posted on June 25, 2006 05:44:33 PM
OK, here's a question for any eBay full-timers. I've only been doing eBay part time for the past two years (I was full-time before that, but it was a different world back then), and now I have the entire summer to get built back up again.
I'm having a heckuva time getting into it. I've got a room full of stuff to list, and my case of Spring Fever is going into the third week. I've never had this kind of procrastination and lazy-itis before.
How many of you set aside regular working hours for eBay, and how many simply work when the mood strikes them? What else, other than bills, motivates you to get off your butt and list stuff?
Dr. Arcane, revelator of mystical secrets http://www.drarcane.com
Got questions about the secrets of the universe?
posted on June 25, 2006 05:53:14 PM
Hi: I wouldn't call myself full-time on eBay (I list 20 - 35 items most weeks), but I can relate to the procrastination.
A routine I've fallen into, that works well for me, is this: Most of my auctions end on Monday evenings. I photograph, edit photos, write descriptions, schedule for launching a few hours on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays OR Sundays, and then the slack is picked up on Monday during the day. (I don't work all day on any of those days, though.) Also on weekends I go to thrifts and yard sales for more "product" (collectibles and books).
This won't work for everyone, especially if you like to go out of town on weekends or just hang out. We're retired, so every day is a weekend day!
But what's helped me is that I used to piddle around, drag it out, worry that I wasn't working hard enough some days. Now I have Tuesdays and Wednesdays to deal with eBay business, paperwork, wrapping to ship--and everything else in my life--lunch with friends, stuff around the house, etc. This acknowledged schedule has saved my sanity for me, since I was always feeling guilty if I wasn't listing. Now I know which days I'll work on eBay things and can let it go mentally and emotionally on the other days.
[ edited by roadsmith on Jun 25, 2006 05:55 PM ]
posted on June 25, 2006 06:05:59 PMHow many of you set aside regular working hours for eBay, and how many simply work when the mood strikes them? What else, other than bills, motivates you to get off your butt and list stuff?
Okay. I'm going to be completely frank here.
While it's supposed to be a wonderful thing that you can do eBay in your pajamas, I had to cut that out early on and actually get dressed to come downstairs to work. For me, it's important to define when home stops and work begins. I am lucky in that the rest of the household doesn't get up for two or three hours after I do, so I generally have a chunk of uninterrupted time from 6 to 9 am in which to list.
By the time my sweetie is up and ready to go, I'm in the mood for a break. Once he's gone, it's back to listing at least until noon, or taking pictures.
I try to get out of the house for lunch if possible and run any errands, just like a "real" job. Then it's back home to ship most of the afternoon.
I have to set goals for myself (like listing 50 auctions a day) or *nothing* would get done. It's the curse of working at home. There are dozens of other things that always need doing and they can take up an 8 hour day all by themselves if you let them.
I've used various other stratagems in the past for motivation, like finding a similar seller and "competing" with her for total number of auctions listed. It helps if you have core product: items which are always listed no matter what else you sell.
I honestly don't know how the people who sell only garage sale finds keep their spirits up. If I had to go through the entire grinding process of listing and starting at square one every single blinkin' time, I think I'd quit.
posted on June 25, 2006 06:27:58 PM
Its the thrill of the hunt for something that might make a bunch of money that keeps me motivated Fluff. I try to keep to stuff I know so I don't bug the crap out of you guys and gals lol but I still ask for help every now and then . I use the same templates over and over ,just change the pics and the words for each item. Also I don't list all that much. Maybe 10 items a week at best cause you don't really find that much just going to yard sales. One $2.00 box of knick knacks paid for our week in the mountains this year. Gas , food and cabin.
posted on June 25, 2006 06:31:11 PM
Fluffy: I agree completely about getting dressed before getting going on eBay for the day. I too have to come downstairs to our offices to do the work, so my rule is to peek at what's happening in my e-mail etc., then immediately upstairs for my morning coffee, a bit of TV news, before dressing and working on eBay. I work better when I'm out of my jammies.
I saw something on TV a while back, an author who'd written a book about working at home. She said it's essential to get dressed, especially shoes!; helps keep us in the work mode.
As far as selling collectibles, one of a kind items, etc., I'm still in it for the extra money and the fun--most of the time. Still selling tons of interesting books I've found here and there, plus still selling some family stuff and consignments for others. I keep running into more collectibles sub-sub-sub-sub categories I know nothing about but it keeps my mind busy.
posted on June 25, 2006 07:07:30 PM
It's been hard for me lately as I work a real job during the week at night. Right now I am writing ads for Nintendo games which have to be cleaned and tested as well as some them taken apart to get the rattles out of them. I have broke nintendo systems to fix. I also am trying to get caught up on my sewing projects for Fall as we sold everything we had made up,so now I have to start over. I feel more overwhelmed than anything else,like I will never get caught up again.
