Have any of you ever sold anything on ebay or any of the other online auctions? if so, how did you accept payment? by money order or using their on-line credit card thing where they deposit the money directly into your account???

if so, what kinds of things did you sell?

I've been told this might be a good way of me making extra money for the homestead and so far it seems pretty good but I'd still like more info.

A BWH forum friend has given me lots of helpful information but I want to hear from others too. thanks in advance!!!!

-- Suzy in Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), June 13, 2001

Answers

Suzy, I've never sold anything online, but "sorta" made a purchase thru eBay. I placed a bid on a milking pail, but was outbid at the last minute. The guy who had the pail up for auction had several of them, and he contacted me. He offered me one at the price that I had bid on the other one. I took him up on the offer, as it was cheaper than the milker had sold for. We used paypal to make the payment. Don't know if this helps you any.

-- Tim (tsduck@bellsouth.net), June 13, 2001.

I purchased a couple of items off the net by bidding through a friend who was online at the time. At that point in time I still did not have a computer system hooked up. I payed for one item with a money order directly to the seller. The other item my friend used their credit system with his card, then told me what the price was and I gave him the money order. Sorry I can't be more helpful than that. However my mother has an account with paypal as she plays some games online and has won some cash prizes. Paypal works just fine and now if she wants to buy anything she can use her account there. Contact paypal and they'll explain how it works .

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), June 13, 2001.

I have never sold anything on Ebay but I have bought several things. I generally pay with a money order as most sellers accept it. I don't like paying with credit cards on the PayPal/Billpoint. I know they say it's secure but I'd rather just mail a money order. I have also sent cash for things like seeds because sometimes it's only a dollar or two, but check with the seller to make sure that's ok.

I have also thought about selling things on Ebay. My brother sells a lot of comic books, videos, etc. and makes about $200--$300 week with it. There is some work involved--he has to wait for the checks/money orders then package and address all the stuff and take it to the post office a couple of times a week. It takes up most of his time in the evenings after he gets home from work, but he does ok with it. You do have to pay Ebay a small fee for each transaction and I"m not sure how that works. I'm sure their site has more information. One thing that has kept me from selling is photos--I don't have a digital camera, just a scanner. My brother uses a scanner and I need to get him to show me how to use it. I don't know how to save the scanned photos and send them to a photo hosting web site.

-- HannahMariaHolly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), June 13, 2001.

I've been selling on eBay for a little more than a year. I accept money orders or PayPal for payment. Most of my buyers choose to use PayPal. My husband owns a computer store, so I mostly sell misc. electronics, but I've also sold other items--books, collectibles, etc. It's been a great way to make a little extra money while staying home. I also do quite a bit of buying on eBay (I even bought a car!) If you have any other specific questions, email me. I'd be happy to help if I can.

-- Mary S. (1deal@quik.com), June 13, 2001.

SOld several items on Ebay, all worked out quite nicely, as did the purchases--but read the terms and descriptions carefully :)

-- Brendan K Callahan (sleeping@netins.net), June 13, 2001.

Coincidentally, my girlfriend has just put up three items for sale on Ebay this week. We, too, are testing the waters to see how it goes. She happens to be selling dogs quilts that she embroiders by machine and then puts together a quilt. She can also personalize it for them. They are primarily for dogs to sleep on but they can be used for a wall hanging as well. If you would like to see her items, here is the links. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll? ViewItem&item=1153131343 She also has two others which can be found by going to Collectibles, then Animals, then Dogs, then Maltese or Bulldog and then look for the dog head picture with the description of a dog quilt. I think they should sell but we'll know better when her date is up.

It is very simple to do. You need to have a credit card to become a seller. It is also very helpful to have pictures so having a scanner or digital camera is helpful. I have a camera so I took the pictures for her so she was able to get into it quickly with little expense. It only costs a couple of dollars to get your item on there and then you have to pay 2.5% of the selling price which is still a VERY good deal.

I have been trying to convince my father to sell his antiques on ebay but he is reluctant to so I have decided that I am going to go buy some myself and give it a whirl. I'll let you know how I make out. My first auction is this weekend but it depends on whether or not I find something I want to buy.

My girlfriend has also bought a LOT of items on ebay and has not had a bad experience at all. I highly recommend that you try getting into this. If you already have the computer and a way to get pictures, it is really a minimal investment to find out.

I am also planning to sell our dried flower bunches and arrangements this way once we have them ready to go. I really think it can be a boon to us homesteaders to reach customers we otherwise couldn't.

Good luck and go for it.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), June 13, 2001.

A friend of mine makes major money selling used books. But beware, the packing, taking to post office, etc can absorb a lot of your time. So be prepared!

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), June 13, 2001.

There is some information and a forum that gives tips on selling on ebay, www.yardsalequeen.com. One of the posts I read last night, there was a link on different sites that help with selling online. Forum # 2 is dedicated to selling online. Hope this helps.

-- Gina NM (inhock@pvtnetworks.net), June 13, 2001.

