Scavenger Life Episode 426: Our Financial Lives Are Tied To The Mysterious Whims Of A Website

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This topic has 78 replies, 30 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 7 months ago by chaoticgood.

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- 09/01/2019 at 4:15 pm #67201
  Ryanne
  Keymaster
  Location: Virginia
  @ryanne
  Join the conversation in the forum>> Our Store Week August 25-31, 2019 Total Items in Store: 8447 Items Sold: 39 Gross Sales: $990.59 Cost of
  [See the full post at: Scavenger Life Episode 426: Our Financial Lives Are Tied To The Mysterious Whims Of A Website]
- 09/01/2019 at 9:06 pm #67217
  sonia
  Participant
  Location: Northeast US
  @sonia
  I do my numbers monthly for my own purposes, so here I have calculated out an average August week for my ebay store:
  
  Total Items in Store: 430
  Items Sold: 13
  Gross Sales: $519
  Cost of Items Sold: $79
  Gross Profit: $440 (85%)
  Average Gross Profit: $34
  Highest Price Sold: $140 (vintage eyeglasses/frames)
  Lowest Price Sold: $6 (vintage pants)
  Average Price Sold: $40
  Returns: 3
  Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $95 for 17 items
  Number of items listed this week: 10
  
  Things seem to be picking up from the summer slowdown.
- 09/01/2019 at 9:37 pm #67223
  Sharyn
  Participant
  Location: Central NJ
  @sharyn
  I’ve been able to use classic shipping this whole time. The “Go back to classic label printing” link in the top right corner still works, but only if I have more than one item that I am shipping. I think that you two print out labels one at a time, but I save all my sales from the past 24 hours and print them out all at once.
  
  I agree with you on breaking up sets and selling one to five items at a time. However, I do have two sets that I am selling together. One is a set of vintage china that is not very common. I have it as local pickup only. The other is a set of silver plate flatware from a German brand that is very rare in the US. I had to go to the German eBay site for research. I believe the set was made in the time between WWI and WWII.
  
  Week of Aug 25 – 31
  * Total Items in Store: 1444 eBay, 3 Etsy
  * Items Sold: 11
  * Cost of Items Sold: $8 + about $110 Commission
  * Total Sales: $420.49
  * Highest Price Sold: $250 Vintage mink full length coat Size 22
  * Average Price Sold: $38.23 ($17 w/o the big sale)
  * Returns: 0
  * Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
  * Number of items listed this week: 14
  
  My numbers this week weren’t too bad because of a big sale of a fur coat. It is on commission, so it isn’t as good as it looks. Still a good sale.
- 09/01/2019 at 11:40 pm #67226
  Mark S
  Participant
  Location:
  @mark-s
  2019-08-25 – 2019-08-31
  
  Total Items In Store: 3248
  Items Sold: 14
  Cost of Items Sold: $ 100.00
  Total Sales: $ 735.88 (12 ebay, 2 Bonanza)
  Highest Price Sold: $ Over $200 (CD Changer)
  Average Price Sold: $ 52.56
  Money Spent on New Inventory: $ 125.46
  Number of items listed: 39
  
  Gut Sales Report for the week: Another good week. Two Bonanza sales was great.
  
  Challenge of the week: Trying to get ready for the start of school took over this week. Trying do prepare the kids and do the last activities of the summer.
  
  Scavenge of the week: Picked up a Panasonic Boombox for $2. I am going to keep it for now for testing because it has a line input.
  
  Mark S
- 09/02/2019 at 12:56 am #67228
  HistoryNerd
  Participant
  Location: PNW
  @babygrape
  Haven’t listened to the podcast yet – looking forward to it!
  
  Total Listings: 204
  Items Sold: 6
  Gross Sales: $141.43
  COGS: $5.53*
  Highest Price: $45 (Eileen Fisher jacket)
  ASP: $28.28
  New Inventory: $52.79
  New Listings: 1
  Returns: 0
  
  *Some of the stuff sold this week has been listed forever, before I kept good COGS data, so this is low.
  
  Kind of a meh-to-average week for my little store. I would have liked one more $40+ sale. I’m still doing free shipping on most items under $30, and saying goodbye to lots of old, dead stock. One of the items that sold this week has been listed continuously since 2016!
  
  Didn’t get much listing done. I’m going to pick up the pace this week and try to hit 215 items or so.
  
  I thrifted some pottery, and bought another box lot of ephemera on Ebay. This lot didn’t turn out as juicy as the first one I bought, but it’s still a good pipeline and I’ll turn a profit eventually.
  
  I went thrifting with my mom while she was in town. She has always been one of those slooooooow thrifters who looks at every item on each rack. I got through the whole store and she still wasn’t done with the sweaters. She used to take me when I was a little kid, and it’s still a fun thing to do together.
  - 09/02/2019 at 8:44 am #67230
    Jay
    Keymaster
    
    Location: Virginia
    @jay
    I went thrifting with my mom while she was in town. She has always been one of those slooooooow thrifters who looks at every item on each rack.
    
    Preach the truth. There’s nothing more annoying than thrifting with someone who’s slow. I’m like “lets go to five other thrift stores!”
- 09/02/2019 at 8:23 am #67229
  totommyto
  Participant
  Location: Naples, Fl
  @totommyto
  Hello all, great podcast, and many thanks for the company this morning while taking photos. Listening through again now while posting.
  
  Etsy, my little engine that normally could fell flat to only one sale for $25! It’s true that I didn’t toss her one chunk of coal all week, yet sales have never been that low for any reason.
  eBay picked up to just about good sales for me, with a wide variety of items selling. I listed like a beast on eBay, yet to be honest, it was a ‘Magic Lantern Slides’ listing week, so a way easier process/flow than my usual eclectic mix of junk.
  
  8/25– 8/31/19 (no cross listing is done between platforms)
  
  eBay store: totommyto
  
  Total store items: 763
  Number of items sold: 14
  Total eBay sales (not counting s/h): $407.50
  Cost of items sold: $23
  Highest price sold: Two items sold for $60 each. An old rusted 13″ steel drum, paid $1. A set of 4 antique castor wheels, paid $5.
  Average price sold: $29.10
  Returns: 0
  Money spent on new inventory: 0
  Number of new items listed this week: 52
  Sell through rate for the week: 2.0
  Number International sales: 3
  
  Etsy store oldfleatoymarket
  
  Total store items: 658
  Number of items sold: 1
  Total Etsy sales (not counting s/h): $25
  Cost of items sold: $2
  Highest price sold: $25 – vintage small brass pulley swivel with hook – paid $2
  Average price sold: $25
  Returns: 0
  Money spent on new inventory: 0
  Number of new items listed this week: 0
  Sell through rate for the week: 0.2
  Number International sales: 0
- 09/02/2019 at 9:32 am #67232
  The_SEAM_Store
  Participant
  Location: PA
  @the_seam_store
  Week August 25 – 31, 2019
  
  Items in store: 4420 Listings for 6325 Items
  Items Sold: 101 transactions for 114 Items
  Gross Sales: $5767.17
  Highest Price Sold: $187 …. Cashmere Jacket
  Lowest Price Sold: $5….Tie
  Average Sale Price: $50.59
  Cost of Goods Sold $378, Plus consignment @ roughly $600
  Number of new items listed this week: 152 items
  $$ spent on new inventory this week $230
  Repeat Customers: 10
  International: 24%
  
  And here’s a more complete look at the month of August. Not too shabby, can’t wait to see how Q4 goes.
  
