Home › Forums › Buying and Selling › Listing Challenge 2019 Thread #2
- This topic has 134 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 2 months ago by
Amatino.
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04/01/2019 at 7:12 pm #59554
Just List, dammit!
Post your listing numbers here every Monday to be included in this challenge. For details on the challenge, please look at Trash Elf Listing Challenge 2019.
This is thread #2, beginning April for the 2nd quarter of the year.
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04/02/2019 at 2:52 am #59566
I’ll join in! This last week, I listed 39 items. It seemed like SO much when I was listing, but now seems like hardly anything. I swear, the pile of junk never gets any smaller!
On the plus side, I am almost done listing the 1400 books I bought at auctions in December and March. I also listed a box of fabric that I knew would become a death pile if I didn’t get on it right away.
Once those books are done, I am going to do a little dance, I swear.
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04/02/2019 at 2:56 pm #59626
Welcome Liz, great to have you! You’ve been added to the spreadsheet.
Post photos of the dance. No photos – it didn’t happen! π
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04/07/2019 at 6:46 pm #59851
Welcome Liz! Wow, 1400 books, you should be giving us all a run for the money if you are almost done listing those already!
Only 19 listings for me, it was a busy week. My plan to do 3 easy to list items each day fell apart on Thursday when I ran out of already photographed easy to list items. So I need to get more stuff photographed this week.
But this week I have to work on gardening (thanks to the previous homeowners who planted 16 rosebushes) so I expect another busy week. I did manage to get 2 of my higher priced items listed today after taking the time to finish the prep work.
Wishing everyone a great week!
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04/08/2019 at 9:47 am #59860
I was able to get lots of listing in this week for a total of 48.
I won’t have as much time in the next few weeks due to a few college related trips with my daughter (a senior in high school) and other personal stuff.
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04/08/2019 at 9:57 am #59864
I am at 35 for the week! Oh, and I finally did my taxes! Yeah!
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04/08/2019 at 10:42 am #59869
No listings for me. The show opens tomorrow night…it’s already looking fabulous!
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04/08/2019 at 12:32 pm #59884
Wow, Sharyn – good job – I’m impressed!!!
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04/08/2019 at 1:05 pm #59885
Every once in a while π
Although, it was at the expense of finishing up our taxes π
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04/08/2019 at 7:12 pm #59899
Hi, good luck Lacy with your sale. Zero for me, but I did finish our taxes and my Ebay bookkeeping for 2018, plus have EZ auction tracker updated for 2019. Also got a lot of non-Ebay stuff done.
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04/08/2019 at 8:41 pm #59908
Sheesh, Sharyn! Well done! It seems a bunch of us have a lot of off-eBay stuff keeping us busy! I’m also at zero this week. The hub’s business quadrupled in March and his business makes my workload heavier. While he does all the repairs, I do all the marketing, pick up and delivery, paperwork, etc. Chews into my time, big time! I’m also busy with show prep, only 8 weeks to go until our showcase and I’m madly working on planning, paperwork, preparations, and costumes.
For your giggling pleasure, my latest creation had me stumped. I unpicked it so many times, I had more pricks in my fingers than a tattoo artist with a hand tremor! Eventually, I found a solution that I liked and shared a photo with my daughter.
She said it looked like a stripper nipple tassel! I had to agree, but since it was one of a whole batch of them, it didn’t worry me. When I finally finished the set, I sent her another photo
This time she thinks it looks like gummy worms. My husband, wit that he is, now refers to them as titty worms.
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04/11/2019 at 1:52 am #60026
I didn’t list a thing last week, and I have no good excuse for it!
I did get the last of the books photographed, so there’s that. I also took the junky books to the used book store and got some cash back.
Home stretch!
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04/11/2019 at 10:57 am #60037
SO sorry! Completely forgot to post the new spreadsheet link. Updated, Sharyn is the winner for last week. I was waiting for Liz on Monday, and forgot to log back in on Tuesday.
However, for future reference, you can always access the spreadsheet using the previous week’s link. The link stays the same and I update in real time, I just wait until Tuesday to add the point and post the link again for your convenience.
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04/11/2019 at 2:39 pm #60058
Cool! I thought, even with a good week, I might not win because of some really intense competition this year!
Last year, though, I managed a win against Vintage Lacy only because she got busy with all her shows. Otherwise, I would have lost easily!
Amatino sent me my prize a month or so ago, but I hadn’t to posted a photo yet. Here he is, helping me with this week’s listings!
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04/11/2019 at 6:42 pm #60064
Awww, so cute! Sharyn, it must be wonderful to have a smiling helper! Although it does seem kind of unfair that the winners get helpers when the losers need the help more – just saying (because I didn’t win).
Amatino did you make that little elf dude? He looks professionally embroidered and sewn but knowing your mad sewing skilz I wouldn’t be surprised if you made him yourself. The only thing that could possibly improve him would be some titty worms.
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04/14/2019 at 9:58 pm #60166
VintageTreasures, thanks, but no. I was going to, but then I found some of these elves in a little store and thought they were too cute to pass up. And LOL. I’ll see what I can do to add titty worms next year. Perhaps I’ll sew some bellydancing elves! π
Zero for me this week. I’ve had a lot of running around, we have a freshly painted deck, and my second set of titty worms is finally underway. We’ve been invited to dance a gig next Saturday and the costume that I had 8 weeks to finish is now to be ready for the dress rehearsal on Thursday. My poor pincushions. Er… I mean, fingers. My poor fingers!
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04/14/2019 at 10:20 pm #60169
Yikes Amatino, that’s a lot of pressure! From 8 weeks down to mere days to produce that much intricate work, ouch. Good luck!!!
24 new listings for me. I got a reprieve on trimming the rosebushes due to the snow and cold weather here. So I had time for more listing than I expected. I’m hoping to keep up to this level even though it will be a pretty busy week ahead.
I just don’t know some (all?) of you made it to the number of items listed that you have. I’ve never been able to get above 230 something items. I must be a super slow lister, it takes up most of my free time to list 10 things in a day. Sigh.
Wishing you all a great week!
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04/14/2019 at 10:41 pm #60170
I was able to list 26 items this past week. That’s a bit more than what I expected, so I am happy with that number.
This week, I’m taking my daughter to two college visits. One is to a college she was accepted to, but didn’t visit yet. The other is one where she is wait-listed, and it’s her first choice. We have maybe one day where we’ll actually be at home, so I think any eBay stuff will just be packing and shipping.
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04/15/2019 at 11:07 am #60196
I made the post above as I was waiting for a delayed flight. It was cancelled at the end, so we canceled our trip. We still have another trip planned for later this week. I might be able to list a few items with my extra time.
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04/15/2019 at 11:50 am #60198
Lots going on still but I listed 8 items. Better than 0
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04/15/2019 at 6:48 pm #60227
Vintage Treasures, according to the spreadsheet, you have listed 281 items this year. If you’ve managed to list that many items and STILL be at 230 items, you’re listing good stuff because it’s selling. You can only add to your numbers if you’re listing way more than you’re selling, or the stuff you’re listing isn’t selling! I’d give my eye teeth to be at only a couple hundred items when I’m listing a couple hundred in a quarter! Go you!
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04/15/2019 at 7:24 pm #60229
Thanks Amatino, that felt good! And if I was selling higher priced items, I’d really be in business! Of course judging by this weekend and today I’m not in business at all… Fingers crossed that’s due to tax season!
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04/15/2019 at 8:43 pm #60239
My listing average is closer to zero than ten, so my sales have tanked. I’m blaming me, but I have noticed that regular activity does spike the sales graph.
According to the numbers, you’re averaging 18 a week, or 3 a day for a five-day week. You’re actually doing great. You’re plodding along, but many a tortoise has won a race, right? If you really feel like you need a boost, set yourself a new goal of 20 a week, or 4 a day for a five-day week, or add one extra day to list 2 items. Small successes are huge motivators, large steps are a fast road to depression and failure. Take little steps and give yourself BIG high fives when you achieve them.
Numbers are unemotional and, sometimes, very, very cruel. Your numbers show that you’re doing really well. A consistent weekly listing average.
BIG HIGH FIVE!!!
