Would you do this

[countrygirl12]

I know people who have sold things online.  They have put years of time and sacrifice (8 years) into it before deciding to go back into the work force.  So if you are willing to sacrifice everything...and have a niche for a product people can't get enough of you could do well.  Then again it could cost you a bit to get up and going too.  You have to do what makes you happy and if selling stuff makes you happy go for it.  If it's a craft and not a hobby really do some deep questioning on if this is something others will want to spend there money on as much as you do.  Then ? what set's your product apart from everyone else.

Right.  You pay for the items to start with and sell at a mark up.  So it is "do people want to purchase this".
Selling stuff doesn't really make me happy.  But it is an opportunity to basically work from home.  Do your own thing.  What I am thinking will def sell but the problem is there is already a lot of competition.  I want to make money not do this for a hobby.  As for having what the customer wants - that would be hit and miss.  Just what they are looking for at the time.

Idk.  I have about decided it won't be worth the trouble. 

[gwilson31]

I used to sell on ebay and I also had a store on ecrater.  It's a lot of work.  You have to buy what you think people will pay more for, you have to place the images online, and when they do sell you have to ship them out.   The most I think I made was $300 a month.   So I don't think it's worth it.  Just my opinion though.

[judylucas]

If it sounds too good to be true it no doubt is

[aflyingmonkey]

No. I won't if..... You have to shell out money initially for the products or to buy a subscription to their online catalog.
Is it a pyramid scheme where they'd make money getting others to join & sell? Then also, no.

I would try to start a business if I was unhappy with my job & an opportunity came around that didn't cost money.

No it isn't a scheme or a scam.  You are selling your own items online.  smh.  It is no different than if I rented office space and opened a shop here in my local town.  That would not be a scam.  IT would be owning my own business and selling items.  Just in person instead of online.

I did not mention 'scheme' or a 'scam"... the question was "Would you do this"..... & my answer was No if certain aspects were met.

I used to sell on Ebay back when it first started like 1998ish, I made a lot of money back then, it was a hobby but extremely lucrative-- I didn't put up any money to start-up just sold things around the house, I made about $25,000 profit the first year.... would put the money made to buy new products  Anyway, I knew people who got into a program where they had to pay fees to get access to a wholesale book with products they could sell online... problem was there were a lot of people selling the same items online & the competition was cut-throat in a race to the bottom of who could sell cheaper AND that was back when you could sell anything practically on ebay & when the postage was much cheaper -- people burnt out quickly as it didn't work.  Now with the China competition & they get cheap e-packet postage subsidized by the government, I don't see how anyone can compete.   But good luck with your decision, there is money to be made selling stuff online.... nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[paints]

I wouldn't jump in with both feet unless I had enough savings to cover my expenses for a good while. 
I've sold stuff random things online before, and it's really hit and miss.  So for me, not a dependable source of income.  Maybe as a side gig.

[guapguysteven]

I might would if I had a really good idea for it and knew i could establish it efficiently and knew it was worth the little hassle but I can tell it'd be way more likely to just get a job i'm happier with and maybe do the online thing on the side. Good luck with that though.

[countrygirl12]

I used to sell on ebay and I also had a store on ecrater.  It's a lot of work.  You have to buy what you think people will pay more for, you have to place the images online, and when they do sell you have to ship them out.   The most I think I made was $300 a month.   So I don't think it's worth it.  Just my opinion though.

Thank you.  The buyer pays the shipping.  But still.  This is more of finding things at a discount and then selling it.  Not really buying it at regular price at Walmart and hoping somebody will pay a marked up price.

I know a woman who bought all of a game that was popular one year at Christmas. She bought the games for like $50 each and sold them for over $400 each.

[countrygirl12]

No. I won't if..... You have to shell out money initially for the products or to buy a subscription to their online catalog.
Is it a pyramid scheme where they'd make money getting others to join & sell? Then also, no.

I would try to start a business if I was unhappy with my job & an opportunity came around that didn't cost money.

No it isn't a scheme or a scam.  You are selling your own items online.  smh.  It is no different than if I rented office space and opened a shop here in my local town.  That would not be a scam.  IT would be owning my own business and selling items.  Just in person instead of online.

