posted on January 22, 2005 06:15:38 AM new
I live in a town of 2500, 40 miles from the Canadian border.It ain't easy to make a living here! Yesterday I was in my post office shipping. I had a package to Great Britan, one to Denmark and 5 to U.S. states. RARELY do we have lines in my PO but if we do, they are generally behind me!I am always ready with all paper work to help move us along.The package to G.B.came in at $18 to ship, I charged my customer $7. So I said lets look through the rates there has to be a way... or it goes home and I write to my customer. This exchange caused the 3 people behind me to say, "hey do you sell on that.. ebay?" Yes I do.... "I want to do that"! Will you teach me! Now kids I work hard to maintain my meager 30 to 50 listings a week. Some days I'm at this machine for 14 hours. Searching should I list this, what does my favorite seller have this week,included in those hours.Research time is included. I sell antiques and collectables, I don't have 500 of the same toaster from China, so my process of listing is FAR more timely than alot of folks. Will I teach THEM! I do believe that folks that don't KNOW ebay think that we all sit at this machine,eat bon bons, watching our auctions that appear in seconds rise in price,generously of course, as we ... think about what to list next. OH then I walk out to the mail box pick up all those checks and count my money. My (I tried very hard to smile) response was, I'm self taught... learned alot of hard lessons,some costly lessons and quite frankly don't have time for a class... Am I being testy and short sighted is there more $Money$ in teaching than doing?
posted on January 22, 2005 06:31:12 AM new
Well...
In a nutshell (sorry, Ralphie): YES!
We've been averaging $100/mo justjabbering about feeBay, so, there is a real market out dere in dem thar hills for folks who want to learn eBay!
Take feeBay's course (they WHACK ya for a whooping $99) and yer listed in their Ding-Dong School section!
Eazey-peeezy, says Mr Know-It-All!
"For too long, too many people dependent on Social Security have been cruelly frightened by individuals seeking political gain through demagoguery and outright falsehood, and this must stop.The future of Social Security is much too important to be used as a political football." ~ Ronald Reagan
posted on January 22, 2005 07:53:24 AM new
I heard some folks were charging 50 dollars an hour to come to your home and show you how to do ebay.
I have heard someone who would even supply them with stuff to sell.
But if you live in a small town and source your goods in the area,would you be creating competition for yourself??
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on January 22, 2005 09:01:15 AM new
I'm in a very small town, and I've decided I will not teach anyone who lives here how to sell on Ebay--because I too sell collectibles, most of which I find here at yard sales; ditto for books--and they'd be huge competition for me. As it is, we have a few here already, and I see them at all the sales.
Edited to add: When a friend out of town asks for help, I always tell them to buy at least 10 things on Ebay, build a feedback of at least that many, and then come back to me--because they would have learned so much from that process (how Ebay works, how it feels to be a buyer, money things, etc.)
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Is it true that the only difference between a yard sale and a trash pickup is how close to the road the stuff is placed?
[ edited by Roadsmith on Jan 22, 2005 09:03 AM ]
posted on January 22, 2005 11:18:36 AM new
Now there is a good idea. Make all sellers bid and successfully complete ten purchase transactions before they can sell on ebay.
That way, they can see how different sellers are and they could see both the good and the bad. Then with any luck, they take the good things and incorporate them into their own strategies.
posted on January 22, 2005 10:02:01 PM new
Stone: I figure that, with buying 10 items, the person will learn. I even tell them to buy dollar items, if they must, to learn the buyer's end of things. Odd thing is that only one of my many friends (an out-of-towner) has ever taken me up on my suggestion here. Buncha lazy coots out there!
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Is it true that the only difference between a yard sale and a trash pickup is how close to the road the stuff is placed?
posted on January 22, 2005 10:08:45 PM new
Road,,,,,I was just DYING to hear that reply,,,,hahahahaha.......yup,,,,,L A Z Y ,,,they want it DUMPED in their LAP at YOUR,,,,,,,,,,learning experience EXPENSE.....
posted on January 22, 2005 10:52:36 PM new
Roadsmith,
A few years ago I opened an account for consignment sales only. I knew I had to get a feedback total of at least 10 before I dared try to list anything for a client. I went to a friend who sells at the local flea market and gathered up about a dozen low priced items of her merchandise and listed it for her on the new account. No commission, I paid all Ebay fees and I shipped it for her. She got 100% of the proceeds and I got the feedback. Worked out great for both of us, and it gave me some much needed experience in accounting, fees and expenses involved in consignment sales. I accounted for each sale as if I were actually charging a commission. I agree with your approach 100%. They need to get their feet wet on Ebay before they even think about listing that first item.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on January 23, 2005 09:30:54 AM new
Sparkz: I like the approach you took on that new account for consignment sales only. That was smart. Maybe my advice in the future will be that a friend interested in selling on Ebay FIRST buy at least ten items, THEN try selling some low-end things with minimal advice from me. That would make my job even easier!
However, nowadays when people ask me for advice on how to sell on Ebay, I'm telling them that Ebay is tanking, more or less, for small sellers and I don't advise anyone to try it.
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Is it true that the only difference between a yard sale and a trash pickup is how close to the road the stuff is placed?