  Total Sales: $23,238.78
  # Items Sold: 415
  Avg Sale Price: $56
  # Transactions 380
  # Customers 335
  # New Customers 299 (89%)
  # Repeat Customers 36 (11%)
  
  International Sales $5,655
  % Int. Sales: 24.3%
  
  Consignment Sales: $8752.42
  # Consign Sold: 131
  % Consign Sales: 37.7%
  Consignment Payout: $3741
  Consignment Net Profit: $2704.07
  My Profit per consigned item: $20.64
  
  Wholesale Sales: $3267
  # wholesale items sold: 83
  % of total sales: 14%
  
  Shipping Costs: $2991.33
  Ebay Fees: $2488.62
  Paypal Fees: $659.14
  
  Cost of goods sold: $1561
  $ Spent on new inventory: $1465.31
  New listings created: 562
  - This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by The_SEAM_Store.
  - This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by The_SEAM_Store.
  - 09/02/2019 at 9:59 am #67234
    Jay
    Keymaster
    
    Location: Virginia
    @jay
    Incredible sales. I still cant believe you find 75% of your inventory that sell for such huge margins at thrift stores. Are thrift stores near you special or could you find high end mens clothes anywhere that most people overlook?
    - 09/02/2019 at 10:27 am #67235
      The_SEAM_Store
      Participant
      
      Location: PA
      @the_seam_store
      
      No, We live in a rural area. I have to drive a couple hours to get to anywhere decent, but when I’m there I buy as much as I can. That’s another reason consignment is a nice addition to the process. The stuff comes to me, which was especially nice through the summer when menswear thrifting is not quite as fruitful.
      
      Oops..I forgot to mention 93 items sold for $3267 were wholesale items. So that’s another 14% of the total sales. So my thrifted item sales were only $11,219 – roughly 48% of my sales.
      
      This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by The_SEAM_Store.
      - 09/02/2019 at 10:49 am #67238
        
        The_SEAM_Store
        Participant
        
        Location: PA
        @the_seam_store
        
        Things may pick up a bit on the thrifting end in 2020. My wife got her acceptance letter into her masters program this week. The administration is concerned that we may be a bit too far away for a commute, which will be every Mon and Tues for the next 3 years. Their suggestion is for a Sun/Wed hotel stay every week at a “special rate” which I easily found out was only $5 off. Um, no..
        
        She may try the commute out at first, but it is likely that we will rent or maybe even buy something down there and we would just split time between homes. The thrifting there is much better, so hopefully it would help offset the cost of our home away from home.
        
        This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by The_SEAM_Store.
      - 09/02/2019 at 11:41 am #67242
        
        Jay
        Keymaster
        
        Location: Virginia
        @jay
        
        Its still amazing that you’re finding 50% of your sold items for cheap in regular thrift stores that other people are leaving behind.
        
        Most of us seem to find items that average $30 and often less. You’re averaging $50+ an item.
        
        I assume your going to thrift stores and buying the men’s dress shirts, suit jackets, ties, pants. All he stuff that we’ve never had good luck with. Bravo!
        
        09/02/2019 at 12:17 pm #67243
        
        The_SEAM_Store
        Participant
        
        Location: PA
        @the_seam_store
        
        It’s still a bit less than that for actual thrifted items. I include my bulk closet buyouts in with my thrifted inventory, since I pay thrift prices only for the stuff I plan to sell, and it’s simply just too time consuming to try to track every category or buy out separately. I typically get in 5-10 med/large boxes a month from various sources who just want to sell their stuff off fast. Some are consignors who don’t want to wait for stuff to get listed, sell, payout, some are other thrifters who need to lighten their death piles. A few are trades for stuff I have listed or plan to list….as a policy I always trade up, and most trading partners have been generous.
        
        So basically it’s all the items I have purchased upfront, that are not wholesale or consigned.
        
        The key is to get the stuff before the other thrifters even have a chance to leave it behind. I typically will not wait for half-price day, and usually avoid stores on half-price day, but I will often pass on overpriced items unless its something special that may act as a loss leader to another sale.
        
        This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by The_SEAM_Store.
        
        This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by The_SEAM_Store.
        
        This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by The_SEAM_Store.
        
        09/02/2019 at 12:32 pm #67247
        
        Jay
        Keymaster
        
        Location: Virginia
        @jay
        
        Ah, so its not really consignment where you sell and then pay out. That would be a nightmare to account for.
        
        Thats pretty awesome that you’ve built a network of pickers who basically sell you the good stuff for whole sale prices.
        –Do you just buy everything they give you? or do you pick out only what you want?
        –How’d you develop this network of pickers?
        
        09/02/2019 at 12:47 pm #67248
        
        The_SEAM_Store
        Participant
        
        Location: PA
        @the_seam_store
        
        Don’t get it twisted. I do have my actual consignors, who are paid out monthly for sold items, that accounted for the $8752 chunk. Their stuff remains theirs until it is sold and I take my cut off the top before all fees. I don’t own this stuff, I’m just the pipeline to the buyer.
        
        On the other hand, I sometimes have potential consignors that don’t want to wait for the stuff to sell, so they get a lump sum at a much lower rate. I evaluate everything, and only pay for the stuff I plan to sell. If they accept my offer, I pay them immediately and the stuff becomes mine.
        
        I’ve met a lot of people through many years networking on forums, through random people reaching out though ebay, friends of friends. etc.
        
        I get stuff to sell any way I can, as cheap as I can…aside from stealing it.
        
        This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by The_SEAM_Store.
        
        09/02/2019 at 1:08 pm #67252
        
        Jay
        Keymaster
        
        Location: Virginia
        @jay
        
        Ah. I misunderstood.
        –Is it a hassle keeping track of all the items you have consigned?
        –Do you sell them in a set period of tie, or willing to hold onto items for months?
        –How did you develop this network of consignors?
        
        09/02/2019 at 1:54 pm #67254
        
        The_SEAM_Store
        Participant
        
        Location: PA
        @the_seam_store
        
        Not particularly difficult, about 2 hours a month maybe.
        
        First..all consigned items have a consignor code at the end of its sku number. Then I set an automatic monthly CSV download for paid and shipped items. Then it’s just simple filtering and sorting on Numbers/Excel. It takes me about an hour to figure out the payout from previous month on the 1st, and then another few minutes to back out any returns that may occur before payout on the 15th. Another few minutes to generate PDF invoices for each of my 7 clients, send out and thank them again for their business. 5 take paypal which is super simple, and I write checks for the other 2.
        
        The consignors reached out to me, most I know from online forums, 2 were sent to me from a fellow consignor who couldn’t take any more clients, one is a regular buyer on ebay for many years.
        
        09/02/2019 at 2:12 pm #67256
        
        Jay
        Keymaster
        
        Location: Virginia
        @jay
        
        Other than Tsatt, you are one of the most organized sellers Ive met online
        
        09/02/2019 at 2:14 pm #67257
        
        T-Satt
        Participant
        
        Location:
        @t-satt
        
        @SEAM: That whole process was music to my ears… 🙂
        
        09/02/2019 at 3:22 pm #67265
        
        The_SEAM_Store
        Participant
        
        Location: PA
        @the_seam_store
        
        There are 3 things in this business that really stressed me out at one time.
        
