Archive for the ‘Selling On Ebay’ Category

What is the price of a postage stamp? Not necessarily the price the consumer, Mr. or Mrs. Joe American, pays, but the price the United States Postal Department pays.

Every time I go into the Post Office I see the walls plastered with ‘collectible’ stamps for sale. Why do we need so many special edition stamps and who pays the artist to create these?

Today, I was at the Post Office. So were Audrey Hepburn, Bob Hope, Golden Age Cowboys, Frank Sinatra and The Simpsons. Among the décor were Abstract Art, Flowers, Ducks, Birds, and Cartoons.  Read more... (564 words, 12 images, estimated 2:15 mins reading time)

Watch out! EBay will end your listings without notice to you!

It just happened to my brother-in-law who has an EBay store specializing in restored wristwatches.

It seems that EBay will take the word of someone, beit stranger or customer, that a seller has violated some dumb rule and without notice, EBay will start removing that seller’s items without cause and without even the decency of a telephone call to investigate the claim.

My brother-in-law had a customer in FRANCE who had been doing business with them for months (satisfactory business) so it was a shock to learn that this Frenchman complained to EBay, causing EBay to remove over 1,000 of his items for sale.  Read more... (510 words, 13 images, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)

Have you ever noticed how the words “policy” and “police” are similar? It reminds me how one can gain control over others simply by enforcing a policy. It happens daily in the corporate world as well as dictating rules in the social and family environment.

Yet, rules, laws, and policies are here for our protection and to regulate some type of order and consistency.

BUT, there is an old adage, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it!”  Read more... (364 words, 14 images, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

There was a time when a good friend of mine asked, “How much inventory do you have in stock”, when discussing my E-Bay business.

“I don’t really know” I replied, stating that I had a LOT.

I attempted to explain that I just list the items in my E-Bay store and live on cash flow from the items that sell.

“Horrible idea!”

This friend had been in retail all his life and is now retired. He diligently convinced me I needed an inventory program to keep up with my costs and my profits. Else, how do I know my time is worth the effort I put into the business.  Read more... (268 words, 13 images, estimated 1:04 mins reading time)

I have a ton of items to sell on EBay. Motivation, or the lack of it, is the only reason why someone succeeds or fails when seriously selling on EBay.

What motivates me? Money. It’s that simple. How much money do I want to make with EBay and what am I willing to sacrifice to do so?

Time is what ultimately gets sacrificed. However, over the course of many years, I’ve determined time is well spent when I focus on listing, listing, listing.  Read more... (195 words, 13 images, estimated 47 secs reading time)

I’m sitting at my computer listing vintage jewelry on EBay. It’s too hot to go outside so I have the air conditioner set and the ceiling fan above circulating the cool air around my desk. I’m thinking white. Cool white.

Did you know it takes approximately 20 minutes from start to finish to create a GOOD listing on EBay with GOOD photos? (Talking about vintage jewelry here)

1. First, take the pictures. I take about 3 photos per piece.

2. Download photos into computer. Open Photoshop.

3. Adjust for color, clarity, brightness, size, compression, etc.  Read more... (340 words, 13 images, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)

Everybody’s heard about Christmas in July . . . you know, buying things to put away for Christmas 6 months hence. July is also when trade shows are held for retailers to purchase Christmas inventory. While some people are thinking about beaches and barbeques, others are thinking WAAAAY ahead.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to ready myself for the holidays EARLY. It’s never too early (or too late) to add inventory to an Ebay store. So what if it doesn’t sell today or tomorrow? Past experience tells me it WILL sell, eventually. At 2 cents per month for store stock, that’s only $40 per month for 2,000 items. “Sell just a few items and it pays for itself,” I tell myself.  Read more... (361 words, 13 images, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

Sure, you can become a Power Seller if you’re a big physical company and have employees working the Ebay Department. You know how it works: Listing, Packing, Shipping, Paperwork!

A lot of businesses have new products they offer and simply repeat selling the same thing over and over, quickly achieving the Power Seller status.

But I didn’t fit that description. I didn’t have ‘new’ things to offer on a repetitious basis.  Read more... (852 words, 14 images, estimated 3:24 mins reading time)