Learning Outside Of The Classroom

    While I was employed at eBay as a Global Support Specialist, I learned of an eBay statistic that, "at any given moment, everyone has about $3,000 worth of inventory in his own home that he's not using - that he could sell."  I took this as a challenge and got to work.

     I officially became a seller in January of 2013.  I invested about $300 into clearance Skullcandy electronics (iPhone/iPod docking stations and ear buds).  These items sold within about a week and I doubled my money.  I did some house cleaning and came up with about two large cardboard boxes full of old books, watches, music, movies, and much more.  Soon enough, the sales started rolling in.  I studied eBay's systems from the inside out and learned how to take proper pictures, describe items accurately, define proper shipping techniques, and to appeal to a particular audience even with the near cut-throat competition that exists on eBay.  I went to local stores and found items on clearance and started selling them.  HP ink was a hit! I was able to sell about fifty ink cartridges and finally met my goal - to sell $3,000 worth of items on eBay. 

    In this amazing experience, I was challenged to create my own inventory tracker (experience in Excel), to sell to a specific audience with indirect internet sales, to turn a profit even after eBay fees, PayPal fees, and shipping costs, and to employ my experience with conflict resolution.  As an owner of my own small business, I was able to figure out how to source items smartly (buy low;sell high), to package them securely, and to develop a system for same-day fulfillment.  My diligence has certainly paid off!  Not only have I sold my $3,000 plus, but I am now a "Top-Rated Seller" (good reputation award) and a "Power Seller" (high-volume award).  I attribute my success to the virtues of hard work and dedication that were taught to me when I attended college at Salt Lake Community College.  

If you're interested in analyzing my business, you can find me on eBay under the username "chefnp90".  (Be sure to do an Advanced Search of this name under "Find a Member").