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I followed the tried-and-true recipe for a strong week of sales this past week.
Auctions? Check, my batch of 120 April auctions ended last Monday 5/6.
Lots of listing activity? Check, about 90 of those auctions went unsold and passed my “is relisting as BIN/BO the best option for this item?” test, so on Friday 5/10 they went back in the store.
Discounts and offers? Check, I had 11 sales from either best offer or offer sent to watchers.
Listed new, strong items? Check, I had about a dozen sales (ballparking it) this week from items that were less than 30 days old, including a few that listed this week.
My best margin was effectively free to $45.66 net on this flat rate box of trading card supplies. I make these lots removing the cards from the clean cases I receive in my steady stream buying and selling. I don’t need hard cases to send on consignment and I reuse clean used cases for the individual cards and curated small lots that I sell, but I still have more cases than I can possibly use. I trash the ugly cases (scratched up, tape) and make these lots, and I think being thoughtful about them is why they sell. The buyer of this box has bought at least five of these boxes from me over the last couple years. Sometimes I would like to send them a message and chat about it, but I’d rather not poke the bear.
I also had a repeat buyer on this Jetsons production cel (net $26.66, COGS $20, bought on February 28, 2024) which makes up for the relative lack of profit. Lesson learned, will make my starting bid $39.99 next time. I really enjoy getting these larger or oddball items in and out fast even if they’re often not my most profitable items.
Similar story on this enormous signed photo of Diamondbacks catcher Gabe Moreno, my net was $12.39 and my COGS was $6. Purchased in March 2024 so another very quick turnaround.
This signed Bobby Shantz Philadelphia Athletics jersey had a minor bidding war erupt over it, and my starting bid of $29.99 ended at a hammer price of $38.76. I’m having trouble finding the COGS in Terapeak or my email, which means the original listing must have been cheap due to a misspelling in the title. The buyer was in Pennsylvania, fairly close to me, so I would have added a few bucks profit if I had used USPS ground instead of a medium flat rate. But I had the box and the fit was perfect. I usually choose saving time over saving money. I have another Shantz autographed item to list (a Lancaster area yearbook with other signatures) and I’ll be curious to see if the same buyer comes back for that, or if it also turns into a minor bidding war.
I’m thrilled to have sold this signed Annie Potts 1989 Topps Ghostbusters card after almost a year (June 2023), COGS was $10 and my net was $17.97. Lessons learned here: these types of items don’t sell well on consignment, and I want to keep my COGS on them loser to $6. But the market is definitely there and I have a ton more storage available for graded cards as the box I have my listed inventory is huuuuge and my listed inventory is tiny.
I sold two copies of this Mike Powell lacrosse relic uniform, the first via the auction batch and the second on Saturday within 24 hours of listing my next to last copy. My last copy is at consignment, so it’s time to either lower the price or have it shipped home to sell on eBay. Nets of $22.37 and $16.46 on these, and my COGS were around $12-$14 when I bought I think 5 copies of the card from the same seller on the consignment site I use. Doesn’t sound like a great margin, but the consignment site’s cash out fee is 10%, so any time I can get some cards which sell for above my cost after eBay fees, I’m making a few extra bucks instead of paying those cash out fees. I don’t always get them shipped to me, but if I think they will sell quickly or sell better on eBay, I do. Then I get to learn about weird niches like lacrosse cards. Win-win!
My favorite card that I sold this week was this $65.48 net bat booklet card of Paul and Lloyd Waner , brothers who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates way way back in the 1930s. I love selling cards like this, a little slice (pun intended) of Americana. Purchased on April 6th for $32 and sold on May 6th for an offer of $84.99.
I snuck in another expensive single card sale on otherwise slow Saturday with this Adin Hill The Cup RPA which had a net of around $125. Ballparking since I haven’t printed the shipping label yet. The Cup is the most expensive hockey card set, and RPA (rookie patch auto) cards are the most desirable. Adin Hill led the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup last year, and I won this card at auction a few months ago (March) for $55 when Hill was hurt and the Knights were struggling. The playoffs are in full swing right now, and the Knights…were knocked out a week ago. Hill played pretty good, but his offense didn’t show up for him. This card still sold on Saturday full close enough to my full BIN, a 20 percent offer to watcher. eBay can be weird like that.
