Ebay saves Earth from Climate Change
ANALYSIS, Global – We have a lot of goods. Cars, books, stereos, DVDs, printers, computers, Walkmans, toys, clothes, kitchenware, etc.
Even jeans (I don’t know about you, but I’ll never fit into them again!)
When we are finished with goods we throw them out. Doesn’t have to be that way…
Some end up in charity shops. But most end up in landfill.
But there is a simple way to change all that.
eBay - a social innovation.
Most of us know eBay is a global online auction site. We’ll get to more on eBay in a moment.
A bit of background. My earlier post called for an end to cheap disposable goods. Over a 1000 of you had read that post…
Whilst I will agree with a few people who have said that there are limited instances where disposable goods are better environment, these cases are just that, limited.
But in a consumerist world, we all consume so much that there is bound to be left-over unwanted goods.
EBay allows you, me or anyone else with access to an internet connection to sell these unwanted goods to someone else.
I am not talking about junk.
I am talking about:
- watched DVDs/CDs/tapes
- finished books
- old toys
- hand-me-down clothes
- suits (or jeans) that you are now too big for (mea culpa!)
- shoes or clothes you never wear
“What is different about eBay? When should I use eBay?”
The advantage of eBay is that it is one instance of a mostly efficient market.
Whilst I may disagree with some aspects of prevailing economic theory, you don’t need to be an economist to see there is a common sense benefit to eBay.
If you live in one place, the appeal of your 1970s vintage flared jeans may be limited. Perhaps no-one wears them. They prefer straight-legs.
But in a global market your same jeans could be a collectors item or have broader appeal, leading to higher prices.
These jeans may fetch $5 at the local market, but $200 as a vintage item on eBay accessing a global market.
On the other hand, generic non-collectible goods may be better suited to a garage sale. For example common kitchen utensils, everyday clothes, TVs, basic electrical goods or anything with mass market appeal.
Also shipping is an issue, so eBay may not suit furniture (which may be better placed in localized trading ads, dealers or auctions to reach local buyers).
All of the above: eBay, garage sales, dealers, thrift shops and second-hand goods of all types help the environment.
How do second-hand goods help the environment?
Simple. Second-hand goods can help the environment by reducing production. not commerce or the economy. Just production.
For every good second hand sold, that is one less good produced. And we over-produce.
Commerce still happens. Production is less and less important.
In Western countries majority of business is not in the production of goods, but services and creative industries.
Think about it how many people do you know in service industries?
We are in a post-industrial age, but nobody has told industrialists yet…
eBay is an example of one of the great modern global businesses that create massive markets for goods that already exist. Your goods. My goods.
eBay on the most part does good in creating markets for goods that had limited markets. And in the process reducing over-production.
Why be an eBay Seller?
You’re unwanted goods can be someone else’s useful goods. (And more prosaically, think of the cupboard space!)
A sizable percentage of the unwanted goods you sell will replace purchase of new goods.
Let’s look at another pair of jeans…
A pair of 80s vintage jeans that might suit a student, who will feel they are cool, and at the same time will prevent them buying a sweatshop product of inferior quality, and probably with lower environmental standards…
Commerce still wins: eBay make money, the student saves money, you make money.
All of this money gets spent on more useful things than cheap jeans.
In a creative society commerce still goes on.
And if you are looking for ways to be thrifty and save money, why not buy second hand goods? Often goods made years ago are better made than the latest goods. And cheaper.
True there is shipping, but most transport uses excess space in existing vehicles, so the marginal impact of shipping one extra DVD is small, especially locally.
If you want to ensure a smaller impact using existing infrastructure such as the postal service, which will be operating regardless of your package.
But your local flea market or second hand dealer does the same.
Why be an eBay or second-hand buyer?
I have always liked wooden furniture, something very hard to find in good quality in Australia, so one approach is to purchase second hand furniture from licensed second hand dealers. Why chop down more trees for timber…
This is an important point.
Goods made 30 years ago are often better quality in English-speaking countries before we became totally disposable. So why not buy them?
Sometimes you have to or want to buy new clothes. Shirts are a good example. In this case, buy from the smaller merchant or local manufacturer. Support the quality goods produced locally.
When you stop buying disposable goods, and acting like a consumer, smart companies will have no option but to move into the new economy.
Companies go where the money is, and by not buying new rubbish you support change.
Think about it: How often do you go to the stores and walk away with nothing because there is nothing you really like?
Well why shop in the stores which are nothing more than garment racks for Chinese rubbish made for $2 and sold for $200?
Are you getting a good deal?
The French have the right idea. Trade barriers are not always a bad idea from quality of life viewpoint, even though that is currently economic heresy to say so.
And there is no argument that eBay and similar businesses provide commercial opportunities to business-owners.
So why keep producing rubbish goods en masse in Chinese factories?
Buying secondhand or local goods allows you to reduce your environmental impact and encourage change.
Make money and help the world on eBay
So why not sell your unwanted DVDs, CDs, clothes, electronics, toys and other things online? Many others are already doing this and making an income.
You will make some money (listing fees are only around 5-10% depending on price and payment methods).
And you will help in reducing production.
Take care
Christopher
Speaker. Author. Editor-In-Chief. Executive Director of Innovation, 2thinknow.
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