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+1 On mobile they put a prominent toggle right on top of search results and sent information leaving the impression I would get in in May. But, no email yet. No option in account settings. I’m interested to see if they do a new toggle like that for free returns soon. They are asking TRS+ to go beyond the industry standard by offering free returns and are claiming it will on average increase sales so they should treat that filter differently than the others IMHO.
05/29/2018 at 3:50 pm in reply to: Selling my vintage stuff on Etsy to diversify and pay less fees…Worth it or no #41216+1 I originally aspired to become one of those awesome Etsy sellers, but I just don’t have the time required to do it right. Ebay quick and dirty is the way for me. I’m keeping an eye on Mercari – very quick and dirty app style. It’s been interesting watching all of this retail change unfold. Surely more change is to come.
05/28/2018 at 1:54 pm in reply to: Trash Elf Twins Challenge 2018 Thread #2 From Week 19 (May 7-13) #4113412 items, 2 from death piles.
05/28/2018 at 10:29 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 362: Scavengers Are Always Prepared To Clean Out A Basement #41105Total Items in Store: 398
Items Sold: 18
Cost of Items Sold: $117 + $25 free shipping
Total Sales: $409
Highest Price Sold: $56 (new pillow shams – paid about $30 a year ago)
Average Price Sold: $22
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 12Sold a lot of low dollar, free shipping items this week but I’m happy for the sales. This weekend was much better than it has been. Interesting this week and I received an offer for 100 5 cent listings in any category. I haven’t received an offer like that in SO long.
I inadvertently created a few 30 day listings (thanks Ebay) instead of GTC. Today I got emails that they had ended. Then there was field you could click on that said it might have sold if you listed it for $x less – relist now for $x less. Interesting… I’m going to do it and see what happens. Also, I have had some success – maybe 40-50% with those emails ebay sends occasionally saying reduce watched items by 5% and we will email the watchers. A lot of changes at Ebay lately!
I haven’t finished listening to the podcast yet, but you just hit the part about yard sales. Yes, consider going into metro for yard sale season! Auctions can be expensive and you know good brands. Have a great week. We are hosting company today so I won’t be listing beyond a couple of items this morning. I’m making good money at my day job and handling a lot of life busyness and I miss being able to focus on Ebay.
05/26/2018 at 5:56 pm in reply to: What Sells On eBay: Sound Shaper EQ, Round puzzle, Ray Ban Aviators, Deluxe Scrabble Board, Marilyn Monroe Calendar #41032Thank you Steve. Some cool stuff up there. I listed a bit this week and I’m specializing in low dollar items this weekend apparently. But, small sales are better than no sales. Also sold a couple of really old items in my store – yeah!
Found a small cache of these NOS vintage door knockers in different brass tone designs. This one is going to the Netherlands. https://www.ebay.com/itm/332637985139 The storage locker hoarder guy who I bought them from lost his lease again. I hope he resurfaces.
This is a good brand to find. Paid $8 at local thrift, took a best offer of $50, and it had some wear areas so I sold it for less than they go for in better shape. https://www.ebay.com/itm/332515385817
I like to sell vintage NOS sheets in the package. They cost between $2-4 and fit, go for $15-20 and up, and fit in a PFRE https://www.ebay.com/itm/232744364729 https://www.ebay.com/itm/232493159630. My used cartoon sheets are not really moving well but I did sell this unusual vintage Mickey one for $50. Buyer said she will use for fabric, which I did have in the title. Paid $2 at thrift https://www.ebay.com/itm/232637556502.
I took a best offer of $36 on these. Was hoping to get more since they were high quality french – Pillivuyt brand carried by Williams Sonoma. Paid $6 at the old lady indy thirft and they went up to Silicon Valley. https://www.ebay.com/itm/232402191475
Did some RA at a garage sale buying these for a buck. Not making much and they sat for a while but all of the sudden they are selling off, maybe getting around on Pinterest? https://www.ebay.com/itm/232403412126
Have a nice long weekend those of you who are pt.
