A few questions from a new eBay Stealther

[Mrs_Rodz]

I hope this is in the right section. I apologize in advance if it's not.

Hey everybody! This is my first post, but I have been lurking forever. I got eBay Stealth yesterday and I devoured that book in about 3 hours. Let me just say that I absolutely love it! I still have yet to make my first stealth account, but I plan on making one soon. Yes, I'm a big scaredy cat!

OK, so I have a few questions that I hope you don't mind asking. I have done TONS of research on this forum so far, but I still want some advice about my personal situation if you wonderful people don't mind. Here are my questions:

1) I see that people recommend selling cheap stuff from around the house or a thrift store to begin with. That's fine, but I was wondering when I would be able to sell more expensive items. I am looking to sell things like external hard drives, etc. (computer things--I know, risky stuff--boooo!) but those are really the only kind of items that I can find to make some real profit off of. I plan on having about 6 or more stealth accounts, so I can spread it out, but I'm still wondering when it would be safe to start listing the good stuff. I would be asking between $150 and $200 a piece for them, so I'm sure that is wayyyy too much and will raise flags. That 10 items $1,000 a month rule stinks though. Is that just for the first month or the first 90 days?

2) I am extremely worried about the whole 180 hold thing on PayPal's side. If I'm not selling VERO items, I have happy buyers, etc., what are the odds that I will ever get slapped with that? I ask because I can NOT afford that right now. I have a tiny chunk of change to invest (about $1,000-$1,500) but we would pretty much be financially devastated if we lost that money for 6 months. I know that I have to take a risk and go slowly to see any profit--AKA "pay my dues"--and that's fine. I just can't lose all that money right now. Both my hubby and I are full time nursing students and we have four children, so we have very limited funds. I feel as though I have to make the most of the extra $$ we do have though, because we will be flat broke if I don't make that money work for me. So, right now it's kind of a do or die thing. I have to do it.

Well, thank you so much for any help you can give me. Like I said, I have researched for hours on end (so much that my eyes are screaming at me and I'm surprised my husband hasn't divorced me on terms of neglect LOL) but I was just wondering what you all thought about my personal situation. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you! And sorry for rambling. I like to talk a lot

[Mrs_Rodz]

Wow, that's really long. I'm sorry!

[SUVE]

I'm still wondering when it would be safe to start listing the good stuff.

I would think once you have had the account going for a good few months, have good trading history,have almost 100% buyer/seller feedback, have got verified/confirmed by paypal/ebay, avoid VERO & any other pitfalls like that, you'd be on the right track. Do NOT conduct any high risk activities on the accounts like selling right away a high value item without building browser history or sell VERO or act in a way that suggest you are NOT a newbie as your account registration date would ordinarily suggest.

I am extremely worried about the whole 180 hold thing on PayPal's side.

I would say that is a RISK you take & try to keep onside of eBays/Paypals seller TOS/TOC to reduce such a risk.

Ultimately, no account, even top rated Power sellers are immune from being obliterated by eBay/Palpay for any number of reasons; as you will have noticed from the many threads on this board from the eBay/Paypal victims who have suffered due to their policies.

[Mrs_Rodz]

Thank you so much SUVE. I love this forum--everyone is so helpful

[SUVE]

Originally Posted by Mrs_Rodz

Thank you so much SUVE. I love this forum--everyone is so helpful

my pleasure....

Good luck

[rsot]

Welcome to the forums. Other folx will chime in later.

1. I would aim for a month activity and slowly sparse in your items.

2. Nothing I can say or do can prevent the 180 day killage of your account. That is entirely decided on by you, your stealth method, and operation of sales.

Let's take it from here and see what you write back with. All the best.

[jamblix]

After a month and 10+ feedback you should be OK selling. I don't know why everyone insists on selling junk in the beginning. It really makes no difference in my opinion every account I had I started listing my inventory right away without having to sell trinkets after about a month. It really depends on WHAT you're selling though. I mean I'm not too savvy on external hard drives or computer related products but, as long as you're taking your own pictures and what you're selling is legit there shouldn't be any problems.

What you should worry about however is your selling limits, it seems what you're selling is a bit expensive. I would wait a month and sell under $2000 for the first 6 months. Limits will raise on their own eventually with good feedback and high DSRs. About the 180 day hold, like I said you shouldn't worry about that too much, I don't see any reason why they would suspend you if you play your cards right and even if it does happen you should NEVER hold more then $500 in your Payp. ALWAYS WITHDRAW WHEN YOU CAN in increments of less than $200 once or twice per day. Everyone has they're own withdrawing methods, I only withdraw once a day some do it twice whatever you're comfortable with.

In this way you won't have to worry about Payp holding your money for 180 days hell I have like 6 accounts waiting with around $100-$300 in each of them.

[slapped]

Welcome to the Forums,,All the advice given to you Thus far is VERY Accurate and SOLID,,there really is NOT much more to add,,Take it VERY Slow and Withdraw Daily from Paypal in the suggested amounts as Indicated it the other Posts, try to get your Investment back as Quickly as Possible,,,

Mulpitle account Pairs (Ebay/Paypal) will be GREATLY Benifecial to you as you will be able to spread the Monetary risk over several Paypal accounts, this way if one of your Accounts gets hit with the 180 Day limit, you will not have to much money tied up. You also Put yoursself in a MUCH Better position to make some money in the future when your accounts mature.