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Aperture,
Nice glass and puzzle sale.
The good news on the $1.50 ruck pack shipping is that you are unlikely to ever do that again!
Several years ago I purchased my wife some tablecloths for an event for around $75. She did not like them, so I quickly sold them back on eBay for half the price but for what worked out to a price of 99 cents since I used Free shipping by accident. The buyer was in CA, me in FL of course! I asked the buyer if I could cancel and no chance on that so I sucked it up as a most valuable lesson learned. You never forget. That one was a double looser!Good Morning Steve! To state what we all already know – What an absolutely amazing specialty niche you have created with electronics! Truly Imitating you would be akin to any real tradesman apprenticeship.
I really enjoyed the crispy cool end of the video with your canine and kitty companions. After 16+ years in silky air Naples, we are beginning to long for the north again, and we are in early stage one of planning our reverse climate ‘retirement’.
There have been several interesting sales for my store over the past two weeks with a welcomed modest uptick in sales.Rusty old Snap on Toolbox, BO $95, pd $5. Big and bulky yet easy enough to ship, although you cannot neglect proper cushioning. FedEx Home Delivery shipment is a must.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-Big-Tool-Box-vintage-heavy-duty-garage-Rat-Rod-with-Tray-21X9X9-1950s/254249612576?hash=item3b32753520:g:kEMAAOSwCa1bpvqkBates College yearbook lot, had them awhile, BO $50, they were becoming too precious to me! Found in the trash.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bates-College-yearbook-lot-1945-1946-1947-War-Years-Lewiston-Maine-Patch-extras/253671312344?hash=item3b0ffd0bd8:g:7WMAAOSwCcZZ-kDgA fancy thrift shop under priced this old thread box at $3. Sold for BO $45.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HB-Cotton-thread-wooden-box-sectioned-tray-wood-antique-textile-embroidery-spool/254192034563?hash=item3b2f06a303:g:XEkAAOSwrkdcqh8VAnother great Magic Lantern glass slide sale, bought as a lot for $50 with each slide costing less than $1, this one sold for asking $54 and shipped overseas.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Magic-Lantern-Glass-Slide-Java-Family-inside-hut-village-life-Malaysia-Javanese/254347500128?hash=item3b384ada60:g:cX4AAOSw~cJdbB4eBought a bunch of items from a flea vendor for $20 including a glass case full of curios and such. These earrings were part of it and I gladly took a BO of $65. I reported COGS at $5, but realize now the pair cost much less.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Georg-Jensen-Earrings-Sterling-925-HaH-Hans-Hansen-clip-on-modernist-signed/372736484161?hash=item56c8d36341:g:93gAAOSwahJdUC-wEtsy shows up with a sale worth posting, a 1972 vinyl Dakin Fox character toy, cost $2, sold for $35.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/640895201/1971-r-dakin-goofy-grams-fox-artist-gift?show_sold_out_detail=1&frs=1Happy hunting all! And remember to dress, pack, process, and preserve. You’re not just going to dump a carcass in your leaving room after the hunt, are you? I stayed home from hunting today. Have a few carcasses staring at me from last time.
Great podcast, and what cozy dispatches describing small town life! Funny, I thought I was pulling up last weeks to listen to again while processing stuff, and about 10 minutes in I realized it was a new podcast! I love the surprise Sunday evening podcasts.
10/06 – 10/12/19 (no cross listing is done between platforms)
eBay store: totommyto
Total store items: 889
Number of items sold: 13
Total eBay sales (not counting s/h): $394
Cost of items sold: $19
Highest price sold: $95 – biggish rusty old Snap on tool box, paid $5
Average price sold: $30.30
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: $3
Number of new items listed this week: 38
Sell through rate for the week: 1.5
Number International sales: 1Etsy store oldfleatoymarket
Total store items: 667
Number of items sold: 2
Total Etsy sales (not counting s/h): $43
Cost of items sold: $2
Highest price sold: $30 – Vintage Dakin vinyl fox character toy
Average price sold: $21.50
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: 0
Number of new items listed this week: 4
Sell through rate for the week: 0.3
Number International sales: 0Note on Etsy: I have changed over all listings to USA Free Shipping. I also spend $1 a day right now promoting items. I keep rooting for Etsy. RAH RAH
Note on my numbers:
COGS for eBay store should be $35, not $15, forgot to add the roped fish floats.9/29 – 10/05/19 (no cross listing is done between platforms)
eBay store: totommyto
Total store items: 865
Number of items sold: 10
Total eBay sales (not counting s/h): $452.42
Cost of items sold: $15
Highest price sold: $180 – old 30 foot long rope of fish floats, also another $140 s/h profit ($70 kicked back to the buyer). Found for $20.
