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Awesome sale! 🙂
I always insure high dollar sales, and remember emailing a few folks post-sale re whether or not to add Signature Confirmation, and not hearing back from them within my short 1 day shipping timeframe. Going forward, I think with those high dollar sales, I’ll put a blurb in the listing, to give advance notice, that the purchase price includes insurance AND signature confirmation, for Buyer benefit, unless they waive the latter. Seems like it would cover all bases as well as can be.
Jay, I heard on the radio this week that power companies are starting to work with electric car companies directly in creating incentives and rebates to purchase electric cars (ostensibly because of what $ they’ve lost in the push towards energy efficient appliances over the last decade). So, time may be nigh… 🙂
Some highlights from what sold for me last week:
I did well with some retro dishes in the past, so scooped up a bunch of Star Glow by Royal China in the last year – and it is trickling out slowly… Originally had it listed as a large set, and I had some watchers, but I decided to part it out, and have sold a few sets of different pieces. Sold what dinner plates I had this past week: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-7-Royal-China-Mid-Century-Star-Glow-10-Dinner-Plates-Atomic-Ironstone/323019710251
One of the most interesting auctions I went to in the last year was for a woman who was into tarot, had a bookcase full of books on every religion, and collected teapots. I would have liked to have met her. I ended up cleaning out her tarot card collection, knowing there could be some real winners as well as some bread and butter sales in there. So far, a bit of both – despite none of the decks being in their original boxes, or having their original instructions. This is one of the higher sales: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tricia-Newell-Mythic-Tarot-Complete-78-Card-Deck-OOP-1986/322972609136
Steve, on a whim this past week, I took several items of mine that had been up for some time, that had lots of watchers, and put them on auction. Apparently, none of the watchers were paying attention…of the 10 auctions I set up, only one sold, and for lower than expected, a NOS child’s Mickey Mouse t-shirt. Had it listed for $50 for a long time, got lots of watchers, added in Best Offer, and am glad it’s now gone despite having hopes for a higher sale price: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-70s-80s-Kids-Mickey-Mouse-T-Shirt-Tropix-Togs-NEW-IN-SEALED-BAG/323148932449
Horsey stuff can do well. Picked these random vintage jodphurs up at an estate sale for $1 or 2. They sold last week for $35, but are on their way back to me, as they didn’t fit the buyer. I noted the measurements in the listing, and have a re-stock fee…the buyer didn’t note that my measurements were off, so I assume they just didn’t pay enough attention: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Jodhpurs-Breeches-Riding-Pants-Gray-Tweed-Suede-W26-x-27/322972838252
This vintage NOS swim cap was my favorite item of the week. I picked it up for $1 at an estate sale, and listed it at $40 having sold a few of these before. I figured it would sell at some point, likely to a prop studio or something singular, but a gal in AK bought it and wrote in her feedback that these hard to find caps cover the ears better than any others out there! 🙂 https://www.ebay.com/itm/MINT-Vintage-Howland-Rubber-Swim-Cap-White-with-Floral-Texture-Chin-Strap-Med/323151372753
Happy Scavenging!
@Sigilini – I like it, good looking stuff. Better looking than the somewhat actual junk I am accumulating. 🙂 Perhaps you should add more stuff though; it seems a little small. Also, I personally like to see several shipping options, from First Class or Parcel at the cheap end up to Expedited, if you think the listing warrants it. I would imagine someone interested in the treasures of a junk drawer lot would want some cheaper listing options. My two cents!
Awesome, thanks for sharing the photo! I put a box together (literally, just the box) after hearing the caller on that podcast, and have been slowly putting random things into it. I’ll share pics when it gets sale-worthy.
RE: philosophy
Going from selling off my own items a little over 2 years ago, and into selling sourced items (and doing so now as a FT job), I’m constantly assessing what I’m doing/where I’m at – financially, with my time, in my selling. I’ve mostly disliked working in offices, for other people, tethered to a desk during set hours, etc, etc, and am grateful to be able to pay the bills and manage my time via eBay (and find time for afternoon naps and gardening and house chores, etc; side note: I have no kids. Just 2 barky dogs, and a partner who doesn’t clean and rarely cooks….).Re: process
In recent weeks, when I haven’t been feeling motivated to list, I’ve been trying to dig deeper and determine why. It’s certainly not from a lack of items; I’ve got plenty of backlog I can work through. Some of it might be seeing little value in some of the items that are waiting to be listed. Some of it is certainly lack of sales of the other 800 items sitting in my office/storage room that I see every day. Am I doing it right? Not that that thought should hinder listing, but it can introduce some lack of motivation. Trying to just keep my head down and list and not think too much about it (save for some improvement week to week in what I source) lest I get another motivation leak. I have been giving some thought to taking on a part time job, mostly for the chunk of time it would insert into my schedule, which would force me to be more efficient and action-oriented with my eBay time. Sound silly? Could I just as easily fill that chunk of time with something else (even if unpaid; part time work wouldn’t provide much $), and be more productive with higher paying sales? Blargh. Maybe I just need Spring to come, and my project house to show more visual progress! 🙂In any case, #s for the week – showing some consistency:
03/18/18 – 03/24/18
Total Items In Store: 853
Items Sold: 21
Total Sales: $787.87 (not incl shipping)
Cost of Items Sold: $41.70
Highest Price Sold: $309 Seiko Spirit watch, sold on commission following eBay valet %s
Average Price Sold: $37.52
Returns/Refunds: 2, both clothing items that had measurements noted (both have a 10% restock fee)
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $93.90
Number of Items listed this week: 69Scavenge of the week? Meh, last week wasn’t awesome for sourcing. Only item of note is a large lot of Fisher Price Little People figures and such for $2 at a yard sale. Put them on auction today, after seeing similar auction lots go for well over $100. Wish me luck!
