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For sure SHARYN,
I would deal with shipping a turntable for the profit margins I see here oftenLast week I concentrated on sharing rusty metal sales only. Here are the rest of the interesting sales.
I too had to ship some glass, yet I would much rather, and I mean MUCH rather ship these tumblers, than ship a turntable! Only the mighty Steve would ship turntables, even for sport I believe! This set of six Blendo Mid Century sold for a cool $50, cost was $5.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Blendo-Mid-Century-Barware-tumbler-water-glasses-frosted-color-set-of-6-vintage/372840429298?hash=item56cf0576f2:g:TgMAAOSwNDZbQ3OGWhen I saw this Electrolux Vacuum, I knew I had to have it. My Grandmother had the exact same model during the 1960’s and into the 1990’s. I know this vacuum well! Someone in our family uses it still. The flea vendor knew it was worth about $200 yet didn’t want to mess with it on eBay, so I got it for only $20. It sold for $250 and packing it and all the accessories was a labor of love. My precious.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Electrolux-Automatic-G-Vacuum-Cleaner-turuoise-blue-RUNS-w-ATTACHMENTS/254491962479?hash=item3b40e72c6f:g:KEgAAOSwaBJeK5QqBeing more or less a toy guy, I bought a big lot of Care Bears stuff for $40, and this obscure and desirable Magnet Store Counter display sold for $100. I assigned around $15 of the money spent on the lot for the COGS on this.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Care-Bears-Cousins-15-piece-Wooden-Hallmark-Counter-Magnet-Display-wood-set/372875022452?hash=item56d1155074:g:3GIAAOSwzpxd8~oGAnother decent antique Magic Lantern Glass slide sale, $50 for a Christmas themed one from Soerabaja, Java. Cost was less than $1. To update the Magic Lantern lot purchased a few months back for $50, approaching $1,000 sold, so many remaining and very thankful.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Magic-Lantern-Glass-Slide-Soerabaja-Java-Christmas-Play-Nativity-Scene-Natives/254349254011?hash=item3b38659d7b:g:nG8AAOSwqS1dbpcuHi MDC Mike,
Encouraging to hear only a couple of HI & AK sales for all those years! I believe I am set up very similar to you in respect to free shipping calculations, only my getting there (and still getting there) involves much less tech, tools and savvy, yet involves much more time.
Make a great pot of soup like a school trained French Chef with a fancy recipe and the latest soup pan or make a great pot of soup like an old Italian Grandma with an old pot and a pinch of this and a pinch of that.
Grandma can spend all day in the kitchen, true, just like I have the luxury of spending all day at work behind a computer with LOADS of down time. Your time as a pure entrepreneur (I’m guessing) is more valuable than mine.
It may have been hidden in my post above, that I basically made an extra $50 by over estimating free shipping cost into the sale of a vacuum cleaner last week. This seems to be happening more times than not. I don’t necessarily like the idea of this ‘free shipping’, yet I’m beginning to feel like I cannot fight city hall so I’m learning how to play at it successfully and cautiously.Hello all, a most enjoyable podcast. Great to finish out the last 40 minutes at work listening and enjoying great fresh company the entire ride home!
I turned my entire Etsy store over to Free Shipping after the gentle muscle job we Etsy sellers received some time back. It has simplified multiple purchases and has eliminated all the pesky shipping questions. Big and bulky have not been an issue. It may have hurt some potential sales, yet it may have helped some things to sell as well I suppose, so perhaps no difference there.
