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I’m a late adopter in most areas of life, and am not opting into Free Returns. I’ve actually started adding more No Returns to many items (though most are vintage NOS or things that would ding a re-sell/price if it was returned; others I just don’t want to have to re-sell again). Still accept clothing on returns b/c fit is hard; I buy clothes on eBay and want the outlet for a return due to fit. I am starting to add handling fees to certain items that require more/better packaging and are sold at higher price points. Mostly $1 here and there, but some more.
Soft as heck week.
04/29/18 – 05/05/18
Total Items In Store: 926
Items Sold: 13
Total Sales: $325.20 (glad I was working another job last week!)
Cost of Items Sold: $23
Highest Price Sold: $80 – Vintage Brass Handleset w/ Deadbolt for Entry Door
Average Price Sold: $25
Returns/Refunds: 0, though an interesting continuation of the other week’s Return request of glass cooking pans, 2 of which arrived to the Buyer broken: I emailed the Buyer though the Return screen, emailed them separately through the eBay system (asking if they wanted to keep the unbroken ones for a partial refund, and asking that they don’t ship back any broken glass, etc), and never heard anything. So, after about a 48 hr grace period and silence on their part, I just accepted the return. They shipped a day within their return limit. Today, their package is delivered, using the label I paid $22 for, and inside is just the 2 broken pots. Messaged them again, then opened a case with eBay for help.
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $5
Number of Items listed this week: 0 new, but relisted some things I had ended. Might start experimenting with 30 day vs my mostly GTC shop. Also may start looking into a Third Party Lister….assessing the business right now fo sho.Also, Steve, can’t wait to see your video outlining some of those sales – great quantity of items and wowsa on the $$$! 🙂
I love reading these mini-conversations, full of support and pleasantry and prioritizing living before working. 🙂 About halfway through the podcast – listening in spurts, unfortunately. I’m in Louisville KY for the week, working for a friend’s catering company while it’s extra busy with events for Derby week. 12 hour day today, and I’m needing to rub my feet and head to bed.
04/22/18 – 04/28/18
Total Items In Store: 944
Items Sold: 27
Total Sales: $1,768.39 (minus $967.66 for commission sale)
Cost of Items Sold: $23.96
Highest Price Sold: $1,425 IFR 1200 Super S Communications Service Monitor Analyzer (commission sale, incl shipping/insurance)
Average Price Sold: $30.79, excluding the big sale above
Returns/Refunds: 1 in process; some of the glass cookware sold last week broke, and I received an eBay message informing me the Buyer had opened a case for a Return. No idea if they actually want to keep some of the pieces; they haven’t replied to my messages or shipped the items.
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $8.53
Number of Items listed this week: 30No scavenge of the week, but I did hit up a “peddler’s mall” here in Louisville (the owner of some stackable crates we needed for an event marketed via craigslist, pointing buyers to his booths at various peddler’s malls), and walked around a bit, eyeing things I’d like to pick up when I’m back in a month with my car…
Enjoy your weeks!
Thanks for sharing! Is your other 1% GTC, or auction, or what?
@anterestar – Me too! I think my soul shudders a little every time I empty my car into the house after sourcing…. My top goal right now is getting the random eBay inventory that’s not in my office out of the rest of the house and into the office, no matter what it takes to fit it. then, install a door so I can close that clutter away, and I can have my minimalist house back (just squinting when I look at my partner’s side of the room, ugh). 🙂
I enjoy the overall work of ebaying, but when I look around my office at all the stuff, I just want to shake my head.
@shayward23, those are some great sales! What prices did you start your auctions at?
