Does the feeling that it is all going to fall apart ever go away?

[onefootflipper]

So, I am at about the two year point of selling full time and I am actually doing just fine. But I can't shake the feeling that it is somehow going to all fall apart, that people are going to stop buying, that I am going to stop being able to find merchandise, etc.

This isn't an "All my sales died" sort of thing. I can nearly universally look at those people's stores and tell exactly why no one is buying anything. 

I have been doing everything I can to improve my processes, and then not change processes that work well. 

I don't know if it is because I started full time after having a leg amputated and have no hope other than ebay of making a good living, or if it is my personality or what. 

I guess I am just wondering if anyone else wakes up every day, thinking that today is going to be the day that people stop buying things and start trying to return things. 

[wrong66]

I don't. That's a terrible way to live.

[pburn]

Think "eggs" and "baskets."

P.S. I can't imagine losing a limb; however, I personally know several individuals who are missing limbs and have occupations other than selling on eBay. One friend who lost a leg opened his own pawn/tattoo shop, one friend born without an arm works in compliance for a securities broker-dealer, and one person who lost a leg in Vietnam was the governor and then U.S. Senator for my state. Perhaps there's a Vocational Rehabilitation office near you that could provide assistance in helping you receive training or educational opportunities to expand your options. Good luck!

[atomicgirl2024]

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@onefootflipper wrote:

I don't know if it is because I started full time after having a leg amputated and have no hope other than ebay of making a good living, or if it is my personality or what. 

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To shake those feelings, always have a Plan B or C that you can fall back on so you don't feel so insecure. For example, would you ever consider YouTubing? Maybe you can vlog on the side and try earning some side income. There is an amazing YouTube channel I follow run by a guy in a wheelchair who posts tons of great recipe and food review recipes. Mind you, it takes awhile to build a channel and you most likely won't get rich or anything but if you have a decent enough following maybe you can generate a little side income.

[meme6253]

Very Sorry for your Situation, But I Hope you can shake those feelings of Dread!, If things do all fall apart due to the economy or any of multiple reasons it would be out of our control, & we would all need to find a way to move on!, Good Luck to you & All of Us!!

[onefootflipper]

I am already in my 40s, I didn't graduate college and all my work experience is in fields I can't do now.

As far as backup, I have been trying to pay my house off as fast as possible. With that paid for we could live just off what my wife makes. 

I have made a few youtube videos and toyed with going more serious in it, but statistically I know I will just do better putting in more ebay time then hoping Youtube will work out.

[onlinecentral]

I started full time after having a leg amputated and have no hope other than Ebay of making a good living.
You have computer skills and would be desirable for a desk job at an office or else working for an employer at home with minimal walking.

... is all going to fall apart ever go away?
Bulls think the market is going to go up and bears think it will go down. The value of the stock market is/was twice the value of the Gross Domestic Product GDP. A correction is inevitable. I would be planning on exiting the trading card category and looking at items that are more essential.

[onefootflipper]

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@onlinecentral wrote:

I started full time after having a leg amputated and have no hope other than Ebay of making a good living.
You have computer skills and would be desirable for a desk job at an office or else working for an employer at home with minimal walking.

... is all going to fall apart ever go away?
Bulls think the market is going to go up and bears think it will go down. The value of the stock market is/was twice the value of the Gross Domestic Product GDP. A correction is inevitable. I would be planning on exiting the trading card category and looking at items that are more essential.

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I am already diversifying out of trading cards. Right now I am really only buying cards from my friends and not otherwise actively seeking them. Still working through my huge backlog of less than stellar cards and all the sports cards I have bought and have been given over the past 2 years but ignored because game cards were easier. 

I don't know if there is really any easy way to move into essential products, but I would really like to ideally become an expert on maybe 4 totally unrelated categories so I can be less vulnerable to downturns in any single category.

[spiffy*dynamo · Accepted solution]

A sense of impending doom is a symptom of anxiety, a very relatable human trait. Just as our ancestors' had to fear threats to their livelihoods in the form of being eaten by large predators, a threat to your livelihood in the form of people not buying anything brings a sense of fear (not to compare the seriousness of the threat, just the continued presence of our fear response in modern society). To add to that, on some level I think we all sense that societal instability is on the rise and that in itself would bring worry to even the most fair-minded. I would think about taking the time to meditate when you wake up, or at least learn to curb excessive thinking which is a huge welcome mat for feelings of anxiety.

[coolections]

Worrying about people not buying your stuff is a waste of effort and can make you ill. Take a walk on the beach and forget about it. If people want your stuff, they will buy your stuff.

[onefootflipper]

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@coolections wrote:

Worrying about people not buying your stuff is a waste of effort and can make you ill. Take a walk on the beach and forget about it. If people want your stuff, they will buy your stuff.

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One legged men can't walk on the beach! 🤣

[wrong66]

Use the sidewalk then. Go easier on yourself. Geez.

[donsdetour]

Hmm after thinking about this and what you have wrote: seek medical advice on this..

Depression is real and treatable.

[onefootflipper]

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@donsdetour wrote:

Hmm after thinking about this and what you have wrote: seek medical advice on this..

Depression is real and treatable.

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I am actually not depressed at all, I am the happiest I have ever been. I just can't shake that nagging feeling that today is going to be the day that people stop buying. 

[goodcooksneverlackfriends]

WELL...I started selling on Ebay in the 90's.  I have seen many changes.  Many.  I have personally had a major decline in sales over the past 1 1/2 months.  AND so have my friends who are also selling on Ebay.  One friend, very experienced...has 3500 items listed.  Her usual sell rate is 5-10/day.  She just came thru a 10 day NO SALE period.  Something is wrong.  The economy is exploding with the high cost of fuel and food.  Just my opinion, of course...but I think it is going to seriously impact  spending habits.  People will always buy what they NEED.   They might stop buying the collectibles...and non necessary things.  Good luck to you!  My friend and I have a combined 50 years experience on Ebay.  We've seen a lot.