I have an eBay business selling clothes, cell phones, and other items. I would like to partner up with a mentor who has a thriving ebay business.

I normally don't help my competitors. I saw one of your other questions and looked at your items. Here's some advice:

Don't sell clothing folded up or on hangers. Don't use poor lighting. Clothing has an 85% better chance to sell if modeled. I learned that a decade and a half ago. Used clothing is hard enough to sell to begin with. Don't make it worse.

I am no ones mentor. I'm in business to make a living. That means I don't help the competition. I do not share my eBay IDs with anyone. Learned a lesson about that long ago too from the eBay chant boards that used to be there.

The way eBay is going, the best advice you are going to get from a mentor is to find another source of income.

Seriously.

Your only real world option here would be to enter into a partnership with another eBay seller who has grown to the point that they are no longer a 1 person operation, or they had a family operation and family members moved on. As tight as sales are on eBay, nobody is going to to share their detailed secrets.

Once you get going and are doing fairly well, you may make friends locally who will help each other out a bit. That's a 50/50 contribution. I see it all the time at live auctions (hardly a secret being let out of the bag here) where sellers share experiences.. but these are Power Sellers and Top Rated Sellers talking "shop". Actually more like crying in their beer.

I've been selling on eBay for 16 years now. I have made friends who have done the same, and we tend to help each other out. But we've traveled a very rocky road and taken some hard knocks along the way. Why give away all the tips and tricks to a newbie?

hi I'm sorry about these other answers - i understand why you are seeking a mentor sometimes a little validation and encouragement is all we need. plus a buddy who's in your side. I am a former power seller i got caught up in a dad situation and have had to start from square one all over again. if anything I'd be happy to exchange advice and help if you'd like , I may not be a suitable mentor since I lost my power seller account - but the knowledge i learned is still there.

thanks

Ann

"Partner up?" No dice. No successful ebay seller can or will help you. You have to learn for yourself like everyone else. I suggest you look at other seller's stores, look at what has sold and learn how they photographed it, how they wrote it up, priced it, etc.