posted on March 31, 2005 03:45:26 AM new
I had a pretty decent week on eBay last week ~ one of my better ones.
This week, since Sunday has well...sucked. I've had no sales at all. Nothing. Not a single one. I have no idea what is going on but this is really bad. What I sell isn't expensive (between $5 and $10) but it's just not happening this week.
I hope this passes. My second job closed yesterday. They walked in, told us they were closing and made us leave. No warning, nothing. Boom. Done.
So now I'll really be needing eBay again until I find something else.
posted on March 31, 2005 05:32:17 AM new
I know what you mean. It seems like Ebay loses its momentum when a holiday hits and it takes people a while to get back in their normal routine. My situation is the exact same as yours- brisk last week and very slow so far this week.
posted on March 31, 2005 06:02:17 AM new
How exciting Helga! New doors opening for you! Really.
Let's play a little game. Repeat after me..."if I could have it MY way.. ______"
Tell me what your new dream job would FEEL like. Not what it is or how it will come about...just what it would feel like.
Want good co-workers or independence? How about hours that fit in perfectly with your daughter's schedule? Think as BIG as you can with this. Dream. Dream Big.
posted on March 31, 2005 07:07:34 AM new
Helga ... My daughter had spring break last week. However, some schools take this week as spring break. Perhaps that could be why bidding is down for you.
OTOH, bidding was very low for me LAST week but has really picked up this week. Go figure!
I'm sorry to hear that you lost your second job. It really stinks that although employees are expected to give notice when they leave, that an employer can just up and close up shop without warning.
posted on March 31, 2005 08:02:59 AM new
Hi Helga,
I think that you have a number of factors when it comes to any sales anywhere. At the moment, you are getting closer to income tax time, there is spring break, end of the month(March has an extra day), and in California(not certain about other states) you have Property taxes coming up. Property taxes are 1.2% of your selling price. My property tax is relatively low compared to most homeowners(average home selling for $600-900,000 in Orange county) in California especially in Orange County. My neighbor just bought a home for $644,000.00, their property tax will be $7,000.00. So I know that many of my friends who pay this high tax directly hate this time of year.
I'm sure that sales will start picking up soon then we have to worry about how summer sales will play out.
Rosanne
Sorry that you lost your job like that. The other poster is right - this kind of abrupt firing is happening more and more.
But the market is getting better now. I freelance. After 9/11, things were really dead for a good two years, so I was glad that I had at least one good gig. Now, I'm getting lots of calls - I'm in a lot of online directories and job sites.
It s*cks to have that experience with your job and to also have a lousy week on eBay.
I've noticed that there's something of a cycle. Lots of auctions one week, then the following week, the listings drop off, and then they rise again the following week. An in and out - lots of sellers selling one week, then the following week they must be packing and shipping. Then, in the third week, they're back out there with listings again.
I think that the weeks when there's more stuff listed, more buyers take a look.
So if last week was good and this week is bad, probably next week will be good again. And, if not next week, then the week after.
posted on March 31, 2005 09:39:35 AM new
I haven't listed in a week, but I noticed a big lack of bids on auctions I've been looking up. I am ordering a lot of new items for my Peddlers Mall Store and checked to see how they do on E-Bay. I'm glad I don't have to depend on trying to sell on E-Bay, I'd be screwed.
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on March 31, 2005 12:29:58 PM new
Its a holiday week, and people are away from school and work (lack of computer access). Also income and property taxes are due soon. And gas prices are higher.
posted on March 31, 2005 01:02:31 PM new
Gas prices! Last night it was $2.18 here. This morning it was $2.25. This afternoon it was $2.19. What a joke.
posted on March 31, 2005 05:26:18 PM new
Lots of responses!
Glassgrl ~ I'm not really picky with wanting a new job. Because of being a single parent and the lack of child support I have to work 2 jobs. I don't want to work in fast food. I've worked in retail for probably 10 years total. I want a job that will work around my main job that I love and my daughter can be with. I'm not picky. If I could find a place to work Monday thru Friday from 10 - 3, 9 - 3, 8 - 3, it would be ideal. The job I have now I have to work weekends, most of them, from September to May. So it's hard. It took me 6 months to find the job I had that would work around (to an extent) my other job.
This place gave us no notice at all. They walked in yesterday, threw the few customers we had in there out and closed the doors. We spent today packing stuff up to ship to other stores and will do the same tomorrow. No notice, nothing. boom. 5 people jobless.
I have to work away all weekend so hopefully when I come home I'll find lots of endoftransaction emails in my inbox. I can cross my fingers at least.
Good luck on the job search! This has been a bad week for a lot of us. I've had sales this week, but not as many as I had hoped for. Things will pick up. We have to pay our taxes this month and our property taxes as well. Leaves a lot of people strapped for cash. Taint no fun having to shell out all that money!
I love the job I have right now! I pretty much work whatever hours I want. This summer I'll only be working on Thursday and Friday, but I'll be paid for the whole week. Works for me!
posted on March 31, 2005 05:44:07 PM new
I'm going to work with Helga per PEM to get her the most terrific job out there. I just KNOW her life will turn around 180 degrees in a short period of time! She can do whatever she puts her mind to - I'm convinced! I've already experienced what she can do when she decides she wants a new computer!
