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I did not list anything this week. I had too many distractions. Talk about it next week.
Steve – She obviously gets her skill from you. It’s a very nice video “spliced” together quite well. I have lots of vintage clothing that I’m thinking of cross-posting to Poshmark. Something I will be thinking about later this year.
Steve – I would have never guessed that those Red Wing bowls were worth so much.
Several years ago, I bought a bunch of auto magazines in two boxes for a $1 bid because no one wanted them. This was one of the first auctions I took my husband to, and he thought I was crazy. Here is the last of the bunch; 15 Hot Rodder magazines from the mid to late 90s for $20. I’m sure I’ve made at least $100 for that $1 purchase.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185639037256
From my neighbor’s stash of old Mac equipment, the second computer sold for $130. I have a printer and some miscellaneous cords left.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185669618130
This is just a weird one. I couldn’t figure out where I got it, but this is an early attempt (1980s) at an energy efficient bulb. It still turns on, and I figured someone might want it for its historical value. Sold for $17.
I had some weirdness this week myself, but some of it was mine. A buyer from Mexico wasn’t able to buy a set of bookends through eBay international. I told him it was the only way I would sell it, so he asked me to cancel. I did, except that I cancelled a different set of bookends by accident (eh, it was late and I was ready to go up to bed). I realized it the next morning and canceled the correct sale. The buyer from Mexico ended up getting his sister in Florida to buy them for him.
I also sold a wool suit that I had bought in 2018. I found that it had moth damage that wasn’t there five years ago and so had to cancel.
It was an OK week given all my mistakes above.
Week of Feb 26 – Mar 4
Total Items in Store: 1789 eBay, 31 Etsy
Items Sold: 9 eBay, 0 Etsy
Cost of Items Sold: $3.70 + $88 Commission
Total Sales: $269.70 eBay, $0 Etsy; includes fees but no shipping
Highest Price Sold: eBay $130 for 1986 Macintosh SE Model M5011 (parts/repair)
Average price: $29.97
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 3I listed three items. I had many other distractions, both personal and work. It’s all good.
Amatino – I can match your boxes and clothes rack; maybe even more. As I’ve mentioned, I’ve been helping my neighbor downsize so that he can sell his house. There is SO much stuff that I can’t get to all of it very quickly, so I have to store everything until I have the time. My IMGUR link below shows the boxes in the first photo, the two clothes rack in the second (the photo shows the one that is not listed yet, the other is mostly listed), and a bin of wool clothing with moth damage that I’m going to sell for crafts.
Actually, I don’t consider these death piles. These are being stored with the knowledge that I don’t have the time to take care of all of it right away.
My March Madness challenge is shown in the last photo. Yes, again, electronics. I have two items there, both of which are partially tested, but, damn it, I can’t get myself to fully check out every little function. I’ve just got to list them for parts and say that it turns on, looks ok, etc. Just get them out of sitting underneath a cabinet through eternity. I’ve got two items there and few items downstairs. I also have those lamps, but I don’t know if I will get to them this month.
Do you have a local bank where you have a savings or checking account, maybe a mortgage?
Do you do regular business with an auction house where they have your information in their computer and they know you by sight? Maybe an estate sales company?
Can you show them your feedback on eBay? Could they call up eBay and ask about how good of a seller you are?
I have not had to do this myself. Just throwing some ideas out.
Yes, I agree. The bakeries that I have found through TGTG have all been of much better quality than anything I’ve found in my town. Should I ever want something special, I will definitely use them.
On another subject, I think you wrote somewhere about UPS closing at 6:30pm. If you go to their website and find all their drop-off sites, you might find something with longer hours.
I haven’t tried it yet, but it said that my local Autozone has a drop off area. They are open 24 hours, but I think that the UPS closes at 8 or 9PM. Worth checking. I’ve been using FedEx solely because their dropoff at Walgreens is open to 9PM or so, but I’d like to switch over if I can drop off at Autozone.
@antique-frog – Yes, I hear you. I sometimes use peanuts when it is appropriate, but I prefer not to. I get these pink peanuts from the engineering lab where I work part time, and they are special for electro-static discharge. I believe they have requirements for cleanliness and outgassing, but I still use them sparingly.
@antique-frog – I do believe that the video is showing a seller how to ship one of these figurines, so it would be for the trade. But, aren’t I part of that “trade”?
Without seeing one of these figurines, it is hard for me to explain, but I do believe that the finish will not come off after being taped down. According to my research, these are fired at higher temperatures than most figurines, and they go through several firings after glaze is applied.
However, I do agree that tape residue could end up on the item. He is using strapping tape, which, as you mentioned, is reinforced with fiber of some sort.
I am concerned about wrapping up these items using the normal method with bubble wrap. Perhaps I could figure out a method that would be a compromise. I just have to figure that out before I list them.
