| Without a doubt, the most frequently asked question | | | | 9. Oops! |
| any eBay seller hears is "where do you get stuff to | | | | Often, for whatever reason, people will store their |
| sell?" Or, the also popular, "Where can I get stuff to | | | | possessions in a self-storage facility, and then neglect |
| sell?" | | | | to pay their monthly rent. When this happens, the |
| But, one of the quickest lessons any eBay seller learns | | | | manager promptly places a padlock on the unit, and |
| is, "never reveal your sources." Doing so will only | | | | then auction off the contents. It's the ultimate eBay |
| create more competition for him. | | | | grab bag because they won't show you the contents |
| So, where do eBay sellers get the items they sell? | | | | before the auction. |
| Wholesalers? Drop Shippers? Where do I find a | | | | 10. A Trip To The Flea Market |
| wholesaler? And what is drop shipping? Actually, it's | | | | Some great deals can be had at flea markets and |
| not nearly as complicated as it seems. Just some | | | | swap meets. Sure, lots of items are just as overpriced |
| good old-fashioned know-how and hard work. | | | | as the stores at the mall, but they usually have what I |
| 1. Home Is Where The Heart Is | | | | like to call a "garage sale area." This is an area full of |
| Or, more accurately, home is where the stuff is. This is | | | | spaces off the beaten path that is reserved for |
| the first place you'll want to look. First of all, who | | | | everyday people to rent cheap. They bring their |
| knows more about your stuff than you? Plus, it's a | | | | unwanted items to sell. It's like going to 20 garage sales |
| great way to clean out your closets and get some | | | | in an hour. |
| valuable learning experience. It costs you nothing | | | | 11. I Got It On eBayeBay has lots of "wholesale lot" |
| because you already own the item. Selling your | | | | areas in different categories. Check them out on a |
| un-wanted items will teach you enough to move on to | | | | regular basis. You can get some good deals from |
| more involved, lucrative sales. | | | | people who don't want to list the items they have one |
| 2. Re-Gifting | | | | by one, or just people who don't know the value of |
| There's a long running joke in my family around | | | | what they've got. |
| Christmas and my birthday. How long till they see their | | | | 12. She Did It In That Movie |
| gifts to me for sale on eBay? I'm not really as bad as | | | | Remember the movie, "40 Year Old Virgin?" The main |
| that, however everyone has items they've received as | | | | character's girlfriend had a small storefront where she |
| gifts, but never used or opened. You took it, said thank | | | | offered to sell other people's items on eBay. You'd be |
| you, and shoved it in the closet or the garage or the | | | | shocked at how many people do this. In fact, eBay |
| kitchen cupboard no one ever uses. | | | | makes it easy for you. They offer what's called the |
| Just because you didn't want or need the gift, | | | | "Trading Assistant" program. If you qualify, eBay will |
| someone else will. eBay is the perfect place to unload | | | | put you in a directory of Trading Assistants, give you |
| them. | | | | templates for business cards, flyers, and posters. |
| 3. The Empty Nest Syndrome | | | | 13. The Grass Is Always Greener |
| Babies grow out of clothes at an alarming rate. | | | | As some seller's don't achieve the success on eBay |
| Likewise their toys. As your little darling grows up, she | | | | that they'd hoped for, or can't the prices they need to |
| leaves behind lots of sellable eBay items. Even the | | | | make a profit, they move on to other auction sites. |
| "old" cell phone you bought her for Christmas can be | | | | Eventually, they'll start dropping their prices when their |
| sold after you bought her the latest new phone for her | | | | items don't sell on those sites. This is where you come |
| birthday. And what about the cd's you bought her last | | | | in. Swoop in, grab their items at an incredible price, and |
| month that she wouldn't be caught dead listening to | | | | sell them on eBay. |
| now? Get back some of your investment. | | | | 14. Wholesalers, Liquidators, And Middle Men, Oh |
| 4. Grandma, What A Big Closet You Have! | | | | My!wholesale is a buzzword you hear around and |
| Back when I first started selling on eBay, I happened to | | | | about eBay all the time. In laymans terms, a wholesaler |