        #1, arguing with buyers and ebay reps about returns which, amplified by my dangerous mix of wit and sarcasm, which would sooner or later get me in trouble. So I now offer free returns and rarely have to worry about a debate.
        
        #2, Spending 30 minutes looking for one item when there are 25 left to ship. In 2015 I began utilizing a simple inventory system on every item listed. It’s a simple date code style that basically works chronologically and sorts easily.
        
        Code format – YYMMDD-###,
        Example :If I listed 30 items today the last item would have the SKU 190902-030, with an additional unique code at the end if it was a consignment item.
        
        I didn’t worry about back-sku-ing the previously listed items, just focused on moving forward, and now I think there are only about 5 items remaining with no SKU from before I started using the system, and I can put my hands on anything in my store in about 15 seconds or less.
        
        Storing items chronologically is not for everyone as it requires frequent condensing as items sell. It also could prove to be quite difficult for those selling a broader variety of items in many sizes, unless you are pre-boxing everything or have an unlimited storage space.
        
        On the plus side, it allows me to see quickly how long I have had an item in stock when I get a best offer that may seem low at first. Also it allows me to easily run tiered % off sales based on how long an item has been listed. Additionally, the SKU is physically applied to the item, and ends up on the outside of the box when packaged. Then when using bulk label printing with the Custom Label/SKU option, the SKUs are printed right on the label for easy package matching. Which helps to eliminate the #3 thing that used to stress me out about ebay….shipping the wrong item to the wrong buyer.
        
        09/02/2019 at 3:27 pm #67266
        
        Jay
        Keymaster
        
        Location: Virginia
        @jay
        
        That is brilliant. Since you sell clothes, I assume its easy to hang all your items in order of being listed.
        
        We need to pull the trigger on creating a SKU system for all new items. I doubt “back SKU-ing” would be worth the time.
- 09/02/2019 at 10:49 am #67237
  MyCottage
  Participant
  Location:
  @mycottage
  I’m going to have to start hitting the thrifts down there…my thrifts in this section of PA almost never get higher end clothing. Of course, I’m not sure I’d recognize much of it if I DID come across it…LOL
- 09/02/2019 at 12:50 pm #67249
  T-Satt
  Participant
  Location:
  @t-satt
  Week of 08/25-08/31
  Total Items in Store: 3,386 (Up 27% YOY)
  Number of Items Listed: 60
  Number of Items Sold: 61 (Up 7% YOY)
  (Includes 0 Etsy, 6 Poshmark, 0 Bonanza, 0 TrueGether)
  Weekly STR: 14% (Up 2% YOY)
  
  Total Product Sales: $1,957 (Up 23% YOY)
  Sales Volume Variance to Prior Year: Up $112
  Sales Price Variance to Prior Year: Up $253
  Cost of Items Sold: $294.67
  Cost of Labor: $252
  Highest Item Sold: $225 – Lucchese Boots
  Competition: Highest Priced Sale: Veronica wins the week and Veronica leads for the year 21-15.
  
  Clothing
  # Listed: 1,947
  # Sold: 41
  STR: 9%
  ASP: $28.49
  
  Shoes
  # Listed: 859
  # Sold: 16
  STR: 8%
  ASP: $44.25
  
  Hard Goods
  # Listed: 580
  # Sold: 4
  STR: 3%
  ASP: $20.42
  
  EBay
  # Listed: 3,386
  # Sold: 55
  STR: 7%
  ASP: $32.39
  
  Etsy
  # Listed: 213
  # Sold: 0
  STR: 0%
  ASP: $0
  
  Poshmark
  # Listed: 870
  # Sold: 6
  STR: 3%
  ASP: $29.33
  
  Low number of listings again this week since we returned from Montana. This upcoming week will be low too, as Veronica is in California visiting her mom and sister, and I will be doing the contract accounting gig for two days…I think…
  
  That gig has been going for 4 years, and I had a feeling it may be ending, and sounds like it will. But, I have a line on a new gig, but this time it is full time. Lower pay (but that is to be expected at this point), but looks like a great company (outdoor equipment manufacturer) and since it is a lower level job, and they don’t overwork themselves, I should have plenty of time to keep working eBay in the early morning, then this job during the day. Final interview is on Wednesday, so I’m hoping to have some changes soon.
  
  Like J&R are doing now, nice to have a separate stream of income. Veronica and I have some big plans for the next 20 years, and lots going in the next 2, so we are leveling up. She is looking at a couple of part time gigs too, just to have another small stream coming in that is non-eBay related.
  
  It is amazing how much time we have now that we are empty nesters…. 🙂
  - 09/02/2019 at 2:25 pm #67259
    Jay
    Keymaster
    
    Location: Virginia
    @jay
    No kids at home mean all your time is your time 🙂
    
    I think once you’ve built the pipeline, then taking on other work is doable. This is much different than trying to build a pipeline while you have another job.
    
    For us, doing other work is a mix of making extra income, but its also wanting to stay relevant in our field of training. Creative projects for money can be fun.
    - 09/02/2019 at 2:29 pm #67260
      T-Satt
      Participant
      
      Location:
      @t-satt
      
      Amen brother. Getting back into some hardcore Cost Accounting will be nice. Never know where that career track can lead, plus it gives a second stream of income (and actually fuels the capital for the third stream of income).
      
      And it sounds like they need the hardcore data nerd to fix some problems. And that is what I love…fixing problems…
      
      Gonna be a great time coming!
      - 09/03/2019 at 3:04 pm #67331
        
        Inglewood
        Participant
        
        Location:
        @inglewood
        
        I think that you hit the nail on the head – building the pipelines and inventory while employed full-time is a long-haul task, however, once that is established then taking on work and maintaining the pipeline is a much easier task.
        
        As I’ve been studying the numbers of full timers on this website, it has brought me to the conclusion that once you build it, the sales will come – it’s just a matter of maintenance at that point. If you sell 120 items a week, and list the same, you will generally maintain your seasonal sales levels. If you list more than you sell, you will grow.
        
        The big challenge is when you reach your weekly peak – where with every minute of your time your sales and listing numbers equilibrate – then something new has to be done to generate growth.
        
        I’m curious what my “maintenance point” will be when it comes to my time spent on eBay, and when I want new challenges.
        
        09/04/2019 at 2:27 pm #67378
        
        T-Satt
        Participant
        
        Location:
        @t-satt
        
        @Inglewood: Yep, you are correct. At some point, you hit stasis and are just in maintenance mode. We are almost there now, and should be there next year based on my forecasting.
        
        I can definitely scale back and maintain with the photographer. It will mean shifting around my day, but it is doable.
        
        1 pipeline built, a second on the way, and working on the third…
        
        Multiple streams of income…
        
        09/04/2019 at 2:29 pm #67379
        
        T-Satt
        Participant
        
        Location:
        @t-satt
        
        One follow-on to that: The biggest issue in this business is the ability to scale. Unless you can find large amounts of product consistently that have enough margin to absorb the extra labor necessary to scale, the volume has a limit (of what can be listed).
        
        At that point, the only change is how to improve the $ per effort…
- 09/02/2019 at 2:16 pm #67258
  T-Satt
  Participant
  Location:
  @t-satt
  One question for those that are on Managed Payments: When you get your receipts into your bank, are you receiving a lump sum for the day? Or transaction by transaction?
  
