posted on November 23, 2003 05:34:55 PM new
As per title of post, I hope I am not asking for too much help today. Am making a great push to get things listed, and try to do the best I can for descriptions, etc. (I am so tired tho, got about two hours sleep and feel like this computer is attached to my being!) Anyway, have these what look like vintage xmas glasses. No markings. Wear on the gold trim. What do you think, worth listing?? (libby? hazel? schmuck buyer like me glasses...lol) Boy, when max says thin line between hobby and mental illness,he isnt kidding is he?
Thanks much for you imput!
posted on November 23, 2003 05:58:38 PM new
This is not really about the Christmas ( I had a 5th Grade teacher that made us all promise to never use the shortcut word of 'Xmas' ) tumblers but about selling lower end items on ebay in general -----
A week or so ago there was a poster at the OTWA site that said she got the courage up to box up all of her ebay stuff and gave it to the Goodwill and that she reclaimed both her extra room and life by doing so. She was warmly approved by many other sellers that envied her courage.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on November 23, 2003 06:46:10 PM new
LOL...Ace, youre right about "xmas", wonder how that started anyway? But I am moving fast here, and cutting corners to accomplish something!!! At least I think I am....haha
And you know I was thinking that just before I read your post. This ebay has taken over my whole house, practically my whole life! I spent the better part of my weekend at garage and estate sales. Went on a buying binge and now looking around and thinking I am in deep do-do with all this "stuff". I feel I am sort of stuck for now as I've invested what little money I'd had and like to recoup at least my costs, if that is the best that can happen.
But yes, that woman IS to be envied that she has reclaimed her life. I wanted to go see that new Robert Downey movie or the one with Tim Robbins this weekend and where's the time?
I am listing a few more and then calling it a night on myself.
posted on November 23, 2003 06:55:51 PM new
Ace you are right. A month ago I started on my eBay room, not to give it to goodwill but to toss it out and toss I did. My room has a floor which I haven't seen for awhile. There is still clutter but a lot less and soon I hope that less is gone. You know when you sell a certain product you think you can branch out instead of staying with your first product which I did and now I am so sorry well soon the second, third and probably fourth products will be gone and my first product which is contained in drawers will still be here for me to sell. Now, don't ask why I didn't give it to the goodwill because I felt is wasn't goodwill material. I hate going to the goodwill seeing items that they put high price tags on, chipped items etc and I said I didn't want that to happen to my junque so I tossed it out. Made me feel really good. Sorry about the rambling but it is this time of year when we reflect on what we did the past year and I want to change and change I must.
Your glasses I don't know. Libby or Anchor Hocking ususally marked their glasses that is all I can say. Good Luck and thanks for letting me ramble. Merry Christmas
[ edited by Libra63 on Nov 23, 2003 06:58 PM ]
posted on November 23, 2003 07:03:42 PM new
My dad, the Protestant minister, and most of his minister pals thought X was an insult to use instead of "Christ" in Christmas. In later years, people pointed out that X was an early Christian symbol for Christ, used as the Greek letter Chi.
So imagine my astonishment when typing my husband's minister dad's correspondence from seminary in the 30s--he used X as in Xmas all the time! So go figure. (We were surrounded by ministers; no wonder we grew up cynical and suspicious of churches.)
___________________________________
Junk: Stuff we throw away.
Stuff: Junk we keep.
posted on November 23, 2003 07:19:59 PM new
lantent double post -- I'm cleaning out my rooms and Goodwilling or landfilling a lot of stuff that use to sell on ebay and Yahoo but now is impossible to even give away. I'm cutting way back on listing too, it's getting harder and harder to find stuff that will actually sell at any kind of a decent profit. As BB King would sing 'The Thrill is Gone'.
posted on November 23, 2003 07:45:27 PM new
Hi all,
Ace, you hit the nail on the head!
A few months ago I took two carloads to the church rummage and came back with one tiny box of nice stuff. They did do very well - over $200 - but it's getting harder and harder to find things that'll sell for a decent price. I wouldn't have found them if I hadn't been helping set up the sale.
Although I do have the luxury of an eBay room, most of the stuff in there I am finally realizing is not worth the time to list.
So, instead of spending my time prowling around looking for eBay inventory, I've been sorting what I already have into three categories:
1. Things I'll keep, which are few and far between.
2. Stuff for eBay. This gets a quick research and if it doesn't look like a decent sale price it goes into #3 mode. Ditto if packing is going to be a pain or the pictures are gonna give me fits.
3. Everything else. This last batch will go one of two places. A two-bit yard sale, unless I get tired of looking at it before I get around to that, or the thrift shop.
posted on November 23, 2003 08:31:51 PM new
I had a set of 7 matching Christmas glass tumblers and when I thought of the high s/h I'd have to place on them and I thought about the double boxing and the animals at the post office still managing to break a glass or two anyway, and I gave the darn things away. They were a freebie anyway.
I don't even want most freebies anymore because most people don't usually give anyway good stuff and the occassional good stuff you get is too heavy to send without a very high s/h.
