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Seems like I was affected by the PayPal bug mentioned in the podcast. I just opened my Discover Card bill, and PayPal charged shipping to the card from April 4 – 18. I had plenty of money in my PayPal funds during that time. For some reason, it switched back to PayPal funds after April 18. What a pain.
Jay and Ryanne: Totally different subject – During last week’s podcast, you guys were talking about driving several hours to pick up some hardwood flooring found through Craigslist. I was just wondering how that went. Was it good? Did you end up buying it?
Week of Apr 16 – 22
* Total Items in Store: 753
* Items Sold: 13
* Cost of Items Sold: $7.95 + $33.95 Commission
* Total Sales: $225 ish
* Highest Price Sold: $40 Nikken Magnetic Massager
* Average Price Sold: $17.30
* Returns: 0
* Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: about $20
* Number of items listed this week: 4I had a pretty decent week of sales, but this weekend really slowed down. I had no sales Friday or Sunday. I also had a $100 offer on a leather bag Thursday, and the buyer did not pay. When I contacted him yesterday, he replied that he made a mistake, so I cancelled the sale.
I have not been listing much because of my vacation two weeks ago, and I was playing catch up this past week. I’m now ready to get back to listing, listing, listing!!
I was away for last week, but I did well despite the extended shipping. Since I came back with 21 items to ship, I decided to do a video, which covers more than just the past week.
Here is a bit more on some of the more interesting items:
This is a Harmony Kingdom collectable box, artist made in the UK with crushed marble. My brother-in-law gave me his whole collection, so I paid nothing (although I owe him and my sister a meal) and sold for $87.80 (came to $95 with shipping). It was worth more than the others he gave me because it was signed by the artist at the 1998 International Collectible Exposition in Rosemont, IL and had a limited edition.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harmony-Kingdom-1998-Tin-Cat-Cruise-Special-Edition-Signed-IL-ICE-Event-TJROSE98-/182381403532?rd=1I have showed up to an overstocks and unclaimed merchandise auction a few times, but I’ve been hesitant to buy anything. Last Fall, I ended up buying 25 bags & purses for $2 each from a guy who won the lot. Up to this week, I had only sold one of them. A few weeks ago, I changed them all to Best Offer and removed free shipping, and they’ve started to sell close to my original asking prices. I’ve been selling more purses and wallets in general right now, so the Spring season must also be helping sales. This one is called a flight bag:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=182342788078This massager with magnets from a brand called Nikken was sold on commission for a family friend. All the items she gave me from Nikken have sold very quickly. I had it up for $89, but took the offer of $40 when I found that most of the used ones went for around that price. The ones that were higher in price were new in the box.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=182495539810I leave feedback when tracking tells me that the buyer has received the item. My thought process is that it might remind the buyer (since he/she is probably happy with the item) to leave positive feedback as well. Since I check tracking most weekdays, I usually leave timely feedback. I have nothing to back this up, but that is just what I decided to do.
I once had a Grumpy Buyer (TM) trying to get money back, and I thought I’d ask eBay to remove my positive feedback. I don’t know if that is possible, but I didn’t want to waste my time calling eBay again. You just have to move on.
Week of Apr 9 – 15
* Total Items in Store: 757
* Items Sold: 15
* Cost of Items Sold: $24.99 + $24.73 Commission
* Total Sales: $321.68
* Highest Price Sold: $87.80 Harmony Kingdom Collectible Box
* Average Price Sold: $21.45
* Returns: 0
* Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
* Number of items listed this week: 0I was on vacation this past week, so my sales were pretty strong considering my extended handling time. My slow weeks were more in mid to late March.
Today was spent packing and shipping. I use bulk shipping, and I edit the shipping information for each item as I pack it up. I print out the scan sheet at the end. I don’t know if that takes me longer, but today, lugging all my items into the PO with a hand truck, I know that the people behind me in line appreciated how fast I finished my turn. It was busier than normal due to tax time.
I didn’t list or buy anything because of my trip, but my parents gave me half a trunk load of stuff. It will keep me busy for the next few weeks!
I like flea markets and yard sales, but I find that the good stuff at low prices can hard to come by. Once I find a good sale, though, it can be better than the auctions. Last year, I bought a set of 10 Jadeite cups and saucers plus a few bowls for $5. I doubt I could get that price at an auction!
Mike –
I read through the eBay policy at the link you provided. I don’t see where it specifically says that it is against their policy to include shipping in the best offer. They say that shipping is not included if a cost is listed, but that doesn’t mean that a buyer is not allowed to change that.
