Many years ago, Marjie had an accident that required surgery. Instead of the expected full recovery, she ended up in a wheelchair as the result of a neurological condition that rendered her right arm and leg useless. An experienced computer user, Marjie began selling online and in 1999 founded AbovetheMall with an online friend.
Marjie sells through her Web site, eBay auctions and through an eBay store. Her partner, whom she has never met in "real life," is responsible for handling and shipping most of the Abovethemall Web site orders. Marjie does all the promotion, and the two partners work together on product lines, descriptions and pricing.
Marjie has always been interested in helping others, and several months ago, she founded the Disabled Ebay Users Association (DEUA). The DEUA is an informal network whose members have discovered a way to supplement their income through selling online. DEUA members meet online through a message forum and an email support system.
Many disabled auction sellers are hesitant to become public, fearing retaliation from Social Security or their Long Term Disability carrier, or Workers' Comp, according to Marjie. But the spiritual good that comes from earning money independently is important to DEUA members.
According to Marjie, a person drawing disability payment of any kind should consult an accountant for advice. Laws vary from state to state and from agency to agency. "I would like to see a way for everyone who is drawing disability pay become so successful with selling online, that they wouldn't NEED disability payments anymore. Or, I would like to see Social Security look at PASS programs to actually HELP folks make online selling their profession and get off the rolls of Social Security."
"There are many folks now who depend on the Internet for their very livelihood," Marjie continues. "When I first had my accident and was put out of work, I was absolutely devastated. Fortunately for me, the home PC was just coming into its own, and never being one to let an opportunity pass, I rolled in with all four wheels. I've never looked back."
Marjie gets most of her inventory directly from the manufacturer as a direct result of her business partner, who is a retailer for those companies. Marjie uses an electronic postage program called Endicia for applying postage to her packages. Her son helps her pack up the orders, and her mailman picks them up from her front porch every day. Marjie says that most of her customers have no clue that she runs her business without leaving her home.
Marjie offers some advice for disabled persons who want to know about selling on auctions.
- Know your limits. If you know that mornings are your high-energy period, work only during that time.
- Use your resources wisely. An example of this is the postage issue. Get a postage program and then talk to your Postmaster or Mail Carrier about doing the pickups for you. I've not seen one yet that won't take your packages as long as you've got it metered and ready to go. Enlist the aid of family to help pack, find inventory, and such.
- Ask for help!!! There are many of us out there with warehouses full of information that will make selling online much easier, and we're happy to share our experiences and knowledge with you.
- Never, ever use your disability as an excuse to be anything but professional.
- Get a buddy. Someone who can at least notify your buyers in the event of a medical crisis. Most folks are very understanding if you communicate.
"We're not rabble-rousers or troublemakers," Marjie stated, referring to the disabled population. "We're just a very special part of the online community that needs to learn how to be on equal footing with the able-bodied population. Online auctions give us that opportunity."
The mission statement for DEUA can be found at http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/abovethemall.
