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Ebay success stories please - sellers only. Archived From: Online Auction Info

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alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 5:37a

eBay selling is good way to make money...
i am a beginner on eBay. i started my eBay sometimes durning Auguest 2002, but things didnt go too good at the beginning but i do alot of research, surfing and learning (finally the same product that i was selling starting to pick up after few weeks) and now i am a power seller... i dont mean that i am very very good, but at least i worked hard and lucky so far i made 120k net profit in 2 months (but yea.. i do work like a dog..) b/c i didnt expect that i got that much order and buyer emailing and calling me like crazy... and i incorprated just for a eBay selling ..( i am too afraid of IRS...) and now i even import stuff from other countries and sell them on eBay or exclusive them to some of the eBay seller. altho i am not making that much $$ to sell them in bulk to other power eBay seller . but hey.. at least i make money and they can make money too, so i am happy . and i made alot of friends on eBay too

to aprince1:
Do you have alot of stuff to sell? or just some? and do you want this to be your full / part time job? if you only have couple things to sell .. then i can't help you... if you want this to go long term.. then i might have some suggestion for you...


anyways.. good luck on eBay to everyone here


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 6:34a

My wife buys and sells childrens clothes part time on eBay (she lists about every 2 or 3 weeks). She turns about 5k/year in revenue. Profit is a little difficult to calculate since many times she buys clothes locally or online at a huge discount, the kids wear them until they outgrow them, and then she sells them for profit over her purchase price so basically, I have no expense for my kids clothing.

Trifate is right, listing individual items is time consuming and painful, if she were to try to do this full time it would be better to have some kind of bulk item that could easily be listed over and over. However, when she lists, she lists a bunch of items at a time so she can minimize the number of trips to the post office. She also usually gets a lot of multiple purchase customers, so she can ship multiple items together.

Best item I've sold on eBay? My 1977 vintage skateboard I found sitting in my parent's garage went for $1100!


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 2:53p

well lets see Iam not a big seller like alot of the others on the board. I make about 400 a week, but with my 9-5 job thats just wonderful. theres alot of ways to go about doing this.
* yard sale shopping everyone has stuff they would like to get rid of.
* wholesale stores, or buy things when they are on sale.
* make something - be artistic.

the big thing is the look of your add learn how to do HTML. and have all the information on your ad. How you ship, about your self, how much for shipping.

Use lots of pictures.... once again if you learn HTML you can post pictures for free. So since my pictures are free I use as many as possible.

Post office lines are a pain thats why I use stamps.com you print postage from home on plain paper. I use the free Priority Mail boxes I pick up from the post office. I do not wait in line you can hand them to a post man - I know where one picks up from one of the big mail boxes every day at 5 I just go there hand him the boxes and off I go. I also tell people I only ship on Wensdays and Saturdays this way if Iam busy I have lead time to get the package out.

I hope this helps a little


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 3:21p

Does anyone else ship with Fedex? I started using them a couple months ago and have no complaints. I go to their website fill out the form and print it out. Then all you have to do is drop it in a box (I have one in walking distance). They automatically bill your credit card. This gets rid of the line problem at the post office. You can also track the packages online.


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 3:27p

In reply to the shipping questions, get a FedEx or UPS account. I have a FedEx account, and all I have to do is copy and paste the info to the FedEx web site. From there I can print up the shipping label, slap a FedEx supplied clear envelope thing on the box then slip the shipping label in the envelop and I am done. FedEx can pick it up, but I usually drop it off. No need to wait in line since it is already to go. FedEx charges my CC when the package arrives. There is USPS software to do this, but USPS is a ripoff for anything over a pound. UPS has some integration with PayPal, so that may make it even easier than FedEx. It got really old writing out forms and labels and waiting in lines, but with the FedEx account, it takes about 1/4 the time.

Also, make an HTML template for your auctions. Then re-use the same template for each auction, only updating the picture links and description. Takes some time up front to make a good looking template, but subsequent auctions are a snap. andale and a few other companies will do this for you, but between paypal and eBay fees, I am already being bled to death with fees. I tried to stop using paypal (only offered c2it), but my auctions went for less w/o a paypal option.


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 3:28p

the big thing is the look of your add learn how to do HTML.

As far as the ad goes I use HTML so I am confused on what you mean by free pictures?


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 4:17p

you can use a free web site to host your pictures on then you do not have to pay eBay fees.

the link to the picture would be
www.yoursite.com/nameofpicture.jpg


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 4:23p

I went to the site and all I got was this: PaymentProcessor.Net - Information

PaymentProcessor.Net is the best Gateway on the Internet...and it's FREE!


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 4:23p

It seems that eBay's posting/selling promotions seem to be around holidays (I took advantage of free posting on Halloween and December 26th). Does anyone know or have an idea of when the next promo will be? Thanks.


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 5:31p

TBotzon said:

<< I went to the site and all I got was this: PaymentProcessor.Net - Information

PaymentProcessor.Net is the best Gateway on the Internet...and it's FREE! >>

LOL!!!! That's just an example.


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 5:33p

I started eBay my spare stuff and deals finding on FW. The income is limited. How can I buy something in wholesale to sell? I am a full time housewife and have a plenty of time. But I cann't find enough stuff to sell.


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 8:29p

Are FedEx or UPS fees any cheaper if you use their software? I know businesses pay less than half the normal rate, how do we get this as individuals?


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 8:38p

Bry said:

<< Are FedEx or UPS fees any cheaper if you use their software? I know businesses pay less than half the normal rate, how do we get this as individuals? >>

FED EX gives you 10% off express shipments only.


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 20, 2003 @ 10:39p

going to USPS is too much work...

I have Airborne account and so far they are great... rate are better than UPS and Fedex.

if anyone want my account Manager's number PM me I will reply with his number to you.

but he is in S. California

Thanks

JJ


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 21, 2003 @ 12:41a

Isn't Airborne pretty spendy?


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 21, 2003 @ 9:03a

You HAVE to take good photos.

Most bidders don’t read your text unless the photo has compelled them to bid (the first thing someone does if scroll to the photo). Take photos with the sun as your lighting (but make sure there are no shadows), or buy some studio lighting (I have Britek - you can order from Briteklightinc@aol.com). Britek is also resold on e-bay, but I bought direct. Use a solid background (white), and always include a gallery image. Use relative enhancing on the thumbnails (that’s what Jakob Nielsen says).


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 21, 2003 @ 12:29p

Question about taxes.

How would IRS crack down on you if you only earn about $200 per month on eBay?
How do they track you?


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 21, 2003 @ 2:19p

I just created my first eBay selling account this past weekend(wish me luck and $). Why do I have to have it linked to my checking account? This makes me nervous :0
Is there a way around it, I have it set up to bill my credit card.

SMD


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 21, 2003 @ 2:31p

I have been selling items on eBay for awhile . lately i have been wondering what is the best way for shipping . I would like someones idea .

Usally right now i pay around $4-4.50 for a 2lb item


alert mods    
   posted: Jan. 21, 2003 @ 10:38p

When do you guys start writing off part of your rent as a business expense? How much do you have to do in sales for it to be legit?


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