Average price sold: $45.24
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: $141.00
Number of new items listed this week: 36
Sell through rate for the week: 1.2
Number International sales: 0Etsy store oldfleatoymarket
Total store items: 663
Number of items sold: 7
Total Etsy sales (not counting s/h): $118.44
Cost of items sold: $8
Highest price sold: $25.00 – Terra Sancta Guild 1960’s bookends $25, paid $3
Average price sold: $16.92
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: $28
Number of new items listed this week: 6
Sell through rate for the week: 1.1
Number International sales: 0Hello all, and what an excellent podcast restating the eBay Scavenger basics! I could relate just about every point to specific sales last week, and many of these sales would not have been so sweet, or have even existed without the lessons learned from this podcast. Thank you.
To sum that up in a live data sort of way, and stressing the all caps words:1. Three different PIPELINE sales from the patches, pins, and sticker categories. These items would have been long gone as large lots sold for way less money in the past. The COGS is mostly zero these days, long ago paid for.
2. A $65 BEST OFFER accepted for designer earrings that I PRICED HIGH and was more than happy to receive $65 for. Found for $5.
3. An crusty 30 Foot long fish net rope with floats sold for a best offer of $180, BIG & BULKY to be sure. Found for $20.
4. $30 for a vintage camera flash, since I decided to learn something about OTHER BRANDS like old camera stuff. Found for $1.
5. ODDBALL item sells for $25, a pair of felt letterman jacket letters, learned they were from the 1940’s with a little RESEARCH. Found for $1.
6. A so PRECIOUS to me lot of 3 old collage yearbooks sold for $50 best offer. Too bad! Found in the trash!
7. A LIST AND FORGET decanter that I hated looking at finally sold for $30 after 3 years. About $5 in it and glad to see it gone.There is a no SWEAT SHOP feel for me since most of what I sell is older and interesting. It has been great to simply change HANDLING TIME when away. The family and I sure enjoyed a long weekend in Orlando while most of last weeks sales happened! DEATH PILES have sort life spans in my process now thanks to SL focusing on the idle energy sucking ugliness of them. The work in progress is to build that GIANT INVENTORY. If I had not gotten my store up to where it at least is now, I shudder to think of how low my prices would need to be to make any money at all. I can see where my store needs to be many times larger to get good and consistent returns week after week.
Hello all, have not listened yet, looking forward to a quiet Monday morning in the workplace to do so, going to at least slap down my numbers, which are still slack.
9/15 – 9/21/19 (no cross listing is done between platforms)
eBay store: totommyto
Total store items: 830
Number of items sold: 4
Total eBay sales (not counting s/h): $145.00
Cost of items sold: $8.50
Highest price sold: $50 Vintage very portable GPX 1986 TV, paid $2.50
Average price sold: $36.25
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: $3
Number of new items listed this week: 9
Sell through rate for the week: 0.5
Number International sales: 1Etsy store oldfleatoymarket
Total store items: 666
Number of items sold: 3
Total Etsy sales (not counting s/h): $54.00
Cost of items sold: $5
Highest price sold: $24.00 – large steel hook
Average price sold: $18.00
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: $3
Number of new items listed this week: 0
Sell through rate for the week: 0.5
Number International sales: 0Thank you again Steve,
and thanks to Temudgin, and to Sharon for your time posting.Sales have been quiet for me, maybe rust does sleep! In any case, over the last month there have been several interesting sales on items not often shared or discussed on the forums.
This 11 inch Calypso steel drum is a well used rusty street instrument. The right key words and the authentic wear patina brought in $60, paid $1.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/USED-Steel-Drum-vintage-pan-red-black-metal-street-Calypso-Reggae-10-3-4/254341846763?hash=item3b37f496eb:g:72QAAOSw~IRdZEEcThis is the highest price received so far for one of the 60+ Antique Magic Lantern glass slides I’ve listed. Dayak headhunter trophies from Borneo, sold for $100, paid less than $1 each for a box full. I sure wish I had more skull shots!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Magic-Lantern-Glass-Slide-Rare-Hanging-heads-headhunter-Borneo-Warrior-Dayaks/254349107035?hash=item3b38635f5b:g:rIoAAOSwv7BdZFoXThis long handled hatchet is around 50 years old and I believe it was actually used to make the tracks for rail cars underground during mining operations. Paid $5, sold for $47
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-Axe-Hatchet-Primitive-Miners-Farm-Woodsman-Logging-tool-vintage-long-handle/372651842987?hash=item56c3c7ddab:g:xuYAAOSwW9NcspdQAntique set of Castor wheels, found for $5, sold for $60. There was one ‘jiggler’ in the bunch with all of the ball bearings missing.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Caster-Wheels-set-4-industrial-furniture-swivel-old-USA-lot-brass-steel/254284830532?hash=item3b348e9744:g:vRwAAOSw3IxdHQprI bought a bunch of nautical items, and this assortment of buoys probably cost around $10. I sold low for $70. They took up room and I was a bit hungry that week! They were easier to ship than they look.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Buoys-Fish-Net-Floats-rope-big-lot-weathered-pieces-commercial-fishing/372688785370?hash=item56c5fb8fda:g:7LoAAOSwzj9dAW~JQuiet week! Doing what I can. Great Podcast, thank you!
