Sharing my 2022 numbers. Making it real for new sellers.

I'm retired. I'm 74. I supplement my income by selling on Ebay, FB Marketplace, Craig's List, Yard Sales. It's hard work. I work a lot of hours weekly. My wife and I do it together. My schedule. I enjoy it.

I see so many new sellers who seem to be confused about how to sell, make a profit. I'm sharing my numbers for this year.

Things you may need to know:

1. It's work. Like a real job.

2. Treat it as a business. Treat your buyers well. Customer service is so important.

3. Don't get hung up or waste too much time with messy buyers, scammers.

4. Don't expect too much of Ebay. They have their rules. It's nothing personal. Don't expect them to treat you like family. They are just the vehicle you are riding in. They are driving. But, play along and you will arrive at your destination.

5. Your income is going to be based on your effort, your business ability, your customer skills and your ability to buy low/sell higher.

6. I find that with this economy I have had to promote, have discounts, accept offers, accept free returns, revise listings and end/sell similar to get by this year. Your mileage may differ.

7. Don't sweat the small stuff. Things break. People are people. Shippers are shippers. They can mess up.

8. No matter what amount you earn, income is taxable. Don't worry about $600 or $20k. do your taxes. You may or may not owe depending on your circumstances.

OKAY. Here's my 2022 numbers. Down a little from 2021. About the same. Sold 1,658 items

Total sales $43,564

Taxes 2,395

Selling costs 14,693 (EBAY fees, Shipping) 33.7%

Net Sales 26,476 (from this I'll deduct cost of goods, expenses)

These numbers are real. Not a lot to impress, but showing you my personal situation. Hope it helps new sellers.

bill.purvis2012

4359 View listings

Posted 3 years ago·Last reply 3 years ago

11 comments

chapeau-noir

·3 years ago

Closing soon!6589 View listings

1. It's work. Like a real job.

And that really is #1. I read so often here "I'm going to have to get a real job"... "Well, when I had a real job"... "If you had a real job"...

Selling online IS a real job, and those who can't seem to grok that usually have more problems than they need to. Establish that, and the rest follows.

maxine*j

·3 years ago

142 View listings

Thank you for taking the time and the trouble to post that. It is thoughtful, and it is helpful, and I truly wish that many, many new (or newish) sellers could read it.

In fact, it would make excellent reading for a few of the "been-here-for-20-years" sellers who still don't seem to get how retail, in general, and eBay, in particular, works.

Happy New Year!

iart

·3 years ago

12747 View listings

Thanks for the excellent post! Yes, these numbers are close to our own (percentage wise).

Like the OP states, #5 is really important (buy low & sell high).

We generally sell 2 types of items. One, we usually sell for 8x what we pay. The other is more of a hobby, in the end, maybe just double what we pay.

We judge this as work per hour. We try to make $20+ an hour. If not that much, what's the point?

dhbookds

·3 years ago

1700 View listings

We try to make $20+ an hour. If not that much, what's the point?

Certainly, fine for you to have that goal and not to disparage your achievement.........but there can be many good reasons why people "do ebay" that don't include a specific per hour figure or even a monetary goal per se...... Caretakers, for instance, often have a need to be active within their own constraints as much as they need the dollars they may make.......

I add my thanks to the OP for posting.........

lakefor94

·3 years ago

122 View listings

@bill.purvis2012 wrote:
I'm retired. I'm 74. I supplement my income by selling on Ebay, FB Marketplace, Craig's List, Yard Sales. It's hard work. I work a lot of hours weekly. My wife and I do it together. My schedule. I enjoy it.
I see so many new sellers who seem to be confused about how to sell, make a profit. I'm sharing my numbers for this year.
Things you may need to know:
1. It's work. Like a real job.
2. Treat it as a business. Treat your buyers well. Customer service is so important.
3. Don't get hung up or waste too much time with messy buyers, scammers.
4. Don't expect too much of Ebay. They have their rules. It's nothing personal. Don't expect them to treat you like family. They are just the vehicle you are riding in. They are driving. But, play along and you will arrive at your destination.
5. Your income is going to be based on your effort, your business ability, your customer skills and your ability to buy low/sell higher.
6. I find that with this economy I have had to promote, have discounts, accept offers, accept free returns, revise listings and end/sell similar to get by this year. Your mileage may differ.
7. Don't sweat the small stuff. Things break. People are people. Shippers are shippers. They can mess up.
8. No matter what amount you earn, income is taxable. Don't worry about $600 or $20k. do your taxes. You may or may not owe depending on your circumstances.

