I'm wondering what people would recommend to someone just starting out on eBay. Keeping an inventory requires space for all the products, time to keep track of what you still have and what you've already sold and even more time to package the items and drop them off at the post office. Despite all this, some suggest that it's the way to go... you have more control over what you sell, the quality of the packaging and generally have less returns and/or unhappy customers.

Dropshipping seems to be getting more popular though. What do you think?

It is hard to be competitive as a dropshipper. Most of the dropship companies are in business to make a buck too. They are the middlemen. So if you go with a dropshipper instead of buying directly from the manufacturer or distributor you will not be able to make enough to cover the cost of the eBay and the Paypal fees.

There is money to be made you just need to know where to make it. Find a niche on eBay. Some lady makes a good living dropshipping baby strollers. It's not overly competitive and I'm sure no one wants to keep baby stroller boxes at home. Do your research...look for the "what's hot" report on eBay and scroll through it. Then start looking for ways to make money off of it. It will tell you what is in great demand and they don't have enough sellers for it. It's a good tool for eBay sellers.

I have a ton of experience with eBay so if you want more info just ask.

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Heidi

So it depends on the product you're selling, then? If it's something less competitive, like the baby stroller example you provided, then it's easier to succeed with dropshipping? Sorry, I'm pretty new to selling niche products on eBay. I appreciate the help. I'll look into the "what's hot" report and see what I can come up with.

If you have any additional resources, I'd love to see them.