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Funny thing is they call it both all over the place and it causes confusion. As I staed in other post, if Ebay added 2 more slots to make the “Offers” go up to 5 then that makes the idea of “best Offer” a moot point.
How could your offer be the “Best Offer” if Ebay is providing the opportunity for several back and forth counters. With 5 chances to negotiate, then the only way to have a “BEST Offer” is to make an offer and include a message to the seller that is you one and only offer and it is all your willing to pay, take it or leave it. That is the only way it becomes a one time “BEST” offer, but leaves 4 other opportunities to do the back and forth dance which may lead to you getting the item for just a little bit more.
I agree. Pretty cool idea and thinking outside the box.
You might even think about adding a category to your store for that topic. Out and about Albany or something like that and then promote that category with sales and duplicated description blurbs about the items to catch the search engines.
But good idea and effort.
mike at MDCGFA
I very seldom have to go to our PO but occasionally I run very late and miss the local at house pick-up.
At the PO they have a section down at the end of the counter that is only for pre-paid packages. I walked in with about 8 shoe box size item in my blue Ikea bag. Walked to the fron of the line, took two steps to the right and unloaded all my packages. They have a canvas laundry cart right behind that area and when a clerk gets free or no line at their station, one of them steps down to the end, scans all the packages in and puts all of them into the canvas rolling cart. When the cart is full, one of them rolls it to the back and brings out a fresh empty one. I have spot checked on and off for years and they always seem to get scanned within about an hour or so from my drop off. And of course they get scanned a second time going out the back door for delivery to the main PO down in Atlanta.
As for the scan sheets for the at house pick ups, we have had 3 different mail people state they don’t like scan sheets because they don’t trust them to have every pkg. accounted for. They say many times they scan the sheet and it says 3 packages and their are really 5. Sellers many times add late sales to the out going pile and they never get put on the sheet. So, we have been told if under 8 to 12 packages they prefer to click scan each box separaetly. If we were going to have dozens and dozens, then maybe but the error problem would still exists. They say that using the sheets if not accurate then having tons of missed scan looks bad on them and they hear about it.
Maybe some of the postal employees here on SL can jump in and clear this up if wrong.
Mike at MDC Galleries and Fine Art
Hey guys: I brought this up a few years back but didn’t get much traction or replys. But here is my 2 cents again.
I am with you on Make an Offer” and if Ebay didn’t want “haggling”, then why did they go from only 3 “Offer slots” to 5 “offers-counter Offers. When they did this it set the tone for the seller to act like we used to at the Antique Malls. it goes like this.. we called it doing the dance.
First let me state my old primise that the one who mentions a numbers first, usually looses.
Now, create a booth tag with a price or create a Ebay list price. That sets the glass ceiling, buyer sees that price as “high”, then they make an “offer”, that is the floor. They are not going to pay your full list price and you are not going to take their low ball offer.
You may say, why low ball, well the good book says you “Have not because you ask not”. That is why I always haggle at esatate sales, but that’s another topic.
So, with Ebay adding two more levels to this process, that sets the floor for “the dance”. 1st offer at the floor to low, we counter as a second offer at 10% to 15% percent off, buyer wants to still get a deep discount [he wants to win the dance], so he rejects our 10-15% and comes up maybe 10% off his low ball, [that is 3rd tier of offers], now we come back at 20% to 30% off that is fourth level, then buyer either accepts or comes back with something inbetween. That is the 5th offer. The dance is done.
Now why do you think Ebay was thinking when they added the 4th and 5th offer slot to the buyers? My opinion is that they wanted the buyer and seller to have a “Mini In Store Private Auction” thus “The Dance”.
Those buyers too shy to engage will either buy at our high listed price or not. For the shy ones we offer a periodic short flash Sale or a semi perminent Sales for 5 days then stop for 3 days or so.
The bold buyers, seasoned and know a “dance” when they see one, start the process with the “lowball” [remember you have not because you ask not.] Who knows the seller may be ready to just dump an item. Then the 2 step [weatern dance term] starts with the counter, then counter to the counter, then the counter to the counter-counter] the dance resulting in a sale in the middle somewhere.
Yes it takes time but we reply to every offer with a counter offer because we know we are high. But the first two numbers are the ceiling and the the floor. The end of the dance is somewhere in between.
Some buyers cut bait early, others stick it out. It does take time from us but well “close” a lot of our sales by way of sveral levels of offers.
Those with high feedback numbers do the dance very well, those with low feedbacks or bewly registered buyers usually take our first counter offer and we get to keep that extra amount we build in to use for the upcoming “dances”.
