if you have an Ebay business...

What do you sell?

Did you find it difficult to "break in" and establish yourself as a regular seller?

Just curious!

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

Originally I started selling stuff in my own closet and around our house because I was trying to make additional $$$ for our wedding. Well 2+ years later, now I actually go out and make minor investments. I still sell anything and everything I can get my hands on, but 90% of my sales is clothes (both used and new). Clothes are great because I personally HATE shipping fragile items. The one thing with clothes is they weight more than you think.

Message edited 3/10/2008 9:03:27 AM.

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

Wow, that's great!

I've sold a few items here and there over the years (never regularly). I mostly sold horse stuff I either didn't need anymore, the horses outgrew, etc., etc. I've bought way more than I've sold.

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

I too started out selling items from my closet

then my Dad and inlaws both sold there homes in the same summer- and I liquidated about $10K in collectables

(I am sure Kerry remebers those ugly mugs)

now I sell designer handbags- I picked my niche based on something I care about- and unlike clothes- they are 1 size fits all

I invest quite a bit of time and money every month - over $10K and over 20 hours a week

right now- I am going thru a phase where I don't want to do this anymore- I have been doing it to pay off my CC debt without using my paycheck

and while I have taken a nice chuck out- my DH got a new job- and I might not need to do this anymore- I might still continue for fun- but on a smaller scale

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

I sell anything I can find also...
Since family and friends know that I do it as a 2nd income, they have given me a bunch of stuff for me to sell and keep the profits.
I started and run mine just about the same as Kerry. We are eBay queens (in our own mind )
I don't make a ton of $$ (I know Beth makes a nice profit, but she puts in A LOT of time). I am happy with moderate work for a moderate income (for now).
I am sure that if I put more time and $ into it, or found myself a niche market, I could skyrocket

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

My brother has a business he makes enough every month to pay off his mortgage. He goes to stores that are closing and buys stuff in bulk. He likes buying things in bulk since he only has to write up a description for the item once he can use the same thing over and over. He has found certain items to be better sellers and he always looks for them.

At Christmas time I always know what he is selling because I always end up with random gifts.

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

Posted by Kara

Posted by MeNBobs

At Christmas time I always know what he is selling because I always end up with random gifts.

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

see- and I didn't have a good x-mas season

but starting the day AFTER

I sold more bags in the last week of December- thru January- then ever

it was like the flood gates opened

I think b/c my customers purchase for themselves

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

I just wish that I could find something that sells on ebay. I have the spare time and could use the money!!!!!!!

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

Don't totally rule out heavy items or fragile items. My dad was in the oriental rug business for years and he now buys rugs at auctions and sells them on e-bay. After a while, he got into buying and selling all sorts of antiques and collectibles on e-bay, so it is not just rugs anymore. My parents are both retired but e-bay is really their business now. They have all the right packing materials and so much of their good feedback is because he can get fragile items to arrive in one piece!!!! And, even though he sells a broad variety of things, he still gets repeat business from people who just follow his auctions. I can't say how to build your rep. as a seller because e-bay is different now from when mty parents started.

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

this month was not good- I had $7K in sales at 33% profit

I returned about $5K worth of stuff in the last two weeks

not a normal month

and that's before ebay fees- Feb was a diaster

that's from Mid Feb to right now

you have to take the good months with the bad- and looking at this month- it was not worth my time

which is why I debating my next move with all the new ebay changes taking place in the next few months- I have concerns about the new feedback changes etc-

it's not easy- but it can be very rewarding

but I built up to my current level over time -

I would never tell anyone to go out and spend why I spend every month- I didn't start out spending that much- I started out much smaller

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

what are the new feedback changes ?

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

Beth....This has to be the worst move that ebay could make and I bet they will lose a lot of sellers. I may be one of them. I have really good feedback and do not think that making this change is a wise decision for Ebay.....I do not understand why they would take the right of the seller to give their buyer negative feedback away. If they do this, they should just stop giving the right to buyers to give negative feedback.....This will also lead to new buyers giving negative feedback to sellers even if they are not bad sellers, since they know that the seller canot retaliate and give them bad feedback.
Scott

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

I totally agree Scott

I am debating closing up shop also- it makes me nervous

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

I cannot tell you why they would do thius but I can tell you it is a very stupid move......They will lose a lot of sellers

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

That sounds like an awful idea regarding the feedback!!!!!

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

I still, after 5 years or so, find random stuff at home to sell(mostly clothing) and also sell some hair/nail products and bargains from the outlets.

As for the feedback changes, it's absurd! I have 1000+ positive fb and don't understand these changes either.

Re: if you have an Ebay business...

I'm mainly a buyer and I think that feedback change is ridiculous!!

What about buyers who don't pay??? What a bad move on Ebay's part.