| It's always the same. As soon as you decide you'd like | | | | 6. Flea Markets and Swap Meets |
| to earn some money on eBay, the next question | | | | By now, you really know what you're doing. You can |
| inevitably comes to your mind: "Where do I find items | | | | spot a an item with eBay potential a mile away. And, |
| to sell?" | | | | you've had all that practice dickering with the sellers at |
| So, to get you started, I've compiled a list of where I've | | | | their garage sales. It's time to hit the swap meets. Very |
| gotten the items I sell on eBay for almost six years. It's | | | | few prices at the swap meet are carved in stone. |
| a good idea, if you're new, to start out small. You want | | | | Negotiate to get your price on as many items as you |
| to get your feet wet and get some good eBay | | | | can. |
| experience before you go and spend a lot of money | | | | 7. Storage Units |
| on items that you're not sure will sell. | | | | Almost everyone knows someone who had a |
| That being said, your first place should be... | | | | storage unit at one time, neglected to pay their rent, |
| 1. Your Own Home | | | | and lost it all. But, where did their possessions go? |
| Go through your closets, garage, and shed. Find a | | | | Why, up for auction, of course. Check with all the local |
| couple of things that you don't need anymore and list | | | | self-storage companies in your area and find out when |
| them on eBay. This costs you nothing because you | | | | they have their auctions. You will be buying |
| already own it! But, be careful. eBay gets addictive | | | | thecontents of a storage unit sight-unseen, but imagine |
| very quickly. | | | | the excitement of opening it up and going through all |
| Before you start taking clothes off the baby's back to | | | | that eBay treasure! |
| sell, let me tell you how I handled this. When I came | | | | 8. Drop Shipping |
| across an item that I knew would sell on eBay, I only | | | | This is where it really gets good. How would you like to |
| sold it if I hadn't used or seen it for three months or | | | | sell items on eBay, but not put out any money until |
| more. That way, I knew I didn't need it and could live | | | | after you've sold the item and been paid for it? |
| without it. | | | | Not only that, but what if you never even had to touch |
| 2. Garage Sales | | | | the product, including shipping it? That's what drop |
| Now that you've depleted your own supply, it's time to | | | | shipping is all about. With the success of eBay, there |
| move on to others' unwanted items. Garage sale and | | | | have sprung up many wholesalers who want their |
| yard sales are an excellent source for item to sell on | | | | piece of the pie. Here's how it works. |
| eBay. | | | | First, you need to find a wholesale drop shipper (this is |
| And, one thing to remember is, the people are having | | | | the hardest part, but will really pay off if you can |
| this sale not only to make money, but mostly to get rid | | | | accomplish it) who will sell you one item at a time at a |
| of things they don't want. So, always try to negotiate | | | | deeply discounted price. |
| the price of any item. | | | | You then take the pictures of the item that the |
| 3. Thrift Stores | | | | wholesaler has on his site, put them in your eBay |
| You have to really look, but you can get some | | | | auction description and list it. Once the item has sold, |
| amazing deals at thrift stores. Not only do they | | | | you collect payment from the bidder. |
| normally have low prices, but they're always having | | | | You then go back to the wholesalers site, order the |
| 50% off sales, buy one get one free sales, etc. One of | | | | product at the discounted price, and give him your |
| my local thrifts offers every piece of clothing they | | | | bidder's address as the shipping address. |
| have in stock for one dollar each on the first day | | | | Your wholesaler will then ship the product to your |
| ofeach month. You can be sure I'm first in line each | | | | buyer as if it came from you. What could be simpler, |
| and every month. | | | | right? Unfortunately, there are a couple of drawbacks |
| 4. eBay | | | | to this method. |
| Huh? Yes, eBay itself can be very lucrative for | | | | First, it's next to impossible to find a wholesale drop |
| knowledgeable buyers. If there's something you know | | | | shipper online by yourself. They don't advertise and the |
| a lot about, say women's wigs, you can surf the listings | | | | few lucky ones who had some sort of connection to |
| once a week and sniff out the best deals. Many | | | | be able to find them will never divulge their source. |
| people sell on eBay without really knowing the value of | | | | They don't want to create competition for themselves. |
| what they're selling. That's where you come in. Buy it, | | | | Second, you need to beware of middle men. This is |
| and re-list it for what it's really worth. | | | | someone who calls himself a wholesaler, and sets up |
| 5. Sell For Others | | | | a web site complete with pictures and prices. But, he's |
| Now that you're on your way to being an eBay pro, | | | | not the real wholesaler. He's actually inflating the price |
| you can offer your services to others. In fact, you | | | | to sell to you, then he goes to the wholesaler and has |
| won't even have to offer. I guarantee, once your | | | | them drop ship the item to you. |
| friends and family finds out what you're doing, they'll be | | | | This really eats into your profits. So, if do a search on |
| begging you to sell their items on eBay. | | | | Google for "wholesale drop shipper," be sure to check |
| Plus, eBay itself offers what they call the "Trading | | | | their prices against how much the item is going for on |
| Assistant" program. If you qualify to sell for others, | | | | eBay. Otherwise, you could end up losing a lot of |
| they'll help you and even give you marketing materials. | | | | money. |