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 Marty, who sold a computer modem, and Kathleen, whose first sale was a Northwood carnival glass bowl she had purchased at a real-life auction.
Hi Ina,
I had to go back to my feedback to recall what it was that I first sold on eBay. It was on July 13, 2000 and my recollection is that it was a PC modem that I purchased for about $40, found out that it wouldn't work on my configuration so I decided to "pass it on" via eBay.
I do remember the final bid was $10 but I had forgotten to include the shipping costs so I ended up only making a few dollars after all the fees and shipping costs were done. I learned a lot from that first auction and now seven years later, continue to auction off "interesting" items that come my way.
My hat is off to those who pursue the auction business on eBay full time, as I think it has become much more competitive and expensive to be a successful seller. Despite eBay's claims of cracking down on fraud, I still think fraud is rampant and has really spoiled a lot of the earlier excitement and community I found so refreshing in the early years.
Marty Roth
INCONnecticut PC/Mac Help, Rowayton CT
Www.inconresearch.com
********
Hello,
Here is my story about selling online:
I went to an auction for the very first time 5 years ago with the intent to bid on some stuff to sell on ebay, after a friend suggested it. My first thought was wow, this is confusing, never bidding before, but it was fun and I soon got hooked. My first item was a Northwood carnival glass bowl, I didn't know a thing about it but it was pretty. It had a small chip but I bought it for 2.00. I researched it and figured I would list it with lots of pictures and explain it's small fault, but to my surprise my 2.00 item sold for 125.00! I was hooked! My love for antique and vintage glassware grew, I researched and read every book I could and last year I quit my full time job and now sell online full time. It's an unpredictable market but with my love for photography and old stuff I can honestly say it's the best job I've ever had. Not making millions but very satisfied and happy. How many people can sit in their pajamas and be at work!
Ina, I love your news letters, keep em coming!
Sincerely,
Kathleen
About the author:
Ina Steiner is co-founder and Editor of EcommerceBytes and AuctionBytes.com and has been reporting on ecommerce since 1999. She's a widely cited authority on marketplace selling and is author of "Turn eBay Data Into Dollars" (McGraw-Hill 2006). Her blog was featured in the book, "Blogging Heroes" (Wiley 2008). Follow her on Twitter at @auctionbytes and send news tips to ina@ecommercebytes.com.
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