In addition, after you press the accept offer button, it takes you to a screen to finalize the deal. There is a statement to the affect that you accept the offer plus any other terms specified by the buyer.
Anyway, sometimes I have best offer on more costly items where I don’t know the value, and sometimes because I am trying to get rid of something. If I’m trying to get rid of something, then I’m willing to include shipping. I just miss the buyer’s message sometimes because it’s not very visible. I’m actually on vacation right now, so I think I just wasn’t paying as much attention as I usually do.
I do like your suggestions on how to use the comments. Perhaps I’ll try including something similar in future Best Offers. I appreciated your response to someone else on the vacation/extended handling time message, and I’ve been using a version of it this week.
Great video Steve – I have several old keyboards that I need to check for working condition before I list. I’ve been lazy about it, but they were free for me.
My more interesting sales for last week:
My big sale was a set of 12 Fitz & Floyd dragon napkin rings. I bought them for about $10 at an online auction, sold for best price of $180:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=182517223132This isn’t a big sale, but I do commission sales for a friend of my family, and she had a silver plate tea pot set for me to sell. It was stored wrapped in plastic, but, when I opened it, I found that the pot was corroded in sections. I listed the whole set as $29 or best offer, and accepted the first one to come along, which was $16:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=182465298635I purchased some new bags/purses at an auction for overstocks. They have been listed for months with only one sale. I changed all of the listings to best offer, and finally they are starting to sell. I bought each for $2, and this one sold for $15. I haven’t given up on new merchandise, but I wouldn’t buy these again:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=182343075980Week of Apr 2 – 8
* Total Items in Store: 772
* Items Sold: 15
* Cost of Items Sold: $21.50 + $6 Commission
* Total Sales: $379.77
* Highest Price Sold: $180 Set of 12 Fitz & Floyd Dragon Napkin Rings
* Average Price Sold: $25.32
* Returns: 0
* Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
* Number of items listed this week: 27The napkin rings are actually my biggest sale ever, but it beat my previous biggest sale by only $1! My week was also back to normal after having two slow weeks.
People collect old batteries?!? I had no idea. Something to think about if I ever buy vintage electronics.
I have a vintage drafting set listed similar to the one you sold, but much newer. It was made by a German company called Tacro. I’ve had it listed for over 6 months. Perhaps I should try to date it, but I’ve been assuming that it’s more of a 70’s or 80’s thing.
I would like to understand the official eBay policy on feedback, and what to do if one of their customer service reps doesn’t seem to be following that policy. I haven’t had many issues myself, but I hear about them often on this podcast. Specifically, I’m thinking of the guy who basically had feedback extortion, but the customer rep wouldn’t delete the feedback.
Steve – I can’t imagine walking four large dogs at once! I used to have a doberman/German shepherd mix, and he would just pull me all over the place. I think your dogs are much better behaved.
This was listed as a dream catcher at auction, but I found it was a three-tier mobile. I had it up for $119 for over 6 months with no movement and few views, so I decided to take the $59 offer when it came in. I bought it for about $2. Funny thing, the lady mistakenly gave me the feedback “This night cream is awesome! I would recommend it for everyone !!!!”.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=182326531741I bought the contents of a linen closet in an online auction for the minimum bid of $1. Many of the items were tablecloths in very good condition. Tablecloths don’t sell quickly, so I list them competitively. However, I could tell that this one was special. I did list it higher, but I think not high enough. Bought for pennies, sold for $16.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=182507972342I bought this pretty chalk message board also for the minimum bid of $1 at an online auction. The seller called it wall art, so I think that he wasn’t aware that it was a message board. It sold for best offer of $35. Unfortunately, I under-estimated the dimensions & weight and had to pay ~$5 addition shipping.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=182470576043I notice that parcel and priority are out of whack ONLY when the item is particularly long or heavy. I think that your package might come in the long category. Just my guess.
Most websites have links to their investor and press pages at the bottom of the home page. eBay, for the same reason one can’t find many of their user guides and policies under “Help & Contact”, has those links hidden several clicks down.
Anyway, here is the link to their press information site, and an email address can be found under Media Contacts on the right. Who knows, if you email them and give a short summary of what you are looking for, perhaps they will arrange for an eBay employee to be interviewed. Make sure to send in a link to ScavengerLife.com so they can see that your business is serious.
