eBay

nan*55 · ‎11-15-2013

What do you do to motivate yourself to list? Seems to be getting harder and harder for me. A friend and I are having a feedback race , but so many no longer leave feedback.

What little tricks do you have to get yourself listing, and not get side tracked ?

rose-dee · ‎11-17-2013

@nan*55 wrote:
What little tricks do you have to get yourself listing, and not get side tracked ?

To answer your original question (tongue in cheek), I take a look at the calendar, then I take a look at the hydro bill, internet bill, phone bill, VISA bill, and any others that happen to have landed on my desk, and that usually gives me enough of a swift boot to get cracking!

I tend to do my listings all together, on days when the sun is shining and there is enough natural light to get good colour (some of what I sell is clothing, which requires excellent colour definition and high resolution), so the sunshine helps.

Like many others, I traded a high-stress, well-paid position for a simpler lifestyle, but there are still bills to be paid every month, and that is why I'm here on eBay. While I still experience stress and frustrations (dealing with eBay's policies and glitches are the main cause), I can choose how much and how hard I work, and what direction I want to go in.

There is real satisfaction in seeing your own efforts pay off in monetary terms, and I am fortunate in that after an entire lifetime of working and many years of planning for our recent paring down in living circumstances and costs, I don't have to earn a full-time income from my eBay store -- just enough to supplement the monthly budget. I'm probably different from most of you because I spend 85% of my time producing what I sell (both here and from my own website), and only about 15% dealing with listings. Many of my listings are multiple-quantity, and never vary, so it's simple to just keep "replenishing" the stock. Several others (garments) involve 20-24 "studio" photos each, measurement-taking and really careful written descriptions, all of which are very time-consuming, but it's the best feeling to finally get those up in my store and see the activity start!

So, speaking seriously, I usually motivate myself to get those listings done by positive thinking and gratitude for having the opportunity to do it myself -- the only "boss" looking over my shoulder now is me, so I try to remember how good that feels every day I start up my computer. Makes sense?

Speaking of which, must get on with my photo-taking -- the sun is out today and it's 12 degrees here in balmy SW Nova!

brandeentertainment · ‎11-17-2013

I was the took 2 courses Welder fitter and business managment.. When done i owed 20k still owe about 3k after I finish second course go a well paying job but VERY demanding but i love physical work ..

from my experience education is only good in some cases 90% of the people i know like myself basically wasted there time and money because they are not doing what they went to school for ...

I would tread lighly on choosing education as a way of escaping hard work because you may just end up in debt and working your butt off to pay your debt off ...

So many places say then want university graduate then you look at what you need to get the job it is most likely High-school,clean **bleep** test and 3-5 years experience not 3-10 years in university ..

I say get a good job then continue your education well you pay the bills or you may just start life off so far in debt you will not see light at the end of the tunnel for 10-20 years..

mr.elmwood · ‎11-17-2013

Brande! I am blue in the face from telling Mrs Igloo that. she came out of Churchill making nice money and figured she would never do as well "Down South". Kept saying "I don't have the degree".

She pretty much got the dream job she figured she was never qualified for, based on what? Experience. At the end of the year, she is making $3K less with half the work load.

She comes home from work with a look on her face of "Why did I leave work on time and why am I not stressed?".

She is working on her degree part time. She will have that in a couple years and will then start applying for CEO jobs.

Behind every successful woman is a husband (he) who is barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen. I accept my role. I can also do wiring, plumbing, hang a door, windows, drywall, and answer questions about statistics, calculus, and senior mgmt.

.
.
.

pierrelebel · ‎11-17-2013

". I can also do wiring, plumbing, hang a door, windows, drywall,.."

I cannot do any of these things nor do I have any interest in learning how to do them. Mary loves me like I am!

thebarterersdog · ‎11-18-2013

Wow these stories are great! For me, my decision to leave my job of contractual and business litigation of seven years was motivated when my daughter was born. Finding myself pregnant after 10 years was a bit of a wake me up too, lol. When we found out she was a child of special needs, I had no choice but to stay home--she needed me. When this all happened, I was teaching dance on a part time basis in the evenings, takling advantage of all my certifications.. My writing was also starting to take off at this time and staying home during the day allowed me a chance to focus on it more. Thus, I decided after Katie was born, to open my dance studio and run it at night, and work at home during the day furthering my education--a publishing degree and writing. At first, with a new baby, a new business and a huge change in life for me to adapt to, money was tight. Thank goodness my hubby had a fantastic job that managed our bills. Business took off and my other two older daughters helped to carry the load. Seventeen years later, I happily retired and from the world of dance to focus on my upcoming children series. My daughter, Katie, is 18 and doing so well; she is such a treasure. My other two daughters are beginning their own life adventures and we have only two grandchildren but there could be more in our near future. 🙂 Ebay provides a great avenue for Owniez and soon my husband will be retiring to help focus more attention to it. We haven't looked back since.

I am always changing my listings, taking new photos for items that are not selling, running promotions, sales, listing new. Always busy... always hopeful... lol

Janet and Paul

cumos55 · ‎11-20-2013

You just ... Do IT....

Start with a pile on the right... list it and you end up with a pile on the left.

Listing was a struggle at times... However, recently i hit on a short cut..

and over September, October and November about 330 books were listed... Some with templates available... and many new. books never listed before...

This time period is also very good for book sales. That pile on the right got big.....

That pile on the left did not get too big.... because sales have been very good over the last 30 days... and longer

----------------------------------------------------------------

The best thing to do... is ... Do It.....

If you do not list it... It will not sell...

If you do not price it right... It will not sell..

It is not enough to list it and let it sit... You have to work it...... Always looking new inventory... and for new categories of inventory.....

-------------------------------------

And to do something different..... You go to an auction sale.... or you work an auction sale.... or you buy new inventory at an auction sale... I have done it all over the last three moths

Antiques, collectables, furniture, tools, farm equipment, books, toys.... firearms, automobile collectables, signs... and more, more, more.

After 30 plus years of auctions sales... I have just about seen it all... and more...

looking forward to an auction sale this Saturday..... should be a break for listing .....and maybe find something to sell on eBay....