You sold on eBay and it all went south. You are not sure what to sell, where or if you need to forget all about it.
The money you were making on eBay was enough to quit your job and stay home and only relay on the income from eBay.
Many have made the same mistake. Of getting excited from all the sales and simply focus only on eBay. Sure, maybe you have sold now over a year. So you figured, you have nothing to worry about.
Wrong. You could not be more wrong. Have you heard the saying “Do not place all your eggs in one basket”? There is a lot of truth to this. Whether it is other only businesses or part time job etc… have something to fall back on.
eBay can generate an immediate amount of traffic and possibly a sale the same day you list.
If you have sold on eBay and now have been labeled NARU, do not feel shame or anger. Simply, put yourself together and create a plan of a successful venture.
Keep this in mind. “When we fall – We learn to get back up”
Back in early 2002 I met Adam Ginsberg. Having met him changed my outlook on the internet business and how I myself was handling my sales.
Back then, Adam was selling on eBay ONLY. Not his website or any other sites for that matter. He explained that he did not like Yahoo auctions as much as eBay.
Anyhow, he is known now for several things:
· Selling Pool tables on eBay close to $800, 000. 00 a month
· 2004 NARU
· Presently teaches how to make money on eBay
Adam rose to the top of the charts and received national exposure for making money from his LA warehouse.
Adam started from his basement, in a Townhome in Brentwood, CA. I met with there. Where is his small workspace he squeezed in 4 student desks, two phone lines and large HP Printer.
He tested the waters on eBay and to his surprise it turned out that indeed he could make more money selling online that he could if he opened a retail location. This was more than what he had ever imagined. He had found a niche and a profitable item to sell.
Pool tables……everyone from regular customers to high profile people where ordering them and out bidding each other. The excitement of out bidding the other bidders was there. Of course, it would create a buzz having Adam himself inform them about the reserve and encourage them to raise their bid.
This worked well for him. For months he was the highest grossing eBayer and making more sales that a conventional retail store offering the Pool tables. At the time when I met with him, is when he decided to expand and offer spas, jewelry and have his sister assist him with Billiards accessories.
Adam had a plan and vision. Unfortunately, his plan and vision where narrow and short term. Eventually, Adam was caught in the Celebrity life. ABC news and other major news stations were calling and offering him deals. This is really what made him loose focus. He forgot about his customers.
Selling online and the amount he was selling requires 24/7 support. Making money and getting famous caught up to him.
The phones were ringing off the hook. The sales were coming in online. The phone was ringing off the hook due to Damage merchandise, late deliveries, back orders etc… you name it. The complaints started to pile up and with his busy schedule promoting and branding himself. He neglected Z-Billiards.
When he founded the company and was known for the customer support he offered. This was all gone when his new focus was the camera.
Claims started to pour in, nervous buyers cancelled ordesr, all catching up to him and causing a great deal of financial stress. The charge backs and negative feedback came in quickly. It all went out of control and eventually eBay shut his account. Adam, claim that he closed his account. However, I know from experience that eBay will not allow you to shut down your account when you have complaints. eBay will shut you down and label you NARU.
Only an account in good standing can make a request to have their account closed. Check with eBay as this can change as they have changed so many other Policies.
While his account with Z-Billiards was going south; Adam opened another account on eBay by the name of Pegasus Billiards. That was eventually shut down after so many buyers noticed it was him again trying to sell. Many orders went sour.
Of course people created forums, the buzz was all about how Z-Billiards did them wrong. New websites were created just to support all the bad publicity.
Adam is clever though. He was already working on a book deal. I was surprised to see that he blamed his mother’s death for his failure to his customers. I was not there or did I speak to him during the time of his mother’s death. This is my opinion.
You can search him on Google. You will find that many believe that he was caught up with the appearances on camera and book deals that he simply neglected his customers.
Many customers claimed to have filed claims with the Attorney General’s office, Police Department and Internet Fraud Division.
I can only imagine how stressful and freighting this would had been for him.
What did Adam do?
He fell hard! But he got right back up and continues to this day to promote and use eBay to make a living.
I encourage you to visit his website, search on Google for Adam Ginsberg and you will find the complaints but you will also find the many people that have benefit from his instructions.
His failure has been beneficial to sellers and buyers. This made sellers very aware of the power and action that buyers can take against your for breaching your contract. The Internet law was not really in existence. Many attorney’s did not know where or how to proceed with such cases.