For eBay, when I list new now it is with free shipping. Also, when I get the ‘Item hasn’t sold in 16 months’ message, and I get around to selling similar, I’ll add free shipping. Eventually, I’ll be all free shipping. For the big and bulky, like the vacuum cleaner I just sold Saturday, it is a bit of an equation at listing time, yet it seems to work out. International sales are the best, because the full list price is paid with no shipping deduction on my price received. I wonder about a sale to Alaska with a heavy large item with free shipping? I suppose I’ll deal with that eventually.1/19 – 01/25/20 (no cross listing is done between platforms)
eBay store: totommyto
Total store items: 828
Number of items sold: 12
Total eBay sales (not counting s/h): $507
Cost of items sold: $44.50
Highest price sold: $250 – Electrolux Automatic G Vacuum from the 1960’s, paid $20. (Added $80 to the price to allow for shipping, and shipping was only $30. Just worked out that way)
Average price sold: $42.25
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: 0
Number of new items listed this week: 9
Sell through rate for the week: 1.4
Number International sales: 0Etsy store oldfleatoymarket
Total store items: 630
Number of items sold: 9
Total Etsy sales (not counting s/h): $186
Cost of items sold: $8
Highest price sold: $31 – old wooden Osborne shop brush, paid $2
Average price sold: $20.70
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: 0
Number of new items listed this week: 6
Sell through rate for the week: 1.4
Number International sales: 0Sharyn,
I like how the flea vendors price them up, sit on them for a few weeks, and then let them go for next to nothing. They are a depressing item to load/unload, and stare at on your table week after week. I know, I did that pre eBay days and would blow them out for $1 just to be done with them.Doublythumbs,
Nice dealing on selling the skates separate. I like that metal case. Something I would list on Etsy although it could be a long tale eBay sale. Maybe useful to not describe what it once held, or maybe not. Just right side braining it.I decided to just post a favorite theme for early to mid Jan solds.
Rusty old metal things on eBay & Etsy:I was not afraid to pay $10 for this rusted antique pail with jagged rusty edges, and the buyer was not afraid to pay $55.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Waste-Basket-Erie-Art-Metal-Dan-Dee-industrial-rust-office-early-1900s/254469223859?hash=item3b3f8c35b3:g:BwEAAOSwgedeDQKZThis big rusty 1972 snap on sold for $125, went to a grateful buyer who already owned the bottom, a gift from his grandfather. I paid $10.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-Big-Tool-Box-vintage-heavy-duty-garage-Rat-Rod-1970s-3-drawer-1972-USA/254460387665?hash=item3b3f056151:g:QjIAAOSw4cFdogZoThis beat up and very sparky antique factory task light sold for $95 and shipped to Taiwan for parts, free at church sale.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Woodward-Machine-Co-Detroit-Light-Factory-Industrial-age-antique-RESTORE-PARTS/254478614770?hash=item3b401b80f2:g:9k8AAOSw5k1caZ7JCool little Etsy sale, busted up dirt bike gear sells for $20, found free floating around in a junked boat trailer.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/481655766/vintage-dirt-bike-gear-sprocket-13-tooth?show_sold_out_detail=1&frs=1Etsy buyer asked quite a few questions before purchasing this old hanging bracket for $22, just free found junk for me.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/677368217/vintage-brass-bracket-for-sign-hooks?show_sold_out_detail=1&frs=1I enjoy selling these tool trays to Etsy buyers who re purpose them, a few nuances apply when buying/selling. The same buyer bought both with the green one selling for $40, and the red one selling for $42.50. Paid $2 each.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/704075399/vintage-garden-tool-tote-metal-chipped?show_sold_out_detail=1&frs=1
https://www.etsy.com/listing/704484220/vintage-garden-tool-tote-metal-chipped?show_sold_out_detail=1&frs=1An old favorite bread and butter, rusty chain and hook sells to an Etsy buyer for $29.50. Paid ‘up’ $5. Good luck China re popping these successfully for sale in the US.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/736752517/chain-hook-rusty-iron-steel-towing-rust?show_sold_out_detail=1&frs=1Just a short take, received an email this morning from a very happy doll buyer who made the purchase once she saw the doll featured on the popular internet show ‘Good Mythical Morning’. Here is a clip she sent me. The show has 16M subscribers. I never heard of it.
I’ll come back with some a rusty solds themed post in a bit hopefully…
Thanks again Steve, amazing, and cool flatware Sales Sharon, I flip the empty boxes fairly regular when I find them cheap enough.
If I were going back to Japan, being a toy guy sort of, I would be on the lookout for japan vinyl monster figures. It is a big thing there, yet there could be ones to be had on the cheap.
If you do a very general eBay completed listings search, you can get an idea. Key words/markings to look for are Popy, Bullmark, Bandai, Japan. All sizes, loose or not, robots or reptiles, whatever, vintage always best (thinking 1990’s turn up most), although new could be good as well.
