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Week #1 – Ok, not great for me but I’m feeling Ebay motivated.
2018 Death Pile Challenge:
Number of Items listed this week: 24 including some multiples
% from piles (includes a few older one off RA purchases that sat unlisted): 100%
Number of listing sessions: 2 – really want to get this # up. I need to get to listing more regularly.Other Ebay Tasks:
Organizing boxes, recycled materials and piles: half day; inventory of all new RA ltems, all new items listed or relisted this week if ended: 1.5 hours. Lower dollar Christmas items spun off on auction or deep discount, some ended. Valentines and St. Patrick’s Day items boxed for listing next along with wool items and ski clothes (not much of any of these types so wanting to list this week). I’m going with the one box at a time / bite of the elephant approach. Feels satisfying. Good luck this week!
The Christines agree. This is the first place my mind went. I think it’s probably harder when you know the person to recognize and have your mind go there.
Of course, all are welcome as far as I’m concerned. At first I really missed those quick stops at the thrifts, but the guilt and need for order has set in so the shopping urge is not as strong. When I do shop I’m far more likely to walk out without buying and I really try to think twice and only hit on items worth my time. I realize I just can’t process everything there that has value, so I’d like to stick to the stuff I personally think is really cool.
I found that I really like taking a box at a time up to my listing space and then when I bring it back down it feels really rewarding. I appreciate having piles because I can switch over to anther type of item for variety. Good luck to all!Steve I hope you are keeping warm. Thanks and happy new year!
My own personal 2017 Duds edition! I’m sure you scavengers are too savvy to pick these up so maybe this is just for my own benefit. Sold some of my markdowns last week.
Dud: most small stitchery kits, smaller than a piece of paper. Needlepoint Clock Kit Paid 1.99, sat at higher price for over a year. If anyone has had success with lotting up smalls, let me know.
Dud: RA lego sets. Paid more than I got back on this Target clearance item. Small LOTR Lego Kit I have dabbled shallowly and rather unsuccessfully in new larger lego RA (available discounted at Ross) and the margins are never good enough. Plus, the UPC is actually in the Ebay system, so Ebay is constantly beating you up to drop the price with free shipping.
Dud: Pimpernel vintage drink coaster sets. I find them often but can’t move them out very well. This one was brand new so sold for reduced price $15. I’ve got other used ones that have been sitting. Pimpernel
Mixed reviews: Hallmark Ornaments. Some go for over $100, some are virtually worthless. I had a cache that I listed in October. Most went around $15 and easy to pack, so all in all pretty good. I really need to look up the good ones. They cost $3 at the thrifts, so need to be cautious. This straggler got marked down Obama Harley Ornament
I’m sure I’ll have more duds to share as I work through my backlog in 2018.
Sorry I’m a day late. I was hoping to get in and consolidate my piles and boxes plus firm up a bit of organizing, but didn’t happen. I’ve saved last year’s pictures and annotated some of them Here and created a new board for 2018 Here. I definitely made progress last year, but there is lots left! I notice I love to pick up fabric items but have been avoiding listing them.
I’m not doing much scavenging or RA lately, but we should keep track of the % of death piles with our weekly numbers. Monday I got to list and I have everything new RA listed. I also did some mark downs on some listed Christmas and 15 month marked listings. A few things sold right after. I’ll probably start on a box of death next time I get the chance. I’m wary about setting specific listing goals but I’ll try to do listing sessions 2-3 times a week. That would probably be an improvement. If it goes well, I’d like to make that every other day listing at least a couple of items. It would be wise to schedule listings and launch them daily, but I feel compelled to launch them right away even though I know this. Good luck with this week! Gotta go to work.
Hi Jay, I just meant I wish the existing latest list was made longer.
I think this has been requested before, but I would love to see “Latest from the forum” include the next 10 most recent, so total of 20. It might help people remember to use the forum topics too. Thanks.