Decent week had some high sales and some lower-priced ones.
Antique pickle castors/jars can fetch a nice price. I bought a carrier and this blue jar at a recent estate sale, but knew the jar didn’t fit the carrier, so have separated them out. Haven’t listed the carrier yet, as I wanted to do a little bit more research, but the jar sold quickly (which means I might have underpriced it): https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pressed-Glass-Aqua-Blue-Pickle-Castor-Jar-Insert-ONLY-4-1-8-Tall-3-1-4-Dia/323145005498
Perhaps the lowest price sale of the week, but I can’t help but list things that I know can find a home and I don’t want to simply end up the landfill. These were part of the large box of free kitchen items given to me by a friend who was cleaning out her catering kitchen: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Stainless-Steel-Replacement-Beaters-fit-my-old-B-D-Power-Pro-MX-250-others/323030018705
I can’t say no to paint by numbers, so I’m glad they can earn some decent money. I paid $1.50 for this set of 2 in an online auction: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-2-Large-Vintage-Paint-by-Number-Farm-Country-Landscape-Painting-18-x-24/323015094718
Spotted this Duluth leather handbag at a Savers Thrift for $10, and know they are worth multiples of that: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Duluth-Trading-Lifetime-Leather-Medium-Sling-Bag-Cognac-10-W-x-2-D-x-9-H/323066424018
Bought a large perfume lot at an estate sale a few months back, and this most highly valued one (oddly, given all the brand names found, though it is discontinued) finally sold for $100. Smells divine, and I am not really a perfume person: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Crabtree-Evelyn-India-Hicks-Island-Living-Spider-Lily-Eau-de-Toilette-100ml/322889691931
These NOS blank TDK cassette tapes were a recent yard sale find for $2, sold for $100. Have one more box to sell: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Box-of-10-NOS-New-Sealed-TDK-SA-C90-Cassette-Tapes-Japan/323142181263
Glad for those sales last week, as this week is feeling, erm, “soft.” Silver lining: I’ve finally been able to list and list, and have both worked through some death piles AND rediscovered part of my office floor. It’s all about the little things. 🙂
Average week, I suppose – definitely lower #s than last week’s with that crazy pur$e!
03/11/18 – 03/17/18
Total Items In Store: 805
Items Sold: 23
Total Sales: $765.84
Cost of Items Sold: $39.13
Highest Price Sold: $100 – 10 Pack TDK SA C90 Cassette Tapes (going to Germany)
Average Price Sold: $33.29
Returns/Refunds: 1 pending return – a guy claims a Moleskine I sold him is not authentic, and wants a return with refund including shipping. I sent him the link to the item in the Moleskine store, and need to call eBay for help on the shipping side of things.
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $54.13
Number of Items listed this week: 48Scavenge of the week? Meh. I got some blank Maxell cassette tapes, but I’m really interested in what a vintage letterman-style cardigan might do. Whenever I get it listed…. I’m taking some (relative) breaks from active scavenging, to death with my death pile aka office floor.
Wow, DoublyThumbs, really fun sales! Old keys?? Great thinking on the lithograph. I imagine I’ve walked past something like that before…. Trying to get more and more on track with thinking along the lines of what other people value, and this sure helps!
@Idahoarder – in addition to loving your username, those are some great sales/finds! Those elf ornaments are amazing… 😀
Wrote a nice long post, then hit Submit and was told I needed to log in to post. Guess I went on too long!
