The Numbers: Week May 26– June 1, 2025

[Retro Treasures WV]

Items in Store: 3202
Items Sold: 33
Total Sales: $1,648.00
COGS: $194.00
Total Profit: $1,454.00
Average profit: $44.06
Average sales price: $49.94
New Listings: 34
Items scavenged: 20
2025 weekly new listings Avg: 34
2025 avg gross weekly sales $1,204.09
2025 Avg weekly Items Sold 25
2025 ASP $48.16
2025 projected total sales $62,612.73

A solid week of sales and sourcing. I spent more of my available time doing inventory/storage management this week instead of listing. It’s my least favorite aspect of this business, but I always feel better once it is done and I have an increase in productivity in the weeks that follow any significant organization. I have to keep that in mind because the false mindset I have prior to starting is that the time spent is not “making me money”. This is why being organized has to be a foundational aspect of a successful business. Having operational discipline is what separates the successful sellers from the flame outs.

 

Now onto other business. I’ve really been torn this week regarding this forum. This place has been such a major part of my reselling life for so long. Every week I have always looked forward to posting here. I don’t really have anywhere else to talk to like minded resellers. I don’t want to be in a paid patreon/discord and I don’t really care for Facebook reselling groups. Having a core group of positive thinking members in a traditional forum format here has really helped me grow my business. I started writing these numbers posts in a journal format offline back in December to prep for the time the forum shut down. Just getting my thoughts out on paper(or screen) really helps me to stay accountable. I just copy/paste my weekly entry on here. I intend to keep doing that.

I’ve known since Jay & Ryanne quit posting that the end was inevitable. Maybe it’s time to move on. I convinced myself all last week that this was it – this weekly numbers post would be my last. As I write this entry I’m very torn, but I think I’m going to keep to that commitment.

 

To everyone that is still here and reading this, thanks for your support and encouragement. Thank you a million times over to Jay and Ryanne for starting this forum and their podcast. Their influence on other resellers lives is immeasurable. Who knew that hearing a guy wax poetic about the pleasant experience of cleaning and photographing used shoes would have such an impact on my life both monetarily and philosophically.

It’s been a great run folks. I’m out. If anyone wants to reach out and keep in touch please message me through ebay messages and we can exchange email addresses: https://www.ebay.com/str/retrotreasureswv

 

[craig rex]

Retro, I already sent you a message through eBay, but I just want to add here for posterity reasons: I wouldn’t be where I am in my scavenging life without your posts. Jay and Ryanne lit the spark for me about what reselling could lead to, and your knowledge (especially the last few years since the podcast ended) added fuel to the fire in the best possible way. My life has changed in some amazing ways since I found this podcast, and I’m certain after the last six months that the best is yet to come. I can’t thank you enough for that. I can’t thank all of you enough.

This forum has kept me accountable and been a source of encouragement for years, and I’ll always be grateful. If we’re approaching the end of the forums, it’s been a lot of fun and y’all know where to find me if you want to chat about eBay or road burgers or life. I mean that — if you’re reading these posts in the future and want to talk reselling with someone who knows the game, send me a message on eBay and let me know that the trash elves sent you.

5/25/2025 to 5/31/2025

Total listings: 284

New listings this week: 25

Items sold: 29 — 20 via best offer, 4 via seller initiated offer, 15 via advertising

Gross sales: $1088.66

Net sales: $713.66

Average sales price: $37.54

High sale of the week: $47.88 net, about $25 profit after COGS Bruno Fernandes 2021-22 Panini Obsidian autograph jersey card /75

[Steven S]

Maybe this has been discussed but regarding Bonanza. I’ve imported all my ebay listings into Bonanza for over 10 years and sold an item or two every few months or so, never paid attention to emails or notifications from the company. Today I was billed for a monthly listing fee, my ignorance didn’t cost me too much but beginning May 1st it’s a .03 charge for every listing over 50 now. So I’ve decided to just cancel my account.

Looks like things are winding down here on the forum, it was fantastic while it lasted, thanks to Ryan, Jay and all who contributed.

I have officially retired (collecting SS) but will be selling out my remaining inventory over the next year but I’m sure I won’t be able to pass up a bargain to resell for a long while.

Adios mi amigos, steven81458

[Liz]

Thanks for the heads up about Bonanza. I only sold 2 or 3 items a month there, but it’s not enough to make their $20 a month fee worth it for me, (I have enough listings to hit their max fee cap).

[Sharyn]

Oh man, this kinda sucks. Even though I’ve resurrected my “career” day job, I really enjoyed all the help & connections from the forum; even after Jay & Ryanne’s involvement ended. Even after Steven stopped making his videos.

@Craig – Will you keep up your sale and scavenge of the week? Maybe the listing challenge will go on.

