Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I sell used consumer VHS and Beta tapes all the time. I call them blanks to avoid setting off VERO sensors, but honestly, I don’t think studios care that much if you are selling copies of stuff taped off ABC in the ’80s. Having said that, I would never put in the title “Disney’s Lion King and Disney Channel recordings 1990’s” or “6 hours of Full House”.
People love to scour old tapes for the stuff that isn’t common. They like looking for commercials, local news broadcasts, and morning shows. It’s a treasure hunt. If you have a group of tapes, take photos that include the writing on the spine (and don’t transcribe in the description). The video scavengers will look at the detail in the pictures. I would put in the title description where the tapes came from as some people are very interested in specific local stations (i.e. “Lot of VHS tapes record in ’80s from the Chicago area).
Selling as “blanks” protects you from claiming you know what is on the tapes. I have never had anyone complain. Most buyers understand the randomness, and they are purchasing for the thrill of the hunt.
I always send the tapes media mail. I have never had a problem. If the post office opens to inspect – they will find a pile of prerecorded media and send on it back on its way.
The genericness of the claim really makes it sound like a fishing scam. Ignore ignore ignore.
I have started to experiment with free shipping. As much as I hate it, the reality is, there are two types of buyers.
1. People who like making “best offers” and getting a deal.
2. People who like round numbers(of course, there is a third category of people who like to be upset that everything isn’t free- but they can jump in a lake. I don’t want to sell to them.).
The round-number people would rather pay $29.99 for a coffee mug than 19.99 plus 7.55 shipping. It’s insane and irrational – but we are not rational creatures. Sales tax proves this theory: I have higher sales in places like Florida, where there isn’t any sales tax added to the final price.
I have switched all of my listings that are under $30.00 (and under 1 lb) to free economy shipping. When I do this, I turn off free returns, and I turn off make best offer.
My working theory is that this encourages impulse buys. The buyer’s lizard brain understanding reasons “For $29.99 I get the thing that will make me happy”. There is no math involved, no negotiations, just an instant dopamine reward.
Of course, this will alienate the people who want to make an offer and get a deal. I may alternate the policies every few months or so, which can easily be managed through business policies.
I don’t have hard numbers to share, but I have noticed an uptick of items that have been sitting in my inventory for 1 year plus.
If I find something unique, I price crazy high for a week and see what happens. You may have something someone has been looking for or years. That one buyer in a million might have been desperately waiting for you to post an egg timer they saw at 3am on USA up all Night in 1994.
You can always lower the price.
It’s almost like a comedy sketch. Are employees told to put the price tags in the most destructive and useless place on the item? At my local goodwill they alway put the price tags over identifying marks on ceramics. It drives me nuts – I have to stand there and gingerly peel off a label that identifies the product.
I understand that have to use multiple stickers to avoid bad players switching price tags. But does a coffee mug really need 4 price tags?
I love this forum with all my heart – thats for the too much information. So great!
Entire object is in the next image on imgur just click the left hand arrow. It’s 5″ wide decorative plate.
Thanks the Cardew Teapots are all over the Map on Ebay – but I can’t seem to find this one in recent sales (hopefully that makes it one of the rares).
Please let me know if you come across an official name for the piece.
I am on several facebook laserdisc collector groups and the Pizza Box mailer is a cardinal sin amongst collectors. Don’t ask me why. It might not be rationale but they hate that. I think the cardboard may not be sturdy enough.
Oh now all sorts of good ones are coming to mind how about leaving feedback –
“Unpaid Item case has been closed and order has been canceled. Thank you for considering this purchase.”
Would also love sellers to start leaving feedback like
“Thanks for the INAD! Your refund is on the way.”
@ HiatoryNerd – Thanks! I knew someone here would be able to narrow nail it.
Here is the other angle.
I am pretty sure it’s a mail holder.
I just can’t wrap my head around how to describe look of it.
