Everyone must move on.
Better jobs, retirement.
But we really miss Sheila and Randy at our little post office.
Within one week both of the regular counter people were GONE!!! One moved up to a full time job in a larger post office but he had to move to a larger town. The other one retired, a hard earned and well deserved retirement.
But I'm totally selfish. I want them back. Or at least their clones.
It used to be fun to go to the post office every day. But now the postmaster is the counter person and some days we get the temp person who fills in at various post office when vacations and sickness requires extra hands.
And the lines!!!
What used to take less than 5 minutes, on a really busy day now takes 10-20 minutes.
Now I can hear all of you asking why I go to the post office every day. Glad you asked. Well, its close by, some days I have more packages than will fit in my mail box and because I want to. My SweetiePie is disabled and he would sit home for days if we didn't go to the post office. So we go to the post office every day, if I have something to ship, and then we run errands or take care of doctors visits or go shopping. Something, anything to get out in the world. And then I come home and work.
But Sheila and Randy were a nice part of our day. Always smiling and ready to help. Quick in and out and on with our business.
While I wish them well, I kinda want them back until we get the new people "trained" appropriately.
And from the looks of things that will be a while.
front porch trash
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
It really does help...Sell Similar!!
There was a discussion over on Scavenger Life recently about refreshing your listings to keep them up in the rankings. It seems that Cassini doesn't like listings that have a lot of views but no purchases. It makes sense that they want to keep things moving and if things aren't selling they aren't very interesting...to Cassini.
I began in late February with any listing that had 100 or more views and were about to renew for another 30 days. I would wait until the day before they were set to renew and end the listing, edit anything that needed changing, like the recent postal rate change, and then do sell similar. I have had 5-6 sales that hit a couple of days after I renewed and refreshed them. And more have had questions and what seems renewed interest. So, while I didn't specifically track any listing, I have seen some results. Didn't keep track of the total but I would guess $100-150 based on my average sale price. Not bad for 2 minutes of work a day.
Recent Finds
I've been trying my best to not go shopping. SweetiePie has been really great about helping when I go shopping but he looks at everything!!! I have certain things I look at in certain stores. For instance I don't look at too many clothes in GW in our area because they are more expensive, just the bins. I go for shoes and household because they are more reasonable. Today I found this primitive cabinet The wood is a little scuffed but not really bad. Each part of the cabinet door is outlined with a routed out border. The stars, moon, tiles on the roof, doors, everything is outlined with a routed border. And a scalloped border all around the outside edge
See the plain old wooden knob? That looks like a church? in front but what is that in the back? a hospital, seminary, or what?
I have been on a quest for old slides. I thought I had scored several months ago when I saw a stack of old Kodak carousels in GW but they were all empty. And several more times I have found just the empty carousels. Does GW throw away all of the slides or does the donor keep them? I kinda voting for the family to keep them. Some of the ones I have seen are amazing.
I finally found a few slides.
45 boxes with 36 slides each. 1600+ They date from 1961 to 1969. Its interesting that the box on the left with 18 boxes has all of the index cards filled in while after box 18 just a number on the box. I also picked up a projector at the same time for 40% off. The slide boxes were priced at $1 each, but...when I went to check out they were 40% off. Seems that they had been there since 1/24/16. How did I miss them? I hadn't been to the Habitat ReStore since the first of the year and they were still there waiting for me!!! I just grabbed one of the boxes in the store and look at the caption for this box of slides!!
Shea stadium in 1965, Wall Street, NY Skyline, the UN building. I can't wait to look at all of the pictures. I'm sure that some are not appropriate to list but I think I can make my $28 and more.
This is one time when I was glad I took time to shop!!!
I began in late February with any listing that had 100 or more views and were about to renew for another 30 days. I would wait until the day before they were set to renew and end the listing, edit anything that needed changing, like the recent postal rate change, and then do sell similar. I have had 5-6 sales that hit a couple of days after I renewed and refreshed them. And more have had questions and what seems renewed interest. So, while I didn't specifically track any listing, I have seen some results. Didn't keep track of the total but I would guess $100-150 based on my average sale price. Not bad for 2 minutes of work a day.