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04/16/2019 at 12:47 am #60256
I was able to list 35 items this past week. I didn’t think it was that much, but I guess I was more industrious than I realized!
And…I GOT ALL THE BOOKS LISTED!!!
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04/16/2019 at 3:11 am #60257
No listings for me again last week but we unloaded both trucks this morning and the show is over, except for about 15 hours of bookkeeping. A good solid spring show…not fantastic, but decent and I personally sold so much one of the two trucks was almost half empty. I am pleased.
Best sellers for the show….lots of furniture, vintage linens (especially tablecloths and hankies), old suitcases, vintage-inspired Easter, old galvanized tin buckets and other rustic farmhouse, bumblebee decor (a lovely line of watercolor signs in soft colors of yellow and gray with BEE sayings and images), and vintage gloves (perhaps for Easter or Mother’s Day events.)
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04/16/2019 at 11:29 am #60297
Well done, Liz, on all books listed. And you won this week too!
Vintage Lacy, how wonderful to have a great sales week. I have an opinion that people who attend these shows tend to buy more stuff that they would not have if they’d seen it online. Seeing stuff in person makes such a difference!
Spreadsheet updated, Liz won.
Last year’s other winners didn’t claim their elves, so this year’s winner can get one too. Then you can also have a happy helper like Sharyn’s. And, if you ask REALLY nicely, I might even add some titty worms for you! LOL
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04/21/2019 at 6:59 pm #60604
Congratulations Liz on getting all the books listed! Way to go!
Amatino before I post my number for last week I wanted to address your comment: “Vintage Treasures, according to the spreadsheet, you have listed 281 items this year. If youβve managed to list that many items and STILL be at 230 items, youβre listing good stuff because itβs selling”. This made me think and I figured it out: the reason I haven’t gotten over 230 items is because always did 30 day listings, not good til cancelled. And if things seemed like “duds” I just didn’t relist them, so lots of items were not actually selling, they were just expiring and not being relisted. Unfortunately!
Now that there are no longer 30 day listings I did make it to 253 active listings today. I think this is why people with small stores are up in arms about losing the 30 day listing option, because stuff they wouldn’t relist automatically relists, and they are trying to keep their “free” listings for better stuff that might actually sell.
Anyway I really appreciate your encouragement and hopefully I will be more careful about what I source in the future – knowing that I will have to go through and manually end things that turn out to be duds.
And I listed 40 things last week, see Amatino, your encouragement got me motivated, thank you so much!
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04/21/2019 at 8:55 pm #60609
Glad I could help! π
Actually, I keep EVERYTHING up in the store, even if I think it has no value or is a dud. As far as I’m concerned, it’s listed, I went to all that work/effort, and I’m not short on storage space. I’ve got such a large Death Pile, I figured everything can stay up until I have cleared my DP and THEN I’ll decide if I want to whittle any down. To my surprise, stuff that I really don’t think is going to move – does! It wouldn’t sell if I didn’t have it up there!
Thanks to Liz for my listing numbers this week. Because she played along in the Death Pile Support Group challenge, AND decided to go for a throwdown, I listed 9 items.
It was totally crazy this week. I worked flat out trying to get a costume finished, and had a gig to attend on Saturday. We fought so badly with the wind, we ended up laughing more than dancing during our veil choreo
We ended up with 10 dancers in total
Unfortunately, despite working like a crazy person, I couldn’t get the costume finished in time for the event, so it didn’t make its debut. I needed to add lining, to add the centerpiece, and to connect the straps.
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04/21/2019 at 10:56 pm #60615
I also leave up stuff that appears to be a dud. Every once in a while, I sell something I listed in 2016 when I first started my eBay business.
On the other hand, I do get rid of inventory that I really am sick of looking at. Since January, I’ve been relisting the same 25 or so items each week as auctions. After they end Monday, I won’t be relisting again. They go to my town’s Freecycling event on the 27th.
Amatino – always enjoy your belly dancing photos!
As I mentioned in my last post, I never went on my first trip scheduled for last week because our flight was cancelled due to weather. That did give me a day to list, so I picked easy stuff and managed to chug out 12.
If all my inventory was so easy to list, I could be doing 60 or more a week!
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04/22/2019 at 3:41 pm #60659
Love the belly-dancing photos Amatino! Just beautiful.
I don’t pull so-called duds from my storefront either…I let them ride a long time, although I sometimes price adjust. I agree with Jay and Ryanne’s list it and forget it approach. However, my boyfriend tends to get impatient with his listings and pulls them in a couple of months if they don’t sell right away. I do sell long-tail items here and there, enough that it works for me. I still even sell books that I listed on Amazon 7 or 8 years ago, for decent money too, although I have been going through the Amazon inventory and finally pulling most of the very very old stuff.
I did 22 listings last week, after catching up on my sleep and sore muscles from the show, and starting a new little adventure, helping a buddy put on an estate sale, which will occupy me for the next two weeks as well. I get first pick on the estate, which is half the fun. It’s a filthy cluttery house, so that part’s not so much fun, and much of the treasures are down in the very spooky basement. I got goosebumps the first time I ventured down the narrow cement stairs. There’s a lot of 70s owner-made chipped pottery, but there are some treasures too.
Hope everyone has a great week!
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04/22/2019 at 4:13 pm #60667
Vintage Lacy, your new venture of putting on an estate sale sounds exactly like something I’d love to do! I love digging through stuff, I don’t mind the filthy junky little thrift stores or hoarder house estate sales. For some reason I always think I’ll get a better deal or find some treasure that was completely overlooked by everyone else…Having first pick is amazing!
So I’m guessing that all of you who just leave all your listings up have bigger stores and are already paying for the listings on eBay with your bigger store subscriptions. I have the basic store so I’m always congnizant of paying listing fees for each listing over my limit of 250. Now that eBay is good til cancelled I’ll have a lot more items automatically relisting every month so I’m thinking about how those 25 cents per listing fees every month (over my listing limit) will add up over time.
Every once in a while something I’ve had listed a long time does sell, but I’m not sure it would be worth paying 25 cents for each listing over my limit over months or possibly years while waiting to see which $5.00 item sells… I think if I had higher $ inventory it’d be worth it, unfortunately I still have LOTS of sewing patterns in my death piles:(
Thanks for letting me know how you all look at it. It makes sense for higher priced items for sure. I need to work on not sourcing anything that I don’t know for sure will sell for at least $10 or more. I’m a sucker for the “it’s only a quarter, I’ll just buy it” when I know it’ll only sell for $5.00. Yup, hobby seller here, rather than smart business owner.
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04/22/2019 at 5:17 pm #60676
Vintage Treasures, I have listings up for a few dollars, like my magnets at 4.99 each with free shipping. Most of my stuff is small, and lower priced. I really struggled over whether or not to up my store to the next level and I don’t regret it. I have hovered around the 500 mark for the past year and I’ve not really felt the bite of the higher store subscription. I have enjoyed the extra shipping perks and stuff, though! LOL.
Yes, I’m leaving a lot on the table having a store sub for 1,000 items but only 500 up, and I do mean to get the other 500 listed – eventually. I want to clear my death piles! However, having 500 up has meant that I tend to get sales trickling in constantly, even when I’m an atrocious lister! What I did was bite the bullet until I got to 450 listings, then I sized up to the next store level. The monthly invoice didn’t really change much at that point and now I have the freedom to list it and forget it, without any concerns about my numbers.
To be honest, I would far rather be listing 100 a month and STILL be at 500, because that would mean I was selling at least 100 a month. That’s my goal – to have decent income from constant sales so that my store doesn’t actually grow in size. I don’t really want a store the size of J&R, although I do want the sales! Ha! Wishful thinking.
The idea of having to take care of 5,000 items is just… ugh! I’m a minimalist at heart, and this business is my contribution to keeping stuff out of landfill. For that reason, everything in my death pile is listed, even if it’s low dollar. One day, it will sell. My best days ever are the ones where I get an email from someone who bought something low dollar and uninteresting that I would NEVER have picked up myself but was in a box of stuff donated to me, and the buyer tells me how grateful they are that I actually had it, that they couldn’t believe they found it. One woman was absolutely shrieking with joy in her email, the shriek was coming through loud and clear in her message!
