Giving eBay a Try and a Goodwill Gift Card Give-Away

I recently received this email from a reader of My Dear Trash.

Hi Laura,

I am a frequent visitor to your site.  My friend linked it on facebook a few weeks back and since then I've been checking it pretty much daily.  I am a student, wife and mother and money around here is super tight.  So, I decided to take your advice and try selling on eBay.  The first thing I listed, from my own closet, sold for almost triple what I listed it for.  I was stoked.  I visited my local thrift shop and picked up about 15 items.  I listed them all for five days and not one item sold.  I relisted, dropping the price on a few, and still none have sold.  I added in more items after I read that you have 200+ rotating through, but still nothing.  So, do you have any advice for starting out?  How long did it take you to get going and make some profit?  

Thanks so much!

Sarah

Sarah, thanks for writing.  I’m so glad you had success selling the clothes from your closet.  Digging through your own trash and looking for clothes you no longer want, and then selling them on eBay is a great way to make some revenue.  Then, you can start looking for bulk purchases at thrift stores and garage sales, but now it seems you are in a rut.  I’m sure there are many others feeling the same frustration as you; wanting to run an eBay store, but not sure what will sell and how quickly you can start making serious money.  Starting out can be a challenge and like everything else in life that's worth working for, 

there’s a learning curve.   

I’ve been re-selling for over five years, but my first attempts are still fresh in my mind.  

It was brutal; almost laughable.

When I started selling on eBay, I had visions of making money off everything I posted.  

I purchased brands I’d never heard of, really nice clothing that I was certain would sell, but later didn’t.  I made a little here and there, but not as much as I hoped.  

Many times, I wanted to quit and at times, it seemed like a waste of time.  To my advantage (this depends on whom you ask), I love to shop.  I love fashion.  I love clothes, so for me, I kept trying for the thrill of the hunt. 

I remember one of my first big sales when I first started in 2005 was a Men’s Nordstrom NWT (new with tags) black wool trench coat.  I paid $1.00 for it at a thrift store and it sold for $90.00.  This one sell kept me going when everything else was selling for $4.99 or not selling at all. 

My philosophy is this:

If I can buy 100 items for $100.00, I can usually make my money off re-selling the best 10 items for $10.00 each.  That leaves 90 items with earnings that are free and clear of my initial investment.

Take a look at this pile of men’s jeans I found this weekend at a garage sale.  

Men’s jeans are so hard to find.  

Men are not like women, changing their jeans with each trend and season.  Men typically hold onto their jeans until they wear them out or get too fat to fit into them, so finding really good quality and stylish men’s jeans is exciting.  As you can imagine, Kirkland, New Sierra or Wrangles do not sell well (if at all) on eBay, but Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY and Guess jeans sure do.  I paid $17.00 for 17 pairs of jeans.  I listed each pair for $9.99.  So far, I have 6 bids.  I hope to sell each pair for $9.99, leaving me a profit of $153.00 (minus eBay and PayPal fees). 

I wouldn’t be selling so many things if I wasn’t out there looking as often as I am.  As I said, that’s the part I love.  I love the thrift store culture, the garage sale crowd, the negotiating and the “what will I find today” environment.  I don’t mind digging because looking through smelly clothes is just part of the job.  Usually, somewhere in the middle of the rack, squashed between burnt orange polyester elastic high-waisted pants are the Eileen Fisher Small Navy Velvet Silk NWT $170 Pants (these sold this week for $41.00).

Do I get burned out?  Kelly and I were just having this conversation.  The number one thing that keeps us motivated to sell on eBay is the shopping.  Every week something exciting jumps into my cart and I know I’ll have a successful week.

Another thing I've learned is eBay cannot be taught, it cannot be duplicated.  It is about how hard you are willing to work and timing, timing, timing.  
I still have the same struggles as you.  I try to list around 100 items a week.  Last week I made close to $500.00.  Weeks previous, I’ve made only $150.00.  Kelly reminded me her first weeks she made around $50.00.  She saw the potential and kept going and now outsells anyone I know.  I'm running to keep up with her vision of this whole thing.

My advice to you is keep going.  You’ve already won half the battle by understanding how to download photos and post on eBay.  

Keep shopping.  

Be picky. 

There’s so much out there.  Between dollar days and garage sales, I can’t list my trash fast enough. 

Another thing it that profits don’t always come in the form of money earned.  I purchase so much trash for my own home, for my kids to wear, appliances, furniture, décor.  Several weeks ago, I found misc. stuff out at garage sales:
 this  frame, 

the little frames on the shelf, 

plus the Pottery Barn tins 

this Nightmare Before Christmas Decor (Payson loves this stuff)

and a few articles of clothing.  

I paid around $10.00 for everything.  Included in the purchases were these

Women New York & Co. NWT $39 Size 4 Blue Corduroy Pants.

They sold this week on eBay for $8.99.  

Also in the pile was this Lot of 4 J.Jill Medium Tunic Short/Long Sleeve Shirts.  I sold them  for $14.99.

That means all my other purchases were free and I still hope to sell the Pottery Barn tins.

You know the old saying:
A penny saved is a penny earned.  

The money I save my family is a great motivating factor to keep shopping.

Sarah, please keep me posted on your success.  I pray it happens soon.  I feel it will.  This can be a great revenue source for your family and I’m so proud of you for trying.

With that said, Goodwill has agreed to sponsor our first 

Goodwill gift card give-away with a $20.00 gift card. 

This is a great time to buy your first twenty items and start listing or find something fancy for your home and family.  Enter to win by leaving a comment below, becoming a follower of My Dear Trash the blog and a follower of My Dear Trash on facebook (click here).  

Kelly and I will announce the winner on Friday. 

Remember, the Fraser Field Swap is coming up this Friday too.  Kelly and I already have our tweed picked out and are bringing some great trash to swap.  Hope to see you there.