Had a lot of mostly low dollar sales last week, with a few more interesting ones. My top grossing sale of the week came back to me this morning via an eBay case/request for return, as 2 of the glass pots broke in transit. I can mostly blame my packing, I suppose, though I do wander if the Fragile stickers mean anything at the Post Office… https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-11-Pcs-Amber-Visions-CorningWare-Cookware-France-USA-2-5L-1-5L-1L-5L/323174197864
I picked up this lovely set of MCM glasses by Fred Press at an estate sale about a year ago for ~$20. They’ve had a lot watchers, and finally sold for $100: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-Of-8-Vintage-Fred-Press-Mid-Century-MCM-Glasses-Tumblers-Reed-Grass-Gold/322847124457
I spotted this well made Della Robbia wall plaque of the Holy Family at an auction last week, and picked it up for $5. It sold within a week for $75: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Niccacci-Deruta-Italy-Della-Robbia-Wall-Plaque-Holy-Family-Handmade-Great-Detail/323211287837
Gotta love that Crabtree & Evelyn. My aunt has given me a lot to sell following her recent move into a smaller house, incl this diffuser oil. So, got it for free, and it sold for $60: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Crabtree-Evelyn-NOEL-Home-Fragrance-Oil-10ml-Diffuser-Scent/322934873668
Hoping to hit an auction and perhaps a yard sale or two this weekend, but I’m mostly focused on listing what’s already in the house to list – got a few weeks of travel coming up, so hoping to keep the sales channels primed.
From your all’s experience, when does the summer slowdown start for you?
Ha, I love box lots for all the unknown finds at the bottom of the boxes! Let us know how the slide and gun sales turn out, DoublyThumbs.
I’m edging closer to my 1000 item store limit, and am considering my options for what’s next. For me, they are stay at the same size, just source tighter for more high dollar items (which would take willpower as well as right time/right place/right price); do more auctions; start another store; or start an Etsy store for the vintage items, considering what folks say about lower fees and earning higher prices there. Not sure my photo quality can do Etsy justice, but we’ll see if I can raise my standards. A fan of simplicity, I also don’t like having too many irons in the fire, so we’ll see how eagerly I take on new stores…
We have a cottage on our property that we’ve been planning to rent out via Airbnb, so I’ve been mentally preparing for future time and extra income from that…though certainly expected it to be up and running at this point! I used to work for the company, and was a host when I lived in DC. I loved it, and it was the easiest Airbnb property for booking, being in DC and 3 blocks from the metro. I often think I should have kept renting that house, just to keep airbnb-ing it out for income! Anyhoo, the quick flip we were hoping to do to prepare the cottage to rent last Fall (we moved in in July) dissolved into mold and termite damage we found, and we’re pretty much rebuilding it right now. Re-sheathing/siding the first side right now, after tearing out the interior, redoing the plumbing, getting new windows, and determining its new (first ever apparently) ventilation/hvac plan (mini spits). We’ll tackle some other of the big stuff ourselves, but already know a few components we’re going to hire out. It’s going to be the nice$t cottage ever. I’m trying to not think about the break even point for this little escape…
The numbers:
04/15/18 – 04/21/18
Total Items In Store: 941
Items Sold: 30
Total Sales: $911.81
Cost of Items Sold: $65.40
Highest Price Sold: $115 – Lot of 11 Pcs Amber Visions CorningWare Cookware
Average Price Sold: $30.39
Returns/Refunds: 1 return (slippers for fit)
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $141.52
Number of Items listed this week: 77Scavenge of the week: bought a NWT Jack Georges Sienna Slim Leather Briefcase for $50 at a thrift store – hoping to get many multiples of that back on a sale.
Happy week, All.
As a Buyer, I appreciate having several shipping options to choose from, so I offer that consideration as a Seller, typically offering the full 4 options for shipping, if it makes sense to the item. If it’s under a pound, I’ll only list First Class, to keep things simple. From there I add other options that make sense for the item – will it fit in a padded flat rate mailer, etc? I’ve stopped offering local pick up, as I’d rather just ship, and have had at least 1 Buyer mistakenly select this option, then email me 3 times and call my cell twice within an hour regarding the mistake and how to fix. I hate having that privacy line crossed through this selling medium. Ended up canceling the order to re-list/sell, and I’ve insisted on de-stupidifying listings and verbiage since then.
