Scavenger Life Episode 493: eBay Helping Buyers Understand Shipping Delays

Hey, ratings can only be left for something that’s in the eBay Product Catalogue. I was just emailing their team about my company’s products. There’s no public rules that I could find about it, but generally it seems as though they only include products with UPCs.

Total Items in Store: 315
Items Sold: 3
Gross Sales: $148
Cost of Items Sold: $64
Highest Price Sold: $59 (New pajamas – paid $24 summer clearance)
Average Price Sold: $49
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 0

Happy holidays everyone!  I bought a comfy oversized Broad Porch Coffee hoodie today.  I still haven’t tried the coffee.  I mistakenly bought a used Bonavita pot on Amazon that I returned and then got a great deal on Thanksgiving for a brand new one.  Tomorrow I open the bags.   I’m never going back to dressing up for the office.

Sales were slow, but I had 10 day handling on, which I switched to 7 day today.  I think they were all sales to men who didn’t read the delivery date and bought the items as gifts, so I really hope they arrive before xmas.

Thanks for the podcast during the dreadful 2020.  I look forward to 2021 and hope your success continues in the new year.

P.S. re browsers, what do people recommend?  We have Microsoft for now, having taken Google Chrome off at the request of a geek squad helper.  I can’t use some websites on Explorer.  Thanks!

Thanks for the podcast R&J.

Here are my numbers for this week:
Total Items in Store: 4337
Items Sold: 62
Total Sales: $1322.96
Cost of Items Sold: $233
Average Price Sold: $21.34
Average Cost of Item: $3.77
Highest Price Item Sold: $89.95 Lot of 8 Villeroy & Boch Festive Memories Salad Plates
Number of items listed this week: 61
YTD sales compared to this time last year: +22%
Average number of days between listing and selling this week: 219
Median age of sales (in days, between listing and selling): 108
Hats sold this week: 34 (54% of sales) worth $616 (46% of sales $)

I had a surprisingly good week considering that sales slowed down towards the end after shipping deadlines passed.

[Knock on wood] I only had one package that really went awry.  I shipped it via First Class on Nov. 27th and it was delivered on December 19th after getting stuck with no movement for 2 weeks.  I refunded a very patient customer before it started moving again.

New ebay feature:  I may have missed the discussions in the forum somewhere but ebay rolled out the new cheap shipping option, with tracking, for shipping sports cards this week.  It is discussed in detail on the ebay for business podcast : https://community.ebay.com/t5/The-eBay-for-Business-Podcast/Episode-121-FireSide-Chat-w-Sucharita-Kodali-of-Forrester/ba-p/31429980  (jump to 17 minutes in). It sounds like it will cost under $1 to get tracking for sports cards that are under $20 and they hope to roll out this feature later for things like postcards.

Since it’s nearly the end of the year it’s probably time for end-of-year numbers to appear.  This is what my 2020 monthly sales looked like (see the purple line at the top) compared to past years:

I hope everyone takes time to enjoy the holidays.

Hi folks.

Felt like a slow week this week but looking back at the numbers – not so bad.

Sales: CAD$2084, 11 sales, COGS: $472, Fees: ~$258, Postage: $397 –> Gross profit: $957

Expenses: $81, New inventory: $199 –> Cashflow: $1150

Moving quite a few of my Voip phones this week, which is nice as they are bulky boxes.

I had planned to go all-in on a local auction but I stupidly forgot about it on the day of the auction and got wrapped up in work. Kinda kicking myself but there will be other chances.

In a way, I may have profited from the Post Officapocalypse.   About two weeks ago Ebay for Business’ FB page had a Hustle for the Holidays post.  All we had to do was comment on how we are hustling to make holiday sales.  A random commenter would win a $200 ebay gift card and I won!  My comment on the post wasn’t clever in any way.  The odds were just very much in my favor because out of the 200ish comments, at least half were sellers complaining to ebay about the escalating shipping issues.  Since they didn’t answer the hustle question, their comment wasn’t in the running for the $200.  I’ve spent $50 of it so far but now that I have free eBay money, I can’t think of anything I need or want – a good problem to have.  HEY! Maybe I’ll treat myself to a bag of Broad Porch!

