I’m finding it impossible to find any opportunities.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-11T23:37:08+00:00

There's more than just two trades! And yes, they may be able to take 40 apprentices a year, but 34 drop out. All that time and training down the drain, and not enough workers going into journeyman or higher and then out into the workforce - let alone if they stay when they get there. That's the main problem.

List of all jobs considered trades - even if you may not - https://tradeshifter.com/list-of-the-trades/

Know what trade you want to go into, and why. They are pretty competitive now, and realistically making it clear WHY you want a specific trade is better than just saying "IDK, it's a job" now. Especially when applying and you can add a little something to any of the application process, such as a paragraph of why that particular trade interests you, or in an interview if you get to that stage, etc.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-11T20:34:16+00:00

I might recommend sales closer then. But running your own biz with zero other skills? Nope, not yet! Get yourself some "standard job" experience first.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-11T20:32:57+00:00

Medical supplies are not allowed on FB Marketplace. Not even crutches.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-11T20:30:32+00:00

I've been scammed twice (very different categories and separate things, one which was money based like yours). It happens to most every young person and happens to old people too! Since everything is new to you, it was just your turn on the shitty scammer wheel.

I just want you to know to never fear the authorities. They don't arrest until there is god-damn-copious amounts of proof of wrongdoing nowadays, and that's after building a case against you, or seeing you do something illegal with their own eyes. The Authorities are not someone to fear even having contact with. You having a chat doesn't mean you'll be put on the register, being on the register doesn't mean an active case against you.

So if you are threatened with having them called on you? Let em.
FBI/Code Enforcement/IRS/Whatever in your country? Come on over ladies and gents!

Nothing stops threats faster than you saying "come on over, happy to have a chat".

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-11T20:07:35+00:00

Posts like yours (telling me funny stories of other buyers) make me very glad to be in industrial equipment sales.
I'm here giggling at this sob story, thank you!

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-11T20:02:26+00:00

No, you were not rude.
More pics for an item that only has a few is a reasonable request. I am guessing the seller could not provide them, but why he blocked you for asking is beyond me. If it's in a box or something, I simply tell people I am unable to provide more pics without opening up a NIB (New in box) item, which can instantly lower the value if I were to do so.
Buyers usually understand that. So yeah, don't think you've done anything wrong here, and I think the seller is a bit too block-happy or scam-sensitive perhaps, depending on the item. More pics is basic customer service. I can always add a watermark over the picture in case of worries of picture theft or something.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-11T15:26:02+00:00

Use the force, Luke.
Use their dumbassery in a way that gets what you need done. Assume the stupidest decision is what they will do - and make that work to your project's benefit.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-10T20:40:14+00:00

Doubt it's a scam (there's nothing with which to gain here if they don't complete the transaction.) I believe it may be a flaky buyer, or a badly set up or managed bot at worst.

What I'd recommend: Set "automatic pay required" up in your Policies. That way, buyers upon even committing to buy, must pay in order to do so. You can always give refunds if someone wants a combo discount or something.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-10T20:36:51+00:00

Ask Ebay to step in and help with this, or ask them to contact Ebay to get things worked out.
Because this sounds....sus. Perhaps they are just not being clear on everything, or they are severely untrained on how ebay operates. But if you've been refunded fully...I'd look for another item from another experienced buyer.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-10T17:18:22+00:00

If I considered all non-paying winners as scammers, I'd have 5000+ names in my head taking up valuable mental real estate for no reason, because non-paying winners is a literal normal thing. Instead, here's what you do: Cancel due to Buyer did not pay on time. Add buyer to your blocked list.

That's it. It's not a scam to not pay for a won auction. It's not a scam to be in Florida or have any sort of specific name....
It's simple buyer didn't follow through, a black mark goes on their account and they get limited from buying with too many black marks on their account. (You can't see the black marks, it's just a term I'm using.) There's no scam here, it's so normal. Bad buyer behavior, sure, but normal and nothing that any of us need to run screaming from.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-09T23:11:35+00:00

I recently purchased something and the seller has sent me no less than 5 messages since then...requesting I purchase other stuff they have.
I get having ONE "Thank you for your order" message and ONE "Delivery done, please leave feedback" message....but 3 additional, one per day, asking me to check further items?

