Lets talk sales...Lets Talk Ebay!

[Rain]

Guys before i continue let me ask of you a few things.

Please dismiss all Morals from this point on, and try to over-Look the fact that im 17 years of age.

I may only be 17 but im not A child, im not immature and im serious about business, but i cant really do anything at the moment and its real realy killing me, (literally) I am being pressured by my parents about various things and they seem to think im living in a bubble of some sort, and blah blah blah, (every other teenagers life)

Let me get straight to the point, I'm really desperate to use eBay as an advantage, i will be setting up and running a business in the very near future and i would like to plant the roots for this now. the way forward is eBay.

To my knowledge i can currently buy on eBay although i haven't done so yet.but i cannot sell, i haven't tried to either because firstly i don't want it wasting my time going through a long listing process getting to the end and then a messege popping up saying im too young because it will irritate me...Alot lol

I DO have a debit card and i wanted to ask can i sell on eBay with it, (of course signing up as an adult [18])

Personally i dont see why im not aloud to sell, whats a 6month difference till im 18 ill still be the same person.

I hope this can get answered soon and without criticism please stay to the point lol.

Rain

 

[borobabe]

I would personally say that to say you are 18 when in fact you are not if it should ever come to light would lose you trust and therefore customers, not a good way to start.

 

[Eleanor]

Rain, wait until you are 18. In the mean time figure out exactly what it is you want to sell and how you can get people to buy it.

Will you be making a product and then selling it on for profit...? That is how I started and let me tell you - ebay was not my friend.

You have to think like ebay. Low prices and cheap tat. The good stuff on ebay ends up going for a lot less than it would in a shop and I really feel that this could turn an exciting business venture into a resentment.

Are you going to buy something super cheap and sell it on for 10p profit? In that case you would need a lot of the product and for it to be something that somebody wants/needs.

Good luck, whatever you do, and if you do lie about your age, don't let people find out.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Before worrying about telling lies to gain access to Ebay,I suggest you concentrate on your spelling and grammar.
Doing this will improve your credibility within the business community.

 

[websnail]

I would personally say that to say you are 18 when in fact you are not if it should ever come to light would lose you trust and therefore customers, not a good way to start.

Got to agree with that sentiment... Trust is an important commodity and ebay buyers will shy away from anyone who has been caught red handed. It's also not a great habit to get into.

I'm reasonably certain you're going to get folks opining that eBay is not the nirvana you believe it to be but it is a good start.. However if you really want to be making an impression you can lay the foundations for your own business by taking on board some of the tips based around SEO.

Things like developing a niche area of expertise (for me it's Inkjet printers and CIS kits), and then learn the pitfalls, write about them, the solutions, things to watch out for, start supporting people.. Develop a name for yourself and improve the perception of your intended business identity.

As anyone looking to sell on the net the long game is the only way to go.. get rich quick just doesn't happen unless you happen to be seriously lucky, juiced and even luckier. Oh and don't forget seriously hard working!


Ebay may be useful but right now it's a closed shop (sorry, bad pun) until you turn 18... Start thinking about your product, research product pricing, suppliers, shipping, potential problems... How have others done it, etc, etc, etc..

You have the benefit of time to spare right now (something that is seriously valuable) so make the most of it and hit the ground running come the day after your 18th birthday hangover

 

[Rain]

I would normally say somthing negative about these comments but ive tried not to dwell on the negatives but instead the positives.

I respect all comments, and you know what F-it i will wait, (the 6month long wait) Well... I will try anyways, quite a few of the points made i have done/been doing, and eBay is just something to keep me going as i said its the beginning, the planting of my roots, i am kind of thinking ahead thats my only problem, yes i know im not an idiot, im not trying to think about the get-rich-quick scheme i don't want to go down that road.

And as for the lies to be hones, i don't care if my customers know im 17 its eBay im giving lies lol, If people Judge me on my age then forget them, what do they know.

And as the the spelling...Where are the spelling mistakes? i don't see any? either way, before doing anything like that e.g if i was posting a ebay listing, i would check, double check and check it again.

Rain...thanks

 

[talkntxtltd]

I dont mean to sound negative, as i am fairly new to business my self. But your attitude towards others is a little resentful.