  I’m still wanting to see how I will get the data breakout for each sale when we are all forced to Managed Payments. My CSV process from PayPal is spot on now and ties to the penny. Wondering what I’m going to get down the road.
- 09/02/2019 at 2:34 pm #67261
  Julie B
  Participant
  Location: Georgia
  @julie-b
  Random
  My current listing motivation comes from a thread I saw on Reddit where someone asked “in your hobby, what could you turn $1,000 into?” Responses were along the line of: I could brew this much craft beer, or make this many quilts, etc. Since my hobby is selling on eBay I wondered what I could turn $1,000 into. I could easily go back to my spreadsheets of prior sales and figure it out but instead I’m keeping a running total of what each item cost me as I create new listings, until I get to $1,000 spent. For some reason, trying to get $1,000 (cost) in new listings is more motivating than trying to get past a certain # of items in my store.
  I think I’m bored and looking for anyway to liven things up.
  - This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by Julie B.
  - 09/02/2019 at 2:51 pm #67264
    Jay
    Keymaster
    
    Location: Virginia
    @jay
    That’s fair. We’ve discussed here before that just loading up your store is not the best motivator. It’s just the easiest. Don’t think and list. Since we have a warehouse and helper taking photos, we can afford the shotgun approach.
    
    But you’re an experienced seller with a mature store so could put more time into thinking about what you do list. So is the question what items you can list that will sell for $1000 quickly?
  - 09/02/2019 at 3:29 pm #67267
    The_SEAM_Store
    Participant
    
    Location: PA
    @the_seam_store
    In 2010 I got laid off when the company I worked for sold to another company. After a couple weeks of discouraging job hunting. My wife gave me $500 from our savings, and said see what you can do with this on ebay.
    
    Still going…..next I’m gonna try to pay for her masters degree without carrying student loan debt or paying interest. I may be crazy, but I know I can do it. I may have to hire a helper.
    
    This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by The_SEAM_Store.
    - 09/04/2019 at 2:21 pm #67377
      T-Satt
      Participant
      
      Location:
      @t-satt
      
      @SEAM: Great origin story!
      - 09/04/2019 at 2:29 pm #67380
        
        The_SEAM_Store
        Participant
        
        Location: PA
        @the_seam_store
        
        Thanks, I’d been selling for 4-5 years before that, but only casually. Believe it or not in 2014 when I left my “real” job, I only had 80 listings. However, at that time I was only running auctions and had a much higher sell thru rate.
        
        09/04/2019 at 2:34 pm #67383
        
        Jay
        Keymaster
        
        Location: Virginia
        @jay
        
        Did you know a lot abut men’s fine fashion? How did you end up in that niche?
        
        09/04/2019 at 3:37 pm #67385
        
        The_SEAM_Store
        Participant
        
        Location: PA
        @the_seam_store
        
        Not in the slightest. I grew up on the Eastern Shore of MD which is all farm land, and had never even heard of basic brands like Brooks Brothers until maybe 9 years ago.
        
        The first item I sold on ebay (2005) was a broken camera I found in the parking lot at work. I was immediately hooked…of course. I started selling everything in the house that was not nailed down, and when that ran out, I hit the streets looking for more stuff. I grew up thrift shopping and yardsaling with my grandmother since I was 6 years old, so finding other cool stuff came as second nature to me. I focused on toys from the 80s and earlier that I knew from my childhood, typewriters, antiques, collectibles, a ton of vintage cameras and lenses….and really just anything I could to make a few extra bucks….except I avoided clothing.
        
        Then in the summer of 2010, I noticed 3 pairs of vintage Florsheim wingtips on the shelf at the local thrift store. I recognized the name, and figured they looked nice and someone would like them. Well, I don’t know if anyone else here remembers, but shoe sales were really hot back then. I sold them all to the same buyer in under 12 hours for $115 a pair.
        
        From that point I started researching, thrifting, and selling as many pairs of dress shoes as I could. I liked that pretty much all the shoes could ship in the same size box, and I never had to worry about not having a large enough box to double pack a typewriter or electrolux. I begin phasing out the other inventory, and focusing mainly on shoes.
        
        In 2011 a fellow shoe seller on ebay reached out to me and and asked if I ever considered selling other menswear since I was already building a pretty good regular shoe following. I expanded my research and thrifting to all things menswear. I joined a few menswear forums to help with my research, and met some great gents along the way who have become friends, mentors, customers and consignment clients.
        
        By 2013 I was selling probably 98% menswear, and it was going pretty well pulling late nights and weekends, while working my office job in the daytime.
        
        In January 2014 I left my job to do this full(er) time.
        
        In January 2015, I outgrew our 3 spare bedrooms and had overflow piles in the living room. My wife hated it. Either the stuff had to go or I did….so I got a business loan and added an 1100 square foot office above our garage. Happy wife, yada yada. I designed the office like a 2 bedroom apartment/in-law suite, pre-wired for appliances in case I ever gave up on ebay and wanted to rent it out.
        
        May 2018, my wife left her job to do what she loves, Yoga. It was an enormous pay cut, but her happiness is more important and eBay has filled the gap.
        
        Today. I have 5 more months until the office loan is paid off, but am beginning to outgrow the space. I think I could reasonably operate a 10,000 item business out of the space, but it would be quite cramped.
        
        What’s next? I would love to run a brick and mortar vintage shop in town, and just might do that in a few years when my wife finishes her masters program. At that time she will probably be in the market for a business space of her own, so maybe we can buy a building to split.
        
        09/04/2019 at 4:22 pm #67386
        
        Jay
        Keymaster
        
        Location: Virginia
        @jay
        
        With the amount of income you make each month, I see no reason why you couldn’t buy and renovate a building, especially if you live in a rural area.
        
        09/04/2019 at 4:33 pm #67387
        
        The_SEAM_Store
        Participant
        
        Location: PA
        @the_seam_store
        
        It’s doable, but first I would like to pay off my mortgage and pay for my wife’s expensive masters program. We may have to rent (or purchase) a second home for 3 years while she is in school. I’ll have my plate full with those things for a while. I wish we could do it in the opposite order, buy a space and downsize the house, but with only 4 months until her classes start, thats not much time to work out all those details, and I don’t want to add stress to her life during school with essentially two major moves.
        
        Also, Health insurance and self employment tax eats up nearly 50% of our monthly profits. Ooof.
        
        This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by The_SEAM_Store.
        
        This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by The_SEAM_Store.
        
        This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by The_SEAM_Store.
        
        This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by The_SEAM_Store.
        
        09/05/2019 at 8:42 am #67414
        
        Retro Treasures WV
        Participant
        
        Location:
        @retro-treasures-wv
        
        I love hearing your “origin story”. It parallels mine so much, and really helps me envision doing this full time.
        My business name “Retro Treasures” is because I also started with cool toys and electronics from the 80’s.
        
        09/05/2019 at 10:26 am #67417
        
        The_SEAM_Store
        Participant
        
        Location: PA
        @the_seam_store
        
        Mine used to be called “The Something Everything and More Store” but when I switched to mainly clothing I noticed that by a strange coincidence I could abbreviate the name and still keep it relevant. Also when I purchased my domain name, http://www.theSEAMstore.com was a lot easier for potential customers to type than http://www.thesomethingeverythingandmorestore.com lol
- 09/02/2019 at 4:42 pm #67275
  almasty
  Participant
  Location:
  @alamasty
  After 6+ weeks of no thrifting, I went thrifting twice this past week! It was amazing, but tiring, but amazing! Going again tomorrow. :). I have been sourcing a lot online, but it’s not the same as going out there and digging through stuff. I mainly stopped sourcing due to the heat and because I’ve been working hard on other ventures outside of reselling.
  
