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Thanks much, @tobeacat! Helpful, with a dose of reality check, perhaps. 🙂 I’ll lower my expectations on a sale price, methinks – and keep my eye out for the Mexican-themed tiles!
@Sharyn – I had a Seller do the same to me this week, a first. I asked a question about the measurement of an article of clothing, and she got back to me with both the measurement and a discounted offer. Yes, please!
@Doubly – Here’s one of my own no-longer-buy items: most all electric pencil sharpeners. The market is so flooded right now, price have halved from what I used to see them go for. Offloaded this vintage Boston sharpener this week for $15 (paid $2-3?): https://www.ebay.com/itm/EUC-Boston-Electric-Pencil-Sharpener-Model-19-Made-in-USA-296A/322811220751
Pulled this vintage ceramic towel bar and tp set from my bathroom in it’s excessively slow renovation, and sold them promptly – for $50 (+ shipping) to someone abroad. Would happily sell these again, without free shipping, so keep an eye out. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Arctic-White-Ceramic-MCM-Mid-Century-Vintage-1950s-Retro-Towel-Bar-TP-Holder/323408976108
This was the “shining star” of advertising feed sacks I got in an online auction lot, and one of the last ones to sell from those listed. I priced it high at $50. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Beacon-Feeds-Cayuga-NY-Vintage-FeedSack-2-Sided-Lighthouse-20-5-x-38-5-Unopened/323315881297
I recently put my remaining Hammond organ parts on sale to try to move them (lots of watchers), and sold the dust cover. $30 + about $45 on shipping (looooong box). https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hammond-M3-Organ-Dust-Cover-w-Oil-Caps-Hardware-Replacement-Parts/323081928987
This attractive quilt was listed and sold in less than a week. I paid more than I would have liked, at $40, but figured I could do well on it, considering it’s hand pieced, has feedsack fabric, and has great colors. It wasn’t until I was soaking it in the bathtub that I saw there was some paint damage on it, arghhh. So, a lower price, but it went quickly: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Hand-Quilted-Star-Quilt-Teal-Red-White-Feedsack-56×71-5-Pale-Paint-Dmg/323406281718
Here’s to increased sales!
Was just visiting friends in DC over the weekend, and the hubby is suffering what he started thinking was a sinus infection. Apparently something had been going around his office…. Makes me glad I’m the only one in this office! 🙂 Feel better all who aren’t!
After the previous week’s sad showing, this past week picked up nicely, and I had 10 sales over Saturday & Sunday to pack up when I got back from DC (they will be split between this report and next week’s, diluting the celebratory #s).
08/19/18 – 08/25/18
Total Items In Store: 915
Items Sold: 13
Total Sales: $732.22
Cost of Items Sold: $65.60
Highest Price Sold: $250 – Climbing ropes/bag/slings, etc (sold on commission); $135 – lot of 150 pcs vintage and antique linens of all kinds (took best offer on $150)
Average Price Sold: $56.32
Returns/Refunds: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $45
Number of Items listed this week: ~25Forgot to mention this in a previous week: I got a message from a recent Buyer who apologized for just having left a negative review for me; it was meant for another Seller from whom she had bought a very similar pair of shorts. She asked me to send her a Feedback Revision Request, which I didn’t know existed – did you? I asked her about it, and she sent me the following link from the help pages: https://pages.ebay.com/services/forum/feedback.html
Fairly automated. There might be some review on eBay’s side, but maybe not. I sent the link, she re-wrote her review, and it was processed quickly. Sharing for FYI and in case it can be used by others after communicating with Buyers who are willing to change their reviews – show them how easy it is.
Quiet over here for the past two weeks – traveling for work the first week (thankfully some other income, since eBay #s are low), then visiting with family on “vacation” the second week. Definitely not enough of sleeping in and reading away the afternoons that I would have liked to have done on vacation-vacation….alas.
Last week is perhaps my worst ever, numbers-wise. It’s August. It is what it is.
08/12/18 – 08/18/18
Total Items In Store: 893
Items Sold: 7
Total Sales: $153.14
Cost of Items Sold: $15.00
Highest Price Sold: $60 – Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Master Deck of Encounters Set 1
Average Price Sold: $21.88
Returns/Refunds: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $90.02
Number of Items listed this week: 0 (vacation)Did hit up 5 estate sales immediately upon returning home, but I can’t say that I scored any amazing deals, just hopefully some good returns on slightly higher prices paid. Still have plenty of piles to work from. And now, back to listing, listing, listing…
Happy week, All.
ChristineR – thanks for the thoughts on the afghans. I always look for, and have had some good sales on them, but I’ve slowed down myself. There are so many out there.
