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Sharyn, thanks for the heads up on spreading the shipping refund over each item when refunding for combined shipping on multiple items purchased. I’ve just been picking one of the payments in a combined sold lot and refunding the excess shipping. I never even contemplated what would happen if the buyer returned just part of a combined purchase. I will now change to the method you described. I appreciate your knowledge!
scott2: Those are gorgeous! Incredible workmanship and a cool Scandinavian design / Frank Lloyd Wright MCM style – I’d be proud to have those cabinets in my dining room!
Thank you to our stalwart Listing Challenge members for adding to this thread!
Sharyn: Thank you for sharing your positives and for mentioning that this “pause” is good for the earth environmentally. I hadn’t thought of that and it’s an incredible positive for the entire world!
ChristineR: Your generosity and caring spirit inspire me to do even more for those less fortunate in these difficult times. Your children have a fine model in you on how be compassionate and community minded individuals.
VintageLacy: Your Easter story lifted my spirits immensely and made me wish I was one of your nearby friends! Your antics are so fun to read about; they inspire me to add more free-spirited fun to my life.
Amatino: You always are the first in line to support and back me up, you’re simply the best!
Hello Fellow Listing Challengers!
With the gracious permission of our fearless leader Amatino I’m posting this thread:-
Finding the Pandemic Positives
I’d love to hear any positives you’ve experienced as a reseller during the Pandemic. Let me also say that I sincerely hope no one is offended by me trying to find any positives during this terrible time. I am completely aware that this is a catastrophic event, people are dying, and the economy is in a terrible mess from this – and I don’t take it lightly! I’m just trying to find anything positive amidst all the negatives. Please post here if you’d like to join in.
Here are the positives for me:
1. My craft items are selling more quickly now that so many people are stuck at home with time on their hands.2. I’m selling a lot more fabric, probably due to all the face mask making and free time people now have to quilt and sew. Same thing with sewing patterns, they’re selling faster too.
3. I’ve had to find new ways to source inventory. I never bothered with alternative ways to source before now – because the thrift stores and outlet bins were such an easy go-to for me.
4. I’ve had to go through my “shelter in place” piles and list the stuff that I passed over before.
I’ve always been one to list the easy items first and had the bad habit of going out and buying more easy to list items instead of buckling down and listing the more complicated (or needs work) items I already owned. Now I’m listing those more complicated to list items.5. I had time to organize my unlisted inventory and time to organize the hundreds of old photos I have of said unlisted inventory. To be honest, since I’m retired, I always had time for this. But instead of doing it I’d run out to thrift store shop instead. The thrift stores closing have really helped me with my bad run out to shop instead of doing eBay housekeeping habit.
22 new listings for me this week. I didn’t make my listing goal (again) but I’m trying to be easy on myself during these trying times. I finished a lot of organizational work on my unlisted inventory and the hundreds of photos I already have of my unlisted inventory. Hopefully that will pay off with more listings in the future:)
LBH: Glad to hear amidst all the chaos you’re experiencing that your insurance will cover the cost of the repairs. That’s at least one thing that went well for you in a really bad situation. With the pandemic going on it’s hard to tolerate even one more thing going wrong; I totally get where you’re coming from. I’m trying to concentrate on that fact that I’m alive and healthy when I’m feeling anxious about any extra problems that come up. I hope things are on the upswing for you – and for everyone.
Wishing everyone a safe and healthy week!
Perhaps I could have worded my reply a little better. Mostly I don’t like to use extra paper because as far as I know paper is made from trees and I’d rather not contribute to chopping down any extra trees if I can help it. That’s also why I try not to use paper towels. I don’t avoid toilet paper though, although I’ve heard some crazy alternatives since toilet paper has become so scarce – LOL!
After 15 years on eBay that would be a lot of sheets of paper if I had put a packing slip in every package I sent. I wonder how many trees that would add up to? Having never had a package that was unable to be delivered due to a label being damaged I think I’m willing to chance not having a packing slip inside the package as a back up for delivery.