I don't care if she lives in podunk USA and theres only 10 jobs listed in the newspaper- there's somebody that wants her as an employee as much as she wants them as an employer.
Been there - done that. And if I can do it - Helga can do it.
You are so right! There is a job out there meant just for you, Helga. Before I got the one I have now, I went through the same thing you did! Lost my job. No notice, no nothing. I spent about 2 days feeling sorry for myself (felt I was entitled to at least that) and then I found this job. Or, rather, I feel it found me! I don't make nearly as much money, but I am sooooo much happier.
posted on March 31, 2005 06:06:00 PM new
I love my main job. I just don't get enough hours (25 a week) or get paid enough to keep it as my only source of income.
if I had a better half (I'm working on that though!) this wouldn't be an issue. But at this point that isn't happening and I have to do the 2 job thing.
I'm just a bit down thinking that it took me so long to find the one I had and I'm back to square one.
posted on March 31, 2005 06:08:55 PM new
I'm kind of picky. I learned I wanted full time pay for a part time job!
I had a newspaper rack route while my daughter was in school - and that allowed me to do her afterschool things with her.
Then I went onto a home health aid job that served almost the same purpose for different reasons.
1) I don't want to work inside in an office or retail. I've done it and hated it. I don't like most female co-workers because they gossip and take sides.
2) I like being my own boss for the most part.
no no no Helga - you just didn't find the RIGHT job. Once you had "a job" you just kind of held onto it for lack of a better job. Now we'll find you the right job for the right reasons!
A great job feels like fun.
A great job feels fulfilling.
Come on folks - tell Helga what a really good job feels like. Other than what just pays the bills. I'm sure between our collective experience we can get her into a better feeling place.
I know I've enjoyed some of my jobs. Home Health was so satisfying. It made me feel really needed and appreciated. Every day people told me how much they appreciated me.
My last job (before Ebay) was working in a stain glass shop where she taught me everything she knew for a year and then ended up giving me half her shop inventory when she relocated out of state. I love making stain glass. I knew I wanted to get off early every day and not to have to work weekends. I got both when I took that job! 10-3 and weekends off.
posted on March 31, 2005 06:12:57 PM new
eh I dont like retail but I have quite a bit of experience in it so I can do it well enough. I dont like the gossipy crap, I prefer to be left alone and do my own thing.
I'd love to do some sort of medical transcripting or something. I can type like there is no tomorrow, I could set my own hours and I have the means at home to do it. I just don't know HOW to do it. I've never, not one time, seen an ad in the paper where I live for something like that.
Things that appeal to me about that:
My own hours
I can type
I can work at home (and do eBay too)
If I wanted to work at 3 a.m. I could
I'd be paid to do something I do well ~ type.
I wouldn't have to deal with anyone but me and a recorder.
But how do you go about getting into something like that?
posted on March 31, 2005 07:07:35 PM new
Helga: I've had friends who do medical transcribing, some in hospitals full-time, some at home. You need to take a course in medical terminology--not a long course, but important so you know what the drs. are mumbling into their tape recorders and so you can spell it correctly. You can do it. I've been urging our daughter who's getting a divorce and has small children at home to look into it, too.
Also, museums do oral interviews (sometimes with video cameras) with oldtimers to pick their brains before the knowledge is gone to the grave with them, and they're always looking for someone to transcribe those. My husband and I are very involved with our museum, and I talked a friend in another city into letting us send her some old letters to transcribe. There are possibilities out there for someone who can type fast and accurately.
___________________________________
posted on March 31, 2005 09:53:15 PM new
You might contact any local court reporting firms. They are usually looking for transcribers. Often lawyers take their depositions with a tape recorder instead of having a court reporter present.
You would have to know how to work the equipment though. The machine has a foot pedal that rewinds and forwards and plays for you.
An hour tape of good quality would take you about 4 or 5 hours to transcibe. Then you have to proof read it, correct it and send it to the firm in ascii form or in a way they can input it into their software for printing. You would most likely be paid per page rather then hourly. An hour tape would probably net you about 35 to 40 pages depending upon how fast they were talking.
If you are good at proofreading you might think of offering your services for that. Many court reporter don't like to take the time to proof read their own work so they use scopists (proofreaders). The ones in our area get paid about $.25 a page. It may be less in your area. It is a time sensitive task and usually they expect a pretty quick (as little as 24 hours) turnaround.
If you want to go the transcibing route you might find a transciber who would train you and throw work your way before you branch out on your own.
I didn't actually do this myself but I was the office manager in a court reporting firm for years.
posted on March 31, 2005 10:41:00 PM new
Helga...If you're fast at the keyboard and able to multitask, so to speak, there might be a future in law enforcement. Possibly as a 911 operator or a dispatcher. Snag Classicrock the next time he wanders through and pick his brain. He may be able to point you in the right direction.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on April 1, 2005 03:35:43 AM new
You can also contact local businesses. The smaller the better. Most of these small businesses cannot afford to hire full time office help. You may find one that would be willing to pay you for working at home. It saves them a great deal of money. They'd have no employment taxes to pay, no benefits to pay and no worker's comp insurance to pay. You could draft a nice letter with your resume and examples of what you can do and mail them off. You just never know.
posted on April 1, 2005 03:55:42 AM new
where I come from - well it USED to be considered a small town - most of the "good" jobs were never posted in the newspaper. It was somebody that knew somebody that knew somebody. It still pretty much works that way here.
