aging out

[keziak]

I blather way too much here so I'll just pose the question: have you or others you know aged out in the business and for what reason? work is too heavy? want more time to do other things? don't need the money like you once did? bored?

Or, on the flip side, even as you get older do you decide to NOT change your business model and to hell with age, it's just a number?

[byrd69er]

I used to have 25-45 items listed at any given time. I rarely fell below 15.

I now have three listings.

Let the lack of volume speaks volumes.

[hawkwind5454]

It's the old adage of working twice as hard to get half as much. I've been here selling for almost two decades, so I remember how *good* it once was;  I think I'm growing weary of the whole spiel of keeping a stiff upper lip, rolling with the punches, and trudging on.  I can only sell myself a bill of goods for so long. I have cut way back on my listing since the beginning of the Covid Dynasty... I don't know what the future of selling on eBay has in store for me... I guess we will see. One thing I can say, is that I have never regretted my selling tenure here; Not for a minute-. For the most part, it has been a great ride. ☺️

[fern*wood]

Honestly I list more now as I've gotten older, but what I like to list has changed over the years.  I like smaller, easier to ship items due to the postage costs, plus I don't want to mess with heavy items if I can avoid them.  I personally would have no desire to deal with books all day long. 

My interests and success (or lack of success) at selling certain items fuels what I look for to sell, but I can't seem to quit regardless.  It's too much a part of my life.

[dhbookds]

I've certainly gotten tired  of alot of things.........not yet on Ebay.........because I like the "hunt" for stuff..... but obviously people get tired of doing the same things.......some change jobs, change hobbies........lol, change partners..........  perhaps not so much age as just the longevity of the activity........

[jewelbiz]

[jewelbiz]

I’m sick & tired trying to post pix & form doesn’t take it, deletes it & text…

 I was posting pix of me taken Friday saying my 77th Birthday 🎂 is this week and I don’t think I’m aging out!

[katzrul15]

@keziak 

You seem really burnt out.  It can be hard to find a balance as this job can be 24/7 if you let it.  Factor in last year/covid.....

It is not as enjoyable as it once was. 

We could all use a nice vacation, to rest and re-charge.

[jayjaspersgarage]

I don't consider ebay a business.  Rather it has been more of a hobby that morphed into an obsession to get more exercise while hunting down rare finds on weekends.  I have walked as much as seven miles on a given Saturday just in the process of attending garage and estate sales plus large outdoor monthly antique fairs.  (Now that they are back open)

As I have written here previously I don't know if I am staying on ebay after January 2022.  I switched to a month-to-month subscription for the store so I can bail anytime.  

This answer was much longer (blathering) before I came to my senses and deleted 80% of it.  Nothing like a bit of soul-searching free flowing journal type reminiscence to get your focus for the day clear.   Thanks.

[bbravo65]

@jewelbiz 

...happy (belated...?) birthday...

...a special wish for you...that your birthday brings more happiness than you could ever know...!

...any day that celebrates someone like you is a wonderful day...

(...and I truly apologize to the OP for posting this...)

[dubiousgain]

With the 20th anniversary of 9/11, I think of how much the world has changed since I first started on eBay. Everything changes so quickly. I wonder if I became too wrapped up in eBay to, as they say, stop and smell the roses. I kept going into work later and later because I would stay at home and list on eBay. or browse other listings. Realizing that this was not fair to those who employed me, I quit my job, and just sold on eBay.  Strange how sometimes things are clearer in the rear view mirror, than they are through the windshield. 🤔

[katzrul15]

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@jewelbiz wrote:

I’m sick & tired trying to post pix & form doesn’t take it, deletes it & text…

 I was posting pix of me taken Friday saying my 77th Birthday 🎂 is this week and I don’t think I’m aging out!

---

Happy Birthday Week! 🌷 77 is young! .....🎈🎈🎁

[keziak]

I commented to someone that there has to be more to life than shipping boxes of books to strangers.  He said yes! but he's retired. I'm still of the age when most people work, some going strong due to years of experience and contacts. But when hubby asked me today how long I can keep this up I didn't know what to say. 

One thing that makes me sad is that I have large gardens but always feel like working there is...work.. on the do-to list.. time suck. I would love to turn that around. Today I did work out there and enjoyed it but now I tell myself time to work on auctions. Always on the hamster wheel.

[this*old*attic]

@jewelbiz

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

[tealt]

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@keziak wrote:

have you or others you know aged out in the business and for what reason? work is too heavy? want more time to do other things? don't need the money like you once did? bored?

Or, on the flip side, even as you get older do you decide to NOT change your business model and to hell with age, it's just a number?

---

When I joined eBay in 1999 my kids were out of college and supporting themselves, so we didn't really need the extra income from my antiques business.  I could have opted out of selling then and not started on eBay.

But...after 40+ years I am still completely addicted to the "treasure hunt" of finding exciting items at garage, yard, & estate sales every weekend.  I can't keep all the treasures myself! so eBay was, and still is, a good place to sell them.  My current space in a B&M co-op doesn't get much traffic, and at 77 (hi, @jewelbiz ) the flea market is getting beyond me physically.

I list less these days on eBay because the collecting areas I like best and know the most about (vintage/antique glass & ceramics) are no longer very popular.