you work for how much?

[keziak]

Dou you have people in your life who wonder why you are working for such low  money? Or no bedcause they keep that to themselves or you make plenty? I am married toa lawyer with decades of experience who seems to make more all the time while I seem to be stuck in the low 2000's (years) in the sense of no real inflation in book prices.

I did recently raise my minimum on Amazon a lot with the result I am making a lot less (smaller inventory). That was supposed to be a lead up to retirement one of these years. Still working as much as ever if not more! Some days I feel like at least I am nto working for The Man even  though I would probably make more.

[farmalljr]

Well, I can't tell you where the high end books are. You need to learn them and learn where to find them. That's part of running a successful business.

P.S. Amazon isn't necessarily the greatest place to sell books, IMO. The fees are outrageous. But, depending on what you sell and how you use Amazon, it may be worth it. 

You need to figure out your system for listing/inventory/shipping books. If it's stressful, you are doing it wrong. You need to find ways to make it easier and faster. 

You had mentioned your husband's disappointment over your business. I don't know the whole situation, but realize he is not a average Joe. I'm sure he values your time and attention. It appears, at least from what you are saying here, that selling books is not really making you much profit and it seems like it is nothing but stress and headaches. Your husband makes good money, and he likely sees his spouse as someone who is not meant to be a Walmart greeter type. If you are making "greeter" type money, he probably thinks you are capable of better. He likely also values the things you as a spouse do for him. You are sacrificing what he may need from you, in an effort to grow a business, that as you admit, isn't doing all that well. 

No offense meant by my response. I'm all for someone starting their own business. But I also know some people don't know when to hang it up if it's not working. 

[duffy4444]

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@gosimus wrote:

@duffy4444 

< I already apologized in message 9 above >    

Using message numbers isn't an accurate way to reference them.  Members post "sub-replies" [for want of a better term – maybe "level 2 replies" is better] under the first level Replies and it bumps up the numbering of every reply below them.  Your apology, which I apologize for not seeing originally, as of this writing is now number 14. 

---

    Half of the participants replying here, including myself, sort oldest to newest, which shows my second reply is still in #9 position and will be until the thread ages and eventually rolls into oblivion. The other half of the participants, who sort newest to oldest, can just search from the bottom up until they find and read the appropriate post. This is not a big deal, and is easily remedied by two clicks on the Options drop-down box on each page to change the sort order, then back again if one wants to sort again from newest to oldest... takes only a few seconds.

Cheers, Duffy

[keziak]

Don't get me started! He is wonderful in most ways but where it comes to my business, well.

[keziak]

I don't think I am the only online seller who experience stress and headaches from work at least some of the time (especially using Amazon, yikes). I guess it's just that problems get the news and successes may sound boastful. I contributed to some threads by people having a little trouble with sales explaining what works for me. My main problem is that with my age, experience and education I have a lot of "should" in my personality which my therapist says to kick to the curb. Should work harder, should make more, etc. 

My husband is a great person but I'm sorry to say basically has little respect for my business bordering on contempt. He also hears me trying to talk things out and says to quit. Plus other stuff. I struggle with not letting this sort of thing make me feel small. When he complains to me about HIS job I don't suggest he quit. Why would I? 🤔

[gosimus]

@duffy4444 

< and is easily remedied by two clicks ... to change the sort order >    

That's a reasonable explanation.  I wonder about that statistic of half the participants here, however.  I haven't deliberately chosen a sort order.  I looked at mine, and it is in fact Newest to Oldest.  Since I didn't consciously select that order, it must be the default.  If it's the default for me, then it's the default for everyone who hasn't changed it, and I can't help but believe that would be more than half.  Anyway, thanks for clearing up the matter of the numbering.  I hadn't considered the effect of sort order ... parochial thinking, guilty as charged. 

[katzrul15]

@keziak 

A wise person once shared with me that is it not how much you "earn", it is how much you "keep" that is important.

Another wise person instilled in me that it is not about "what" you are, but "who" are you.

Big whoop that your DH is an attorney.  It's just a job title.  If he is kind, considerate, loving/caring, dependable and a great father to your children, that makes him a Rawk God.......being an "attorney" does not.

If you are seeking self-validation from this type of job - it is hard to achieve that when 99.9% of what you are doing is just "you".  You will need to learn to believe the affirmations that are "real" about yourself.  

Only you know if you are making money or just trading dollars.  It does take money (investing in inventory) to make money.  

If you could wake up tomorrow and do "anything", even for 1 day, what would it be?  Hopefully, it is something you enjoy, something fun or family related.  If you have to labor to discern what that might be, that would something I put on my "short" list to tackle asap.  Work/life balance is critical for each of us.

Good luck to you.  Sounds as though sales are still happening, which compared to many of us, are not.  God bless.  

