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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;C-B-D, post: 1617339, member: 43130&quot;]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 &quot;retirement from the 9 to 5 scene,&quot; and work eBay full time. We&#039;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&#039;s been a blessing.</p><p><br /></p><p>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&#039;m heading to the BIG shows. Additionally, there are difficult and vengeful buyers. There are scammers, and FEAR of scammers. I&#039;ve gotten threatening phone calls. I&#039;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.</p><p><br /></p><p>But to me, the upside still takes the cake. I make more money (inconsistent though it may be at times) than I&#039;ve ever made working 9-5. I get to do my hobby for a living. I&#039;ve met some great new friends through eBay and shows. And most importantly, I&#039;m a better, more present father and husband.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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