Meet Raymond Ong. A young entrepreneur and eBay Seller. At 25, the world is literally at his finger tips!

“…I never really liked the idea of working for someone, that's just not me….I want to be in control of my life. I have achieved the ‘eBay lifestyle’. It’s a term I coined… it's the ability to travel, all expenses paid and work anywhere anytime; from a dingy internet cafe in the old quarter of Hanoi or Khao San Rd in Bangkok…”

Q. How did you get started selling on eBay ?
A. I actually started buying on eBay in 2002. It was a CD by Vagrant Music, Saves The Day. I still have it on full blast in my car these days. It was in the same year that I decided to try selling on eBay. I was into Indie music and bands. These CDs were either hard to find or being "imports", they were too expensive in the shops. Back then, I was in National Service, the allowance wasnt much and the extra income earned from selling came in handy The first item I sold on eBay was some unwanted vintage title deeds to land dating back to WWII which I bought years back from good ol Sungei Road! After seeing that it sold, which amazed me as the buyer was from overseas, I started rummaging through more treasures at Sungei Road, only to find more old stamps and vintage Casio watches. This got me motivated to start a small part time business. I always believe that there was some cash to be made on the internet but I was bad at computers so the idea left me, then I found eBay.................it changed my life.

Q. How did you come up with your eBay ID?
A. My first ID wasn't exactly an ID to conduct a professional online business. I decided to change it to xglobalx. Meaning exchange global exchange, or simply put you exchange your money to me, I exchange an item to you.

Q. Any interesting trading experience to share with us ?
A. I had a neighbour whom I used to hang out with when I was much younger. We used to get into all sorts of trouble and fun adventures. He was a good friend but we lost touch after I moved to another estate in Secondary school. During my army days, I remembered meeting him at some shopping mall but we didn't keep in touch. It was in 2004, during an eBay event, we met! From then things just fell into place. A passionate eBayer himself, he had a different insight to eBay and basically had foresight, something of which I was lacking. I had just started selling on eBay seriously but I needed motivation, something all of us need. It's not always about the money, but the bigger picture. From then on, we'd meet up regularly and even go on business trips together. It's amazing, finding a long lost friend on eBay..........it's like an item you sold to someone with regret but buying it back again years later.... its priceless.

Q. How has selling on eBay changed your life?
A. One word, freedom.
Freedom to do what you want in life, and to live it the fullest. For me, I never really liked the idea of working for someone, that's just not me. I want to be in control of my life and at least some of the variables which others do not have a choice to take control of. I have achieved the eBay Lifestyle. A term I coined. It's the ability to travel all expenses paid and work anytime anywhere; from a dingy internet cafe in the old quarter of Hanoi or Khao San Rd in Bangkok. What more can you ask, a super duper flexible work holiday. I work from 11am to 3pm everyday and most of the night answering emails from customers. I make my living selling on eBay. It allows me to afford pretty decent luxuries. The money part is up to you and how much effort you want to put in.

Q. What tips would you give to budding entrepreneurs out there who are thinking of starting a business on eBay?
A. Policy policy policy, follow the rules and guidelines for they are ever so important. If eBay didn't have policies to make it safe to buy on eBay, there will never be buyers hence there won't be a market for sellers.

Be safe, read the guidelines on what you can do and what you cannot. eBay is a good platform to start a business and a good concept to further develop your business acumen on how you deal with customers, sourcing, money, logistics alike. My lifestyle is testament to this.