Dec 13 – 19

Total Items in Store: 4,090

Items Sold: 35

Total Sales :  $939

BELOW yearly average of $1,040

Highest Price:  $75 (Vintage R. F. Brown Sailor Boy Oyster Tin Can)

Average Price:  $27

Returns:  1

Cost of Goods Sold:  $50

Costs of Goods Purchased this Week:  $0

Number of New Items Listed this Week: 37

Another very decent week of sales here! Lots of lower priced items were selling and nothing over $75, but I can’t complain. I was curious to know how I’m doing compared to my old job at the university, so I did some quick calculations this morning. Taking into account estimated tax payments and health/dental insurance (as well as eBay fees and COGS), I’ve profited over $6,000 more so far this year than I did at my old job. That’s a really nice feeling, knowing that this business that I started from the ground up is succeeding. And not to even mention all the other benefits of working for oneself…

I’ve been working on a pile of Kensington aluminum kitchenware this past week. I got it really cheap at an auction and thought I scored a winner. This stuff is really cool with fancy art deco etching and ornate handles. But unfortunately the market just isn’t there for this kind of stuff. I was surprised, given the age and the history of the company, that very few people desire it anymore. Judging from my research, just 15 years ago this stuff would have sold for 10x what it’s worth now. I guess I just missed the market.

12/12/20-12/18/20

Total Items In Store: 2283
Items Sold: 71
Gross Sales: $2483
Highest Price Sold: $350 (Ingersoll Rand Pump Diaphragm Repair Kit)
Average Price Sold: $34.97

Returns:  2 $300
Money Spent on New Inventory: $43
Number of items listed: 63

• Another amazing week in sales. I beat my single day record from last week in total number of items sold in a day with 21 items sold last Saturday for just over $600.
• I had a good mixed of high and low dollar items this week and my slowest day was still 6 sales.
• Ouch…a couple of big returns this week. It was bound to happen with sales being so high the last few weeks, but still a bummer.
• I ran bone dry on inventory to list on Friday. That hasn’t happened since the beginning of the pandemic when I couldn’t get inventory anywhere.  I had a nice haul from an online auction pickup on Saturday and also picked up a few items at an outdoor auction later on Saturday.  This is usually a tough time of year to pick up new inventory in my area, so my listings are going to be hit or miss until the holidays are over.
• I opted to not make any changes to my handling times over the shipping slowdown. I keep mine on one day handling time.  I’ve had 3 cases opened in the last couple weeks, but all eventually got there and the cases were closed.  I have one new one open, but the package started moving again this morning.

I have a few delayed items, and I’m getting updated tracking for all but one. The one item is stuck in Michigan, and the buyer is not being patient (it’s also a Christmas themed item, so I get it).  If I lose that one, I might have to pay the $15 to reroute the item back to me as it did have an $89 price tag.

I recently received an email from an international buyer wondering where his item was. He bought a book in May, but never paid for it. So, I agree, some of the NPB are those who don’t realize that they didn’t pay and they don’t check their email much.

Before the pandemic happened, I had an insurance case where the post office told me that I had to bring the item into a post office for inspection. Although I had already refunded the buyer, they did take it into the PO, but were denied because they had thrown out the packaging. So, yes, the post office is pushing back on insurance claims.

For a packing slip, I use the bulk shipping tool, and then print out the “picking list”. I cut up the list to make small packing slips. I use those to match the item with the label, and then throw it in the package before taping up. It has the item, the price, and the address. I always write “Thanks, Sharyn” on it for a personal touch.

Week of Dec 13 – 19
Total Items in Store: 1445 eBay, 27 Etsy
Items Sold: 23 eBay
Cost of Items Sold: $35 + $228 Commission
Total Sales: $841.22 eBay
Highest Price Sold: $257.70 for 6 sterling soup spoons (on commission)
Average price: $36.57
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 29

I had a really good week, but it was mostly due to several items on commission, so my COGS are high as well. I have one family friend that I sell for.

FYI,

a buyer opened an item not received case. I uploaded tracking and messaged buyer. Couple days later buyer asked eBay to step in and eBay auto refunded them.  Contacted eBay and they basically said “ tough crap” even when I pointed out their 10 days announcement.