Recent Finds
I've been trying my best to not go shopping. SweetiePie has been really great about helping when I go shopping but he looks at everything!!! I have certain things I look at in certain stores. For instance I don't look at too many clothes in GW in our area because they are more expensive, just the bins. I go for shoes and household because they are more reasonable. Today I found this primitive cabinet The wood is a little scuffed but not really bad. Each part of the cabinet door is outlined with a routed out border. The stars, moon, tiles on the roof, doors, everything is outlined with a routed border. And a scalloped border all around the outside edge
See the plain old wooden knob? That looks like a church? in front but what is that in the back? a hospital, seminary, or what?I have been on a quest for old slides. I thought I had scored several months ago when I saw a stack of old Kodak carousels in GW but they were all empty. And several more times I have found just the empty carousels. Does GW throw away all of the slides or does the donor keep them? I kinda voting for the family to keep them. Some of the ones I have seen are amazing.
I finally found a few slides.
45 boxes with 36 slides each. 1600+ They date from 1961 to 1969. Its interesting that the box on the left with 18 boxes has all of the index cards filled in while after box 18 just a number on the box. I also picked up a projector at the same time for 40% off. The slide boxes were priced at $1 each, but...when I went to check out they were 40% off. Seems that they had been there since 1/24/16. How did I miss them? I hadn't been to the Habitat ReStore since the first of the year and they were still there waiting for me!!! I just grabbed one of the boxes in the store and look at the caption for this box of slides!!
Shea stadium in 1965, Wall Street, NY Skyline, the UN building. I can't wait to look at all of the pictures. I'm sure that some are not appropriate to list but I think I can make my $28 and more.This is one time when I was glad I took time to shop!!!
Thursday, March 31, 2016
A New Low Point in Listing?
Is this a low point in my listing career on ebay?
I have just scheuled cemetery burial plots to list on ebay.
A little history:
In 1964 my parents decided to purchase a burial plot with 2 extra spaces for anyone else in the family. I don't know what brought about this decision. They already had space at two different locations. It must have been the pushy salesman because I recently visited the site and saw a lot of neighbors I remember growing up. Don't get me wrong, its a nice spot out in the country with lots of open space, perpetual care so it will always look nice and good "neighbors".
After both parents passed away and were buried in a family plot, it became my job to sell these plots. No one in the family wants the space. Its not like you can call up an aunt or cousin and inquire if they would be interested in some "special real estate". Their next call would be to the doctor to get a check up and make sure they aren't going to need it any time soon.
I have tried several times with ads in the local paper and have had exactly 1 call in reference to the spaces. Its not like someone is beating down the door to get this real estate. Its out in the country where none of my immediate family live any more.
So....I thought I would give ebay a try. The customer service representative at the cemetery said most plots are resold thru word of mouth by family and friends. My dad would have been 107 on his birthday this month. I think its safe to say that most of his friends and family are not in need of my real estate. They have their own.
So I just did the math on the fees for selling on ebay and I won't be getting rich. I just want them sold. Its not like an investment property that I can rent out or use as a vacation spot.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Ahhh Spring....come on down!!!
We have been getting a taste of Spring these last couple of weeks. A day here...a day there...pollen here...pollen there...pollen everywhere. If warm weather and Spring come with pollen, which we all know it does, then me and my Kleenex are ready!!
If you remember my last post I commented that sales for March were surpassing February by leaps and bounds. Well, put my foot in my mouth. After that post I had two days with a dismal one item per day and those items were 12.99 and 14.99. Goes to show you that it doesn't pay to gloat. But on the whole it has averaged out and I did pass February sales by the 14th of March. Just in time for ebay fees!!
To tell you how dismal my February sales were my fees were only 199.20 and I have a store and the store is 179.00 per month. So I am ready for some good sales.
I have been monitoring my items as they come up for renewal in their 30 day cycle. Anything with over 100 views total I have been ending the item and relisting it as sell similar so it would wipe out the viewing history.I can't say that it is having a huge difference in sales but I have noticed a few things that have sold once I have wiped out the history and made them new. I had two just yesterday for 50.00 total. I think that I will continue to do this and keep everything upgraded. I have also been adjusting some of my shipping charges and lowereing a few prices. Sold a vtg sweater today that had been listed for 3 years. I had just relisted and lowered the price by 5.00. Must have been the magic number. Only cost me 25 cents 3 years ago.
