Part time to full time reselling

[eastcoastbella]

Hi!

I started reselling on eBay in may and have fallen in love with having my own little store. I currently work a full time job and ebay has been my side hustle. For different personal reasons, I am considering leaving my full time job and transitioning to full time reselling. Does anyone have any advice for me? Someone who has done the same and has been successful? 
Thanks 😊 

[reallynicestamps]

For different personal reasons, I am considering leaving my full time job and transitioning to full time reselling.

Send your spouse out to work for wages.

I was the spouse. Business was successful with about ten employees after 30 years, but the 90s were rough.

[chapeau-noir]

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@eastcoastbella wrote:

That’s a good idea! I actually have been thinking full time EBay, part time “real job.” Just flipping around what I’m doing now. My job now (medical supplies sales) is very draining and demanding. It makes doing anything else difficult. Im tied to my phone and laptop 9am-6pm with no flexibility in my schedule. Definitely sucks!

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One thing to remember - selling online IS a "real" job. People forget that, and they always get blindsided by the fact that running a business is demanding and detailed. 

I had a demanding job for years as a senior editor - sometimes we worked with 30 minute deadlines, so I understand getting burnt out on that.

[isaiah53-57]

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@eastcoastbella wrote:

Hi!

I started reselling on eBay in may and have fallen in love with having my own little store. I currently work a full time job and ebay has been my side hustle. For different personal reasons, I am considering leaving my full time job and transitioning to full time reselling. Does anyone have any advice for me? Someone who has done the same and has been successful? 
Thanks 😊 

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@eastcoastbella

I have an analogy that states my feelings about the site (after sales in the 7 figures range over the last 20 years) -

Its kinda like having a spouse that during the honeymoon stage, you feel loved and valued, and rightly so, given the amount of attention you get - but one day you are surprised to find that the spouse is colder, more distant and more calculated than you thought, even to the point of manipulative scheming - If you keep at it, trying to jump through all the manipulative hoops and placate all the one-sided demands, one day you realize they have you right where they want you, which is desperate, but willing to do what it takes to keep the relationship alive...

I have a love-hate relationship with the site - I have separated before due to slights out of principle - Right now I am in my third separation due to my detestation of the Money Back Guarantee and Promoted Listings Programs, and it appears our differences may be irreconcilable - I have not listed anything new in going on 2 years - Not saying I wouldn't again, but I would not use promoted listings in any way shape or form, because in my opinion 13.25% of the ENTIRE SALE is already digging too deep - and if I felt it was impossible to sell here without using promoted listings, I would leave once again and delete the last account of the 7 I've had since I started here back in the early 2000's and it would end in a full on divorce...Thanks for reading...

[chapeau-noir]

I've never just sold on eBay - even back in 2000 I felt like putting all my eggs in one basket was not a great idea. Some people build their entire business here and only here, with employees, warehouse, etc., all depending on some slippery sand  - I have pretty strong nerves, but not THAT strong!

[anjofak]

Stayed hobby time with it until we had some big weeks like yearly average s in a week kinda numbers first time was cool, more than once in a year is when had to kick day job to curb and started on here some time after all that.

[isaiah53-57]

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@lisa5768 wrote:

eBay can be a full time income and there are many sellers that it is their income source but they have also built their business over many years.

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@eastcoastbella

Here is one of those sellers @lisa5768 is talking about:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/18000-listings-and-a-laughable-6-sales-today-bleep/td-p/339580...

[eastcoastbella]

Thank you for the encouragement 🙂

[eastcoastbella]

I’m single, supporting myself. But not a lot of expenses thankfully. 

[richard1rst · Accepted solution]

OK - now you have had a bunch of negatives dropped on you. On the other hand you did ask specifically got advice from “Someone who has done the same and has been successful? ”

I have been here a little over 19 years. I have a feedback score north of 50,000. Other than an independent web site eBay is my sole source of sales. On the other hand I had the advantage of coming here with several decades experience as the owner operator of a B&M store so I already had ”the lobes” so to speak. I think I qualify for your request. I enjoy a comfortable life, I’ve bought some really neat toys with my earnings (some of you have seen my classic cars) and I have a healthy reserve to cover downturns (You think it’s bad now you should have seen the Carter years).

The previous negatives notwithstanding it can be done. BUT you have to WORK at it and treat it like a BUSINESS. Don’t head for the beach just because it is a nice day thinking, OK I’ll do that later.

 Learn and obey the rules and customs. Avoid what appears to be the biggest stumbling block for Oh So Many - do not get so locked in on a premise that you can not adapt as the field changes. Because it does change - repeatedly and you must instantly adapt - not spend time here as so many do complaining about the changes.

As others have mentioned you need to diversity and establish a reliable inventory source. Take a look at my eBay store you will see what I mean.

One day I will sell a bunch of jigsaw puzzles - the next day I won’t sell any BUT I will sell a bunch of coffee mugs - the next day I won’t sell any BUT I will sell a bunch of license plates - the next day ---- well you get the idea.

Very early on, fresh out of college, I was on track to become a (junior) partner in a Wall Street firm. I walked away from it and I have never regretted it.

It is an extremely bumpy roller coaster ride. Be prepared to hold on for dear life. The question is which of the following are you?

[eastcoastbella]

Sheesh. Yeah right now, I’m only doing EBay part time, like 2 hrs a day. If I did 8-10 hours a day, wouldn’t I see an increase in sales? 

[eastcoastbella]

Thank you ❤️ 

[kensgiftshop]

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@eastcoastbella wrote:

Sheesh. Yeah right now, I’m only doing EBay part time, like 2 hrs a day. If I did 8-10 hours a day, wouldn’t I see an increase in sales? 

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New sellers, it seams like Ebay gives them a little boost for a little bit and once the new wears off, you're pretty much on your own.

You can put in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but if no one is interested in what you have, it isn't going to make a difference.

The way Ebay is right now, if you have a job, I'd keep it for awhile.

There are sellers here that have thousands of listings that's been here forever and they are complaining about no/low sales.

When I first started selling online (not Ebay) in the late 90's, I was making $200 to $300 a day, working a few hours a week.

I left my full time job, then 9/11 hit and that was it and it never recovered.

Almost lost everything before I found another job.

You might be doing good today, but it's no guarantee you'll be doing good tomorrow.

You could sell 50 items today, but it could be a few days, weeks or months before you sell anything else.

[the-hook-and-the-loop]

Have you got to experience any returns yet? Items not as described(even though you did describe them properly) or doesn't fit? Or they wore it to a party and returned it stained, blaming you? Have you had any packages go missing and had a forced return?  Those are some of the perks of the job.

[whatamisellingtoday]

If you want to RESELL full time, go for it. eBay can't be the only platform you resell on though. It's just not a safe idea. If you love reselling, absolutely do it, but understand it's more than just eBay.

[dryophelia]

@eastcoastbella 

Look at your numbers. How much profit do you have when a buyer’s payment is under $20 with selling price, shipping and taxes, if there were any. 

Figure out what your ‘break even’ point is and don’t list anything under $XX more than that. 
That might mean you don’t list anything under $30. Maybe you bundle like items in one listing. 

It’s all about YOUR numbers. 

eBay is not the only site to sell on. Try many options.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket and don’t give up your day job.