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Welcome! Sounds like you’re doing what I did with regards to the podcast. I found it a little over a year ago, listened to one or two recent episodes, and then started listening from the beginning. I listen primarily while working at my M-F day job, and am currently about half way through my fourth listen-through of the whole lot. Every time through I hear or pick up something I hadn’t before.
I haven’t personally taken any of my packages across, but as I understand it, there’s a form/manifest that gets filled out each time you’re crossing (declares values, destinations, and countries of manufacture), and other than that, it’s pretty easy. I don’t think there’s any duty/etc payable, unless the items are >$800. If you’re on Facebook, there’s a “Canadian Ebay Sellers” group, and a few of the people there take their own stuff across. May be worth looking into if you sell a fair bit.
I generally sell vintage, one of a kind stuff, but will sell just about anything I can make a decent return on. Not sure specifically where you’re at, but I know we hit stores in Nelson, New Denver, Creston, Crankbrook, and Sparwood (all likely further North and East than you) when we were through there in August. We did pretty well at a few garage sales while we were out there too. If I lived in the area, I’d try and load up as much as possible during the summers.
Welcome from Alberta!
I don’t think that there is (I looked briefly last summer when we visited the area), but see if you can find a cross-border shipper in your area. I know there are a few that operate out of Vancouver, just not sure if there are any in the interior. I use one here in Alberta, and it has been a total game changer. I’m able to ship via USPS/FedEx/UPS from Montana, and it really helps level the playing field with regards to shipping costs. It also allows me access to the GSP, free USPS shipping supplies, and most importantly, tracking on even the smallest items.
For that matter, if you’re far enough south, and decide to ramp your store up, and are shipping more items, it may be worth considering driving your own packages across the border into WA/ID a few times a week.
Un-related, I’ve been from coast-to-coast in Canada, and the Koots is hands down my favorite area. To the point that my wife and I have it on our short list of potential areas to move to if/when we’re able to make ebay a full-time gig.
On canvas, yep. Looks to have had a small repair (just behind her wings) at one point. Came out of a local estate.
…I think this fits the theme. I’m not sure if it’s awesome, or terrible. It appears to be an angel smoking? Frame is awesome if nothing else…
Well, I countered at $275. Buyer declined, so it’s a non-issue now. Felt pretty fishy though.
Yeah, I don’t very often worry about scammers, and have sold lots to brand new “0” buyers with no issue. This one just felt off for some reason.
I’ll counter, and cross fingers! Thanks all!
Nicely done!
Sometimes you’ve got to go all-in when you see an opportunity. Back in September, I spent $400 on a collection of approximately 1500 vintage trucker hats. Completely filled the 8′ box of my pickup, along with the back seat.
To date, I’ve listed probably 250 of them, sold about 40, and have made over $1000, and that’s not factoring in patches that I’ve sold off of some that had deteriorated.
Hope it turns out to be a giant home run for you!
Linda:
I definitely can’t say that I’ve done it fully alone. My wife is not only supportive, she’s involved too. I’d say she’s listed about 50 of the items in our smaller account, she goes buying with me on weekends when we’ve got time, and she likes helping me pack in the evenings. I’d estimate I carry 80-85% of our ebay load, but I’m definitely not alone!
As for income goals, for last year, my goals were to increase my listings by 100 each month, and get to a consistent $50/day gross on average. Currently our goal is to increase listings by 100 each month, and get to a consistent $75/day gross on average. We’re primarily using the extra income to pay down debt, and it’s really rewarding/exciting to watch it shrink.
shortandstout:
I started listing in January 2016. I was listening to the SL podcast while at work, and figured why not. I started by listing stuff around the house with a goal of listing one item each morning before work. Once I started to see sales coming in, I got hooked, and started listing 2 or 3 on many days. By May/June, I went full-bore at it.
From around 300-600 listings, there was a definite increase in sales. It seemed like I couldn’t list fast enough to keep up. From 600-1000 it seems like things have normalized a bit. I’m averaging around two sales and $60 a day (gross) over the last few months.
I generally aim to increase the number of listings I’ve got by 100 per month, so listing 140-160 items total most months. It’s a real struggle some months with a full-time M-F job, but worth it in the end. 1000 was my target for March 1st, so I’m a few weeks ahead of schedule. I’ll keep pushing hard, and intend to keep listing as long as my storage allows… …then I’ll get a storage unit or figure out another way to keep expanding.
Thanks for all of the support your podcast has offered along the way. Absolutely invaluable.
I’m guessing it’s a salt cellar. I see them quite often at antique shows/auctions, and they’re usually just called “salts”
Yours looks newer, but years ago, with each place setting at a table would be a “salt” and a spoon, so that diners could season their food to taste. Just a pre salt shaker really…
I may be way off though, since yours looks new-ish?
How much was the set worth?
As far as I’m aware, all you can do it tell them to send it back for a refund, and hope you’re calling their bluff. The fact that they turned down $50 would lead me to believe they want to keep the set pretty badly.
Worst case, they agree to send it back, and you eat it. Chock it up to cost of doing business.
Best case, they do nothing, you’ve satisfied ebay, and you keep your money.
I’ve had this happen in the past, and had it go both ways.
I’m guessing it’s either mahogany or walnut. Doesn’t seem to be enough open grain to be oak. No markings whatsoever on it? Nails? Square or round? Screws? Neither?
Nails generally indicate older than screws, especially if they’re square cut nails.
Style wise, I’d guess it to be around the early 1900’s.
I can agree with most points here, and I think my wife and I are in a pretty good place at most of our local auctions. Our two favourites know us, and watch for us to bid, but neither the auctioneers nor the patrons know where we sell (that I’m aware of at least). No one asks, so we don’t tell.
We generally frequent antique auctions, so most people likely assume we’ve got a booth in an antique mall or something.
Sometimes being friendly with your auctioneer works out well, others it’s a pain. Yesterday was an example; my wife was planning to bid a lot of glassware up to about $20. She ended up getting it for $10, but the auctioneer said “by the way, you just bought everything else on the table with it too”, chuckled, and carried on. We got what we wanted, for less than we hoped to pay, but had to take a bunch of other junk that we’ll likely donate. I doubt the auctioneer would have pulled that move on a stranger…