Finally, my big sale of the week a flat rate box of encased basketball cards for a net of $273, with a COGS of roughly $150, which has already led to another positive feedback. Including this one because it’s the high sale and also for accountability’s sake: I need to make the time this week to make another one of these boxes, and get it listed, then that way I might have something good to post in next week’s thread. I might even get a repeat buyer out of it.
I wish every week was this interesting! But maybe my store is headed in that direction if I keep putting in the work by listing good quality items at strong prices.
What did you sell this week?
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I accidentally submitted this on your other post. This is in reply to you using a med flat rate box that reduced your profit:
@craig-rex – You should take a look at other free shipping boxes that USPS will give you. There are “mailing boxes” that are not flat rate, and the label can be based on the size and weight. These two boxes are similar to the medium flat rate:https://store.usps.com/store/product/priority-mail-medium-box-option-1-P_O_1092
https://store.usps.com/store/product/priority-mail-large-box-P_O_1095
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Thanks. I guess these are the new version of the Regional A and B boxes? I still have a few packages of Regional A’s but I have been out of the side loading ones for some time. At least until these arrive!
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These boxes have been around for some time. If you are on Facebook, try getting on some freecycling groups. I recently obtained both A & B boxes from someone who no longer did resale. (Note that most freecycling groups do not allow you to sell items you get for free there. I religiously follow those rules.)
I hardly ever use flat rate, but I keep a few around just in case. These are the other mailing boxes that I use often.
https://store.usps.com/store/product/priority-mail-medium-box-P_O_BOX7
https://store.usps.com/store/product/priority-mail-shoe-box-P_0_SHOEBOX
I keep a few of these for long items like posters. They also offer a smaller version:
These fit inside a padded flat rate bag (I only occasionally use them on their own):
https://store.usps.com/store/product/priority-mail-small-box-P_O_1096L
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https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m11271259587/
Following up on the perfume discussion, both the sealed one on Ebay and the unsealed full one on Mercari sold quickly. It was discontinued but still available in department stores for about $175. Very nice sales, paid $18 apiece. The Ebay buyer is adding it to her “fragrance closet”
Also sold this oddball item. Took a while, listed last Fall https://www.ebay.com/itm/235194331893 There weren’t any really comparable items so I tried higher but very happy with $80. Paid $7.99 GW.
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/266674769464
Harley Davidson 6″ side zip Lace Up motorcycle boots Men’s Size 10 black leather
Harley boots are a BOLO boot. They always sell. This is the cheapest pair I’ve ever sold at $40. I’ve sold many at $75+.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266672457857
BJU Press Spelling 5 Teacher’s Edition with CD & Student Work Text
Another free homeschool set from local library.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266407126512
Dilbert by Scott Adams HUGE lot of 21 books softcovers
I let all these sit on a shelf for years before listing. I just listed them as one big lot and they sold for full price in about 8 months. YAY! Paid $1 per book at Goodwill many years ago.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266371666350
Dockers Khaki D3 Classic Individual Fit Pleated Black 32×34 New Iron Free
I always keep my eye out for NWT pants at Goodwill. They are always a good seller for $25-50. Pants are normally priced at just under $5 with tax included.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266505253238
Alegria Navy Blue Leather FRE-622 Ankle Strap Clog Shoes Comfort Sandal 39 /US 9
Another good shoe brand to be on the lookout for. Sells well for $30-50. These sold on offer for $35. Paid $2 a yard sale.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266328578140
Cross Century II Fountain Pen Black matte 23 carat gold appointments
This was a hoarder miscellaneous pickup for $1. Sold on offer for $50. Cross is pretty much a defunct brand now.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266471318268
87-91 Ford F150 F250 F350 Bronco OEM Right/LEFT Head Lamp Light PAIR
Picked up for a few bucks at a yard sale. Sold on an offer to buyers for $160.
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