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eBay vs. Garage Sales
by Joyce Moseley Pierce
I've never been much of a believer in getting rich by having a garage sale. I've had a few of them, but the cash I made was never even close to paying for my time and effort. There are just too many disadvantages:
- deciding what to charge on each item
- making price tags for them
- spending two days in my garage
Over the years, I've participated in quite a few garage sales, and every single time I felt my time was worth more than the few dollars I made off my stuff. Then someone introduced me to Ebay.
Advantages to eBay include:
- listing your items 24/7
- ability to reach the world and not just your neighborhood
- getting more than a quarter for each item
- not having to wrestle with your kids
- not having to haggle
- not having to make change
Here's a list of just a few things that I couldn't live without at one time, but had long since fulfilled their purpose for me.
- silver and leather belt
- computer software
- jean jackets
- backpack luggage
- books, videos, DVDs
- cameras that were sold "as is"
- exercise programs and equipment
It's true that one man's junk is another man's treasure! You just never know what someone else is looking for, and Ebay is the thread that connects the seller with the buyer.
With eBay, it's important to be honest in your description of your item. The program is built on trust among those who are buying and selling.
A few things you'll need are a digital camera, an eBay account, and also a PayPal account to collect the money from your buyers. Use the link www.paypal.com to open your PayPal account and it will show them that I sent you.
Take the time to browse the eBay site and learn all you can. See what's selling and what's not. Look up some of your own things and see if other people are selling anything comparable. The search bar makes it very simple.
In the short time I've been using eBay, I've been able to get rid of my credit card and am now using a PayPal debit card that is funded by these eBay sales. When I want extra money for something, I look around and see what I can sell. It's become a game with me, but it's a great way to put things in perspective. What are you willing to part with to reach a goal? I may like owning a particular item, but if selling it is going to allow me to do something else, I'm usually willing to make the sacrifice.
Joyce is a freelance writer and owner of Emerson Publications. Joyce Moseley Pierce copyright
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