- This topic has 6 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 4 months ago by
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Hello everyone,
I have been selling part time on eBay and Amazon for about 9 years now.
I sell pretty much anything on eBay, but am only doing books on Amazon (via FBA). The money earned is currently going toward a car payment and to reduce some debt. I love the Scavenger Life podcast and have been listening for several years.
My goal is to hopefully retire early and do Amazon and eBay full time, but my ‘real’ job pays pretty well so I am not in a position to give it up at this point. I am 50 now … if I could retire and do this full time when I am 58-60 that would be great!
I have been meaning to join the forum for awhile, but have not made the time. Since it is Thanksgiving and I am in Michigan, I just suffered through watching another Detroit Lions performance … so I figured I would make something positive happen today and sign up! 🙂
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Hi Bob. I also grew up in Michigan (Waterford, near Pontiac), but left about 45 years ago. (I too watched the Lions game. Shame, but the Tigers, Red wings and Pistons all won multiple championships during my lifetime, so what can you do?).
I am semi-retired and do ebay PT. Great gig for retirees. My store is about 500 items.
Welcome.
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Seems selling online is becoming a popular hobby(necessity?) for Americans who are retiring. Could you get by without eBay? Or it is more for fun?
Also, has selling books on FBA changed now that Amazon charges long term storage fees for individual items?
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Hi Jay,
Because of decisions we intentionally made throughout our marriage (my wife not working, sending the kids to private school), I think that it would be difficult to get by in retirement without something like eBay. On a positive note, I really enjoy eBay and cannot imagine retiring and not doing something anyway – I always say if I am going to have a ‘hobby’, it is better to have one that makes money than spends it.
As for FBA … yes it is different. I am a bit more selective in what books I send in now, and a couple of months before the long term storage fees hit I go through and cut prices and determine what I will have destroyed or sent back to me. It is definitely more work and is frustrating, but the money is still very good for books sold via FBA, so I am willing to do that. Hopefully there are not any more Amazon changes coming that will make it even more difficult.
Bob
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Makes sense. Does your wife/kids help with the eBay business? Or is it your thing?
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I have had my kids involved a little bit in the past, but mainly it is just me.
I have tried to talk my wife into participating many times in the past, but she has no interest in it, and I doubt that she ever will. I hope everyone that works with a partner appreciates what they have – it would be great to have someone to bounce ideas off, to scavenge with, and to get excited with when you are having a good week 🙂
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Hi Bob, I’m sorry about the Lions……not really since I’m in Minnesota and we are hoping for a super Super Bowl here. It would be a first for a home team to host the super bowl and be in it….I think.
I’m around your age and have similar ambitions. Recently, this part time eBay hobby has become a full time endeavor/experiment, when I lost my well paying full time job. It’s very different full time than part time I have found. It’s also different doing it alone v. with a partner.
I’m glad you added your voice to the chorus here and hope to learn from you through any contributions you choose to make.
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