my MAD e-bay challenge

IWantToBeFree_2

I had the total opposit today, one of my buyers has left me feedback before he has even got the item and said 'good communication' despite the fact that I haven't communicated at all with him. Bizarre.

oopalah

IWantToBeFree wrote: »

I had the total opposit today, one of my buyers has left me feedback before he has even got the item and said 'good communication' despite the fact that I haven't communicated at all with him. Bizarre.

Hmm........ Some people are just odd:rotfl: :rotfl:

learning_to_drive

Ive fallen out of love with ebay totally, I just cant get motivation to do anything......

Filscat

As a relative newcomer to MSE, I just came across this Ebay Challenge in someones signature and have been reading through the last few pages, and thought I'd relate my Ebay story to all of you who are trying to reach your challenge targets.

Early last month I reached my £5,000 profit on Ebay from my first sale in Oct 2005, so £5K in just over two and a half years
The first £1,200 or so was stuff from decluttering my home (- mostly items inherited from my father that had been sat in the loft for over ten years)
I got the Ebay bug from this and it started me looking for new things to sell

The remaining £4K or so has been made from selling items that I have bought from boot sales, jumble sales, charity shops etc.
I worked out that on average I am buying things for 99p, selling them for £5+P&P and making £3.50 profit on each one. (of course this is an average... some things don't sell at all and go back to charity shops, and my biggest success was selling an item bought for 99p for £102 )

The thing to do is research on the 'Completed Items' to find what sells well that you can make a profit on - I'm not saying what I sell cos that's my 'niche' but I have friends who do similar to me who sell Childrens books and designer label clothes - they did their research, found out what to look out for and they make a profit selling them on ebay

It is quite an effort I admit, spending weekends searching charity shops on Saturday and boot sales on Sunday, weeknights are spent photographing, listing and packing the items to post out after they have sold... and I do regular trips to 'Poundland' to buy their Jiffy envelopes, bubble wrap, brown paper and sellotape !

But there are rewards when you transfer £300 - £400 from Paypal to your bank account every month (though you need to remember that that is not all profit !)

So keep going all you 'challengers'. It certainly is possible to make the £1,000 a lot of you have set your targets at by selling relatively low priced items - I know cos I've done it several times over now ! !

After all, 6 items a week at £3.50 profit each = £1000 in a year

soolin

Well done Filscat, it shows that it can be done. Don't forget the tax man's share when working out profit, you obviously don't need to pay NI though if you don't want as you qualify for a low income exemption.

RosaThorne

Jaymz wrote: »

Does anyone else find it boring taking the photos and then listing them all? At least once it's on eBay it's quite good fun having people bidding on it

ummmm, yeah! I much prefer shopping to listing :eek:

_party_Well, my buyer, who bought £104 worth of clothing has finally paid, all thanks to I WantToBeFree Thanks so much, I hate asking for money and that buyer knew it!

I haven't been motivated enough to list stuff in time for 5p day, too busy doing my happy dance after being paid and had a really stupid panic when I realised I hadn't changed my address with the DVLA, so couldn't sell my bike on Thursday, should probably change my address on my licence too... oops It'll be a busy morning tomorrow... anyone want to earn a home-made muffin and be my assistant?

IWantToBeFree_2

Yay I am glad that she paid, that is a lot of money to have there unpaid!

I sold 63 items on Sunday and I am now only waiting for 6 payments and 2 cheques to cash which isn't too bad, people have paid really quickly compared to usual.

Got 39 on there still, 19 have bids totalling £54.76 and have loads & loads of watchers so hopefully that will go up to at least £100.

Got some more stuff to list tomorrow as well seen as its 5p day.

bloomers5

well done lee - what a great guy and well done filscat

5 grand ......Sir Alan would be proud of you.

You have inspired me I will be listing as much as I can tomorrow...
Please give us a hint ..what did you buy for 99p and sell more more than a hundred pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!...i'm intrigued ..antique thongs ?

I remember the first xmas I sold on ebay i watched an old Brio Cranky crane go up and up from 1.99 to £23! It had been played - and had marks which were visible from the photo but I felt so embarrased that I refunded the buyer £5 ...

wouldn't do that now....

good luck tomorrow
bloomers5

MinniMe_2

Afternoon all,

so far this week have had two sales (only 99p each but hey ho better than nothing). one has paid and the other is being realy really slow.

Have listed one thing today - good old 5p listing day! and have 6 items finishing on sunday - so fingers crossed!

bloomers5

I have just finished listing 31 items...am brain dead, driven to drink and have lost the will to live.

They'd better sell!!