Online Seller backseat drivers

[bigdeals.etc]

Am I just a grumpy person or do you guys get this too?

It's pretty well known amongst many of my friends and family that I sell online full time for quite awhile now. I remember my parents were even quite skeptical about this when I started, now they fully support it. But anyway I used to always get the same reaction/perception when people found out what I did as a job. It starts with a "Aw that's nice... good for you", then leads to "Are you doing okay? You can't possibly be making much money", then to "Wow you're actually able to make a living off of this?". Even my wife went thru these steps with me when we were first dating.

The final reaction/perception I get from some people is the one I hate most. It's the ones who always tell me how I should be running my business and push "suggestions" to me when it seems they put very little thought into the logistics of it.

-"You should be doing this, or you should be doing that."

-"Hey I have a great idea you can do... you're welcome."

-"You're doing it all wrong. Here's what I would do."

-"Sell this type of item. I'm sure you can easily find a supplier for cheap (someone actually said iPhones because they are so popular)."

Keep in mind that 99% of these people have zero experience in this field or in sales. Yes, very few have a good idea. I always appreciate actual help but most of them have such lame ideas and I have to let them down easy. I only respect 100% of the feedback given by two people... my ebay online colleague who has been selling as long as I have, and my cousin who is a very successful entrepreneur who started his large business from nothing, even giving his extended family jobs.

[hebertsusedautoparts]

"My opinions and post are my own and not those of my employer"

Yup, I get them all the time. Selling used parts and buying parts cars people are always willing to tell you how much their vehicle is worth and how much money you will make out of it and they have no clue of the logistics in processing the vehicle to "Green Yard " specs and identifying the part correctly (because we all know that the part will fit any vehicle right?).

With our business the worst is when a new Fast and furious movie comes in and you start getting the calls from kids thinking they can build a 300k car for fifty dollars in salvage parts. I really do love their enthusiasm and being a muscle car/hot rod freak as I am I try to lead them down the right path but often they know it all because they saw it in a movie *L*

As for you being grump I can't answer that...you might be but then I have been told I can be a Sarcastic derriere but I just don't see it.

[bigdeals.etc]

One pushy USPS worker found out I sold t shirts and suggested I sell a design (he couldn't even describe it clearly to me) that he saw someone wear while in Vegas and the shirt had some sort of profanity on it that he couldn't quite remember. He was so adamant and talking my ear off about it for over 5 minutes.

"Okay guy... thanks for that gem of an idea."

[divwido]

I guess I'm lucky.  All people ask me is "Can I have that"  or "how much are you selling this for".

Except my mother in law who  is sure every stopper would look better or another bottle.

But I do this because I'm getting very old (59) and have a vision problem that stops me from working elsewhere.

[hebertsusedautoparts]

I think I have that shirt...My sister was out in Vegas a year ago and brought me home a t shirt that had a slot machine and the pictures on the slot were silhouettes if stripper poles and women in poses and said said "Vegas Slots" substitute the "O" for another vowel. 

[donsdetour]

I don't get that stuff.

I get the will you show me how??

Will you sell some thing for me??

[sakic92710]

There are PLENTY of those people in this community, also!   LOL!  Explaining how my prices are too high compared to completely unrelated items.  😛   Stay safe.   🙂

[chapeau-noir]

I recall being director of a good sized sporting event (well over 1000 individuals including participants and volunteers) and lost count of the number of times people told me "this is how management really works' and 'how to delegate' - none of these people having even remotely any experience in management at all - by that time I had about 15 years of experience (not in sporting events, but operations is operations) and the only thing I DID know how to do, strangely enough, was management.

[bigdeals.etc]

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

I recall being director of a good sized sporting event (well over 1000 individuals including participants and volunteers) and lost count of the number of times people told me "this is how management really works' and 'how to delegate' - none of these people having even remotely any experience in management at all - by that time I had about 15 years of experience (not in sporting events, but operations is operations) and the only thing I DID know how to do, strangely enough, was management.

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Lol. That reminds me of a story my good friend told me. She (who happens to also be my CPA) said a mutual friend of ours was talking about me and my business. Apparently the mutual friend was arrogantly saying that she studied and majored in business during college so she knows exactly all of the secrets of my business.

"What he does is get these things at cheap prices, then he sells them to others at a higher price. That's how he profits. I know this from my business classes in college."

[coolections]

Think about how often sellers have came here without a clue. Yes, these boards need backseat drivers to help them get things sold and do it the right way/Ebay way. How many come here with return after return complaint from customers, or price their items way too high then once a week show up complaining. 

[hebertsusedautoparts]

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"What he does is get these things at cheap prices, then he sells them to others at a higher price. That's how he profits. I know this from my business classes in college."

*LOL* Thank you, I really needed that laugh. I wonder what it cost for that degree and knowledge

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[jameshen1]

When I was selling on here, that's what I got too.  It was always "I have been wanting to sell as well, but don't know how to begin.  Will you show me how to sell and how eBay works?"  Or, "I would love to get rid of a few things around my house.  Will you sell them for me?'

I still get the occasional friend or relative who knows I no longer sell but wants me to help them sell something they have lying around the house.

[gwzcomps]

My favorite one is when people tell me I need to buy less inventory and sell more stuff.  Granted I have a solid 4000 sq of backlog and only 600 sq ft processed.  More often than not having the right thing at the right time is more important.  Also all my inventory is paid off so I don't care if I choose to let it rot in my shop.

[sakic92710]

Most backseat drivers need to locked away in the truck.  😛   Especially those who give advice that would cost you money like speeding tickets; driving too slow (selling too cheap because they are cheap).  Those that have never been behind the wheel of a car but, tell you the windshield fluid goes where the oil is.  LOL!   CLUELESS how a car runs just like they are clueless about YOUR business/sales.   🙂   

[chapeau-noir]

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@jameshen1 wrote:

When I was selling on here, that's what I got too.  It was always "I have been wanting to sell as well, but don't know how to begin.  Will you show me how to sell and how eBay works?"  Or, "I would love to get rid of a few things around my house.  Will you sell them for me?'

I still get the occasional friend or relative who knows I no longer sell but wants me to help them sell something they have lying around the house.

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I've briefly run down the steps on how to sell online and in return got a hurt stare and then "I don't want to have to do all that!"  🙄   Then I guess you don't get to sell all that.