55

[So Cal Joe]

Thank you everyone who took the time to look at my store and leave comments.

My average selling price over the last several months has been about $23.Ideally, I would like this number to be higher. The average price of the items in my store is closer to $28.

I generally sell between 60 and 75 items a month. This number has been fairly consistent for about 6 months or so.

I should have included this information in the initial post.

I really expected to have at least $3000 in sales a month at this level of inventory.

Yes, higher priced items are in the future. Old habits are tough to break and Cogs of $1 to $3 is a hard habit to break. Even though I have a nice sized inventory, the dollar value of my inventory needs to be higher.

I have a lot of old stale junkie inventory I need to clear out.

Pricing is a tough one I need to figure out. There’s got to be a balance between making sales and creating a sweat shop. When I sell commodity items, like printer ink, it’s pretty easy. There are lots of solds to look at. With unique items, like vintage books, it becomes more complicated.

It wasn’t easy for me to create this post, but hey, we have to be honest with ourselves. I’m not a dumb guy, but if it’s not working, I need to figure out why.

Thanks again for all the posts, I’m considering all the comments, even though I may not have responded to them all.

[So Cal Joe]

I’ve been trying to stay away from lower priced stuff, but old habits die hard.

I’ve been tempted to really drop prices, to generate sales, but I don’t want to get caught up in the race to the bottom. Pricing seems to be a real balancing act.

Thanks for the advice. The answer may be as simple as that, buying higher priced items.

[So Cal Joe]

Church Rummage sales, real estate sponsored neighborhood yard sales, estate sales and auctions. The thrift stores around here are a little on the expensive side.

[So Cal Joe]

My goal is $150 a day in sales ($4500 a month). With that I can make ends meet, or close to it. I’m not getting half that now.

[So Cal Joe]

My sales have never been great.. Good months have been $2000 to $2600 in sales. I keep thinking list list list… It really doesn’t seem to be a factor for my store, as least compared to the numbers other people are posting.

There are items in my store I wouldn’t buy today, but bought when I first started scavenging. The shoes you are seeing are may be some of those.

I’ve gotten better at sourcing, but still end up with lower priced items at auctions or in boxed lots. I wish all my items were $30 or more.

I have more items and for the most part better items, yet my sales are no more or possibly less than this time last year. I see everyone else with good numbers, so maybe the problem is me.

I put things on sale, usually 5% to 10% off and am always running sales. I’ve also run promotions on multiple purchases and a few promoted listings. Most of my higher priced items have best offer.

I really love what I do. The whole treasure hunt aspect is great. I’m also a shipping nerd at heart. Time will tell if this was meant to be. I really hope I can figure it out..

Thanks for the feedback.

[So Cal Joe]

The item “return to sender” showed up at my doorstep today 5/15. The tracking shows it left Florida 5/06.

No contact from the buyer yet.

Oh well…

[So Cal Joe]

You may have it listed as “large envelope”. It needs to be “Package or thick envelope.” You will find these options under package type.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by So Cal Joe.

[So Cal Joe]

For most of us, somewhere between 6 and 10 shipping policies should do it…

1. First Class/Priority Calculated

2. Priority Flat Rate Envelope.

3. Smart Post/Priority Calculated.

4. Media Mail

5. Fedex Ground

6. Free Shipping

7. Local Pickup.

Those cover over 90% of my listings. The problem comes in when you want to charge a handling fee. I try to build them into the price. My handling time and places I ship to is constant. I don’t automatically combine shipping, so that also helps.

I’ve found it makes listing much easier.

[So Cal Joe]

Do what they are requesting you to do.

There’s a decent chance that they will refund the buyer and not take the money from your account. In other words both buyer and seller win.

[So Cal Joe]

The listing didn’t say zero, it said the “import fees will be calculated at checkout.” The buyer kept mentioning courier fees.

Until the item is paid for, I can’t see what the import fees are. The buyer knows what they are and hasn’t complained about the fees. The Item cost $40, so the fees are probably not too much.

I think he is just new to the Global Shipping program and needs more convincing. I hope he calls Ebay as I suggested. My guess is, that is what Pitney Bowes will tell him to do.

[So Cal Joe]

Thanks for the response.

You may be right about the country. I’ve checked my other listings without best offer and they are the same as this one. I guess I don’t pay that much attention to Canada listings.

The buyer really doesn’t trust “Global Shipping”. He’s afraid his item will be held up at the border with extra fees to be paid. After communicating with him, I accepted his offer so that he can see the import fees. I told him we can cancel the sale if he feels they are excessive.

Now he’s attempting to verify and has a call in to Pitney Bowes. I advised him at call Ebay. To ship the item regular mail would be much more as it’s a heavy book.

Just another day in Ebay paradise…

[So Cal Joe]

Well I actually got a call back and I was instructed on how to add more listings. Evidently the “add” button is not for adding listings. She told me the program has been buggy..

[So Cal Joe]

This exact thing happened to me a while back, over a year ago. I called Ebay and got the same response as you. If fact I called back a couple of times and there was no resolution.

After each item ended, it showed up in the other category. I’m pretty sure that’s what happened. If I’m right, in 30 days they’ll all be back. Watch your other category and see if they start showing up, one by one.

I never tried to create a subcategory again.

[So Cal Joe]

The last thing you want Mike, is to pay to have the damaged item shipped back to you. The only exception would be if you question the buyer’s statements, but it sounds like you do not.

I’d offer 50% off of the purchase price, without the shipping. It sounds like she’s being reasonable and I try to reward buyer’s for this. Also, for $10 your problem has gone away.

Let us know how it turns out.. JOE

[So Cal Joe]

Whiskey is correct. make sure you choose “At Buyer’s request” for the reason.

It shouldn’t affect your account negatively.

Unfortunately, I have a lot of cancellations on my “Local Pickups”.

[Author]

Posts