I don’t have disclaimer info or shop policies in my listings, just item info and occasionally the brief phrase “*Click on Shipping to see options and price points.” With just a few sentences of info, there’s a bit more chance it will all get read, and they can always email with questions. Which they will always do… 🙂
From last week’s soft sales, some highlights:
Picked this vintage lamp up at an estate sale for $6. Spent some time thinking about and researching how to get it’s gold luster back – paint it? – before I realized it was silver in color and just caked with dirt. Wish I had a before photo to show. Took several months to sell, got lots of watchers, and I did go ahead and add it to a recent shop sale to hasten it getting out of the house; sold for $88 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Accent-Lamp-Spot-Light-Silver-Cylinder-Marble-Cube-Base-8-x-6/322938071185
Scored this Patagonia Synchilla fleece pullover for $1 at a very random thrift store I came across when I was in a nearby town for something unrelated. Didn’t take long to see for $80. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Patagonia-Synchilla-Snap-T-Pullover-Fleece-Oatmeal-Mens-Sz-L/323139605961
Despite not having a strong sales channel of shoes overall, these boots caught my eye at a thrift store – specialty river fishing shoes. I paid ~$13 for them, and sold them after many months and low offers for $85 (on sale). https://www.ebay.com/itm/Simms-Freestone-Wading-Boot-w-Vibram-Sole-Sz-M11-EU45-No-Studs/323055713169
Mentioned a while back that I went a little crazy buying closet lots at a local online estate sale. I had to fill my car, take it home to unload, and go back for the rest of my purchases. LOTS of sorting through stuff, and too much of a time suck, despite making decent money off of spending not much at all on everything. Came across some ephemera and photos in what I brought home, including these culled dance photos, 19402-1980s. Perhaps I should have listed them higher, as they sold within a few hours of listing, but I’ve not had great luck with vintage photos yet. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-80-Vintage-Dance-Ballet-Tap-Ballerina-Photographs-Pictures-1940s-1980s/323203277428
I’ve had this kids-sized vintage chenille puppy dog blanket for so long that I can’t remember where or what I paid for it. Really thought it would sell faster and for more. Happy to get it out of my inventory for $22 on sale: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Chenille-Dog-Puppy-Cotton-Baby-Crib-Blanket-41-x-59/322502911193
I spotted this paint by number metal trash can at a church rummage sale, where they were giving it away for free – always a great price. Didn’t take long to sell, despite considerable wear. I wonder if the new owner will use it as-is, or try to touch it up…. Sold for $20: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Paint-By-Number-Metal-Trash-Can-Geisha-Girls-Japanese-Landscape-Rough/323156439185
Lastly, a nice earning on what I find to be a terribly ugly wall plate cover that we inherited with our “new” house. We finally updated the switch, added in a timer for the porch light, etc, and I listed this hammered metal one with eagle for $18. Sold fairly swiftly, and I have at least one more I can add to inventory! https://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-Black-Hammered-Metal-Steel-Triple-3-Toggle-Light-Switch-Plate-Cover-Eagle/323156404435
Thanks much for another great podcast. I love hearing other people’s stories and insights. I enjoyed the question about the nearest taco truck, lol….wish that was a relevant question to where I live now…
Had a more normal sales week, down from last week’s high. No estate sales to speak of this past weekend, and I skipped even looking at what yard sales were going on, so I could focus on listing what’s already been purchased, and working on the yard and house.
04/08/18 – 04/14/18
Total Items In Store: 894
Items Sold: 19
Total Sales: $609.83 (shipping not incl)
Cost of Items Sold: $48.09
Highest Price Sold: $99 for a vintage metal cylinder accent light with marble base
Average Price Sold: $32.10
Returns/Refunds: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $38.74
Number of Items listed this week: 53Scavenge of the week? Nothing too exciting, perhaps a tie between a NOS/NIP Irish linen tablecloth, and 2 belts – Leather Man Co and Zep-Pro brands, which are nice quality and can sell well.
Enjoy your weeks, everyone!
Gorgeous items, Sonia! You have a wonderful eye for great vintage clothing.