It doesnt matter how people judge you or what they think about you, your maain aim is to sell them your product or serivce and you have to learn to get on with your customers no matter what.

I think in this 6 months you should be aiming to getting more serious about the business world as once you get yourself a bad reputation it becomes very hard to set it right

just my 2pence i dont mean to offend in any way

 

[Page]

You made the mistake of mixing a question about being under age for ebay and going into business on ebay.

Had you asked them as separate questions and with a different attitude - compare what you have written with other posts on here and you will see what I mean - I think you would have got a more positive responses.

What about you parents giving you the support to get going - they could register - you could learn - and on you go.

 

[websnail]

You are automatically assuming that because you're a teenager folks are going to go into "old person" mode and treat you like a kid, but what you don't get is that you are treating us like a bunch of interfering "old people".

Looking back through the suggestions you've received they were all the sorts of responses you'd get regardless of age, so drop the chip off the shoulder and start over.

There's plenty of good advice in there, just because it isn't what you want to hear doesn't make it any less useful.

 

I applaud the fact that you intend to start into business so young, but would think you should wait until you are 18.

Use the next 6 months to:

1) Build up your own ecommerce store
2) Research as much as possible, to give you a head start when you go live
3) Maybe start a blog about your business, giving it a head-start in the SE's.

Research is the key to the internet, and 6 months worth is not too much imho.

 

[peebles]

Guys before i continue let me ask of you a few things.

Please dismiss all Morals from this point on, and try to over-Look the fact that im 17 years of age.

I may only be 17 but im not A child, im not immature and im serious about business, but i cant really do anything at the moment and its real realy killing me, (literally) I am being pressured by my parents about various things and they seem to think im living in a bubble of some sort, and blah blah blah, (every other teenagers life)

Let me get straight to the point, I'm really desperate to use eBay as an advantage, i will be setting up and running a business in the very near future and i would like to plant the roots for this now. the way forward is eBay.

To my knowledge i can currently buy on eBay although i haven't done so yet.but i cannot sell, i haven't tried to either because firstly i don't want it wasting my time going through a long listing process getting to the end and then a messege popping up saying im too young because it will irritate me...Alot lol

I DO have a debit card and i wanted to ask can i sell on eBay with it, (of course signing up as an adult [18])

Personally i dont see why im not aloud to sell, whats a 6month difference till im 18 ill still be the same person.

I hope this can get answered soon and without criticism please stay to the point lol.

Rain

Hi there,

Can I ask you one thing. Why is ebay the way forward? What is so special about ebay? Am not being pedantic, am just curious as to your reasoning.

Peebles.

 

[MH1]

The reasoning behind the age issue with ebay is you are not of legal age until 18, get over it.

Use the time to do some research, ebay is as competitive market as you will find with some large players in the ocean with thousands of small fish as well. To make money you will need to buy very well, something a newbie struggles to do.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

To sell on ebay you need to buy at the best price, this only happens whan you place large orders with suppliers and hopefully explain to them what you are trying to do

If rather than phoning up suppliers for prices you actually make a meeting with the sales department you will build up a relationship where you may well get a better price that just phoning up.

Use the next six months to save up as cash is king and cashflow the most important item in business, also attend your local enterprise government advice and training outlets to get as much knowledge as possible

Make a realistic business plan for yourself, if you ask at your local bank they will give you a starter pack that will help

 

[chiggs]

another good place to start your 6 months of research!- http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/

 

[ellisn]

6 months will fly by. As suggested spend the time doing the research, building the pages, writing product descriptions, taking product shots, working out packaging, sourcing suppliers, saving for initial investment, learning book keeping etc

Also you will need to get some good ebay feedback so whenever possible buy from ebay and make sure you leave feedback so you get some back.

And as also suggested get your own site up and running. Ebay is an expensive way to sell but if you look at it as a promotion tool it can be very useful.

Good luck

Neil

 

[Philip Hoyle]

You can easily spend six months or more setting up your business ready to go "live" when you are legally allowed to do so. Concentrate on what you can do now, don't waste time and effort dwelling on what you can't.