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Researching this item led me to discover all the “No idea what this is” listings on eBay. Very entertaining reading!
Really good input….thanks so much everyone! I may just list it with something in the title like “Please help identify”. That has worked for me occasionally in the past.
Thank you Ryanne! As many have pointed out over the years, selling on eBay is often a very lonely business. I have been so grateful for this forum as a means of feeling connected to other sellers. I miss hearing about everyone’s daily scavenging and selling adventures.
I have been scouring the lost money sites for decades. The lists were printed in the newspaper every year prior to being available on-line. (still are in some places) Never found a penny. The joke in my family is that we are so tight, our names will never appear on those lists!
Just my two cents but a light tent may be a better choice. They are much less expensive and more flexible for set up and actual use. I bought one years ago for smaller items….it’s about 18″ square. I liked it so much that I bought a second larger one for bigger items….it’s 24″ square. Lots of options for these on both eBay and Amazon. Many come in kit form which includes at least two lights on stands. If you use daylight bulbs in the lamps, you get a nice white light inside the tent. The only negative is that the backdrops will eventually get dirty if you use them a lot. I’ve learned how to make my own when they need replacing. Duck cloth is a good option for great looking backgrounds but whatever comes with the tent will be fine until you have to replace it. Oh…another huge benefit to tents (for me, anyway) is that they can easily be folded up and carried. I routinely take the smaller one with me when I travel.
Forgot to mention….the buyer’s feedback score is 8. This is the only transaction she’s had in the past 12 months.
Thanks so much to everyone for the information! I think you’ve given me enough to make sense of these envelopes and get them listed. Somehow, my research was not as productive as what you provided. Just wish I had the contents of the envelopes!
Pillbox it is….Thanks so much everyone for your input! Love this forum!
I just went through the same ordeal. There was no way for me to close the case on-line after the deadline date for the return had passed. I called eBay and chose the “call me” option. Had to wait 45 minutes for the call back. Once they called, it took about 20 minutes and 2 reps to get the case closed. Once I got to the right person, it was taken care of immediately. But what a waste of time for both me and eBay! I should have been able to close that case in 10 seconds without wasting so much time.
A lot of people would just donate it. But others think about all the time (and money, if they use hired help) they have invested in the item. They might rather get “something” than “nothing” for work they’ve already done.
Another thing to consider is condition. I would look closely at the condition as described in those low priced listings. Those may have been items in poor or questionable condition.
A third thought is overall listing aesthetic. A listing that includes beautiful photos and a complete written description (including measurements for clothes) can often command a higher price than a sloppily/lazily presented one line description. (As a seller, I benefit from this ALL the time. As a buyer, I actively seek out such listings. I will often pay more for an item that is professionally presented.)
When I see a competing item that has sold for very little, I just think “well, that one’s gone so now mine can move up in search”. Of course, the more long tail your item is, the better your chances of not being forced to compete on price in the first place.
Keep in mind that sellers have different profit thresholds. Sometimes, people are just desperate to move stuff out of the house and will sell at any price. If they’ve been sitting on the item for years, they may have just pulled the plug to get it out. Other sellers who are listing the item for the first time may have higher hopes and will keep it priced higher. I occasionally reach a point where I’m willing to take a loss just to make space in my house. Someone with more space or who’s just now listing the item for the first time may be more optimistic about what they can get.
Thanks so much to everyone who responded! As usual, you came through for me. I think the information provided in the responses is as much as can be known about this patch. I am grateful for your time and interest!
