All About my first month selling on e-bay, what I did wrong and wrong and wrong and still trying to figure out what I did right.  

It seemed like a good idea, I mean I had a box of Post cards what could go wrong? First I didn't have anything organized, I just grabbed a few cards put them on the floor and took a picture. During this time I was waiting for my dial-up internet connection to load the e-bay home page, did I tell you I hate dial-up? Well finally it loaded, I got my store open (of course I failed to read any info on anything) no categories, no nothing, a store name Sell-it-for-me and that was it. I started a Pay Pal account (didn't really read any of the charges), went to the sell page and started, figured out the category, started the bidding at .01 (did I tell you I didn't read anything?). Guessed that I could send the cards in the mail for .39 so I put a flat Shipping and Handling charge of $2.50. I then loaded the picture took 9 and a half minutes (Did I tell You I hate Dial-up?). My Listing is up WOW does it look bland, the picture is fuzzy the description is short and really doesn't do justice to the cards, but off to another one without thinking how I can improve anything (Money is waiting to be made, I have my eye on a big Plasma TV). I have listed 10 sets of Post Cards I am now ready for the big time (this was the next day feedback still at 0). I go to Staples and get some Paper to make Business Cards, list my ad and phone number in the local bi-weekly Paper ($40.00 for 2 weeks). I am so good at this I will help people sell their items on e-bay take a Percentage of the sale price, I must be the only person to think of this (Not). Well I made my first sale a total of $2.51 yes 2.50 S&H and sale price of a penny this was for 4 cards. Cost to list 55 cents, Final Value fee 1 cent Pay Pal fees of about 50 cents, envelope, tape, cardboard and stamp 93 cents (did anyone know that cardboard adds weight to an envelope?) cost to sell my item and deliver it $1.99 I just made my first 62 cents! I figure I have to get some big ticket items listed or they will have invented time travel before I can afford that Plasma. I start listing some items that I have collected during my time in the Army, Shot Glasses (I was 18 in Germany), Tumblers from Ireland and a Kilt I bought when drunk in Scotland. I just got  notification from Pay Pal for I got paid for my first item , I leave immediate feedback (Still not reading the discussion boards heck I don't even know they exist yet). Bidding really goes up on the Kilt and I start getting Questions on it, Size I put that in the Description, Can I post a close up picture of the Accessories, 10 e-mails on it I think here comes that Plasma the Kilt must be one of a kind, bidding just kind of stops at around 100 dollars (forgot to mention I did not do any research while I wasn't reading).

My add comes out in the Paper, Now I'm gonna make some money get 3 calls the same day 2 are older ladies wanting to know how much I charge, 20% of the sale price and I pay all the fees I tell them, they both tell me that  they will get their things in order and give me a call (Still waiting). Mike however is totally different he has a 1999 Dodge Dakota truck to sell he want's $4,000 for it but says he would probably take $3,700 in cash. I told him I would be out the next day 30 miles from my house one way and the cost is $200 after the sale. This time I actually looked to see what a comparable truck was going for on e-bay and they were right around $4,000 so I figure this should be an easy sale (I didn't know how wrong I was too be). Went to Mike's house with a contract I drew up using Office Word Program took a lot of pictures (5) of the truck, ok so I thought it was a lot asked if the title was clear he said yes (start of the lies) told me he just wanted to get rid of it and I could have anything over $$4,000 WOW this is too good to be true (it was). Got the contract signed consignment time of 14 days, went home and tried listing it, e-bay motors kept telling me I needed the Vin Number (I know I should have read something anything on selling a vehicle other than what it would cost me). Well after a day I got Mike to give me the Vin number, only e-bay motors kept telling me that the numbers didn't match a vehicle made after 89 or something like that. Now what I call mike read him the numbers I even give the military code for the letters, no he says that's what the title says I ask him to go look at the truck and tell me those same numbers but he says he will go to the dealer and get them to confirm the numbers. 1 week later he calls me and says no that's what the Vin number is, I read it to him one more time and he says no not S it's R (wait didn't I read this number to you like 4 times?) well I try that and lo an behold it works I list it and start getting bids on it within hours.

