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I’m probably targeted for this scam because I have a new account with -0- feedback.
I’ve sold on ebay for 20 years, but had to set up a new account recently. Ebay can’t seem to solve a managed payments glitch on my long-standing account. My account is virtually stuck between the old PayPal payment method and the new Managed Payments. So what did ebay do? They froze my ability to list until they solve it…..which is in it’s 2nd month now.
Thanks Jay!
I did receive a reply from one of the buyers…but just the same garbage asking me to text them.
I canceled the sale by canceling the order and choosing “Buyer asked to cancel sale” option.
So the items are back up now.
SOLVED! In some better, contrasting light, I discovered the maker’s mark: ACCOUTREMENTS.
Accoutrements makes action figures from Jesus to “The Cat Lady” to Sigmund Freud.
Why? That’s what I want to know.
Sourced at a thrift store in the toy aisle.
I have a theory why the slow ebay weeks lately….people are outdoors more where Spring has sprung. But they aren’t quite buying their Summer gear yet. Other areas of the country are flooding or snowed in. You don’t shop when you are trying to save your house from a natural disaster. I saw the same thing when the hurricanes come through.
Just saying….
Are you confident men’s clothes would sell? I’ve had very little success in men’s clothes with some notable exceptions: higher-end hunting / outdoor clothing. Dress shirts, slacks, shoes….very little success.
Just saying…results may vary.
The GeorgiaHillbilly
I volunteer at a very popular local thriftstore with just one location. This thrift returns $100s of thousands of $ back into the community. They are able to do this because most of the “employees” are volunteers, the area is more affluent than most so the donations are better stuff, and they receive more donations than they can handle.
This store has policies that ensure items make it to the shelf for everyone. Oh yes…as a volunteer, I receive a 25% discount, so I do have that advantage.
My store’s policy: Items must be inspected and priced by the Inspection, Testing and Pricing Teams. This may take just an hour for large items to several days for electronics needing testing. So, the items make it to the floor first and all customers may purchase it.
I volunteer one day a week. During my shift, I keep an eye out for possible items. At the end of my shift, I pick those items from the shelves and purchase….if the item is still there! A good item is a good item….other people can see it too. I’m lucky if the item lasts until the end of my shift.
Most days…I go home with nothing…because the item got away or the store prices it at ebay top-dollar. That’s how ebay can turn on you….the stores research the selling prices too!
I made the mistake of telling a much smaller local store that I sometimes sell my book purchases on ebay. They now look at the books I’m purchasing with great inspection….like I’m running a con-game. I tell them how much time and effort it takes to research, list and then wait until that one person across the globe wants it, searches for it, chooses your listing, and purchases it. Oh yeah, with some returning it 30 days later…. I’d think they’d see me as a partner, but it doesn’t seem that way.
Thank you for the good advice. Especially the search to see what’s selling on ebay. I’ve never thought of that. I’m probably passing over some valuable items while sourcing. For instance, I sold a plastic chess set a few weeks ago at $30 and it moved in just a couple of days. Quite honestly, I had no idea there was quite a market for the make and color until I got it home. I had purchased it for my own use. Simply stumbled on it and selling it wasn’t what I expected. Not a huge win, but it met all my criteria…and most of all sold FAST. I need 10 of those a week.
Regarding time…I can only devote about 2 hours a day to ebay. That includes sourcing, but I don’t have to travel far like Jay and Ryanne do. Sounds like I could achieve the desired sales rate, but I’ll have to work up to about 40X more listings than I currently carry.
Thanks!
Rob,
I had a similar experience with an estate sale box of pistol holsters. $20 for the box, but grossed over $150. Wish I could find that sort of math at every estate sale.The box had new chain link fence parts on top and I thought that’s what the whole box was. Turns out most of the box volume was made of holsters for Eastern European pistols. Took awhile to identify them, but once I did, they sold fast.
Thank you Inglewood, aperture, Jay and others!
So another lesson learned…NCAA stuff is readily available in mass….more of the Amazon model rather than ebay.
Good thing I spent only a $1 for the shirt. If nothing else, I’ll clean my lawn mower with it! LOL
However, I did pull 2 UGA Dawgs license plates from my neighbor’s trash and they sold same day as listing, albeit just for $10 (they were bent but still useable). Perhaps the reason they sold is that one was a “vintage looking” plate with older UGA logos. My son is at UGA and he says that is what the buyer wanted….as he’s not seen that one in the bookstores, etc.
I can’t mow the lawn without tripping over Auburn stuff. Those fans are 365 24/7.
Hello Lisa. I’m in the ATL area too.
Similar to you, I’ve been a hobby seller (or a “non-professional seller” as Jay would call it) since 2002. I’ve averaged about $800 a year but was primarily selling items from the house that we no longer use. I retired this summer and about 7 years earlier than most people retire. Like you, I’m trying to ramp up my sales 10X to about $8,000 a year. This would pay for my family’s medical insurance and protect that much more capital for my later years.
I’ve found it more difficult to ramp up than planned. Sourcing is my current issue. There are about 5 thrifts within a short drive and one I volunteer at weekly. The good stuff seems to be lacking…that is items that sell for $30+ and 5X or more than they cost. Hardware, outdoor equipment and vintage books are my niche, but I do sell Levis 501s and specialty clothing when I can find them…which is not very often. Yard sales provide some items, but it’s usually low sales value. Occasionally there will be a big score. This is an affluent area, even by ATL standards, so I’m a bit lost on why good stuff is hard to find.
Wondering what your experience on sourcing has been.