  I’m still working through my backlog. I’ve created a fort next to my desk with 4 bankers boxes of stock. One box has already been completely refilled, the other 3 haven’t been touched yet. Once I am through the refilled box again, I will try to list the other 3 boxes as quickly as possible. I have also started to price out items as soon as they come in, so I go through shifts of what can be listed. I am excited that some of the backlog is being sold within a few days of it being listed. Only a few items have had to be tossed out so far from this latest round of listing, mainly for condition issues.
  
  I got rid of my Poshmark account yesterday. Since I have been buying new clothes in stores, I don’t feel the need to purchase used clothes for myself for more than they would be new. Plus, the shipping is not good as a buyer. I have also been buying more vintage clothing for myself on Ebay & Etsy, and Poshmark can’t compare. There were only 3 items left in my Poshmark closet. I’ll either donate them or wear them. No biggie.
- 09/02/2019 at 7:06 pm #67282
  mickdog
  Participant
  Location: Portland, OR
  @mickdog
  Monthly sales Aug 2019
  
  Shockingly this has been my best month ever! All the hard work of increasing my part-time store from 650 to 850 items this summer is starting to pay off. I also sold my highest priced item ever which never hurts (see below).
  
  Total Listings: ~850
  Items Sold: 64 (4 shy of my record month)
  Net Sales: $2126.33 (new record and first month over $2K!)
  Highest Price: $262 (Starbucks Doonesbury Statue)
  per sale avg: $33.22 (also new record!)
  Returns: 1 pending (they’ve not sent it back yet though)
  
  The Starbucks Doonesbury Statue was an odd find at a local auction, and I have to say, I owe it to Terapeak. I saw the item during auction preview, looked it up on ebay and didn’t see any recent sales, then went out and did some research on Terapeak and saw that some sold in the past year for $250+. It was me and one other bidder and I won, paying $43 (includes the buyer premium) and listed it for $349.00. I sent out a few 15-20% off offers over the past two months but got no hits. Then a person sent me a 25% off offer and I decided not to counter and just take it.
  
  I also had three other $100-200 items sell this month, helping my sales numbers pop.
  
  I hope to get my store up to 900 items before the holiday rush and I hope that I can beat this record month in Nov or Dec!
- 09/02/2019 at 10:08 pm #67286
  Steve List
  Participant
  Location: Richmond, Calif.
  @steve-list
  Store: steve-list
  Numbers for August 2019
  
  Total Listings: 1039
  Had 48 Sales for a total of $896.79
  Cost of Items Sold: $153.13
  Highest Price Sold: $54 – 6 Boxes of Marklin HO Train Bridge Piers
  Average Price Sold: $18.68 – Average Cost: $3.19
  Spent on new inventory: $116
  Number of items listed: 60
  Longest Listed Item Sold: Listed August 2016 – Walker River Pailutes Book
  International Sales: 2 GSP U.K./New Zealand & 2 non GSP Czech Republic/India
  Returns: 1 being processed – buyer thought she bought something else
  
  All of my new listings are no longer GSP. I list them as calculated world wide shipping with First Class International and Priority Mail. So far I’ve had no problems and I think it has increased my sales some, time will tell as I only have a hundred or so listings that way but going forward I plan to do almost all of my listings that way. I’ll keep the expensive, the large and the heavy items as GSP.
  
  My best scavenge of the month was on the 3rd day of an estate sale. I got a lot of religious books including 2 Knox version of the Holy Bible for only $1. The bibles were in poor/acceptable condition but they both sold to different buyers within 1 day of listing them.
- 09/03/2019 at 1:01 am #67294
  Kelly1mm
  Participant
  Location: Maryland
  @kelly1mm
  Totals for the MONTH of August 2019. I am mainly a mens clothes seller, free shipping, free returns, 1% promoted listings, no best offer, good till cancelled.
  
  Listings/items at end of month = 4124 / 4654 Total listed value $98,970
  Items sold = 293 up 8% YOY
  $ sold = $6973 Up 0% YOY
  ASP = $23.80 DOWN 8% YOY
  Monthly sell through rate 7.1%
  
  Expenses
  Postage = $1463.05 (21% of gross)
  Ebay fees = $905.43 (13.0% of gross) (includes Promoted listing fees of 68 sales totaling $1624 ($16.24-8.33 credit = $7.97) 23.2% of items sold/ 23.3% of $ sold) and return labels
  COGS = $676.45 (9.7% of gross)
  Returns = $133.70 (1.9% of gross)
  PP Fees = 293.55 (4.2% of gross)
  
  Total operating expenses = $3472.18 (49.8% of gross)
  Total operating profit (my name for it – does not include expenses such as mileage, shipping supplies, depreciation, etc …) $3500.82
  
  Notable sales:
  KOM King of the Mountain Sports Hunting Pants USA Made Wool Omnitherm 39W 32L FS(buy price $4.23, sold for $199.99
  Vtg 70’s US Navy USN Mens 100% Wool Kerney Peacoat Overcoat Size 44R 44 R FS(buy Price $5.30, sold for $99.99)
  Full Set of 12 Knowles Rockwell Rediscovered Women Plates Only No Boxes Papers(buy price $6.65, Sold for $79.99)
  
  Sales breakdown by price range:
  $100+ 1
  80-100 = 2
  60-80 = 11
  40-60 = 21
  30-40 = 29
  20-30 = 101
  10-20 = 128
  
  YTD Items Sold = 2178 (+19% YOY)
  YTD Gross = $55,422 (+24% YOY)
  YTD Net = $28,063.6
  
  I also picked up a $5 Dymo 400 label printer!
- 09/03/2019 at 7:14 am #67304
  Winchester38
  Participant
  Location:
  @winchester38
  August 25-31, 2019
  
  Store 1
  Total Items in Store: 1,749
  Items Sold: 24
  Gross Sales: $490.42
  Cost of Items Sold: $55.20
  Highest Price Sold: $44.00
  Average Price Sold: $20.43
  Returns: 0
  Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
  Number of items listed this week: 50
  
  Store 2 (CAD)
  Total Items in Store: 1060
  Items Sold: 14
  Gross Sales: $137.86
  Cost of Items Sold: $11.75
  Highest Price Sold: $14.99 (vintage patch)
  Average Price Sold: $9.85
  Returns: 0
  Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $37.87
  Number of items listed this week: 50
  
  Amazon.ca sales: $835.63 (Approx $250.69 net profit)
  Amazon.com sales (USD): $2,409.82 (Approx $963.93 net profit)
  
  Haven’t listened yet, but will today while driving.
  
  Business-wise, we have a pretty average week, though I did hit a new milestone. On amazon, I finally hit my arbitrary sales goal of $10,000 in a month. I ended up doing $10,154 in sales in August. Of that, profit works out to around $4,000 after fees, COGS, shipping, etc. That converts to over $5,000 Canadian.
  
  On ebay, we were doing an average amount of listing, and saw a slightly below average level of sales.
  
