Becoming an eBay Sales agent

[Jackal0]

Hello everyone,

I’d like to begin this thread with a few words about me; I’m from Germany, 29 years old, have a bachelor degree in business informatics and currently unemployed.

For the last years, I’ve been a buyer and seller of Magic the Gathering trading cards on eBay. I bought cards from the US or China and sold them in Germany, after I researched that they have a higher price. I also bought collections for cheap and sold the cards individually. This small enterprise paid for my studies.

But because of a new website, where everybody can sell their cards very easy, it’s not worth the time anymore. But I really enjoyed this hustlin’ stuff.

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Due to my unemployment and having problems finding a slowlane job and because of the MtG hustlin’ I’m thinking about the idea of becoming an eBay sales agent.

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Business model:

• Get the items shipped to me or pick them up
• Taking photos, get the description done on eBay, customer service, shipping to buyers
• Customers get 70% (exact number has to be determined) of the value
• I would sell primary electronics and brand name clothing and shoes (maybe difficult because of counterfeit products) because these are the products I know the best
• Items have to be an estimated sell price of 20 Euros

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After that works, my plan is to open a thrift shop where the customer can bring the items to and decide, if it should be sold on eBay or in the shop.

Furthermore, I’d like to build a webshop to sell the products there instead of eBay, but this should lead to a lower number of potential customers.

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This is a rough idea and I should think deeper about it, but it is a beginning.

I know that idea right now isn’t fastlane and I guess some of the principles are hurt, but a way to make a living and get more experience in being an entrepreneur. But maybe I will come up with an idea to make this fastlane.

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The problem I have is taking action and doing the first step. I’m not quite sure, if I should take this step. This has to mean, that I have to go all in and stop applying for another job. I know I'm the only one who can make this decision, but I would really like to get some feedback regarding this idea.

I’ve yet to come up with questions for you, maybe you, as the more experienced guys, can ask me some.


Thanks for reading and hopefully helping,

Stefan

 

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[tafy]

Like the film "40 year old virgin" where the lady sells other peoples shit on ebay

 

[Gale4rc]

They have this type of shop in Califonia... Or had it, every one that I saw pop up ended up failing, not sure why - maybe do some research... http://www.i-soldit.com/ - Not sure if it's a bad business or just the local ones failed for some reason

 

[Jackal0]

Like the film "40 year old virgin" where the lady sells other peoples shit on ebay

So tell me, what's your intention with this post?

 

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[Vigilante]

I had a friend who thought he was going to strike it rich doing this. He went bankrupt.

 

[Guest12120]

I think it could work. If you have experience selling on eBay you could leverage that and target people that list stuff on Craigslist (or German equivalent).
Once the listing is posted you email the person immediately to explain advantage of using your services (higher sale price, you take care of the clients and inquiries, your eBay experience, the product is available internationally not only locally etc.)
Good luck!

 

[tafy]

So tell me, what's your intention with this post?

Nothing, just mentioning that your idea was in the film. Have you seen the film?

 

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[Jackal0]

I had a friend who thought he was going to strike it rich doing this. He went bankrupt.

Do you mind to elaborate it?

I think it could work. If you have experience selling on eBay you could leverage that and target people that list stuff on Craigslist (or German equivalent).
Once the listing is posted you email the person immediately to explain advantage of using your services (higher sale price, you take care of the clients and inquiries, your eBay experience, the product is available internationally not only locally etc.)
Good luck!

Thanks for the advice, sounds good.

Nothing, just mentioning that your idea was in the film. Have you seen the film?

Ok, nervermind. No, I haven't seen the movie.

 

[DrkSide]

Get some flyers made advertising what you do. Go to the more affluent parts of town and knock on some doors. Tell them that you will help them clean out the house without having to have a yard sale and make it easy for them to get rid of stuff they don't want and make some extra money.