I did not mention 'scheme' or a 'scam"... the question was "Would you do this"..... & my answer was No if certain aspects were met.

I used to sell on Ebay back when it first started like 1998ish, I made a lot of money back then, it was a hobby but extremely lucrative-- I didn't put up any money to start-up just sold things around the house, I made about $25,000 profit the first year.... would put the money made to buy new products  Anyway, I knew people who got into a program where they had to pay fees to get access to a wholesale book with products they could sell online... problem was there were a lot of people selling the same items online & the competition was cut-throat in a race to the bottom of who could sell cheaper AND that was back when you could sell anything practically on ebay & when the postage was much cheaper -- people burnt out quickly as it didn't work.  Now with the China competition & they get cheap e-packet postage subsidized by the government, I don't see how anyone can compete.   But good luck with your decision, there is money to be made selling stuff online.... nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Yes you did.  You said "pyramid scheme".  This is not a scam nor is it a scheme.  I am talking about starting your own business selling items online.  Like someone else said she sold stuff on eBay.  eBay is not a scam.  This would be something I done on my own.  Not thru someone else.

I am talking about the same thing you did on eBay but was not going to sell on eBay and not my stuff from the house.  But where you can purchase stuff at a huge discount and then put it for sell online.  You claim you made $25,000 your first year selling junk from around your house. 

I was in no way talking about what you described.  I will not pay fees nor would I do that where you give x amount of money and you get so many others to give x amount and as long as everybody participates you end up making a lot of money.  Not at all.

Basically I am talking about the same thing as selling on eBay but it was another site.  The same woman I just mentioned watches those antique shows all the time and goes to yard sales.  She went to a yard sale and bought a vase (the parents had died and the kids were selling everything in the house) and she paid $5 for it. She KNEW what it was.  It sold on eBay for over $1000.

Thank you for your second reply.  This answers my question more.  You are also right, it is cut throat.  And sites like eBay you pay a ton of fees.

[countrygirl12]

I wouldn't jump in with both feet unless I had enough savings to cover my expenses for a good while. 
I've sold stuff random things online before, and it's really hit and miss.  So for me, not a dependable source of income.  Maybe as a side gig.

Again, thank you.  I am being told it can be a full time job.  The more I think about it I do not see how that could happen.

[timvolley]

i like to do surveys and mystery shopping but again nothing that would be to the extent of starting my own business or selling things online

[countrygirl12]

i like to do surveys and mystery shopping but again nothing that would be to the extent of starting my own business or selling things online

But doing surveys and mystery shopping is not a job. People who do surveys and call that their job have income coming in from somewhere else that pays the bills.  You cannot make $12-$14 an hour doing surveys. And to the equivalent of 40 hours a week.  Although that would be nice.

[ancmetro]

     There is no job security anymore. Any employee can be laid off at any time.
     This is what I would do if I were you. Continue working where you are right now:
     A paycheck is better than no paycheck at all. Starting a business takes time and effort.
     Keep in mind: Do not try to sell something that people do not want or need. Instead,
     try to sell something that people really want and need...and cannot do without.

[dreamyxo]

Yes I'd try. I'd love to have my own business I just don't have a clue what I'd do.

[Skyisbluetoday]

                 Starting your own business is a scary process, specially if you've not ever done this kind of work. If you did I would try to start it slow before making a final decision. 
       

[countrygirl12]

     There is no job security anymore. Any employee can be laid off at any time.
     This is what I would do if I were you. Continue working where you are right now:
     A paycheck is better than no paycheck at all. Starting a business takes time and effort.
     Keep in mind: Do not try to sell something that people do not want or need. Instead,
     try to sell something that people really want and need...and cannot do without.

That is hard to do.  And people buy crap they don't "need" all the time. lol.  But if you find something that is a big hit somebody will be doing the same thing the next week.

You are 100% correct about job security.  It doesn't exist.  And being able to have alternative ways to make money is always a good thing.  Not going to get in to it on here but I saw something on Yahoo that is going to happen in the next few weeks.  Our county/the entire world is very unstable right now.  Most people are just trying to survive.  Except the people who are rich.  And they don't understand but seem to be full of unsolicited advice.  (insert angry face here) lol