In defense of eBay...

About 2 years ago, I started using eBay to make a little extra money on the side, selling coins, of course. After about a year, I began to consider doing it full time. So with the supportiveness of my wife, (and her health insurance), we made the decision to declare my "retirement from the 9 to 5 scene," and work eBay full time. We've got young kids. One in school and one in preschool. And I have become an eBaying house-dad. I work at home online during the day, clean the house, get the kids off the bus, fix dinner, etc. We no longer have to pay a babysitter to do those things, like we had to when we were both working 9-5 jobs. And I keep them entertained during the summertime. In short, it's been a blessing.

The downside of course is... large. Even after my 20% final value fee discount, I pay at least $1,000 in eBay and PayPal fees each month, plus I take a loss on my bottom line since I ship for free. There are packing expenses, and gas expenses to the post office and to various coins shops in Virginia and North Carolina. There are flight tickets to buy, hotels, and meals, and rental cars when I'm heading to the BIG shows. Additionally, there are difficult and vengeful buyers. There are scammers, and FEAR of scammers. I've gotten threatening phone calls. I've spent WAY too much time on the phone with eBay and PayPal trying to resolve matters that should be simple. And I consistently have 4% of buyers who win auctions and never pay.

But to me, the upside still takes the cake. I make more money (inconsistent though it may be at times) than I've ever made working 9-5. I get to do my hobby for a living. I've met some great new friends through eBay and shows. And most importantly, I'm a better, more present father and husband.

Yes, there are days, even weeks where I abhor eBay and dealing with the hassle, the fees, the buyers who like to win and then not pay. But there are far more days when I know how lucky I am to have the freedom I do, the time with my family, and a marketplace that reaches far more people than I can reach alone.

 

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Sales is a profession that's always been fraught with obstacles, regardless of the venue. Kudos to you for making it work. Being successfully self-employed requires a great deal of motivation and perspiration.

 

I applaud you for your hard work, motivation and wish you continued success. TC

 

[QUOTEI applaud you for your hard work, motivation and wish you continued success. TC

Read more: http://www.cointalk.com/t220953/#ixzz2IC1doabI][/QUOTE]

Ditto. I have dabbled in selling on eBay, never considered trying it as a job... Well, good luck and welcome to CT! :welcome:

 

I've dabbled in a bit of selling myself, but my items have been various things in my possession that I no longer want. I wouldn't even know where to begin acquiring coins at wholesale prices, nor would I want to become a dealer. I've already got a full-time job, and I prefer knowing exactly how much I'm making at a given time.

 

What's you eBay username? I am always looking to buy coins.

 

Same here, I mainly just sell whatever I don't want to keep in my collection (or house, for that matter)

 

Yes, and maybe you could post some of your auctions in the auction for sale thread as well. It would help us navigate to them easier and it will open them up to more sets of eyes!

 

Cointalk rule #2: No self-promotion. Sorry.

 

For sale section?

 

I'll try that. Still learning the site since I just joined. Thanks!

 

Okay, I put a link up in the for sale thread. From there I suppose you can navigate to all my items. Hopefully that's okay for cointalk. Thanks!

 

I sell stuff here and there most sports memorabilia and my Bruins season tickets for the games I don't go to, but I wouldn't know what to do for selling coins. I have some I want to selll but just haven't put any time into it.

 

If you have a webfront store URL, I think you're allowed to post it in your Sig? Look at LostDutchman, he's a mod and a dealer, he has his information in his signature for his store and such. This is not a knock on him, but if he's allowed to do it, I would believe anyone can. I know the rule about not posting for-sale items outside of B/S/T but I think the sig line is allowed.

 

My hats off to you, wish I could sell full time and I most likely will once I retire. :thumb:

 

Congrats on been self promoted. I tried that for a few years, though it was fun it was a hassle at times. I fully understand what you're going through.

 

There are the auction and sales sub-forums, and some posters put links to their stores in their signatures. I've traded with several members on the forum already - it's all cool.

 

Some nice stuff you got for sale. I,m going to dig through my couch cushions to see what I can buy.

 

If you can actually show that you are doing the ebay thing as a business, all those expenses are deductable. But you probably know that already.

I've never understood couples with young children with both of them working full time "to make ends meet" who wind up paying nearly 100% of one of their salary for day care expenses. I actually got one person at work to quit because of it. She mentioned how she would much rather be at home with her kids than be there working. I asked where her kids were. "Daycare". How much is that costing you? She told me and I pointed out that after she pays the daycare expenses for the day she will have worked all day long to net $5. And that didn't figure in gas or other expenses. She put in her notice a couple days later.

 

I did the Mr. Mom thing for a year when my wife worked swing shift. The problem was, she barely got to see the kids all day - a few minutes in the morning, and that's it. We decided it was no way to raise a family, so she quit and I became the sole provider. At this point she's looking for daytime work while the kids are at school. I think it's a matter of balancing everything out correctly.