05/24/2018 at 11:49 am in reply to: New Catalog Based Search & Ebay's Re-Structured Business Model Plans #40923I started thinking about the coming switch over to a product catalog, and it seems likes a disadvantage for those of us who are good at thinking of keywords, right? For example, this item https://www.ebay.com/itm/232730900326 has a generic Amazon type product catalog entry I think stating the publisher and some other terms less likely to be searched IMHO, but I added costume and fashion design to the title because someone uninterested in paper dolls as toys might be interested in the illustration collection. Sometimes I put man cave or nautical decor, etc. in my title. I believe this is one of Ryanne’s strengths as well. I guess you can put those words in the description and maybe google eventually finds them? Am I missing anything?
I wonder how they will handle products added by users (like vintage items). Does the first person to add it get to make the title, good or bad? It seems like they might end up backtracking on product catalog pages for certain categories and end up keeping the split system they have now, but we’ll see.
Hi Friends,
There are a couple of youtubers who I still subscribe to even though some of their characteristics are like nails on a chalkboard. This lady is one of them. She is very pro Ebay and does a good job of breaking down the updates and releasing same day videos (really you can just use as a podcast) without a lot of opinion. SKip to 1:55 to hop over her romper room greetings and annoying tagline.A big take away for me was to update Pottery and Glass category item specifics. I have a lot of older listings in that category. I find it kind of wrong that Ebay will flat out admit that you can have listings that will be charged fees but buyers will never see in search. There is a lot of discussion about returns.
05/21/2018 at 10:36 am in reply to: Trash Elf Twins Challenge 2018 Thread #2 From Week 19 (May 7-13) #40528Simply no time for Ebay this week. Zero for me. This week isn’t looking great either, but I’m hoping to list a bit. Also, happily I need to do some consolidating of my inventory in storage after clearing some of it during the past 6-9 months.
Total Items In Store: 384
Items Sold: 7
Cost of Items Sold: $40 + $6 free shipping
Total Sales: $184
Highest Price Sold: $50 (new plate)
Average Price Sold: $26
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of Items listed this week: 0As a working mom, sometimes I have a particularly demanding week or two where it feels like “the wheels are off the bus”. This was for sure one of those weeks. I’m glad I ran the numbers because I don’t remember consciously shipping 7 items this week! Despite the craziness, went forward with cleaning out the kids’ closets and having the garage sale with the neighborhood. Unlike our last garage sale, sales weren’t that great but it did force me to clean out a bit. I tried to unload a few harder to ship dish sets and my son’s old video game console but it was just pickers wanting stuff really cheap, like cheaper than Goodwill prices. π Watching all of these pickers come through our sale reminded me that it’s so much about what you are NOT buying. Stuff is really plentiful here.
I’m donating a few stubborn Ebay items and will spin off a few on auctions soon. Still plenty of piles left but I’m barely sourcing, seeing more space, and slowly digging myself out of the hole I made as a newbie. We are about to finally unload a very painful amount into our kitchen reno, so good that my contract work is busy and it would be helpful to get more listings up on Ebay. I find that I’m willing to take lower prices and offers than I used to and I’m leaning toward more velocity since it’s so easy to source.
I’m still waiting for my guaranteed delivery invitation that is supposed to come soon. Also planning on free returns but not until it’s required for TRS Plus. I want to see how they promote to buyers doing searches the combo of free returns and free shipping. Then I’ll decide about free shipping, but I’m leaning toward leaving it on for first class items even if I offer free returns.
One thing about the diversification discussion I have to say is that if I had more time, I would definitely consider Etsy at least. This is because Ebay is making colossal changes in the short term and they have not proven to be efficient or graceful at it in the past. The switch over to product based shipping I expect is going to be particularly painful to sellers of unique goods what that roll out comes. Ebay’s catalog sucks and they seem to want to put the onus on sellers to add products to the catalog. Just any software tinkering seems to dampen sales somewhat. I’m glad R&J you are still making what you need to even with the helpers. It’s so great that the other business has an opposite busy season and you’ve found success with the rentals.
I suggest also trying a happy hour locater app to get some deals and break from the brown bag meals. Also if you break down, lunch is almost always cheaper than dinner and you can check out trip advisor to find local favorites out of the tourist area and filter by price range. Starbucks has a decent instant coffee in little packages if you have access to hot water. Trader Joe’s will have a variety of smaller package foods and their prices are fairly good. Have fun! I love the Keys.
