Frugal Friday/On-Line Sales

I've always wanted to venture into selling things on E-Bay or other ways on the Internet, but wasn't sure where to begin. I've been dipping my foot into those waters a little bit lately and here's what happened:

1. Amazon: I listed several books on Amazon. They have a pretty good system, but if your book is one of hundreds listed on there the lowest price is 1 cent. Even with the shipping allowance they give you ($3.99) you will lose money by the time they take out their commission and you pay to ship the book, even using media mail.

I have sold 3 books! One book sold for $5.00, one for $.79 and one for $12.99. Needless to say I didn't make any money on the one that sold for $.79! But hopefully the recipient of the book will give me a good rating! The other two were definitely worth the trouble. Amazon just deposits your earnings into your bank account, a nice little surprise.

I will only list books that are at least $5.00 from now on and will be on the look out for saleable books at yard sales, etc.

2. E-Bay: I listed 2 items on E-Bay.

I have seen the infomercial that supposedly shows you how to make thousands on E-Bay. There is no way I would purchase that system!

I don't think there is too much in that system I couldn't figure out on my own.

With that being said.... I was a total failure at selling my 2 items. No one even bid on them. I had 2 questions and 1 watcher on one of the items. One of the people with the questions just wanted to correct me on how I listed the item....:0( The nerve!!! LOL

Anyway, I'm not giving up on making my thousands on E-Bay. But, it ain't that easy!!!! This is how E-Bay works for me: If I'm a buyer, the prices are high. If I'm a seller, the prices are low. Murphy's Law, I suppose.

I've just got to find items that someone actually wants!

Just in case you are curious, the items I was selling were a new still in the box praying doll and a 67 year old Bible. I bought the Bible at a Library Book Sale. The cover is in poor condition, but the contents are wonderful. Its a King James Version Teacher's Edition, with all kinds of study helps such as a concordance, 5,000 questions that coincide with each chapter in the Bible, maps, etc. It also has a hand written family record. The Doll prays "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" when you hold her hands together and her name is "Sweet Faith".

Evidently if you are not selling Barbie Dolls or BRATZ dolls, no one is interested! LOL.

3. Etsy Shop: I have set up an Etsy Shop which I am going to link to my blog eventually. I just haven't had time to really stock it properly. After Christmas I plan to sew some items that I hope someone will want. I'll also have more time to process orders and take care of the shop properly.


So there you have it!!! My first steps into on-line sales.

I hope your sales are more successful than mine have been!

For more Frugal Friday Tips go to Biblical Womanhood!