Helping people get rid of stuff and saving them time is the pain that you are solving. You have to target people that are A) too lazy to do it themselves B) realize what their time is worth.

Keep in mind: You need to use this to build money for business that you can control.

 

[JasonR]

This is not "fastlane."

Listen to Vig and real world experience.

 

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[DrkSide]

This is not "fastlane."

No it's not, but with relentless hustle this could build cash for another venture. I would look at it like flipping things on craigslist/ebay without any actual cash up front.

 

[Gale4rc]

Just rob a bank, you'll get rich faster

 

[Vigilante]

He opened retail counters. Basically a cash register, a back room, and a service counter. Nobody came. Nobody cares. It sounds good on paper. If people have something to sell and want some quick cash they can just put it on craigslist for free in the US. They don't need to pay you anything.

 

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[Jackal0]

Get some flyers made advertising what you do. Go to the more affluent parts of town and knock on some doors. Tell them that you will help them clean out the house without having to have a yard sale and make it easy for them to get rid of stuff they don't want and make some extra money.

Helping people get rid of stuff and saving them time is the pain that you are solving. You have to target people that are A) too lazy to do it themselves B) realize what their time is worth.

Keep in mind: You need to use this to build money for business that you can control.

That's what my intention is.

This is not "fastlane."

Listen to Vig and real world experience.

I know that this isn't fastlane and right now, it's not my intention. It is a possibility to earn cash.

No it's not, but with relentless hustle this could build cash for another venture. I would look at it like flipping things on craigslist/ebay without any actual cash up front.

This!

He opened retail counters. Basically a cash register, a back room, and a service counter. Nobody came. Nobody cares. It sounds good on paper. If people have something to sell and want some quick cash they can just put it on craigslist for free in the US. They don't need to pay you anything.

If I would open a retail store, it is way in the future, after I built a client base and am sure, that this business works.
Right now, there would be no or little cash needed, since I have the storage area and a high quality camera.
And I bet, there are a lot of people, who are too lazy to sell it on their own or people who don't wanna use the internet (elderly for example.)

 

[Vigilante]

OK.

Bookmark this thread.

Then go do it.

Then come back here in 6 months.

 

[Dennis Steenoven]

Good idea to build up cash for another venture.
If you're sure that an office job is not for you, eg. you had the experience and noticed you lost yourself/ soul after 6 months of doing the 9-5, definitely go for the entrepreneurial route. If you're quite comfortable in a job, go take a job and go entrepreneur after a few years, if you still feel the need.

On the store idea/ future expansion plans, I have noticed a lot of used product stores popping up lately, where you can sell your stuff and get cash instantly, the pawn shop model. There's about 175 stores of 1 chain divided over 2 countries next to yours.

For an idea on profitability, check out business for sale sites and see what revenues/ profits businesses you're interested in have.

 

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[cautiouscapy]

I've observed that in some niches on eBay (a good example is quality clothing), people who have specialist eBay shops do get far better prices than the run-of-the-mill seller - clothes are pressed, photographed and described really well and look their best.
I've noticed eBay shops recently that specialise in a look that I like, I might in theory sign up for their newsletter or use the new "follow" option.

I think it might work to generate some cash if you specialise in a handful of niches only - which you've obviously done before.

Opening a retail shop of any kind that relies on eBay? I don't think so, I'm sure the margins aren't there.

 

[DeletedUser10]

This sounds like a terrible idea! You're not listening to these people's advice! There is no real need... I read an article about how the majority of these brick & mortar stores failed and new, smaller sites are popping up like etsy.com. You should have built the website that put you out of business. See if you can be a consultant for them or build a better site...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Flyleaf]

I would advise against this. I've known about 5 different people that have tried this. All went out of business quickly. The longest one lasted about 2 years. It's like what Vigilante said, there's no reason when anyone can do it themselves on Craigslist.

 

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[Jackal0]

Hmmm..., well, loo that I have to think about it again.
Thanks for your replies!