You list more than I do, so who’s the hobby seller, hmmm?
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04/22/2019 at 7:57 pm #60695
Got 14 listed this week, I was traveling for the second half of the week. I can’t wait to read what you all have been up to, the pics look so cool.
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04/22/2019 at 9:31 pm #60699
Libby, I’ve got nothing for you for last week. Wanna give me a number to update the spreadsheet?
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04/23/2019 at 12:07 pm #60732
Thank you but I didn’t get a chance to track what a posted for the previous week! I’ll take a zero, probably wasn’t much more than that anyway. Love the photos! Looks like so much fun!
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04/23/2019 at 12:11 am #60703
I got 29 listed last week. I didn’t get as much listed as I hoped for because my son got himself good and grounded, which means lots of chores side by side with Mama. On the plus side, this place is now looking really clean, lol! Even my husband walked in today and said “Wow, everything looks really nice!”
I was able to list all of my already-photographed items this past week. I looked in my “pending” photo folder last night, and realized it was empty! Eeek! Now I need to get a new stack of stuff ready asap!
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04/23/2019 at 10:26 am #60718
Winner this week: Vintage Treasures! (Surprise, surprise!)
Spreadsheet updated.
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04/23/2019 at 7:05 pm #60765
Wow, I can’t believe it! I shall be resting on my laurels this week, but hopefully not beyond then…
I went thrifting to celebrate my first legitimate win (my other point was due to a missed deadline by the actual highest lister) and after 3 stores and 2.5 hours found exactly 1 item for 75 cents. So, so much for celebrating, my time would have been wiser spent listing…
Amatino, I meant to tell you how beautiful the titty worms look on that belly dancing top! And to say how gorgeous all your dancers are; it’s fantastic to see dancers in all shapes and sizes and realize that one doesn’t have to have a “model body perfect” to be absolutely gorgeous.
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04/29/2019 at 9:29 am #60915
Hello Everyone!
28 new listings for me and a change in my focus from “how much did I sell” to “how much did I list”. Better to focus on something I have some control over, rather than something I have zero control over. Not sure if this will cause me to list more, but I am sure it will cause me less disappointment when sales are soft.
Wishing everyone a great week ahead!
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04/29/2019 at 9:56 am #60917
My son’s spring break was this week, but I managed to get 20 new listings with all the non-eBay stuff going on.
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04/29/2019 at 10:25 am #60918
My week was horrible. My dear, old, faithful dog had to be put down. She was the sweetest, kindest, most faithful dog I have ever owned. She was removed from her previous owner as a criminal abuse/neglect case and, after I nursed her back to health, I was her world. My world is a lot less now that she’s gone. My heart aches so badly.
Listed only 2.
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04/29/2019 at 11:51 am #60919
Sorry Amatino. It’s hard to lose a pet. Thanks for giving her a better life.
I’m way out of touch with Ebay and zero listings again as I work on my dad’s condo reno. Traveling to his old house this week and going to be a bust Ebaywise. Sales were really, really dead too this week.
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04/29/2019 at 1:30 pm #60924
Amatino, so sorry to hear about your beloved dog. I can only imagine how hard it is for you. Our fur babies bring so much joy and pleasure to our lives but such pain when we lose them. I still miss my sweet Coco and it’s been more than a year since I lost her. Sending you a huge hug.
Sharyn…we are tied twins this week, as I listed 20 too. I have been really wrapped up in the estate sale, and took time to go to a bunch of estate sales Friday and Saturday too…the picking was most excellent.
Vintage Treasures…great attitude and one I need to keep in mind too. Concentrate on what I have control over and stop worrying about the rest.
Hope everyone has a great week as we head into May.
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04/29/2019 at 6:33 pm #60930
Oh Amatino,
My heart is breaking for you. I hope that in time the wonderful memories you have of your beloved pet will be at the forefront of your mind instead of just the grief from your loss.
Losing a pet is so hard, but never experiencing that depth of unconditional love would be worse.
I’m so very sorry for your loss but happy to know that you had such an incredible and deep bond with your dog. You were lucky to find each other.
I’m sending you healing thoughts. -
04/29/2019 at 11:04 pm #60939
Oh Amatino, I am so sorry about your sweet pup. How lucky for the two of you to find each other. I’m sure she was so happy with you to love her and keep her safe. She knew she would always be safe with you. <3
I got 42 items listed this week.
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04/30/2019 at 11:10 am #60959
I am so sorry for your loss. It is so devastating to lose a pet.
I listed 54 this week, but didn’t get to count them until today, too late! -
04/30/2019 at 12:10 pm #60968
Thanks for all your kind words, folks. Genuinely appreciated. She wiggled her way so deep into my heart, it’s hard to deal with it. Especially as she didn’t “go gently into that good night” but I had to make the choice to put her down. That killed me. I held her in my arms, told her I loved her and that I was honored by her love and devotion, and whispered my thanks as they injected her. Then I cried like a lost soul over her body. The vet was awesome, quietly left me there and closed the doors. It hurts.
To make matters worse, my baby cat went out Sunday morning as usual and still hasn’t come back. I don’t know if she was hurt or killed, if she’s trapped somewhere, or just out gallivanting. We live on a ranch, so if it’s either of the first two, she’s the perfect snack-size for a predator to take home for dinner. That being said, she could have just been caught by a predator. It’s the not-knowing that does you in. And losing two babies in four days is just too much. I’m pretty raw right now, but stubbornly holding onto hope that Miss Mischief comes home.
Aw shucks, such a downer. Sorry. :'(
Spreadsheet updated. Liz wins, well done.
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04/30/2019 at 6:37 pm #60997
I totally get it Amatino, you are not alone. I also had to make the decision to put down the love of my life; my cat Sweetie, 2 days after my best friend of 30 years died of breast cancer. Oddly my cat also had breast cancer – I didn’t even know cats could get breast cancer…
I still miss them but now it’s positive memories and some sadness rather than just unmitigated grief. That is what I wish for you, that good memories fill your thoughts more than the grief does. And I hope baby cat is just out catting around, my fingers are crossed for her safe return.
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04/30/2019 at 6:56 pm #60998
Oh man, I hope your kitty makes an appearance asap. π Stop worrying your mama, baby cat!
We lost our bonded pair of 17 year old kitties 3 years ago. They died 3 weeks apart, and we were all pretty shattered for a long time after. The first kitty had lung cancer and the second kitty I swear died of a broken heart without his brother. The vet and tech cried with me when we had to put the second kitty down.
It’s just so hard to lose our sweet little pets. They are such special friends and family members. <3
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05/05/2019 at 6:54 pm #61285
Hello All,
Thought I’d post early as I’m done listing. 44 new listings for me, I’m finally over 300 listings now that everything is good til cancelled. The next 2 weeks will be lighter for me listing wise, we have company coming to stay with us so I’ll be busy.
Wishing everyone a wonderful week!
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05/05/2019 at 9:55 pm #61294
With the kids back in school, I managed 33 listings this week.
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05/06/2019 at 11:42 am #61322
46 listed this week, and probably going to be a light week coming up even though my death piles are out of control. I bought a pallet of amazon overstocks. Oh boy!
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05/06/2019 at 11:53 am #61325
Zero for me this week. Tbh, I did spend the first couple days on emotional shutdown, but the true reason for the zero is that it’s been going nuts on the dance side as we near our Student Showcase.
I’ve been working madly on costumes; and had a small freak out over my very technical sword dance, that I’ve now scrapped in favor of a much simpler fire-and-sword dance that I’m now drafting from scratch. It’s a minute longer than the sword dance at 5 minutes even, but because I’m splitting it in half for each prop, the technical sections are shorter and therefore easier. Still a tight call, though, as I usually take several weeks to craft a new choreo and I’m now having to put one together, complete with practise runs and costuming, in the next 23 days.
