University student looking for advice

chrismelton · 02-01-2008, 04:30 PM

hi im a univeristy student and as you will guess, we can be pretty strapped for money at times! i have some money available, but obviousley as my timetable is soo busy i cant get a job so this money will evetually disappear! this money was earned on a full time job during a gap year!

i would be grateful if anybody could approach me with any advice on what sells frequently on ebay, or how i can get a steady stream of cash maybe £200 + a week selling onn there. mainly need a supplier of products! and any sort of general advice would be warmly and greatly appreciated
regards
Chris

**markbyrne** · 02-01-2008, 04:47 PM

Hi mate. Send me an email. Might have something you'd be interested in. Worked with a couple of the great unwashed last year, and understand your situation lol
markbyrne78 at gmail dot com.

drum_dude · 02-01-2008, 04:50 PM

Hi Chris, during my short time in these forums I've found the search feature to be most useful! The info stored up in the place is amazing!

I'm like you, still wondering what to do - however; I've soon learnt what not to sell...suppose that's a start!

Welcome!

HaRdy SiNgH · 02-01-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drum_dude

Hi Chris, during my short time in these forums I've found the search feature to be most useful! The info stored up in the place is amazing!

I'm like you, still wondering what to do - however; I've soon learnt what not to sell...suppose that's a start!

Welcome!

Couldn't agree more being students we have to manage our money

( if we can )

**markbyrne** · 02-01-2008, 05:25 PM

Best thing about being a student, and tapping into a good product, is you've usually got a great place to start selling... your campus usually has a good bulletin board type of selling system

JustGamesUK · 02-01-2008, 07:39 PM

Hi,

Totally understand your situation, when I was at Uni I earned extra cash by setting up pro evo tournaments in my halls and then in my house. In halls we used to talk all the rich kids into playing and then raise the stakes throughout the night. Used to be a good way of earning extra money and a lot less stressful than selling on eBay!

Another lad I knew used to wash peoples clothes for them and he earned enough cash to go out for free most of the time. What im saying is when your at uni there is loads of ways to make money that don't involve buying and selling so have a look around.

My best mate set up a night in a club and ended up doing 5 a year, he hired DJ's, the one thing you will not have problems finding at uni, I bet you already know a few! All he did then was blag the club/bar owner to let him have a side room on a weeknight (doesn't matter to students normally), and then let him keep the bar sales the first few times and then kept the door money himself. It made him a pretty good living, the only hard work was the flyering which we got round by standing outside the uni library blagging girls to do it for us. We let them in for free and they were happy!

Have a look around mate, hope you earn the extra cash.

refid · 02-01-2008, 09:48 PM

Hey Chris,

send me a email: liltotemo @ hotmail dot com

PT · 04-01-2008, 08:33 PM

Chris, I'll start by saying, it’s down to you to do the research and put together some kind of business plan. Nobody is going to hand you a ready-made-business on a plate; it just doesn't work like that. However, luckily you found this forum, there's a wealth of knowledge and inspiration right here – which should help you to get off to a good start.

As you want to sell on eBay, choosing the right product is imperative. It’s often really hard to break into certain markets, so look for one which isn’t infested with other businesses. It’s also fundamental to have your own business model, rather than trying to duplicate what others have already done.

I’ll tell you about a friend of mine, he started selling on eBay about three years ago, after being made redundant. Like you, he was stuck for a product to sell. He dabbled in different markets for a while but found nothing worthwhile. He eventually decided to look for something which was eco-friendly, as this was something heavily featured in the media and therefore people were looking for a way to do their bit. He found a factory in China and imported low voltage light bulbs. After investing just a few hundred pounds he doubled his money. He continued to sell low voltage bulbs, in various sizes and styles. He then started to bring in a number of eco-friendly products (remote sockets, wind-up torches, recycling bins, etc. etc.). He has since had is own packaging designed for all of his products, which is completely biodegradable. It’s not the most exciting idea, but it’s made him a very wealthy man.

My point is, there’s money to be made selling on eBay, you just need to come up with something unique and stick at it. Don’t expect everything to happen over night, it takes months/ years to build a productive business.

I wish you the best of luck with your venture.

chrismelton · 05-01-2008, 12:08 AM

great advice my friend cheers. my dads a businessman so i know its not going to be handed to me on a plate otherwise everyone would be out of the job, markets saturating etc! cheers for the info!!

GamersNirvana · 05-01-2008, 03:30 AM

Why not try to start by asking yourself what fuels your interest.

I was in that same situation myself, your lucky because you've got eBay now. In the early 1990's, eBay is non-existent. What I did before was I know there are lots of books in the Uni, and every student need books, so every friend or student that I came across with I ask if they have any old books that they don't need and books that they need, and I started buying and selling second hand books. It earned me some money quite alot, but believe you me my room mate was totally not happy with all the books piled-up in our room..

Marvin