Look atsome of the other reviews as to how eBay works - the following is my personal experience over the last 12 months.
Its a big world out there. Using eBay I have sold items to Australia, Canada, Japan and America.
I am interested in English pottery especially Chintz patterns. Using eBay at first to buy items, I soon found out that the American market for Chintz is HUGE.
I now spend most of my leisure time visiting Antique shops, Antique fairs and the Potteries looking for items that are priced so that I can sell to America at a profit. I also have the display benefit until I sell them.
The beauty of e Bay apart from the obvious is that you can search for an item by live auctions and by completed auctions. By reviewing the prices obtained at completed auctions you quickly build up an idea of the "World" price of an item.
I have bought items from Antique shops and made £100 an item on several occassions. I have bought one item privately and listed it expecting between £50 and £70 for it and it fetched £505. I have even bought brand new items from retail shops and made 400% profit.
You still have to work hard at it - finding the right items to specialise in ,packing , banking cheques... I have had repeat business from several Buyers and even invites to USA!
Before the dollars start rolling in, check with your Bank as to their charges for paying in $'s Some Banks charge £8 a cheque. I now use First Direct and they charge £5 for a total paid in value of up to £250 and 0.5% with a minimum charge of £10 for values above £250. My advice is pay your cheques in in bulk. A lot of Americans will send you Money Orders so you have no worry about the cheque clearing. Depending what you are selling, a digital camera is essential.
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Advantages: Great for making money, selling things you don't want/need anymore or buying things that you are looking for! Disadvantages: The morons that attempt to rip you off.
slashtwg 02.05.2004 (02.05.2004)
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