Also, my ladies decided they didn’t feel ready to perform one of the choreos, which resulted in an entire rework of the whole program. And I now have 3 guest participants: a harpist (with a 6-foot harp!) who will do the welcoming music before the show starts, a tribal dancer who has two solos, and a country line dancer who is going to take over the audience participation segment. We had a fun meeting at our last dance class where the ladies tried to “help” me work out the programming and were astounded at how much more involved it is than they thought. I can’t have the tribal dancer’s skirt dance next to our skirt dance, for example, or the one will overshadow the other. I can’t put tribal next to cabaret, because the music clash is too jarring. I can’t put skirt next to veil, because of audience sensory overload. As I explained each restriction to the helpers, it was so much fun seeing the dawning horror on their faces, until they decided it was far better to leave me to work it out.
You know, I think they were under the impression I put the name of each dance in a hat and just put them in the choreo as I pulled it out! I’m glad they’re getting a chance to see how many facets there are to consider. I think Vintage Lacy would probably empathise with me, although we’re in different fields when it comes to a show. LOL!
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05/06/2019 at 7:39 pm #61358
Zero for me. And I picked up a set of china and seven more boxes of death pile stuff from my dad’s house which goes on the market this month. Ugh!
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05/06/2019 at 11:48 pm #61372
I got 28 listed this week. I was busy the early part of the week, but fizzled out at the end of the week. I had another laser tattoo removal session, and I was tired and sore from it. :/ I’ll be really glad when I’m done with this.
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05/07/2019 at 10:27 am #61405
Spreadsheet updated. Libby wins again – by only 2 listings! Wow, that was close!
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05/07/2019 at 1:54 pm #61425
Trying again. I tried to post several times yesterday on this thread and it wouldn’t let me.
I did 18 listings, and have a good story to tell!
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05/07/2019 at 2:06 pm #61427
I had a good long version to tell…but I will just do the highlights. Did the estate sale. VERY long weekend. Let’s just say I don’t do drama and over-bearing bossiness very well. That’s a story in itself.
The estate included a collection of role-playing items, swords, shields, a mace and a broad ax. A scary dude showed up Sunday and bought the mace at half price. He was thrilled. He came back later that afternoon, after it was over and just Charlie and I were there boxing up leftovers for a charity rummage sale. He brought a friend. He wanted to buy the remaining four pieces. He had $152 in crumpled up bills. He was being friendly but my spider sense was on high alert. There was just something off about him. We made the deal and off he went, so pleased with his purchases. It could have gone a whole other direction and we knew it. I don’t scare easily…I have traveled around Europe by myself….but when in doubt trust your gut.
Two more van loads to pack up this afternoon and then I am free…and ready to list lots this week.
Amatino, good on you for showing your ladies just how challenging it is to work out the details of a complicated event. Yes, I can relate! π
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05/07/2019 at 10:01 pm #61467
π That spidey-sense – it’s worth every hair for sure! I always trust mine. Glad it worked out well for you. I’ve spent this past week swiping a sword around before balancing it on my head – I sure hope I’m not scary, though! LOL
Added you to the spreadsheet.
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05/12/2019 at 3:51 pm #61723
Posting early and quickly due to being busy with houseguests: 33 new listings for me. I’ll still have houseguests next week so it’ll probably be lower listings again next week.
I did get to go to a fabulous church rummage sale for 12 minutes on Saturday morning. Got a bunch of great stuff for $8.50. Love those church rummage sales!!!
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05/13/2019 at 11:02 am #61799
I’m basically on a hiatus as I help my dad transition and remodel his new place. 0 listings for me until I chime in with something else. It will be completed by mid to late summer I expect so at least it coincides with summer slowdown. Have a great week ladies.
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05/13/2019 at 11:18 am #61801
Yay, got one listed. Yup, just one. But it amused me no end to see, as I updated the spreadsheet this morning, that it takes me to exactly 100 items YTD. Wheee! LOL
Madly working on costumes, only a month left until our Student Showcase. And working on my new choreography. It is a 2-fer; with a candle tray and a sword. So far, after going through the entire section flawlessly, I dropped the candles when I was taking the tray OFF my head! Who knew you had to keep the tray perfectly level when you’re taking it off as well as when you’re putting it on? Heheheh.
As to the sword section…. it’s on hold until I get to the store for a new box of band aids…. π
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05/13/2019 at 1:00 pm #61814
Just 13 for me. Too much time fiddle farting around on other stuff last week. I hate weeks where you spend so much time on little stuff it doesn’t feel like you got anything major done.
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05/13/2019 at 1:23 pm #61816
Yeh, I did a lot of farting around, too. Oh, and I also had a lots of outside of eBay stuff to deal with. I did list 20 items. Decently happy with that because they were good items with reasonable price points.
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05/13/2019 at 3:21 pm #61827
Hey Amatino the ladies running the Greek Orthodox church sale I went to on Saturday said I should come back the weekend after Labor Day to learn to belly dance. Should I go?
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05/14/2019 at 9:04 am #61884
Vintage Treasures: YES!!!!!!!
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05/15/2019 at 12:00 am #61927
I didn’t do any listing last week. I tweaked my back and have not done much but lay around and complain. π
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05/15/2019 at 11:05 am #61949
Oh, Liz, that’s rough! Lots of sympathy. It’s amazing how much we use our backs and it hurts like a sumbeach when it’s out. While you’re “down and out” look for Treat Your Own Back by Robin McKenzie. I managed to find a used copy for $6 online. It was recommended to me by my orthopedic surgeon and, while dated, the information is amazing. Once I’d read it through, it was passed on to my dance group and it has been doing the rounds. We’re all astounded at how much it has helped! Hope it helps you too.
Sorry for not posting that the spreadsheet had been updated, although it was ready for you all yesterday. Winner Vintage Treasures. Well done, you!
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05/20/2019 at 7:41 am #62108
Hello All,
16 new listings for me. It was a rough week for me, but this week should be much better.
Liz, I hope your back has improved and Amatino thanks for letting me know I should attend the belly dancing class!
Wishing you all a wonderful week with great finds and many sales!
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05/20/2019 at 10:36 am #62120
I listed 12 items this week. Not much, but I am so happy to have rewired three vintage bar lights that have been in my deathpile for over 1 1/2 years (I bought them in August 2017). I know I’ve mentioned them on this post before. I have some final work that needs to be completed, and then I hope to list them this week.
Good sales to everyone! I have a long weekend trip coming up and some outside of eBay activities, so this week should be low listing numbers again.
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05/20/2019 at 12:06 pm #62130
20 listings for me this week.
Fantastic picking week for me, including a couple of First Editions that should sell for over a thousand bucks. One of my best finds ever! Seriously exciting!!! (and I found them at the bins, of all places)
great picking, low listing.
Hope everyone has as great week ahead.
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05/20/2019 at 1:18 pm #62132
Vintage Treasures – I hope to hear of your progress!
Vintage Lacy – OMG!!!! How exciting for you! That is the best kind of feeling. Keep us updated on how that goes!
Zero for me last week. Down to the wire now before the Student Showcase and the hubs decided we needed a break and took us off to Houston for the weekend! Doh! Thursday packing, gone from Friday to Sunday. 4 days lost! Aaaaaargh! However, he was right and the rest was exactly what we needed – although we both agreed Never Again! That Houston traffic is abominable! We’ve decided we’re going to try Austin next.
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05/21/2019 at 10:38 am #62179
Spreadsheet updated, winner this week Vintage Lacy.
Dunno what happened to everyone else! If you post your numbers, I’ll bring you up to date so that your YTD is accurate, although you won’t win the week even if your numbers were highest.
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05/22/2019 at 8:46 am #62238
Amatino, I think ChristineR was saying in her last post that she will be at 0 listings every week unless she posts otherwise; that she is taking a hiatus as she helps her dad transition and remodel his new place.
Vintage Lacy congrats on the great bins book finds! I checked out one of the bins in my area over the weekend (I’d never been to this location before). I didn’t find anything worth buying there but it did have nice non-aggressive vibe. I might try it again…
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05/22/2019 at 2:38 pm #62268
Thanks Vintage Treasures, you are absolutely correct. I’m blaming Costume Crazy for missing that! I’ll post zeros then until she comes back.
On that same note, I’m guessing Liz is still down with her back out.
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05/27/2019 at 9:52 am #62504
Happy Memorial Day!
I managed 32 new listings last week.
Wishing everyone a nice holiday and a great week ahead!
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05/27/2019 at 1:01 pm #62521
I listed 10 this week.