Just last week my DH decided he wanted to play golf free at one of the high dollar golf courses - so he started going around filling out applications. He works one day a week and gets to play golf free 5 days a week. And he gets paid minimum wage and a free lunch. That job was never advertised in the newspaper - but they had somebody quitting in a few weeks so they hired him.
I think there's been some terrific suggestions here! Crank you out a cover letter and short resume Helga and start knocking on some doors.
The courthouse - I liked that one. Think of all the lawyers you'd meet!
I think our local college teach medical transcription. So you might want to go your local college and talk to them - find out what kind of a hire rate their graduates are getting. And that would explain why you never see anything advertised - they have a built in job market source.
I think I saw where they are getting away from those dictaphone type machines and are going to computer software & equipment MOL.
posted on April 1, 2005 04:59:29 AM new
"Helga...If you're fast at the keyboard and able to multitask, so to speak, there might be a future in law enforcement. Possibly as a 911 operator or a dispatcher. Snag Classicrock the next time he wanders through and pick his brain. He may be able to point you in the right direction."
Its a good job,if you dont mind working shift work-holidays and weekends.I worked for the New York State Police for 36 years and had Christmas off...3 times.Not only did I work around the clock,but my days off rotated monthly.So I had weekends off every 6 months-for 4 weeks.After I got married,I didnt mind so much,as my wife excepted this.But when I first started out at 22,my social life was almost non exsistant as I was either working nights,holidays or weekends. You also have to deal with ALL kinds of people and you have to have a lot patience,because quite frankly,some people are just brain dead.You will never be bored
and its nice you are helping people,but it does take a certain kind of person to do this kind of work.The New York the State Police used to have the 911 phones.Now in Dutchess Co. they have a 911 dispatch center and it takes a lot of the load work off the State Police.Most counties in New York work this way and I imagine a lot states work this way too.We have the latest technology with computers with maps that show you exactly where each patrol car is at any given moment,so if theres an incident you can send the closet car.We can also actually "talk" to a car via the computer called "instant messaging" Each patrol car has a computer and you can type in your message and they will get it on the screen in the patrol car,so you are not actually giving information "on the air" where everyone can hear you.I could go on and on,but I know here in N.Y.theres usually a 2 year wait to get in.Hey Helga, if this is not for you, I hear "Walmart greaters" are extending their hours-LOL
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My sex life isnt dead yet....but the buzzards are circling
[ edited by classicrock000 on Apr 1, 2005 05:02 AM ]
posted on April 4, 2005 12:18:28 PM new
lol db-you're a pain in the ass!
I got to tell you-everyone now a days has a cell phone.Being that said,you get all kinds of strange people and strange calls.Everytime that phones rings,you just never know whats on the other end.
We had a "jumper" on the Tappan Zee Bridge about a month before I left.The troopers were trying to talk him down,with no sucess.They had to close the bridge down for over an hour during morning rush hour and the traffic was backed up for 15 miles.As you can imagine tempers were starting to flare and someone called me on the 911 phone and said "I understand theres a man on the bridge threatening to jump,how long is this going to be"??
I said-"Well sir he climbed to the top of the bridge and we're trying to talk him down"
he said-"well is this f*ucking guy gonna jump or what, I have to get to work!"
I heard about another 911 call but it wasnt with our dept,it might have been with another State Police,but it went something like this.
A woman comes home and her front door is open.She uses her cell phone to call the police from her front yard.The conversation went like this
911 caller-"could you please send a trooper down here,I came home and my front door is open and I think there is someone in my house."
St Police-(after getting her name and address)"okay, well get someone there as soon as possible."
911 caller calls back again-"its been 10 minutes could you tell me when the trooper is going to get here"?
St Police-"yes we sent a 2nd car over,as the 1st trooper came upon a auto accident, he should be there shortly"
shortly after the 2nd trooper arrives and he has a German Sheppard with him.He gets out of the car and he is wearing sun glasses and has the dog on a leash.The woman calls 911 back and yells over the phone-Its bad enough I had to wait 20 minutes for someone to come,but did you have to send a blind trooper???
DOH!
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My sex life isnt dead yet....but the buzzards are circling
posted on April 4, 2005 12:33:57 PM newdb-you're a pain in the ass!
loles!!
classic, I'd never want to do that job. It's gotta be the most stressful thing to do on a daily basis. and the sh* people say to you,...
That is funny about the tapenzie bridge. Sounds like a line from a comedy.
Did you hear about that 911 cop somewhere that thought kids were playing a joke about an accident with a dirt bike and gave them a sarcastic answer and hung up on them?? Twice?! That was pretty awful.
..
[ edited by dblfugger9 on Apr 4, 2005 01:09 PM ]
