I worked in an office for many years and dreamed of being able to stay at home and raise my children while writing. When I was able to make the move to being a full-time freelancer, that's when the hard work really began. The moment you make the decision to support yourself full-time, you've got to be prepared for long hours. It's the same with selling on eBay. When it becomes a full-time business, you've got to develop a schedule; the things that were simply an enjoyable hobby before, like scouring garage sales and flea markets, become work. At the same time, it's hardly all work and no play. You've also got to be prepared for freedom
- for being able to run your own schedule, work when you want, and spend time with your family or friends when you want. You can sleep until 10 A. M. and work from 1 P. M. to 9 P. M. if you want. You can accompany your kids on field trips or hit the golf course in the morning and work on getting your sales online in the afternoon.
Find Customers Worldwide
A number of the sellers I interviewed while writing this article used to operate, or still operate, storefronts where they sell antiques or other merchandise. eBay has revolutionized life for such sellers. On one hand, they had to start selling online just to keep up with the competition. On the other hand, once they did start to sell at auction, they found a new and dramatically wider audience for what they have to sell. Many auction enthusiasts are savvy shoppers who need to save money on things they purchase either for personal or business use, and the time spent searching for them in conventional sales outlets. They're actively seeking rare items to add to their collections.
They don't have time to schlep around the country for months or years visiting antique stores, flea markets, and sales to find them. They're happy to find something they want on eBay and have the chance to obtain it from the comfort of their own homes. If you're a seller, your adrenaline starts to rush when you anticipate having two bidders who will offer you far more than you ever expected for what you have to sell.
Give Yourself a Financial Cushion
One reason for selling on eBay is to get a source of extra income that you can put aside for a rainy day. Some eBay sellers use their auction revenue for their children's tuition. Others use it for vacations. The fact is, once you have a system set up that enables you to sell, you can adjust how active you are based on your needs. You're not required to sell the same number of items every week. I know at least one eBay seller who sold full-time for several years, then decided to take a full-time office job. She still sells on eBay, but not nearly as often as she did before. The important thing is that it's nice to have that extra income to call on when you need it.
eBay Bestsellers
eBay Gave Him a "Reason to Get Up in the Morning" It's often said that eBay has the potential to change your life. I've met many sellers whose careers have been changed by eBay. But I don't think I've met anyone to whom eBay is more important than Chad Gibbons. Chad, 25, lives in Windsor, Ontario, and goes by the User ID boomer1967 on eBay. Like many young men, he has collected sports cards since childhood. He first started using eBay in 1999, in fact, to trade cards. "I started selling cards because there were many that I didn't really want, so I sold them off to buy more. " In 1999, Chad was diagnosed with kidney failure. He had to take a medical leave from his regular job. The three years while he was waiting for a kidney transplant were difficult. "When I was sick for those three years eBay helped me by making me getup in the morning.
I had to get up: I had to mail stuff out and do e-mails and get next week's auctions ready to go, then to the bank to cash checks. All those things that needed to be done were keeping me preoccupied and not thinking about how sick I was. " To supplement his income, Chad started selling on consignment for other people. Amazingly, he estimates that he is able to conduct that many auctions while only spending ten hours a week on eBay-related activities. "I have met lots of people and made a few friends from eBay. The people on eBay are the best people imaginable. "
In August, 2002, Chad received a kidney transplant. Everything went smoothly, except that being in the hospital for two weeks made it difficult for him to keep up with his mailings and auctions. Just a few months out of the hospital, Chad had his best sales month to date, selling 477 out of 530 items and grossing $2,656. He's now sold about 5,000 items and has been highlighted as one of eBay's Power Sellers of the Month. Chad suggests that when you are planning your own eBay business, sell items about which you know something. Also sell items for which there is a proven demand on eBay. "Always be there for the customer to answer questions and concerns.
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1. 5 key to making money online
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