady had already sold most of the craft dies, I believe to a man. I bet the man's wife got a lovely surprise when he returned home with the dies, or maybe he was a crafter himself.
( Edited to say, I've just re read your first post where you said you can't drive so can't do a car boot sale!!! Sorry.) - Yes, I instantly thought 'Car Boot Sale', Battybird - ... am wondering if anyone in the family who can drive would be willing to have a bit of fun with you and do the car boot thing? I've done two car boots - not crafty things - and it was a total hoot! Great fun - especially when I did it with a gal pal who took her car and we had our own separate tables right next to each other.
I've also shopped at car boots, and have been lucky on a couple of occasions to find Crafting items tables - and the ladies who were the owners of these tables told me that they were really surprised at how well their excess crafting stash was selling.
It could be the answer you're looking for Cattie. If you could cajole a family member or friend to do the driving and help you having a bit of fun for a couple of hours. (Take a flask and sandwiches!) - I am in a very similar position Cattie and really need to dispose of some of my stuff - various reasons. We've downsized, time etc etc and I am just going to keep the things I like doing the most. I have sold some stuff on the Facebook selling pages & on Gumtree which is a local selling site if you've not heard of it. Beauty is that buyer has to come and collect. Down side is not always the best price - but some cash is better than none .
Word of warning in case you are not aware - if you are thinking of using Ebay be careful as from 4th September they are also going to take a chunk out of your postage charges - as well as listing fees (unless free listing day) Final value fees & Paypal fees.
Flippin rip off - think they are trying to squeeze out small sellers myself - I sold mine at a local adult education class, I had contacted the tutor to check it was ok and what time I could go, she told them the week before so people took money, everyone was really excited. I kept prices cheap and they bought loads, including a stack of magazines.
Table top sales or craft fayres might be worth look too. I know you don't drive and I'm the same, but they have sales regularly in our local community centre so it may be worth keeping an eye for local events.
Good luck x - fentonian, not offended in the least. Welcome to this website. I'm looking forward to reading all your future posts!
Ps. You didn't read your dictionary "properley" or you would know that the correct spelling is "properly." Also "posibilites" is spelt "possibilities."
I'm not really meaning to pull you up about your spellings. I'm just trying to point out that we can all make mistakes.
(and maybe the original poster now has a partner who can drive them to car boot sales!!!) - There are lots of good craft selling groups on FB x
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