**********************************
Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on June 25, 2006 07:13:26 PM
When I retired from my corporate job I promised that I would not spend the day in my nighie. I am good about it most days but when the UPS man comes to the door at 11:00 and I am not dressed yet I really feel silly.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on June 25, 2006 07:14:08 PM
Nothing gets me more motivated to list than trying to get motivated to clean house. I hate housekeeping chores and can always find time to slip in front of the computer and start listing to avoid them.
posted on June 25, 2006 07:19:08 PM
Many people are going to think this is strange, and it is, but for me I've found the best way to keep it real is to pay myself every day I work. In cash. That's another big motivating factor.
In fact, I pay myself before I pay for stock, supplies, utilities, postage or anything else. Like I said, it may be strange but it definitely works for me.
posted on June 25, 2006 07:44:23 PM
lol glassgrl...amen to that one . Flylady is who your talking about Roady http://flylady.net/index.asp lol I book marked the site saying I'd read it but...
posted on June 25, 2006 08:03:06 PM
That's it, Toasted! Flylady. Thanks. About the shoes: she made a point of saying if we have shoes on *rather than bedroom slippers* we are more motivated to work at home.
posted on June 25, 2006 08:07:50 PM
I lace up my Combat boots and get READY for ACTION. Throw on my helmet just for good measure in case any NEGS come FLYING in............
posted on June 25, 2006 08:45:36 PM
I set goals. For instance, Today I am going to list 30 things....Today I'm going to list that bag of stuff....Today I'm going to list that box of consignment stuff Bob brought over...Today I'm going to organize the inventory...etc. Set small goals so they are easily attainable and you won't get discouraged. Keep a list of things you need to accomplish. It's very satisfying to cross things off the list every day.
We don't wear shoes indoors in Alaska...so I don't do the shoes thing but I do get dressed before entering my office in the morning. I get up between 9 & 10am. Work till about 5 or 6...run to the post office, grocery, etc...Come home cook dinner. Eat about 7pm. Then I either take the evening off or keep working till about 11pm.
posted on June 25, 2006 09:30:16 PM
Note that I don't sell full time on eBay -- it's just part of the mix.
Isn't it WHAT you sell? I admire you post card dealers, jewelry dealers, etc. -- to me it seems like unmitigated drudgery. Is there a difference between popping a twist tie on a piece of electronics on a factory assembly line or listing yet another bauble?
So, Dr., are you bored with what's there in your lair to list, or are you just bored with the concept itself these days (ie. less return on effort, dumb bidders, etc. etc.) which certainly has changed drastically. Used to be, you listed something, it got bids, and it was just a matter of how high the cackle factor got. A good sale still pushes me into the listing mode; a slow week makes me not even want to bother.
posted on June 25, 2006 09:44:31 PM
For me, this is a very interesting thread since I am just getting started full time. It took me around 10 - 12 hours to list and figure out how to list in a store. Take the listing out of the auction and put it in the store. OOPS, that wasnt right . . . Get the picture.
I guess I am going to have to agree with Fluffy. I have to list 50 a day or I am not doing what I am supposed to be doing and I might as well look for a new day job
My kid has been very supportive in not bothering mom all day.
posted on June 25, 2006 11:44:03 PM
Regarding the comments about wearing shoes and being dressed to list items on ebay, no one really cares if you have shoes on or anything else on for that matter when you list items, unless you are taking pictures of reflective items, and in that case, do us all a favor and put on some clothes while taking those pictures.
posted on June 26, 2006 04:52:43 AM
I moved to N. Fla in Nov. and still haven't gotten back to EBay. Just so much to do here and my garage is full of stuff to list. I figure the summer is slow anyway. I keep procrastinating but always something else to do. Sounds like EBay is screwed up anyway so maybe in Sept. they will be straighened out. Ha!
posted on June 26, 2006 05:28:09 AM
There's a lot of truth to all these posts. A couple of things really stick out for me:
1) I have a whole list of things I want to do this summer, but I'm not doing them because I know I "should" be doing eBay first, and the other stuff has to come after that... So I'm doing NOTHING. Stupid!
2) I might try Fluffy's "Pay yourself" idea. Money just doesn't seem to mean as much if it goes straight from Paypal to pay the bills. Even if it's only a couple of bucks, that's good for a book or a movie every week.
3) Birgittaw's post is a big one for me. eBay just isn't what it used to be; the excitement is gone and boredom has set in. I lost a LOT of interest when they crippled the Stores a couple months ago. Much of my stuff is too inexpensive for auctions, and Stores now seem worthless.
Lots of good stuff so far- keep the ideas coming!
Dr. Arcane, revelator of mystical secrets http://www.drarcane.com
Got questions about the secrets of the universe?
posted on June 26, 2006 05:30:22 AM
I never had motivational problems until this spring when it seemed that everything was going to hell. I wasted a lot of time trying figure out how to do things differently but finally adopted the Scarlett O'Hara philosophy (my favorite)"I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow." Once resigned, I have been able to get some of my motivation back.