  Personally, we took possession of our new house on Saturday morning. The house is pretty much move-in ready, so today we’ll start moving our stuff over there slowly (we still have our current home rented until the end of September). On Sunday, I started work on clearing out the garage, and will start cleaning the floors/etc today in preparation for laying down a new floor coating, painting the walls and ceiling, and changing out the light fixtures. It’ll take two or three weeks to be completely done with the work there, after which, we’ll move the business in.
- 09/03/2019 at 8:09 am #67310
  simplicio
  Participant
  Location:
  @simplicio
  I agree that ebay solds are a good resource for pricing, but for anyone who doesn’t know, watchcount.com lets you see the same price history, with the difference that actual make-offer sale prices are shown in place of the original asking price, which is all that ebay shows you. I find this useful enough to justify the hassle. I keep a watchcount tab open on my phone & use it for field research.
  
  August has been my best month ever on ebay for both sales and cashflow, so this week was great.
  
  Sales: CAD$3995, 6 items, COGS: $451 –> Item profit: $2951
  Expenditures: $711 –> Cashflow: $2691
  Listed: $310, 12 items
  Hours: 7
  Notable sales: my big sale was a single photon counter module, for $2200, shipped to Hong Kong. However, there is a fairly high risk of return on this and I won’t be pulling funds out of Paypal just yet. I hope it isn’t broken because I have one more to sell. Also sold a projector lens for $500.
  - 09/03/2019 at 8:59 am #67311
    Jay
    Keymaster
    
    Location: Virginia
    @jay
    Amazing sale. That photon counter module as high as the biggest sale we’ve ever had.
    
    Is this one of those pieces of equipment that you cant really test and just hope for the best? –How often do these kind of industrial items get returned.
    –Do you just refund and tell them to keep it?
    - 09/03/2019 at 9:05 am #67312
      simplicio
      Participant
      
      Location:
      @simplicio
      
      Yeah, it’s exciting. I couldn’t really test this one, no – I think you would need a full lab optical setup. I’m not sure whether I’ll ask for it back if they want to return – I’d have to do more research on whether it’s got any parts use. My gut says no, so I’d probably just refund.
      
      The return rate is pretty low on scientific equipment, but this item is particularly high risk as I understand if it’s turned on in ambient lighting the circuits get fried. Just crossing my fingers at the moment.
- 09/03/2019 at 1:34 pm #67325
  ChristineR
  Participant
  Location: Southern California
  @christiner
  Thanks for making the podcasts while you are managing the new job and everything else.
  
  I finally have my dad moved in and almost unpacked. There are just a few clean up items left and a half day of cleaning construction dust and unpacking. I should be able to resume listing shortly. I really should clean up my old listings first and do inventory since I’m down by half to just about 200 listings. I’ve have to admit being distracted during the podcasts over the summer. I do recall this:
  
  Delete parcel select.
  FedEx Home for any packages over 12x12x12, not USPS.
  Use flat rate for priority whenever possible.
  Don’t sign up for managed payments until required.
  
  Anything else I missed? I think FedEx Smartpost does not produce any savings over home, correct? I don’t often have too many heavy things that fit into the regional boxes but should keep that in mind. Finally, I rarely use the paper flat rate envelopes vs. first class. What kind of item are people using those for?
  
  Thanks scavengers! Have a good week.
- 09/03/2019 at 2:52 pm #67330
  VintageTreasures
  Participant
  Location:
  @vintagetreasures
  ChristineR: I use the paper flat rate priority envelopes vs first class when the item weighs more than a pound and can’t go first class (of course I check first and make sure that priority flat rate is less expensive than just priority). I send vintage NIP bed linens in them sometimes.
  - 09/04/2019 at 10:47 am #67357
    So Cal Joe
    Participant
    
    Location:
    @so-cal-joe
    Yes, the Flat Rate Padded Envelopes and Media Mail are my two favorite USPS shipping methods.
    - 09/04/2019 at 12:33 pm #67373
      ChristineR
      Participant
      
      Location: Southern California
      @christiner
      
      Thank you both. I totally use the PFR but wondering what people use the cardboard flat rate envelope. It would have to be over a pound but thin and not too wide. Vintage sheets I put in the PFR but probably should have done the cardboard one as it’s a bit cheaper.
      
      I just got a notice that they are adding item specifics to Home and Garden in early October, so I might wait until then to update my old listings. I only have 152 unique ones left – wow.
- 09/03/2019 at 5:24 pm #67333
  DantheDiner
  Participant
  Location:
  @danthediner
  Hi. Very psyched you guys are trying out Facebook finally.
  
  1. Yes, people can pay through Facebook. They will still usually prefer cash, but the Facebook Pay option is outstanding. It transfers money quickly, and for free, between checking accounts. You don’t need a separate site account; both parties just need to give them their debit card. Once it’s on file, you can send and request money with strangers as easily as you can on Venmo.
  2. You’re right about Facebook Marketplace concentrating your posts to your immediately surrounding neighbors. However, you’re going to receive plenty of messages from further away. If you’re selling something specialized, FB will bring your posts up to people states away. I ship over Facebook all the time. Requires more trust on behalf of the buyer, but it works.
  3. You’re going to receive more “is this available” posts than you would over Craigslist because the algorithms advertise it more thoroughly, and Facebook makes it meaninglessly easy for people to demonstrate interest. This can get very annoying. Usually automatic responses options pop up if you’re looking at Facebook Messenger on your cell. I recommend just clicking the “Yes” in response to everyone, and not thinking about a conversation until they send you a second message.
  4. I am earning more here than I am on eBay (not overall. on individual items). No fees, and you aren’t faced with the price competition than you are on eBay. People want things they can get too quickly. There aren’t going to be a whole lot of people selling the same things in the same region. I would strongly recommend listing furniture and computers/electronics – better than anywhere.
  - 09/03/2019 at 5:45 pm #67336
    Jay
    Keymaster
    
    Location: Virginia
    @jay
    Cool. We had no idea there was Facebook Pay. Are they becoming a serious competitor to eBay?
    
    So far we have no bites. But we also may not be selling the stuff people want. Only a handful of things listed.
    - 09/03/2019 at 5:55 pm #67337
      DantheDiner
      Participant
      
      Location:
      @danthediner
      
      Not competitor to eBay; competitor to Craigslist. It has absolutely outcompeted Craigslist up here in North Jersey. I still list things on both because it’s just a matter of copy/paste, but I must have at least 4x as much business through Facebook.
      
      It’s really good for most of the things Craigslist is good for: affordably priced furniture, electronics, home goods. There is also a host of things I now sell only because Facebook enables me to. Things like appliances, cheap housewares, large kids toys are bulky and don’t make much over eBay. Craigslist wasn’t great for them because it relied on people specifically searching for them. But Facebook will advertise them to anyone with similar search histories, and people will buy stuff just because it’s cheap enough and seems mildly helpful – think garage sale model.
      
      It’s also a REALLY good platform for sourcing. I see new bulk posts every time I look at Marketplace. Tons more efficient than Craigslist. I may buy as often as I sell.
      - 09/03/2019 at 6:44 pm #67338
        
        Jay
        Keymaster
        
        Location: Virginia
        @jay
        
        –Can you give me some sense of numbers of what you sell? How much do you have listed at any one time?
        –How much do you make in a month off facebook?
        –Do you ever pay for ads to promote your items?
        
