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You’re doing so well, Vintage Treasures!
I’m good on steps 6-8, I need to work on steps 1-4. As soon as I have step 3 running, I’ll work out how to add an “enjoy” factor per step 5. I’ve not been particularly successful in implementing the steps. While I’ve cleared my desk, it seems to get cluttered daily, I think the sheer volume of stuff just overwhelms the space, so I don’t even feel like I’ve achieved step 1.
You know that saying: “A place for everything, and everything in its place.”? Have you ever considered that you can’t put everything in its place until you have a place for everything? It sounds silly, but that was a major EUREKA! moment for me. LOL. So when I clear a space, I consider it “properly” cleared only when I have created a place for everything that has been piling up in that space. I’ve also learned to consider what and why is piling up in a space. For example, I had a fancy place to put my purse and keys and stuff – and they never ended up there! They always ended up piled on the kitchen counter by the door. Now I have a cabinet installed by the door (we had to move the fridge over, bit of a hassle, but SO worth it!) and I put my purse and keys away with no trouble. Plus I have storage space to put a basket for invoices and receipts, a spot for sunglasses, and a small bowl on the top for small change. It’s the best change I made and now my kitchen is clean and tidy most of the time.
For July I’m going to stick with my June goal of 10 per week. And I’m going to mindfully work on step 1 and get my desk utterly cleared of stuff, plus I’m going to clear the other 3 shelves on my bookshelf and (deep breath as I stretch to new heights here!) I’m going to try to clear UNDER the desk as well. If I can do that, I think I can cross step 1 off as done.
There’s a saying: “The pain of change has to be less than the pain of staying the same.”
If you really want to break the habit, you have to make it hurt. Give yourself a new rule: if you buy another Santa mug, you have to immediately donate it back and take the loss. Two or three donations later, you’ll think twice before you actually take Santa home with you! π
Yeah, I think most of the stuff that went out was clothes or high ticket items. I didn’t offer as big a discount as you either, I think I was more in the 15% range.
My goodness, I had to hustle to make the Challenge this week. I am SO grateful I only set myself a goal of 10. There is no way I would have made it this week if I’d had it much higher, as I only managed 11 in total. All of them DP items, I’m proud to say!
With no internet, no phones, and no mobile, I spent my “down time” clearing the back section of the garage, with shudder-inducing cobwebs, enough dust to start my own bunny collection, and things that fall down when you move something else. The hubs has been huffing about not being able to get into that back section; his manuals are stored on a large set of shelves and the shelving is buckling under the weight of them, so he had a real need-to-get-there. Our water softener is also back there, and our chest freezer is en route too, so clearing it up made life a lot easier on multiple fronts!
As the week was productive only on the cleaning and sorting front, all my listings were done yesterday and today. This week my listings were large, unwieldy items that I’ve been putting off because they’re large and unwieldy. Feels good to finally get them out of the way, although the lamp took a couple hours to clean and photograph, a couple hours to research and list, and a couple more hours to pack up ready for storage and shipping. Almost the whole day on one listing! EEP! However, we can now get to the back of the garage for the first time in mkdmfmddmmmfmmfffmumblemumblemumble… I might be too embarrassed to say that one out loud. π I have another lamp to list (a chandelier type thing) and all the large and awkward stuff is done. There’s one shelf of small and not interesting items to clear and Himself can have that whole section back. He’s been muttering about how it’s “his” and I’m “using his space.” Although, if I do clear that shelf, I might move the sewing machines that I’ve listed on eBay into it, because the shelf where they’re currently stored is close to the door and would be better suited to the repair business. Machines could go on that shelf on their way in, or on their way out, instead of sitting on my kitchen counter and dining room table!
Wow, this cleaning up kick really has some unexpected perks!
Vintage Treasures, thanks for being my kick up the keister this weekend. I wouldn’t have done it if I hadn’t had you in the wings.
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.
I tried it for a week and got nothing at all, so I stopped. Perhaps I should have continued for a bit.
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
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!
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!
I went back and listened to the YT vid again and he says “going for a walk” or “doing meditation” or something like that. He says tag your listing time onto the front or back of your “enjoy” item, so list first then do what you enjoy, or vice versa. The theory is rational, but I don’t know that would work for me. I’ll give it a try though. Next week! This week I’ve already got my goals.
That Bexa Boss Lady is well spoken and clear. I enjoyed her video. And I wrote down her tips too. She only has five, and some of them are the same as 10KontheBay.
1. Lose perfectionism: steaming, looking perfect, color is perfect, styled properly, background white enough. Just ensure listings are clean and clear.
2. Have a small List Next pile
3. Break up listings into small sprints – 8 to 10 items in the same category
4. Have 2 or 3 listing sprints per day
5. Take photos of the measurements of the items and the tags information instead of writing them down
5. If you have a huge Death Pile, break it down into smaller chunks of 8 to 10 items in the same category and work with only that pile. This stops the Death Pile from becoming overwhelming. Small wins become big success.
Her #2, 3, & 4 are the same as 10K’s #2 and #4, just explained better. I used to do #5 but now that I’m following Retro Treasures’ plan of creating my drafts before photos, I find that I just whack the measurements into the drafts and it has saved me a lot of time. I’m a quilter, so I have a quilting mat on my desk all the time. It’s easy for me to just lay out stuff on the mat and get the measurements really quickly. So for me, #1 and #5 were the big takeaways, but she explained the middle stuff better than 10K, so thank you for this.
I thought it was me! I’m listing and it keeps “losing” my photos. I’m working in the listing and suddenly, the photo will disappear and eBay will tell me to use a valid link to upload. ????
I haven’t tried shipping today, but the photos were driving me to distraction.
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!
You’re doing really great, VT! I wish I had your listing numbers, but as I’m growing each week, I’m content to move slowly.
As I’ve been struggling to get my listing area cleared so that I can have a dedicated listing space per #1, I’ve not really been doing that up til now. However, while I’m still surrounded, I have enough cleared that I’m going to say that it starts this week. #2 is kind of “on default” at the moment. I’m forced to list what’s around me as my ‘list next’, so I don’t really think I’m cutting it deliberately yet. While I did have a couple listing sprints (#4) I didn’t list daily (#3), and I didn’t listen to content, nor buy anything this week, and I do have you for accountability, so I’m set for #6-8.
So my goal this week is to mindfully practise #1-4, as #6-8 is sorted.
Question, though. what is your #5? I’m going to have to rewatch the video, as I’m at a loss on this one.
That’s a lot of legos!
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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