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Love that toolbox, Steve. 🙂
Just a few interesting items to share from my meh week of sales:
I bought this wooden medicine cabinet at a yard sale for $10, intending to keep it for my own use, but have changed my mind. It would go in a small space that would be better served with a flat mirror, despite the storage it gives. Sold after 1 month or 2: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vintage-Walnut-Wood-Mirrored-Wall-Mount-Medicine-Cabinet-20-x-13-5-x-6/323407462597
I had a small collection of antlers I displayed on the wall at my old house, including this larger set with skull. Paring down – or trying to – my collection of things that hang on walls. Have had this up for many months, and it finally sold to someone in CA that needed it in a hurry and paid almost as much as the item on shipping it to them: https://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Point-Buck-Deer-Antlers-Skull-Wall-Mount-Trophy-Boho-Western-Camp-Decor/323294980583
I hated adding this awesome Rosenthal coupe glasses to my current sale, but I’ve had them for over a year, and need to make some sales. Had tons of watchers. Paid a few bucks for them at a thrift store. They’re fairly delicate, so I’m hoping my packing/packaging did the trick and they all arrive safe: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Set-of-6-Rosenthal-Fuga-Coupe-Champagne-Tall-Sherbet-Cocktail-Glasses-5-7-8/323088688905
I love old lamps and making them new again – rewiring, new shades, etc. I’m sitting on a lot of lamp inventory right now, and was glad to make 2 sales this week. One included this clear glass, art deco style set. Picked them up for a few bucks at an estate sale, rewired them for a few dollars more, and finally sold them on sale, after having them listed for about 8-10 months: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-2-Vintage-Pressed-Glass-Art-Deco-Vanity-Boudoir-Bedside-Table-Lamps-9-5/323353991240
Nice, low COGs for the week, but still wanting the sales $ higher. Wasn’t tracking my #s last year, but I’m going to hope business is like Doubly’s right now, and will pick up shortly. 🙂 Have had some busy past few weeks, not giving me as much time in the office as I could have, and that’s not going to let up until November, so perhaps some nice synergy will line up there.
APS for the week super-low. Getting those low dollar items out!
09/30/18 – 10/06/18
Total Items In Store: 941
Items Sold: 23
Total Sales: $594.38
Highest Price Sold: $112 – Antique Walnut? Wood Mirrored Wall Mount Medicine Cabinet
Average Price Sold: $25.84
Cost of Items Sold: $36.50 (sold some freebies, some items I owned, and 1 commission, in addition to purchased items)
Returns/Refunds: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $62.54
Number of Items listed this week: ~30Best Offer is automatically being added to all my new listings, for at least the last 2 days, when I don’t want that feature and am not selecting it. I’ve gotten two offers from potential buyers so far, before I could catch those errors.
I create drafts on the computer, and complete them via the phone with photos, but I’m not sure that matters. I know there have been a few I’ve saved back as drafts after taking photos, to tweak something, then make live via the computer. I have to go back to each listing and revise it, unchecking that function. So. Annoying.
I also “love” that when listing via the app, I now have to go through 2 eBay promotional service screens about discount pricing and promotions before I can click Done on the listing process.
Has anyone else already called about this issue? I might call tomorrow, to see if its a new “feature” or a glitch. I’ll let them know my vote!