Just an opinion from the guy down south..
Mike at MDC Concepts, Inc.
MDC Galleries and Fine Art
SmartParts Small Equipment PartsDidn’t think about that aspect RTWV. You are correct on that point and I agree. I do remember some years back when “anonymous” users could sign into the old SL blog there were some negative comments and posters that were not so good.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by
MDC Galleries & Fine Art.
There have been several members here on SL that have created posts-threads on how they handle Legos. If I remember correctly the thread contained discussions on the best way to handle all the pieces, identifying the ID numbers on each piece, how one member collected thousands of pieces and how he handled listing them for what he thought was the best and most profitable way.
I suggest you use the “Search” function here on SL and put in key words and see what you get.
Here is a searching tip also. After you input a key word like Legos and you get the SL results, then on a PC, hold the “Control” key down and click the letter “F” [stands for find]. Then type in the same keyword “Legos” into the PC search box and make sure you click the “Highlight” box. This will scan the SL results and highlight the keywords. That makes it easy for you to scroll down the SL results, which will be just a long list of results that contain the keyword Lego but not show you where the key word is. So, by using the PC “control” and highlight it is very easy to scroll down the SL results and see those words “HighLighted” to catch the discussion.
The PC search box will also tell you how many times the key word has been found. Like 17 “finds” so you know how many to look for.
It is much easier than it sounds in writing.
OR, maybe Jay remembers those discussions or the member and can post a link to the thread for you.
Good luck
Mike at MDC Galleries and Fine Art
Estate sales are easy for us. First we have gotten to know a few owners so when we first walk up I say, Hi Jim, Fred, Robbie whoever it is and say same terms as last time and most of the time they say yes. If a new estate sale person, we do and I say the following:
First we walk around and see if things are all priced [mostly], get a feel if they are way high or reasonable according to our experience and if there are a few things we are interested in. Then I go up to the desk and ask for the owner or person in charge. then I do a few seconds of the business elevator speech .. “Hi glad to know you. First time seeing you guys. I see things all priced, you did a good job or nice stuff. You been doing this long? [get the answer]. Then I hand them our business card and say, “We are buyers and resellers, so you know the drill, there has to be meat left on the bone. If we make a pile and write a list as we go, are you negotiable?” “If so then this could be a win-win situation for both of us and you have made yourself a repeat buyer and we will frequent your future sales.”
And that’s it and wait for the answer. All in all less than 60 seconds. They know it’s a business deal from the get go. They have to give or we won’t do “the dance”. If they do, we will be buying “a pile” because I said so, and also if they invest in us by discounting, then they will continue to get our business. We let them know right away we are dealers and bring more fire power to their sale than the average, non-corporate entity, casual fair day buyer. Auction houses also know us by the same business like manner in which we deal.
Some say sure, we will negotiate and a few says something like well we only offer 50% off on the last day. I look then square in the eye and state well that won’t do, and guess no use checking you guys out in the future. Put my hand out, shake hands and wish them good luck with their business model. Then Susan and I walk away.
Susan knows my spiel by heart. That is all it takes. We have about a dozen estate sale owners who know us by sight or our blue bags we bring to carry our stuff out with. Most allow us to pack our bags as we bring things out and then work from my list I give them.
I total it up on the bottom of the list at sticker price, then put the 50% off price below that and then put the 75% off price under that and circle it then hand it to the person in charge. 90% of the time they say sure thing and I hand them cash. If not they usually say, this client was tough or she passed away and the kids have other plans if we don’t sell it, then they come back with a number between the 50% off and my 75% off. Usually 60%.
But in any case you start the deal / process as soon as you walk up, either same as last time Jim, or do the quick elevator speech and you will know where you stand in 60 seconds or if just need to leave.
We have honed this process through the years. We have been buying from some of the same people for over 5 years and 75% off on last day is what we get. And the closer to the last few hours is even better. I have made deals of 80% off during the last few ours.
All of our established estate sellers know I drive for 75% off of their sticker price.
Our card says we are a corporation by the use of “Inc”. and we have a tax ID number, so no tax on our purchases and by paying cash or business check the vendors save the 3%+ charge from the C/C companies, which I throw out at a new vendor as part of my spiel.
In case you do not know, many estate sellers make deals with their clients to try to leave the house as empty and clean as they can. So some of our friend estate sellers have buyers who come in 30 minutes to 60 minutes after the closing time and buy everything that’s left, lot, stock and barrel and clean the house out. Everything from paper trash to old brooms and mops and chemicals. They take it all for a one price. So i like to shop them several hours before those guys roll in.