Highlights from last week:
My Mom is an auction-goer (and a quilter) and got this Singer Featherweight for $17 at auction. She considered keeping it, but instead gave it to me to sell after airing out the musty smell. It sold far quicker than I expected, for $300: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1950-51-Centennial-Singer-221-Featherweight-Sewing-Machine-Case-Pedal-Works/323363196271
Bought this vintage recording compressor/limiter as a “stretch” purchase (lucky guesstimate of something to try to re-sell) in an online auction; can’t find my paid price. Got a best offer from a guy in Canada for $200, and accepted after many months with no watchers, etc. https://www.ebay.com/itm/DBX-164-Stereo-Compressor-Limiter-Over-East-Compression-Vintage-Recording-Rack/323323207013
Got this gorgeous and huge yellow ware bowl at a thrift store last year for $7.50! Has been listed since purchase, and I’ve lowered the price over time – the weight of it makes the shipping rather high. Finally sold for $90 last week: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Large-Yellow-Ware-Bowl-White-Brown-Stripe-Bands-14-x-6-1-2/322808705726
Steve, I join you in the happy sales of organ components. Last week I sold the drawbar/vibrato assembly off of mine for $70. Paid nothing for the organ, but did have to store it in my living room (my house is small) for too long, then take the time to take it all apart, which I found mostly fun and interesting. Went to NC. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hammond-M3-Organ-Drawbar-Tonebar-Assembly-and-Vibrato-Switches-Parts/323081906879
Not transferware, but still the English china that I love. Picked this old piece up at an estate sale for $1, and it sold quickly for $19: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Alfred-Meakin-English-Ironstone-Rectangular-Handled-Dish-c-1890s-8-5/323312374193
Working out of town this week, and I’ll be lucky if my schedule allows me to source any while here, but I remain hopeful! A scheduling error before I left town allowed me to get over to drop some things at Goodwill and have the extra time to kill to walk around inside a bit. Scored a vintage Pendleton blanket, as well as a Faribo Mills blanket. Look forward to listing those when I get back.
Happy Scavenging!
Listening to the podcast now – thanks, Troy!
A few larger dollar sales at the end of the week pushed my numbers up nicely. Still on a loose sourcing moratorium, following too many empty-handed hits of estate sales, thrift stores, etc in recent weeks, as well as my own desire to work through death piles. I really prefer clear floors and surfaces, a challenge with this work…
07/15/18 – 07/21/18
Total Items In Store: 917
Items Sold: 21
Total Sales: $1046.23
Cost of Items Sold: $38.25
Highest Price Sold: $300 – 1951 Centennial Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine
Average Price Sold: $49.82
Returns/Refunds: 1 (an international return on a backpack that I can’t easily argue; the shipping I’ll have to refund on costs more than the item itself did)
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $2.00
Number of Items listed this week: ~30Also, FWIW, I had 76 listings affected by the photo glitch. I’m going to try and pull most of those items to re-photograph. Their I’m sorry offer with a 3+ day period of use was worthless to me, and a little insulting. Even a partial blanket dollar amount credit to everyone’s monthly store fee would go farther in goodwill, compensation on time spent on their error, and as Troy just noted, trust. Meh.
I bought several place settings of this gorgeous English transferware last year at an independent consignment shop. The plates are hard to come by and sold quickly as a lot. Sold off 6 of the cups and saucers shortly after that, and now the last 3. Paid ~$5/item or set, and sold each for $30-40. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Johnson-Brothers-Windsor-Ware-Harvest-Fruit-Teacup-and-Saucer-Set/322791751748
This was a good and fast sale last week – the vintage 1960s era leather zippered pouch from a Speedy Stitcher I got at a yard sale last year. Should have listed it higher, in hindsight, but $80 wasn’t bad earnings. There were 2 1940s LL Bean leather pouches listed on eBay, for $150 and $170, and had writing on them. Mine had some water damage and were smaller, but also a nicer looking leather/color. Go figure. Sold within the day: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-60s-LL-Bean-Brown-Leather-Pouch-Bag-w-Talon-Zipper-White-Tag-5-x-4-5/323360011165
Can’t go wrong with comfort sandals, when you can find them. I actually purchased these off of eBay for myself, but they were too narrow for my paddles, so I listed them. Took a long while to sell, but got my money back: https://www.ebay.com/itm/EUC-Mephisto-Helen-Brown-Leather-Sandals-EU-40/322558230855
People love their name brands. Stiffel lamp shade sold for $50. Found it at a thrift store for a few bucks: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stiffel-Lamp-Shade-8-Panel-Bell-Greige-Textured-Silk-Dupioni-12-Tall/322924548517