I have been so good, trying not to go on a shopping spree. But sometimes you just can't help it. The spending bug just bites you in the...you know. This time it was a good thing.
Once everything is inspected I'm allowed to begin the job of transforming junk into cash.
My favorite charity thrift store has undergone a transformation. It has gone from a good place to find bargains to a place that has high prices. Pants and jeans have gone from 3.49 to 4.99, 5.99 and more. Blouses have gone from 2.99 to 4.99 and 5.99. Mens blazers from 6.99 to 8.99 and 9.99. And they no longer have coupons of any kind. I haven't seen any color tag days in my few visits. Even though the have gone to colored paper tags instead of just the colored plastic tag holders. But wait, it gets better.
Bag day is back!!! Seven days a week you can get a large garbage bag of stuff for $5.00. They had bag day last year only on Tuesday and Thursday and the bags were $10.00. Finally a price I can afford.
This is about 1/3 of what I got. The rest has been sorted and moved around. A few mens wool blazers, wool sweaters, cotton sweaters, linen pants, linen blouses, jeans, ball caps, knitted winter hats, vintage sheets, pillowcases.
We went on Monday and that must have been the first day because they were arranging the racks outside and were having a problem deciding how to place them. So I got a pretty good haul that day. I only purchased one bag but I chose wisely and filled it up with 29 bulky items. Mens blazers, womens jackets, sweaters and smaller things. I also had a customer loyalty card with all the spots punched and could get 20% off, so my bag was only $4. That folks, is 13.7 cents per item. My kinda price. So good that I decided to go back on Wednesday for more retail fun. I had seen several vintage coats that I should have picked up on Monday but passed on them because winter coats and spring don't mix and I really didn't want to store them. But I got to thinking and figured out where I could put them so back I went.
On Wednesday I was determined to get the best of everything outside on the sale racks. But everything was picked over, it was crowded and I got only one 5.00 bag. But oddly enough I still packed it, not quite as full, with 29 items. That works out to 17.24 cents per item!!
I found jeans this time and several blazers and some sweaters and a dress or two. No high end stuff, just bread and butter.
And did I mention that they have two bins inside with small items. Scarves, caps, hats, gloves, bras, yuckey undies, socks and an odd variety of stuff. I picked up quite a few bras, ball caps, some winter hats and probably a couple of diseases. But everything was a quarter!! Next time I will remember my gloves. I love to dig but sometimes the yuck factor is just too much.
A fun find in the 25 cents bin. Someone somewhere will NEED this for halloween. I picture it on a big hairy chested guy, just for fun. Real coconuts...ouch.
On a different note. Can anyone tell me anything about Carruth? I found this silver turtle, 1 1/8" long and it is marked Carruth 1999. The quality is good and it looks like silver, weighs 1.6oz, but I can't find anything about it. Carruth online looks like a handmade jewelry and art piece kinda place. Does anyone know anything else about it?
Any help is appreciated.
Okay everyone, back to listing and selling and packing and shipping!!!
If you remember my last post I commented that sales for March were surpassing February by leaps and bounds. Well, put my foot in my mouth. After that post I had two days with a dismal one item per day and those items were 12.99 and 14.99. Goes to show you that it doesn't pay to gloat. But on the whole it has averaged out and I did pass February sales by the 14th of March. Just in time for ebay fees!!
To tell you how dismal my February sales were my fees were only 199.20 and I have a store and the store is 179.00 per month. So I am ready for some good sales.
I have been monitoring my items as they come up for renewal in their 30 day cycle. Anything with over 100 views total I have been ending the item and relisting it as sell similar so it would wipe out the viewing history.I can't say that it is having a huge difference in sales but I have noticed a few things that have sold once I have wiped out the history and made them new. I had two just yesterday for 50.00 total. I think that I will continue to do this and keep everything upgraded. I have also been adjusting some of my shipping charges and lowereing a few prices. Sold a vtg sweater today that had been listed for 3 years. I had just relisted and lowered the price by 5.00. Must have been the magic number. Only cost me 25 cents 3 years ago.