I’ve been busy with outside eBay stuff including a trip to Toronto. My daughter committed to a local NJ college, but had second thoughts. I arranged for a trip to check out the University of Toronto. The thing is, we were supposed to make a trip there in April, but the flight was cancelled due to weather.
We were supposed to have a flight leaving this Thursday evening, but the flight was cancelled again. This time it was due to mechanical work that they weren’t able to finish in time. They rescheduled us for Friday, but we would have missed our scheduled tour.
So, I cancelled our flight and cancelled our prepaid parking. I then drove the 8 hour drive getting in to our AirBnB at 12:45AM. I was VERY lucky that this place happened to have inexpensive paid parking in their lot. I can’t imagine having to find parking at that time of night.
Anyway, we had a great time, and she has decided to change her decision to the U of T. W will be making that trip many times in the next four years.
I still have non-eBay stuff this week, and in June (including my daughter’s high school graduation) and in July (including a vacation). I might get a solid week in here and there, but I’m not expecting high listing numbers until maybe August.
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05/28/2019 at 10:51 am #62564
Oh my word! I TOTALLY forgot about the weekend, as I’ve been working flat out. I was writing up my TDL for today and asked Alexa for the date. I think my face would have made America’s Funniest Home Videos when she said “Tuesday” Wait… what?!? LOL. Costume crazy, I tell you. This weekend I finished and made 3 pairs of harem pants, two tops, and one wrap shirt. Down to the wire now. Two bras, one pair of pants, a panel skirt and a belt still to go. I may have to do another 2 tops, one bra, and one skirt, depending on how the tryouts go tonight.
So… zero for me.
Vintage Treasures, you win the week by default, as nobody other than Sharyn remembered to post numbers either! LOL
Post your numbers, folks, I’ll update the spreadsheet.
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05/28/2019 at 10:59 am #62565
P.S. Sheesh, Sharyn, and I thought I was crazy! An 8 hour drive in the middle of the night moves you to the front of the line! π Glad your daughter is sorted, though. I really do want to visit Canada some time. It’s a LOT more than 8 hours away for me, though. We’ll probably go by train.
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05/28/2019 at 11:50 am #62568
Ooops. I forgot to post yesterday too, and with my 35 listings I would have won the week! Ha! Good on you Vintage Treasures and Sharyn for remembering. Going to Farm Chicks this weekend in Spokane so my listing week is limited but I will still give it my best.
Amatino, you are one crazy seamstress. I am seriously impressed with your output. I’ve done a bit of sewing myself and I know the time and work that goes into every single piece. Sharyn it sounds like your life is crazy busy right now with your daughter but in a good way. I’ve been to other parts of Canada but not Toronto yet so I am envious. How fun for you to have such a great city to visit.
Hope everyone has a great week ahead!
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05/28/2019 at 12:10 pm #62570
Thanks all – yes, life’s a bit crazy. I was just looking up the passport renewal process and student visa requirements.
I think I should look into a train or bus option for when she comes back for breaks. With the issues that seem to plague flights to Toronto, I think those would be more reliable. Even if I have to drive to Philadelphia or NY to pick her up, I think I’m fed up with the airlines.
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05/28/2019 at 4:54 pm #62578
Sharyn just wanted to say that I love Toronto and I’m sure your daughter will enjoy it there. It’s a wonderful city!
Amatino it is insane how fast you can sew, I’m so envious of your mad skilz! Good luck with finishing the rest of the outfits…
Vintage Lacy, I think this is my second or third win by default and I’d have close to zero wins without default coming into play, so thank you for being a little late!
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05/29/2019 at 1:29 pm #62631
Ladies, you probably “sew” while I “put pieces of fabric together using tricks”! LOL
For example – harem pants. Lay fabric out with selvedges out to the side, in two layers with fold at the top and the 2 layers the desired finished length. Use my template to mark off and cut out a front crotch on one side of the fold (top of the waistband against the fold) and a back crotch on the other side. Then hold the fabric flat to cut along the fold to create 2 leg pieces.
Like this
__________________
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^ sideCut 2 rectangles approx 3″ wide by approx 15″ long = cuff. Finish one long edge. Fold in half and mark half point on the unfinished long edge. Fold from one edge to the half point and mark quarter point. Fold quarters to mark eights. (Total 9 marks.) Mark bottom of leg pieces in the same way. Thread a needle and sew a long line along the length of the bottom of the leg pieces, then gather tightly. Match unfinished edge of the marked cuff onto the same marks on the leg pieces. Pin each mark together. Sew both pieces together, gathering the leg pieces in between each mark and keeping the rectangle smooth. I usually then serge that seam.
Join the 2 sides of a leg piece with a seam from crotch join to the edge of the new fitted cuff = one leg. Repeat for the other leg. Turn one leg right side out and slip it inside the other leg, then sew down the crotch from back to front, joining the two legs. Finish crotch seam.
Cut elastic to fit over the foot and join into a circle. Slip over the cuff, then fold the cuff in half so that the finished edge covers the seam with the elastic in the fold, far away from the seam. Sew over the finished edge to encase the elastic and all the sewing. Neat, clean finish.
Create an elastic waist in the same way as the cuff.
Total sewing time, start to finish, is about half a day, unless the fabric is a total bitch or your machines decide to act up. I probably spend more time fighting with the machines and tensions than I do sewing, to be honest.
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05/29/2019 at 1:30 pm #62632
Hahahahahahaha!
The program REALLY didn’t like my “drawing” skillz!
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05/29/2019 at 2:36 pm #62637
Again, Amatino, I am in awe. You make it sound so easy. I can work with a pattern fine. I used to make folk art dolls to sell so I can work with cotton and wool. I don’t even own a serger. But you work with slippery slinky fabrics and I know just how hard they are to work with, and how unforgiving.
I bow down to your superior skills.
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06/03/2019 at 9:54 am #62869
I listed 19 items this week. I’m still busy with outside eBay stuff, but I did OK.
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06/03/2019 at 9:58 am #62870
26 items for me. Super busy with my visitor, next week will be low listing.
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06/03/2019 at 12:11 pm #62876
Listed 40 items AND had a fabulous time at the Farm Chicks Show in Spokane. Well worth the 6.5 hour drive! Came back last night inspired and invigorated and ready to get great things accomplished this Summer.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week…..Happy June to you!
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06/03/2019 at 12:14 pm #62877
Zero for me, for last week and will be zero next week too.
My Student Showcase is on Saturday, I have 4 days to finish one bra, two shirts, one belt, one skirt, one pair of pants and half a dozen 15 ft backdrops. Then I have to print 100 programs, a full set of direction posters (Restroom -> or NO ENTRY signs, etc.) and buy catering supplies for the refreshments in the Intermission, and paper rolls and painters tape to block out the wall size windows in the room that will be our changing room, and pack up the full costume closet which includes costume items (pants, skirts, tops, bras, belts), jewelry, headdresses, hair accessories, mirrors (both full length and table top), make up, and hair tools such as heating irons. I have to finish creating my solo choreography and buy sand to support the candles in the brass cups (the sand stops the brass from overheating and also raises the tea lights so that the flame is above the lip of the cups) and some other accessories for my costume. Oh! I almost forgot. I need to do a count to ensure I have enough coverups, or I will have to make a few more of those too before Saturday.
My husband’s business is still running, as is my eBay stuff, so I need to create invoices and do machine drop off and pick ups, and pack orders and get them to the post office, and, of course, the ranch and the menagerie need some time too. I did take a break this weekend as I had arranged a surprise birthday party for my husband, but I cheated and catered it with HEB Party Platters and used my “fine china” plates that could be just tossed in the trash at the end. LOVE that option! The guests were highly amused that I sat in my chair during the party, participating in all the conversations and occasionally jumping up to serve drinks or fetch napkins or whatever, but for the most part sewing a bra top. Hey… I gotz PRIORITIES! π
Hmmm… now… what have I forgotten?
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06/03/2019 at 1:38 pm #62884
Good grief Amatino, just reading all you have to do makes me tired – LOL! I have confidence that you’ll pull it off though. Good luck, and have fun!!!
