Do you remember the first item you ever sold online? Let us know by sending an email to ina@auctionbytes.com and we may publish your story. Today we hear from Donna Klein, aka The eBay Lady, who turned her first disappointing eBay sale into a learning experience that launched a successful business and career!

The first time I logged onto eBay, back in September 1998, I knew within moments that I was about to become addicted. I've never gotten into drug use, but I imagine that's sort of what a first snort of cocaine might feel like! A lure.... a grip.... something that you just know you're going to want to do every day! But unlike cocaine, which would suck up all your money and then some, eBay would be a way to bring it in!

Within minutes of reading about eBay, I flew down to my basement to a box of stuff I had stashed away for "sale some day". For years, I had been picking up stuff to sell "some day, some way" but I didn't know how I'd find the right venue. I'd often put it out at garage sales but never made much. So that day, I pulled out a Madame Alexander "Well Dressed Bear", new in the box (which I soon learned could be referred to as NIB, NRFB, NWT) in a little clown costume. Years before, I had found it for $10 and stashed it away for what I hoped to be a future windfall.

Back then, it was so difficult to put a picture on eBay, that most people did not. I did my best description, took a wild guess that shipping might run about $5, estimated a start price, and launched. This listing ended with a winner. Looking back now, 8.5 years and thousands of sales later, I can say that it remains one of my top 5 least pleasant or profitable transactions ever!

First off, the buyer complained about my $5 shipping estimate. She told me nastily how much it would cost me to ship it and demanded that I do so. I didn't know any better, so I agreed.

Next, I waited for her money. Back then, there was no such thing as an electronic payment system. Once I received her check (she told me that it was "good" so I would not need to hold it for it to clear), I shipped promptly as she demanded. Wow was I excited! eBay was going to work for me! I could clear out all of my "sell some day" stuff at a gigantic profit! I began to make a plan.

However, within days, another nasty email arrived from this bossy buyer. She berated me for not disclosing that a tiny piece of elastic was no longer tight. She accused me of being a scammer and demanded all of her money back AND that I pay for return shipping. She could not possibly even think about adding such a defective piece to her valuable collection! How dare I make her buy such a thing!

I was shocked, of course, as this was a totally new item and I'm as honest as they come, but hey, whatever, this lady seemed to know the rules better than I did. So I mailed her back the money order she demanded (she could mail me a personal check, but she would not accept mine since I was obviously such a dishonest person!) and waited for the bear to be returned in the mail.

What I got might have been the same bear or maybe she pulled a switch on me... I don't know. Indeed, the elastic was stretched where she said it was. However, it was no longer "NRFB". She had removed the bear from its wire holders, bent the box, and tossed the bear back in. We didn't leave each other feedback, which is good. I'd have hated to launch my selling career with a negative to dig out from.

What to do with it that bear? I still don't know, but I hang onto it as a reminder of that first failed deal, only because it taught me so much. I'm now a PowerSeller and an independent eBay teacher, and I dish out wisdom like, "learn from your mistakes and move on," and "the most valuable lessons are those that are most painful." When students ask me what to sell, I tell them honestly to start with the junk they don't care about, not their valuable good stuff. I assure them that they can succeed but they'll probably encounter some bumps along the way, and it's best to learn those lessons on the $5 junk they'd put out at a garage sale, rather than the treasures.

Looking back, I'm glad my first deal was rotten all the way. Every good deal since then - and there have been thousands - is that much sweeter.

Donna Klein
"SofterSilk", "RoxannyMac" (my original name)
http://www.ebaylady.com