eBay business?

[Priscilla]

I have heard and read on forums about people have businesses on eBay. I can understand selling the odd bits and pieces of stuff you no longer want or need and getting some pocket money that way. But for those of you who actually have an eBay business, what do you sell? How profitable is it? And when you say it's a business, do you mean that have your 'usual' (sorry still preg brain and can't think of the word) suppliers?

I guess what I'm trying to say is, when I think business, I think suppliers, inventory etc. Is that what you have?

I am interested because like most SAHMs, I would like to start contributing to our household income. But am at a lost with figuring out how the supply chain and logistics would work.

Can anyone fill me in or give me examples of what and how they are doing it?
btw, I'm a bit of an eBay virgin....

[babytoo]

I'll be watching this thread with interest...I am an ebayer but run out of things to sell all too often!! Do you put in tax returns etc? I enjoy the fact that at the moment it is all tax free money as I am just selling my things but I guess if you become a business, register a business name, by wholesale from suppliers etc you can claim other things at tax time like internet, computer, phone etc.....
Would love to hear of people that actually do this too?

[creativewarrior]

i did the ebay thing for a while - you can get alot of wholesale products of ebay if you use the right search terms - bulk, bargain, wholesale, cartons etc
and these are usually ideal for reselling on ebay.

also there are alot of websites that sell goods in bulk (we do a large portion of our home shopping this way) try dealsdirect com au... there are others but i visit this one most frequently - try doing a google for wholesalers.

[p4purple]

The best way to find out is by having a good look at what is for sale on Ebay.

My Aunty visits OP shops and picks up vinatge and old designer clothes. You have to know what to look for. Last week she found a dress for $5 and sold it on Ebay for $40. She also sold most of her deseased MIL clothes, handbags, umbrellas and furniture and distributed the funds amoungst the grandchildren.

A friend of a friend makes Nappy cakes for New Borns presents...they are gorgeous.

I have even seen trays of Baclava and other pastries for sale on Ebay.

I have been thinking of making kids jewlery and selling it on Ebay.

The imagination is the only limit to what is saleable on Ebay. But you do have to be an organised person and your sellers reputaion means every thing! Go have a look at the seller/buyer comments.

There are courses run through community colleges and ezine magazines on how to set up and run an ebay business.

[pestiferous]

Ebay is more of a hobby site than home business. I think most 'successful' ebay businesses are more of a sideline for 'real' business, used as a place to offload excess or old stock.

I'm sure there are a lot of mum and dad sellers scouring wharehouse stores and second hand shops, but if you calculate the time it takes to sell one item.

(searching for the product to sell, preparing the item for sale, writting descriptions, reply emails, checking accounts for payments, packaging and postage etc.As well as the original purchase price, cost of auction, transaction/ banking fees, internet/phone/electricity yadda yadda yadda.)

I can't see how anyone could be making a profit large enough to warrant the time involved.