Successful Mission: eBay is a goldmine

Who said one could not make a living online? Today on NST Tech & U it is a proven Successful Mission to all Malaysian with the headline “Mine The Online Goldmine” with eBay.

From antiques and art, to books and consumer electronics, and everything in between, there are plenty to sell on eBay. With over 82 million users worldwide and a global presence in close to 40 markets, the online marketplace is a goldmine for those with an entrepreneurial spirit.

According to Carol Fung, a four-figure income monthly with her business on eBay, says, “Make eBay your business ally”.

The administrative assistant by day and eBay PowerSeller by night started her love affair with the online marketplace three years ago in the United Kingdom when she was on the hunt for sewing and handicraft supplies on the Internet. After some research, she realised that there was an acute shortage of such suppliers online, despite the growing demand.

That’s when she started selling small quantities of handicraft supplies such as ribbons, laces and threads on eBay. These items were sourced locally and then sold on the online marketplace. “Selling on eBay is easy and extremely rewarding. It only takes a laptop, an Internet connection and some photo-taking skills to run my business. After I made a decision to sell handicraft and sewing supplies, it took me only six months to become a Bronze PowerSeller, making more than US$1,000 (RM3,300) per month,” she says.

PowerSeller benchmark
PowerSellers are exemplary members who are held to the highest standards of professionalism, according to eBay.

When buyers see the PowerSeller icon next to a seller’s user ID, they know that they are working with an experienced, well-liked eBay seller.

To qualify as a PowerSeller, you must . . . .

• Uphold the eBay community values, including honesty, timeliness and mutual respect;
• Achieve a minimum average of US$1,000 (RM3,300) in sales per month for three consecutive months;
• Achieve an overall feedback rating of 100, of which 98 per cent or more is positive (from July 2008, members also need to achieve a score of 4.5 or more across all detailed seller ratings);
• Have been an active member for 90 days;
• Have an account in good financial standing;
• Not violate any severe policies in a 60-day period;
• Not violate three or more of any eBay policies in a 60-day period; and
• Maintain a minimum of four average monthly listings for the past three months.

Yazmin Aliasak is living every working mother’s dream with eBay and she says that it is a striking work and family balance.

The 26-year-old works from home and spends a good dose of quality time with her kids, all made possible by becoming a full-time eBay entrepreneur.

“It all started some two years ago when I had a conversation with a friend. She was telling me how she was making money on eBay by selling prepaid mobile phone credit. I thought to myself, if one can sell that, then anything is possible,” she recalls.

So, Yazmin started her eBay endeavour by selling her husband’s unwanted clothing. Encouraged by the positive results, she left her corporate job as corporate affairs executive with Telekom Malaysia, a telecommunication company, and focused on using eBay as her primary source of income. She discovered that the online marketplace was a good platform for selling to a large international customer base. Apart from better profit margins, she realised that the bigger market was more receptive towards the wares she peddled.

“I ventured into books, but I found the margins to be pretty low. I have since added collectibles to my listings and these have proven to be popular, especially with international buyers,” she says.

Yazmin spends an average of one to two hours a day on eBay when her kids are asleep, and three days per week to respond to customers’ queries and pack her products for shipment.

“I am putting 100 per cent of my efforts into my eBay business as it gives me flexibility in work hours and a sizeable income. I urge all women to give eBay a try and see for themselves how eBay can make a difference in their lives,” she suggests.

Note: Read about Yazmin in Malay language with this title head, “Tauke buku terpakai” and she has become eBay Power Sellers.