| be visiting my grandmother. I tried to explain about the | | | | is one who has the budget and space to buy items in |
| business I was trying to start, not an easy task since | | | | huge bulk quantites directly from the manufacturer. |
| she's never seen a web page in her life. However, she | | | | The huge amounts they buy allows them to get it at a |
| was more than happy to let me go through her | | | | very low price. If you have the money up front, and |
| closets and take whatever I wanted. Just that one visit | | | | the space to store it all, and are thinking about doing |
| earned me over $800! Including one faux leopard coat | | | | this, promise me one thing. Make sure the products |
| that got over 30 bids and sold for over $250! | | | | you're buying are selling well on eBay. |
| Grandmother's who grew up poor learned to take | | | | Liquidators and Middle Men are sort of the same thing. |
| care of their possessions. My grandma even still had | | | | They buy from wholesalers, business that are closing |
| her wedding dress from 1944, in mint condition. | | | | down, or just stores that have a surplus of items they |
| Everything was hung on padded hangers and covered | | | | call overstock and shelf pulls. They get the items at a |
| in plastic and hadn't seen the light of day in years. So, | | | | discount, raise the price, call themselves wholesalers, |
| next you visit grandma, offer to help her clean her | | | | and sell to you. This is mostly what you'll find online and |
| closets. | | | | something you want to stay away from. You'll notice |
| 5. A Little Help From Your Friends | | | | that the prices the liquidators are selling the items for is |
| Sooner than you think, friends are going to find out | | | | higher than what they're selling on eBay for. |
| about your eBay business. And they're going to ask | | | | 15. What The Heck Is Drop Shipping? |
| you to sell their extra stuff on eBay. By this time you'll | | | | Drop shipping is an odd term for what it really is. A |
| be a pro. Go ahead and rummage through their things. | | | | drop shipper is simply someone who will sell you an |
| Pick what you think will sell and offer to split the profits. | | | | item at a discounted price, and then send it to any |
| 6. Help Yourself While Helping Others | | | | address you ask them to. How does this work with |
| Thrift stores are a goldmine of eBay sellable items. I've | | | | eBay? |
| found that the Salvation Army stores are the | | | | First, you find a legitimate wholesale drop shipper. |
| cheapest and have the most sales. They're always | | | | Notice I said "legitimate." Remember the liquidators and |
| having half off sales or buy one get one free sales. I | | | | middle men we talked about? Lots of them will call |
| even have one near me that offers all clothing items | | | | themselves drop shippers, too. But, I digress... |
| for one dollar on the first day of every month. You'll be | | | | The drop shipper will allow you to use their pictures of |
| amazed at the quality items that some people give | | | | the item for your eBay listing. Once the item sells, your |
| away to charity. | | | | buyer pays you. You then go to the drop shipper, |
| 7. They Can't Bury You With It | | | | order the item, and give the buyer's address as the |
| It's a fact of life, and an opportunity for you, that areas | | | | shipping address. |
| that house senior citizens are ripe with estate sales | | | | If used correctly, drop shipping can be an incredibly |
| every weekend. The items are always nicer than | | | | lucrative strategy. Plus, you never have to touch the |
| what you'd get at a garage sale and are usually priced | | | | product. That means no shipping hassles to worry |
| to move. | | | | about. |
| 8. Going, Going, Gone! | | | | But, again, be careful. If you find a wholesale drop |
| Keep an eye on your local paper for public auctions in | | | | shipper that you can work with, be sure to check their |
| your area. Ignore the high-priced items they advertise | | | | prices against what the average sale price is on eBay. |
| in their ads. There are always lots of lower priced, | | | | If it's too high, or even close, you are most likely dealing |
| smaller items that they don't bother listing. You can get | | | | with a middle man. Your wholesalers prices should be |
| some amazing deals. | | | | deeply discounted. |