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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.
12/29/2017 at 2:43 pm in reply to: What Sells On eBay: Old shoes, record changer, Portable 8-Track, Heathkit, Cabinet photo, McCoy Owl #29522I did well with a similar Santa poster. Iām finding that I really like selling ephemora.
12/29/2017 at 2:39 pm in reply to: New Tax law and it's effects on your business (Politics free please!) #29521Home 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 Iām grateful we are not looking to sell right now. My poor next door neighbor (Bay Area transplant) just closed escrow last month.
12/29/2017 at 11:40 am in reply to: New Tax law and it's effects on your business (Politics free please!) #29506I 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. š
12/28/2017 at 9:04 am in reply to: What Sells On eBay: Old shoes, record changer, Portable 8-Track, Heathkit, Cabinet photo, McCoy Owl #29452Had 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.
12/28/2017 at 8:02 am in reply to: New Tax law and it's effects on your business (Politics free please!) #29451I’m not full-time and it’s difficult to address this post without getting political. A good portion of my part-time income on Ebay will now go to our tax increase unless the constitutional challenge by the blue high tax states is successful and swift. We just had to rush out and pay our second property tax installment with an extra credit card fee because (of course) our county assessor is closed for the entire holiday week. In the past, my Ebay profits have been allocated to my kids’ expenses like clothes, classes and my son’s tuition. Because out here, you’ve got your house and that’s basically what you have. A basic house on a really, really expensive area of dirt. I just keep reminding myself that we went to the beach on Christmas. That’s why the dirt is so expensive.
12/25/2017 at 2:43 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 340: We Reconnect with Cyndi from Amazing Taste #29396⢠Total Items in Store: 436
⢠Items Sold: 11
⢠Total Sales $411
⢠Highest Price $68 Sheet Set (A rare early RA misstep, paid about $40 two years ago)
⢠Average Price Sold: $37
⢠Cost of Items Sold: $151 + $9 free shipping
⢠Cost of items purchased this week $0
⢠Listed: added 4 multiplesA quieter week for sure while I was away on vacation, but I sold a few items while people were likely traveling with their phones during the last couple of days. I had a good January last year, so I am hoping for the same in 2018. Thinking about some price reductions on older items. Happy to sell the sheet set, as it was an early RA experiment that I did not repeat. Print duvets do much better than solid sheets for me.
Thank you to Cindi and Jay for the interview. I so admire the drive and work ethic of you all. Looking forward, I’m excited about the new year on Ebay even though I still have death piles and organizing ahead of me. I have learned so much in a couple of years. 2019 will be really fun when I am making fresh buys with a better approach, projected higher ASP, and lower COGS. Alas, I have put off my bookkeeping for COGS though I did remember to download each month into the Easy Auctions Tracker.
12/25/2017 at 10:58 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 340: We Reconnect with Cyndi from Amazing Taste #29376Happy Christmas Kate. I’m doing the same while family is enjoying new goodies. That’s a great find! I love picking up pottery, which is totally overlooked around here yet abundant. One of the best estate sales I ever went to was when I stopped down the street on my way to the grocery store. This woman’s home was like a time warp to the late 1950s to early 1960s. She had all of these cool items in the old fashioned pink gift boxes from long gone main street stores. Someone had already hit the kitchen but I picked up some really good items and it took a long time that day to bring back the groceries. š
Total Items in Store: 431
Items Sold: 25
Cost of Items Sold: $168 + Free and augmented shipping $172 (oops!)
Total Sales: $864
Highest Price Sold: $210 (4 plates to one buyer, paid $43, plus $130 overnight shipping – see oops)
Average Price Sold: $39
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $11
Number of items listed this week: 23A very good week for me last week. I did make a major mistake. I left my store on during our vacation. Right after we left, I sold my highest priced order and the buyer contacted me that he needed them by Christmas. When I returned from vacation, I learned that I was unable to print an Ebay label for Fed Ex overnight or 2 day even though there was still time to get it out at FedEx. So, I paid FedEx’s exorbitant full price fee at the counter and asked the buyer to pay it forward. Luckily, the sale was good enough so after fees it was a break even lesson for me. Buyer offered to pay half and I told him if his girlfriend wants to return then I would accept. At least he was super grateful. I think I did the exact same thing last year right before Christmas. Our home was evacuated the day we left for vacation, I got sick at the end, and someone at a hotel stole our car keys and my husband’s ipad. In restrospect, I wish I had turned off my Ebay store this crazy time. I will lose TRS status and the sales this week ended up being not worth it with my big shipping error. But, ces’t la vie. On the upside we really enjoyed the fresh air visiting Portland, Eugene and Bend, Oregon. Happy Holidays trash elves!
12/15/2017 at 12:27 pm in reply to: What Sells On eBay: Ham radios, Tiki S&P, Betty Cookbook, JBL speakers, Vintage games, 16mm news reel, Pipe stand, 1946 calendar #28864Greetings Trash Elves and thanks again Steve. I never find the pie cookbook but I’m looking. No home runs but good and steady sales the last couple of days.
This had a lot of interest but still took a while to sell. Paid $3 indy thrift. Raymor Midcentury Ashtray
Paid $2 for each of these items at indy thrift. Sold immediately on pinning party. Tin Christmas Candle Holders and Hallmark Decoration Kits
Rare clothing sales, paid $6 at GW. I priced it to move from the piles. Nick & Nora Pajamas and paid $4 at indy boutique (I usually only pick up skinny ties though, if any. Vintage Santa Tie
Took a best offer of $20 on this, Vera Neumann Scarf Selling these for $25-30 mostly to Brooklyn, NY.
A quick note on Hallmark ornaments. I’m not enthused but had quite a cache in the piles. It’s interesting that some are quite valuable and others have no value despite being older or first in a series. I really ought to look up the good ones in solds after Christmas. I unloaded about half of my piles, including this one Hallmark Christmas Ornament Some sold well before Christmas too after I listed following Halloween.
Hi Amatino, I’m lousy with setting goals (because I feel a lack of control over my time) but accept your challenge. Interestingly, I listed a bunch of Christmas death yesterday since my work is closed due to the fire. Usually it is things that come up keeping me from listing but we are stuck indoors. My death pile photos look much better than the last time I posted them in early 2017. Will be good to compare next year.
12/11/2017 at 5:05 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 338: Rich Scavenger, Poor Scavenger #28650Sorry that you had to evacuate. It’s so disruptive and can be expensive too. We are up in Santa Barbara. Were feeling good until the night before last when the fire ran 6 miles West overnight. Then last night, not much movement thank goodness. I’m thrilled the power is still on.
12/11/2017 at 4:57 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 338: Rich Scavenger, Poor Scavenger #28649Interesting. Thanks.
12/11/2017 at 12:49 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 338: Rich Scavenger, Poor Scavenger #28612PS. Our poor postal workers are working in serious ash with masks. Amazing.
12/11/2017 at 12:48 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 338: Rich Scavenger, Poor Scavenger #28610Total Items in Store: 406
Cost of Items Sold: $149
Total Sales: $681
Highest Price Sold: $75 (Limoges Plate – $1.99 at GW)
Average Price Sold: $32
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 37 (mostly multiples)A good week. Super funky and distracting because of the nearby fires. School is cancelled so could either be a good or bad week for listing depending on the power and internet reliability and kid factor. I will make very little money at my other job this month, so that’s a bummer. Ebay will help a little. Have a great week everyone! Fingers crossed for me for good weather conditions here.
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