Expert: Marvinator - 2/20/2005

Question
Hello Marvinator,
I'm looking for a legitimate online or home based business. Even $400.00 extra income per month would be great. I'm not particular as to which type of business to get into, and not looking to get rich quick. I love working online. There are so many opportunities after searching online, I believe it would take a huge amount of time to research all of them..and how does one even know what they say on the internet is true?
That is why I think asking AllExperts or people actually in an online business for help, may be the best route to go...and most people I know are working regular jobs outside the home.
Are you aware of any online business(s)where one could earn a few hundred per month in a reasonable period without being surprised later by the organization being a scam, a fly by niter, or suddenly popping hidden quotas upon you?
Thank you for any advice!

Sincerely,

Mike Eidson  

Answer
You sound like you have either done your homework on the subject or have first hand expereince in the pitfalls of these so called "work-at-home" businesses.  I have seen many which you can just tell by the advertising that there is something which they are not telling you.  Others are so poorly set up you wonder at the professional ability of the franchisor for future business.  At any rate, you seem like you already know that finding the good ones are far and few between.  

I hope you can understand that there is no way that I can recommend any one business or opportunity over another.  For one thing, I am not well versed in their day to day operations, and for another, I try to offer my expertise on Ebay as a venue for listing items.  

If you are considering Ebay I can address that, or any other questions you have concerning ebay, but that's about it.  

I consider Ebay to be a bad idea for a home based business, but a good idea for the hobbyist.  Let me take you through the sale of one item.

First you have to find the items you want to sell. This can be easy (through a wholesaler) or more difficult (through local yard sales or personal production).  Once you have decided on an item, you then have to GET the item and then make sure it is saleable on Ebay.  Cleaning it and repairing what may need to be repaired are only secondary to general merchandisability.  (Does it work?  Can you describe it properly?)

Next you need to take a picture.  After that the picture must be downloaded to your computer where you can edit it and crop it. Then it must be coupled with a description for selling.  Writing out the description is the make-it or break-it point of any sale.  Can you describe the item honestly and without 'overselling'?  Getting the description written out can take some time to do correctly.

Next the picture and description must be uploaded to Ebay, either using the "Sell Your Item Form" or by using a bulk uploading program like Turbo Lister (free from Ebay) or some other commercial product.  

Once the item is listed, you're not done.  Now you will have questions to answer (What color is this blue plate?) as well as questions about shipping and even questions for information which you have neglected to add.  (Did you know that some Ladies' purses have serial numbers which prove their authenticity?)   

Along with the questions, it's always good to keep an eye on the bidders of your items; Checking their feedback and other items they have bid upon.  Knowing the system can help you to keep out unwanted deadbeat bidders and keep you from lengthy 'bad deals' and their subsequent processes.  

After the end of the auction, there are other things to consider.  You must send the winning bidding an invoice, spelling out how they can pay, and possibly when you ship out.  Then you track the payments, collecting them and getting them to your bank.  The item must then be packed carefully and shipped.   (This is a step to be considered also when selecting a product to sell.  Knowing ahead of time how to pack a breakable item can mean the difference between a full refund, and a happy customer.) It's important to know what shipping service you will use and why.

Done yet?  Nope.  You still have to let the buyer know that the item is coming.  (Yeah, I know a lot  of people stop working for their business at the point where the package leaves their hand, but I wanted you to know how the good sellers do it.) In addition, keeping track of the buyers attitude toward their new product and then leaving feedback in the system.  

This is just the basic sale for one item. This doesn't even take into consideration any time needed for your own  bookkeeping.  Multiply all of the above times the number of items you will needb to get that extra $400 a month and you begin to see why fewer and fewer full time sellers work on Ebay.  

Unless you have a high ticket high profit item, full time sales on ebay are not easy and will certainly not make you rich.  

I hope this has helped give you an answer to your question.