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@Retro, ugh. Sorry you had to go through that experience. I too loathe calling Ebay’s customer service and really I value my time and my seller rating more than being right sometimes. Most buyers are honest, but I’ve had a few email complaints for lower dollar stuff that I just refunded and blocked on the spot despite not having proof. It just wasn’t worth the frustration of calling Ebay.
So, I feel like I need to budget it “shrinkage” for events like this. But it doesn’t help that Ebay is pushing programs that eat into the profits. So one needs to weigh potential issues with items at the sourcing point, and the cost of just eating some problems if your time is limited. I’m definitely considering cutting loose free returns this year and possibly free shipping on the some brand new items I was surprised to get returns on. Also, if I come across death pile items that are damaged, I donate them because I’m lucky to have plentiful sourcing here.
@bcfol440 I think it was first class USPS that made it to Kentucky. The part I don’t like most is the communication I got from Ebay. I know better because of this forum, but if I didn’t it would be crazy to follow what they sent me and it really puts the ball back in my court even though it’s GSP. On top of this I got a big free return. That was over 30 days return, but I took it anyway. The communication again was it was my responsibility to work it out with the buyer. Not a great Christmas day on Ebay for me, but I still love selling. I decided to be nice and take the return because some poor husband bought the wrong size by mistake.
I feel like in the new year, I need to take a look at my current Ebay listings and my fee statements. I’m not really sure I’m buying into the best practices search and buyer payoff. I think promoted listings is more valuable even at 1%.
Thanks – reading my post that was confusing. I definitely won’t be dealing with Ebay France. I just hate calling the main US number because I have a basic store so I get the foreign operators reading the script and I just don’t tolerate it very well. Hopefully I know the magic words and it will be brief!
Ok, so buyer lets me know global shipping item that left Kentucky has fallen out of tracking. I tell her to contact Ebay. Now I get a message from Ebay to consider refunding and reach out to her. If I click on the link, it takes me to Ebay in French. What? I know it’s part of doing business but I loathe calling Ebay overseas as they never seem to help quickly and efficiently.
Hopefully, the rep won’t act clueless. I’ll be sure to mention GSP asap.12/24/2018 at 2:42 pm in reply to: Trash Elf Twins Challenge 2018 Thread #3 From Week 31 August #53960Happy holidays death pile elves. I only listed 2 items this week and I’m not really feelin’ it. Plus, lots of trouble sleeping. I’m working part of this coming week and I’m taking my daughter to see Wicked in LA next weekend. Sooo…we’ll see.
In the new thread I’ll post new death pile photos. No items spilling out this year. Still a ways to go but I made good progress this year.
Total Items in Store: 372 Ebay, 45 Mercari
Items Sold: 12 Ebay, 4 Mercari
Gross Sales: $263 Ebay, $58 Mercari
Cost of Items Sold: $52 + $35 shipping included + some items ours
Highest Price Sold: $68 (three new bowls, paid $15 RA)
Average Price Sold: $21 Ebay, $14 Mercari
Returns/Refund: 1 refund- for the first time ever I grabbed the wrong item :0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 2Happy holidays trash elves! R&J I’m happy to hear about your fun vacation and great week selling. Well deserved.
An ok week for me considering shipping cut off week with a low ASP. I was late getting up my Christmas items and I’m very pleased to see some of this stuff still moving out, even at fairly low prices. On Mercari, I sold some premium paper products I bought 90% off that sat on Ebay through last Christmas.
Speaking of Mercari, there are not great Youtube or FB resources about it but I did hear a guy say they rolled out a new feature where after 30 days your listing automatically converts to a best offer listing. I also need to pay attention once I drop the price enough and take off free shipping. All reasons to start out the price a bit higher than you actually want on Mercari or feature items that you don’t need to get top dollar on. BUT, you don’t have to use square photos or share on social media. Plus it’s very fast to list. I do well with children’s book lots on Mercari so far, selling very quickly. After doing Ebay for 3 years, it feels pretty darn good to get results more quickly after listing.
We adopted a rescue doggie for Christmas and have a lot going on so I have no listing mojo. As for 2019, I continue to work through the piles. I’ve got dwindling RA inventory left and Ebay said my sales are down 40% from a year ago. I feel a little funny going to straight vintage and used, but I can’t get the prices at the same retailer I used to get anyway. So in 2018 I really shifted from plowing profits into the business to draining it of the cash I can get out. We’ve had a lot of expenses lately, nothing fun to spend money on in particular. We are also in the minority paying significantly more taxes this year under the new law so we had higher quarterlies. All said, it’s probably going to be a low ASP for my year ahead, but then I’ll be able to hit estate sales. That’s the carrot.
Hard to find a quality video about Mercari but I think this one does an ok job comparing vs. other platforms.
Interestingly, Mercari sent me a survey yesterday and at the end wanted to know if you would be willing to be interviewed by local news or in promotions. Another big difference from established Ebay – they are polling and listening to successful sellers.
