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Huh, never seen one of those before. In the past, I’ve used the flexible measuring tape often used in sewing, but I’ve never had large number of hats to measure.
You can keep mine at 15. It works for me given my part time job. Also, my goal this year is to increase my sale price and not necessarily increase the number of items in my store.
This doesn’t make sense to me, although I know that Georgia’s laws are different from NJ. I skimmed the conversations you (or someone else in GA) had in the past with Mike in Atlanta.
If you report your income from your business and pay taxes on it, then what is the county taxing you on?
If eBay is reporting your sales tax and submitting it to the state, then what is the county taxing you on?
Do you pay sales tax on your inventory when you purchase it? How can they tax you on something that hasn’t made you money yet?
In NJ, we do not have a local tax, only state and federal. When I lived in PA, we did have a local tax. I assume this is what they are looking at, but you should be doubly sure that they aren’t taxing you twice.
Just remembered; I have some electronics and a juicer in our laundry room. I forget about them because they aren’t in the basement with the rest of my inventory. The electronics are a pain because they are items that I can’t fully test, but I can at least plug them in, see if any lights or switches do anything, and then sell as-is. The juicer does have to be tested, though. Ugh. This task will probably have to be completed in a challenger’s choice month.
Week of Jan 2 – 8
Total Items in Store: 1398 eBay, 29 Etsy
Items Sold: 8 eBay, 1 Etsy
Cost of Items Sold: $0 + $70 Commission
Total Sales: $192.91 eBay, $35 Etsy; Includes fees but no shipping
Highest Price Sold: $60 for sterling pendant (on commission), $35 for two wood frames on Etsy
Average price: $25
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 15Last week was super slow with no sales on Friday and Saturday. I did sell some higher priced items, but many were on commission.
A curious thing on Etsy: Last year they started a star seller program (or something like that). They sent me emails saying that I had to be 95% rated in three areas, which were shipping on time, store ratings, and response time. So I was 100% on two, but 0% on response time because I never had a reason to respond to anyone. Everyone was happy, had no questions on the products, never asked for a price break, etc.
So, the person who bought the two frame listing a week ago Sunday had also purchased a listing of three frames the day before (which were in my numbers last week). She mentioned that she was interested in two frames from another listing, so I worked it out with her to combine shipping on the two purchases.
Now, I’ve got 100% in response time, so I guess I get to be a star seller or whatever until the next rating period. After which, I will probably lose it since I won’t have any reason to respond again. Hum, not sure that this is thing Etsy was looking for, but I guess it would work better for their sellers with much larger stores.
I listed 15 items.
I am maybe 25% complete with my electronics challenge. Most of that was going through all the stuff lying around and deciding to get rid of it. I did organize/test two mp3 players and a bunch of landline phones that I am now ready to photograph and list. The remaining stuff are VCRs & stereo components, lamps, and cameras. I have a feeling that I won’t get to the cameras, but I hope to test and list all the components and at least order the parts I need to rewire several lamps. If I get all that done this month, I will be thrilled!!!
The You Tube video showed the guy having to break something apart and replace a very thin belt. I only got so far, but I assume he had to solder something back at the end.
Yes, always willing to wait. I had airline eye masks and other travel accessories that I listed in the fall, and I believe most are sold.
Steve – Last year I had a pretty valuable Walkman from the early 80s, and I thought I should at least research how to replace the belt. I watched a You Tube video for a few minutes before I decided to sell it as-is. Not worth it.
This painting appears to be one of those mass produced and sold in malls. I was still able to get $33 for it, and the buyer spent about the same amount for shipping. I paid pennies for it in a large lot.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/184717415570
I know these “train cases” always sell for reasonable prices. I had a red one of these back in the day, but this one came in a vintage color of mustard yellow. I think I got this for free, sold for $25.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/184871429297
These suspenders were free from one of my parent’s friends. I know that these sell from my stalking of Jay and Ryanne’s store. Sold for $20.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185228610953
I bought a bunch of wood barrels in a auction lot several years ago for very little. This one is very rustic and not in great condition, but sold for $30. I still have one left in inventory.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/184688335402
I don’t understand the interest in vintage airline blankets, but they always sell somewhat quickly. I bundled seven of these together. These were free and sold for $39.
I noticed that some eBay sellers will sell eBay boxes because they get the coupon, but don’t use the boxes. I would expect that some sell at a discount, but I’ve never checked. If you really would prefer to buy eBay branded boxes, perhaps you should take a look and buy them that way.
I had a bunch of eBay thank-you card that I got at an event. I don’t use them, so I sold them for a discount.
Week of Dec 26 – Jan 1
Total Items in Store: 1392 eBay, 29 Etsy
Items Sold: 10 eBay, 1 Etsy
Cost of Items Sold: $0.75 + $7 Commission
Total Sales: $140.96 eBay, $38.95 Etsy; Includes fees but no shipping
Highest Price Sold: $39 for 7 vintage airline blankets on eBay, $39 for three wood frames on Etsy
Average price: $16.36
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of items listed this week: 0I was out of town last week, so I started with a long handling time and slowly moved it back. I do have about 15 items to ship for the sales while I was away, so I didn’t do too badly.
My average price is down because I had four sales of Rummikub tiles, which I sell at $0.99 each plus a flat $4.99 shipping (no matter how many purchased). The money I make from shipping doesn’t get into the average. I can sell these over and over again and not have to create one listing per tile, so it is totally worth it in spite of the low value.
I’m now running a 25% off sale for the first week of the year, so I expect more volume this week.
Anyone having problems with GoDaddy not being able to import Etsy sales?
My January task is to organize and test electronics. I didn’t get enough done with last year’s challenge. I have a feeling that I will give away/donate half of it or more, but I do have a few VCRs that will be good to list (assuming they work).
I did not list any travel related items. I didn’t have anything in ye ole death piles.
I just got back from my year end trip. Sorry, I did not get this list up earlier.
Many challenges on the list are to help me to focus on items that sell for higher price, but don’t necessarily have as good of an ROI. With my part time job becoming more challenging, I need to change my strategy up a bit. It doesn’t mean I can’t buy real cheap auction lots so that I can find the gems, but I can’t just do that all the time.
1. List as many death pile items as possible
2. Try retail arbitrage, go to a few upscale stores or maybe hang with the SIL
3. Challenger’s choice
4. Try retail arbitrage, try a few online sales (and/or hang with the SIL)
5. Buy 2-4 higher priced items at auction with lower ROI but higher dollars
6. Put together BOLO list, items not requiring much testing, easy to pack, decent ROI
7. Try a new thrift store, maybe go to a few known ones as well
8. Go to a few yard or estate sales
9. Complete eBay store banner & description
10. Challenger’s choice
11. Decide how I should list my old stamp collection, list a few stamps
12. Organize & test electronicsFunny, I pasted my numbers into an email before I left on a trip, and the new notes program I used with my new PC converted it into a photo.