Nothing too exciting here, but always fun to share and hear from others in this category on the forum:
This Kelty children’s hiking backpack carrier was my highest sale last week. It was another commission sale for a friend, and one they figured wouldn’t bring in too much $$. They got it “for cheap” on Craigslist, and suggested I do the same. Craigslist here is molasses compared to other places I’ve lived, and I can’t quite swing taking the time and inclination to list on other sites that have popped up in recent years – though Facebook marketplace might have been my next stop, if I did so. There were several of these packs for sale, and I priced towards the top, but also put nearly half my store on sale this past week to try and instigate some sales on the many watched items. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kelty-Kids-Pathfinder-Hiking-Baby-Carrier-Backpack-Sunshade-Detachable-Daypack/323424828566
I picked up a set of two dishes from this vintage set in an online auction for about $12 total. Not many out there. Sold after several months for $50. I offered the guy a discount on the lidded casserole piece that matches, but he declined 🙁 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-MCM-Shungyo-Kyoto-Green-Stoneware-10-Large-Salad-Serving-Bowl-Japan/323312410452
I have a hard time passing up a good wool blanket, though with my dogs, I don’t have them for my own use 🙁 I got this mint condition, unmarked twin sized wool blanket from Goodwill for $2, and it sold 2 months later for $40: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-MCM-Shungyo-Kyoto-Green-Stoneware-10-Large-Salad-Serving-Bowl-Japan/323312410452
Crabtree & Evelyn makes great products (at high prices). Picked up these 2 vintage seashell shaped soaps for $1 at a church yard sale, and sold them in about 2 weeks for $25.79 (sale price): https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-2-NOS-Crabtree-Evelyn-Jojoba-Oil-Sea-Shell-Soap-in-Box-3-oz-USA/323436121718
Slowly moving along more of the poodle figurine stash. Sold this pink ceramic planter for $15: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Small-Pink-Spaghetti-Dog-Figurine-Planter-Black-Trim-7-x-3-5/323427885109
Happy weekends, all!
This week I made a little over half of what I made the previous week…ugh. So it goes.
09/23/18 – 09/29/18
Total Items In Store: 948
Items Sold: 17
Total Sales: $461.76
Cost of Items Sold: $14.50
Highest Price Sold: $77.39 (sale price on Kelty Pathfinder Baby Hiking Pack)
Average Price Sold: $27.16
Returns/Refunds: 0 (though 1 near refund, as a Buyer in Hawaii still hadn’t received a $60 vintage Griswold skillet, shipped at the start of Sept via Parcel Select. He rec’d it a day or two into the request).
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $79.00
Number of Items listed this week: ~30Sales last week, other than my high dollar commission sale of a one piece motorcycle suit, were lower dollar, and things I wouldn’t buy again, or source if they hadn’t come to me free. So, stay away from what’s below, unless you just can’t help yourself.
Sold off a few items that belonged to my mom, including this antique wooden silverware caddy from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Have had it listed for at least a year, and have lowered the price. Finally sold for $45: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Walnut-Silverware-Caddy-Tray-Shenandoah-Valley-VA/322536273499
Ok, these I WOULD buy again, as I love paint by numbers, and there are many collectors. Very handsome set of 2 boxer dogs, in great condition. Also took many months (a year?); sold the set for $60: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-2-Vintage-Mid-Century-Boxer-Dog-Paint-by-Number-Paintings-9-x-12/323015060947
Got this Leica Meter at an estate sale in my early days, when I was picking up most anything made in Germany. Took eons, but finally sold for $45 to someone in Italy: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Leica-Weston-Leica-Meter-Light-Meter-Chrome-With-Case-Germany-52888/322454275207
I’m not feeling terribly lucky in the shoe sales, but this pair has only been listed for a few weeks – nicely styled suede Hush Puppies in excellent condition. Took an offer of $35 to get some shoe juju going: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hush-Puppies-Comfortable-1958-Suede-Oxfords-Lifetime-Grey-Gray-EU39-US8/323405984224
This handsome lime green melmac piece was a yard sale find for 50 cents. I’ve had it listed for well over a year. Butter dishes can sometimes go for really good money, esp china ones as they are often broken over the years through their use and handling. I see this one regularly on the open shelves I have some things stored on and had started to wonder if it would ever sell… Finally sold for $20: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-MelMac-Color-Flyte-Lime-Green-Butter-Dish-by-Branchell-USA/323057272251
I haven’t been sourcing much lately, a combination of discouraging sourcing experiences and low-ish sales that have me questioning my eye for buying. It may just be my impatience getting in the way. But, always a good exercise to work through listing the few piles of items that need getting done.
Have a great weekend, All.
