You see in all the exciting upheaval of my life - which has involved deciding to out my financial situation in the public sphere, settling into a new job, moving house, etc - I've discovered Trade Me.

But man, people are prepared to buy and sell some utter crap. I know it's a well coined phrase, but my god, there's literally a market for everything. As part of my financial clean out, I've managed to clear out a wee bit of stuff and make some sweet, sweet moolah while doing so.

I've got more stuff to sell too but given that I'm such a noob , I thought I should check to make sure I'm making the most of the precious dollars I put into my Trade Me account. Because while I realise I've made some pocket money, it also obviously costs to list items and every unsold item becomes a bit of a liability.

Trade Me makes it insanely easy to put money into their account. When it said I'd run out of funds, it prompted me to top up and it went through to a screen where all my credit card details were already there! I just had to enter the amount to top up and I was away.

I've found it quite hard to keep a track of - especially the success fees on sold items. Do people keep a spreadsheet or something to know if they're actually on track towards making money off items? Also what's the deal with 'buy now' prices? Now before you jump up about IRD sending me a tax bill if I become a professional Trade Me-er, I'm about as far away from that level as it comes.

But I'm starting to see why people get addicted to it - and how it can work both ways as a place to earn some cash but also spend some. Coming up on Lady in the Red: Friday - Budget , your thoughts and how much better or worse off you'll be this year.

How will the budget change the path to my debt free goal? I'll update you on my new debt total I buy very few things on trademe and sell even less.

I deal with a lot of people who got scammed on trademe - and it puts me off buying most items.

A good, attractive photo really sells it- I had a nice tree and patch of garden I used to make the background look good. However you need the time to wait for the right item at the right price, so its not good for things you need now. I'd avoid it if I was the type to get carried away and competitive about online shopping. Maybe if you are selling larger items, see if someone will deliver it for a small fee, as this makes them far more attractive? Now some things haven't had much luck, but the sallys will get that stuff, meanwhile, some stuff has really surprised me - the amount that I have received for it, or, that people actually want it!

I also used to buy quite a bit from trademe, as I felt it was so easy to win something good, for sometimes quite a small amount. Any problems I have had - either buying or selling - have been resolved with a couple of emails to the respective party.

I hate the success fees - bites you in the bum! I am in the same boat - where I end of just popping abit of money here and there on my account Number one tip - always check the feedback of the person that you are planning on trading with. Check any redfaces espcially if there are more than one on the front page , see if they are retalitory ones or justified. If they have bid on your auction and you have a bad feeling, remove their bid and blacklist them so they can't rebid.

Trade Me Success Secrets: how to buy and sell more effectively on Trade Me

No listing or success fees and they actively help you to promote your business and increase your sales. I always list a 'buy now' and make it the price that I'd be really stoked to get for the item, so if someone decides to pay it, then it's a bonus: I make the start and the reserve the same so if I get one bid, it's sold, no faffing round with expecting people to bid and bid until they reach reserve. It's funny to list random things including some CDs I was embarrassed to own and find out that they're just the thing someone has been looking for.

I think it depends on your mindset. I dont sell alot of trademe - just the odd clothes after a clean out. But I have bought alot on there. A 2nd fridge, garden tools, lawnmower etc - just because I wasn't prepared to spend alot of money on those things and they were short term stopgaps until I can afford to replace them with newer items.

My tips are, list items at prime selling times, for example, a Sunday afternoon or weekday evenings. I also always have the start price and reserve price the same. A buy now is useful, but not as much fun to watch. I budgeted how much I could spend on trademe and how much I could make, so if I needed a new wool jumper cheaper than heating i would sell some books to raise the money.

Its a good way of funding things that are unexpected. I've been using Trademe for years and never had any problems. It's great for getting rid of junk and buying more. I often search for the same item I am selling and then price mine slightly below the next lowest so they buy mine rather than someone else's.

I often put a buy now on as lots of people would rather pay a couple dollars extra and be guaranteed to get it rather than risk the auction taking its course - I sell most stuff that way. I never use all the extra costing options Don't expect things to sell in the first week Books are the best bargains I buy..

I never buy them new.. I was mucking about on Trademe one day and came across an auction that was about to close on a bronze sculpture about 50mm high. It had a prehistoric looking face on one side and the other side looked like the head of a penis. Lots of people were bidding on it and I accidentally ended up winning the auction.

Money | Self-help | Trade Me

After it arrived I chucked it in a drawer for a few months. I then relisted the sculpture on Trademe and wrote some blurb about it being found on an archeological dig in Mesopotamia. Maximum of characters about words. How I got rid of dumb debt.

Riding the student loan wave. One world trip and no debt. Feeding credit to the debt whore. Should I consolidate debt? The road so far. No debt, now what? The line in the sand.

The power of celebrity endorsement. Never underestimate the brag factor. More questions than answers in Strategic saga. A dubious deal at NZF. Will Hotchin lose long-time legal eagle?

Up to their old tricks.

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Cheating off the ball in New Zealand rugby has reached epidemic level. Pictures of washed-away houses reveal destruction of Greenland tsunami. Weather starts to take a nasty turn. Donald Trump in free fall after only five months in office. Team NZ's worst fear is damage from a collision with Oracle.

Stereotypes, shouty girls and salacious bacon burgers: NZ's 10 most complained about advertisements for Hot water, plastic bag Easy meal for lunch with friends. British pub classics for the home cook. Skytrax World Airline Awards Qatar Airways is the world's best airline. Waiwera Thermal Resort cuts hours ahead of refurbishment. Croatia's foodie centre has a centuries-old history.

The Trade Me thing BY GREER MCDONALD. Will not be published.

Making Money Selling On Trade Me Or eBay | Bizbuzz

How I got rid of dumb debt Reader question: Riding the student loan wave One world trip and no debt Feeding credit to the debt whore Reader question: The road so far Reader question: The line in the sand The power of celebrity endorsement Cheapskate Valentines Fasting through Feb Never underestimate the brag factor Managing monthly pays.

More questions than answers in Strategic saga A dubious deal at NZF Call and response Will Hotchin lose long-time legal eagle? Viewed Shared Commented Opponents claim 'cover up' after MP Todd Barclay says he will stand down at September election Mother took her life waiting for help, community mental health meeting hears Lions tour: Cheating off the ball in New Zealand rugby has reached epidemic level Pictures of washed-away houses reveal destruction of Greenland tsunami 'Inane waving' complaints not enough to deny Queenstown winery an off-licence Weather starts to take a nasty turn Donald Trump in free fall after only five months in office America's Cup: Team NZ's worst fear is damage from a collision with Oracle Morning trivia quiz: June 21 Stereotypes, shouty girls and salacious bacon burgers: Easy meal for lunch with friends Lions tour: Cheating off the ball in New Zealand rugby has reached epidemic level Pictures of washed-away houses reveal destruction of Greenland tsunami Recipes: British pub classics for the home cook Skytrax World Airline Awards Qatar Airways is the world's best airline 'Cherished husband' and father Dayal Patel killed in workplace accident at Pegasus Engineering Recipe: About Us Contact Us Terms and conditions Privacy Policy View Smartphone Site.

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