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Got a vintage Louis Vuitton drawstring shoulder bag for $12.50 at the last auction. No one believed it was authentic, so it was put with all the box lots. This style sells on ebay for about $500.
It’s probably too late for people to use for this holiday, but people do still buy Christmas items after the holiday. All the people that think “I really wish I had a blah blah blah for Christmas. Maybe I can get one for next year.”
There’s only one way to find out. 🙂
Well, I went round and round with ebay about my stupid Halloween blow molds return, and could not get the defect off my account. They said, yes, it was buyer’s remorse, and yes, the buyer was abusing the system. Because I went through ebay’s resolution center to refund the buyer, the rep told me I was agreeing that the item was NAD, and that in the future I should call ebay first, before refunding the buyer.
(Brief recap: the buyer started a return for INAD, I immediately called ebay and appealed, ebay opened a case on my behalf, and then found in the buyer’s favor. I had to appeal, got the return shipping fee credited back to my account, and then was told to refund the buyer when I received the item, and then call back to appeal THAT part of this nightmare return).
To add insult to injury, the rep said “I hope my information can help you to avoid this situation in the future!” Actually, no. It doesn’t. I have no idea how to avoid this going forward, because I did everything I was instructed to do, and it still came back to bite me.
I really hope ebay figures out a better system than this. Now I’ve got a defect for “closed without seller resolution” on my account for the next year.
Week of Dec 5 – 11
* Total Items in Store: 320
* Items Sold: 29
* Cost of Items Sold:$94
* Total Sales: $567.98 (ebay) + $45 (Bonanza)
* Highest Price Sold: $85 (set of Theodore Haviland dishes)
* Returns: 2 returns, (1 pair of boots for fit, another item that was damaged by FedEx Smartpost, so I refunded, rather than spin my wheels on an insurance claim)
* Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $68COGS is a bit high, because I sold one RA item, (a Coach Pacman keychain). I probably should have returned it to the store, because I only made about $15 profit, but the store was far away. I didn’t feel like driving out there). No money lost, so whatever.
I have seen a lot of new faces in the thrifts and at the auctions. A lot of people are opening booths at the “antique” markets, (Good luck with that!). Lots of people digging through the clothing racks at Goodwill. I never noticed these guys before, but then again, I wasn’t looking for them.
I think people are freaked out about the economy tanking. My dad said before the election that no matter who won, a recession is coming. I kind of think he’s right.
What I’ve noticed with my sales is people are less likely to buy things for the sake of owning a thing. They are buying things that contribute to experiences or are utilitarian. They buy fabric, embroidery kits, or replacement parts for their grandma’s stand mixer. All the quirky hard carved wood sculptures I bought? Not moving at all. But the fabric and replacement glass Pyrex lids sell out quickly.
Awesome, thanks! In addition to the musty fabric, I have a huge box of Victorian-era books that smell musty, and a NYC-era leather Coach purse that all need freshening up. I’ll be putting all the suggestions to use. 🙂
This same thing happened to me, too. Buyer bought Haloween blow-molds, and magically they became INAD the week after Halloween. I called ebay, they opened a case, closed it in the buyer’s favor, and said I would get an email, but the buyer would have to pay shipping.
Make sure you check your account statement, because ebay charged ME for the shipping. I had to call back, as for appeals, and get it credited to my account. It took going through *5* reps to get the $10 back. When the blow molds came back, I had no option to deduct restocking fee or original shipping. And I now also have a defect on my account.
I honestly haven’t had the energy to call back and appeal again. It took 5 reps to get the first half of the appeal taken care of.
Total Items in Store: 337
Items Sold: 19
Cost of Items Sold: $30
Total Sales: $298
Highest Price Sold: $39.99 (tie between a pair of suede Salomon Contagrip shoes, and a set of brass candlesticks)
Number of items listed this week: ?Last week was just ok. The only indication it is the holiday season is that I am getting more questions about items. I’ve received a few messages about shipping fees, which I have ignored. When the message starts “If you lower your shipping to something *reasonable*…”, I don’t bother responding. People have been spoiled by “Free Shipping”. They really have no idea how much it costs to mail something across the country.
We did a pre-Christmas toy and book purge from my son’s room. Between that and death piles, I could probably skip the auction this weekend! I’m really glad I cleaned out his room, though. He has played all day with toys that were overlooked, simply because he had too much stuff. It’s really nice to listen to him play. 🙂
My sales have been very “eh” this week. Combined with some high maintenance buyers, it’s been a real drain.
Omg, this time of year brings out the worst in some people! I’ve had a lot of super picky, high maintenance buyers lately, all pointing out that “You know, it’s Christmas time…”, like any purchase agreement now implies I make their Christmas dreams come true. Gah.
Store Week Nov 20 – Nov 26
Total Items in Store: 344
Items Sold: 17
Cost of Items Sold: About $30
Total Sales: $260.03
Highest Price Sold: $40 (Glass punch bowl & cups)This was a real “meh” week. I have made $1525 in November, which is $100 down from last year, which isn’t terrible. Maybe I’ll get lucky tomorrow, and someone will buy $100 worth of stuff, and I will match last year’s sales. 🙂
I sold lots of dishes and glassware this weekend. I’m really glad someone bought that punch bowl set, and it is out of my life.
I have been nose-to-the-grindstone, working through death piles. I really, REALLY want to finish them up by January 1.
JtotheNessa, do you mind sharing your store name? I hate selling clothes, and would love to branch out into more toy sales. I’d love to take a peek at what you are selling, if you don’t mind. 🙂
I don’t like talking politics. There is a reason behind the old saying of “Never discuss religion or politics in polite company”.
Do you normally include the company name when you list PBN artwork, or do you use this to verify it is an vintage painting?
I think I’m one of the few (it seems?) that isn’t surprised Trump won. My husband, a Republican, was even convinced HRC would win, and laughed at me when I said on election night that she would lose Pennsylvania and Florida. Surprise! Prior to the election, I also said Melania wasn’t divorcing Trump *yet*, and that she was probably waiting to see how the election played out. If he lost, she’d leave him within a month. If he won, she’d stay busy and out of sight, so she didn’t have to deal with him, and then divorce after he left office. And, surprise! She’s staying in NYC and not moving into the White House, because she likes her “independent life”. Ha! Sure she does. She knows if she acts nice and grits her teeth that she, her son, and her future grandchildren will be set for life. I’m sure there is a lot of legal paperwork in place stipulating how much money she will get in a settlement for each year she sticks around.
The US has survived FAR worse times than this, but the younger generation wasn’t alive to experience it. Heck, a lot of it was just before my time, since I was born in ’72. The Civil Rights movement, the assassinations of the Kennedys and MLK, George Wallace’s infamous segregation speech, Vietnam, the Kent State shootings, Watergate, Nixon’s looming impeachment and then resignation. Much of this happened within a ten year period! It’s a wonder the country didn’t tear itself apart. Those were ugly, ugly times, and yet we made it through. We’ll survive Trump, too. It might be ugly, and it might not be our finest hour, but we will get through it.
P.S. I’m also predicting that Trump won’t complete his term of office. I think shit will get too real for him pretty quick, and he’ll want out. He’s going to feel very constrained by the role of President. I give this show 18 months, and if he makes it through his entire term, it is *only* because Ivanka and Pence are propping him up.
Time will tell if I am right.
What’s that old curse? “May you live in interesting times”?
Happy Thanksgiving, y’all.
Cheryl, I peeked through your sold listings. Do you have any advice on selling completed embroidery/cross stitch pieces? I find them all the time, but I stopped picking them up, because they moved so rarely for me.
