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04/30/2017 at 1:19 pm in reply to: Top Rated Seller, Missing Scans for Multiple Items Shipped to One Buyer #17262
Luckily I was still ok, but lesson learned. I don’t think many shoppers are used to the cart on Ebay, which is why I mention it in my listing description. They still often purchase separately and I have to do a partial refund of the shipping in Paypal.
04/26/2017 at 9:53 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 307: Getting Ready to Sell While Traveling #17127My post to this thread is not showing up. Recap: A good week for me selling all new items, including mostly RA bedding. I did well on the challenge listing 25 items! I also encouraged others to become patrons so we can at least cover the forum costs for R & J. Have a great week everyone.
Just joined this. Looks great. I also asked to join 3 of their Pinterest boards and I’m waiting for approval. How else do you participate Tara? Thanks.
I like this thread. Simple but I picked up a catch phrase on a fly by night southern junker show. One woman would always have the seller give the price first, then say “would you consider $__?”. I thought that was a nice, non-threatening catch phrase. I also like “$ works for me” or “whats your best price.” Our local flea market is chock full of antique dealer types, but there are a couple of clean out guys. On the former I use the sweet approach, on the latter I either bundle or be ready to walk.
04/17/2017 at 9:24 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 306: We Love Flea Markets and Craigslist #16700Total Items in Store: 341
Items Sold: 4
Cost of Items Sold: $21
Total Sales: $68
Highest Price Sold: $22 (used Pottery Barn Easter Bowl Set)
Average Price Sold: $17
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: +/- $30I did all of my ebay bookkeeping and our tax return this week, so no listing even though I had a day off work. I also fell off the challenge wagon too and went thrifting one day. I was very selective but need to flip the ratio back this week.
Doing the bookkeeping made me reflect on my past approach to things. I was disappointed with my profit overall and realize I had too little profit on some types of items, but I have a plan to raise my average sales price after the piles are cleared. I also feel like I’m too slow dime on the vintage items and want to move items faster since there is an abundance to source. Finally, I really want to expand to Etsy if life is less crazy than last year and no surprise medical issues. So, we’ll see. Need to get out of phase II first clearing the piles.
04/15/2017 at 8:49 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 305: The Biggest Transfer of Wealth in Human History #16626There is no question that we are fortunate in the US, but the wealth is getting more concentrated and timing is important. Basically the earlier the decade you settled here where I live, the better off you were. On the whole, I do believe that opportunities for higher education, home ownership, pensions, etc. were more easily attainable to earlier generations. More to the point of this original conversation is that the quality goods they bought are now getting released into the marketplace. I can appreciate how well made and interesting some of these items are, and hopefully potential buyers will continue to shop online and appreciate them too vs. today’s goods that are not built to last. I love to sell functional and artsy items with vintage flair.
04/14/2017 at 8:18 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 305: The Biggest Transfer of Wealth in Human History #16592I see evidence of what Jay is relating here. I think it is profoundly true here on the Coastline – housing prices are completely unaffordable to most of the younger people and working families here. Some of our clients with higher level blue collar or white collar jobs – teachers, engineers, accountants – in the 1960s and 1970s could even buy multiple houses as rentals and now their kids live in them because they can’t afford to buy their own. At estate sales there is often a lot of ephemera documenting extensive travels in Europe during the midcentury era (pre-retirement). Most working families are busy paying for housing cost, taxes, childcare, gas, insurance, and food – just practical stuff.
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This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by
ChristineR.
04/13/2017 at 9:25 am in reply to: What Sells on eBay: HP keyboard, L.A. Olympics hat, Bumper sticker, Hurricane lamp, Can opener, Bank bags #16556Thanks Steve. I bought that same Risk game with sealed bags for $10. The ladies at the thrift store put tape on the mint box and a note (taped down) reading as follows: “Ebay – 49.99, 29.99, 39.95 used, Bonanza $111.13” I wish they wouldn’t tape up the boxes! I think they are afraid of sticker switchers. Love the bookends and napkin rings up there.
Sold these Gurley candles I paid pennies for. They always do well though some sellers do big lots of them for cheap. I always do singles or doubles with a close up photo. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Vintage-Gurley-Easter-Holiday-Candles-Bunny-Basket-amp-Yellow-Bird-Birdhouse-/232273008479?rd=1
I have a little pipeline of craft kits. The small ones don’t seem to move very well, so I will probably lot those up. Paid $3 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cathy-Alexander-Crewel-Embroidery-Kit-Wintergreen-Mini-Bell-Pull-Panel-Wood-Bird-/332165513697?rd=1
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-CROCHET-AFGHAN-BLANKET-Twin-Bedspread-Lap-Handmade-Green-amp-Cream-Check-/331867118196?rd=1
Paid $3 for this afghan that went GSP to Canada. I hope its friends follow along soon.Now back to the bookkeeping for taxes. My easy auction tracker didn’t pick up all of my sales so I’ll have to be more careful this year. I vow to do a better job keeping up my records in 2017.
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This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by
ChristineR.
I’m totally with you. This week has tanked and the latter part of last week was dead. I’m also working on my taxes this week – only held up by my ebay cogs bookkeeping, so not listing. I’m sure that is not helping matters at all. I might try a big sale memorial day weekend to clear out some old stuff, even though people are traveling in cars not on planes mostly.
