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10/21/18 – 10/27/18
Items In Store: 2,538
Items Sold: 20
Cost of Items Sold: $60 (around)
Total Sales: $652
HIghest Price Sold: $100 (Vintage Mr Peanut)
Returns: 1
Money spent on new inventory: $120
Items listed: 59Good week, total dollars were same as last week. Hoping that sales start to ramp up more. Will try to get 75 items listed this week.
Mark S
10/23/2018 at 10:52 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 382: Treasure Hunting with a Fishnet #50609Nancy,
Here is a little more information:
There is a bar across the top. You can set the vinyl\paper to any length you want (if you need more or less in the front). Just set it to where you want it and then put the clips on.
When it is not in use, I just take the vinyl and throw it back over the bar to get it out of the way.
That has really helped in photographing the larger items with a white background. I have done Large Goalie Hockey Pads, 3 Baseball Bases, 1970’s Mercury Cougar Hubcaps. All worked just fine.
I find with this, my pictures have a white background for even the large items and look very professional. I have found that most photos on ebay of larger items do not have a white background, so I think this sets my photos\item apart from the rest. That may be my own illusion, but I like to believe it.
Mark S
10/23/2018 at 10:44 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 382: Treasure Hunting with a Fishnet #50606Nancy,
I bought “LimoStudio Photo Video Studio 10Ft Adjustable Muslin Background Backdrop Support System Stand, AGG1112” on Amazon at
https://www.amazon.com/LimoStudio-Adjustable-Background-Backdrop-AGG1112/dp/B00E6GRHBO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540305115&sr=8-1&keywords=LimoStudio+Photo+Video+Studio+10Ft+Adjustable+Muslin+Background+Backdrop+Support+System+Stand%2C+AGG1112The key for me was that it is adjustable from 5 Feet to 10 Feet. 5 Feet is more than enough.
I bought the clips that they feature below their listing (LimoStudio 6 PCS Black Nylon Muslin/Paper Photo Backdrop Background Clamps, 3.75 inch, AGG1242) for $6.99. You need those to hold your paper on.
I made the mistake of ordering “MUZI White Chromakey Photo Studio Video Background Muslin Collapsible Backdrop for Photography 4x6ft” It was useless. It was so thin, wrinkled, and got dirty very quickly with no easy way to clean it. I went to JoAnn Fabrics and got a 4′ X 7′ of white vinyl. It was about $25 but it is working great. I actually got it for 60% off. All you have to do is download the JoAnn Fabrics app and then register yourself. Then click on the coupon at the bottom left for 60% off any 1 item. So of course, I used the coupon for the Vinyl. 4′ X 7′ is a little big, but I know I can handle just about anything now. 4′ X 5′ or 4′ X 6′ would probably work. Here is a picture of what it looks like on my stairs landing:
You can see the useless Muslin paper on the right. I accidently got an off-white vinyl from JoAnn Fabrics, but that doesn’t seem to make a difference.
Mark S
10/22/2018 at 12:46 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 382: Treasure Hunting with a Fishnet #50547Mike,
When Wonderlister gets the ETsy interface going, I am not expecting to sell any where near as much on Etsy as I do on ebay. I would be good with just a petcentage like 25% or so as to what sells on ebay – apples to apples. I hope it does, but not putting my expectations that high. I look at it as a free add on since my extra work will be minimal.
Mark S
10/22/2018 at 9:18 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 382: Treasure Hunting with a Fishnet #50505Forgot to answer about being full time Yes, I work full time and do this on the side.
I am not sure how much time my lister spends per listing. I would think about 10 min which is about aversge for me. I just made a video for her on how to use the ebay listing templates that I have created which should make it faster for her.
My regular pay is $4 an hour on a contractor basis. I wantto offer more right now to get ready for yhe busy season.
Mike: yes, it would be cheaper to hire soneone, but I dont want to hire anyone right now. I an not sure I could give them consistent work. Plus, when you areworking full time, it is very difficult to find soneone good to hire. My current lister has been listing for me 4.5 years and had done an excellent job. But, if she cant find the tine, I will be forced to get someone else.
Mark S
10/22/2018 at 6:25 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 382: Treasure Hunting with a Fishnet #50496Jay,
Yes, $5.50 an item is quite generous. However, my lister hasn’t listed since May and I have been doing double time doing that work. I want to motivate her to do some listings. She does do a lot for each item – weigh, measure, photograph, list, tag, etc. If that doesn’t work, then I will have to look to hire someone else.
Also, I have nearly 1000 items in TBL status that I want to get listed. That would mean about $15,000 or more in potential annual income from those items that is just sitting there. If I pay $5,500 to get them listed, then I think that is worth it.
Mark
10/21/2018 at 11:08 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 382: Treasure Hunting with a Fishnet #504892018-10-14 – 2018-10-20
Site: US / Feedback 1197 (Red)
Neutral Feedback 2.00
Positive Feedback 446.00
Total Items In Store: 2497.00
Items Sold: 22.00
Total Sales: 652.57
Total Fees 137.22Highest Price Sold: 50.00
Average Price Sold: 29.66
Buyer Shipping $ 237.00
Avg. Daily $ 93.36# Items Listed 56.00
$ Listed 2899.51
ASP $ Listed 51.78Fee % of Gross 21.03
# items being watched 1114.00
# items watch count >= 10 20.00
Avg. Item Hit Count 532.00
Best Offer # 8.00
Best Offer $ 246.56
Best Offer ASP $ 30.82
Money Spent on New Inventor: $86.00Gut Sales Report for the week: Sales were ok. Sales have slowed to a crawl since Thursday. I listed more than usual this week. My average hit count has gone up a lot.