Yes, we trade back and forth with Japan with these toys, yet I’m sure Japanese moms too have a shoe box full they just want out of the house.
I was there 1984 – 1985, and remember seeing those creatures in little bags with header cards, priced reasonably, thinking they were cool, yet I did not want to bring them back to a barracks full of macho Marines. So, I missed it! Like any other funky collectible, there are nuances and such that I don’t claim to understand. Probably worthwhile just to have that portion of the scavenger brain in surveillance mode. Enjoy the trip!Hello everyone, and what a treat to hear Dan’s story! So funny how the non business majors seem to be the main ones who really see the scavenging opportunities around them, seize them, and then build the processes to make the money over time. Maybe the brain has to see these kinds of business opportunities differently to get one to act.
It’s been awhile since we have had an interview on the forum. Loved it. Dan is a smart cool cat. Wondering if part 2? is going to interview part time eBay seller Dan with the ‘real’ job?1/05 – 01/11/20 (no cross listing is done between platforms)
eBay store: totommyto
Total store items: 831
Number of items sold: 9
Total eBay sales (not counting s/h): $397
Cost of items sold: $19
Highest price sold: $125 Big heavy rusty snap on tool box, paid $10, flea market shoulder carry, so fun to be a man. Packing it went much better than my last, helps to not have to ‘build a box’.
Average price sold: $44.11
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: 0
Number of new items listed this week: 7
Sell through rate for the week: 1.1
Number International sales: 1 (an old broken, bent industrial task light, $95, buyer paid $85 for ship to Taiwan, cost $1)Etsy store oldfleatoymarket
Total store items: 631
Number of items sold: 7
Total Etsy sales (not counting s/h): $143.50
Cost of items sold: $5
Highest price sold: $26.50 – a risque ‘Brassai Secret Paris’ SC book, paid $1
Average price sold: $20.50
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: 0
Number of new items listed this week: 13
Sell through rate for the week: 1.1
Number International sales: 0THEY’RE BAAAAAACK!
That’s what I picked up on as soon as I began to listen to the podcast. I’ve felt for sometime time now that the scavenging spirit has been waning a bit with the still much APPRECIATED, and always very much ANTICIPATED podcast.
It’s been like listening to a couple of very salty fisherman with a fishing podcast, discussing the winds, the baits, the hooks, the bites, all great, yet knowing that they haven’t ‘really’ wet a line in awhile. The excitement, the stories, all back, and so awesome. I am so happy you both got re charged, and please accept my apologies for being presumptuous in any way.Four sets of GMC Floor mats sold to four different buyers after I found a sweet spot selling price and after making shipping adjustments. I have had these mats for more than a few months now. Because of the current dimensional weight computations, a lot of my packaging sizes needed to be modified. For example, shipping was $65 for a certain larger item, and I was able to bring it down to $25. Prior to the dimensional weight computations by both the USPS and FedEx as well, I did not have too much of a problem with over priced shipping, and I did not take such great care in packaging size.
1/05 – 01/11/20 (no cross listing is done between platforms)
eBay store: totommyto
Total store items: 831
Number of items sold: 12
Total eBay sales (not counting s/h): $542.50
Cost of items sold: $26 (four sets of auto mats sold for $70 each, cost was zero, trash find!)
Highest price sold: $100 – Care Bears Magnets Store Display, paid $15
Average price sold: $45.20
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: $61
Number of new items listed this week: 3
Sell through rate for the week: 1.4
Number International sales: 1Etsy store oldfleatoymarket
Total store items: 627
Number of items sold: 8
Total Etsy sales (not counting s/h): $199.90
Cost of items sold: $16
Highest price sold: $42.50 – rusted tool box carry tray insert on Etsy, paid $2
Average price sold: $24.98
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: $48
Number of new items listed this week: 0
Sell through rate for the week: 1.3
Number International sales: 1Hi Doublythumbs,
Cool story, I had it happen with an old suede leather key pouch I sold on Etsy. Hand written from the Granddaughter who purchased it, and then another very shaky hand written letter from the Grandma who it was gifted to. It replaced the exact one she had forever.
It was a $25 sale.
Nice touches for us pirates when this happens!