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This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by
ChristineR.
Good for you Amatino and good advice. Before the challenge I had already sorted my items by type though many of them are unique vintage items. This helps me also because I can clean items together before listing. It definitely helps photographing and listing go faster, especially if you have some boxes with very similar items. I also use the template feature for certain items I sell regularly. Good luck with your piles. It feels really good to get organized.
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This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by
ChristineR.
04/10/2017 at 10:10 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 305: The Biggest Transfer of Wealth in Human History #16350Total Items in Store: 341
Items Sold: 12
Cost of Items Sold: $16 (used) + $49 (RA)
Total Sales: $344
Highest Price Sold: $56 (Hubley Duesenberg Car Model Kit, paid $4 Indy Thift)
Average Price Sold: $29
Returns: 0; Int’l Sales: 1 afghan to Canada GSP
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0 I was very good this week with the challenge.
Number of items listed this week: +/- 15Facebook: Two sales $99 for an older model Kichenaid Stand Mixer (my mom’s) and $50 for NWT Pottery Barn Outdoor pillows (thifted for $6!)
This was a fun podcast to listen to. I don’t have time and freedom to go to auctions, but it sounds amazing except the nemesis part. Maybe you’ll hit one soon where no one present likes your favorite stuff. You have the gift of seeing value where others do not. I notice many of the older pickers around here pass over some Etsy style kitch & housewares, flatware (except knives), and vintage linens. At the thrifts it’s a lot of left over items but I think some elect to not have a house estate sale. I plan to hit estate sales after my hiatus and try to get closer to the source. This town grew up in the 50s and 60s. The rummage sales here are great if the sorters don’t get to shop it first.
A good week for me. Haopily I got rid of a couple of bulky items from my garage. I’ve washed some cartoon bedding and midcentury melmac from the piles that I hope to list this week. Thank you to those who provided plastic cleaning tips. I’ve got quite a way to go with the piles but I’m starting to get a bit of breathing room. 🙂
In other news, we got a new Grocery Outlet here! I went before the grand opening to the soft open. If you know your prices well, there were some great bargains. Other things like produce, not so great.
In really unrelated news, we are watching the old Wonder Years TV show with my tween and teen. I’m having fun checking out the stuff in the background, especially the episode with the backyard luau.
I belong to the following two just to participate in the morning pinterest parties. If anyone knows of others who do early morning Pinterest parties, please share.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/909662352497624/?fref=nf
https://www.facebook.com/groups/internationalleagueofthrifters/
You have to ask to join and it’s free. There are some friendly and shared experience posts, plus newbs asking for help. I just do the parties and get my coupon reminder, though sometimes I choose what I’m going to list based on their goal for the week post for inspiration. I think it would be helpful for fulltimers feeling a bit isolated.
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This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by
ChristineR.
04/07/2017 at 8:56 am in reply to: Cleaning Tips – How to Remove Price Marks, Tags, and other Annoyances #16186I’ve got some annoying industrial strength sticker adhesive to remove from vintage melmac / melanmine / plastic. I’ve tried magic eraser and other basic methods. Is there a product that safe for plastic?
I also bought some vintage Studio Nova flatware with white plastic handles but some have yellowed. Has anyone successfully whitened with a product? Thanks!
I sold some Dark Dansk flatware with dark colored plastic handles having white dishwasher marks. My dad revived with steel wool. They sold very well.
04/07/2017 at 8:50 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 304: Do a little bit today, then do a little bit tomorrow #16185I haven’t popped on the Smuggler’s Cove yet. My cheap self says I don’t need it, but then that’s what I said about Tiki Modern. I think I even passed it over when all of our Borders stores went out of business. Doh! Having kids is very distracting to one’s tiki fascination but I looking forward to patronizing the bar. Love your store branding so I’m sure it will be well done! I actually finally found a tiki mug last week before everyone else, but unfortunately it was only worth about $15-20.
04/06/2017 at 12:10 pm in reply to: What Sells On eBay: Eyeglass cases, Prince guitar picks, Nodder mug, B&O phono cart, Vintage camera case #16120I like to sell overlooked vintage cookie cutters and they are lightweight so ship first class. This was an oldie but a goodie. Paid a buck at a moving sale.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Wood-Springerle-Folk-Art-German-Biscuit-Cookie-Butter-Mold-Press-Birds-/232283245354?rd=1I wasn’t sure about pricing these tiny Vintage Easter decorations. Paid pennies at an estate and found them in a box with Gurley candles. I’ve heard some people say they go to the basements first looking for holiday stuff. We don’t have many in Cali but this was in a guest room closet up high. Sold in 5 minutes. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/332175705309?rd=1
Took a best offer of $50. I’m not into this kind of thing so priced to move. Paid $4 @ Indy thrift. I wish they wouldn’t put packing tape on paper boxes. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Hubley-Kit-Gabriel-Model-1930s-SJ-Duesenberg-Town-Car-Metal-4868-/232271070829?rd=1
Got most of our money back on these items used on our recent vacation. Love to recycle and sold quickly so maybe I could have gotten all of our $ back? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Disney-Tiki-Aulani-Travel-Mug-Refillable-Hot-Cold-Beverage-amp-Oaui-Revealed-Guide-/232283763498?rd=1
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This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by
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