• January Turning Challenge: Thin-Stemmed Something! (click here for details)
  • Conversations are now Direct Messages (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Gabriel Hoff for "Spalted Beech Round Bottom Box" being selected as Turning of the Week for January 6, 2024 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Turned bowls on ebay

From an auction perspective you could really take a few hits. To open a store front and be able to sell at a specific price, you could then present the items with total control.
 
In general, I have to agree with you Mark that ebay is not appropriate for high end woodturnings. A notable exception was the AAW Relief Fund ebay auction back in Nov. '05, featuring pieces donated by over 30 world class woodturners and raising $54,439.20 towards relief for AAW members suffering from the devastation of hurricane Katrina .

http://www.woodturner.org/info/relief.htm
 
Here is a woodturner who seems to be doing quite well with ebay sales.

From what I can tell, he seems to specialize with very dramatic and beautiful pieces of wood, but very simple shapes to do on the lathe.

I can only imagine that he purchases his wood in very large quantities, and pumps them out with his simple shapes.

I'm not sure I could be happy following his business plan, but it looks to me like he's probably making a living with it. He might be successful with his plan, but I'd find these very simple shapes to be pretty boring after awhile. From what I can tell, everything he does is thick wall......no thin wall pieces.

Considering his prices, the quantity cost of the wood, and the small amount of time he probably puts into it, it looks to be profitable to me.

http://stores.ebay.com/NELSON-WOODWORKING

otis of cologne
 
Last edited:
Don't Forget Seggy!

Ken Grunke said:
In general, I have to agree with you Mark that ebay is not appropriate for high end woodturnings. A notable exception was the AAW Relief Fund ebay auction back in Nov. '05, featuring pieces donated by over 30 world class woodturners and raising $54,439.20 towards relief for AAW members suffering from the devastation of hurricane Katrina .

http://www.woodturner.org/info/relief.htm
Click to expand...
Malcolm Tibbets auctioned off seggy for a pretty penny a while back.
Generally, though, I am inclined to think that quality work by us lesser knowns, and without a cause can't expect to do much on eBay.
David Walsh sells LOTS on eBay, but I don't think he gets enough for most of his work. ALTHOUGH, he doesn't pay big gallery percentages, so it may work out for him.
Personally, I'm not prolific enough to try and sell there.
 
odie said:
Here is a woodturner who seems to be doing quite well with ebay sales.

From what I can tell, he seems to specialize with very dramatic and beautiful pieces of wood, but very simple shapes to do on the lathe.

I can only imagine that he purchases his wood in very large quantities, and pumps them out with his simple shapes.

I'm not sure I could be happy following his business plan, but it looks to me like he's probably making a living with it. He might be successful with his plan, but I'd find these very simple shapes to be pretty boring after awhile. From what I can tell, everything he does is thick wall......no thin wall pieces.

Considering his prices, the quantity cost of the wood, and the small amount of time he probably puts into it, it looks to be profitable to me.

http://stores.ebay.com/NELSON-WOODWORKING

otis of cologne
Click to expand...

Otis as simple as those bowls are if he could do 3 or 4 a hour that would be some pretty good money. Yep it would get boring after a while for sure.
 
Bernie Weishapl said:
Otis as simple as those bowls are if he could do 3 or 4 a hour that would be some pretty good money. Yep it would get boring after a while for sure.
Click to expand...


Yes.......and another thing that struck me is the size of his little bowls. They look fairly large the way he has them photographed, but many are very tiny. This one, "HONDURAN ROSEWOOD BURL RING DISH", is actually only 3 1/8" in diameter by 3/4" tall.......small enough to slip into your shirt pocket! He wants $25 for it, so I can see how it might turn out to be profitable to make them.

I wonder if any of his customers are disappointed when they find out just how small they are......? (Not that he's being deceptive, as he does tell the actual size.....but the photographs don't give any indication of their size.....and in my opinion, the photographs make them look larger than they are.)

I suspect that ebay is the ONLY place where he could get such prices for such small and simple bowls. If he were selling to a public that could have the product in their hands prior to purchase, they might not sell as well at the prices he's asking for them.........you think? This boils down to marketing, and tylerwhitebeard has found a method that works for him.

OOC
 

Attachments

  • 310115090298_1.jpg
    310115090298_1.jpg
    3.2 KB · Views: 270
Last edited:
I often sell small bowls for $25 but they are finished immaculately. I can't justify selling them for any less. I don't do 3 or 4 an your due to the finish time. I usually only do these when i have a small section of wood left from another project so the scraps don't go to waste. I still have to add in my time. I don't sell these at shows so I don't have any other expenses. No shipping, packing, driving to the post office, Booth fees etc.
I haven't tried ebay. I'm just not an ebay person I guess.
 
Mark,
We all start from somewhere and eventually strive for a higher goal. Look at all the bad movies big movie starts made when they were just starting out. The point is, they graduated from small theatrical events to budgeted movies. Some go on to make names for themselves while others you never hear about.

If you can make a few bucks on ebay then more power to you. If not then move on to your next venture. If someday you make museum quality art then I doubt that someone will look at your work and say, "that's not art, he sold it on eBay!"

Most "art" galleries still don't recognize wood as art unless it is at least 500 years old. Then it doesn't matter how ugly it is because it becomes "Aht."

Burt
 
Having followed your link Otis, I don't think he is making any money at all. Once you start adding up consumables, time, tools, ebay and paypal fee's he is only recovering costs.
What you have to wonder is how many he sells, 3-4 a day and it's a decent part time gig, but that would start sucking the fun out of it. I doubt he is selling 3-4 a day. 8-10 a day and he has a living, but I doubt it would be a comfortable one.
 
David Wilkins said:
Having followed your link Otis, I don't think he is making any money at all. Once you start adding up consumables, time, tools, ebay and paypal fee's he is only recovering costs.
What you have to wonder is how many he sells, 3-4 a day and it's a decent part time gig, but that would start sucking the fun out of it. I doubt he is selling 3-4 a day. 8-10 a day and he has a living, but I doubt it would be a comfortable one.
Click to expand...

David......

Your guess is as good as mine on that.

I first became aware of him a couple of years ago, when I ran across his work on ebay purely by accident. I don't think he'd still be there if it wasn't worthwhile for him to do it......but, who knows? Hard to say what motivates him, if it isn't to make some money at it.

With his very professional looking "ebay store", and his compilation of positive feedbacks, he is certainly laying the groundwork for some established recognition. Someone like you and I, who hasn't established ourselves on ebay like he has, will probably have a difficult time making any sales at all......so, in that sense, he's way ahead of the game!

otis of cologne
 
I just noticed that he lives right here in Arlington, Texas where I live. He has his picture on his ebay store, but I don't recognize him so I guess that he may not be a member of the Woodturners of North Texas club.
 
I have thoroughly read all the comments posted in reply to my question.
I value your opinions and have given this subject a lot of thought.

When I started turning, most of my work was given away to my family and friends. As my work became more valued, I felt that giving it to charity to help sick children was worth more than any amount of money I could possibly sell them for.

I this past few years, I've purposely designed unique bowls that represent a specific charity. I've been told that my work is museum quality and I'm gathering a loyal following.

I'm glad that I found this forum and will continue to be an active member.
 
MarkP said:
I felt that giving it to charity to help sick children was worth more than any amount of money I could possibly sell them for.
Click to expand...

Our club's primary charity activity is supporting the Empty Bowls Project every year. Like you, I have never sold a bowl, but I do turn bowls that are used to help support this fund raiser.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top