There are a lot of reasons I still love reselling after all these years, and surprisingly, making money isn’t at the top of the list. Don’t get me wrong, making a profit is important; after all, this is a business. However, if money were the only reason I kept doing this, I probably wouldn’t still be here more than two decades later.
Reselling has become so much more than selling. It’s never just been about money. It’s the excitement of the treasure hunt, the satisfaction of finding something unexpected, and knowing there is always something new to learn. Every time I think I’ve seen just about everything, something comes along that proves me wrong.
Then there are the people I have met along the way. That has been one of the most rewarding parts of reselling for me. No two days are exactly alike. You never really know what you’re going to find or what the day might bring.
My day usually starts with a trip to the post office to deliver the items I carefully packaged the night before. While I am out early in the morning, when most people are at work, I will stop by one of my favorite spots to see what treasure I can find that day. Most days I find something, but there are days when I don’t find anything.
When my kids were younger, they would come along with me. They especially liked the weekends when we went to yard sales. Those moments gave us time together and lasting memories.
Speaking of my kids, one of my most interesting finds had nothing to do with reselling at all. My town was having a city-wide garage sale day. My kids were not with me that day. I stopped by one yard sale that had a bunch of new items priced really cheap. I managed to get some Christmas shopping done on that hot August day! (grin)
Sometimes the actual treasure is not some valuable item. I have had some really great finds, but my most memorable times are the moments. Sometimes with others, or just time on my own. Other times, it’s an unusual item. Something you’ve never seen before. Something that brings back a memory, or simply the satisfaction of finding something when you weren’t expecting to. Every day is a new experience.
Another thing I love about reselling is that I am always learning something new, even after more than 20 years. I still come across brands, items, other selling platforms, and information I don’t know about. Reselling has changed over the years, and so have I. During those years, I have learned so much just by doing it and working at it every day.
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons I still love reselling is the people I have met along the way. From upper management at Ebay joining us in our community chats, to buyers and sellers who were part of that community, there were so many interesting people. The community was very active back in those days, and it was a place where we could share experiences, ask questions, help each other, and just have conversations. I have a lot of fond memories from those days.
The Ebay community wasn’t the only way I connected with other sellers. I also participated in online Ebay seller events over the years. I never attended one of the in-person events, but I enjoyed being part of the online ones. They were another way to learn, connect with other sellers, and feel like I was part of something bigger than just my own little business.
I still have some of the merchandise Ebay sent to us after some of those events. My kids, who are grown now, have claimed some of it over the years, and they still occasionally take something for themselves. (grin)
Then there were the employees at the post office and the stores where I sourced. Over the years, I got to know some of them pretty well. They became familiar faces in my regular routine, and sometimes a quick stop to drop off packages or look for inventory would turn into a conversation. Those little interactions became part of the experience of reselling.
Some people I only crossed paths with once, while others I saw regularly for years. You never really know who you are going to meet or what conversation might come from an ordinary day of sourcing or shipping. Looking back, those relationships and little moments are some of the things I remember and treasure the most.
After more than 20 years, I think that’s what keeps me coming back. It’s not just the money or the things I find. It’s the treasure hunt, the learning, the people, the memories, and never knowing what the next day might bring. Reselling has been a part of my life for a very long time, and I still enjoy wondering what tomorrow’s journey will bring.