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Scarface420
Stranger

Registered: 12/22/13
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Last seen: 8 years, 1 month
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Buying broken electronics on Ebay and getting them fixed
#19343869 - 12/29/13 10:02 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I have no idea how to fix electronics but I was thinking of buying broken things on ebay and taking somewhere to get them fixed then resell them. I know it's expensive to get things fixed so I'm not exactly sure if this will work. So what do you think?
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Me_Roy
Stranger
Registered: 07/30/02
Posts: 3,230
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Re: Buying broken electronics on Ebay and getting them fixed [Re: Scarface420]
#19343964 - 12/29/13 10:23 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Might work if you know the margins and your time isn't worth much to you.
You'd have to run the numbers on any given item.
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Guy1980
Registered: 09/11/12
Posts: 723
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Re: Buying broken electronics on Ebay and getting them fixed [Re: Me_Roy]
#19345347 - 12/30/13 07:42 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I attempted this (though I'd fix stuff myself). The margins weren't great, the required effort was. I've no doubt it could be a viable second string for someone who repairs things as a service, but as a sole income I wouldn't consider it.
It's not difficult to fix most electronics (in a part swapping fashion), go to ifixit.com and see what's involved. While you're there you can also check a few prices for parts.
If I wanted to do this to earn a few extra beer tokens, I'd focus on the easy things (iPhone screen replacement etc.), stuff you can turn over fast, and has a fairly solid resale market. Even then though, you only need to buy one "smashed screen" phone which has also been in the bathtub, and you've lost your profit for the next 3 repairs.
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Gorlax



Registered: 05/06/08
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Re: Buying broken electronics on Ebay and getting them fixed [Re: Guy1980]
#19346647 - 12/30/13 02:47 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I wouldn't fuck with electronics on eBay. I've been using ebay for a while now. You get the best deals sometimes. I've also sold plenty of things. The one thing that pisses me off about ebay is how high the interest is on a sale. It's like around 10% for certain things. I sold a ballast for 85$ and they took 10$
I do buy some things and resell for profit. The margins of profit are small but its profit for button clicking.
People pay high prices for gold, silver , and bullion on ebay. I think its because the noobs go there to buy it. I purchase silver bars when they are cheap, then resell when the markets up a little more. Usually a 5$ profit or more depending how high the auction goes.
Vitamins and Health supplements can be bought for real cheap and resold for a good price. I buy lots of cheap vitamins and resell individually. Watch out tho i've been fucked and have gotten expired shit, which really doesn't mean anything but makes them hard to resell...
as for electronics. They could be totally fried and ruined. I've sold broken electronics many times and the main purchases are huge chinese companies that have all the parts already...
computer parts sell well, spare hard drives and stuff
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Jack yo Self foo
The Artful Dodger



Registered: 06/28/08
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Loc: Where the red fern grows....
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Re: Buying broken electronics on Ebay and getting them fixed [Re: Gorlax]
#19351489 - 12/31/13 03:05 PM (10 years, 30 days ago) |
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your better off driving around college campuses at the end of semesters, or apartment complexes at the end of the month
get the stuff free,a nd then try to fix it...much cheaper, and i'd be willing to bet you'd come accross some good stuff
-------------------- You learn something new everyday, so be sure you learn something from it.
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ManianFH
living in perverty


