My Adventures in Online Selling

Online selling has its ups and downs. I have witnessed these ups and downs via eBay, Amazon, and Craigslist.

eBay served its purpose for me, for a while. I liked that I actually got my items sold on there, but ultimately, I was not happy with how little I made on them. Sure, I could have put a set price on them, or even started my bidding higher, but I feared not selling them. The last time I used eBay to sell anything, it was old VHS tapes, and none of them sold. However, I still keep my accout because I have one hundred percent positive feedback, and may eventually have something else to sell on there.

Amazon was a bit more challenging, and had more ups and downs. I cleaned out my room recently, and sold a bunch of items on Amazon. I felt like I lived at the post office, because I was mailing off a package, what seemed like, everyday. I made over $200, which made me happy. However, there were problems galore. See, I was also selling items for my friend, who was having money problems. On her first item I sold, the buyer complained about the game not including a cloth "map," which was really a small piece of cloth, with the outline of a map. So, I received neutral feedback. I've also had buyers complain about having to pay postage, because I didn't pay enough at the post office (which I had nothing to do with, since the post office calculates postage.) Another buyer claimed that a game I was selling for my friend, was ruined, when it was in perfect condition when it was shipped. I received negative feedback for that. Lastly, I received negative feedback for a C.D. I sold that "skipped over 60% of the songs," when in actuality, it never skipped for me. So Amazon wasn't a great site for me all of the time, but it does have its perks, such as shipping credits that they give you to ship your items.

Craigslist has been my favorite so far, even though I have only successfully sold two items as a result of my listings on there. I have sold a yoga mat, as well as a mini-fridge. My only complications with people purchasing my items as a result of my listings on this website, is actually getting in touch with the local people, to deliver the items (because my husband and I offer free deliever within our area.) That's not really Craigslist's fault, though. We've made $80 from items listed on there, and continue to use the website for other items we're selling, as well as my offers for tutoring, editing, and writing services. I recommend Craigslist to all my friends.

So far, these are the only three sites I have used to sell items online. I am sure there are more, but from the experiences I've had thusfar, I don't think I want to endure learning about another.