Some estate dealers also have a dumpster brought end at the days end and split the cost with the whole house end buyers. The dealers take what they want and throw the rest away. The dumpster gets picked up the next morning. “Pulled” as it is called.
So, there you have it. You own a business, so run your business like a business. Estate Sellers are your vendors. I worked every vendor I ever bought from in the business world and always drove hard for discounts based on repeat buying, exclusively carrying their brand, volume buying and in a few cases even got vendors to stock their products in our plant and they came in and did the inventory for us and only invoiced us for what we used. In return we would drop ship for them to others if they needed some of the products they had stored at our plant.
So I just use the same tactics on the local estate sale vendors. Here I am, I am a buyer, I have been in business for 16 years and I will continue to do business with you if you cut me the deals. Plain and simple. No deals no business today and in the future.
Some of the vendors I actually call them, because that is what they are, I have manilla file folders several inches thick where I have bought thousand of dollars of merchandise from them. And we only buy what fits our niche and quality level. We will buy a hundred dollar item but only for $25. Period.
I have even had vendors say as we come in, glad to see you, we were hoping you and Susan would be coming in today because we have a couple of things that fit your niche and they take us straight to them as soon as we arrive. At times a floor walker will bring something up to us and say, “I think you guys like this kind of stuff” and usually we say “Yep” and take it to our bags. One lady who does this with us we have spent over $15,000 with them over a 5 year period. That averages about $3,000 a season.
You have to make your discounts in this business and we all know the profit is in the buying. These days everyone knows what something is selling for or sold for on Ebay, even yard sellers.
There is another lady who will remain anonymous, will not bend on the 50% off rule. Says her rpices are rsearched and fair and 50% is enough meat on the bone. Well after we got no where with her after several tries, we haven’t bought anything from her in over 4 years.
So you can make your own vendor pipeline if you work at it and are persistant. There are no “Merchandise Marts” in the used item world, but you can create your vendor pipeline. You get to know them, build the trust and build the system. Those that are willing to “do the dance” will, and those that are not or are staffed by “clerks” with no executive decision making power won’t and we are out of there in 60 seconds and never return. There are way too many good ones out there than to waste time on those who don’t know how to dance with you or won’t do the dance with you.
The good ord says, “You have not because you ask not!”… So ask up front. You will save yourself a lot of time making piles and wasting time looking and then only after the fact discovering, “Sorry, today is only 50% off day”.
Bye,bye, to those people until they learn how to do the “business dance”.
Use your brain and negotiating skills first rather than your back.
Just one guys opinion and another wall of text.
The management team from MDC Concepts, Inc.
Susan, Lisa, Christie and Michael
MDC Galleries and Fine Art
“SmartParts” Small Equipment Parts divs.I am with you Antarestar: I run short on dealing with jerks. I don’t get into dialogue but will tell my wife Susan, let’s go, nothing here for us.
Every now and then I will throw in a ‘ boy you have this stuff priced on the high end”, but you can’t fault them for trying. we went to a yard sale amount 2 summers ago. Whole drive way was lined on both sides with roll out shelving and covered with pop up tents. His whole garage walls were lined around the perimeter with shelving. The roll out shelves fit back into his garage in the middle. He had old antique booth tags on everything and still had the prices on everything at list prices. Every time I throw a number out he would say things like, I don’t take low ball offers, or you are way off the mark. I said well you may have the correct price on these for an end use collector who has just got to have this thing but how do you account for resellers or dealers such as yourself that would like to buy from you? His reply.. I have all the time I need to find the right buyer and guess you are just not it.
All I said is and we will never be, good luck and left. He is one of those perpetual yard sellers anyway and this is his version of his own home business. Who knows, maybe he sold online or craigs list also.
I am not a big yard sale pickers anyway. Tons of people always moving around Atlanta, no shortage of Sales, but high end houses or lower end houses, all seem to just be dumping the real junk out of their closests, basements or garages and it all seems to be the same thing. We have found some nice higher end pieces occassionaly but most of the time, it is not worth the time, effort or expense to drive all over creation for greasy, used tupperware and kitchen utensils.
Just as Jay says .. “Welcome to the world of online selling!” π
I just thought of something… Ever seen those videos of the crazy, weird Walmart Shoppers? The ones in raincoats and rubber boots and see through everything I didn’t want to ever see? Well if brick and mortar stores get their fair share of crazies, I guess online sellers get our fair share, they come in different forms and hit us in different ways.