Registered: 07/06/04
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Re: Buying broken electronics on Ebay and getting them fixed [Re: Jack yo Self foo]
#19355636 - 01/01/14 05:49 PM (10 years, 29 days ago) |
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Affluent neighborhoods usually throw away good shit too. A buddy of mine picked out a brand new ibanez electric guitar from one house, as well as bikes, telescopes, etc
-------------------- notapillow said: "you are going about this endeavor all wrong. clear your mind of useless fear and concern. buy the ticket, take the ride, and all that.... " ChrisWho said: "It's all about the journey, not the destination."
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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,372
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Re: Buying broken electronics on Ebay and getting them fixed [Re: Scarface420]
#19357439 - 01/02/14 06:40 AM (10 years, 29 days ago) |
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I think the major problem with this idea is that modern electronics are mostly disposable. To make good, consistent money I think you'd need to learn to fix things yourself.
Another route to try is buying on Craigslist then reselling, as ebay prices are usually higher than CL. However, this takes a keen eye and knowledge of a specific market to be able to identify the good deals.
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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Me_Roy
Stranger
Registered: 07/30/02
Posts: 3,230
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Re: Buying broken electronics on Ebay and getting them fixed [Re: badchad]
#19359279 - 01/02/14 03:56 PM (10 years, 28 days ago) |
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Quote:
badchad said: I think the major problem with this idea is that modern electronics are mostly disposable. To make good, consistent money I think you'd need to learn to fix things yourself.
Another route to try is buying on Craigslist then reselling, as ebay prices are usually higher than CL. However, this takes a keen eye and knowledge of a specific market to be able to identify the good deals.
QFT. Esp. the Craigslist free section, depending where you live and how many (other) pro salvage people there are in your area.
Also thrift stores, garage sales, and ESTATE SALES. The key here is knowing more than other people and developing some specialities. (Hi-fi, pottery, furniture, etc.)
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iateshaggy
i haxor 360s



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Re: Buying broken electronics on Ebay and getting them fixed [Re: Me_Roy]
#19359772 - 01/02/14 05:24 PM (10 years, 28 days ago) |
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i used to try to do this a lot with xboxes. i quickly learned it is quite difficult to cherry pick which boxes were fixable, profitable and would stay fixed. the sales i derived were only ever a portion of the money i made doing that kind of work.
-------------------- You are a filipina sex goddess who wants to fuck me until I fall asleep, so then you can tickle my balls and see if the legend of my diamond filled nutsuck is true. I am a white man from costa rica, who smells like lime jello.
I can flash/jtag/repair 360's, pm for details.
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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


Registered: 10/31/04
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Re: Buying broken electronics on Ebay and getting them fixed [Re: iateshaggy]
#19366909 - 01/04/14 05:06 AM (10 years, 27 days ago) |
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Quote:
iateshaggy said: i used to try to do this a lot with xboxes. i quickly learned it is quite difficult to cherry pick which boxes were fixable, profitable and would stay fixed. the sales i derived were only ever a portion of the money i made doing that kind of work.
anyone wants some broken electronics, I got a frigging boatload of them. FREE! May have a little dirt and rain on them and some tweeker damage, but hey! FREE!
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
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sisyphus
Always curious :-)



Registered: 09/22/09
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Re: Buying broken electronics on Ebay and getting them fixed [Re: LunarEclipse]
#19377990 - 01/06/14 04:22 PM (10 years, 24 days ago) |
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Difficult to make it work for all the above reasons. Plus one more - the winner's curve in auctions.
When you have imperfect information in an auction, it is the most optimistic person who wins, and invariably they lose out overall, as it isn't worth that.
'It just won't turn on' could be a dead charger, it could be the battery letting go and blowing every circuit and chip in it. The person who wins the auction is the most optimistic and thinks it may well be a cheap fix. However as the above poster said you only need a dud or two to wipe out all profits.
CL sounds like a better bet, or just, you know, getting a job. Look at the income per hour from electronics, and i think you will find being a waiter will make you a lot more
-------------------- “I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them." - Ian L. Fleming (1908 - 1964) “I believe that all government is evil and that trying to improve it is a waste of time." - Henry Louis Mencken (1880 - 1956)
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theRealrollforever
I DID-DENT



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Re: Buying broken electronics on Ebay and getting them fixed [Re: sisyphus]
#19391147 - 01/08/14 11:11 PM (10 years, 22 days ago) |
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I thought it would be profitable...good thing i read this thread
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sunshine said: The order has to be secret and no one is sure.
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