Most Recent Posts independent spamPosted Jul-04-08 11:55:41 PDT Free Quick*Sell Gallery from ISDN*tek Being self-employed...Posted Jul-02-08 09:00:41 PDT I came across a blog this morning that was "warning" others about opening an ebay store. The guy's opinion basically was that it's impossible to earn a living on ebay because of all of the outrageous fees ebay & paypal imposes. I left a couple of rambling notes on this person's blog- but I really want to say more. I've read similar from other ebayers, and I just want to point out some things I think they're missing. First & foremost, I think way too many people have this idea that being self-employed is easy. That it's not real work or that one will 'get rich quickly'. I have no idea why anyone would think these things. I've been self-employed in one form or another since I was 13 and started babysitting and mowing lawns for my neighbors. Even at 13 I understood the basic premise that if you want to earn money without a 'boss' you're going to have to do some work & be creative about finding it. I loved babysitting but it was an infrequent job- I hated mowing lawns, it was harder work, but it was consistant- lo & behold grass always grows back. In the 20 years since I've both worked for others and been self-employed, and the same basic rules apply now as they did then. There are benefits to working for someone else & benefits to working for yourself, which is "better" is totally subjective and based on which benefits you value more. And there are negatives to working for someone and different negatives to working for yourself- again it's all about your opinion; but make no mistakes there is going to be a downside to everything. Being self-employed dictates that you must also be self-disciplined. I'd like to head to the beach today, it's gorgeous outside and hot & sticky in my house. But I didn't finish the projects I have going last night as planned, so no beach today (well maybe if I get a move on soon) I'll be at my sewing machine & filing paper work today. Being self-employed dictates that you be attentive to your budget. I've put in about 15 hours this week, but there is no paycheck for me to pick up on Friday- if I want those 15 hours to net me anything, I'm not done yet this week. And if this week does net a profit, I need to remember next week may not and budget accordingly. Ebay, for all it's flaws, is still an awesome tool for those who see the benefits & negatives of being self-employed as better than those of working for someone else. There is a huge potential for customers, the system is well developed & runs smoothly (compared to my brick & mortar store's trash removal for example) and if you look for it- plenty of directions, pointers & help available. It's baffling to me that some people really think that the fees here are high compared to what you get in return. The brick & mortar store I owned was a pet store. I worked in my store about 60 hours a week, and then I worked about 20 more for someone else to pay the bills at the pet store for the first year. My rent was 500, substantially higher than the 16 for an ebay basic store- for 500 my landlords didn't advertise my business, didn't set up my merchant account to process credit cards, didn't give me handy forms to fill & post for my ads etc- hell that didn't even include my utilities. I know I am preaching to the choir for those who have had an ebay store for any substantial period of time. But I am thinking more of the newbies who find there way to the blogs. It bugged me that this person's blog might be the first someone comes across. I myself just opened my store a couple weeks ago, after months of self-debating if it was a good idea. A blog entry like the one I read might have put me off completely- and what a mistake that would have been. You get out of it what you put in to it, and you'll probably have to put in quite a bit before you start seeing a return; but if you feel the benefits of being self-employed are best for you then ebay is definitely a worthwhile tool to help you succeed. Penny Ante Spam- Tons of cool items-Posted Jul-01-08 20:35:48 PDT
Hosted this week (July 1-10) by rooster613 --WELCOME !!! _______________________________ Here are the RULES: 1. Each person picks ONE auction and starts it at a penny. And YES, anybody can join !!! Note: Please make sure all rules are followed, for your auction to get listed. I will post the game a couple times a day so people can see what is happening EXCEPT on Friday PM and Saturday because of the Jewish Sabbath (but I'll leave it up on my blog for people to see). Anyone else may post and spread the word about the game also -- please do :). HINT: If you have a store, feature your weekly Penny Ante in a promo box on your storefront. That way, folks can find it fast, even if they miss this post -- it seems to work for me!
HEATING PAD OR COLD PACK CINNAMON HERBAL NECK WRAP -- jasonandalaine STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLE healthy Reuse PENNY ANTE! -- stickywingz set of 3 candle holders 2 votives, 1 candlestick -- fatseal ~♥~3 HANDMADE SOAPS ~ 6oz EACH ~♥~ -- tresjoliecafe Ladybugs Refrigerator Magnets - Set of 2 - Penny Ante -- barb7895 Small Sachet pillow filled with lavender flowers NWT -- caldonia_maggie Penny Ante-Blue Glass Beaded Pierced Earrings FREE SH! -- peamommy cats kittens with butterfly plate 100% to Human Society! -- rooster613 Penny Ante Auction General Greeting Card Typewriter -- twit-0 Frazier Lawerence Shirt Size Small -- lejones.304 BOYS XLARGE GIRLS HAVE COOTIES T-SHIRT~PENNY ANTE -- sweetchevyangel Avon HEARTS necklace & bracelet set Penny Ante PRETTY!- -- janice4158 STARDUSTED pin brooch SUN FACE handmade PENNY ANTE -- sweetstuff Jumprope Spongebob Square Pants 82" Ages 3 And Up NIP -- darleen1956 Rachael Ray Garbage Bowl -- berkshirebooksnstuff Dream Catcher, 6", Brown, Not Authentic -- theberkshirecornerstore Disney Princess Sparkling Hair Gel. BNFS -- lucky3boyz 1 Pair Hand Rolled Bees Wax 7 " Tapers - Cayman Green -- dkcandle Jackie Robinson Story stars Jackie DVD Dee Beavers NEW -- tuliptowntraders JIMMY BUFFETT LIVE IN ANGUILLA 2CD DVD BNIP 1 CENT ! -- queeniez71 Dead to Rights (Xbox) -- blbaird Embassy LUPWRIST Black Wristlet Bag Orig. Price: $26.00 -- huberclan07 Titanium Advertising: 468 x 60 banner on TOP of page -- treasuresgoround GIRLS size 7 Gymboree CHERRY PIE line PENNY ANTE cute-- nanasclothingandmore Serenity Seasons of Cannon Fall "Angel on Duty" Lapel pin -- carolsbutterflyboutique NEW 2 sided Make up mirror, 1 side magnifier -- aswegrow2
hurry up and list yours, then give me the AUCTION NUMBER and the TITLE here! ---------------------------------------- Feel free to repost this list on your own blog -- the more places it gets posted, the better for our sales! But be sure people know to go to Rooster's blog for sign-up, so we get all the sales in one place. (The Penny Ante game was invented by a blogger named crazy_mooz. She later passed it on to ladykikiforever, who passed it on to rooster613, the current host.) Be sure to bookmark Rooster's Blog and go there on Tuesdays to find the latest sign-up post for each week's game.
