Home › Forums › Hello, Who Are You? › South Jersey scavenger
- This topic has 3 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 10 months ago by craig rex.
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06/18/2019 at 1:54 pm #63668
Hey y’all! I’m Craig. New Jersey born and bred.
Been selling somewhere between part time and full time for over five years now. Started in my mid-twenties at the same time I got serious about education. I hoped college or eBay would get me out of a cycle of lower middle-class poverty. Always had enough money that I’ve never gone too hungry, but not enough to stay out of debt. Spent most of my early adulthood wanting to run as far away from Jersey as I could, but never had the courage or money.
I spent my first few eBay years really struggling to get above 200 items and my profits were very inconsistent. Some weeks were great and then I’d go entire months not selling much or running out of inventory. But then I found this amazing podcast about a year ago through Reddit. Like so many others, my store has grown exponentially since then. My store is now over 1300 items and my eBay profits were a huge supplement to the paltry wages I earned as a graduate student the last two years.
I finally finished my Masters degree last month. It was a long journey, 9 years from community college to MFA, and even the Masters took a year longer than I planned because life often works funny like that. Despite a difficult last few years, I’ve had incredible experiences in and out of the classroom and have come to realize how lucky we all are as scavengers.
Without scavenging, I’d be scrambling right now to find an entry-level job or stringing together an adjunct’s teaching schedule for next year: 5 or 6 classes at 2 or 3 different colleges to make $30,000 with no health insurance. But eBay gives me more options. I can keep the things I love (writing, reading and teaching) at the center of my life without burning myself out or working a job I hate. So I can continue to teach part-time, pick up freelance work when I need to, and put in the time on eBay. This definitely isn’t a life for everyone, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Flexibility makes every day exciting.
I look forward to getting to know you. Happy sales!
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06/18/2019 at 2:09 pm #63670
Hi and Welcome Craig:
I too have a MFA, major in contemporary abstract painting and printmaking. Master printmaker in Serigraphy and 35 years in commercial printing and fine art publishing in the screen printing industry. With experience in etching, collographs, stone lithography and of course litho offeset and digital printing.
Very interesting, I too did teaching as an Adjunct Faculty member back in the early 70’s before going into the printing business. As I have said before, getting an MFA in Fine Art along with $.50 will get you about a third of a cup of coffee. I was lucky to find a partner right out of grad school with whom we built up a very nice sized and successful printing company.
Looking forward to hearing about your finds and seeing how you come along with your store. 1,300 items is a nice size store and you should see some fairly consistent Sales.And as you said the flexibility is great. I do several things for income now that I am retired, but good luck along your journey and will be looking for you as you chime in on all the art questions.
Mike at MDC Galleries and Fine Art in Atlanta
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06/18/2019 at 2:21 pm #63671
Great story. Congrats on the MFA. We know people who have run the Adjunct gantlet and finally got tenure. Usually its always the last person standing who gets the job.
Selling on eBay is definitely a flexible income that helps those of us who are trying to change up what was expected of us.
What kind of items do you enjoy finding and selling?
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06/18/2019 at 6:46 pm #63697
As I have said before, getting an MFA in Fine Art along with $.50 will get you about a third of a cup of coffee.
Hi Mike. Nice to meet you. I got my MFA in creative writing. So I will definitely have to defer to you on the art questions!
What kind of items do you enjoy finding and selling?
Hi Jay. I have a kind of unusual niche. 75% of my store is modern trading cards (sports and non-sports) and authenticated autographs. A few years ago, when I needed money, I thought I’d sell off my childhood card collection. Of course, like most stuff from the late 80s/early 90s, it wasn’t worth much. But doing the research brought back good memories. I’ve never collected anything as an adult but I thought I could make some more money if I did more buying and selling. It took me a few years of learning but I was right. It’s really enjoyable to help collectors get the item they want for a good deal and still plenty of profit in it.
The other 25% of my store is weird and unusual CD’s, DVD’s and books. I’m a huge music and movie nerd and obviously a big reader. I love going to library sales and digging through the piles. That stuff usually moves much more slowly but my $$ help support the library and keeps good art circulating instead of neglected or trashed.
I aspire to expand into old shoes and gewgaws someday!
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