[chapeau-noir]

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@keziak wrote:

I don't think I am the only online seller who experience stress and headaches from work at least some of the time (especially using Amazon, yikes). I guess it's just that problems get the news and successes may sound boastful. I contributed to some threads by people having a little trouble with sales explaining what works for me. My main problem is that with my age, experience and education I have a lot of "should" in my personality which my therapist says to kick to the curb. Should work harder, should make more, etc. 

My husband is a great person but I'm sorry to say basically has little respect for my business bordering on contempt. He also hears me trying to talk things out and says to quit. Plus other stuff. I struggle with not letting this sort of thing make me feel small. When he complains to me about HIS job I don't suggest he quit. Why would I? 🤔

---

This is unacceptable - no if, ands or buts.  I would not communicate to him at all about your job if his attitude is contempt - all that does is grind you down.   And tell him you don't want to hear his whining about his job - if it's so bad, tell him to go into the bookselling business, you have an opening in the mail department. 😠

[soh.maryl]

Trying my best to be gracious about this, and not saying what I want to say, is why not quit discussing your business with someone who feels contempt for  it? Find another, more sympathetic, shoulder to cry on. 

[luckythewinner]

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@powell-memorabilia wrote:

She knows how much my day job gets me, because she asks. But, I don’t tell her about bonuses or stock grants.  I don’t even tell her how much I clear on eBay, because it might be a bit depressing for her.

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Doesn't she have to sign the tax return?

[powell-memorabilia]

Yes and no.  She electronically signs - doesn’t review the details.  My wife has little interest in finances - she takes money from my checking account when she needs it.  She really only pays attention to bitcoin - asked for a large loan to invest in bitcoin 🙂 She did okay - thankfully.

[fern*wood]

I think a better use of keziak's money she pays her therapist would be to pay you.   Good advice.

[jewelbiz]

Hey Babe,

I have been self employed last 45 years.  Never made much money but really did my own thing supporting myself 100%  buying & selling!  Paying price now getting lowest social security that there is & obviously no pension.

& also have no husband or help & I am now old, 78.  Scary! 

The pix me in May.

But you know what?

 I have been free all these years.  Owe nobody.  Can tell anyone what I think & feel.  Go where I want.  Befriend who I want.  When I want.  Wake up, go to sleep 💤 my choice!  Travel.  Etc., etc., etc.  Can freely tell a person to go F—-.  No boss, coworkers can complain…No time clock.  

No lunch hour.  When I am hungry I eat.

Benefits of self employment…I’m in!  Money isn’t everything! I get by even now it’s much harder but so far I get by…

[fern*wood]

Great perspective.  Unfortunately, it appears the OP allows others to dictate how she feels about herself and her work.   Seems her therapist isn't doing much to help.

[katzrul15]

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@jewelbiz wrote:

Hey Babe,

I have been self employed last 45 years.  Never made much money but really did my own thing supporting myself 100%  buying & selling!  Paying price now getting lowest social security that there is & obviously no pension.

& also have no husband or help & I am now old, 78.  Scary! 

The pix me in May.

But you know what?

 I have been free all these years.  Owe nobody.  Can tell anyone what I think & feel.  Go where I want.  Befriend who I want.  When I want.  Wake up, go to sleep 💤 my choice!  Travel.  Etc., etc., etc.  Can freely tell a person to go F—-.  No boss, coworkers can complain…No time clock.  

No lunch hour.  When I am hungry I eat.

Benefits of self employment…I’m in!  Money isn’t everything! I get by even now it’s much harder but so far I get by…

---

You GO girl!!

You are right - money is not everything.  It is important, but so are experiences and balance.

The one you need to please is the one looking back at you in the mirror.  Everything else is just noise.

@keziak 

Really do hope you can find a way to believe all the ways you likely contribute to your family nucleus.  Reading your posts is painful - you do deserve to be happy/content and your posts never read that way.

One day, when college is over for my son (soon), I will just "stop" selling online.  Might get a giant dumpster and reclaim my life.  Lol

But I will NEVER feel like a failure because I sold online.  Hard job, especially when I work FT AND run a household/Mom. 

If you truly are not happy doing this, then discover what will make you happy.

Your posts read like you need a vacation or a true rest.  Didn't you post recently about setbacks due to surgery of some sort? 

Good luck. 

[katzrul15]

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@fern*wood wrote:

Great perspective.  Unfortunately, it appears the OP allows others to dictate how she feels about herself and her work.   Seems her therapist isn't doing much to help.

---

Needs a new therapist or an honest assessment if OP is hearing what therapist is advising.  Telling the OP what she wants to hear on a selling chat board is not going to make things better/different. 

Many sellers get caught up in the "hunt" for product vs rotating/selling inventory.  Might just need a selling focus reset.  Hard to discern everything going on.