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06/04/2019 at 11:48 am #62937
Spreadsheet updated and Vintage Lacy takes the lead! I can’t believe you listed so much AND had a day’s drive and a show to cover!
Hold onto your hat, VL. VT and I have decided we’re going to give you a run for your money after next week, when we’re set to start our Death Pile challenge!
Looks like we lost Liz and Libby though. If they don’t post by next week, I’ll move them out of the running list. If you look down below, you’ll see I never actually remove someone from the list, they just get shifted out of the running list. Just in case they ever come back, you know?
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06/09/2019 at 8:13 pm #63218
Zero for me as I worked flat out on the Student Showcase.
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06/09/2019 at 9:20 pm #63220
26 for me. I had zero for the first 3 days of the week while I had my sister here, then I tried to get into the swing of listing first and photos second as advised by Retro Treasures. I’m kind of doing a mix of getting all the stuff on that I already have photos of and Retro Treasures’ process right now. I’d like to use and get rid of all the photos (some from 2018) that are still filed and waiting for me to list the item.
I had a hideous week of: one return request after getting great feedback on the item and the buyer using the item for over 3 weeks, an accepted non-payment offer, a return of a $45 sealed lipstick that is now unsellable, a scammer guy trying to get me to give him half his money back after he damaged my item, and a lady in India asking to buy multiple items after she gave me a wrong shipping address on an item that she had purchased and then proceeded to contact me literally 18 times asking me to call USPS to get the ($6.00!) item rerouted. Ouch.
Weeks like this make me want to quit eBay but then I try to concentrate on my happy customers, a few higher dollar sales and that I’ve had sales everyday for almost 2 months now. (Pretty sure I jinxed myself by saying that!) I think we all have waves of nutball customers, I guess it’s just my turn right now. Sigh.
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06/10/2019 at 10:47 am #63244
Wow, VT, that IS a rough week! Hug? We’ll join together in expecting a terrific week to make up for it! π
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06/10/2019 at 1:05 pm #63254
Thank you Amatino, hug gratefully accepted! Fingers crossed for a better week!!!
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06/10/2019 at 1:59 pm #63267
Amatino….the costumes look fantastic! I really enjoy all the pictures you share.
Vintage Treasures….ugh. Certainly sounds like a bad week. Perhaps you have used up your quota of bad customers for the year…one can hope! Hang in there, this week is sure to be better!
48 listings for me. Will have to hustle on listings this week, as I will be spending every single day on the rummage sale for this weekend, at least a few hours each day. Sale is Friday and Saturday. Have found a few cool pickings, so that’s the upside.
Saw your challenge above, and all I can say is…game on! π
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06/10/2019 at 2:16 pm #63274
I listed 20 this week.
I’m pretty happy about it due to the non-eBay things going on. My daughter’s prom was Friday, and I took her to the salon for her hair and MAC for makeup and bought her nail polish. Quite a getup for her since she never wears makeup or polish and gets her hair cut only a few times a year.
Next weekend is Hersheypark, and the following week is graduation with family visiting. Then, vacation the week after that.
I think 20 will be my high for the next month or so, but sounds like you guys are going to kick butt on the deathpiles. I’ve slowed down on purchases, but my parents will be giving me stuff when I see them for the graduation.
Amatino – Your bellydancing showcases always amazes me. You are very talented in so many ways. Great photos!
Ladies – I hope your week improves and enjoy your competition! Maybe I can join later in the summer.
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06/13/2019 at 1:06 pm #63411
Dang! I was waiting for the end of the day to see if anyone else posted and then completely forgot to post the new Spreadsheet. Sorry!
I’ve moved Libby and Liz out of the running. ChristineR – are you coming back?
Spreadsheet updated, Vintage Lacy wins the week. And she’s now ahead of the next competitor by double!
But… Vintage Treasures … did you see that? Did you SEE that? She threw down the gauntlet! She did! In writing! *rolls up sleeves* We’ll see, we will, we will!
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06/14/2019 at 3:18 pm #63472
Hi – I’m on kind of a detour helping family and had asked for you to just put me down for 0 listings if I don’t chime in on time. I listed my son’s textbooks this week, so that’s something!
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06/14/2019 at 3:46 pm #63475
Yay! You’re back! You are still on the board and I am faithfully adding zeroes each week. I just wondered if I was still to do that or if you’d given up on this. Thrilled you’re still here, you are my “twin” after all! π
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06/15/2019 at 12:24 pm #63499
Thanks Amantino for tracking. I was wondering how many weeks since I listed. It really, really killed my sales after a few weeks. I haven’t had time to buy anything either, so at least there is that. My extra remodeling / moving parent project should be done by August and I hope to bulk up my store before Fall/Winter. I’m also digging in on learning about the College Admissions process and just kind of taking a break from Ebay I suppose. I’ve got a ton of our stuff to clean out of my house as well (mostly kids’ stuff). But, I’ll for sure be back.
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06/13/2019 at 6:08 pm #63424
Umm, maybe Amatino you threw down the gauntlet and then Vintage Lacy threw it back? I’m totally staying out of this one, but just saying… No gauntlet throwing for me, when you get to be my age you just know yourself too well and I’ve failed too many times I guess – haha! But that being said I am super competitive and I’m taking the competition seriously, I hate to lose!!! Speaking of which Amatino – are you keeping up with your goals and trying to follow 10Konthebay’s 8 easy steps?
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06/14/2019 at 10:34 am #63451
π π Don’t be so darn practical, VT, I nearly got away with it! π π π
Um…. funny that you should ask…. you remember I posted earlier this week about bringing home some crap? Well, The Hubs was aghast. “Why did you bring more home when you have so much already?” he cried in dismay. Well, so as to soothe his ruffled feathers and show how serious I am about getting started again, I dove in and started sorting the stuff immediately. Joyfully, I discovered this person had LOTS of like items, so I could bundle into lots or sell similar. And 15 items bundled into a lot is still 15 items listed, right? I was feeling so smug!
But then the horrifying realization dawned that we have a DEATH PILE challenge… and this was all new stuff! I couldn’t flunk in my very first week!
My saving grace is that, for once in my life, I didn’t arrogantly name a huge number in my goals, and so I’ve been digging out my DPs to list as well. So far I’m only up to 6, I have 4 more to go… but I am determined not to fail in my first week of the Challenge. Competitiveness rulez in this group, methinks!
Now I have to go reread the 8 steps, because I can only remember 3…
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06/14/2019 at 11:42 pm #63487
Oops, death pile challenge! I don’t think I’ve been following that rule very closely. I think that I have so much crap down in the basement that I consider it all death piles. Even if I got it last month, or last week for that matter.
But maybe it all evens out in the end because I’ve been counting how many listings, not how many items listed. So if I do a lot of 10 items in one listing, I count that as one. Or if I have a listing with multiple quantities, still just counted it as one.
I printed out the 8 steps because if I didn’t I wouldn’t be able to tell you more than one – hahaha!
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06/15/2019 at 12:09 pm #63498
What a great idea to print it out! I have just done that. However, I can’t do task #1 yet. I”m so overwhelmed with stuff, I literally have to list myself into a space so that I can create a dedicated space for listing. O.O!
It’s fascinating how differently we all think! I always figured if you create one listing for one item, when you list two items in one listing, you’ve listed two. It’s the number of items cluttering up every inch of available horizontal space that bothers me… and the floor is horizontal space, btw! π
It would be interesting if everyone else weighed in with their version; do you count listings or number of items listed?
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06/16/2019 at 2:53 pm #63524
Here’s how I have been counting…I count unique listings. At least half my listings are retail items and I might have 3 or 6 or even 12 items in stock for the listing and I only count it as one. Or if it’s a set of things, like three ornaments in one listing, I count it as one.
If I counted it as number of items listed my totals would be in the hundreds each week. I felt like that would be unfair, since it takes no more effort to type in quantity 6 than it does quantity 1.
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06/16/2019 at 3:48 pm #63525
Vintage Lacy I have been counting exactly the same as you do. I count the number of new listings, not the number of items listed.
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06/16/2019 at 5:49 pm #63526
I’ve also been counting listings, not number of items.
Amatino – Are you going to create a new post for beginning of the 3rd quarter coming up? Why don’t you add in an explanation of what we should be counting, either listings or items.