Nice sales, Steve! Nothing like finding some valuable treasures in the bottom of a box lot. 🙂
I’m listing, listing, listing today, though the sun is out and temps are warming up, so I wonder if I’ll be wandering out a little early this afternoon…
Here are some highlights from last week’s sales:
Mentioned on Tuesday that my highest sale was my own Berkey Water Filter System, due to my partner saying he can taste the charcoal filter “flavor” and wanting an under the counter unit. Took a small loss on the sale, of course: https://www.ebay.com/itm/EUC-Berkey-Imperial-Water-Filter-System-Stand-4-5-Gal/323081616363
Sold those Snap-On tools I got for a song at an estate sale! I put them on sale along with a bunch of other stuff, since I had them priced high compared to others available in a much cleaner state, and got a message from a guy who suggested that a further 20% off would put them in his price range. Then he wrote a few days later to ask if they had any owner’s marks on them; I was traveling at the time, so told him I’d let him know when I was back home at the end of the week. He bought them before I got back home 🙂 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-Complete-22-Piece-3-8-Drive-Metric-Socket-Wrench-Set-PB17B-USA/323068709894
My mom and stepdad have a standing weekly date, where they go to their local auction, though neither of them needs anything at this point in their lives. They buy occasionally, but enjoy catching up with auction friends, and generally seeing what’s what. A few years back, my stepdad got a large cache of these WWII escape scarf maps, and they’ve been sitting around for who knows what. My Mom let me start selling them, and they do well, though slowly for the most part. Last week, a guy bought several though, and really ran my sale #s up in a great way: https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-AAF-Escape-Map-Scarf-Asiatic-No-34-Southeast-China-No-35-Northeast-China/322482468710
In trying to buy higher price items to get higher price sales, I picked up these Waterford glasses at an estate sale on one of their % off days. I more or less doubled my money on them. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-4-Mint-Waterford-Crystal-Colleen-Old-Fashioned-Short-Stem-Glasses-3-5/323068255998
I guess it was the vintage nature of this blanket that caught my eye at a thrift store in recent months, and when I found the maker’s tag, I looked it up – a weaving operation in NC that’s no more. Similar blankets were going for over $100 on eBay, and there weren’t a terrible lot of them. So, I spent more than I normally would have ($10!), and listed it for $110. Found a few defects at home that prevented me from listing it at $125, which I would have preferred, but not bad either way: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Goodwin-Guild-Green-Cream-Woven-Coverlet-w-Fringe-Queen-90-x-104/323173983091
This was one of my auctions that felt a bit bust to me, *based on what I was expecting* from other recently sold auctions (note to self: do not do auctions over Spring Break or Easter; I wasn’t paying attention). Bought this lot of Fisher Price Little People/stuff for $2 at a yard sale, and it sold for $57. I was hoping for nearer $100. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Fisher-Price-Little-People-Lot-of-82-Figures-Cars-Furniture-Mini-Bus/323170981768
This lovely embroidered linen tablecloth was part of a linens box lot I got in an estate sale auction – a time consuming labor of love in cleaning and sorting vintage linens, and something I’m only going to do now if I see a real winner, or think my quilting mother would like some of the stash… Took me months if not a year to get this item out of the death pile, and it sold promptly: https://www.ebay.com/itm/EUC-Vintage-Pink-Rose-Cross-Stitch-Linen-Tablecloth-64-x-80/323044215829
Probably shouldn’t have put this manual on my recent shop sale, but I did, and it sold. One of the few items I’ll bother listing for under $15, due to ease of storage and packing. https://www.ebay.com/itm/La-Crosse-WT-5720-Radio-Projection-Alarm-Instruction-Manual-Only/323151237912
Thanks for a great podcast! Jay, you are an excellent interviewer, and Mark, you provided clear and informative answers – much appreciated. Glad to hear of your southerly adventures – enjoy the remaining months!
I had an uncommonly excellent week in sales, selling several higher dollar items. Look forward to sharing some of those on Thursday. Sold nearly 2x as many items as the previous week, and made 3x as much profit. Ebbs and flows.