I keep Mike informed everyday as to the price, he is excited and everything is going great. A person from Milwaukee buys it $4,300.00 I send the invoice and call Mike Not excited any more but says he will be available the next 2 days for the transaction. The person in Milwaukee (Best Person to work with on e-bay) says he and his son will pick it up the next day and have cash. I call Mike and tell him the good news he says he will be waiting. Well The Person from Milwaukee shows up at Mike's house no Mike, no Truck, no note, and no call. The person from Milwaukee calls me, I call Mike, Mike tells me he is at work (Funny I hear distinct sounds of a bar) Mike works in a factory? Well 2 more days back and forth and Mike not answering my calls, this is going BAD. Mike then calls me says he sold the Truck to someone else and keeps saying they the green, they had the green, I tell him we had a contract to sell it and that I sold it to another person who has a contract with me and by extension with him. Come to find out Mike traded it in to the dealer who was only going to give him $3,500 for it until it was sold for $4,300 then they gave him $4,300 on a trade in. Well the Person in Milwaukee and I are going back and forth on the phone and e-mail trying to work this out and also get Mike to understand he has to sell the truck to the Person in Milwaukee. I now believe that Mike is an idiot and nuts, the title is not clear there is a lien from the Bank. I call the dealer and tell them what happened they say they don't even have the truck, which is sitting in plain view on the lot while I talk to them on my cell phone. I tell the dealer that not only will I sue Mike for breach of contract I will make sure that everyone I talk too knows that the Dealer is involved in this deception. Dealer then Forced Mike to take back the Truck and the Person from Milwaukee ended up with it but not after more lies threats and just plain nuttiness. I called Mike after the sale finally took place and asked how he wanted to pay me and he said he will send a check (2 weeks no check) I guess I will have to either take him to small claims court or chalk it up to a very hard lesson learned.

Since Mike answered the add in the Paper I decide no more advertising in the paper I will put a 4x5 card in the paper delivery box at peoples addresses. I see other people do it all the time so I start out in the country and drive along putting them in the Newspaper box I get pulled over by a Policeman who asks me if I know it's a $250.00 fine for crossing the center line (Warning) no more advertising for a while.

I get my Gold Star good feedback only, really working on the customer satisfaction. My first non-payer I send 2 more e-mails and get a check Whew. My neighbor has lots of items and now he wants me to sell his postcards he offers me 50% but I take my straight 20%+ S&H. He thinks they are worth about $400.00 I'm thinking $100-$200, but he tells me just to get rid of them so between my sales I do his.

Time to get serious, I start hitting Rummage Sales, look in the paper for give aways and look at for sale items in the local paper that may sell higher on e-bay, lots more research now and I have started reading the Community Boards. I am buying Marvel Legends Action Figures for a client charging them $2.00 for the transaction probably to low but it's easy to bid. I hit 5 Rummage sales in one day, drove by one at 11 am that was to start at 3pm and there were cars waiting there for the start. Went back to that one at 4pm and saw a Victorian tin dome chest and some 1850-1910 books got the chest and 10 books for $80.00 brought them home cleaned them a little and put them up for auction. My Girlfriend came over and told me no to sell the trunk (wait didn't I just buy this to sell?) Compromised and put a reserve on it at.

Here are a few things I would do different.

Research- The Discussion Boards are a great place to gain information and ask questions, Look in the local paper for items that are for sale or free by individuals then call and ask questions about it how old is it, what kind of condition, price, is the price negotiable and the go look on e-bay for similar and see if you could sell it for more than they want for it. Look on e-bay before going to the Rummage sale, Rummage sales usually list a few items for sale like baby clothes or kids clothes see what those are selling for on e-bay so you know what not to pay.

Set up your store after looking at others and also doing research on it.

Get Organized whichever way you want too, but get a plan on how you are going to get the item, pictures, listings, payments, mailing, postage rates, packaging and feedback.

When going to a rummage sale enjoy the day out of the house you don't necessarily have to buy anything, I went to 3 sales in one day bought 1 thing cause it was the only thing that interested me. I had a good time cause I took my Dogs with me and we had some ice cream.

Just because a rummage sale price is .01 doesn't mean that you can't get the price down, combine items that you want then offer a price most times the person takes it.

Bring business cards with you, I give them to the person holding the sale but not until after I buy and pay for the item. I usually place the items in my car then I go back and give them my card. I also give them away like candy to everyone I meet, you just never know who has that one of a kind item.

Buy things you wouldn't mind keeping that way if it doesn't sell you have an item that you like.

Read everything you can on e-bay especially the discussion boards you learn things even when someone is being negative. 

Never deal with a guy named Mike that lives with his Disabled Mother in a town that begins with an H in Wisconsin, well at least from my experience.

sd6180

p.s. I'm at a 31 feedback now :-) and I read and research about 3 hours a day with dial-up, that's like 10 minutes for you high speeders LOL