For reference if you need to search for an attorney it is called White Collar Crime.
Buyers would unite. They learned quickly how to search for a company, business owner and contact other buyers to unite and fight for their money or to file charges against the seller.
With so much fraud out there it is a sellers’ responsibility to understand your rights and obligations to run the business and the rights of the consumer.
Very easily, Adam Ginsberg could have just dropped off the internet world. He did not, he choose to pick himself up and Brand himself. Teaching others how to sell on eBay, created software and working now on a TV deal.
I have not read anything on Adam Ginsberg talking about his failed eBay business and the steps taken legally to settle it all.
Selling online carries as much if not more responsibility to the consumer than having your own brick and mortar store.
I have a few more stories of legitimate online Powersellers suspended from eBay and what they are now doing to make a living. There is a big difference from a legitimate business gone south to a business only set up to hurt the consumers.
The point of the story is….. “When we fall – We learn to get back up”
If your business failed; this is the time to sit down and analyze what you could do better. Do not regret, its not going to help you now. What will help you, is to focus on what you want, need and where you will be. Learn from your mistakes, research and talk to others about your experience. Soon, you will find yourself stronger and more successful than before.

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I remember this man he use to sell on ebay a few years ago selling diamonds/watches/pool tables…. he was doing well on ebay and all of a sudden he went sour with complaints and people looking for him for not holding his end of the deal.
@George – That’s him. He Branded himself and sold software and traveled giving seminars on how to sell on ebay. Now, he is selling Domains. Check my next post and thank you for commenting
Hay…I like your blog, I end up on your blog coming from Oodle. Your blog looks perfect, its clean and easy to read…I’m posting right here because i’m having a hard time finding your contact info on your blog. Maybe I’m just tired.
@Anthony – Thank you. You have a great site going. Would you like to have a Free Add placed here? Would be more than happy to add a link… You can reach me directly at laura@whateverebay.com
Hey there, just to let you know – I recently attended one of Adam’s live training workshops and it was simply amazing. The reason I’m posting this message is to let you know that he spent time in the workshop document his history of selling on eBay, the challenges he experience, how he overcame those challenges, and what he is doing now to insure people don’t have similar experiences.
For the record, some of your commentary is simply not accurate. Some of the points you make are legitimate points of course.
The one comment I would make about your article, which is well written, is to fact check some of your comments. Some are purely speculation and factually not accurate.
Have a great holiday!
Hey Micheal,
If your gonna state some comments are speculation etc, then clarify which ones you mean.. otherwise you look like you work for Adam.
Which statements are false, misleading or speculation rather than generalise other people’s comments…
Moral of the message:
Be specific when rebutting other people’s comments or you are an employee of Adam searching the internet to counter other people’s opinions.
There is a great deal of money to be made on ebay, but there are other sites out there is well if you are kicked off ebay. I know quite a few people who make a good deal of money on Craigslist.
This is an amazing story! It really brings out the entrepreneur in me!
Ebay definitely is a lucrative venue to earn money but like any jobs or business, this entails a lot of work as well. Thanks for sharing this!
The one comment I would make about your article, which is well written, is to fact check some of your comments. Some are purely speculation and factually not accurate.
I haven’t tried selling anything on ebay. I guess I am a late bloomer. Honestly until now I am not aware what ebay can do =)
I have been looking for a nice place to live and came across Town Home what do you guys think =)
Hi really enjoyed reading your post.
If you only had enough money to go to one concert, would you go see Kris Allen, or Adam Lambert?
Tim
hi
Where online can i download Adam Lambert's Tracks of My Tears song without getting a computer virus?
Louise
Hi great article thanks for sharing. Anyone have a cheap copy of the Adam and Tannery for sale, or know where I can get one online?
Greg
Hi
Anyone have a cheap copy of the Adam and Tannery for sale, or know where I can get one online?
Where online can i download Adam Lambert's Tracks of My Tears song without getting a computer virus?
Do you think that eBay would try to sue him for using their name in his book since he’s been kicked off? The poor guy- success and loss all too quick
eBay is really great at making some money on the side but it is extremely hard to earn a living on it.
I got kicked off of ebay after selling there for 11 years. The customer service department was like a communist country bullying me all along the way as I attemped to work with them to reinstate my account. They would not tell me WHY i was kicked off and did not even anwser my emails .
Go sell on Amazon.
This is so true. It’s better to have multiple source of income rather than depending on a one big source. At least you can have a fall back if one of them fails right?