My wife and I started an Ebay business in 2002. In five years, we have achieved total gross sales of over three million dollars. My wife handled 95% of the work from our bedroom.

While I can't promise you riches, I can share a number of tips and tricks we've learned that will save you hours of frustration and disappointment.

Here are some simple, logical things to take into consideration when choosing what to sell on Ebay:

A $3 sale and a $3000 sale take almost the same amount of work!

In every case, you have to set up an auction, answer questions, send an invoice, arrange for shipment, handle customer service issues, and exchange feedback. It is only logical to sell more expensive items, with a bigger profit.

We've found that people are much more trusting of doing business over the internet now. We receive wire transfers and money orders several times a week from complete strangers who have purchased $3000+ items from us on Ebay. Of course, if you choose to accept credit cards (we don't bother), you will find even more willing buyers.

Bottom line - don't waste your time with lower priced items. Take them to the thrift store or charity, and look for larger ticket items.

It's Profit, Not Gross Dollars that Count

Maybe you were impressed with our $3 million dollars in sales that I mentioned in the begining. However, our margins on that $3 million were pretty tight (around 10%) - so my wife's annual income from her ebay business has averaged around $60,000 a year. Not bad for a mother of three (going on four) young children - working from the kitchen table and bedroom!

When you are selecting your items to sell - look at the profits. A $40 ebook is almost pure profit, and may return more than a $400 electronic item that everyone else is trying to sell too.

Sell to the "Search"

It is critical to remember that Ebay is a search driven marketplace. With millions of items for sale - no one is just 'browsing'. Instead, customers come to Ebay with a specific item in mind.

Brand names will always trump. For example, the person selling "Used Hoover Vacuum Parts" will make more money than the individual selling "Custom hand painted furniture by top artist".

Experiment a little with shopping on ebay. What do you look for? How do you narrow it down? Think like a customer.

Set up a Drop Ship Arrangement

If you are at all serious about making a fair wage for your time spent, please set up a drop ship arrangement!

Going to garage sales and thrift shops trying to find inventory for your ebay business is not going to work. Here are just a few disadvantages:

* You have to invest money up front - on items that may not sell
* You have to invest time and gas to find these items
* You have to run to UPS to pack and ship after each sale

There are thousands of companies that will handle drop shipping for you. They are professional, they don't tie up your money, they handle the professional packing, and many will handle customer service. Drop shipping is the only true way to run an ebay business without leaving the house.

Click Here for one of the top companies specializing in drop shipping for Ebay sellers.

Ebay is a constantly evolving marketplace. New ideas and fortunes are being created every day. There is competition everywhere.

Ebay is also an incredible flattener. Your opportunity is just as great as the fortune 500 company on Ebay.

It is important to spend time learning and growing in your skills. Remember that one idea can literally be worth tens, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. A new product to sell, a change to a headline, a technique, etc, can set your business miles apart from the crowd.

Here are some things that we schedule in:

Getting Our Feet Wet

There is no substitute for just jumping in and getting involved in Ebay. Browse some listings, purchase some items, get some feedback and give some feedback. Explore "My Ebay" and be sure to fill out details on your profile.

Schedule Time to Read

You should be able to find some interesting reading at your local library, but to save yourself time wading through outdated or even inaccurate material, click here. The tips, tricks and ebooks offered by this seasoned Ebayer will shave years off your learning curve!

When Looking for a drop shipper - there are several things you want to find.

* Satisfied customers
* Large variety of goods to sell
* Must be willing to handle small orders
* Must have good quality products - known brands
* Must have a good customer service department

Salehoo Wholesale Drop Shippers earns five stars in our book! On all counts, this company excels.

Visit their website and start your business today!

John Thornhill really puts his reputation on the line with this great product! Right at the begining of his sales page - he even gives his Ebay ID so that you can see he is the real deal.

Even if you decide not to offer his ebooks, the ideas, tools, tricks and strategies outlined will pay back your investment hundreds of times over.

I highly recommend that any ebayer - newbie or otherwise - sign up for John's program today!