For me, shopping at thrift stores for ebay inventory is a big part of my business.  It’s exciting, rewarding, and depending on where you are shopping, you usually are helping out a great cause.  When I first started going to Goodwill or other thrift stores I really had no idea what I was looking for, and to tell the truth, I rarely buy the same item twice, so I still have to look items up every time I go.  A question I get almost daily is, “How do you know what to look for?”  Although I just admitted that I still have to look items up every time I go, I still have some tips that can make your trip must faster and more lucrative.

1. Reddit.com/r/ThriftStoreHauls: Reddit.com is one of the most popular websites in the world.  It has so many topics that almost anyone can find a page that matches their interests, and from there, you’ll be hooked.  One of my favorites is their ThriftStoreHauls page found HERE.  This page is filled with people who post their favorite thrift store find (with pictures), and you can chat with them about their item if you’d like.  In most cases, they aren’t selling their item on ebay, but they are keeping it as a treasured item for themselves.  So how can this help you find items to sell on ebay?  Well, just browsing this website around 10 minutes a day has helped me uncover a lot valuable items that I recognize while I’m shopping for ebay inventory.  It’s something that you will put in the back of your brain, and when you see it at a Thrift Store, it will jump out at you!  Plus it’s really fun to see what others are finding at thrift stores. 
2. Department Shopping: Even today, I still find myself overwhelmed sometimes when I am shopping at a Goodwill.  There are so many items, and I know there is something good just waiting to be uncovered.  To help me with my focus, I sometimes only shop in one department of the store.  My Goodwill is broken down into several departments including – Electronics, Clothing, Shoes, Seasonal, Junk Aisle and a few others.  I have found that if I take my full attention and allotted time, and focus on only one section of the store, then I find more than I would if I skimmed through the entire Goodwill.  Taking this time will force you to dig and look up more items, and in return, you may uncover a hidden gem.  I don’t do this every time, but if I find that I’m not uncovering enough inventory, then I will slow down and focus.

Both of this tips really help me while I’m looking for ebay inventory, and I’m sure they will help you too!  If you have any other tip that you would like to share, please do so in the comments below!

If you are wanting more tips and tricks, you can get my ebook, “The Keys to a Successful eBay Business” HERE for only $5!  Limited Time Only

There is nothing I enjoy more than finding a sellable item at Goodwill.  I’ve been selling on ebay now for over 10 years and I still get excited every time I go looking for new inventory.  In the past few months I have had a few life changing events that have happened (one being a new child), and with each new adventure, I get more and more grateful for the ebay lifestyle.  No one said it’s easy, but it is definitely rewarding!

To kick off a summer filled with new posts, ideas, and ebay fun; I’ve decided to offer my ebook, “The Keys to a Successful ebay Business” at a discounted rate for a limited time.  I’ve added this ebook to one of my Fiverr accounts, which means that you can get it HERE for only $5!

I already have a huge list of topics that I will be posting, but if you would like to request a topic, please feel free to leave a comment or send me an email.

Get The Key to a Successful ebay Business for only $5 HERE

Not to long ago, I was contacted by a new drop shipping company that offered me a chance to be one of the first sellers to sell their products on ebay.  I usually tend to stay away from these types of companies unless they have unique enough products that were not being sold on ebay yet.  While looking at their catalog, I was getting more and more excited.  They offered some great products including some that I was already selling.  I was in!  I decided to give them a chance, and to start with just a few products.  That’s where this nightmare started.

After working with this company for only one month, I now have 6 neutral and 5 negative feedbacks. This company promised that the items would be shipped out the next day after I submitted the order, but I’m sure you can guess what happened!  They were not shipped out as promised, instead, they were shipped out days even a week later.  In some cases, the products were coming from China even though I was told that everything would be shipped from the USA.  My customers got extremely mad, and the complaints started to roll in.  I am still quite upset about this whole process, but I have at least learned a lesson.

So what now?  What do you do when drop shipping goes bad?  Well I have already started this process since I’ve received 5 negative feedbacks.  It all starts with customer service.  I have reached out to 32 of my customers who have/are relying on this drop shipping company to deliver their product, and explained that their shipping will be delayed, and that I will refund their money if they’d like.  Most of the customers stated that they do not want a refund.  I figured that I should be proactive instead of reactive to this nightmare.  Staying in constant communication with the customers is key.

For the customers who have already left me a negative feedback, I reached out to them and explained the situation.  I again offered a refund, and I let them know that they could keep the product (It only cost me a few dollars).  After making the offer, I used the “remove negative feedback” tool, and asked them to revised their feedback.  You are only allowed a certain amount of these requests per year, and I now have ran out.

Moral of the story; don’t trust just anyone to ship out your products.  Do the necessary research, check out customer reviews, and when all else fails – don’t rely on a drop shipper unless you are absolutely sure that they can meet your expectations!