@Retro – I think that eBay will not allow you to trade email addresses through messaging.  They look for that stuff and prevent the messages from being sent. I have a “junk” email that I use for this purpose. You, or anyone here, can send an email to sharynjunk@yahoo.com and include a message. Then, right away, post here to validate that it is actually an email from you. I’ll then give you my “real” email address.

Back in 2015, I lost my job because it moved from the NJ/PA area out to Colorado. I had my kids in the school system and a husband who had a good, stable job (still does), so I didn’t take the offer. But, I also didn’t find much in my field in my local area, so I stayed home, got more involved with my kids, and started with my eBay business. Initially, I didn’t realize how eBay had changed from the auctions to BIN, but, in 2016, I found Scavenger Life and the Manifesto. All of a sudden, I understood the system much better, and my learning has never ended.

I hope the best for everyone.

With my listing way, way down and my focus on my career again, my numbers are low. I did have one good sale last week, and I’ve already had a good sale this week, so things will look up especially as I get rid of my lower value inventory.

Week of May 25 – 31
Total Items in Store: 1329 eBay, 33 Etsy
Items Sold: 5 eBay, 0 Etsy
Cost of Items Sold: $0 + $47 Commission
Total Sales: $124.90 eBay, $0 Etsy
Highest Price Sold: eBay for $80 for 10K Yellow Gold Pendant MISSING GEM
Average price: $24.98
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 0

[craig rex]

Sharyn, yes I’ll keep posting those threads. I have found the process of looking back on my last week of what I bought and sold to be really helpful for me, and not sure I would have ever starting doing it without the podcast and these forums. I will start posting the numbers threads when I do scavenge and sale of the week, too, so the posts will still be here so long as this forum is.

[Clarity]

Hey Retro!  So sorry to see that you won’t be posting your numbers any longer.  I see them every week and say to myself, “I’m going to that next week!”   I have learned so much from everyone here and it has definitely upped my eBay game.   I sure do wish that Jay and Ryanne had time to post an update every now and again.   It would be nice to hear how the coffee/real estate empire is doing.  Steve S., I miss your what sold videos.

I’ve been reading about the updated fee structure at Bonanza and am going to try it out for a few months to see how sales go.  If they don’t pick up, I’ll be closing my account too.

 

[craig rex]

I have learned so much from everyone here and it has definitely upped my eBay game. I sure do wish that Jay and Ryanne had time to post an update every now and again. It would be nice to hear how the coffee/real estate empire is doing. Steve S., I miss your what sold videos.

Hear, hear @clarity-sange! I agree with all of this. I’ve always been a slacker about posting my numbers in this thread, but every time I’ve done it, it’s been worth the time spent. Numbers aside, analyzing different parts of my business — like how many listings I’m doing daily or weekly, or exactly what happened after I did end and sell similar — has been so helpful. I’ve gotten much better over the last year about making these check-ins with myself part of my weekly routine, and I think it’s helpful in a lot of ways. Primarily psychologically, it makes me feel like I have a little more control over my business even though that’s probably not true!

[ChristineR]

Hi everyone, I agree that I would certainly miss the forums.  I’ve been super busy outside of Ebay but I love checking in somewhere with smart and friendly sellers.  I sorely miss hearing from R&J and guys – I hope you are doing very well.  Too bad I was not getting serious on Ebay while the podcast was still going.  I listen to a few now but they pale in comparison to the analysis and relatability of SL.  So grateful for the free education on Youtube and from the Podcast.

I’m into the forums for the long haul, however long that lasts.  If still around I’ll report on my trip to the Ebay open in August.  For me it’s mostly about the wait for affordable and accurate time saving listing from photos.  Listing is the part where I fall down.  I will stop by the List Perfectly booth but my hope is that Ebay will fix their poor beta version ASAP.  At $100/mo for LP+ I can’t do it since I’ve been so inconsistent.  I’m not as interested in cross-posting either, though I hear Poshmark is still going fairly strong.

Steve:  happy retirement!

BTW, I’ve been thinking of getting a spot in a brick and mortar by next year.  This talented gal in Virginia is very inspirational.  Though it is a bit more country than I would do here, she’s really great at blocking and styling.  I’ve been watching a lot of her videos.  She’s at the Factory Antique Mall in Verona Virginia in case you have time to go by there on your travels.

http://UCRgucPJ_Gc-Go0l868WCcAw

[Ryanne]

@christiner, will you relink to that video? that link is broken

[ChristineR]

https://youtube.com/@amandasmercantile?si=fJL7hYA6eJzoih24

Ananda’s Mercantile.  She’s also a Virginia realtor.

[Ryanne]

that’s so cool, Verona is really close to us!

[ChristineR]

Hi Ryanne.  You guys would get along great I would imagine.  She’s also super productive and has a good sense of humor.   She does pop ups at Luckett’s Market – not sure where that is in relation to you.

[Author]

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