A note to readers: I am from Virginia Beach, VA. This store is a local operation.
I love eBay! I am a registered buyer on eBay, but I have never gotten up the nerve to sell anything because I do not want to ruin my 100% positive feedback. If you know anything about eBay, you know how important it is to have positive feedback! I was on my way to one of the local grocery stores that had just opened in a brand new shopping center – so new that some of the spaces are not even occupied yet. I noticed a sign for a place called DROPClick and I slowed down. Under the sign, it said, “We sell your stuff on eBay!” What a great concept! See, I am moving soon and I have some furniture and other random items that I want to sell, but I don’t want to have to do it myself. So I copied down the phone number and web address.
When I got home, I went on the DROPClick website to check out their information. Then I called the store. A young-sounding guy answered the phone quietly (his name is Ted). I told him that I was looking to sell some furniture and asked him how his business worked. Here are the steps that occur:
1. You bring your “stuff” down to the store and they will determine whether or not they think it will sell for more than $30. If they approve, you leave your information with him including what you think should go in the eBay listing.
2. They take photographs of your item and list it on eBay. You are sent an e-mail with a link to your item’s auction so that you can monitor it as well.
3. When the item sells, DROPClick collects payment from the buyer, then packages and ships the item. They then take a percentage as payment for selling the item for you, depending on how much the item sells for. Then they mail you a check!
I told Ted that I was very impressed with this concept. He told me that there are actually franchises of stores that do this, but he did not want to have to pay the expensive franchise fees so he and his wife opened their own store. I had never even heard of this until today. So I asked him what happens if the item does not sell (and this is the best part). He said that if it happens that the item does not sell, it is donated to Goodwill or some other organization that might need it. I just think that is awesome! If my furniture sells, I get money for it. If not, I am spared the hassle of taking it down to Goodwill myself!
We chatted for a little while and I found out that he has actually been a seller on eBay for about four years, so he is quite seasoned in the process. He gave me his user ID for eBay and suggested that I also look at his other auctions. He has some pretty cool vintage stuff for sale. I also found out that he has a degree in Finance and his wife has one in Marketing. What a dynamic duo! I think I know just where I am going to hand off my “old junk.”
For more information about DROPClick, visit their website or look for dropclick.va.001 on eBay to purchase items.
Keep an eye out for my DROPClick update!