        09/04/2019 at 8:16 am #67347
        
        amandaw
        Participant
        
        Location:
        @amandaw
        
        To add to the Facebook marketplace discussion, if you sell specialized items (for instance, mid century modern or kitsch), there are Facebook groups you can join for those type of markets. Then when you list an item on Facebook, it will show you a list of groups you can post to. This is a great way to get your high dollar furniture or art to a specific buyer. Here is a link to one group for mcm: https://www.facebook.com/groups/303543106496344/?ref=share
        
        And I second the fact that sourcing is really good. It’s basically an online yard sale for many people. Also a lot of people do porch pickup where you go pick up the item whenever is convenient and either pay in advance through PayPal/Venmo/Facebook or leave cash on their porch.
- 09/03/2019 at 10:18 pm #67340
  jillann
  Participant
  Location:
  @jill
  First time to post here!
  August 25 – 31
  Total Items in Store: 360
  Items Sold: 7
  Gross Sales: $746
  Cost of Items Sold: $240
  Highest Price Sold: $275 (St. John Jacket/Tank)
  Average Price Sold: $106
  Returns: 0
  Items listed – 0
  
  Three items sold within minutes of sending offers to watchers! I recently purchased a lot of very nice St. John clothing and it’s selling very well. It’s worth it to pay up for quality pieces.
  - 09/04/2019 at 9:28 am #67354
    Jay
    Keymaster
    
    Location: Virginia
    @jay
    Paying $30 to make $275 seems like a good idea. Where’d you find all the St Johns clothes?
- 09/04/2019 at 8:21 am #67348
  amandaw
  Participant
  Location:
  @amandaw
  I have a question about managed payments. How does paying for shipping work? If I sell an item today and the money doesn’t show up until 3 days from now, do I have to front the shipping money or do they wait until you ship to take funds from the sale and then deposit the remaining amount (sales price – shipping costs) into your account? I am going to miss having the funds immediately available with the PayPal debit card. But this means I need to build up business savings which is a good idea anyways.
- 09/04/2019 at 5:45 pm #67393
  jillann
  Participant
  Location:
  @jill
  I purchased them at an estate sale at 50%. The day before I scoped out what was left and went prepared to buy a lot. My friend helped me just for the fun of it. In all I spent $2000, but so far I’ve grossed $3500 on 15 of the 45 outfits that I purchased. It’s been a busy summer and I’m still in the process of listing. Hope to put up the remaining outfits next week and have most of them sold in the next 2 months. Definitely worth the big investment.
- 09/04/2019 at 5:57 pm #67394
  jillann
  Participant
  Location:
  @jill
  I’m a little off on my numbers. I’ve sold 17 outfits for $3603 and have 25 listings up for sale(total up for sale is $6607) and another 10 or so to list.
  - 09/04/2019 at 5:59 pm #67395
    Jay
    Keymaster
    
    Location: Virginia
    @jay
    Im impressed you were willing to bet $2k on the lot. Looks like a good buy. Paying $40 to make $200 on each outfit. Great profit.
    
    This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by Jay.
- 09/05/2019 at 9:08 am #67415
  Retro Treasures WV
  Participant
  Location:
  @retro-treasures-wv
  Items in Store 1171
  Items Sold 24
  Total Sales $1,069.50
  COGS $67.00
  Total Profit $1,002.50
  Average profit $41.77
  Average sales price $44.56
  New Listings 0
  
  So….I didn’t plan on being here reporting my numbers this week. We got to the beach on Saturday and on Sunday evening we were informed we had to evacuate by noon Monday. Major freaking buzzkill. I did get my money back at least…
  
  Anyways, Summer goal final report:
  My total summer goal was $11375 in sales and I ended at $10385.90 for a shortfall of $989.10. Not bad! I set a lofty goal of more than double the average business I was doing and I feel pretty damn good about that. I had my first “natural” $1000 week – which is when I don’t have a monster sale that skews my numbers. Just bread n butter items with the occasional $100 item. I didn’t just have one of them, I had 3 of them this summer!
  
  Yesterday my wife and I were discussing what goal we want to meet for September thru the end of the year. We settled on $4000 a month in sales. There are 17 weeks from 9/1 through the end of the year so I have to average $941 a week in sales. Challenge accepted & spreadsheet created!
  
  In other news, this week the Under Armour Camo stuff started selling. I’ve already sold 4 of the zipper sweatshirts for $65 a pop. So glad I went all in on that lot!
- 09/05/2019 at 1:49 pm #67422
  Doublythumbs
  Participant
  Location: Hopedale, OH
  @doublythumbs
  Aug. 25 – 31
  Total Items in Store: 2477
  Items Sold: 10
  Total Sales : $388
  * Below yearly average of $932
  Highest Price: $120 (Martino Landi Christmas Nativity Set)
  Average Price: $39
  Returns: 0
  Cost of Goods Sold: $15
  Costs of Goods Purchased this Week: $0
  Number of New Items Listed this Week: 0
  
  I’m a little late in posting this week. We got back from our vacation to Georgia a couple days ago and I just now had some time to catch up on the podcasts. Last week was a very soft week for me, but I feel that that happens when I put my store on vacation mode. Things still sell enough, but I have to wonder if my sales would have been better if not for that.
  
  But I have no regrets because Steph and I had a fantastic time! We went to this huge comic/geek convention called Dragon Con (apparently the largest in eastern US). We spent some time with some friends and even made some new ones. We’ll probably do it again next year.
  
  I made a great sale this last Sunday. I sold an industrial chemical mixer that my dad picked up for scrap price of around $10. I took a best offer of $1200. Unfortunately, I don’t think the buyer realized that it was for pick-up only even though it was in all caps in the title! But he seems to be still interested so I’m going to attempt to help him with setting up a uShip delivery. Hopefully he’ll be understanding enough.
  - 09/05/2019 at 3:56 pm #67428
    Jay
    Keymaster
    
    Location: Virginia
    @jay
    Glad you guys are enjoying your new independent living. I’m old enough to remember when playing D&D meant you were satanic. I just enjoyed the storytelling 🙂
    
    Good luck on that big sale. Hope it works out.
- 09/05/2019 at 5:12 pm #67430
  Halfcocked Reseller
  Participant
  Location:
  @halfcocked-reseller
  Just a quick tip on adding pictures to listings without using the ebay app If you have a Mac and an iPhone and they are linked via iCloud
  
  Create a folder on the Mac desktop (right click then new folder)
  
  Rename new folder as EBAY Pictures
  
  And wait for a while.
  
  Go to your iPhone and open the files app
  
  go to iCloud Drive then desktop and see if the file EBAY Pictures is showing
  
  if so.. your ready
  
  Get all your items together and picture everything in one go (say 20 items worth)
  
  Go into the photos app and select all the pictures you have taken (blue tick them)
  
  the click the box with the arrow pointing up (its left of “Add To” and it will open some options
  
  on the bottom row it says “save to files” so press that
  
  select iCloud Drive – then desktop – then scroll down to EBAY pictures so its highlighted then press add which is top right of the screen (when you next do this iPhone tends to remember where you want to put your pics next time when you photo another set of items)
  
  wait one minute and then go back to the Mac and open the EBAY picture file and they will be there
  
  When you start listing you can then press the plus button on pictures and find that EBAY pictures folder to put the pics into the listing.. once you do this once, the Mac remembers that folder while you list other items..
  
