Auction Time!

Today was auction day! The day I travel 40 minutes each way in hopes of bidding on some items that I might in return sell on eBay for a profit. I have been doing this for almost 3 years now, come this April. It works for me. I buy things. I sell them and make a profit. Some weeks are better than others. This week was a total bust. 

I drove down to the auction in hopes of winning the bid on several pallets of items. This was the first time I returned home empty handed. I had been outbid. I knew my limit and I refused to bid any higher. It’s getting harder and harder each week. There are great items—great profitable items to resell. The problem: I am Yorkie in the midst of Great Danes. I do this part time. For the others, this is how they make their living. They are very serious, not to say I’m not, but I place my bids in hopes of making at least a 40% profit. I have witnessed these top dogs bid $100 on an item that can be purchased in the store for $120. They sell so much, that a 10-20% profit is fine for them. I refuse to work this way.

 Several of the other eBayers I have known since I started. We talk. We are friendly. These are the few that are very honest and kind. Then there are the sleaze balls (many sleaze balls). They will steer you in the wrong direction if they can. They will talk to you in hopes of you revealing your plan to them, so they can ban with others to outbid you, just for the sake of outbidding you. These eBayers I have given nick names—pajama mama (most always wears pajamas with high heeled flip flops), stinky (I haven’t seen her lately, which is a good thing); Shoe Brian; and Big Belly Man. I stay away from them where I can. Especially pajama mama. She’s no good. 

 Most eBayers are hush, hush. It’s all a big secret game. They will not tell you their eBay store name—that is up to you to figure out on your own. They will not give advice on what items or brands are the best. I have had to research and work hard to know for myself. Honestly, if you were to ask me where I go, what items I look for, more than likely I will be hush, hush too. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. Sorry.

The adrenaline rush of waving my bidder number brings me back each week. It’s exciting, but even more so is seeing the money come trickling in. I like this job, though my children complain my basement smells just like a Walgreens. I will keep doing it, until the big dogs make it impossible to keep going or I become a big dog myself.