Anyhoo, thanks all for the videos and posts about what has sold for you recently. Here are my highlights from the last week:
The high sale noted in my Monday #s, a Stella McCartney purse from an online auction. Paid $12, sold for $660. Purses, man. https://www.ebay.com/itm/NWOT-Stella-McCartney-Falabella-Cream-Crochet-Pompom-Chain-Purse-Hand-Bag-Italy/322938092511
I’ve done a few high dollar commission sales for a friend who collected nice watches for a time during his bachelor days in NYC; now he’s expecting his second child and is getting rid of items he doesn’t need or use regularly enough. I’m using the eBay Valet price % chart to determine our split of the cash. https://www.ebay.com/itm/EUC-Hamilton-Khaki-King-Pilot-Watch-Black-45MM-H64785835-Comes-w-2-NEW-straps/322924407946
This antique monocular was in the bottom of a box lot of random old camera stuff I was afraid I spent too much on. Sold a few random lenses, as well as a 1969 desirable tarot card deck from that lot (for $150 at auction), and now this, so I’ll call that lot a win. This has been listed for roughly 2 years, so took a best offer of $140. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Pre-War-Carl-Zeiss-Jena-Turmon-8×21-Folding-Spy-Monocular-Leather-Case/322513008657
BOLO old brass bath accoutrement – found this soapdish for $10 at an estate sale, sold for $125 within 1-2 months. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vintage-Victorian-Brass-Soap-Sponge-Holder-Bath-Tub-Shower-Caddy/323068794896
I keep an eye out for these odd things from now on – an old 3D Victorian fashion shadowbox. Purchased it for an unknown reason at a thrift store, let it sit for wayyyyy too long, then finally got around to researching it and found a viable market and pricing. Paid $5, and sold for $57 on sale. I think it would have sold at full price with a little more time, but I’m trying to reclaim some more space in my house – for space. https://www.ebay.com/itm/La-Mode-Illustree-3D-Shadow-Box-Embellished-Fabric-French-Fashion-11-5-x-15/323012157514
I bought the contents of an entire kitchen (what was inside the cabinets) as an experiment last year. 96% sure I won’t do that again due to the volume of stuff to pack up and process, and time spent, but I’ve certainly made my money back on what was salable. This set of 4 Luminarc brandy snifters sold for $30. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-4-Luminarc-France-Clear-Glass-Brandy-Cognac-Snifters-5-25-Tall/322972709913
Kitschy kitchen souvenirs may always have a place. Bought 5 of these Hazel Atlas California glasses for $5 and have been selling them slowly and steadily for $10 each.https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Hazel-Atlas-Frosted-California-State-Glass-Tumbler-Retro-Souvenir/322834179166
The weird design/comfort look of these shoes caught my eye in a thrift store. Glad they did, they sold for $75. https://www.ebay.com/itm/MINT-Altra-Womens-Intuition-Everyday-Shoe-in-Gray-Sz-EU41-9-5/323027313546
Exactly, Jay. @antarestar, thanks for sharing your story. Wish I had maxed out my retirement account while working my own non-profit (non)glory days.
I managed to have a strong sales week, despite being on the road – big thanks to my partner for his willingness to do my shipping while I was away!
The strong #s were thanks to a few larger sales, the biggest noted below (purchased for $12 in an online auction):
03/04/18 – 03/10/18
Total Items In Store: 757
Items Sold: 25
Total Sales: $1,458.77 (shipping not incl)
Cost of Items Sold: $52 (a bit low, as I sold some items that came free to me, as well as a few items of old stock from a shop I closed in early 2017)
Highest Price Sold: $660 – Stella McCartney Crocheted Purse – https://www.ebay.com/itm/NWOT-Stella-McCartney-Falabella-Cream-Crochet-Pompom-Chain-Purse-Hand-Bag-Italy/322938092511
Average Price Sold: $63.23
Returns/Refunds: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $85.06
Number of Items listed this week: 0 (traveling)I enjoyed the podcast, and now forum, conversation on frugal living; it’s a favorite topic, and I like getting into the nitty gritty, numbers, etc, cause that’s how you can see to get it done. I became aware of FI as a thing a few years back, “late” in life compared to many I now read about who are pursuing that path. And I could consider myself doubly behind in a sense, having turned out something of a serial gig employee/entrepreneur, rather than a “good job”/steady paycheck/$100K salary kind of person (I mean, someone who studies Art History and Food System Sustainability can only go up, financially!). I’m easily on the path to making better money than I did working for non-profits and small businesses, all while managing my own time and not having to report to an office in office clothes. I’m happy, and I love my lifestyle.
My stepfather has several awesome Marushka sailboat canvases at his house, and I told him the last time I was over there that he cannot get rid of them! 🙂 Unless he gives them to me.
Great to hear about everyone’s week. Here are my latest #s:
02/25/18 – 03/03/18
Total Items In Store: 772
Items Sold: 29
Total Sales: $1,193.65
Cost of Items Sold: $57.43
Highest Price Sold: $264 – Rigol Portable Digital Storage Oscilloscope (commission sale, put on sale, w/free ship)
Average Price Sold: $41.16
Returns/Refunds: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $93.66
Number of Items listed this week: 0 (traveling)Solid week, and was able to move some long-held items. I’ve put a small sale on a lot of those, and am considering following ChristineR’s lead and putting other long-held items (and perhaps bad early buys) on auction. It’s Spring cleaning that ensures sales/income on a set day, and keeps my limited space primed for better items.
Appreciate all the BOLO advice I’ve encountered…a great recent sale that will go in next week’s #s is a vintage brass wire soap dish, the kind that hangs over a claw foot tub, for example. Picked it up for $10 at an estate sale, and sold it yesterday for $125. I love old stuff.
@simplicio – a USED neti pot for $140??! Was it jewel-encrusted? Wowsa. Love it.