As for being professional, I don’t think people expect vintage thrift store items to arrive like brand new purchases with packing slips included. I think a less big box approach is fine. I do have 100% positive feedback and I’ve never had anyone ask where their packing slip was. But this is just my own opinion and my own experience. Everyone should do what works for them…
I don’t provide packing slips or invoices at all. I feel it wastes paper and it takes extra time to print them and match them up with the item.
When I buy vintage stuff on eBay I don’t expect to receive an invoice/packing slip and since I’m also selling mostly vintage items I don’t my customers expect an invoice either. In over 15 years on eBay I’ve never had anyone contact me wanting an invoice or saying it was missing from their package.
I haven’t sold many puzzles but here is my experience with the few I’ve sold.
The first puzzle I sold (years ago) was large and heavy. In order to keep the weight from going into the next priority price range I just wrapped it well and mailed it. One corner of the box was damaged in the mail and I had to give a partial refund.
Now I tape cardboard on all sides but if that raises the priority postage too much I just enclose in bubble wrap and then wrap in priority mail envelopes with a lot of tape.
I’ve avoided buying the less expensive puzzles due to the shipping costs, but I appreciate the tip from Clarity about selling less expensive puzzles in lots.
Aww, Amatino you’re the best! I’ll email you with my info. Thank you a million times over!
Amatino, what about extra points for listing fool’s gold? In honor of “I pity the fool who doesn’t eat my cereal” and April Fool’s Day.
ChristineR: What’s selling well for me are sewing patterns, fabric and craft kits. But I’m not sure if that really means anything since that’s pretty much all I sell. All low dollar things and things that can be done inside the home and great when you have a lot of extra time on your hands.
I did finally sell a puzzle I’d had listed for a while. I wish some had puzzles to list but I rarely pick them up if they are open – due to the curse of the missing piece. What is selling well for you?
ChristineR I’m with you on Tiger King. I heard the description from a friend and I couldn’t even try it. I just started Unorthodox, the acting is really good, but I’ve only seen the first episode so not really sure of the story line yet…
I forgot to mention Corner Gas. I heard about it on this forum a while ago so I checked it out. I ended up watching all the episodes, I really enjoyed it!
Amatino, your mask count is my eBay count and my mask count is near your eBay count. If I sew 1 mask a day that’s a lot for me. You are awesome to be making so many masks for so many people!
I really like repetitive tasks but even I am tired of mask sewing already. And I’ve probably only made a half dozen so far. Like you I’m thinking “what if a mask I make saves someone’s life”? So I’ve promised many more and I’m trying to production line sew the shelter masks this week: cut a lot first, all in the same color with no thread changes – in order to speed up the output. I love the creative side of each mask being different – but it just takes too long. I have been getting up at 3 every morning though – which helps as far as finding time to do stuff.
Utahbill: I think the trick to listing a lot is to list all your similar items at the same time. Write one listing and then just “sell similar” and change the photos and a few details. For instance if you had 50 pieces of fabric to list. And not write a novel for the description – like I still do – LOL!
Only 25 for me, I’ve been busy making face masks for everybody who declined them when I offered them a few weeks ago. Uh huh, I was pretty sure they’d come crawling back 🙂 Plus the animal shelter where I (used to) volunteer has requested 100 masks for the paid staff caring for the animals. Hopefully there are more volunteers who know how to sew than just the handful I know of. I’d have to abandon eBay entirely to make 100 face masks along with all the masks I’ve promised to friends and family.
Like Vintage Lacy some of the fabric I’ve had listed forever has sold recently. I’m probably going to put face mask in the titles of all my cotton fabric listings. The listing I had with those words in the title sold immediately. I also feel better about my fabric collecting problem now that everyone needs fabric. I have plenty to list AND to use for all the masks I’m making.
