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09/03/2019 at 1:34 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 426: Our Financial Lives Are Tied To The Mysterious Whims Of A Website #67325
Thanks for making the podcasts while you are managing the new job and everything else.
I finally have my dad moved in and almost unpacked. There are just a few clean up items left and a half day of cleaning construction dust and unpacking. I should be able to resume listing shortly. I really should clean up my old listings first and do inventory since I’m down by half to just about 200 listings. I’ve have to admit being distracted during the podcasts over the summer. I do recall this:
Delete parcel select.
FedEx Home for any packages over 12x12x12, not USPS.
Use flat rate for priority whenever possible.
Don’t sign up for managed payments until required.Anything else I missed? I think FedEx Smartpost does not produce any savings over home, correct? I don’t often have too many heavy things that fit into the regional boxes but should keep that in mind. Finally, I rarely use the paper flat rate envelopes vs. first class. What kind of item are people using those for?
Thanks scavengers! Have a good week.
Yes, the bin building was HUGE. I don’t know how I would like that style of picking but there are bound to be good finds in there somewhere.
Re the homeless, we have a really serious problem and controversy here. It’s very sad to see them lying in the storefronts and all over the parks. Unfortunately my kids were both threated and talked to when they were very small. Some of our local chronically homeless are very seriously mentally ill without good support from the County government, which is not well run. We have a lot of resources aimed at fighting homelessness in our town but some refuse to take advantage either because they can’t or won’t. It’s kind of all coming to a head but the local leaders are trying to come together on a plan. On a tangent here just to clarify that I’m not without compassion for the homeless. It was just very Pleasantville in Boulder compared to here. One time at the Goodwill downtown a homeless guy asked me if I wanted to give him a haircut. I politely declined. 🙂
Feel better A!08/19/2019 at 11:11 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 424: 1 Year Later, Our New Rental is Done! #66561Yes, handymen are $45 here and they often bring and sub (cheaper) help at that price, so that’s probably really good pay for your area.
08/19/2019 at 9:21 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 424: 1 Year Later, Our New Rental is Done! #66549I know please direct me to do the maintenance! I need to hear that.
Hi Ladies, I’m impressed with all of your listings. Especially you, A, since you and I seem to struggle the most.
VT, we went to Boulder via Denver. It was so beautiful in the town and on campus. We were struck by the lack of homeless in Boulder parks and downtown. Also everything is much newer and tidier. We live in a beautiful city, but we all really liked Colorado. Off the highway, I noticed huge bin places and a lot of thrifts too. Sadly, did not get in any picking but just as well since I’m hogtied from listing.
08/19/2019 at 9:15 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 424: 1 Year Later, Our New Rental is Done! #66545Hey Jay and Ryanne I just wanted to stop in and say great job on the new rental and exterior! I wish they were closer since they all look great. Love the pops of color and modern style. Best of luck trying to spread yourself among the various businesses you are managing. Back to spinning plates. Hope you have reliable help.
I’m still on hiatus as we are back from a great vacation – admittedly not scavenger style enough but enjoyable. We saw four colleges. Now moving packing and moving my dad this weekend from Northern California, while trying to work the day job a couple of days in between.
Looking forward to getting back to Ebay and stocking up for Fall. My store is closed and down by about half to 200+/-, and it’s tempting to do some cleaning up of listings and bite the business policies bullet. Have a great week!
08/05/2019 at 11:25 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 422: Ready for a Recession at Any Time #65903Ahh…reno is about 90% complete. Will be happy to get back to reselling. Sold a total death pile mug this week that I had made myself list in spring. So happy to be rid of that.
I know we can’t talk politics in here, but I found it hard the last two mornings to be productive when up alone. Sometimes it’s a bit hard not to be distracted by the internet and to begin listing before work, which was my original intention today. I half-kondo’ed my closet and will start by listing some better clothing on Mercari since that goes faster.
Re the podcast, I was happy to hear about more data and changes for the better on Ebay. All in all, it seems like they have fewer glitches and are moving slowly in the right direction. I see zero incentive to opt in to managed payments. Grateful to get the 411 in here.
Now and immediately after Christmas – February are the very best couple of times to get it low enough for resale.
I subscribe to get a few targeted sale and particular price drop alerts by email – through the retailers and also Brad’s Deals.
Whoa, wish I was in your shoes! Congrats. It’s a very good time of year to do retail arbitrage both in stores and online. Stores are stocking Fall and back to school items and summer clearances are winding down. I’m in the minority on the forum of those who enjoy selling both vintage and RA. New items are nice because there are no returns basically and it’s very often easy to ship in the same packaging you received it. I mostly sell discontinued items or colors that people are grateful to get as replacements or because they like it better than the current retailer offerings. Just a thought. When I clear my piles (if ever) and family stuff, I’m totally hitting estate sales.
A lot of progress on the reno project and should almost be complete by next week before we go on vacation. What a relief. Going to Boulder and then Chicago so hoping for good weather and not too much humidity in Chicago.
My dad’s house is listed for sale and we will finish emptying it in August. Thankfully he had purged a lot of stuff over the last year. The break from listing and dealing with marketing my dad’s custom, dated house has me thinking a lot about the art of pricing lately. It’s a challenge work the balance between waiting time and maximizing profit. Because I have a big backlog and sourcing used is so plentiful here, I think I will be pricing more to move things faster on Ebay when I begin listing for Fall. Mercari kind of make me realize that I’m ok with taking lower prices at this point.
Have a great week!
@Retro Congrats! That takes a lot of self discipline and is such a great thing to do for yourself and your family.
I’ve been extremely happy with Walmart.com and refuse to pay for Prime. Our groceries and drug stores here are expensive and we don’t have a Walmart for 40 minutes. Things often arrive the next day.
Walmart was well positioned to compete with Amazon, but I don’t see that Ebay is. Even on a limited basis, this seems like an odd development since they are just a platform and not a direct seller of goods. BTW, I thought Ebay was going to reign itself in with some of the Amazon wannabe / new direction stuff after getting hammered by activist investors? Hm.
Thanks Jay. It’s a labor of love because I’m renovating it for him to downsize into, though someday it will be a rental when he can’t use it any longer. However, he is the one who taught me to be cheap some I’m not sure he’ll appreciate the value added. 🙂 Trying to do it all on a budget with multiple bids, etc., going out of town and scouring the internet for deals, etc. It’s been interesting. Listed a couple of items on the way to work and stopped at a thrift. That was a treat. It’s been months!
BTW, I started one listing on my phone and it allowed me to block lowball offers (I could pick the minimum). Pretty cool new feature. Listed a duvet set. Lots and lots of item specifics on the desktop for that category. Sheesh.
Hanging in on the summer of reno and getting reno fatigue. I’ll be very, very happy to be free of this project and have my dad moved. Kudos to you R & J for dealing with all of the coordinating and endless costs that come along with renovating your places, while still working Ebay, tech, and your rentals. Day job is busy but I’m sitting down to list for the first time in a while. Still selling 1-2 items a week with my 200+ item inventory. Did do some fast listings of my daughter’s clothing on Mercari. Old stuff on there still sells now and then. Thanks for the podcast!
My guess would be acacia, which I have seen in multiple tones and is common for tableware. Koa wood bowls are valuable, but it’s more likely to be acacia. It’s attractive for a countertop fruit bowl or centerpiece.
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