A few months ago I starting adding FedEx overnight as my last option, just in case it pays off later when they tweak and refine the guaranteed shipping program. One time I did have a buyer with a prop house want it too on an unlikely item.
the Mezz – No, it’s use it all on your shopping cart or lose it. Make sure not to click buy it now. I’ve made that mistake.
Total Items in Store: 367
Items Sold: 11
Cost of Items Sold: $41 + $24 free shipping
Total Sales: $246
Highest Price Sold: $45 (Midcentury barware gift set in box)
Average Price Sold: $22
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: <$10 thrift + $150 Christmas day RA with gift card from Dad – thanks Dad!
Number of items listed this week: 19 (mostly multiples)Alllrighty it was a crappy week for me and I did some markdowns to move Christmas stuff. Some items have now made it through two seasons and I refuse to list them again and wait for high prices when I could just have fun finding better stuff. Really hopeful that the RA items start to do well in the next couple of weeks.
I’m pleased that you had a good trip to NYC and good sales this week. Excited to hear about the storage set up. I see you getting a locking camper shell, taking Springtime Airbnb or housesitting trips for the week to nearby cities and cleaning up on Craigslist, thrifts, and estate sales on undervalued $3-20 items. Whatever you end up doing, I want you to know that I really enjoy the podcast and now that I am more experienced there is little else worth listening to. I’m social, love over-analyzing things, and even though I am doing this very part-time, it’s important to me to do it right. Also, I love finding the super cool vintage stuff out there. The last couple of years we have had some emotional challenges and losses in our family and in some way this new Ebay focus has helped me cope. Really the extra money is like a bonus. So, I say – a big thank you!
Reality is that I have a good year’s worth of piles to list and totally limited time. I’ve come to grips that my photos and lighting are going to be quick and dirty style and I’m not going to be that cool and perfect presentation curated Etsy seller. But, I have a good eye and great location going for me. I’ve cut way, way back on purchases and sourcing stops. One goal for 2018 is to find more pinning groups that post in the morning because it’s so fast and I really do suspect that it helps my sales with the Google hits. Setting specific listing goals feels like deciding when you are going to get to your destination while you are stuck in traffic – pointless and rather frustrating. But, maybe Amatino will keep me honest this year. Better time management overall will really be key because I’m torn in so many different directions.
So for those of you still reading this far: Happy New Year all you trash elves! I hope it is a year of learning, good deals, cool stuff, and good health for you all.
I did well with a similar Santa poster. I’m finding that I really like selling ephemora.
Home values, or appreciation at least, may be affected for a bit but I fully expect that we will see tax changes again in the next few years. There could also be a disruption in the markets and values due to politics and foreign policy. All of this uncertainty is certainly less than ideal am I’m grateful we are not looking to sell right now. My poor next door neighbor (Bay Area transplant) just closed escrow last month.
I have a tax background and do our taxes. There is no question we will pay more, but I will have to play around with the software early this year to try to estimate how much so we can adjust my husband’s withholdings and/or figure out my quarterlies. Maybe this can be my goal to step up efficient processing on Ebay. 🙂
Had a few nice vintage sales.
This came from an absolutely amazing dog collector estate sale. The prices were quite high but had I not had death piles I would have bought way more items. I wasn’t able to go back on half price day unfortunately. Took about a year to sell I think. Paid $15 because I know pipes are trendy and people love dogs Bulldog Pipe HolderPaid $15 or $20 for this petite painting at an estate sale and took a best offer of $50 Small Swan Painting
I buy everything Harry Potter I find because those books will be loved and discovered for generations. Paid $3.99 at GW Harry Potter Lunchbox with Thermos
This last item is an RA item I’ve been doing well with. For some reason Williams Sonoma does not stock these well and I think they are kind of underpriced new. I paid $24 less a 15% event discount in November right when they came to the store. Williams Sonoma Hard Placemats Zero feedback so likely sold due to Pinterest link or Google picking that up.
Happy New Year trash elves.
