(Cross-posted from The Inside Source blog)
We’ve written previously about eBay MoneyMakers, a great video series by eBay highlighting families who’ve turned to selling on eBay as a way to provide for both everyday basics and little “extras”, from family vacations to new sports equipment for the kids.
The Sibbersen Family
The latest installment features the Sibbersen family: When Wendy and Mark got married three years ago, Wendy had recently moved to Michigan to be with Mark and his kids. The couple made the decision that Wendy would stay home with the children in order to spend time with them and get to know them better. But living on one income required some financial tightening of the belt. In order to bring in some extra cash, the couple used eBay to sell things they had around the house but didn’t use. As the money rolled in (they got $400 for Mark’s golf club set), they began to buy items for the express purpose of reselling them on eBay.
Nowadays, Wendy considers eBay selling her “part time” job. Her gig has offered the family the opportunity to travel to places like Newport Beach and Memphis, and yet has allowed her the kind of flexibility she needs—namely, to be able to work from home and continue to make her family her priority.
Check out the video below and click here to see more content, including bonus segments with the Sibbersens.
As we look around the house after Christmas and New Years and see all the unwanted gifts taking up space, we thought you might have the same problem and want to kill two birds with one stone: clear out the clutter while making some extra money.
So if you want to get started selling on eBay in 2012, check out this remarkable find, the Start Selling Kit with Postal Scale, Mailers, Tape Dispenser, Labels, Tripod, and more:
All you need to start selling on eBayI
If you have some trepidation about selling on eBay, don’t: we have put together a very friendly New Seller Guide (pdf) to give you an idea of what is involved. Familiarize yourself with this easy process by reviewing the PDF file here.
You too could become an eBay MoneyMaker, or at least clear out unwanted stuff in your house. After all, according to USA.gov, some of the most popular New Year’s resolutions, after “get fit,” are to try new things, manage debt, and reuse, reduce, and recycle. As a new eBay seller, you can “resolve” to accomplish all these goals in one place: eBay!
The above article is great–but you don’t need to purchase all that stuff. You need the wrapping tape for shipping and can buy in bulk and save money (Sam’s); weigh the items on a bath scale if you use UPS and estimate the rest by using small cans of food–it works); pick up boxes at any store (they give them away); labels are printable if you use UPS and USPS–and post office has free labels for things you are going to mail anyhow; and a tripod–don’t need for larger boxes that fit on bath scale; tape measure or ruler– everyone has one of those laying around the house. Now, the bubble wrap and packing peanuts–if you have ever saved all your peanuts from past shipments received, you’re in good shape, and it won’t cost you too much money at all to start. This is the way I have done it.
@Linda – thanks for sharing your tips and tricks with us!
Good article thanks you!
This was very helpful infromation! Thanks Linda!