When I first got hooked on selling on ebay almost five years ago I went through every drawer, closet, box, etc. in the house that I could find and listed stuff like crazy. The amazing thing was that at least 70% of that stuff sold at great prices and multiple bids. That same stuff listed now would no only not get bids but would have few counter hits. Ebay has evolved a LOT.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on November 24, 2003 01:44:51 AM new
hubby and i have decided to move after quite a few years in the same place. we are moving the day after Christmas.
my ebay stuff is kept in the garage and in our shed off the patio. I will probably list quite a bit before the move.
household items that we aren't planning to take with us is also going into the garage.
our boys have been invite to go through the stuff and take anything they might want, the rest is going off to Amvet or the trash.
when I first started listing on ebay, just a couple of years ago, it was a really fun hobby. things would get bids and sell really high, sometimes just amazing me. now it has become too much like work. take pictures for hours, type even longer, then wait to see if perchance the item sells.
after the move I will still be listing, but will be much more selective as to what i list. no big bulky problem shipping items anymore.
posted on November 24, 2003 06:34:29 AM new
Lucy, thanks for the suggestion. You're probably right. (I must have Christmas Nostalia syndrome....thought others might have it too.)
Rarriffle, sometimes I wonder what the he** I am doing and how I got 'caught up in this'?
What stunns me is I have some pretty decent stuff to sell (some of it anyway) and find myself spinning wheels on trying to list the kookiest things. (Like when I found those unused funnells. - What was I thinking wasting my time on that???????)ha.
I am going to try a store for a bit and see if that does anything. But I know that I need to "not acquire any more stuff no matter how "neat" I think it is. I really wish I could do a small wholesale deal like the other smarter sellers here because like you said, this becoming WORK and Work and its never ending.
posted on November 24, 2003 07:24:26 AM new
I am sure we can all agree that eBay is not a 9-5 job but a 24/7 headache. What makes the headache is the buyers that keep asking dumb questions, bid and not pay and I am sure there are other reasons also. What is upsetting is that we spend our time with a 7 day auction and do not get bids until the very last minute. I am with you neroter12 about wholesale selling, but difficult to find products to sell. I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving day and a prosperous December.
posted on November 24, 2003 09:53:50 AM new
Wow..what a suprise to come here and find this thread today.
I am officially throwing in the towel, at least for the next 6 months to a year. Anyone out there thinking selling on commission might be a good idea..run, run very fast, in the other direction..unless of course you can find a steady supply of items that will get bids for *at least* $100..and then it's dicey.
By the time all of the fees and other costs filter down, it's not even close to worth the time invested. I'd be better off getting a second job part time somewhere.
I'm going to give my personal stash a run through, and then the rest is out the door to the goodwill.
I'm toying with the idea of putting away some money over the next year or so to try a wholesale purchase, but I'm not entirely sure about that, either.
In all honesty, it makes me feel like a loser, like I just didn't have what it takes, but at some point, you have to cut your losses. The bids are in the toilet, and the people bidding are getting harder and harder to deal with. Hats off to those who are making it work.
posted on November 24, 2003 10:34:17 AM new
I am also cutting way back on my ebay sales. I was working on it about 12 hours a day and I will be cutting back to about 3. I've moved in with my sweety and so I no longer have to "make enough for the rent". Talk about stress reduction. Now I can ebay because I want to...not because I have to. I'm hoping that helps it become fun again. My Powerseller status will go by the wayside but thats a small price to pay for stress reduction.
The move on the otherhand was so difficult. It's hard to believe you can hold so much ebay "inventory" in a three bedroom apartment. I probably tossed 1000 books and a dumpster full of other items.
I've still rented a storage unit to place a bunch of stuff in. I should have started going thru things sooner because I ran out of time to go thru things and had to make my move out deadline. The week I moved out we had -6 degree weather and it was not fun at all.
posted on November 24, 2003 01:35:53 PM new
You guys and Gals would be so proud of me lol I cleaned my desk and e-bay room Friday and Had a Yard Sale Sat. and what didn't sell went to The Salvation Army ...did pretty good at the yard sale too! I only keep stuff that was still listed on e-bay and stuff I knew should make a good profit.Down to just 4 large boxes of stuff.
posted on November 24, 2003 02:07:46 PM new
Hi all,
Interesting... So many of us thinking the same thing.
Tessa, I'm glad you started this thread. It's nice to know I'm not the only one realizing eBay isn't as much fun or as profitable as it was a few years ago.
Deana, as far as feeling like a loser, get rid of that thought! Your post is right on the button. Knowing when to change is a sure sign of a winner.
The bidders are few and far between and most of them are brand new. Not that that's bad but they do take a lot of hand holding and some of them don't realize when they bid on something they're expected to pay.
My last few deadbeats were brand new. One guy sent me a cry letter claiming SEVERAL money orders he sent went astray. Yeah, right. I filed NPB and FVF on him and he's now dust.
Last night I sold six items out of twelve. The TOTAL feedback for the six bidders? 52! To their credit, three have already paid and two have written for payment info.
and e-bay room Friday and Had a Yard Sale Sat. and what didn't sell went to The Salvation Army ...did pretty good at the yard sale too! I only keep stuff that was still listed on e-bay and stuff I knew should make a good profit.Down to just 4 large boxes of stuff.