Scavenger Life Episode 325: New Rental Done, Now Hopping On A Plane!

Loved the podcast! The concept of moving to a small town, lower the cost of living and driving to scavenge is something that Veronica and I are planning to do. We have the general area picked out, and when we have the timing right with our boys and college, we will be there!

Week of 8/27-9/2
Total Items in Store: 1,711
Number of Items Listed: 80
Number of Items Sold: 85
Weekly STR: 21%
Total Product Sales: $2,174.63
Cost of Items Sold: $470.28
Gross Profit for Week: $1,337.94
Highest Item Sold: $85 – Nike Onfield DeMarcus Ware #94 Jersey
Competition: Highest Priced Sale: Troy wins the week (Finally!!!) and Veronica leads for the year 20-14.

August 2017
Number of Items Listed: 464 (Forecast: 400)
Number of Items Sold: 296 (Forecast: 223)
Monthly STR: 20% (Forecast: 15%)
Total Product Sales: $6,800.25 (Forecast: $4,719) – Increase of 128% YOY
Cost of Items Sold: $1,660 (Forecast: $1,180)
Gross Profit $4,077.17 (Forecast: $2,545)

We ended August very strong, with some of our best daily sales of the year, and so far, it is continuing into September. My forecast for September at a 20% STR would put us at 349 items sold, and using an Average Selling Price of $21.75 would put Product Sales at $7,590. Hoping that we beat it! We also crossed the 1,700 level for the first time. 1,800 is next…

We will be going to the Nebraska Junk Jaunt later this month (4-Day Statewide Garage Sale) and visiting our son at York College, so our last big Garage Sale spend for the year. Let us know if any of you other Trash Elves will be there!

Aug. 27 – Sep. 2
Total Items in Store: 531
Items Sold: 14
Total Sales (Gross Profit): $472
Highest Price: $125 (Vintage Thomas Mills & Bros Cast Iron Monkey Lollipop Candy Mold)
Average Price: $34
Returns: 0
Cost of Items Sold: $41
Costs of Items Purchased this Week: $130

I want to start off by saying that I am super jealous of your trip! It’s always been my dream to go on long adventures like that. I hope you guys have a great time! Maybe you can take some video like your Amsterdam trip before. I’d love to see it.

I had a lot better numbers last week. I took a lot of best offers for clunky items that I wanted out of inventory so that I can make room for new and better inventory. And I’ve been quickly getting my stock up again, going to auctions and yard sales just about every weekend. In a weird way, the flood helped to get rid of a lot of dead inventory so now I can kind of start fresh with the knowledge of what sells and what sits for a long time.

I got my new photo setup all finished and started taking pictures again. Right now I’m using this little Canon point and shoot and it’s so frustrating. I was used to my Nikon DSLR with a tripod. I’ve got big hands, and trying to take pictures with this little thing is really difficult. I feel like I’ll break it soon, but I will admit it takes some fine photos.

Have a safe trip! And have fun!

Store Week 8/27/17 – 9/2/17

Total items in store: 1507
Items sold: 13
Cost of items sold: $16.33
Total sales: $431.43
Highest price sold: $50.00 (Vintage die-cut witch Halloween decoration)
Average price sold: $33.19
International Sales: 1
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory this week: $20.00

I sold several items this week right after listing, including the Halloween decoration. I think you may have mentioned these on the podcast sometime way back, but for anyone who doesn’t know, these are great sellers! The older the better, especially the ones marked Biestle. This one didn’t seem too old (maybe 70s?), and didn’t have a brand on it, but still sold quickly for $50. And it went to an LA production designer, so that was fun. I’m hoping to see my little witch on the big screen someday!

Making and stuffing the freezer with zucchini bread this morning. Then I will listen and get to work! I did look at the listing for your rental already and it is GORGEOUS! I want to live there! Excellent work, excellent taste!

Numbers for month of August

Total Listings: 841
Sold 53 Items for $1166
Cost of Items Sold: $145
Highest Price Sold: $90 – Pamphlet, History of John Browning .22 Caliber Rifle
Average Price Sold: $22
Spent on new inventory: $200
Number of items listed: 74

I spent more than I planed for new inventory but I just couldn’t resist the good deals at an estate sale I went to. I spent $125 for several large boxes of wool yarn, 10 small boxes that each had 12 balls of French Angora (rabbit hair) yarn and 3 boxes of misc. I have sold 5 of the misc. items (some with free shipping) for $129 already, and I haven’t even started to list the yarn yet.

