Lessons Learned in 2003, Part 1

At the end of each year I usually reflect on stuff. Maybe you don't want to read my lengthy expositions, but I think about what I have learned. What has changed, what has remained the same. Blah blah stuff like that. Sometimes it inspires me to make huge revisions to the guide, sometimes not. Over the next few days I am going to write about the things I learned in 2003. Starting now, I suppose.

I learned a newfound fondness for eBay
Sometimes when I speak of eBay, people get the impression that I hate it. Well it's not eBay per se, it's what I call the "eBay mentality" which is basically thinking inside of the eBay box. I have gotten to speak with a person here and there from eBay and have developed a level of respect for what eBay is trying to do. However because of the way eBay is set up, sometimes their interests clash with yours. For example, eBay heavily solicits wholesalers, manufactures, distributors and jobbers to sell at auction. The thinking is that they can sell wholesale to some of you. And I suppose that's one way to look at it, but the way I look at it is that most of you would roll over and die if your supplier started selling on eBay, whether they were selling wholesale or retail, it would just kill a lot of you.

But I think eBay is cool, for some people, that's the best place for them to sell. Others are capable of moving outside that box, but for whatever reason, won't.

I learned that some people don't want to be helped and there isn't anything I can say
The people who are always looking for the pie in the skill deals just kill me. And they never stop coming. There will never be a shortage. They always want something for nothing. It's funny how they say a fool and his money shall be parted. It's true. Some people email me and say they wish they had seen my site a year or two ago or before they bought this or that deal. But sometimes I wonder if I would have even gotten through to them then. A mind won't accept a certain message until it is ready to accept that message. I always joke with some of my associates that the best customer is the one that has been ripped off because they are a lot more realistic than the idealistic new buyer. A LOT more realistic.

I learned that some people never learn
They don't. They just don't. Some people like being in their "rut" and don't really want to be helped out of it no matter how much they ask for help, suggestions or feedback. Truth is they like being where they are but want to give the image that they are trying to do something.

I learned to appreciate the difference between milking a cash cow and hopelessly following trends
Lots of people want to know where to buy the hot this and the hot that. For the most part, I don't even try. There is a difference between spotting a cash cow and wanting to milk it while you can and just following what's hot. Some people have a niche, that niche serves them well, they know what they are doing, know what they are selling. And then there are those that don't have a clue that just want to sell whatever they think is hot for the moment. Don't know the difference between Seven or Paper Denim or Blue Cult, but want to sell it just the same. Can't tell the knock off hoodie from a real Juicy but want to sell it just the same.