At my neighbor’s house a week ago, we emptied his china cabinet, but he also suggested that I look at the knick knacks on the window sill. I took two flower figurines not thinking much of them. They were so fragile looking but really strong, and I thought they were painted metal. Ends up that they are Boehm figurines that are porcelain fired to extreme high temperatures, so are less prone to chipping than regular pieces. They are much more valuable than I had expected.
Here is an example of one that I have:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/354072971208
The company was located in NJ, but was sold in 2003. Someone resurrected production in NJ, but it appears to have been closed for a few years. The showroom (and the seller of the figurine above) are now in South Carolina.
The listing above lists a You Tube link on how one of these figurines are packed, see below. I don’t like the way that he tapes directly onto the art, but he works with these all the time and seems to know. What do others think?
I listed 11 items this week.
@julie-b: Oh no, so sorry to hear of the loss of your dog. May his memory be a blessing.
@amatino: Thanks for the suggestions on cleaning! I like to have purses that I can wrap from one shoulder around the underarm of the other. I feel more secure that way. I imagine I can do the same with the bag for maybe shopping at a flea market or garage sale, which would be the perfect use for it! I might want to place the “Trash Elf” side towards my body in that situation, though!!I also had a slow week, although, I sold as many items as I did last week. The average price was down, so total sales were lower. On the other hand, I had fewer commissions sales, so my COGS were lower.
I continue to try out new restaurants on the Too Good To Go app. They’ve added a number of places in Princeton in the past few months. Last week, I tried a bakery and a restaurant, which I picked up on my drive home from my part time job. I only mention it because of the cooked goose leg I got from the restaurant. I purchased two bags, so I got two goose legs. They were in a vacuum sealed bag that included the fat and cooking instructions. We had them for dinner, and they were pretty good! Also included in each bag was a drink and a can of baked beans expired in September. I’m not concerned about the expiration date, but I felt this was an unusual haul.
Sometimes I wonder whether the places on TGTG are really getting rid of extra food or if they are trying to introduce themselves to people who wouldn’t normally buy there. I think I know the answer for the restaurant. For the bakery, we got some of the most excellent pastries I’ve ever eaten, so I think the answer is different for them.
Week of Feb 19 – 25
Total Items in Store: 1796 eBay, 31 Etsy
Items Sold: 11 eBay, 0 Etsy
Cost of Items Sold: $8 + $31 Commission
Total Sales: $226.74 eBay, $0 Etsy; includes fees but no shipping
Highest Price Sold: eBay $44 Vtg Brass Orient Express Table Lamp
Average price: $20.61
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 11Steve – I’m surprised you were able to get so much for the 45s. I had heard that they were not worth much, but maybe the interest in vinyl has increased in the past few years.
Years ago, my dad gave us a vintage tool kit that he didn’t need anymore. My husband decided we didn’t need it, so I put it up on eBay. Tools are always great to sell. This one was worth $66.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185761606212
I’ve mentioned that I am selling stuff for my neighbor. He has lots of items from his wedding in the 80s that were never used. Someone bought dinner plates from a service for four that were brand new. Sold for $62.80 for two sets of two. I liked this part of his feedback “Positively the finest and most secure packaging I’ve ever seen !”.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185711310986
This professionally matted and framed art with two prints went for best offer at $68. I don’t think that the prints are worth that much, but the frame is magnificent. It was given to me for free.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185747816676
This vintage can opener and cover was never used (except when I tested it). It sold for $26.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185747816766
This is an Orient Express lamp. Sold for $44.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
May I show you the latest Trash Elf fashion? Created by Amatino herself for little ole’ me for winning the listing challenge for 2022.
She has really outdone herself! It’s made of a thick fabric and hand sewn. I really like the longer strap.
Thank-you so much!
@Jay – In regards to the discussion of affordable first homes from last week, I realized that I did not fully explain part of my post. I was discussing the large complexes that are currently being built in my town. This is all good for younger people who want to live here. However, they are all apartments, for rent only. No developments with starter homes such as condos, townhouses, or lower cost houses are being built. So, the point that I wanted to make was that the town is not building affordable options for the first time home buyer, only rentals.
This week I received a decent offer for a fur coat. I would have accepted it right away, but I saw that the buyer was from China and had 0 feedback. Their account was opened in March 2021. It raised some concern for me, so I tried contacting the buyer first. I only had 24 hours to respond, so I declined later in the day with a comment that I wanted them to confirm that they understood the shipping was extra. I really just wanted to know that there was a human behind the offer; relying on the translation features in messaging. I did not get any answer. It could have been completely legit, but something didn’t feel right to me.
I didn’t have a particularly strong week, but many of the sales were not on commission, which is nice for a change.
Week of Feb 12 – 18
Total Items in Store: 1797 eBay, 31 Etsy
Items Sold: 11 eBay, 1 Etsy
Cost of Items Sold: $0 + $57 Commission
Total Sales: $309.20 eBay, $10.21 Etsy; includes fees but no shipping
Highest Price Sold: eBay $68 Palm Tree Prints Frame Mat
Average price: $26.61
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 7