OKAY. Here's my 2022 numbers. Down a little from 2021. About the same. Sold 1,658 items
Total sales $43,564
Taxes 2,395
Selling costs 14,693 (EBAY fees, Shipping) 33.7%
Net Sales 26,476 (from this I'll deduct cost of goods, expenses)

These numbers are real. Not a lot to impress, but showing you my personal situation. Hope it helps new sellers.

Nice work. Solid read.

monica-sells

·3 years ago

94 View listings

thanks for sharing....

ms.rodriguez*

·3 years ago

39 View listings

Congratulations. Great advice too. Don't forget you have costs too for camera, tablet or whatever device(s) you use for listing. The cost of shipping materials. Even a portion of your internet bill is deductible. I wish you and your spouse continued success on ebay and good health too.

redlinear

·3 years ago

42544 View listings

@bill.purvis2012
Everything you said is Spot On.
Even that percentage looks about right also.
AND....while it may seem like common sense / simple math? For those of you that want to buy and sell, here..... As a general rule....If you buy $1000, you're going to have to sell $1500 on here to break even.
If you buy $1000 and sell $3000? You've only made $1000.
KNOW that before you start.

sin-n-dex

·3 years ago

12255 View listings

@bill.purvis2012 wrote:
I'm retired. I'm 74. I supplement my income by selling on Ebay, FB Marketplace, Craig's List, Yard Sales. It's hard work. I work a lot of hours weekly. My wife and I do it together. My schedule. I enjoy it.
I see so many new sellers who seem to be confused about how to sell, make a profit. I'm sharing my numbers for this year.
Things you may need to know:
1. It's work. Like a real job.
2. Treat it as a business. Treat your buyers well. Customer service is so important.
3. Don't get hung up or waste too much time with messy buyers, scammers.
4. Don't expect too much of Ebay. They have their rules. It's nothing personal. Don't expect them to treat you like family. They are just the vehicle you are riding in. They are driving. But, play along and you will arrive at your destination.
5. Your income is going to be based on your effort, your business ability, your customer skills and your ability to buy low/sell higher.
6. I find that with this economy I have had to promote, have discounts, accept offers, accept free returns, revise listings and end/sell similar to get by this year. Your mileage may differ.
7. Don't sweat the small stuff. Things break. People are people. Shippers are shippers. They can mess up.
8. No matter what amount you earn, income is taxable. Don't worry about $600 or $20k. do your taxes. You may or may not owe depending on your circumstances.

OKAY. Here's my 2022 numbers. Down a little from 2021. About the same. Sold 1,658 items
Total sales $43,564
Taxes 2,395
Selling costs 14,693 (EBAY fees, Shipping) 33.7%
Net Sales 26,476 (from this I'll deduct cost of goods, expenses)

These numbers are real. Not a lot to impress, but showing you my personal situation. Hope it helps new sellers.

You forgot about the cost of your items... your net profit is the net sales minus inventory cost.

Aside from that, congratulations, well done.

biggymoe

·3 years ago

25033 View listings

"You forgot about the cost of your items... your net profit is the net sales minus inventory cost."

I believe he covered that on the Net Sales line.

Net Sales 26,476 (from this I'll deduct cost of goods, expenses)

714ricki

·3 years ago

23209 View listings

Congratulations on your 2022 numbers & for working hard in your small business & your business analysis. Very impressive & I wish you a prosperous 2023.

Keep up the great work!!!