12/18/2018 at 6:09 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 390: Building a Business to Build a Life #53657If you go in the app to your person head and shoulders icon at the bottom, then click selling, you should see the on sale listings page with photos of your various items. There are buttons to promote or edit under each listing. If you click promote and you are using the most current version you will get a choice of making an “exclusive” offer to likers or just dropping the price for everyone. I think likers requires a slightly deeper discount. Start with $1 off and it will tell you the minimum Mercari will make you do. Mercari will make buyers push up their low ball offers too. They also limit how many items you can promote in one day (10) and how many days before you can drop the price again (3).
If the price gets too low and I have free shipping, I switch to buyer paying shipping and keep promoting. Some people end and relist at some point.
12/18/2018 at 11:55 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 390: Building a Business to Build a Life #53626You’re welcome. I can’t emphasize enough how much I prefer listing there vs Ebay, except the prices I’m getting are discounted a bit. It’s a really efficient system and there isn’t much to learn. Just remember to list any condition issues as you are not specifically prompted to do that.
Troy, don’t forget to use the promotion tools. Usually I price a little above what I want to get and then promote.
12/18/2018 at 10:28 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 390: Building a Business to Build a Life #53616@ebaymom I’ve heard there seem to be a lot of young moms on Mercari and I have sold clothing. The better brand stuff is selling for me, like Patagonia and Ivivva. I put a few other items on like Gap, Nordstrom brand, Crewcuts, and they are sitting but have likers. I would encourage you to try it out. You can easily browse through solds and see what’s happening. One thing about Mercari though is you need to ask buyers to ask you for bundles beforehand, though maybe not if you are shipping first class Paypal on your own vs. using Mercari labels. You can’t link items without create a bundle for someone. There is not a shopping cart.
12/17/2018 at 10:28 am in reply to: Trash Elf Twins Challenge 2018 Thread #3 From Week 31 August #53507thanks, I don’t have much control. This is why I don’t like to set goals.
Sometimes I have less contract work and if the kids are in school, I can get to it. Should really be exercising too though…12/17/2018 at 10:11 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 390: Building a Business to Build a Life #53505Mercari is very heavy handed.
12/17/2018 at 10:10 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 390: Building a Business to Build a Life #53504@Ebaymom thanks for sharing your process. I’m working through items I already own so I create the draft listing while researching on the desktop (and often doing sell similar). I much prefer to research on the desktop so that’s why I do it backwards.
I’m really thrilled with Mercari for items I am willing to accept less than top dollar on. At this point in my reselling and home life, there are a lot of those items. I’ve been keeping my ear to the ground on Youtube about what sells well on Mercari. There’s not a lot of information yet. I hope some of you find success with it as well. I’ve really changed my focus from getting high prices to moving more stuff out – which totally makes sense based on my backlog and plentiful sourcing opportunities locally.
12/17/2018 at 9:44 am in reply to: Trash Elf Twins Challenge 2018 Thread #3 From Week 31 August #53499Had some time off my job and listed 38 items, mostly Christmas that I really want to move out. Yeah!
12/17/2018 at 9:34 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 390: Building a Business to Build a Life #53498Items In Store: Ebay 371, Mercari 50
Items Sold: 12 Ebay, 2 Mercari, 1 Facebook
Cost of Items Sold: $59 + $45 Shipping included (including $12 mistake) + a few items ours
Total Sales: $308 Ebay, $41 Mercari, $40 Facebook
HIghest Price Sold: $40 (tie – Folkmanis puppet and antique tile, both Ebay)
Average price $26 Ebay, $20 Mercari
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: $10 one jadite item
Items listed: 30 Ebay, 8 MercariNot a fantastic week, with some low dollar offers and sales. It felt even slower during the work week. This coming week before Christmas I remember being very slow as the mail cutoffs start to scare people away. I’m in guaranteed delivery so maybe that will help a smidge.
Enjoyed the podcast. I love spending time raising my kids and the income potential sacrificed by working part-time is well worth it to me. I also love having Ebay to fill in the holes in my schedule with some earning capacity. Certainly the hourly rate would be much lower than my contract work, but it works out great right now in my life and makes me feel more productive and mentally stimulated. However, for me it doesn’t make sense to just let things ride on Ebay. In the past 3 years since I’ve been selling, Ebay has rolled out a lot of changes, competition is emerging, and I can totally understand why people are trying to maximize profits and their time. You only have some much time available, unless you hire people and that’s a whole can of worms. Why not try to get the most out of your time? I also suspect that it’s somewhat hard to reliably project earnings in the current dynamic environment.
Having a bit of frustration on Ebay listing-wise. I do desktop first, then pictures on the phone and would launch from the app. Now I can’t keep my choice or add promoted listing on the phone unless I agree to do trending rates so I have to got back to the desktop. Also, Ebay desktop is defaulting to free shipping and I got a $12 ding on a flat rate box this week. I loathe those sticky box checking issues. Mercari on the other hand is already quick and now they are adding clickable suggested item specifics too, making it even faster so you don’t have to cruise through a menu in that field. Mercari is not sophisticated with shipping options and expected delivery dates, so I’m wondering if at holiday time that might cause an issue.
Have a great week. Fingers crossed to clear out more Christmas items!
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