Found this unique mokkapot/stovetop coffee maker from Italy, and aimed higher on the price than most typical ones go for. Took many months to sell, but just did for $40: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bialetti-MOKA-FIAMMETTA-3-Cp-Stovetop-Espresso-Coffee-Maker-Blue-Italia-Soccer/323179666049
More Italy….I couldn’t pass up this fun dish, though I wondered if it would find it’s person. Finally did, for the asking price of $30: https://www.ebay.com/itm/MINT-Consorzio-del-Parmigiano-Reggiano-Cheese-Ceramic-Dish-Server-Italy-Gift/323093878781
Finally, I sold 2 vintage beach towels last week. Not a huge money maker, but for $1 a piece, and selling prices in the range of $15-20 (and being so easy to ship), it made for a good bread and butter item. I don’t have the best set up for photographing them yet, however…. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Cannon-Beach-Pool-Towel-Florida-Fruit-Parrot-Palm-Pastel-USA-30-x-54-5/323174244389
Thanks, T-Satt – those are both questions I’m interested in hearing more about (and anything about the new payment system, really). When I did the survey on this, they noted something along the lines of some/the majority Buyers use credit cards for their purchase, so I’m not sure how it would impact sales. I kinda hate having yet another platform tied to my bank account tho. First World Fears…
Seemingly now-standard sales #s last week. Of my death pile stuff, I’ve pretty well stuck under my desk what seems like lower dollar stuff, and am focusing on just the higher dollar potential items…I’ve got less than 100 items for listing within my current store, so just trying to be a bit strategic right now, and in the lead up to Q4.
07/15/18 – 07/21/18
Total Items In Store: 908
Items Sold: 18
Total Sales: $642.21
Cost of Items Sold: $38.35
Highest Price Sold: $90 – 3x Johnson Bros English Transferware Cup & Saucer Sets
Average Price Sold: $35.68
Returns/Refunds: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $56.63
Number of Items listed this week: ~29Steve – I love getting to see the beautiful landscapes you get out into! Thanks. 🙂
Sharyn – I haven’t seen a PBN like that before. Nice find and sale. With the exception of one rare still life, all of mine have been/are animals. Perhaps that’s just what my eyes are drawn to…
Some interesting sales from last week:
Picked up this unlabeled vintage Pendleton Glacier National Park Wool Blanket at an estate sale for $6. Would love to have kept it for my own use, but not with my two hairy dogs… Could have listed it for a bit more, but really didn’t want to sit on it for so long, and there are plenty on the market. Sold quickly for $120: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Pendleton-Glacier-National-Park-Wool-Camp-Blanket-Hudson-Bay-72×90/323338882775
Found this vintage football program from one of the last games of the Norfolk Neptunes in a closet lot I won in an online auction – glad I went digging through the random odds and ends in the back! Took me a long while to get to listing it, but in doing research found it had value. I thought it was from their last, Championship game of the season, but was corrected by the Buyer; took a best offer of $100: https://www.ebay.com/itm/ACFL-1971-Norfolk-Neptunes-Final-Championship-Game-Souvenir-Football-Program/323317432653
I have a soft spot for vintage English transferware. Picked these up at a thrift store for a couple bucks. Took them many months to sell: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-4-Meakin-Homespun-Brown-Transferware-English-Ironstone-7-Salad-Plates/323019693441
When we moved into our new place last July, I found that we inherited a lot of concrete garden statuary (not my bag). I’ve sold off a few pieces via Craigslist and the like. There was this garden fairy figurine sitting in the middle of one of the gardening beds, that I picked up to move last year while weeding and gardening. I was quickly stung by a wasp, having upset a nest within the piece, and threw the statue down as part of my reaction, breaking it into pieces. I threw the legs out, but kept the top half, as well as these feet! I figured I could sell them to just the right person, and they sold last week for $15: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Garden-Decor-Nymph-Fairy-Feet-Broken-Sculpture-Planter-Creepy-Terrarium-5x4x2-5/323071166093 Here’s hoping the top half sells – just posted it on Craigslist yesterday. Surprised the wasps haven’t found it again…
Have a great weekend, all.
Re new payment processing, does anyone else participate in eBay Expressions (LOVE the name)? It’s their feedback survey program, where they email buyers to share thoughts and feedback on various things? The last one I did was in regards to the new payment processing and whether or not I wanted to early opt-in. I should have taken notes while doing it to share here, but they’ll start testing it out this Fall with those who opt in, and initial roll out of the new processing won’t include PayPal. They kept noting that PayPal would be added back into the payment mix later (though, why?). However a Seller pays – credit cards, etc – eBay would process using their new provider, and money *will* be deposited directly into your bank account – after a delay of 3-5 days, if I’m remembering correctly.
