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I’m a Licensed Practical Nurse with a full time job and twin 5 month old babies. I’ve only been selling on eBay for six months but really love it. I’m having a little struggle finding the time to list items but love it when I’m at work and hear that cash register sound. I’ve had some good luck with vintage trucker hats. Slowly building up my listings over time. My wife hasn’t said much about this new endeavor even when I sell something…uninterested would be an understatement. anyone else going it alone?
The Scavenger Life podcast has been a total inspiration for me. I hang on every word and have learned so much from Jay and Ryanne. I even listen to their other podcast “Shampoo and Booze” not because i’m setting up a vacation rental but because i’m interested in What’s happening in their lives. -
A full time job + infant twins!! The fact that you sell on eBay as well makes you my hero. I think the slow but steady approach is the best one. You don’t want to burn out. Its important for the eBay business to be enjoyable and not a grind.
If you have a good relationship with your partner on all other fronts, she’ll come around to your eBay business as the money starts rolling in. Just make sure you’re doing your share of the diaper changing 🙂
Do you notice any differences of running an eBay store in Canada from what you read from all of us Americans? I have a friend moving from LA to Vancouver, and he’s wondering how his business will change.
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I certainly do my share of diapers. I do my eBay thing on my own time. Nothing would turn it from being uninteresting to annoying faster than me not helping out with the babies.
Your friend moving to Canada will be shocked at the shipping prices. Within Canada not so bad but outside of Canada if you want tracking it’s very expensive. The cheapest option for a package leaving Canada is airmail. Airmail has a bar code and a number right on the label but they won’t scan it at the post office. So no tracking. I’ve used this a few times but I know it’s just a matter of time before someone opens a not received case and I won’t be able to prove it was delivered. Canada post doesn’t have free shipping supplies like flat rate mailers. Also no global shipping program, if someone wants to ship internationally they do it without eBay’s assistance. some challenges to be sure but it’s just how things are right now. I’m making it work and still love scavenging and selling.
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Stay at home father of twins here. They are two now but man it was extremely hard to find a moment to work on eBay. Slow and steady.
My wife was also uninterested in my little hobby. She still hasn’t fully come around but knows it’s my job and it is as important as hers is. She treats it that way now.
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Hey Paul,
I’m a little jealous your a stay at home dad…I miss my twins when i’m working. Glad to hear you gained acceptance over time with eBay and your spouse. That’s what i’ll be working toward in the future.
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You’ll get there. It took me a while to understand that what we do isn’t normal to anyone else. Including my wife. I used to get unbelievably frustrated with her for not “getting it” or seeing the potential, but I guess it is a weird thing if you’re not in it.
One thing I did was forward my “item sold” emails to her email. So she could get a cha ching of sorts. She would see them and ask “what is that” or “someone paid that much?” Sort of a dinner conversation starter.
As far as being a stay at home dad I’d like to make a snarky little comment about how much work it is (and it is) or you’re the lucky one. But I’m extremely lucky and eBay is to thank in part.
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Welcome from Alberta!
I don’t think that there is (I looked briefly last summer when we visited the area), but see if you can find a cross-border shipper in your area. I know there are a few that operate out of Vancouver, just not sure if there are any in the interior. I use one here in Alberta, and it has been a total game changer. I’m able to ship via USPS/FedEx/UPS from Montana, and it really helps level the playing field with regards to shipping costs. It also allows me access to the GSP, free USPS shipping supplies, and most importantly, tracking on even the smallest items.
For that matter, if you’re far enough south, and decide to ramp your store up, and are shipping more items, it may be worth considering driving your own packages across the border into WA/ID a few times a week.
Un-related, I’ve been from coast-to-coast in Canada, and the Koots is hands down my favorite area. To the point that my wife and I have it on our short list of potential areas to move to if/when we’re able to make ebay a full-time gig.
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Hi Winchester38, I appreciate the advice. I’m not aware of a cross-border shipper in my area but I’ll looking into it. As far as driving across the border that’s something I certainly will consider in the future. I’m a a seven minute drive from the border. Do you know if I would have to declare the items I’m shipping because it’s for a business? Paying duty may cut into my profit.
I’m originally from Alberta, grew up in Lloydminster on a beef farm. Married a Kootenay girl moved to BC and haven’t looked back. The winters out here are a dream compared to where I grew up. Not sure what you sell or how you source but it is a downside to living in a smaller area as far as thrift stores go. Spokane WA. is my closest city and it has some good thrifting but its 2 and a half hours away. Still I do all right just hitting up the local ones and getting down to Spokane a few times a year.
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I haven’t personally taken any of my packages across, but as I understand it, there’s a form/manifest that gets filled out each time you’re crossing (declares values, destinations, and countries of manufacture), and other than that, it’s pretty easy. I don’t think there’s any duty/etc payable, unless the items are >$800. If you’re on Facebook, there’s a “Canadian Ebay Sellers” group, and a few of the people there take their own stuff across. May be worth looking into if you sell a fair bit.
I generally sell vintage, one of a kind stuff, but will sell just about anything I can make a decent return on. Not sure specifically where you’re at, but I know we hit stores in Nelson, New Denver, Creston, Crankbrook, and Sparwood (all likely further North and East than you) when we were through there in August. We did pretty well at a few garage sales while we were out there too. If I lived in the area, I’d try and load up as much as possible during the summers.
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