Average week. Still working through some decent commission sales of my friend’s items. Always exciting to see (his) cha-chings on my phone, before I realize I don’t get to keep all those dollars I see! 🙂
Feeling/finding (it’s been a year now) that sourcing in this neck of the woods isn’t good. It’s either overrun with scavengers, or else overrun with military (true) and young families, demographics that don’t skew towards offloading re-sellable items. Blah. Even the online auctions nearby haven’t had anything worth looking twice at. Looking at how to build in scavenging trips here and there in the future…
09/16/18 – 09/22/18
Total Items In Store: 941
Items Sold: 19
Total Sales: $864.18 (incl just my portion of commission sale below)
Cost of Items Sold: $20 (sold several freebies and items I owned)
Highest Price Sold: $600 – Aerostich Roadcrafter One Piece Moto Suit (commission sale)
Average Price Sold: $50.99
Returns/Refunds: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $49.44
Number of Items listed this week: ~30I had 2 notable sales last week, and a good number of bread & butter-priced items, also many of them from long-listed inventory (so yay).
Picked up these Harley Davidson leather chaps at an estate sale for $40, and knew I could list them for $150. Took a good while, but they did finally sell for that asking price: https://www.ebay.com/itm/EUC-Harley-Davidson-Motorcycle-Womens-Black-Leather-Chaps-Full-Zip-Silver-SM/323158765763
Best ROI of the year: Picked up this fun vintage set of cockatiel pbn-style framed paintings at a junky estate sale, from deep in the dank, dusty basement. They were in surprisingly good condition. Paid $1, sold them for $100: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-2-Vintage-Painting-Paint-by-Number-PBN-Style-Cockatoo-Cockatiel-Oak-Frame/323317329673
This set of RL sheets was a backup used in my house for a few years (mostly on the guest bed). I never liked how they looked pink from far away, and they were far too crisp. So, in the continuing vein of purging my own things, I listed them for twice what I paid them. Sold within a few days: https://www.ebay.com/itm/EUC-Ralph-Lauren-Green-Label-4-Piece-Queen-Sheet-Set-Red-Floral-Print-on-White/323441019845
This large cast iron casserole dish came from the large kitchen buyout I did last summer via an online auction. Paid $11 for the *entire kitchen lot*, but spent a good bit of time on the road getting to and from the pick up house, as well as in packing everything up, sorting, cleaning, etc, etc. Not sure I’d do it again, but I’d consider. Found both a small and this large version of the same casserole in going through the cabinets. Both have been listed for months and months; the large finally sold for $50: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-LARGE-Klafrestrom-Green-White-Enamel-Cast-Iron-Covered-Casserole-Lid/323059623310
I put all my remaining Hammond organ bits on sale – still have the tone generator to list (Steve, did you sell that incredibly heavy piece yet?), and sold the pedal assembly for $18: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hammond-M-3-Bass-Pedal-Assembly-Organ-Replacement-Parts/323081765015
I love the French Duralex Picardie tumblers and bought these at a thrift store for our Airbnb that has yet to launch (dear lord, can we just get the damn thing done??), but later rec’d some free Ikea glasses from my Mom when she was changing things up. The Ikea glasses weren’t going to move as swiftly, but I knew these picardie ones would. Paid ~$8 for them (more than I would have for flipping), and sold them for $30 within a week: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-6-Duralex-France-Picardie-12-oz-Tumbler-Glass-Durable-5-5-Tall/323424843868
For those near West Elm stores – they’re having a 20% off everything sale right now, which includes all their clearance items. Could be a good time to try some RA, esp with the soft goods/linens – or shop for yourself!
Have a great weekend.
@totommyto – nice dumpster find!
I had a few good days of sales, the kind you’d like to have everyday, but alas. Still nudged the #s up, and I’m listing more and more in anticipation of 4Q (and being gone for 2 weeks in October). I’m also actively culling items that are lower dollar or not likely to sell, things I’ve been sitting on for years. Dipping my toes more into clothing, but being really intentional about it, so slow going. Not trying to buy more stuff that’s not going to sell! 🙂 And thinking I might get out of shoes….I have plenty of decent shoes, but guess my prices are too high; they aren’t moving at all, for months now.
