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Has anyone filed an insurance claim with something shipped via SmartPost?
An item I shipped that way arrived to the customer wet/damaged. The customer sent pictures so I have the proof. When trying to file a claim seems there’s an endless loop – FedEx only allows the sender to file a claim, which technically is eBay and not me. However eBay won’t file a claim on my behalf. When contacting FedEx, they also only will reimburse if the damage occurred while the package was in their possession and it’s impossible to know if it happened while they were in possession or when handed over to USPS.
Here’s a pretty negative thread about it that seems to be what I’m running in to: https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping-Returns/Don-t-try-to-file-a-damaged-claim-with-FedEx-SmartPost-read-my/td-p/19211893
At the end of the day the claim would be for like $21, so I’m not crushed even if there’s no way to file a claim. But I have sent more expensive things that would really be a problem if a similar situation happened.
Totally. I guess my question to tiki experts is there a keyword I’m missing or some logo I’m missing that makes mine less desirable to others? I’ve certainly checked the sold listings and it seems to be priced appropriately and that took me to the description/keyword question – two years of being listed, discounts sales, etc and not even a question or offer seems weird to me.
You’re 100% correct. It’s not limited to online business, but all businesses and investments – diversify so when one thing is down the other is up, etc.
Additionally, it’s also key to note that this country is huge and each area has a different economy. Certain areas are down, depressed, struggling while others are flourishing. For example, my area in NYC/northern NJ real estate is skyrocketing through the roof and things are generally good. I would think that the same is true in SF/San Jose/Silicon Valley, Austin, Nashville, etc. But there are other areas that are in extremely bad conditions. As sellers, there may be opportunity there. In those depressed areas, there might be people willing to depart with their excess just make ends meet. Whereas in flourishing areas, there might be luxury goods available. Regardless, it does take effort to first identify the opportunity and then act on it.
I know we have a couple of tiki experts in the house here that have been talking over the past week or so… I’ve had this mug for a couple years with little to no interest. Is it priced too high or have I misidentified it?
Thanks! Always appreciate the kudos. Not bad for a hobby.
Week Dec 4-10, 2016
Total Items in Store: 763
Items Sold: 19 (1 Amazon, 5 Etsy – more on that below)
Cost of Items Sold: $57 (eBay/Amazon only)
Total Sales: $538.66
Highest Price Sold: $70 (partial bottle of vintage Arpege Lanvin)
Average Price Sold: $28.35
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 9Solid week, nothing spectacular. Mainly bread & butter on eBay and a RA piece on Amazon. Bigger news (for me at least) is that I made 5 sales on Etsy this week. I don’t do vintage or picks on Etsy, but I have a little photography shop. I’ve mentioned before that photography is a hobby and I sell a photo here and there – usually about 1 per month – but this week I sold 5 for about $200 which I’m super pumped about. Here’s a shameless plug to my store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BrianTuchalskiPhoto
Otherwise, still cranking along on the bathroom reno that started last week. Things are now mostly out of my hands and into the contractor’s hands for electrical, plumbing, etc this week and then next week should start tiling. I’ll jump back in for cleaning and painting in a couple weeks.
Can’t wait to listen to the show on my way home!
Awesome sales, especially that porcelain bowl in a box lot!
Love those little travel bars & flasks. Always pick them up when I find them cause they’re usually so cheap.
Some of my sales for the past week:
c1970s GE portable cassette player:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/192038804514
Ever since my big score on finding a high end Sony Walkman a few months ago, I’ve been picking up any that look interesting. This one I picked up cause it was big & bulky, meaning it was likely early. This model was from the 1970s. I tested & it wasn’t working so sold as is for parts. Bought for $1, sold for $25.c1960s New Cory Rod:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/192043010308
This was in the bottom of a box lot. I had absolutely no idea what it was, thought it might be some quack medical device. I was able to identify by the patent numbers. Turns out it is a piece of a Cory Coffee Maker, which was the top competitor of Silex for the first personal home coffee brewers. This was the second model and amazingly sold within a day of listing for $20.California Raisins lot:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201731484891
If you grew up in the 80s, these were it. Bought the lot at the flea market and thought I scored more that I did. Paid $5 for the lot, thinking I could get $40 for them. Took a calculated chance and put them up for auction. Sold for $12. Whomp whomp.Vintage Christmas Cheese Spreaders:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191525858607
These appear to never have been used, or used quite infrequently. They have porcelain handles and steel blades. Found them on the last day of an estate sale and paid $0.50 for them like 2 years ago. Finally sold in my clearance section for $9.If I had them, I’d probably title something like: Antique Asian / Oriental Inspired Wood Block Ink Print. I’m not expert in Asian themes, but maybe someone out there is that can determine Chinese, Japanese, etc to make the listing more accurate. To me, the top one looks like a Mongolian / Genghis Khan type figure with a horse decked out in battle gear.
I mainly do estate sales but also go to the Meadlowlands Flea every six weeks or so. I don’t like going too often because you see the same vendors, same inventory. Going ever 6-8 weeks allows for some inventory turnover. I can’t take Goodwills or weigh & pays… I know a lot of people love them and get great stuff there, but I’ve personally never had success. I may pay a bit of a premium to go to an estate sale, but in my opinion the quality is higher. To each their own though.
Woo! 14 years of Catholic school was good for something! 🙂
Does the tag have an RN number? That might give you a better idea.
Yeah, I’m thinking finial too… the middle section that is broken makes me think it was attached to something like a railing? Perhaps they were incense burners that were attached to the rail on the kneelers that used to be around the altar in old style churches?
http://www.churchcushion.co.uk/2016_images/14.jpg
Pre-1962, in Catholic churches, mass was said in Latin and the altar area was separate from the congregation. Separating the two was a wall to wall kneeler with either a wooden or metal/brass railings. It’s total speculation, but these may have been attached to those railings in a “fancy”church.
Good luck!
