Ebay Drop-Off Centers are Everywhere - But are they really for me?

Before taking that china, watch, or other item to your local UPS store affilated with an eBay Drop Off Firm or center in your neighborhood - ask what am I really getting myself into?

An increased in drop-off centers with all kinds of creative names and gimmicks in my opinion can be found by doing a simple google search. You may not have $50 to $75 items lying around - therefore, your out of the luck with the giants. Majority want your items to bring a high amount of money due to the fees eBay and their subsidiary Paypal imposes. Secondly, these drop-off centers are franchises and have to follow a business model set forth by the parent company which means a lot of restrictions for the consumer. Also, consider that these firms are new businesses and operate almost like an eBay trading assistant. New business concepts often don't face a lot of regulation until people start complaining about fraud or unethical practices to the better business bureau or state attorney general's office. If I got your attention - read on. The point of this article/guide is to make people aware of what I feel is some very unethical practices to the consumer whoose either buying or selling goods.

Unethical - A question to debate

What's not ethical is giving a customer the chance to start a $100 auction and charging them $19.99 if they don't want to start an item at .99 cents. The service is a so called premium option. I won't name the firm doing this. Consider you could do this yourself or have a listing service like mine do it for a lot less. One firm charges for taking pictures of items you bring in! Charging you a picture cost of a dollar on top of the fees your already going to incur. 

Drop Off Centers are not friendly to Consumers on Shipping

It doesn't get better for consumers either?  You just won a china set and want to pick it up in person? Guess what - you can get charged $5 or more dollars for just picking an item up. Does it really cost $5 for some stupid box? The shipping supplies are bought wholesale. Sure, there's labor involved, but let's not be excessive. An extra $2 or $3 I can see. I saw a naval cover lot and the firm wanted almost $16 to ship 100 covers via UPS. It doesn't cost $16 by ground even when the firm is doing the packing. I know because I ship all kinds of things on a weekly basis. Should of been no more than $10!

Commissions Vary

I've seen commission ranging from 25 to 30% on top of the individual paying all the Paypal and eBay fees before seeing the net proceeds. Consider, you did a premium service option and your $75 item may net you only $45 dollars when your done.  That's not great. 

Other Things to Consider

I'm not a licensed auctioneer, but I tell you up front. Do drop off centers put this on the home page of a website? I've not seen it. Since, there's no acclaimed experts some items may be listed wrong or get undersold.  This can happen with rare furniture, paintings, and higher end items better suited for licensed auctioneer firms like Soethby's or estate handling firms in your area.

There's not much regulation as to the new business with respect to trading assistants and Drop-Off Centers. If a gas station overcharges what the market bears for gasoline - they get fined. What about individuals and/or firms pocketing extra monies on shipping and handling? No regulation as far as I know.  Do you know people don't have to be licensed auctioners to be trading assistants or operate a drop-off center?  I'm not licensed and feel it will hurt people if auctioneering licenses are imposed.  I don't recommend you selling a Steiff Bear or Classic US stamps with a cat value of a few thousand for 5 stamps on eBay via a Trading assistant or Drop Off Center. Those items are better suited for auction firms having licensed people and thus, experts in various specialties.

So is there any advantage?

One they do an analysis on your item and store it for you. Ship it and deal with the questions based upon the info you provided. Collect payments. And do some research, but as to which data is being used is open for discussion. As to researching the history behind a better postcard from what I see is abscent.

In conclusion

Be careful of what your getting into with a drop-off center if deciding to sell a $50 or $75 item and don't fall for gimmicks. Ebay Drop Off Centers and other businesses in this country are full of upselling tricks. . I'm starting a listing service and am watching what firms and trading assistants are doing. Consider also that the fees being deducted before you see any proceeds are tax write-offs for these operations and individuals. Some of the practices I mentioned are unethical in my opinion and consumers should be aware of them. I can't say which firms are engaged in these acts, but check out auctions on eBay or search the net. You will find the culprits and see some other gimmicks. These practices are hurting small businesses and individuals who are complying with laws and practicing ethics.