Want to start a new business on eBay ?
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03-01-2005 04:25 PM
It is not as easy as it sounds.
To sell on eBay as a hobby is one thing. To organize it up as a full or part time business to generate income is something more serious and requires some prerequisites.
First you must prepare a business plan and a budget.
Like any mail order business, newcomers should have business (preferably retail) experience, with good marketing skills and adequate capital (money does not grow on trees).
They should be familiar with the basics of both consumption and income tax legislations affecting their business. GST and PST regulations can be tricky.
They should understand currency conversion, banking, international trade and methods of payment available to online buyers.
More importantly, they should sell what they know and know what they sell.
I am not a paid eBay employee and, as such, cannot offer direct business consultation and advice. For assistance, you should take a look at the many threads of the last few weeks on this Board dealing with a vast variety of subjects. Start with the Selling 101 thread:
http://forums.ebay.ca/thread.jsp?forum=13&thread=100007162&modified=1109682709634
Then take a look at other Canadian Boards such as:
New to eBay: http://forums.ebay.ca/forum.jsp?forum=41
User to User Help: http://forums.ebay.ca/forum.jsp?forum=9
Then, one should invest some time on the PayPal Discussion Board (on eBay.com):
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/forum.jspa?forumID=97
and the eBay Stores Discussion Board (also on eBay.com):
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/forum.jspa?forumID=21
While you are on eBay.com, take a look at other Discussion Boards which may offer you good free advice:
http://pages.ebay.com/community/boards/index.html
If you target primarily the American and overseas markets you should list on eBay.com in US dollars; if you target the Canadian market list on eBay.ca in Canadian dollars.
Finally, before setting up your business, invest a few dollars and get some professional help for business and tax (GST and PST) registrations and bookkeeping (unless you already have the necessary expertize).
Good Luck.

Re: Want to start a new business on eBay ?
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03-15-2005 09:29 AM
Re: Want to start a new business on eBay ?
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03-15-2005 09:47 AM
Re: Want to start a new business on eBay ?
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03-15-2005 09:54 AM
I looked at one of your listing:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=280&item=6951740296&rd=1
Frankly, at US$ 4.99 + US$ 6.00 postage + U$ 3.00 handling/packing fee (total US$ 13.99) for a 24 year old used National Geographic magazine is more than the market is willing to pay. These magazines are typically available at used bookstores for $1 or less.
The magazine can easily be mailed in a 9"x12" envelope for Cdn$ 2.90 (US$ 2.40 or so).
You may want to concentrate on building your feedback rating through buying before starting your selling carreer on eBay. You also need to find items for sale where shipping/packaging/handling costs are reasonable in relation to selling price or market value.
Good Luck.

Re: Want to start a new business on eBay ?
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03-17-2005 07:49 AM

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03-21-2005 07:17 AM

Re: Want to start a new business on eBay ?
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03-21-2005 07:26 PM
Do I go to the bottom left, US banking for canadians and choose one of those or do I go to PERSONAL FINANCE, CHECKING, go to the bottom and click APPLY ONLINE?
I went to my local branch couple weeks ago and the lady did not understand what US account I wanted. I said it's the CENTURA one where it's located in the US.
She told me to go online go to personal finance > checking > apply online and do it there. She said it's faster than mailing it in, but I notice that site just fills out information and then print it out to mail.
How do you people do it?
Thanks,
Re: Want to start a new business on eBay ?
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03-21-2005 08:43 PM
Re: Want to start a new business on eBay ?
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03-23-2005 02:12 PM
Re: Want to start a new business on eBay ?
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03-25-2005 08:10 AM

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03-31-2005 09:35 AM
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04-02-2005 07:18 PM

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04-03-2005 07:01 PM
Re: Want to start a new business on eBay ?
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04-03-2005 08:19 PM
The fact I use it for business is not a difficult one to figure out ...
Does anybody know about the Centura account - are you able to use it for business use or does the fine print somewhere say it is only a personal account?
Re: Want to start a new business on eBay ?
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04-03-2005 09:26 PM
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04-04-2005 10:51 AM
Re: Want to start a new business on eBay ?
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04-04-2005 10:53 AM
Most small businesses use one or more "personal" account(s) for business purposes to reduce or eliminate bank service charges.
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that !

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04-04-2005 10:53 AM

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04-04-2005 11:16 AM
But I do have a quandry - what to do with my pc points that I earn by using the mastercard when I buy items to sell? I'd have to use my PC bank card at Zehrs to use my points - I guess I could use them to buy things like envelopes and tape?
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04-05-2005 04:48 PM

Re: Want to start a new business on eBay ?
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04-09-2005 02:50 PM
Gift @
http://stores.ebay.com/gift-with-heart