04/01/18 – 04/07/18
Total Items In Store: 860
Items Sold: 30, some to the same seller in a bundle
Total Sales: $1,563.83 (not incl shipping)
Cost of Items Sold: $179.23
Highest Price Sold: $290 (incl shipping) Berkey Imperial Water Filtration System (mine, used for a year; selling at a slight loss. Love it, but my partner complains he can taste the charcoal and wants to do an under-the-counter system)
Average Price Sold: $52.13
Returns/Refunds: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $113.54
Number of Items listed this week: none to speak of; was traveling this past weekNo clear scavenge of the week over here, but I brought back several “free” items from visiting my mom last week, a few good items from thrift stores in her neck of the woods, and purchased a vintage barbie, skipper, and clothes/case in an online auction – hoping that one works out well.
Have a great week everyone!
Some highlights from the small batch of things that sold for me last week:
Larger sized cooking pots can bring decent money depending on their make, and if you can find them for cheap. Got this one through an online auction for $2. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Corning-Pyrex-Dutch-Oven-5-QT-4-5L-Visions-Vision-Stock-Pot-Amber-Cookware-Glass/323142295251
This interesting mid-century glassware set also came via an online auction/estate sale, where I got a large lot of glassware in a cabinet, and this was with it. I’ve had it up for some time, and since I have maybe $1 invested in it, I put it on sale last week with a lot of other stuff I’d like to move. Seemed to sell quickly then for $35. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Kristall-Gift-Set-Mid-Century-Liquor-Shot-Glasses-Serving-Tray-Italy/322796701565
With the amount of tarot card decks I have right now, they’re counting as bread & butter items. Sold another deck, this one for $15: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Spiral-Tarot-78-Card-Deck-by-Kay-Stevenson-1997-U-S-Games-Systems/323158944611
This set of 4 brown drip dinner plates have been sitting in a death pile for months, as my listed china (and pessimistically, not selling china) storage has been growing. Finally got them listed, perhaps at too low a price, and they sold quickly. Have moved a fair # of brown drip pieces, by different makers, but am sitting on a lot as well. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-4-Harker-Pottery-Quaker-Maid-Green-Brown-Drip-10-Dinner-Plates-USA/323165749333
Went a little crazy on purchasing clothes at an estate sale a few months back, as most everything was a dollar. Nothing stood out as a large $ item, so they’ve also taken a bit of a back burner on the listing side of things. Finally got this Teddi of Hollywood cheetah print shirt listed, and it sold quickly. I can’t imagine wearing it in the heat of summer, in all its non-breathing glory: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Teddi-of-Hollywood-Cheetah-Print-Pullover-V-Neck-Shirt-3-4-Sleeve-SM/323155554252
Happy Hunting this weekend (or listing)!
Soft week! And also low listing #s… With sun and warm temps outside, I was drawn to the sprawling garden mayhem that is the 1/2 acre lot I moved onto last July. Things are coming up that I’m not yet acquainted with (surely will bloom pink, if I’m understanding the floral directions of the previous owner), I’m realizing the extent of the invasives planted when they were popular in the 80s. Lots of work to do. And where to put the tomatoes?
Total Items In Store: 878
Items Sold: 16
Total Sales: $567.40 (not incl shipping)
Cost of Items Sold: $14.85 (lots of free-to-me items sold)
Highest Price Sold: $250 Portable Audio Signal Generator, sold on commission
Average Price Sold: $35.46
Returns/Refunds: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $2.64
Number of Items listed this week: 37No scavenge of the week to speak of, though I’m happy with what I spent that $2.64 on. Was dropping things off at a thrift store, and figured I’d do a quick wander… Got some vintage sealed Christmas wrapping paper, a Charley Harper bird carafe, and a nice transferware pitcher with absolutely no helpful identifying information. But, like paint by numbers, I’m a sucker for old transferware.
Currently running three auctions based on performance of similar items having sold, and the #s do not look near as good as I was expecting. For purchasing, I have my eyes on 3 online auctions, and am pushing into a few higher dollar items there to explore the more money spent-more money earned side of things, but am a bit cautious as items are unseen.
Off to listen to the podcast. Have a great week, everyone!
