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Full time eBayer/online seller more out of necessity. Found when I was going through College the only way I could pay for it was to quit my part time job and do eBay. Didn't have time for both at the time eBay was much more lucrative. After graduation, year went by and couldn't find employment on any level even a modest or part time to supplement my online income. So eBay and selling online is a necessity.

I admit it nice having flexible hours. I work much more during certain parts of the years than others. However, like everyone who is on eBay or owns any kind of business you never know if your accounts or you business is going to be there tomorrow. There are downsides as well. If you ever do look for employment having a long history of being self-employed most employers really look down upon you. Think you can't handle directions, think you ran your business in the ground etc, etc. Will never fit in the Corporate culture, I.E. too independent. Unless you are trying to get into a commission based sales job.

Anyways I have a love hate relationship with eBay and PayPal. Many aspects of their business model I disagree with. However, I have been able to make a modest living for quite some time now. So I take the good with the bad.

I use ebay to top up my income as I'm in full time employment.

I do Ebay full time...
Just finished Cosmo School, and hoping ebay will help me pay to open my own salon & I can do both :) Last few years where ruff, but I think I got the swing of things now.
&& Everythings going well.. Id say go for it!! I love bein able to work when
I have time, not the other way around... Like today, me & the kids went to the lake and now im at home on the comp.. :)

I started ebay because of medical condition, loss of job, and divorce all within months. I had to move in with my parents. I even lost my car to repo and was riding a bicycle. Lowest point in my life

However it has blossomed beyond my imagination. I will pass 1 million is sales in less then few years and all on steath...

I made a plan. I studied just creating and working stealth found my niche and just ran with it.

Now my medical bills are paid off, I own a Cadillac Escalade and Covertible BMW, A new house is paid off in full and I am engaged to be married.

Stealth and Law of Attraction!

Apply for a job using steal th LOL

Awesome good story, write it and sell it on Amazon! Congrats to you sounds like you are committed and have done a hell of a job! Success comes to those who give it hell!

AWESOME!!!

Congrats to you Max on all points.

@newjerseymax

Awesome post.

Well done

:thumb:

Awesome good for you!! Like any business owner you need to be self motivated and have that drive within you. Not. Everyone is cut out to run their own business and need to have that discipline coming from someone else. Most people just want to do the bear minimum to get by in their job and get that weekly paycheck which is great if that's what you want but having a business on ebay won't work with that attitude. In order to succeed you need to be self motivated love what your doing and have no concern for work hours. Having your own business is not just a job where u punch in and out and only care about your tasks, it is a way of life a passion, a business becomes your baby which you nurture and grow and u forget about work hours because as long as your awake your working on your business , that is if you want it to thrive and be profitable.

I was always my own boss and yes their are many downsides , sometimes you wish you can just have a set schedule work your hours get paid and not worry about work until your next scheduled day. But the reward for me out ways all the negatives, and with selling online I really think I found something that really pays off for all your hard work

The trick here is what to sell.....everybody talks about niche products and do lots of research, but more specifics would really help :-)

I don't think you can teach people how to find
 

"niche" products, because if there is a system that works on picking products, then it wouldn't be niche very long because everyone would be doing it. Generally I think it's a good idea that you become very knowledgeable on something, whether it be vintage clothing, comic books, whatever interests you.

I think the most important thing is don't get into anything where you have 800 people drop shipping the same thing made by the same three factories in China.

Here's a product for you to sell:

rainbow colored apples, there are currently no other sellers, it would be a niche market. the moment other sellers get the same product and there are 800 other people selling these apples, its no longer niche.

Noone is going to tell you what to sell, why would they?
If it's a good idea, they would do it themselves. You're here to make money as is everyone else.

Best advice is to look at things that interest you, and become knowledgeable on them. Example, you love tea, look into getting custom tea cups made for you.

Best of luck.

Sure, no one is going to tell me what to sell. But perhaps some light on how to do a good research? What tools can you use to make the research? Only looking at the items on ebay? Or do you use third party tools?

I dabble in eB and Az - my heavy days have long gone past me (hardcore seller during my school) but now, it's more recreational - brings in some extra and keeps my skills alive. I do have to work to survive and live

Figure out what it is that you have access to that others might not, anything that is being sold on ebay by chinese sellers or by tons of others is something I would steer clear of, If you can source something locally you have a much better chance of finding a product that works for you.

Just keep your eyes and ears open
 

If there is a 3rd party doing the research for you, what ever they're recommending has already been advertised to ten thousand other sellers. What US based sellers without a few hundred grand to throw around in china (so your account means anything to chinese factories) needs to do is keep your eyes and ears open locally to see what stuff you can acquire for less than what it sells on eBay.

Generally you want to stay away from things that Chinese producers are selling directly on eBay, because most of those people are selling on eBay direct and also has a drop ship department selling the exact same items to other sellers. It then basically becomes a battle between you and 800 other drop shippers to see who can survive with the least profit margin.

So Basically you are part time. That's kewl....as long as you are making some profit at the end of the month. Everything helps (these days).

Don't know bout all these Glory stories of ppl making 100k a month. I suppose that's possible....but probably a small percentage.

Bring it on MM------

Now get back to work. 3 hours is nothing.

Get that house cleaned up yet for the wife?

Everything is of value.

Watching others, researching the areas you have skills or knowledge of helps get you started.

My Grandpa always said, watch successful people closely, they are successful for a reason. He was right.

Many ways to research products, wholesalers, sources for goods.

I am working on learning about a new area I never dabbled in. First thing I do everyday is look at completed listings. Make notes of the items and go and find them. Compare pricing, send for catalogs, call and ask questions etc.

Just do not buy some silly wholesale list book.

I look at power sellers on what they sell and I see if I can find that product around the US or the internet for a profit. But I am careful on what the product is. But I also stick to my bread and butter items.

If that doesn't inspire anyone I don't know what will! Congratulations !