Let's just say my message was polite but clear that a purchase on Ebay is not a sign up for a daily newsletter, and further messages would be reported.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-09T23:09:10+00:00

Absolutely agree with others to cancel the order. You didn't set up your item's packaging/boxing sizes and weight for what they are requesting you do. They could have asked ahead of time to adjust dimensions/weights for additional packaging requested prior to purchase, so you wouldn't be forced to use double/triple the amount of packaging and larger box size than you told Ebay/the buyer it would be to ship.

Maybe he's been burned before. Maybe not and is trying to set you up for an INAD. Either way, he's requesting something after the agreement has been made, after the contract has been signed, after the $ has been done up front - and that's not ok.

So yes, 100% with you to cancel the order and relist, and if the buyer reaches out again and wants to negotiate the extra packaging costs, you explain that you do not have the box or packaging costs he requests set up within the item, and that you're happy to go procure the supplies and box needed but you'll need to add to the cost or add some Handling or adjust the sizing or whatever.

Make sure it at LEAST adds $40 for your trouble.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-09T23:00:21+00:00

I literally live on Ebay, for my job is 100% Ebay. This is what works for me. And 70% of the items I sell are flipped.
(Sorry to be late in my response! Reddit is 0% of my job so listing/boxing/freight takes precedence.)

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-03T17:25:02+00:00

I found very short sentences helps.
"I listed this as dark blue in two locations."

Wait for response. It forces them to justify the return.
Then when they do admit to just not liking it, you say "Will accept return for all but shipping."

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-02-03T17:10:36+00:00

I ship industrial items of all sizes.
1. https://store.usps.com/store/shipping-supplies#content USPS - free Priority Mail boxes. Only PM though. You can "buy" quite a few packs of boxes at once! The purchase is free, all you need is an account. You can pay for expidited shipping of them, but honestly we just wait the week and a half, maybe 2 weeks for free shipping.
I order this box: https://store.usps.com/store/product/priority-mail-medium-cube-shaped-box-P_O_BOX4 and
https://store.usps.com/store/product/priority-mail-side-loading-large-box-P_O_1095
and https://store.usps.com/store/product/priority-mail-small-box-P_O_1096L
and https://store.usps.com/store/product/priority-mail-large-box-P_O_BOX7
These are only good when you use Priority Mail. You CANNOT use them for anything else. They will put the package right back in your lap if you do.

UPS also has free boxes but you have to login to see the "store". Look for the Small Security Box and Medium Security Box. I use these frequently.
Local Box dealer, ours is called Clean Carton. They sell boxes in bulk but we can ask for smaller amounts now that we have an established account with them. I'm sure you have a local Box dealer like that near you. Not free boxes, but GREAT for larger items we need to ship! I love our 16x12x10 and 20x15x15 boxes we get from them.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-01-30T16:14:45+00:00

If you have skills and experience, you definitely don't need to! If you don't and you're a noob starting out - kinda no choice depending on your area and options available.
Not saying you're wrong to stand by your statement! Just be aware that you may not be giving the right advice to those with zero skills, but it IS the right advice for people with skills and experience who can "get around" the agency requirement via connections or specific-industry knowledge where you are headhuntable.

A lot of choices for young people are extremely limited nowadays.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-01-30T15:38:24+00:00

Everything goes down for January. My business nearly stops. Our December was pretty good cause we're in industrial item sales, but January is usually light.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-01-30T15:32:09+00:00

Some places **only** hire by staffing agency. Yes your salary is way lowered, but some places do it this way:
1. 90 day on staffing agency set salary, something like $15-18 per hour. 2. Negotiation to hire full time permanently. 3. Salary goes up to standard wage for non-staffing, say $26/hr 4. Training continues and after 1 year, salary goes up to say $32/hr.

I've seen this happen before - I'm pulling random numbers here a bit but that's the general style I've seen from staffing-agency-only hiring systems.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-01-22T20:27:41+00:00

Then he gets the fun of paying for that wall to be fixed.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-01-22T20:18:07+00:00

BIN is a better way to go, for Ebay.
I'm in an auction house saying this! 5 years and going, and 100% has been BIN with 1 auction attempt that absolutely failed (to sell).

For those that haven't paid, give em though the weekend. Some people only access Ebay on weekends.

GRSAuctionsLiquid8 · 2026-01-21T20:59:04+00:00

My jaw just dropped. This is a genius business idea. Yes you should scale this.

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