I’m usually not anti-change, but I find myself kinda dragging my feet WRT this. I generally expressed an overall “Meh” with early adopting the program, despite their selling it as “getting in on the ground floor,” lol. I’d rather someone else work out the kinks first, unless their incentives to participate are great. And I’m not holding my breath on that…
Hahahahaaa, that was great! The sounds, the graphics…..oy. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Congrats on the new building purchase! I’ve long been drawn to real estate-based projects, as sticky and costly as they can get – the potential is so inspiring. Looking forward to learning more as it all unfolds for you.
I’m recovering from a late night bout of food poisoning or bug, so keeping it short:
07/08/18 – 07/14/18
Total Items In Store: 883
Items Sold: 21
Total Sales: $697.93
Cost of Items Sold: $26.25
Highest Price Sold: $120 – Vintage Pendleton Glacier Park Wool Blanket
Average Price Sold: $33.23
Returns/Refunds: 1, false INAD
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $0
Number of Items listed this week: 30Had some good sales last week, just a low volume of them. Back to lots of listing today and tomorrow, before hosting a yard sale on Saturday to (hopefully) move lots of random stuff (some eBay stuff and some personal stuff, and some mother-in-law stuff). Hoping for some cash to help purchase some new couch covers for an Ikea couch purchased off Craigslist – white doesn’t work in this house!
Aside from our cast iron pans, All Clad is what we use for cooking. Heats nicely and is easy to clean. My partner had picked this steamer/stockpot up at some point for $60, and we’d only used it a few times. Doesn’t work on our new induction range, so I listed it on eBay – sold for $115, incl shipping. https://www.ebay.com/itm/All-Clad-12-Qt-MultiCooker-Stock-Pot-Steamer-18-10-Stainless-Steel-Aluminum-Base/323227205784
Bought this gorgeous fur shawl/wrap at an estate sale for $40, and thought about keeping it, but couldn’t justify the amount of sitting around it would do, waiting for me to attend a winter wedding – or role play Grey Gardens or something. Sold shortly after listing, for $90. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Beautiful-Vintage-Silver-Fox-Fur-Capelet-Shawl-Wrap-One-Size-Winter-Wedding/323314662870
This tooled leather purse was in a lot of purses I bought in an online auction, if I’m remembering correctly. Paid ~$10? Sold within a few weeks of listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-Hand-Tooled-Brown-Leather-Purse-Saddle-Bag-Chataw-Work-Shop-Floral-Scroll/323204035890
I couldn’t not buy these vintage NOS Christmas kleenex at an estate sale. I got 2 open boxes, and this unopened one, I think for $2 each. Still sitting on the others (at a lower price than this one). This one took many months to sell, for $40: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Vintage-1961-Kleenex-Tissues-Christmas-Holly-Red-Green-Pointsettia-Craft/323151324814
Good shoe brand, in like new condition – can’t go wrong: https://www.ebay.com/itm/EUC-Korks-by-Kork-Ease-Clemons-Brown-Leather-Slip-On-Sandal-Sz6-EU36-5/323205097206
Picked up this vintage stuffed dog in a nearby estate sale, along with a lot of other random little things. Sold quickly for $24, and the buyer loves it: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vintage-Stuffed-Plush-Small-Black-Dog-Button-Eyes-Embroidered-Nose-4/323312376132
Have a great weekend, all!
@Theresa – The 14 day return option is being phased out by eBay, to 30 as the minimum, for those items you accept returns on. I’m getting notifications on my dashboard each day for several items that need official updating on that front (basically accepting eBay’s automatic changeover from 14 to 30 days). I’m making some changes to my shop, taking fewer and fewer returns overall – mostly just keeping some for clothing and shoes.
Being a hoop jumper, esp for eBay, takes away the enjoyment from making this means of income – at least at my level/volume of sales. It could make sense for other Sellers to get those small wins from eBay, as they add up, but not for me. Even trying to track what they are, how they change every few months…..ugh. Back to listing and cooking.
PS – On the food front, I made this for dinner last night, am enjoying it again for lunch today, and am going to put it into a regular rotation. For the cauliflower lovers out there…
Used pancetta (rather than prosciutto) I ordered from Smoking Goose meats in Indy, after tasting their Hillbelly breakfast sausage on a recent trip to Louisville – yum! Highly recommend their stuff, if you’re able to try it.
https://food52.com/recipes/7000-roasted-cauliflower-with-spaghetti-squash-and-crisp-prosciutto
