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Is eBay the Promised Land?

Posted by Cliff on from the want-bling-bling?-that's-on-eBay dept.

johnny.shz asks: "Even the politicians were claiming: millions of people are making a living off eBay. eBay does have millions of people selling at any given time, but how many are actually making a living? I've sold many things on eBay, mostly junk. My feeling is that I'm making eBay richer (all fees plus PayPal account about 10%), but certainly not myself. Despite all the hoopla of the new promised land, I don't see the promise on eBay. How many of you are making a living off eBay? How many of you actually know someone who does?"

7 of 106 comments (clear)

  1. Yes, but usually not the individual. by Rolan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There are certainly people making a living off of eBay. They aren't your general user (like you). I'm curious where you read the politicians claiming "millions."

    The people making a living off eBay are the small business owners that may (or may not) have a storefront in some town with limited exposure. They setup an eBay store, or list a most of their items on eBay for sale and make additional sales from stock they already had. They adjust their prices to compensate for the fees of doing business (which may very well be cheaper). They're generally able to avoid dealing with taxes (unless you're in their state), they don't have to deal with the overhead of store rent, electricity, etc that a physical store incurs.

    If I were so inclined, I'm sure I could setup a business in my house that sells purely online/through eBay and be able to make a better profit than a standard storefront, simply due to the considerable difference in overhead. However, I'm not interested in owning that kind of business.

    --
    - AMW
  2. Depends how you do it. by ForestGrump · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I know someone who makes about $600 per month in sales, which is enough for a college student to live on (if you have fin aid/loans/mom to pay for school).

    How he does it.
    Deal sites.
    Rebate whore
    Price match.
    invest all your free time on ebay sales.
    prompt shipping.

    Grump

    --
    Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
    1. Re:Depends how you do it. by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 4, Interesting

      By deal sites, you mean he buys stock from deal websites?

      And is "rebate whore" the reason why it's common to find hard drives for sale on EBay in the original box, but missing the UPC code?

      --
      Fascism trolls keeping me up every night. When I starts a preachin', he HITS ME WITH HIS REICH!
  3. "eBay consignment shop" by vasqzr · · Score: 5, Interesting


    A local businessman has set up an 'eBay Consignment' shop, you drop off an item, and he sells it on eBay for a fee. He takes pictures, does the description, lists the item...

    21st century pawn shop

  4. Easy by one9nine · · Score: 4, Funny

    "How many of you are making a living off eBay?"

    Once I learned how to burn grilled cheese sandwiches a certian way, it was a snap.

  5. Craigslist by winthrop · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The real promised land is Craigslist.

    If you live in a city with lots of rich people, they just throw good stuff away. I've got a washer/dryer, clothes, guitar, rugs, furniture, most free, some low-cost. A penny saved is a penny earned.

  6. Not a living, but making Earth more livable by computersareevil · · Score: 4, Insightful


    I'm certainly not making any real money on eBay, but I can't tell you how much better it feels to ship some piece of junk to somebody who want it, rather than dumping it in the trash can.

    eBay may not be the "promised land", but it certainly is improving the land by being the best recycling tool ever invented.