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Rodney · 12-04-2005, 07:48 AM

Nothing's free and easy. Even if you do web advertising, that means you spent time putting together a site that people actually want to visit.

As far as setting up on eBay is concerned, the people who make money there really hustle and take risks, just like brick-and-mortar businesses. The advantage is that initial risk is reduced, because you can start selling on eBay with very investment. You can experiment without getting burned badly.

eBay is the vahalla for the flea market and garage sale set. If you want to make some cash, find out what you can buy cheaply and easily in your area, and see if people from other areas are willing to pay more for it on eBay. I met a woman in my town who clears $60K a year on eBay selling used items. Of course she knows what to buy, and spends all her time going to rummage sales and thrift shops. But she'd do that anyway, because that's what she loves...

Some examples: my wife knits, and likes to buy yarn on eBay. Some people live near woolen mills and buy the "mill ends" (end of the run yarn) at dirt cheap prices, and make money selling the yarn on eBay.

Or... I collect community cookbooks, those spiral-bound things full of terrible recipes put out as fundraisers by churches, schools, etc. You can buy 'em for a dime or a quarter at rummage sales. People from different parts of the country gather up 10 or 20 and sell them in big lots, which go for $15 or $20 or more. I sometimes buy these lots, because they contain local cookbooks from other parts of the country that I'll never find at my own local thriftshops. And a buck a book is still a deal to me, even with shipping. And the seller clear $10-$20 on books he/she maybe spent $3 on.

It takes work, but it's something anyone can do.

12-04-2005, 07:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	Nothing's free and easy. Even if you do web advertising, that means you spent time putting together a site that people actually want to visit. As far as setting up on eBay is concerned, the people who make money there really hustle and take risks, just like brick-and-mortar businesses. The advantage is that initial risk is reduced, because you can start selling on eBay with very investment. You can experiment without getting burned badly. eBay is the vahalla for the flea market and garage sale set. If you want to make some cash, find out what you can buy cheaply and easily in your area, and see if people from other areas are willing to pay more for it on eBay. I met a woman in my town who clears $60K a year on eBay selling used items. Of course she knows what to buy, and spends all her time going to rummage sales and thrift shops. But she'd do that anyway, because that's what she loves... Some examples: my wife knits, and likes to buy yarn on eBay. Some people live near woolen mills and buy the "mill ends" (end of the run yarn) at dirt cheap prices, and make money selling the yarn on eBay. Or... I collect community cookbooks, those spiral-bound things full of terrible recipes put out as fundraisers by churches, schools, etc. You can buy 'em for a dime or a quarter at rummage sales. People from different parts of the country gather up 10 or 20 and sell them in big lots, which go for $15 or $20 or more. I sometimes buy these lots, because they contain local cookbooks from other parts of the country that I'll never find at my own local thriftshops. And a buck a book is still a deal to me, even with shipping. And the seller clear $10-$20 on books he/she maybe spent $3 on. It takes work, but it's something anyone can do. Last edited by Rodney; 12-04-2005 at 07:55 AM..