I use a mix of free shipping and paid. If the item is vintage and only 1 or 2 are listed on eBay, then I charge shipping. But if 5 or more are listed then I will use free shipping.

Aug 28 to Sept 1 2017 $1480

• Total Items in Store: 846
• Items Sold: 20 Total 18 eBay / 2 Facebook Marketplace (2 sets of Jarts)
• International 1 via GSP
• Total Sales $1515 $1315 eBay / $200 FB Marketplace
• Highest Price $500 starburst clock
• Average Price Sold: $76
• Returns: 1 Garrard turntable headshell, changed mind (already resold)
• Cost of Items Sold: $111
• Cost of items purchased this week $100

I wonder if that site would have worked the $400 TV set that I shipped the day of the eclipse? It had never shown a scan, says sender has prepared the shipping label, the buyer contacted me to let me know a few days after shipping and I told him it would probably be updated. I never heard back from him so I guess he got it. Still shows no scan or that it arrived, could be trouble if an unscrupulous buyer opened a case.

The $400 Fender amp I shipped to the GSP center in Kentucky bound for Australia was intercepted and rejected for shipment, the buyer was refunded and I kept the money, wonder what happens to the amp?

Total Items in Store: 325
Items Sold: 6
Cost of Items Sold: $16 new + $14 used
Total Sales: $403
Highest Price Sold: $297 (Stephen Huneck Framed Dog Print – paid $5.99 at Goodwill 🙂 )
Average Price Sold: $67
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 8

Slow this week and no burst of sales after the day I listed, but I’m very happy with my art sale. We are having record heat out here in So Cal. San Francisco was like 106 degrees earlier this weekend. It really zaps your energy. Not much buying either for me, either RA or thrifts. Hoping to put Ebay back on the front burner again soon. Love the pics of your new place. Travel safely.

RR Store Week August 27-Sept 2, 2017

Total Items in Store: 1,342
Items Sold: 26
Cost of Items Sold: $30.75
Total Sales: $499.29
Highest Price Sold: $95 (lot of 9 reel to reel tapes)
Average Price Sold: $19.20
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 15

How exciting for you two! And you’re like the third couple I know that is visiting Iceland this summer. Who knew it was such a hot spot? (bad pun intended) Safe travels, and please take photos so we can live vicariously!

A minor medical condition had me at Urgent Care for a couple of days, plus some recovery time; that definitely cut into my listing. Thankfully, I’m just fine now, so back to the grindstone it is. No DJing tonight because of the holiday, no scheduled events, and my girlfriend is out of town until Sunday. Plenty of time to LIST. No distractions, no excuses.

*Paul*

Your new rental is breathtaking. THAT VIEW! Give me a view of the mountains over the ocean any day. The interior is so eclectic, inviting and fun!

I’m curious, do you ever have anyone take stuff? Do you allow people to buy things?

Loved the podcast. Always look forward to them.

Jay & Ryanne – I follow your stores, and I noticed an over $1500 sale of a vintage Louis Vuitton Briefcase. You didn’t mention it on the podcast. Did someone buy it by mistake and you had to cancel? Or was that a real sale?

I noticed when the $40 RCA mug sold. RCA was a big manufacturer of satellites with headquarters in NJ. When I started interviewing in my senior year of college (1986-87), RCA had just been purchased by GE. I did not interview with them at that time. My first job took me to LA, but I decided to move back to the East coast after about 5 years. I ended up with a job at GE as an engineer working on communication satellites (not weather). The name of the company changed twice and the plant was moved to PA during the over 20 years I worked there. When the plant moved again to Denver a few years ago, I decided not to go with it.

When I worked on a specific satellite program, I would often get a mug or shirt around the time it was ready for testing. The mug you sold was more of a general history of RCA weather satellites, so it was probably a company wide event. Maybe some day I will sell all of my company mugs, but I’m not ready to do that now. I don’t have anything from GE or RCA.