I am afraid that I have difficulty drawing lines between business time and personal time. My "main" computer is located on our 4 season porch just off the kitchen. This allows me to spend the long winter nights, when the kids are away at college, in the same room with DH while he pursues his hobbies, watches tv or naps. I work pretty much all the time when awake - taking time off when I want to/need to.
While one could look at postcard selling as "unmitigated drudgery", I don't. When I pick up a card to list, I try to find the thing I saw in the card when I bought it or what might make it sell and focus on that when I list = can be quite a challenge sometimes, but not drudgery. If I can't find a thing to say about a card, it goes back in the box and I don't list it.
I do find shipping BORING BORING BORING but who doesn't?
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posted on June 26, 2006 05:52:38 AM
I draw the line at outdoor shoes! There has to be some perks for being retired. I dress in my casual "uniform" of denim skirt and knit shirt but in the house I wear soft slippers that could pass for outside shoes if not studied closely ....no fuzzy pink slippers.
When I signed up for Vendio I planned to ramp up my eBay selling (with the perk of posting as well as lurking on the Outlook) but decided that my stock of duplicates in my collecting category had dropped below the level to make it worth while to list full time. I put some stuff in an online store and help my sister with research and web design.
I have found that I can earn more with an occasional freelance web project which means getting organized and focused but only from time to time. I admire those of you who can focus on eBay full time.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on June 26, 2006 06:50:17 AM
It might be drudgery for me except for the surprise party factor. I get my stock in big boxes of 1,000 or more pieces, individually bagged. I cannot order specific pieces, though, or even specific types such as bracelets or necklaces. I don't know what's in those boxes until I open them and start ripping through the little bags. Once I got several hundred of the same heart charm bracelet. THAT was a challenge figuring out how to merchandise that many pieces.
Even after all these years, it's still fun. When we go to visit, I'm always asked to bring along some jewelry to open. My mother-in-law would sit there all day doing it if I let her.
I notice that when I buy from other suppliers (and thus know exactly what the jewelry is) it tends to sit around for a while because there's no excitement to it. Which reminds me... I should list some of that stuff today. I need chai tea first.
fLufF
--
[ edited by fluffythewondercat on Jun 26, 2006 06:51 AM ]
posted on June 26, 2006 06:54:56 AM
Neglus -- postcards as unmitigated drudgery was a bad example overall; how about cell phone covers? I never could get into post cards but that's a personal foible, and the way you describe it, I can certainly understand how they could be an interesting and varied segment of collecting.
I guess I am a garage sale find person. I love the research, the learning, and I don't mind starting over each time. Part of my reward is the creative angle involved in creating a unique listing.
I too am a firm believer in lists/goals and targets. If I didn't have those, I'd have floated out to sea long ago. Fluff's approach is exactly how I'd do it were I full time at this. I especially like the cash rewards!
In all the years I was in the conventional workforce, not once did I ever get a bonus. I'm a complete failure as a suckup (gee, hard to believe, huh?) and the types of projects I did weren't sexy, just necessary.
So now I do get incentive bonuses. Last year I figured out a way to save money on shipping supplies and as a result, got a $100 salon certificate for my Alaskan cruise. I know, I know, it was just me "giving" it to me, but it felt good. Especially that scalp massage.
posted on June 26, 2006 10:35:23 AM
"I guess I am a garage sale find person. I love the research, the learning, and I don't mind starting over each time. Part of my reward is the creative angle involved in creating a unique listing." Birgit--This is exactly what keeps me going, too--what I find at yard sales and thrift shops. Consignment sales can be a drag, sometimes, but when I sold the 200-item pipe collection, or the survivalist's thousands of dollars' worth of gear, or, now, with the danged thousands of matchbook covers, I learned so much! It was a great education.
I do have to admit that if I were selling for a living, depending on eBay for my basic needs, it would be frustrating to have to spend time researching. I'd want to get on with it.
Sthoemke: I see what you're saying about the shoes vs. slippers. I think the person suggesting shoes (Flylady) just was aiming at motivation.
posted on June 26, 2006 10:46:39 AM
Well, I get the garage sale thing. I just don't think I'm cut out for doing it full-time. We did have a fun experience Saturday, though. I found $5.00 on the ground at the farmer's market. From there, we hit some garage sales on the way home. We decided we'd see how far we could make the $5.00 go, spending it only on things we thought we could sell on eBay.
As a spending exercise, it was a failure because we still have $3.75 left, but we did get a Chinese arts book ($1.00), a genuine new sealed HP laser toner cartridge (25 cents) and another genuine new sealed HP laser toner cartridge, different model number (free).
We also visited way too many sales where the only reasonable thing to do would have been to put one of those big debris boxes out front and start tossing the junk in.
but I still ask for help every now and then . I use the same templates over and over ,just change the pics and the words for each item. Also I don't list all that much. Maybe 10 items a week at best cause you don't really find that much just going to yard sales. One $2.00 box of knick knacks paid for our week in the mountains this year. Gas , food and cabin. 
.....