Oh and that $93 shipping refund from the Hawaii fiasco – still never got it. I am PISSED at eBay this week.

Oh, the shipping.  Lots of packages that haven’t even gotten origin scans after more than a week.  I have fewer now though, so some have broken through the log jam.  The one package that I joked about getting frequent flyer miles due to its circuitous route finally arrived.  Doesn’t make a lot of sense.  I dropped a large stack of packages at the PO on the 12th an none got origin scans, but about half have now shown as delivered while others still show no origin scan.  ????  I have one refund I’m expecting to hit from a package I sent to South Africa in October. Buyer has been patient mostly, but I think they’ve hit their limit.  I told them to open a case if they want a refund.  And I had one non-fragile item break in shipping.  Must have really been slammed hard.  I’ve only had about 5 packages ever damaged (knocks on wood), so a rarity for me.

At least things are selling. Keeping my fingers crossed that no one gets too upset.  Had a great sale of a late 1800’s original Currier & Ives print.  Pretty cool depiction of America personified as Columbia.  Sold for an offer of $600 on an asking of $1000.  That really saved the week.  I’m tracking at about the same level for this December as last year, but without a few big dollar sales would be down.  Bid on two auctions this week.  Most interesting purchase is a Knucklehead ventriloquist doll from the 1950’s.

Week Ending 12/19/20
Total Items in Store: 1176
Items Sold: 30
Gross Sales: $2,142.84
Net Sales (after fees, shipping, etc.) $1,549.33
Cost of Items Sold: $103.84
COGS Percent 6.70%
Highest Price Sold: $600.00 Currier & Ives Print
Average Price Sold: $51.64
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory: $364.50
Sold via promoted listings: 15
Promoted Percentage: 50.00%
Average Days Listed: 220
Longest Listed: 851
New items listed: 4

Definitely had a slow week last week and this week isn’t shaping up to be any better. I have never had great sales the two weeks before Christmas. I won’t bore you with the details, but last week I sold 5 things for $59.10. I went from Friday until late Monday night without any sales, which makes my sales for this week $10 so far…..but I am slogging my way through the death pile with the rule list it or pitch it.

I know things will pick up again next week. Usually my after Christmas sales are pretty good and with the stimulus checks going out people may feel more like spending money. I’m not worried-except about gaining weight-I’ve replaced shipping with baking lol!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Peaceful Solstice, Merry Festuvus or whatever you chose to celebrate to all my fellow Trash Elves! HoHoHo!

I seriously feel like I’m playing whack a mole today in terms of answering customers shipping questions on all the venues I sell on.  As soon as one question on one site is cleared out, another one pops up on another.

Try selling primarily books that go out media mail during this time of year!  Hardly any have been delivered over the past 2 weeks from any of the sites I sell on, but at least all of them show last scans back to the 16th at the latest.  A lot of them are being rerouted thousands of miles away from both the origin and destination points.

I’m not looking forward to the inevitable avalanche of INR cases and negative feedbacks – I’m already fighting one I received on Etsy today for an item that is in transit but won’t arrive in time for Christmas – not that I promised it would be!

I stopped creating new listings on any of my venues 10 days ago and will continue to not list anything new until the first or second week of January.  I’m just doing ship outs 6 days a week of items already listed.  I have a 2 day handling time but have been consistently getting all shipments out within 1 business day over the past few months.

My strategy of shipping only Fedex or UPS has paid off.  Most of my Fedex and UPS packages are getting delievered in 3-4 days.

All packages except 3 (USPS ones from 10 days ago or more) that were expected before Christmas have been delivered.

Mark S

@Julie-B , I read your comment mentioning sourcing and driving to Atlanta for two hours. How long is a drive to Chattanooga, TN. I saw they have a goodwill outlet there. Could Goodwill outlet be a viable locale of sourcing for goods you are looking for?

I had an item that sold on Nov. 25 and shipped USPS that day and did not arrive to them in U.S. (I live in U.S.) until Dec. 24th.

Week ending 12/20

Items in Store    1422

Items Sold           26

Total Sales          $1,000.00

COGS    $62.00

Total Profit         $938.00

Average profit   $36.08

Average sales price          $38.46

New Listings       11