Is this ($50 vintage cartoon sheet) suitable for making a dress? Actually ended up being a good sale and she was very happy with it.
My favorite (not) is the occasional outraged emails I get for RA listings. I don’t want to buy anything from you, but I”m reaching out to tell you that I remember when one could get this at the store for $x price. Alternatively, I want to buy that discontinued item but I want to pay the old retailer sale price. How dare you price it that high! I always want to volunteer that they should have bought it back then or should buy it now while it’s on sale, but I just don’t answer anymore if they are not looking to buy anything.
05/14/2018 at 9:31 am in reply to: Trash Elf Twins Challenge 2018 Thread #2 From Week 19 (May 7-13) #39839Jeez, only one item this week. Some of the lack of listing was seeing old friends and taking a full day off for mother’s day, so happy reasons. My contract work is busier too. Would love a full day to list! I’m really lucky to have had decent sales the past few weeks while basically not listing. I’ve been taking all offers and saving for taxes.
05/14/2018 at 9:27 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 360: Is Diversification a Myth or Reality? #39838I know I know! My head’s totally in the game, but the rest of me is occupied. I listed to the podcast yesterday while watching kids at the beach. So I’m not sure why I’m worried about other platforms. For the record, my piles are no longer growing at least! π
But I think I’m a bit of a slow lister on Ebay even after all this time so maybe I could list faster on Mercari. That is intriguing. Did your email person say what type of items they sold there? I wonder if they are attracting younger buyers than Ebay. For you two artist types, I would think Etsy might make more sense for high prices and unusual items. I was really surprised back when you canceled your experiment so early after just listing furniture. But I have heard Etsy can be pretty dead at times except fourth quarter. They are rolling out changes to their platform too. Another key issue with this is Google recognition. I still feel like Google doesn’t like Ebay so much and Ebay still seems to be having slow growth in bringing people to the platform, plus they have scaled back on the advertising.
05/13/2018 at 10:05 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 360: Is Diversification a Myth or Reality? #39813Total Items In Store: 388
Items Sold: 10
Cost of Items Sold: $86 + 24 (free shipping)
Total Sales: $330
Highest Price Sold: $50 several items – used and new including best offer
Average Price Sold: $33
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of Items listed this week: 1 ugh!I enjoyed the discussion regarding other platforms, especially Mercari since I don’t sell clothes (Poshmark). I did a light bit of research about Mercari this week. Apparently it’s a big deal in Japan. One Youtuber soured on it after she was selling well, but then due to a USPS stuck delay, she lost her money because the item was ultimately delivered (so no insurance) but Mercari had canceled the sale by then and wasn’t helpful. I don’t think I would list expensive items on Mercari but I feel like Ebay is trying to advance in the marketpalce at this time at the cost of nickel and diming sellers so I like the cheaper shipping rates on Mercari. That plus Google prefers other sites, so it has my interest. I love Ebay and I hope they succeed with all of their improvement plans and draw in traffic. However, I suspect they are absorbing the negotiated commercial shipping discount, which kind of bugs me. I’m hardly seeing any discount after the last increase. And it sounds like the new returns policies are favoring buyers like Mercari does with their autobot style customer service to some degree. I might try fourth quarter as TSAtt suggested or our personal clothing on Mercari – nothing worth over $35 and see how it goes. R&J I would keep your ear to the ground. I do see your point about allocating fixed resources, but I think you should consider Ebay’s costs to improve and Etsy 4th quarter as an experiment.
Meanwhile, not even getting any listings to Ebay lately. I did some fun social stuff this weekend. A serious treat for a mom like me. Also getting ready for a garage sale next weeekend. It’s kind of hard to part with items that might sell for more on Ebay but it’s more fun to source specifically for Ebay and work the piles. I just don’t have time to list it all. I hear on another’s site they are called “profit piles” instead of death piles. I like that better I suppose. Have a great week.
That feeling when you pack a vintage item in so so condition (as described) in a recycled Walmart.com box and then realize it’s going to Park Avenue in NYC. π :0
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