Fed Up With eBay?
For many people, their first experience of working online involves selling products on eBay. This was how I got started back in 1998 and I know countless other people that have done the same.
However, it is important to remember that eBay is not the 'be all and end all' - there is a much bigger online world out there. My reason for mentioning this is that I have spoken to three people this week who each make a decent full or part-time income on eBay but who are fed up with it and looking to move in other directions.
Having sold on eBay myself, I can understand why sellers do get tired/bored/frustrated with the auction site - it is highly competitive and it takes an incredible amount of hard work to succeed. In addition, it is normally the case that the more successful you become, the harder you have to work. Listing auctions, handling customer enquiries, packing, shipping, sourcing/buying stock, keeping up with feedback, monitoring the competition - selling on eBay is a tough job and it is no wonder that after working in this way for a few years, many people wish they were back in the land of the employed!!
Don't get me wrong, there is good money to be made on eBay for anyone willing to put the effort in and many people enjoy trading on this huge auction site. But it isn't for everyone.
Having spoken to numerous eBay sellers in the past, it seems to me that of the ones that don't enjoy working on eBay, the particular task that they enjoy the least is the packing and shipping of products. Funnily enough, this is exactly the bit of trading that I grew to dislike too.
I (and the sellers I have spoken to) didn't have a problem with creating sales descriptions, dealing with emails, collecting payment (naturally!) and the other administrative tasks involved in running an online business. But wrapping things up and taking them to the post office is something completely different and for me and many others that's where it all started to fall apart :-)
As I said at the beginning of this article, if you are getting fed up of doing the eBay 'thing' or if you just don't fancy the idea to start with, there is a wealth of alternative opportunities available online. My own solution was to get rid of the one aspect of eBay trading that I didn't enjoy - the packing and shipping - and start to produce and sell digital products which could be delivered to the customer automatically. I still have to write sales pages and build websites, I still have to deal with emails etc but I don't have to handle any physical products (neither do I have to deal with payment collection because that too can be handled automatically by software).
Of course my products are very relevant to eBay sellers and indeed, there are numerous individuals and companies out there that have made a fortune off the back of eBay without ever having sold a single product on the auction site. I am sure that there are numerous other problems that eBay users have that could be solved with a new piece of software or a particular service and if the idea takes off, there are 135 million registered users on eBay to market to!
eBay provides a wonderful opportunity for hundreds of thousands of people but it isn't for everyone and if you find yourself frustrated/bored with the same old routine everyday, start to look for something outside of the eBay world.
Copyright 2005 Richard Grady
Richard Grady has been helping ordinary people earn online since 1998. He writes a free newsletter which is published every two weeks. To subscribe (and claim your free gifts), visit: http://www.thetraderonline.com/newsletter.html
Related Articles:
eBay Motors : Buy or Sell a Car on eBay
Are you having trouble finding a great deal on a car in your local area? Well, join the club. Using Online Bidding at eBay Motors can be the perfect answer you've been looking for.
Buying A Used Car: Why You Should Attend A Used Car Auction
Are you in the market for a used car? If you are, have you ever thought about attending a used car auction? Although used car auctions are a great way to get affordable vehicles, it is as if they are a well-kept secret. It is time that you familiarize yourself with this well-kept secret, as it a great way for you to save money.
Buying and Selling With Online Auctions
Trying to be help your buyers find your auctions can be a truly daunting task. Most people only search eBay by title, not by description, and that means that you only have those 55 characters of the title to cover all the possible search terms. That is not easy. In this email, I will give you a few pointers. Do not bother with eBay clinches. There are plenty of eBay auction titles that say things like Super rare camera wow look low price. These are stupid things to put in your title, as no one is going to search for them.
Ebay Auctions- Some Tips To Get You Started With Ebay Auctions
Ebay auctions can be a great way to get started in ecommerce or expand your income. There are a few things that you need to know to help you get started.
Car Auctions: Savvy Guide To Buying Cars At Auctions
Gone are the days when you just look at the hood and assess the physical appearance of a repossessed car when you are aiming to buy at a car auction. You need to make further research into important factors about the used car you are eying.
Car Buying At Car Auctions
There are several avenues in which you can buy a car. One of the places you can purchase a vehicle is through a car auction. Even with car auctions you have a couple of different places to choose from depending on where you live. For instance if you live in a smaller town you probably have one or two places to choose from for private car auctions. If you live in a larger city not only will you have the private car auctions but you will also have the police auctions. We will discuss both types of auctions in this article as well as some of the things to be wary of.
Six Steps Towards Successful Buying at eBay Auctions Six Steps Towards Successful Buying at eBay Auctions
Buying on eBay can be very rewarding, either in terms of being able to pick up items cheaply or for hunting for hard to find items. Although generally the experience is good, there are instances where things can go badly wrong. These tips, based on experience over the last seven years, should help to avoid some of the potential pitfalls.
Powersnipe Announces Update for Online Bid Sniper Service and ebay Auction Sniper Software
Powersnipe.com, the leading eBay auction sniper service, has announced today major upgrades to their online and software services which help users to win eBay auctions and avoid bidding wars by automatically placing their bid in the last seconds of an auction.
Tips for Buying Cars in Auto Auctions
Auto auctions can be great place to buy and sell cars. By buying at an auto auction, you can get a car for cheaper than you can get at the local used car dealer?s yard.
Real Estate Auction Action - Buying A Home At Auction
Due in part to the popularity of the U. S.
Save Money By Buying A Used Car At A Car Auction
Save your money by opting for auction cars
Sometimes it is very difficult to find a second hand used car in a good condition Well, if you are searching for a cheap car, it is advisable to take a look at the car auctions organized by police and government bodies
RainWorx Auction Software Expands Sales for Independent Online Auction Websites
RainWorx Software released version 6.0 of their popular auction website application rwAuction Pro. RainWorx Auction Pro allows businesses to create an independent auction website with Standard and Reverse Auctions, Classifieds, RFQ, or Fixed Price Sales. Version 6.0 includes a completely rewritten invoice system for managing transactions between payers and payees for all users including website owner sales.
Tips For Buying A Used Car At A Used Car Auction
Are you interested in buying a used car from an auto auction or a used car auction? If you are, have you ever done so before? Unfortunately, when it comes to buying a used car from a used car auto auction, there are many first time bidders who end up making costly mistakes. To prevent yourself from being one of those used car auction bidders, you will want to continue reading on, as a few helpful used car auction tips are touched on below.
Online Used Car Auctions Versus Live Used Car Auctions
Are you interested in buying a used car? If you are, have you ever thought about buying a used car from an auto auction? Buying a used car through an auto auction, which is also commonly referred to as a used car auction, is a great way to find a large selection of quality, reliable, yet affordable used cars for sale.
Online Auctions: 5 Ways Your Business Can Benefit From Online Auctions
Online auctions are now the new gold rush on the internet.It seems as if everyone is talking about online auctions.