But unlike Walmart, we don’t have our own “Security” people to usher dead head online buyers out of our store. So we have to pull, the old.. “Shoo, shoo, you crazy people get off my lawn” routine for ourselves. π
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This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by
MDC Galleries & Fine Art.
“So let it be said, so let it be written, so let it be done!”
Sonia.. the water cooler idea is not a bad one. Years ago I was on a forum, that had a section actually called the “Water Cooler”. Maybe Jay and Ryanne may just add a category called the “Water Cooler” or “The Hangout Corner” or my old favorite back from high school, “The Smoking Tree”.
Just a thought. A section for some humorous or lighter stuff, or weird stuff we all see and or read that doesn’t fit any of the other categories.
“Not Kidding”..”All True”.. “What a dumass!!!!” .. Not Kidding.. All True!!! π π π
mike at MDGFA
We had a good one this week also. To make 7 or 8 messages from this lady very short, she was trying to tell us how to run our business and how she wanted to see us handle a bulk order from here.
She made one offer, we accepted. It was sitting on hold waiting for payment. Then she proceed to start shopping our store and sending us email messages of all the things she wanted. The catch was, she wanted us to pull about 8 items and send her an invoice for how much the total would be with us including a bulk purchase discount and what the combined shipping would be.
Us, no, we are not pulling and boxing all that up, no some of the items are delicate and we choose not to combine them, no the box would become over sized have to go FedEx and would fall into the dim weight pricing, we don’t know where this may ship to so basically no, no, no.
She has a feedback of over 13,000 and buyers a ton.
She replies, you can do anything if you want to, so just put all of it in a box, weigh and measure it and tell me how much it will cost.
Basically she was indirectly telling us to shut up, do as i tell you to, and what part of this don’t you understand.
We told her to just click on putting everything she wants and put it into her shopping cart and ask for an invoice. Nope she didn’t want to do that because Ebay can’t do more than just combine the weights we put in for single box shipments and in reality when objects get combined in real time, they always come out lighter and smaller boxes than Ebay’s estimated-calculated combined shipping which results in cheaper shipping than what a Shopping Cart Invoice will be showing. [actually she is right on that point]
Susan said she didn’t like this lady’s tone at all and to just kill the listings on everything she was asking for and open the case for the one offer accepted item but I chose not to get into an “in your face” scene.
We went silent, waited 48 hours and was just minutes away from opening an unpaid item case and she buys it all at list price and we have Instant Pay turned on, so she paid in full.
Now, we pull, pack and ship and combine as much as we can as we would normally do and after all was said and done, we refunded her $5.51. All of this non-sense and attitude toward us just to save $5.51.It is entertainment up to a point, but what a waste of time. The only reason we even engaged with her was due to the first purchase, we had to be polite and try to accomodate her if she was going to buy the other items.
She is a seasoned buyer with that many feedbacks, she knows the drill and ropes very well. for sure and bet she pulls this tactic on all the sellers to see who she could bully into doing what she asks.
Mike at MDCGFA
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This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by
MDC Galleries & Fine Art.
Steel will be very magnetic. A decent magnet will jump right to it. Alloys with silver plate over it will usually be non-magnetic in most cases depending on the “alloy composition”.
Jay you mention testing ‘precious metals”. Does any body know how to test non-precious metals such as bronze, Copper, brass and pewter.
We know that the brass has a little tin in it at times and a strong magnet suspended on a thin thread will sway toward the brass when held very still and close. But on bronze and copper other than color we are always stumped.
Steel, cast iron are all magnetic and attract the magnet right away and strongly.
On some dull pewter vs. dull, cast aluminum it is also hard to tell.
So other than color and feel it sure would be nice to be able to “test” to be sure.
This week we had several buyer requests for verifications. One was on a 3 pc. terra cotta set of shell fish bowls that looks like they are used to cook Jambalaya over an open fire. They are all charred and soot covered from smokey wood burning or being placed over coals. The buyer wanted to know if we had tested the pots for “Lead Content” and we should put that it was or wasn’t tested in our listing. So we discovered there are “Lead” testing swabs and got a pack of 2 yesterday.
The very next day we have a very old hand made trophy cup with deer antlers. It is not brass but said it was either bronze or copper with a heavy patina. The buyer asked which it was because if it was bronze she would buy it at full price, right then and there and if Copper she wasn’t interested. Well how do we “test” for sure?Any help along these lines would be apprciated. We probably will just have to change the listing to say a generic term like “old metal with a great patina” and leave out the type since we can’t be for sure.
Thnaks…
Mike at MDC Galleries and Fine Art
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This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by
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