I have bought and sold on eggbay. If you are not familiar with it it is an on line poultry sight. I have had very good luck both with buying and selling. I have sent money through paypal and also accepted money orders and personal checks but will not ship till personal check clears my bank. For shipping look at usps.com and if you know the zip code to where you are shipping and the aprox weight you can quote a pretty accurate shipping cost. Good luck

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), June 13, 2001.

Hello every one. benn lurk'n hear for a while thanks to a family friend. I enjoy this board to no end. what no one has mentioned is That eBay Has given the IRS full access to its user info. so keep that in mind. Just thought I'd mention it.

-- Rich (eswop556@netzero.net), June 13, 2001.

Better listen to Rich, The IRS is checking for people that are not reporting income from sales. If you do anykind of buisness on the internet you better have good records of what you paid for everything or the IRS will consider the selling price as all profit and you will be taxed. If you have been selling and not reporting the profit or you probably already have big problems. I have a friend that has been selling stuff for a commission, he hasn't kept good records and has really big problems. The internet is a better system for The IRS to check on tax evaders than ever before in history. A word to the wise will be enough,

-- David (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), June 13, 2001.

I have a friend who's close to quitting her regular job due to the business she's doing on eBay. It took her a couple of years to get to this point. She sells the jewelry she makes and she sells blown emu eggs (artists love them). There's a LOT of paper work, but she says it's worth it.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), June 14, 2001.

I've sold something on the order of 150 items over eBay with few problems - buyers not paying. I've also make about 50 purchases with absolutely no problems. I've cut way back primarily due to supply. I would find items at estate auctions, put them on eBay and basically double my money. Now; however, so many people are doing it auction prices have been driven up beyond reason. Unless you are planning to become a high volumn seller, paperwork isn't that bad. Even then, there are programs to help assist you.

On images, you don't necessarily need a digital camera. Just use a regular camera and have your photographs returned with a diskette. You can then upload from the diskette to your auction (I use www.honesty.com as an image hosting service).

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), June 14, 2001.

I have been selling on ebay since it was established. I have been in the antique/used book business for the past 11 years. Ebay has made my home business so much easier. Before it, I would have live auctions down at the church hall twice a year. Now, I do not have to lug books to the hall, print out catalogs (we sold throughout the country)...it was an enormous job - 6 months to prepare for 1 auction. Ebay is easy to use, we accept payment by check, paypal, money orders, or cash. Cash is accepted mostly from foreign countries, since to cash a foreign check the bank charges another $3.95. We have had no problem having people send us cash through the mail. This is my full time job besides being a mom, house manager, gardener, cook.... This is how we are planning to have my husband retire in a few years. He also helps as he likes to do the packing and shipping and answers emails. He also is the computer expert in the family. I use a scanner to put up the books. We just got a digital camera, but I have not started using that yet. With the camera, you can put up things for sale like antiques, used items, just about anything. You would be surprised what sells on ebay. There is usually a buyer for everything. Sad but true. We get many of our things from our swap table and book shed at the Recycle Center in our town. Before that I bought out estates, houses, went to library sales, yard sales to get my books. We have about 5,000 books here in the house. We knew this would be my full time job 11 years ago and planned accordingly. If you are looking to live on your homestead and make a living, I highly recommend selling on ebay. Last year I was able to pay for both my kids high school tuition just from ebay alone. All my husband's income goes to paying the bills, the rest we stash in the bank for future retirement. It does take time, I love what I do so I don't mind spending most of my day scanning and describing books. We wait for the money to come in, then send out the book. They pay for postage. Books are always returnable with a full refund, if people are not happy. As for the IRS, I have a business license through the state to sell books (used to sell herbs and dried flowers, just changed the name on the license). I have to fill out a quarterly statement for sales tax. Since all of my sales are out of state, or sales for resale, I do not pay sales tax. The statement has to be sent anyway. We also fill out a business federal tax form. This is indeed income and you must file with the government so they can take the money you worked so hard to make. I love the system! That's another story. Obviously, if you start this as a full or part time business, you would have to be organized to do the minimal about of paperwork and hours to actually put stuff up on-line, beside all the other homestead work that is always involved. It is definitely worth it. The reward is finally getting out of the rat race and staying on the homestead! Guess I've rambled on. I hope this helps. Please email me if you have more questions. Be happy to help. Back to work!

-- Elly in Mass. (skutel@mediaone.net), June 14, 2001.

Someone once said selling on eBay is like having a million people walk by your flea market table each day. May be an overstatement, but may not be far off either. There are few items I've offered which didn't eventually find a buyer.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), June 14, 2001.

Mr. S. sold a Coca Cola sign on eBay. He used a local broker who took 20% of the gross. However, the sign sold for $1200 (we had NO idea!) and we took home over $900.

Since we are clueless to the value of items, it paid for us to use a broker who knew how to appraise and market this. If we had time and knowledge, we would consider doing it ourselves. Not prudent at this juncture, though...

Still, making $900 on something that we could have sold for $10 at a yard sale is significant!

-- sheepish (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), June 14, 2001.