How to Find eBay Inventory in Rural Areas

Finding inventory to sell on eBay can be a challenge if you live in a rural area. You may not have access to garage sales, thrift stores, flea markets, or even Walmart. Learn how and where to find inventory to sell on eBay if you don’t have access to resources in your area.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Consider selling a service rather than a physical product.eBay has a category called Specialty Services. You can sell services like graphic design, logo design, web design, consulting, sewing, or artist services. For example, if you are an artist, you can offer to create pencil drawings or oil paintings from images that customers can email to you. If your hobby is cross-stitch, you can make personalized samplers. If you like to knit, you can make custom sweaters, scarves, or baby items.

2. If you are an avid crafter, consider selling your items on the site Etsy – the site for all things homemade. Etsy sellers offer all sorts of craft products, one of a kind creations, and they also take orders for custom-made items.

3. Consider a monthly road trip to a city nearby where you can shop at thrift stores, discount stores, or outlets. This option works great for retired people since they wouldn’t have to arrange babysitting or manage children while shopping. You can arrange to stay in a cheap motel or with friends, and shop for several days.

4. Research online clearance sales. Sites like Overstock.com, Sierra Trading Post, The Gap, Old Navy, Kohls, JC Penney, Sears, and Target often have clearance sections on their websites. Some of these sites offer free shipping if your order is over a certain dollar amount.

5. Look on eBay for lots. Busy moms often sell their children’s outgrown clothing in a lot or batch. You may find a huge lot and be able to break it down and sell the individual pieces. You can also find maternity clothing this way.

6. Be careful with drop shippers. One disadvantage of drop shipping on eBay is the oversaturation factor. There are only a limited number of companies offering a limited number of items to eBay drop shippers. The photos and descriptions of the items are provided by the drop shipper. Many categories on eBay are becoming over saturated with the same exact items. Furthermore, drop shippers may charge a membership fee so be sure to read the fine print if you decide to go this route.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful with drop shippers. eBay is oversaturated with the same merchandise from drop shippers - it is very hard to make any profit when using a drop shipper.

Resources

• Learn More About eBay Selling

[Whaley4]

on 2/9/2009 Great ideas for those os us who live in the country. Thanks!

[skolan88]

on 11/3/2008 I see why you say this is your passion and full-time job.
Its seems to take alot of commitment. Great article