DW listed first item on ebay today

disneysteve · #1 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 01:42 PM

As I've posted, DW left her job on 2/13 to be a SAHM again. I used to sell quite heavily on ebay and we still have literally thousands of items in the basement and garage that can be ebayed. So DW and I discussed that a great way for her to still contribute financially would be to start selling on ebay.

It was quiet here this morning as our daughter is at a sleepover so I suggested an ebay lesson. I had a Henckels chef knife sitting on my desk that I've been meaning to list, so I walked her through the process and got it listed.

I don't expect her to ever get as heavy into ebay as I used to be (I used to run 100 auctions at all times and was grossing $2,000-$3,000/month at my peak) but even if we can work together to bring in a couple hundred a month, that would be enough to cover our annual Disney trip, for example.

So that's the goal for now. We'll see how it goes. As a huge side benefit, maybe we'll regain control of our basement and garage.

MonkeyMama · #2 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 02:09 PM

That's great!

We have been ebaying just a little, but it does help to bring in a little extra. Plus we just have a lot of stuff to go through - doing the sell/donate/freecycle piles. It does have the added benefit of clearing some clutter...

LuxLiving · #3 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 02:38 PM

An addition on the plus side is over time it really educates you at a core level that you probably don't need to be buying so much 'stuff' to begin with. Wish ebay had been around to so educate me earlier in my life!

Good luck on your sales. Hope she gets into it enough to make it worthwhile for your family!

jIM_Ohio · #4 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 03:16 PM

Sounds like a garage sale out of your closet. Works on the bigger idiot theory. If you can find a person to buy your used junk, they are the "bigger idiot". But beware, if you cannot sell anything, you just became the "biggest idiot".

Just a joke. Best of success to ya.

jodi · #5 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 04:06 PM

Just out of curiousity, what did you used to sell on E-Bay? I assume it was more than stuff just laying around the house if you were able to consistently sell so much. Did you buy wholesale and resell? Find stuff at auctions or garage sales to sell? Or did you really have that much stuff around the house?

scfr · #6 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 04:42 PM

Best of luck to your wife! So glad the auction for MY knife set is already ended!

disneysteve · #7 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jodi

Just out of curiousity, what did you used to sell on E-Bay? I assume it was more than stuff just laying around the house if you were able to consistently sell so much. Did you buy wholesale and resell? Find stuff at auctions or garage sales to sell? Or did you really have that much stuff around the house?

I was buying items for resale. I've been in the collectibles business for over 20 years. I started selling at flea markets, than moved on to antique and collectibles shows and a mail-order catalog, then to a website and finally to ebay in 1997 which is when business really took off. For a few months after leaving my old job, I was selling full-time.

I specialize in Disney collectibles so every vacation in Disney World was also a buying trip for later resale. I also spent virtually every Saturday at yard sales, attended a few auctions/month and also resold a lot of items bought from the outlet store of a particular collectibles company.

Much of what is still in stock around here is stuff that was bought to resell. We also have a lot of stuff from when my mom moved last summer and we helped clean out her house. More than enough to keep DW busy full time if she wanted to do that.

Scanner · #8 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007, 06:32 AM

You can write off your home as a business in this venture too. To make it a little more "legit", I would have your wife file for a "trade name" at the county clerk "DisneySteve's Wife's Resellables" or something.

Only costs $50 and may make things more copasetic for your accountant at tax time.

Keep a seperate account - doesn't even have to be a business checking - personal chedking would be fine.

Good luck - we are Disney fans too.

Are you a member of the DisneyClub/timeshare? The way we saw it, it was more "frugal" to rent than to join the Disney Club.

disneysteve · #9 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007, 07:09 AM

Scanner - It's already legit. We have a business license, tax ID, etc. We pay taxes on our ebay income, collect sales tax, deduct expenses, etc.

No, we don't own DVC. It is way too expensive. I have lots of friends who do, but we can stay much, much cheaper on our own.

cheapdoggy · #10 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuxLiving

An addition on the plus side is over time it really educates you at a core level that you probably don't need to be buying so much 'stuff' to begin with. Wish ebay had been around to so educate me earlier in my life!

Yeah I second theat!!

HiImSeth · #11 (**permalink**) 02-26-2007, 07:39 AM

Awesome. I've always thought this would be something I'd enjoy doing on the side for some extra cash. Then of course when we have our first child (8 mos!) my DW could stay home and do that some as well to help with some additional income. I just never really knew where to get started.. I guess I should start by just selling something around the house that we don't need/want anymore eh? Then maybe figure out our niche (like Disney is to you) and see what we can do!

PrincessPerky · #12 (**permalink**) 02-26-2007, 02:36 PM

I am loving how my husband is getting rid of stuff on ebay this last month. It feels soo good to get rid of stuff!

sakigt · #13 (**permalink**) 02-27-2007, 07:09 AM

I love ebaying, but not enough to do it FT. I usually gather up random things I dont need when theres somthing I want that not in the budget. Last Christmas I bought a new camera with the money I earned selling stuff on ebay.

Hedy · #14 (**permalink**) 02-27-2007, 05:49 PM

Congrats to her!

pretty cheap jewelry · #15 (**permalink**) 02-27-2007, 09:10 PM

Hey all! You know that Yahoo Auctions are free, right? Why aren't you using them, is eBay that much more worth the fees?

Or maybe it's my learning curve? Only been doing this a year.

I have a few auctions on Yahoo, getting lookers but it's only been a few days.

disneysteve · #16 (**permalink**) 02-28-2007, 07:02 AM

We have a bid! So her first auction is a success (assuming the bidder is legitimate).

I haven't checked out Yahoo lately, but I still think ebay has the vast majority of the auction market worldwide. I want to list my items where I have the best chance of selling them, and I've sold to buyers all over the world via ebay. Their fees have risen, but I think they are well worth it.

nanamom · #17 (**permalink**) 02-28-2007, 08:03 AM

I've been selling on ebay for a couple years, mostly just stuff around the house. At one time I had a rousing business offing my DH old dragon collection but those are gone now. I would love to find a niche where I could sell and make even a few hundred a month on ebay. I do alot with fabric so am seriously considering that. I buy fabric on ebay. i tried selling cards but that didn't go anywhere. Most of the stuff i don't think is worth buying wholesale and selling retail although I'd love to find an outlet to do that and make enough to make it worthwhile. Oh well maybe someday. I am getting into garage sale season here so may take a look or maybe i will go to a couple auctions since my regular Tuesday night activity (prayer time at church ) moved to another time.