NWT denim shorts- ending soon- super low start pricePosted Jul-01-08 19:16:39 PDT
Free Quick*Sell Gallery from ISDN*tek Penny Ante Spam- All Ending TomorrowPosted Jun-30-08 20:21:00 PDT Check-out last week's penny ante auctions- all of these are ending tomorrow...the following is c&p'ed from Rooster's Blog.... 37 great deals from fellow bloggers -- check 'em out! And welcome to peamommy, artanajssy81, prp74, and rivertowntradingco -- 4 NEW players this week -- hooray!
Hosted this week (June 24 - July 1) by rooster613 --WELCOME !!! _______________________________
Each week on TUESDAY, a bunch of bloggers meet at Rooster613's blog to list a sale starting at a penny. This week's list is closed, but at the end of this list there is a link to bookmark Rooster's blog homepage for joining future sales. (The complete rules are posted on Tuesdays also.)
Rusty yellow TONKA truck? tractor? loader? or WHAT? toy -- Is my JUNK your TREASURE??? -- rooster613 2 FLEECE PUPPY CHEW TOYS - 10" - pastel & camo frog -- tresjoliecafe Cinderella (1995, VHS) Disney -- steve-o-meter Singer Sewing Cube W/Accessories - Penny Ante -- barb7895 2 Pack Exterior house lights lighting NIP Penny Ante! -- stickywingz FRESH! 10 HAND DIPPED INCENSE STICKS ~ CHERRY VANILLA -- fun-in-paradise Penny Ante Simply Victorian FWP. Pendant 1 cent Auction -- dae42240 Mixed lot of bath products Bath & Body works -- fatseal DANE COOK "ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES" LIVE W/BONUS DVD BN! -- queenie71 Breakpoint by Richard A. Clarke (2007) -- dognosebakery Aromatherapy melt moisturizer candy bar Cinnamon Cappuccino -- caldonia_maggie Child's First "Rosary" Penny Ante & FREE Shipping! -- peamommy New Handcrafted Torquoise Shell Necklace & Earrings Set -- huberclan07 Gevalia Select Mocca Java Ground Coffee Vacuumed Sealed -- darleen1956 Shonfeld'sGarnish Set, 2 Dishes & Picks, Bar,Party NEW -- linday6470 LATE NIGHT David Letterman TOP TEN LISTS - PENNY ANTE -- sweetstuff McCormick Madagascar Vanilla Beans New Penny Ante Game -- kittin1356 BOLD & Beautiful Chandelier Earrings NEW Penny Ante -- janice4518 You Can Do It Book -- berkshirebooksnstuff 1 oz Homemade Goat's Milk Shaving Soap - DK Sage -- dkcandle NEW POKE'MON ZIPPER PULL FOR BACKPACKS & MORE *PENNY ANTE -- 434milkduddog 220250086454 Please sign me up...Simply Basic Gray Sweater Size 3T with Pink Cat Design -- lejones.304 STICKERS FOR CRAFTS, SCRAPBOOKING PLUS TEMP TATOOS NEW -- blbaird Penny Ante Polar Bear Ice Fishing L@@K -- carolsbutterflyboutique0 AUSTRALIAN HAND LAYERED OPAL SLICE BEAR NECKLACE NIB -- chapsrosestxk Hidden Jewel by V. C. Andrews (1995) -- artanajssy81 24 Rhinestone Hair Pins Barrettes Necklace Pendants New -- bringsavingsintoyourhome 1 pair of Murano Glass Dangel Earrings -- wifeandmomoffirefighters Bisque Merri bell Jasco 1978 Little Boy Bell Penny Ante -- prp74 cream freshwater pearl earrings studs round 4 to 5mm -- fashon_jewels_crafts4u REED DIFFUSER KIT, 4oz OIL, 20 DIFFUSER REEDS LILAC -- kandjsmon04 100 piece shipping packing lot penny ante -- aswegrow2 WWJD Sleeping Bag for Webkinz-5 Star Seller -- jasonandalaine Lesley Anne Ivory Cats Cat 100 pc Schmid Jigsaw Puzzle -- treasurechase MISSES sz 12 RIDERS JEAN SHORTS Black PENNY ANTE -- nanasclothingandmore Wyndham House Bird feeder-14 1/2 " antique finish -- rivertowntradingco muppet stickers kermit, miss piggy ,cookie monster new -- bengaltiger55
---------------------------------------- Feel free to repost this list on your own blog -- the more places it gets posted, the better for our sales! But be sure people know to go to Rooster's blog for sign-up, so we get all the sales together in one place. (The Penny Ante game was invented by a blogger named crazy_mooz. She later passed it on to ladykikiforever, who passed it on to rooster613, the current host.) Be sure to bookmark Rooster's Blog and go there on Tuesdays to find the latest sign-up post for each week's game. |