I’m a long-time supporter of BBOWT, but I’m aware that many members might feel that their own financial situations do not permit them to give in the way they may wish to. There is an alternative…
Over a ten-year period, I raised more than £42,000 by selling through eBay, an internet-based auction or fixed-price selling organisation. Being retired and having time to spare can be highly profitable – and you could use those funds to support your favourite charity, like BBOWT.
Items to sell can be from your own clear-out or donated to you by others, particularly through house clearances or surplus materials from building projects (bricks, roof tiles and timber) – small building companies are glad to give these away to save the cost of a skip.
The prices achieved can be remarkable. I had an unused tube of Holt’s Piston Seal in its original packing that had been in the garage drawer for forty years. I offered this for £3.50 and it sold at £34! At the other end of the scale, some builders in our town were having a problem fitting a pair of large gates into a skip. They asked if I would like them, and they sold for £512 with an original bid of £250.
Another source of stock is ‘skip diving.’ You need to be a certain sort of person to indulge in this, but rubbish skips, especially in private houses, can yield rich rewards. Always ask the owner for permission to rummage through the skip and take items away, but you will rarely be refused - skips cost about £300 a time, so anything removed leaves space for more. The sales to date from a skip at a recent neighbourhood house clearance are £1,461, with a number of items still to be sold.
These Iron gates fetched an impressive £512
The key to a successful sale is an accurate and comprehensive description which highlights any defects, with good, clear photographs of the item from several angles. Buyers provide feedback on the seller, and so scrupulous honesty will result in a good reputation which is vital.
In deciding where to start the auction price, think what the minimum amount is you would be prepared to accept. If you’re unsure, look at what similar items have sold for. Items in ‘as new’ condition should be about half the price it would have been sold for new. The ‘Buy it now’ option allows you to offer the item at a fixed price which can give you a quicker sale – 34 minutes is my best time!
With up to 24 photographs allowed, this is where you can really make your sale item attractive to buyers. A lawn makes a good background for larger items, and a ‘studio’ can easily be made for the smaller ones by draping a pale coloured towel over a chair or settee. Be aware that bright sunlight can be a disadvantage if it creates deep shadows, and avoid standing so that your shadow falls across the subject.
A garden lawn makes the perfect background for larger items. Photo by Julian Weigall
Setting up the advertisement takes around thirty minutes and it’s about the same time to pack and post. I have found Royal Mail and Parcel Force to be the most efficient and reliable, and their pricing is clear with no hidden charges (but check that you see the VAT inclusive price on Parcel Force).
Payment is made into your bank account each time an item sells, and on the 22nd of each month you will receive an invoice from PayPal Giving Fund. Once you pay this, the total for the month is sent to BBOWT, and all your hard work will pay off as you help to restore nature on your doorstep in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire or Oxfordshire!