Anyway, my numbers …

Week of Aug 27 – Sept 2
* Total Items in Store: 974
* Items Sold: 14
* Cost of Items Sold: $18.82 + $10 Commission
* Total Sales: $263.20
* Highest Price Sold: $49 Set 6 Antique Bavarian Plates
* Average Price Sold: $18.80
* Returns: 0
* Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $55
* Number of items listed this week: about 25 end & sell similar, no new

The kids go back to school Wednesday. I will FINALLY be able to take photos and start back on listing. I have a HUGE backlog, which will take me quite some time to get through.

My sales reflect my lack of listing. However, I have been ending a few old listings each day and then relisting them with sell similar. My high sale of the antique plates was one of the “refreshed” listings, but it is the only one that has sold so far.

Can’t wait to hear about all of your European adventures!

Week August 27 – September 2, 2017

Total Items in Store: 936
Items Sold: 25 (2 Amazon)
Cost of Items Sold: $67 (9.2% of sales)
Total Sales: $726.41
Highest Price Sold: $90 (Bvlgari Sunglasses)
Average Price Sold: $29.06
Returns: 0 (1 NPB though)
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 0
Promoted listings test: 10 sales, $277.09 (38.1% of total sales), $15.49 fees (5.6% of sales)

Just got home from the holiday weekend. Spent Thurs-Mon in LA for a friend’s wedding. Wedding was beautiful at the Andaz overlooking the entire city on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, but the weather was so miserable – 105-112 degrees the days we were there. Just walking down the street to lunch I was drenched. Also shocked that restaurants really weren’t air conditioned much. I was taking 3 showers a day.

Sales continued to remain steady, even with some extended handling times. September is upon us an need to ramp up into the holiday season! Plan on doing some serious listing on Saturday & Sunday, perhaps even going out picking which I haven’t done in weeks.

Good to hear your update. That’s cool that the rental is done, it must be a load off!

I had a decent week for sales, 3 good sales and 2 of junk. Both make me happy.

Sales: CAD$423, 5 items, avg $85/item
COGS: $42
Gross profit after fees: $309
Expenditures (incl. new inventory): $117
Net profit: $192
Hours: 13.5, hourly rate $14/hr
Listed: 14 items, at least $650 value
Notable sales: I mentioned last week that I got about 80 sockets for $10 at a garage sale. Well I was going to sell them individually but I got lazy and lot sold the Snap-Ons for $150. That leaves the others to dispose of for I dunno, maybe $50. Also sold an MCM teak wall clock $5–>$64, and an old car security system NIB $7–>$125.

Did some solid scavenging and listing this week too, we’ll see how it all pans out. Riding helmets, exit signs, a whole bunch of wire, a vintage table hockey game, we got all this garbage and more on ebay dot com.

No huge home runs but I am looking at a possible big buy this week.

I don’t post very often, but I had to say that the new rental is beautiful! You guys have built such an amazing life. I’m looking forward to hearing about your travels.

HI JAY AND RYANNE! JUST STOPPING BY TO SAY HELLO! I STILL FOLLOW ALONG WITH YOU GUYS WHEN I GET THE TIME. SOUNDS LIKE EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL WITH BOTH OF YOU! I LOVE GETTING CAUGHT UP ON WHAT YOU’RE UP TO – I THINK IT’S BEEN OVER 3 YEARS SINCE WE LAST SPOKE BUT IT’S SO EXCITING TO SEE EVERYTHING YOU’VE BEEN ABLE TO DO OVER THAT TIME.

IN THAT TIME MY HUSBAND NATHAN HAS SINCE JOINED ME IN MY BUSINESS VENTURES – SO WE’RE OPERATING OUR “LAPTOP LIFESTYLE” TOGETHER FROM HOME NOW (HIS FORMER AUTO BODY SHOP BUILDING IS NOW OUR WAREHOUSE!). WE LOVE THE FREEDOM THAT COMES ALONG WITH IT, PARTICULARLY THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL, WORK WHEN WE WANT, STAY HOME WITH OUR DAUGHTER, ETC. THOUGH IT’S ADMITTEDLY DIFFICULT TO “SHUT THE WORK OFF” NOW THAT OUR BUSINESS IS LITERALLY INTERTWINED WITH OUR PERSONAL FAMILY LIFE.

