| Can you really make money on eBay with no | | | | item. |
| products to sell? Yes, you can. Here's how you do it. | | | | In my introduction, I mentioned that there is a little risk |
| You basically act as a broker. You find items that are | | | | involved. The risk is to your eBay feedback score, |
| available for purchase on the internet at a discount, | | | | which is essentially your reputation. You incur this risk |
| and you list them on eBay as if you were the owner, | | | | by promising someone else's product, and you'll suffer |
| yourself. Don't worry. There's nothing unethical about | | | | if the product is out of stock when it comes time to |
| this. In fact, it's becoming more and more common | | | | deliver to your customer. So, to protect yourself, you |
| these days. Think of it this way. You're offering a | | | | should only list items that are in good supply. Don't ever |
| service to people who aren't very skilled with internet | | | | list an item from a source that only has one or two |
| research. You're finding products that they couldn't | | | | available. In the event that someone places an order |
| otherwise find. Now, there's a little risk involved with this | | | | with you, and you find that the item is out of stock with |
| strategy, but we'll get to that in a moment. | | | | your supplier, you'll have to find an alternate supplier |
| There are many places on the internet where you can | | | | fast. And, you should be willing to pay a little more for |
| find really good deals on any number of items. Some | | | | the item in order to satisfy your customer. Personally, |
| common places to look are the marketplace, alternate | | | | I'd be prepared to lose a few dollars in order to |
| auction sites (besides eBay), online wholesalers, and | | | | salvage my feedback score. |
| dropshippers. Once you find a good deal, you need to | | | | The best way to avoid this risk altogether is to use a |
| do a little research to find out what the market value is | | | | drop shipper and to actually buy some products from |
| on eBay. You can do a quick search of closed listings | | | | the drop shipper, who then sets the products aside for |
| to see how much people are paying for the particular | | | | you. When the product sells, the drop shipper |
| item you've found. Once you've confirmed that there's | | | | packages the item and ships it for you. This virtually |
| a good market for the item you've found, you list the | | | | guarantees that you'll never receive an order only to |
| item on eBay. You can use a stock photo of the item | | | | find that your supplier is out of stock. Though, there's a |
| for your listing. These can usually be found on the | | | | little risk with this method as well. Once you buy the |
| original manufacturer's web page. | | | | product, you own it, even though it's sitting in the drop |
| When the item sells on eBay, you'll get an email | | | | shipper's warehouse, and if the market price drops for |
| notification. The next step is for you to place an order | | | | that product, you're out of luck. You may have to sell |
| for the actual item from your source. In some cases, | | | | the product at a loss. |
| depending on the source, you can have the item | | | | So, both methods come with their respective risks. |
| packed by your source so that it appears to have | | | | You'll have to choose which one you're more |
| come directly from you. This is especially true in the | | | | comfortable with. As long as you're careful, you'll be |
| case of drop shippers. In other cases, you'll want to | | | | fine. And you'll stand a good chance of making some |
| have the item shipped to you; then you can ship the | | | | great money on eBay, while never stocking anything in |
| item to your buyer. This incurs additional shipping costs, | | | | your home. |
| and it takes a little longer for your buyer to get the | | | | |