  Once you use the pics delete them from that folder and the iPhone and you’re set to go again
  
  I use to do listings on the Mac then use the ebay app to add pics then go back to the Mac to finish off but this way is soooo much quicker
  
  I hope this helps someone
  - This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by Halfcocked Reseller.
  - 09/05/2019 at 5:15 pm #67432
    Jay
    Keymaster
    
    Location: Virginia
    @jay
    Interesting hack. Why not just upload the photos through the eBay app on the phone using wifi?
- 09/05/2019 at 7:05 pm #67433
  Halfcocked Reseller
  Participant
  Location:
  @halfcocked-reseller
  Because I create the listing from the photo. I normally have 50 – 100 items photographed ready, then when I have time I jump on the Mac, create a listing, put the pics and whilst they are uploading I’m picking the category and filling in the blanks..
  
  Then onto the next listing, no need to jump between devices and cuts out waiting time for the pics to upload via the app.. (I assume you use the camera app not actually take the pictures in the eBay app as I find it doesn’t produce as good a picture than if you use the iPhone camera app)
  
  Rule number one.. you will always be able to list if you have the pics!!
  
  Soon as stock comes in I’m picturing it cause half the battle is having the pics ready.. once listed you delete the pics so you don’t confuse yourself on what’s been listed.
  
  You could be in a doctors surgery waiting to be seen and list on your Mac, whilst your waiting for a call you can jump on the Mac and list because the pictures are already there for those spare moments.. or if my wife has time she knows she can list for me as the pictures are there and just get on with listing.
  
  I used to do the draft and pic way but I found the wait uploading pics annoying..
  - This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by Halfcocked Reseller.
  - 09/06/2019 at 12:44 pm #67474
    almasty
    Participant
    
    Location:
    @alamasty
    Couldn’t you just airdrop the photos between your iphone and macbook if you’re too impatient to wait for them to transfer between devices through icloud?
- 09/06/2019 at 9:44 am #67451
  Castle Rock Emporium
  Participant
  Location: Between Boston & Providence
  @elizabeth
  I am scrolling through hoping to find the the URL that goes back to Classic Shipping labels. Can you post it? Thanks! Elizabeth
- 09/06/2019 at 10:11 am #67452
  Temudgin
  Participant
  Location: Jacksonville FL
  @temudgin
  The way I do it is to open the shipping label page for the item, delete the words “new_label” in the url and replace with “back_to_classic”, without the quotes. I don’t use bulk labels so I’m not sure if there is a way to do it other than for each individual label.
  - 09/06/2019 at 10:46 am #67454
    So Cal Joe
    Participant
    
    Location:
    @so-cal-joe
    The original post by Temudgin.
    
    A Workaround If You Hate the New Ebay Shipping Label Page
    
    This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by So Cal Joe.
    - 09/06/2019 at 10:53 am #67456
      Temudgin
      Participant
      
      Location: Jacksonville FL
      @temudgin
      
      Thanks! I had forgotten about that post.
- 09/06/2019 at 11:11 am #67458
  Doublythumbs
  Participant
  Location: Hopedale, OH
  @doublythumbs
  I have a semi-permanent solution (at least until eBay updates their code) for keeping the classic label page without having to change the URL every time. I use a browser add-on called Redirector. It’s available for both Firefox and Chrome. It basically forces your browser to redirect to a specific URL. I’ve been using it for several months without any issues. Here’s a brief direction on setting it up:
  
  Search for the Redirector extension for your browser and install
  Open the extension settings (the icon is an “R” made from an arrow)
  Click Create New Redirect
  In the boxes, copy and paste these following texts exactly as they appear here in their proper boxes:
  
  Description:
  eBay Classic Shipping Label
  Example URL:
  https://gslblui.ebay.com/gslblui/new_label?transId=987654321&itemId=123456789012
  Include Pattern:
  https://gslblui.ebay.com/gslblui/new_label?*
  Redirect to:
  https://gslblui.ebay.com/gslblui/back_to_classic?$1
  Pattern Type:
  Wildcard
  Pattern Description:
  Exclude pattern:
  https://gslblui.ebay.com/gslblui/back_to_classic*
  Process matches:
  No Processing
  Apply to:
  Main Window (address bar)
- 09/07/2019 at 9:47 am #67500
  chaoticgood
  Participant
  Location: Kansas City, MO
  @chaoticgood
  My sales for 8/31-9/6
  
  Total Items In Store: 100+ (Poshmark/Ebay)
  Items Sold: 6
  Cost of Items Sold:I $2.50 sourcing / $14 items family doesn’t use but bought (Could consider that $0)
  Total Sales: $122
  Highest Price Sold: $40 for graphic used Girl Scout t-shirt; purchased as part of an auctioned Girl Scout lot ($3 for several items)
  
  I experimented with Free Shipping on my EBay items. I don’t know if it helped, but it let me list items faster. So all Ebay sales this week include shipping.
  
  Poshmark: Lucky Jeans $10
  Ebay: Mini purse $36; Talbots dress $20; lia Sophia Xmas pin $15; Girl Scout T $40
  
  * I tried the crosslisting service List Perfectly last weekend. It did result in three sales, but I found it, personally, not much faster than manually crosslisting.
  * I need to proofread my listings on a regular basis. Found some dumb typos.
  * I am feeling really overwhelmed with the amount of stuff I have to list, but I am trying to just keep listing. I took Monday off after getting over 50 listing up on EBay. I don’t have a “store” on Ebay and I have a 100 free listing credit that expires Monday. I’ll see how much I can get to.
  * I’m trying to get a bunch of books posted. I don’t know how lucrative that is, but I like the simple shipping.
  - 09/07/2019 at 10:24 am #67501
    Jay
    Keymaster
    
    Location: Virginia
    @jay
    Do you plan to actually sell consistently on eBay? if so, getting store subscription is financially smart because of cheaper listing fees. If you try to play the “only list when I have free listings”, you’ll make a little money here and there as you sell one or two things.
    
    Books are probably the most competitive category other than clothes. If you have a rare book, they sell well. If its a common book, you compete with the 1-cent book sellers.
    - 09/07/2019 at 12:00 pm #67508
      chaoticgood
      Participant
      
      Location: Kansas City, MO
      @chaoticgood
      
      I agree, I’m probably going to want to sign up for an actual store. I started looking at the help pages on that, and was glad to see there are different levels. I don’t know that they did it that way when I started with eBay long, long ago. But I’m also in a stage of testing myself, seeing that I can keep up and keep listing on a consistent basis.
      As far as books, I’m mostly listing things I’m casting off. I don’t think it would make sense to source books (other than freebies). Most of mine are gardening/homesteading, school texts from my public administration classes, crafts, and a few super old books. Right now I have a 1930s real estate book and 1906 copy of Call of the Wild up for sale. I wouldn’t mess with popular fiction or nonfiction. I did quite a few used book sales on half.com and Amazon. If it’s not above $10, I’m not going to bother. I’m finding that when I check comps, about half the things I planned to list are not worth listing.
      - 09/12/2019 at 3:07 pm #67724
        
        chaoticgood
        Participant
        
        Location: Kansas City, MO
        @chaoticgood
        
        Did I just say that I didn’t source and sell books? Well, that changed with my auction pick-up yesterday. I’ll post my “what sold” in the current podcast thread tomorrow.
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