ANYWAY, AS ALWAYS I LOVE LISTENING TO THE PODCAST WHILE I’M WORKING (AND WOULD YOU BELIEVE AS OF TODAY OUR DAUGHTER IS IN KINDERGARTEN ALL DAY – WHAT WILL WE DO WITH OURSELVES ALL DAY NOW LOL). THANKS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SHARING CONTENT, NUMBERS, OPINIONS AND INFORMATION WITH THE COMMUNITY!

Hi Jay and Ryanne, After listening to me go on an on about you guys and your ebay biz and airbnb rentals my husband has gotten inspired to renovate a stone cottage that he and his family own. We actually lived in the house for about 4 years when we first got married. But since we moved out almost 10 years ago the family hasn’t really been using it and it has fallen in to disrepair. So he decided that it is a waste for it to just sit there and it could potentially make us money. We believe that the original part of the house was built in 1833. Here are a few pictures of the main room already in demo mode. He uncovered a fireplace and closet we didn’t know were there. I’ll keep you posted on the project.

jamie, very cool! Whereabouts is this?

August 27 – Sep 2 2017
Total items in store: Etsy 520 // Ebay 502 (Items not crossposted I list different types of things on Etsy and Ebay)
Items Sold: Etsy 7 // Ebay 18
Cost of items Sold: Etsy $16.30 // Ebay $102.42
Total Sales: Etsy $77.95 // Ebay $424.83
Highest Price Sold: To Boot New York Boots $120
Average Price Sold: $20.11
Returns: 1
Number of items listed this week: 25 (Listed at $352)

Taking a week long vacation next week. 🙂 Looking forward to some fun family time. Hope your travels are fun too! Also I had a couple returns recently. I relisted two items and they already sold again! Yeah!

Enjoy your trip R&J – I’m jealous! I’d love to see video of any sourcing trips/outings that you have while you’re there.

My numbers for this week:
Total Items in Store: 1970
Items Sold: 28
Total Sales: $677
Cost of Items Sold: $70.69
Average Price Sold: $24.19
Average Cost of Item: $2.52
Highest Price Items Sold: i) $78.95 Yashica-A Medium Format Camera 2) $69.95 – 1960’S RCA Oscilloscope
Number of items listed this week: 40
Average age of items in store (in days since listing): 258
Average number of days between listing and selling this week: 172
Median age of sales (in days, between listing and selling): 102
Sell-through rate (for the week): 1.42%
# of Hats Sold: 20 (71% of sales)

It felt like things slowed down for me week. I suspect back-to-school and end of summer activities have an influence on my sales. From past years numbers it looks like September is generally a bit slower for me and then things pick up in October.

I’ve been busy testing and listing video game systems that I’ve collected over the last year. It’s not a specialty for me. I just get them when I find them cheaply enough. Video games are much less trouble than the game systems.

Aug 27-Sept 2, 2017
Total Items in Store: 313
Items Sold: 14
Cost of Items Sold: approx. $14
Total Sales: $377 (excluding selling costs)
Highest Price Sold: $55 (suit skirt set)
Average Price Sold: $26.92
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $35.42
Number of items listed this week: 24

Trying to get total # of items back up to closer to 400 & sales back to more like $100 per day… recording my numbers here shows me I’ve been averaging listing only 25 items a week. I start off ok in the beginning of the week, then have been pooping out towards the end.

Getting a little faster at listing. I like putting all the “facts” (brand, size, country, etc.) in the title, as a rough first draft, then eBay pulls those facts to suggest dropping it into the various categories. That’s been a great short cut I’ve found recently. For contemporary clothing, have also been looking at “thredup” pricing as another guide, can also quickly get a rough retail value for an item that way too.

Curious to know what others say in a succinct way when people ask you what you do? I’ve been wrestling with this one for awhile. It seems so hard for people to understand… and/or hard for me to explain I guess. I would like to just say I work from home…. I do work online… but for when I’m pressed further? “I sell old stuff on the internet”? Any suggestions would be welcome 🙂

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