Just for a giggle....

Just for a giggle.  As an alternative to the usual doom & gloom threads, what do you like about eBay?  I'll start, they provided me with an opportunity to leave the 9 to 5.  I'm not sure 9 to 5 exists now but you know what I mean 🙂

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Re: Just for a giggle....

I'd have to agree with that one.  Ebay is where I started this journey.  And it's so much better (even with the hard times), to be your own boss.

 

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Re: Just for a giggle....

I like the ebay of today  because they make a  return to  a 9 to 5 job attractive  

 

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Re: Just for a giggle....

I like 'meeting' some of the really nice eBayers and the really honest ones who remind me that there are still decent people out there.  Sometimes they tell me the 'backstory' to their purchase, which I like, and I always feel pleased when someone is really happy with their purchase. So I suppose for me it's the human interaction element I enjoy alongside the flexibility that selling online gives over having to be physically present in a building for a set number of hours.

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Re: Just for a giggle....

I like the fact that Ebay can show the rest of us how to turn a large company into a small one.

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Re: Just for a giggle....

Ebay, a mesmerising world full of interesting stuff.

 

"A place to lose yourself..."

 

And all your efforts and money, in just a matter of time and a couple policy change..

 

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Re: Just for a giggle....

@charmkeyrings  @therenewalworkshopltd 

I agree with you about leaving the rat race of working for someone else, did it for far too long, the freedom this brings is priceless.

 

@5216elisabeth  apart from research I love backstories! I’ve sold many theatre programmes to relations of well known but dearly departed opera singers and actors. My favourite was an old advert to an original member of ‘the chairman of the board’ band (Give Me Just A Little More Time), lovely exchange of messages. 
I do miss selling here in any volume, but sometimes you’ve just got to move on.

Jo

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Re: Just for a giggle....

Thanks, charmkeyrings, it's good to have a positive thread like this.

 

1. The up-arrow button on every page, to take me immediately to the top of the page, very handy.

 

2. By far the most important to me, however, is the human interaction, in the discussion boards and with sellers particularly my regular sellers. Below is detail, if you're interested and have time.

 

Re the purchases, the contact isn't much in quantity and always re the sale, but always friendly. In the crafts and 3D-printing categories, sellers, who're usually crafters, sometimes send little handy extras to say thanks; maybe it's also to encourage future purchases. Perhaps they're items they no longer want, and actually a good way to declutter, but anyway it's a nice human touch. Regular sellers get to know the sort of things I order and I can tell that from what they send. Crafter-sellers often can't resist crafting thank you notes (which might also say 'if you have a problem please get in touch first' or 'please leave feedback') - printed on or handwritten on no plain piece of paper and occasionally with an unusual or interesting paperfold only a papercrafter would know and would use because they like doing it (and knowing the recipient would know that). I know they probably make these notes in bulk, but still it's contact. Not that I need contact, as I'm still happy if there's nothing but my order in the parcel, but I do find it easier in my mind to distinguish sellers if I've had some contact such that I remember their product speciality. I also like seeing in the parcel that arrives the particularly canny (crafty?) way that crafters recycle & fold packaging. No doubt there's regular friendly contact in other categories. The universal or uniting friendly sign-off between crafter buyers and sellers is "Happy crafting!"

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Re: Just for a giggle....

Friends

 

I have made a few great friendships through eBay. 

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Re: Just for a giggle....

The thrill of an auction ending and something selling for way more than anticipated.

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Re: Just for a giggle....

I'd taken the plunge and left 9 to 5 employment nearly 20 years before going on-line and finding ebay.  It gave me the opportunity to try my hand at retail selling and the excitement of buying and selling at auctions.

 

I even thought about opening an on-line retail business when I retired, at the time still years in the future.

 

But the most important thing I've learned while on ebay and for which I'm eternally grateful is this.

 

Never get involved with a business venture with a partner who is totally un-accountable to you.  Needless to say the retirement "hobby" business plan was shelved soon after.

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Re: Just for a giggle....

Just one thing really - nothing 😂

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Re: Just for a giggle....

Left 9-5 (OK 6am-2pm / 2pm-10pm  /  10pm - 6am rotating) to open a B&M  and website.

The thought of being my own boss, even if it meant being on a lower wage was good enough for me.

And it got me away from 15+ years of being bullied in the work place to the point where lets say 

I was nearly another statistic.

The sort of thing that would not be allowed in the work place today.

So was worth the risk just for that.

 

As for the question regarding leaving 9-5 right now to start on eBay full time. Spent an hour or 

2 thinking of a positive answer and could not think of one.

 

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Astronomy is looking up
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Re: Just for a giggle....

As soon as I read your post I started humming it then had to go to YT ... Give Me Just A Little More Time - The Chairmen of the Board

 

The 'brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr' was the first thing I remembered.

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Re: Just for a giggle....

@nat11911 it was a bit of an ear worm for me for a while after that interaction!

Jo

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Re: Just for a giggle....

I really did start this thread innocently. However, some of the replies have had me laughing...Quick examples...

 

"I like the ebay of today because they make a return to a 9 to 5 job attractive"

 

"I like the fact that Ebay can show the rest of us how to turn a large company into a small one".

 

Typically British and absolutely top notch.

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Re: Just for a giggle....

Also, if i didn't like your post, don't take it personally.  Apparently I'd reached my "Kudos Limit" for the day.  Foxtrot Oscar 🙂

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Re: Just for a giggle....

I love the time flexibility. This morning I worked 8.30-11.30. Then, I decided I would go for a hike for a few hours. So off I went, not a care in the world and had a 2 and a half hour hike in the blazing sun. Then I came back, sat and had food before deciding to get on with it at something like 3.30pm. 

 

I started E-bay on the back of a mental breakdown brought on by stress at work. I just couldn't deal with being an office for one more day. Sure it can be difficult at times and in recent years that is even more true than usual, but overall it gives me such a lot of freedom. I work with my best mate which is awesome. I can listen to music or watch Films/TV whilst I work. 

 

NO office politics, NO a*** kissing, No sucking up, no dealing with management. No mental commute down motorways.

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Re: Just for a giggle....

NO office politics, NO a*** kissing, No sucking up, no dealing with management. No mental commute down motorways.

 

Now that I can relate to!  

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Re: Just for a giggle....

I didn't have a mental breakdown but I can empathise .  It was also about freedom for me too.  It wasn't a financial decision.

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