What people think about eBay sellers
July 2, 2007 by MindanaoBob
Filed under My Past Life
One of my experiences as an eBay seller was kind of interesting for anybody who is contemplating starting a business on eBay. It happened in the late 1990′s, and into the year 2000. I had a regular job at that time, but I sold on eBay as a side business. I sold all kinds of different products. At the time, I was doing pretty well on eBay, although not nearly as much business as when I did it full time. On many of those days, I would make $100 or $150 in profit per day. That was about the same amount of money that I was earning on my job at the time. I was a Supervisor at a factory that Manufactured Silicon Wafers. So, basically, by selling on eBay, I doubled my salary, and made a fairly nice living.
Each morning, all of the Supervisors in the area where I worked would have a morning meeting with the Plant Management to take care of any problems, plan production, etc. Before the meeting, while waiting for everybody to get there, we would get into all kinds of discussions. One day, I said something about eBay, a lot of people started asking me about it. I told them that as a side business, I sold on eBay, and the discussion started turning to my eBay business every day. When I would enter the meeting people would start asking me how I did on eBay the previous day. I could tell that a lot of these people were just joking around, and really thought it was kind of silly to sell on eBay. Some of these people were basically mocking me, although a few of them were sincere and interested in doing it themselves. I just played along, and told the truth to them about how my business was doing.
The thing that I found really funny was that some of these people who were mocking about having an eBay business were the same people who would be complaining about having trouble paying their bills or they didn’t have the money to pay their rent or their mortgage! I would just sit there quietly thinking to myself how I had doubled my take home pay with just a few hours of work per week. Over time, a few of these folks at the meeting would ask me to tell them more, and some of them also became regular eBay sellers. I helped them learn how to do it, and witnessed them become successful over time. I found this rewarding.
Not living in the USA any longer, I don’t know what the attitude is these days toward people selling on eBay. I would guess that it is more accepted now, compared to in the 90′s when the Internet was still fairly young.
What do you think about people selling on eBay?
About the Author: Bob Martin is an Internet Entrepreneur living in Davao City, Philippines. Bob is an American, but has lived in the Philippines for about a decade now. Bob got started in the Online Auction business in the early days of the Internet, selling on eBay while it was still in it's infancy.
MindanaoBob
Hi Bob,
It’s me again. I just want to ask if you have any advice regarding shipping or delivering of purchased items to your customers. How do you make sure that it is delivered on time and in good condition as promised?
Also, I hope you could give me tips regarding online payment schemes such as Paypal, money transfer and credit cards. How does it work and how safe is it ? Thanks and regards!
More power Bob!
Hi Arnold – don’t worry, I have those topics coming up over the next few days! I won’t leave you hanging!
Hi Bob,
I have sold a few things on ebay in the past, just unwanted items etc. However I bought a guitar amplifier on impulse and later regretted it so I sold it a few months later and made a nice profit! This was probably beginners luck! As far as attitudes are concerned a few people just laughed when I told them and others think I am some sort of cheap skate! You’re right about the individuals who make comments as they are the ones who enjoy complaining!
I would however like to sell consistently on ebay, I just have no idea what to sell and where to get it from.
Phil
Hi Phil – Don’t worry, I am going to be posting about where to find items to sell! This week, I promise!
Nice post. 100-150usd a day is already a hefty amount especially if you are living here in the philippines. Cant wait to get started on this. more power Bob!
Hi Jerico – At the time that I am talking about, I was still living in the States. But, you are correct, it is a nice amount if you are living in the Philippines!
Thanks so much for pointing me here, Bob .. a wealth of good information. I’ve done no eBay selling, but a lot of buying for my past “brick and mortar” business back in the States.
A friend back in Colorado was somewhat handicapped … lung problems … and constantly on line. He was always trying to figure ways to supplement his income, but never tried anything. he would entertain me with tales of how his sister scoured garage and estate sales for “e-bayable” items and made hundreds per month selling them. No matter how she tried she could never get him to see that he too could have been making hundreds per month as well.
Apparently, some people think so little of eBay sellers that they would rather go hungry ….
Hi Dave – Welcome aboard! Don’t you find it funny that those people who need a way to earn a living the most are the ones who don’t want to try anything that is “outside the box?” That’s been my experience too, and it’s really a shame!
Bob,
This is a very good blog/site! I will say where I work, it’s about 50-50. But personally, we bought probably about 3 used cars thru ebay, and of course lots of other stuff – you name it. I think it’s stupid, to just buy full price without checking Ebay first.
As they say, somebody’s junk could be somebody’s treasure, vice versa.
Hi Lea – I’m glad that you like the blog! Wow, you are really using eBay! 3 used cars! That is something. I am with you, why pay full price for anything these days?