My process improvement for the week: I received my new photography equipment this week and got it set up. Awesome! For some reason the new equipment gets me excited to take pictures. I had a setup for smaller items, but this one is for large items. I also found that when I improved my shipping supplies, shipping became fun again also.
Challenge of the week: To motivate my lister, I said I would pay $5.50 for each item listed between now and the end of the year.
What I learned: Two things.
1. Don’t cave into high prices.
This is a good story about not caving in too bad pricing. I went to this estate sale and just wanted some CD’s for myself. I picked 5 CD’s and 4 VHS tapes that I thought I could sell. The lady said they were $20. I said no and turned to walk away. Then the price immediately went to $1 per CD and $.50 per tape. I put back one of the CD’s because it had 3 in it. I ending up paying $6. I think that lady was just throwing out high prices to see what would stick. So, morale of the story is don’t fall for high prices just because they are asking those high prices. Use the best negotiating technique – walk away. They may not come down in price like they did for me, but you won’t overpay.
2. Vetting the estate sales has really paid off for me. I put in time to determine which estate sales to go to and it has been paying off. Sure, you can always find something at most sales, but I am looking for good mega picks that will save me a lot of time. I had a mega pick of high end shoes (Average selling price of $75.88 on 9 pairs of shoes\shoe horn and average buy price of $5.73) this weekend. The funny part of it is below:
This story really struck me as funny. I went to an estate sale where most of the shoes in the walk-in closet were high end mens shoes, but really dusty. That in itself is not uncommon, I see that all the time. But what was funny was that this guy kept all of the original boxes and I found about 30 shoe bags in the closet in the next room! I bought them all because they were Allen Edmonds, Ecco, etc. That just struck me as really funny: he had all these shoe bags and boxes but didn’t use them and let most of his very nice shoes get caked in dust.
Mark S
T-Satt,
I said a prayer for you.
Mark S
I didn’t have time to post this earlier, so here it is.
Gut Sales Report for the week: Just like Michigan Football, I feel like my business is now firing on all cylinders – buying, selling, and listing all going well. I needed the sales to pay for what I bought.
My process improvement for the week: I ordered my new photography equipment so that I can take pictures of larger items with a white background.
Scavenge of the week: From Thursday – Saturday of this past week I bought nearly $4000 worth of inventory items. Without a doubt they are some of the best items I have ever picked. I am very excited about these items because they are a piece of sports History from the 1930’s – 1950’s. The majority of these items came from one private estate sale which was a mega pick – 11 items that were $100 items or more. The 11 items have an average sell price of $225. Average buy price was about $27 for each of 11 items, but 1 item inflated that number. And it is not just about the money. Most of the 11 items were antique sports equipment from the 1930’s – 1950’s which I really love.
Challenge of the week: Still to make space in basement and garage. Also, I am working on getting all items in a “To be listed” state instead of “death piles”. I have been good at avoiding death piles in general, but the clothes that need to be hung up have been the exception. My lister is going to be doing most of the hanging clothing, but she hasn’t listed in a while so I haven’t had much motivation to get that done. She is suppose to start back this week.
What I learned: Two things. 1. I love being a generalist and buying anything that makes sense. I went to an estate sale that advertized a ton of vintage and antique. When I got there, those items were mostly gone. Instead, I found a mega pick of Vintage clothes in the bedrooms for next to nothing. 2. Don’t be afraid to go all in. One of the 11 items I bought above, one was marked $150 and that was at the start of the sale. I picked it up and didn’t want to spend $150, but I just had to have it. I asked the guy if he would take $110 and he said $125 was the least he would take. I also had $40 of antique sports equipment and he agreed to $150 for all of it. Below is a picture of that item.
Mark
Doubly,
I think it is a good thing that you are staying at your 9-5 job. You just didn’t have a peace about quitting, so I think you did the right thing. I think you would want to feel good about the move and if that isn’t there, then it wouldn’t feel right. There is something telling you to stay at your job and you listened to that.
I think you will know when it is time and then it will be a moment that you can celebrate.
Mark
T-Satt,
I just bought a Trumpeter suit that sounds identical to mine. Was there anything special about yours or are they really eorth $140? I was going to list it for $100.
Mark S
My mistake, that should hsve been $100 for the WWII uniform.
Mark S
Items in Store 2467
Items Sold 23
Total Sales $848
Hightest Price: $1000 Vintage WWII uniform)
COGS $80
Average sales price $36.87
Items listed: 34Like Michigan football, I had all cylinders firing this week. Good sales, good listing, and some of the best picks I have ever had!
I went to a family estate sale and picked up 11 items that were antique sports items from the 1930’s – 1950’s. Absolutely amazing items that I will list for an average of $225 each. That is one way to get those $100+ items. I don’t think I have been this excited about items i have bought as I am with these. I will post more later.
From Thursday – Saturday I bought nearly $4000 worth of inventory for about $425. Just amazing items.
Mark S
10/08/2018 at 10:18 am in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 380: What Do Lifetime Sales Really Mean? #49753Items in Store 2451
Items Sold 19
Total Sales $678
Hightest Price: $76.50 (Vintage shoes)
COGS $60.00
Average sales price $35.68It was a good week for sales and for buying.
My sump pump frooze up this week on Tuesday but I didnt realize it because there wereno sales that day and didnt have togodown to the basement. There was very little lost because I learned my lesson from the last time the sump pump stopped. I got nost everything off the floor and most everything is in a plastic container. 2 hanging coats touched the water so just had to wash them. This is whereplastic bags around my hanging clothes helps to protect.
Make sure you are prepared for this because it will happen if you have a sump pump.
Mark S
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