09/09/18 – 09/15/18
Total Items In Store: 946
Items Sold: 24
Total Sales: $794.12
Cost of Items Sold: $61.24
Highest Price Sold: $150 – Harley Davidson Womens Black Leather Chaps
Average Price Sold: $33.09
Returns/Refunds: 1 replacement poster print sent out, after mail damage
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $72.55
Number of Items listed this week: 76@Marie – well, I could be wrong (memory? what memory?), but I had a sale today of something I listed yesterday and could have sworn I changed the price last minute to $24.99, but it sold for $18.99. Could also be me moving too quickly through the app, but wanted to chime in in case it is a thing.
Are you working primarily from the app, a computer, or both?
@ChristineR – send your FB collectors over to my page, to buy up the last of my Star Glow! Feels like it’s been sitting here forever…
I sold so much (low dollar) random stuff last week. I’ll leave out the ceramic poodle figurines (a buyout of a collection from over a year ago that I just got around to listing, and wouldn’t do again), and some other random things, and share just the highlighted random things:
I purchased a newer, stronger hp Vitamix at a consignment shop a few weeks back, then sold my older one to pay for it. Since then, I’ve also sold a spare pitcher that came with the new one, and then the recipes booklet that came with it – despite there being several of the same ones listed, this sold within 2 days: https://www.ebay.com/itm/VITAMIX-Savor-Recipes-Book-Cookbook-Beverages-Soups-Dips-Sauces-Raw-Foods-2012/323429694015
I bought a huge lot of these CB2 rug samples at a thrift store for $1 each. Thought they’d made interesting wall hangings or protect floors under a flower pot or pet bowl. Sold my first one this past week: https://www.ebay.com/itm/CB2-Rug-Sample-Woven-Textile-Mat-Placemat-Decor-Wall-Hanging-Craft-13-x-15/323375497825
My mom gave me a bunch of vintage glassware of her mother’s, as she continues to downsize. I was surprised this set of cordial glasses sold so quickly: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-4-Vintage-Cordial-Port-Glasses-Clear-Etched-Floral-Botanical-5-5-8/323360151072
I paid $2-3 for this kitchsy, weird candle at an estate sale, and have had it for enough months that I was questioning my judgement on its purchase. Finally, someone in Florida purchased it – during our wonderful 90 degree weather streak. I shipping it with a wrapped and bagged no-sweat ice pack to ensure the thing didn’t arrive as a puddle: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Retro-Kitsch-Pink-Christmas-Santa-Tree-Reindeer-Snowman-Wax-Candle-7/323151310414
My partner bought a lot of hunting type clothes from an online auction for cheap, and gave nearly all of it to me to sell. Sold these NOS Orvis waders GSP, after both my partner and I tried on neoprene bootie part of it to try and determine the foot size. https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Orvis-Fly-Fishing-Chest-Waders-Neoprene-Feet-Sz-10-Size-ML/323362996792
Had two packages this week that were damaged in transit by USPS – one, the gal said the box was so trashed she was worried about the glasses inside, but that with the bubble wrap and packing peanuts, all 12 were fine. The other was a poster in a tube that got dented while en route to LA – had to send out another (glad I had it; was old stock from a shop I closed) in a much more fortified manner. C’mon USPS!
@MyCottage – looks like they’re just trying to market both their being relevant to young audiences and those looking to purchase New items, after being known for years as a primarily used goods site.
The ad doesn’t target me as I don’t buy new items as much, and avoid most of the unnecessary trappings of modern life, but folks like me already shop on eBay per their old persona. So, they’re just looking to compete and grow, yeah?
Thinking I’m going to extend my handling time with the incoming storm. There’s going to be delays for sure with shipping and postal service, and I don’t want to get dinged by an inflexible algorithm system… No sourcing this weekend, so the listing is on (til the power goes out)!
