Chapter 29. Opening a Trading Assistant Business

IN THIS CHAPTER

• How to Become an eBay Trading Assistant

• Setting Up Shopand Setting Prices

• Running Your Trading Assistant Business

If you want to become a high-volume eBay seller, you have to find a steady stream of merchandise to sellmore than what you have stashed away in the attic or garage. Many eBay sellers purchase merchandise for resale from liquidation or wholesale sites, but this isn't the only way to go. That's because it's possible to become a high-volume seller by selling other people's stuff, as an eBay Trading Assistant.

A Trading Assistant is, quite simply, a consignment reseller. You find clients who want to sell their items on eBay, but don't want to go through all the hassles themselves, and then you handle all the eBay activities needed to sell the items. You take possession of the merchandise, research it, photograph it, write up an item description, and create and launch the auction listing. You manage the auction and collect the buyer's payment when it sells; then you pack it and ship it out to the buyer. You also pay all applicable eBay fees (although you pass them on to the client as part of your fees to him). Your client, the owner of the merchandise, doesn't have to do a thing.

Of course, you get compensated for all this work. Many Trading Assistants receive some sort of flat fee up front (in case the item doesn't sell), as well as a percentage of the final selling price. Most sellers also pass through eBay's fees to the client.