9/08– 9/14/19 (no cross listing is done between platforms)
eBay store: totommyto
Total store items: 827
Number of items sold: 6
Total eBay sales (not counting s/h): $143.50
Cost of items sold: $16
Highest price sold: $70 – Lot of old fish net buoys – paid $10
Average price sold: $24.92
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: $7
Number of new items listed this week: 25
Sell through rate for the week: 0.7
Number International sales: 0Etsy store oldfleatoymarket
Total store items: 669
Number of items sold: 5
Total Etsy sales (not counting s/h): $95.65
Cost of items sold: $5
Highest price sold: $21.25 – vintage mini tool set – paid $1.00
Average price sold: $19.13
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: $11
Number of new items listed this week: 17
Sell through rate for the week: 0.8
Number International sales: 03 days. I like. Your vacation situation, no like, hope you make that up soon.
I watched Irma roll in two years ago as a Cat 3, since we were stuck, we could only enjoy the sheer power. We came out OK. This last one kept us hostage in SW Fl for a few days, yet a total non issue for us weather wise once it made its move. The price of living in the sub tropics year round.Jay,
Now that statement is true punk!
“Our goal is to make sure our efficiency has some soul in it 🙂 We like to be efficient so we can live our lives well.”
That is the efficiency I constantly tweak as a part timer, and will most definitely be the only efficiency I will settle into if I ever Scavenge full time.
Hello Retro,
If I recall right, you had mentioned some time ago switching to 2 day handling. Is that correct? I too work a full time gig, and involved with family quite a bit. The 1 day handling time has jammed me up from time to time. After returning from a short trip, I’m considering keeping a 2 day handling time. I figured I would ask you after some time passed to hear your thoughts on it.
TomThank you for the podcast, back from a 5 day trip and great company packing. Interested to hear about Terrapeak…
9/01– 9/07/19 (no cross listing is done between platforms)
eBay store: totommyto
Total store items: 807
Number of items sold: 7
Total eBay sales (not counting s/h): $242
Cost of items sold: $19
Highest price sold: $100 – Single magic Lantern Slide – paid 60 cents (cost per slide listed)
Average price sold: $34.60
Returns: 1 – GM car part $42, did not fit, item price returned only.
Money spent on new inventory: 0
Number of new items listed this week: 51
Sell through rate for the week: 1.0
Number International sales: 1Etsy store oldfleatoymarket
Total store items: 656
Number of items sold: 2
Total Etsy sales (not counting s/h): $40
Cost of items sold: $2
Highest price sold: Each item sold for $20, an Oklahoma lapel pin, paid $1, and 9 old water spigots, paid $5.
Average price sold: $20
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: 0
Number of new items listed this week: 0
Sell through rate for the week: 0.3
Number International sales: 0Hello all, great podcast, and many thanks for the company this morning while taking photos. Listening through again now while posting.
Etsy, my little engine that normally could fell flat to only one sale for $25! It’s true that I didn’t toss her one chunk of coal all week, yet sales have never been that low for any reason.
eBay picked up to just about good sales for me, with a wide variety of items selling. I listed like a beast on eBay, yet to be honest, it was a ‘Magic Lantern Slides’ listing week, so a way easier process/flow than my usual eclectic mix of junk.8/25– 8/31/19 (no cross listing is done between platforms)
eBay store: totommyto
Total store items: 763
Number of items sold: 14
Total eBay sales (not counting s/h): $407.50
Cost of items sold: $23
Highest price sold: Two items sold for $60 each. An old rusted 13″ steel drum, paid $1. A set of 4 antique castor wheels, paid $5.
Average price sold: $29.10
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: 0
Number of new items listed this week: 52
Sell through rate for the week: 2.0
Number International sales: 3Etsy store oldfleatoymarket
Total store items: 658
Number of items sold: 1
Total Etsy sales (not counting s/h): $25
Cost of items sold: $2
Highest price sold: $25 – vintage small brass pulley swivel with hook – paid $2
Average price sold: $25
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: 0
Number of new items listed this week: 0
Sell through rate for the week: 0.2
Number International sales: 0Hello all, have not listened yet, so looking forward to listening while listing in the morning.
A quiet week for me with Etsy outperforming eBay.8/18– 8/24/19 (no cross listing is done between platforms)
eBay store: totommyto
Total store items: 724
Number of items sold: 4
Total eBay sales (not counting s/h): $88.75
Cost of items sold: $6
Highest price sold: $35 – older Thomas Nelson NKJV Bible, paid $1.00
Average price sold: $22
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: $40
Number of new items listed this week: 12
Sell through rate for the week: 0.6
Number International sales: 0Etsy store oldfleatoymarket
Total store items: 661
Number of items sold: 9
Total Etsy sales (not counting s/h): $142
Cost of items sold: $11
Highest price sold: $25 – set of four small vintage plastic nursery containers – paid $2
Average price sold: $16
Returns: 0
Money spent on new inventory: $10
Number of new items listed this week: 8
Sell through rate for the week: 1.4
Number International sales: 3