Steady, low sales over here. Know that I need to get my listing up, but have been/have allowed myself to get pulled into many other directions of things that need getting done…just wish those were income producing. This week, incoming Hurricane Flo has got me away from the office quite a bit, stocking up on supplies and battening down the outdoor hatches, while keeping an eye on the news to figure out what to expect – and whether or not we need to get outta Dodge!
09/02/18 – 09/08/18
Total Items In Store: 894
Items Sold: 20
Total Sales: $421.75
Cost of Items Sold: $15.10
Highest Price Sold: $125 Helimot Summer Motorcycle Gloves (commission sale)
Average Price Sold: $21.09
Returns/Refunds: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $34
Number of Items listed this week: 40Only sold 13 items last week, and here are the highlights:
I nabbed this nice vintage Pendleton Yakima wool blanket at a thrift store for $8; it sold within a week for $170: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Pendleton-Gray-Brown-Wool-Camp-Blanket-Yakima-3-Stripe-Red-Green-64×80/323406125392
I picked up 2 of these boxes of sealed TDK tapes at a junky estate sale for $2 apiece. The first box was complete with 10 tapes and sold within a week; this one of 9 tapes took several months longer, and just sold for $90: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Box-of-9-NOS-New-Sealed-TDK-SA-C90-Cassette-Tapes-Japan/323142228066
In my ongoing commission sales for a friend who in the last few months had his second child and is now moving across the country, I’ve chosen not to share most of his What Solds, as they’re not often the kinds of things you stumble across/get for cheap while scavenging – though are very worth my time as a valet seller (and we’re using eBay’s pay % scale for earnings): US knives, high end watches, high end sound equipment, climbing ropes, some outdoorsy stuffs, and now a bunch of motorcycle gear. This past week I sold his Mountainsmith hiking lumbar pack with backpack shoulder strap conversion. Got a lot of watchers, and one guy who wrote and expressed interest in buying it as a back up as he liked his current one so much. So, BOLO for what it’s worth: https://www.ebay.com/itm/MountainSmith-Lumbar-Waist-Pack-Shoulder-Strap-Convertible-Backpack-Strapettes/323357406584
My mom attends a weekly auction. When she sees things she thinks I’ll like, she’ll text with a photo. She picked up this small Griswold skillet for $3. Took a few months, but sold for $70: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Vintage-Griswold-No-3-709-Small-Cast-Iron-Skillet-LBL-EPU-6-5-Pour-Spout/323296997687
Finally, I’m still clearing out odds and ends of my own belongings. I chose to go ahead and list some of the vintage kitchen towels I’ve had for years, and found that this one is not only “signed” but collectible: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1950s-MCM-Tammis-Keefe-Linen-Tea-Towel-Cats-Kittens-15-x-27/323407485634
Here’s to our sales!
@Doubly, I currently have very subsidized healthcare via healthcare.gov. Who knows where that’s going to go in the future, and I may have to pay back some $$$ once taxes come around and I see what I’ve made in 2018, but I’m happy to forecast income as low, pay low, then adjust the difference as long as I can. I’ve also heard good things about the shared care (non-health insurance) that T-Satt has mentioned. If needed, I’d move to just catastrophic coverage, since I see doctors so rarely (knock on a vintage wooden nut bowl).
Overall weekly sales are steadyish. Looking for earnings to be better though, and definitely for # of sales to pick up. Running out of inventory/office space, so am working through death piles to free up that square footage, and then just stay more on top of listing right away as I’ve become choosier about what’s purchased. Too many days lately I just feel surrounded by unwanted crap! 😀
08/19/18 – 08/25/18
Total Items In Store: 879 (culled many items this week)
Items Sold: 13
Total Sales: $542.23
Cost of Items Sold: $15.75 (sold several freebies, and a commission item)
Highest Price Sold: $170 – Vintage Pendleton Gray Brown Wool Yakima Camp Blanket
Average Price Sold: $41.71
Returns/Refunds: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $153
Number of Items listed this week: 35