While I’m at it, I listed 7 items this week (one item per listing).
I’ll be listing about the same for the next two weeks.
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06/16/2019 at 9:08 pm #63539
Well, then, color me corrected! π Number of listings, it will be then, not number of items listed.
Sharyn, I will put that in the new thread.
For last week, I listed 14. Barely squeaked in enough for my Death Pile challenge. So I spent this weekend clearing my desk and 2 shelves and creating drafts of the items ready to photograph on Monday and list next week. I have 17 drafts, so if I can get it all listed, I will not only make my DP Challenge, but beat this week’s number. Woot woot! (Nudge and wink for Vintage Treasures to get a move on!) π
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06/16/2019 at 9:22 pm #63542
Okay Amatino, you are throwing down the gauntlet again, and at me this time – LOL! If I were the gauntlet throwing type I’d say “Ha ha, I did 51 new listings last week, try beating that, buster!”
But I’m not a gauntlet throwing kind of gal so just: 51 new listings for me.
And thank you again Amatino for listing the 8 death pile elimination steps and linking the 10konthebay video. It really helped me speed up my process!I’ve been doing some reorganizing also but it sounds like Amatino is way ahead of me in that area. I plan on working on organizing more this week so I expect I’ll have less new listings this week.
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06/17/2019 at 4:12 pm #63606
*small voice* You win, VT!
*evil cackle* but now I haz goooooooooals! π
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06/17/2019 at 5:05 pm #63608
You ladies are a riot!
And way to go Vintage Treasures…you certainly aced me this week. I listed 11 items but I worked over 60 hours last week on the rummage sale. Some days I was there 10 or 12 hours. It was well worth it as we raised over $5000 for the Grange…that’s a lot of $1-3 items! But man, I am glad it’s over.
Brace yourself…I am back in the game. (grin)
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06/17/2019 at 10:05 pm #63623
Spreadsheet updated. Vintage Treasures slides in with a well deserved win.
Sharyn, wanna join this nuthouse and chuck in a gauntlet too? We may as well ALL be running around without a glove! π
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06/18/2019 at 7:33 am #63633
Hey Amatino – Thanks for the offer! My little baby who was born what seems like a year ago is graduating high school on Thursday. High School! I remember worrying about how I was going to potty train her. Apparently, I was successful, and now she’s off to college in a few months!
Family is arriving on Wednesday, leaving Monday, then we leave for vacation on Friday. That doesn’t leave too many days for gauntlet throwing, gloved or not.
Now, my parents have been storing stuff from their downsizing friends for the past year, and they will be bringing stuff when they visit. Then I will get the rest of the stuff when I’m on vacation to bring back home. So, mid-to-late July I’ll be ready to get back on that horse and ride!
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06/23/2019 at 1:20 pm #63917
Posting early as I’m done for the week. Listed 24, of which 15 were Death Piles, so I made my DP challenge for the week as well.
I was going to post more, but the weirdest thing happened. All the stuff that I cleared out of my desk area had to be packed up to go into storage and, in the process, my packing stationed got cleaned up too. It’s all cleared and neat and everything… *scratches head* Either I have a really bad case of tidyupitis, or there’s some sort of Stepford Wives thing going on here!
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06/23/2019 at 2:18 pm #63925
Well done Amatino!!!
I’m done for the week also, I count my weeks starting on Sunday so Saturday is always my last listing day of each week.
I finished 50 new listings this week and I’m up to 371 active listings as of this moment. I think the break even for a Premium eBay store is just over 400 listings so I’ll probably upgrade to a Premium store before the end of this month. Thank you to Amatino for the kick start!!!
I didn’t do as much reorganizing as I had planned to, but I did manage some and I’m happy with the results. I’m hoping to get more organizing/cleaning up done this week. And I’m upping my game on the DP challenge. Although maybe it’s not so much of a DP challenge as just an improving my process/experience challenge for me since I consider everything in my basement my deathpile. I’ll post my DP game commitment over on the DP challenge thread. But I have been listing some really old stuff as I dig deeper in the piles to find more stuff to list. Unfortunately I have a LOT of $6.00 items, which is why I probably didn’t list them in the first place so they got buried in my DP. Sigh. But at least I now have a chance at getting rid of them π
Wishing everyone a great week ahead!
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06/23/2019 at 3:42 pm #63934
I listed 6 items
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06/23/2019 at 5:00 pm #63945
I listed 3 items.
My daughter’s high school graduation was Thursday, and we’ve had family in town since Wednesday evening.
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06/24/2019 at 1:29 pm #64030
I listed 28 items. The week kinda got away from me with one thing or another. The good news is that I spent a LOT of time on the novel and only have 2 chapters left to write before the first draft is done. That’s very exciting for me.
I have my eye on you Vintage Treasures. (grin) It seems you are going to give me a run for my money. And Amatino…..you are coming on strong! Sharyn, you beat me last year for the win, so I have my eye on you too. π
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06/24/2019 at 2:18 pm #64036
Spreadsheet updated. Vintage Treasures hits another home run!
VT – I’ve started really considering whether or not I want to list items that sell for under $10. Considering all the work involved, plus about 40% of it goes to fees and etc., is it worth it for such a small return? Where I’ve been able to list multiples so that it’s one listing with 3 or 4 or more, I’ve done it, but for single, random items… I’ve listed some and tossed some into the Give-Back-to-Goodwill box. Just wondering what your thoughts are?
ChristineR – WELCOME BACK! We’ve missed you!
Congratulations, Sharyn! Now the huge adjustment to college. What are you going to do with your new empty nest? eBay storage, perhaps? *wink*
VL – I know, right? And after she said she wasn’t throwing any gauntlets! She’s pounding those listings like a woman possessed! I LOVE IT! But it’s too funny. I’m having a glorious time chuckling at y’all this year!
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06/24/2019 at 4:56 pm #64044
Amatino, my thoughts on selling items under $10 are conflicted. I’d like to sell the low dollar items I already have in my death piles. I feel kind of stupid when I donate stuff that I bought at the thrift store back to the thrift store.
That being said I really want to stop buying stuff because it’s cheap if I suspect I can only sell it for cheap. Easier said than done for me though. I find it hard to resist stuff I like when it costs a quarter. Sigh.
I do have some stuff I’m going to redonate though. If it takes too much work to list it (cleaning, researching or I really have no idea what it even is) I’m donating that stuff back. Quick to list, photograph, store and ship are my criteria for what cheap stuff from the death pile I list instead of donate.
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06/25/2019 at 10:54 am #64088
Vintage Treasures – oh my gosh! You TOTALLY put my thoughts into words! I hate having to give up on something, especially when I particularly like the item. Oh… but it’s so cuuuuute! Somebody wants it, right? Yes, somebody probably does, but they’re only going to pay me six bucks. After shipping ($3) and eBay fees ($1) and PayPal fees (20c), less my whopping 25c that it cost me, is my $1.55 profit worth my time and effort? To my chagrin, I can honestly say that sometimes I list it anyway, even knowing I’m only going to make a buck on the deal! And, even worse, that’s often the times when the item in question was donated to me! Honestly, it didn’t cost me a penny, why am I so loathe to just pass it on? π
I thought it was only me. Right now, I could give you a giant hug! I’m so glad I’m not alone!
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06/24/2019 at 7:47 pm #64065
Hi All! I haven’t dropped off the face of the earth. I have just had to focus, and that means, no forums π Hope everyone is well and listing like crazy. I have 109 this week but don’t count me in, I am literally just working fast and focusing so I can make a living!
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06/25/2019 at 10:47 am #64087
Hi Libby. Glad to know you’re okay. I’ll put your 109 in the spreadsheet at the bottom so that the count is there, but I won’t put you back “in the running.” Come back whenever you’re ready!
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06/25/2019 at 11:24 am #64089
Amatino,
It’s not just you. π But are you offering free shipping on a six dollar item? So the customer is really actually only paying $3 for the item, plus shipping?
I sell a LOT of fabric on Etsy and sometimes I list items that sell for 3-4-5 dollars, plus shipping. However, it’s super fast to list (2 scans and a template) and my customers often buy multiples. Several times a week I have customers order 6 or more pieces at a time, so the sale actually is a $25 or more sale, instead of a small sale. And I pay very little for the fabric. I get it at the bins or at garage sales. I picked up a huge box of high quality quilt shop fabric last weekend for $18. There’s 87 pieces of fabric in the box so my cost was around 20 cents for each piece. That’s well worth listing for me.
I agree with Vintage Treasures, though. I don’t want to have to do a huge amount of research or a lot of time cleaning. It needs to be items that are easy to list, easy to ship, and easy to store.
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06/25/2019 at 5:45 pm #64114
Vintage Lacy, I’m with you on the fabric! I bet you’ll do well on the quilting fabric you paid $18 for. I bought a big lot of vintage quilting fabric a couple of years ago and made around $600 on it. And 20 cents per piece is an amazing deal! I think your rationale for $3, $4, or $5 fabric on etsy works since customers buy multiple pieces and you wind up with larger $ sales from multiple lower priced items. I don’t like these one-off $6 items I keep buying, it’s too much effort for a single $6.00 sale.
Amatino I don’t offer free shipping, so maybe my $6.00 items end up with a little more profit than yours do. But $3.00 additional profit still isn’t really worth the effort I don’t think. I really need to stop buying the “ooh, I like it, I can’t leave it behind, I’m sure that’ll sell” stuff that I buy constantly. Bought some today, truth be told. Sigh.
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06/26/2019 at 2:50 pm #64142
Some items I do free shipping, some I do plus shipping. I research all items before making my decision. However, if I have multiples, like with a length of fabric, I will offer the item quite happily. It’s those single, one-off items that have been getting the stink eye just lately. I used to list EVERYTHING, no matter what it was and how much it sold for, but now I’m being more selective about my listing time.
I really must invest some time in investigating Etsy. I have fabric and vintage and handmade items that, from my research, will do a lot better on Etsy than on eBay. It’s just having to learn a whole new system is kinda putting me off! π
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06/26/2019 at 8:42 pm #64159
Amatino, Etsy tanked for me. Once they added the pay for placement feature (my term, not theirs) and I didn’t pony up, my sales took a nosedive. Etsy used to rival eBay in sales for me but that was years ago.
I know Vintage Lacy said vintage children’s books do really well for her on Etsy. I’ve also heard that people who specialize rather than have a store full of hodgepodge stuff do better. I used to sell a LOT of vintage sewing patterns on etsy but I had a hodgepodge store just like I do on eBay.
I would say it takes longer to list on Etsy than eBay, due to the tags you add to the listings. I think there are maybe 13 tags? It’s like key words for your title on eBay, but it’s an additional thing to fill out on top of your listing title.
I do think there are less scammers, nuts and unhappy people shopping on Etsy as opposed to eBay. I had some really nice interactions there. But I just couldn’t justify the time spent listing on Etsy once my sales dropped off.
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06/27/2019 at 7:01 pm #64197
Amatino,
Don’t be daunted by Etsy. They make it as easy as possible to start and list. Agreed, there will be a learning curve, and it’s important that you make your listings attractive, but it’s all well within your wheelhouse. As VT says, you should use tags on your listings. But here’s the cool thing. If you list in an organized fashion, similar items in a category, you can copy a listing and just switch out photos and so forth and it will go fast, once you learn how.
I picture Ebay as an enormous flea market, filled with crowds and thousands of booths, some cluttery and messy and some organized and nicely displayed. I picture Etsy as a large Victorian house, each room filled with beautiful treasures, curated and beautifully displayed. With fewer customers, but ones that are willing to pay more for the shopping experience.
It costs five cents a month to list on Etsy, and list it and forget it is the norm. It might take longer to sell a particular item, but you will make more, in most cases. As VT mentioned, I do well with vintage children’s books and get good money for them, much more than I would get on Ebay. I sold a book to Thailand last week for $45 and two books to Vietnam a couple of days ago that sold for $35 each. It’s easy to ship internationally and you can pick and choose which countries you ship to.
I had a really fun sale yesterday….I sold 26 pieces of fabric to ONE customer.
It’s a very different customer base. There’s more personal conversations and there’s also the expectation that you ship things in attractive packaging, or at least not in cereal boxes. It’s all about the WHOLE shopping experience. Your storefront should reflect your personality.
If you need help getting set up, or have questions about the whole thing, please let me know and we can converse through email.
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06/30/2019 at 6:04 pm #64287
Hey Listing Challengers,
I’m posting now as an excuse to stop listing for a few minutes, I’m feeling blah about listing today.
I managed 36 new listings last week. I would have gotten more listing done except I fell down the rabbit hole of working on my basement and spent half a day getting my shipping boxes organized. I still have a ways to go but it does look better in the basement now.
This week will be a busy one with the holiday so I’m not expecting to accomplish a huge number of new listings again this week.
Wishing everyone a great 4th of July!
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06/30/2019 at 7:38 pm #64295
Hello there! I must have heard you typing! LOL Congratulations, VT, it feels really good to be sorted, doesn’t it? My 2 shelves are still Stepford weird, but I’m loving it. Now… what about that cupboard of yours that keeps throwing things at you whenever you open the door?
It’s been one crazy week for me! Two days this week we were out running about the whole day for the Hubs’ sewing business. One day was spent running around and sorting out my dance business (the place where I hold my Student Showcase wants to put my rate up … to TRIPLE what I made total tickets sales this year! Frantic meetings and negotiations….) Of the remaining two days of the week, one had such spotty internet that I gave up trying, and one was just plain old system down. We had no phone or internet service at all for the entire provider network. The ENTIRE provider network, which as far as we can tell is about a 40 mile radius! And, because we’re rural, we have no mobile signal either, so we were back to the Dark Ages!
To the Vintage darlings (Treasures and Lacy) you were not being ignored. Thank you for the very informative responses, once I got to read them. I really appreciate the input and will give it some serious attention once I’ve broken the back of my immediate listing challenge. However, your analogy of the two shops is excellent, Vintage Lacy, and I shall start putting aside the special and vintage items for my Etsy experiment.
Now, I seriously considered saying that I had a genuine excuse for not listing this week, but I have that pesky DP Challenge going….. so I muscled up and listed 11 Death Pile items. I’ll write my story of that fiasco in the DP Challenge thread.
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06/30/2019 at 9:11 pm #64307
Yippee for you Amatino! I think that is what I love about a challenge, even when one has a valid excuse for not doing something you do it anyway. I’m very impressed that with all that you had going on and not going on (internet service) you managed to meet your goal. Congratulations!!! I’m also going to post over in the DP Challenge thread. See you there!
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06/30/2019 at 10:45 pm #64310
I am on vacation and spent the week getting ready. However, I made notes on five items already photographed and was able to list them on the ride down.
We took the Auto Train from VA to FL, same as what Jay & Ryanne did earlier this year. They didn’t like it much, and I have to agree that there are some serious issues with this mode of transportation. None of us could get comfortable, and I really didn’t sleep much. On my mother’s advice, I took a sleeping pill, but it only did so much. However, I really enjoyed the experience of being on a train, specifically, eating dinner and hanging out in the lounge car.
Anyway, put me down for five this week. I will probably be at zero for the next two weeks, but I keep telling myself that I have enough info to list one watch, so who knows.
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07/01/2019 at 2:38 pm #64337
I have never been called a vintage darling before. It made my day!
I have the house to myself this week so I have a HUGE project under way, pulling all the bits and pieces of various picking excursions out to the living room, sorting, cleaning, pricing or listing, and boxing and getting on top of it, hopefully once and for all. Hard to do with my usual limited work space so I am taking full advantage. We normally try to keep the living areas relatively merchandise free.
Hope you are having a blast on your vacation Sharyn! Charlie and I are going on a week-long picking trip to California next week so my numbers next time will be WAY down…but this week I listed 44 items.
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07/01/2019 at 10:29 pm #64373
LOL. Glad I could make your day, Vintage Lacy.
Have a wonderful va-kay, Sharyn!
Spreadsheet updated and Vintage Lacy tops the pops again!
Next week’s posts will be in the new Thread #3 as we head into the 3rd quarter. No more posts in this one. Sheesh! Half the year gone already! O.O!
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