I have been so good, trying not to go on a shopping spree. But sometimes you just can't help it. The spending bug just bites you in the...you know. This time it was a good thing.
Once everything is inspected I'm allowed to begin the job of transforming junk into cash.
My favorite charity thrift store has undergone a transformation. It has gone from a good place to find bargains to a place that has high prices. Pants and jeans have gone from 3.49 to 4.99, 5.99 and more. Blouses have gone from 2.99 to 4.99 and 5.99. Mens blazers from 6.99 to 8.99 and 9.99. And they no longer have coupons of any kind. I haven't seen any color tag days in my few visits. Even though the have gone to colored paper tags instead of just the colored plastic tag holders. But wait, it gets better.
Bag day is back!!! Seven days a week you can get a large garbage bag of stuff for $5.00. They had bag day last year only on Tuesday and Thursday and the bags were $10.00. Finally a price I can afford.
We went on Monday and that must have been the first day because they were arranging the racks outside and were having a problem deciding how to place them. So I got a pretty good haul that day. I only purchased one bag but I chose wisely and filled it up with 29 bulky items. Mens blazers, womens jackets, sweaters and smaller things. I also had a customer loyalty card with all the spots punched and could get 20% off, so my bag was only $4. That folks, is 13.7 cents per item. My kinda price. So good that I decided to go back on Wednesday for more retail fun. I had seen several vintage coats that I should have picked up on Monday but passed on them because winter coats and spring don't mix and I really didn't want to store them. But I got to thinking and figured out where I could put them so back I went.
On Wednesday I was determined to get the best of everything outside on the sale racks. But everything was picked over, it was crowded and I got only one 5.00 bag. But oddly enough I still packed it, not quite as full, with 29 items. That works out to 17.24 cents per item!!
I found jeans this time and several blazers and some sweaters and a dress or two. No high end stuff, just bread and butter.
And did I mention that they have two bins inside with small items. Scarves, caps, hats, gloves, bras, yuckey undies, socks and an odd variety of stuff. I picked up quite a few bras, ball caps, some winter hats and probably a couple of diseases. But everything was a quarter!! Next time I will remember my gloves. I love to dig but sometimes the yuck factor is just too much.
A fun find in the 25 cents bin. Someone somewhere will NEED this for halloween. I picture it on a big hairy chested guy, just for fun. Real coconuts...ouch.
Any help is appreciated.Okay everyone, back to listing and selling and packing and shipping!!!
Monday, March 7, 2016
Is TRS causing this surge?
After having the worst February sales of my ebay career I have been very busy since March started. That got me to thinking, dangerous as that is, about the reason January was great, February was terrible and March is starting out very good.
January this year was better than December. February was the bottom of the outhouse and now March has started off with a blast.
Could it be the getting TRS back in February?
I think that is part of it but it can't be the whole reason. I got my bar code issue fixed before the end of February, just barely and I think that may have been a contributing factor in February. Also I was on vacation for a week, but I still listed. I scheduled three items each day that I was on vacation, didn't hide my items and responded to any emails. The one thing I didn't get done was to get everything shipped on Friday before President's Day when I got back and that made everything a little late. But not too late.
I haven't checked any listings to see if they are ranked higher but my guess is that they are. I think ebay was having problems the last week of February because of the overwhelming number of stores that probably regained TRS. I hope they have resolved any problems and we can look forward to a smooth spring. Fingers crossed.
Has anyone else noticed that sales prices are creeping up? I have a range of prices but I don't usually ghave many things lower than $12.99. A few are small, multiple items that go for $4-6. I started listing higher priced items after about a year, when my "eye" had improved but the listings have been just sitting there. Staring back at me!! I don't know what the reason is but I'll take any sale that I can get. My upstairs heat pump just stopped working and I don't have a clue what is wrong or the cost to fix it. All of these recent super sales will go to staying warm.
Some recent sales
January this year was better than December. February was the bottom of the outhouse and now March has started off with a blast.
Could it be the getting TRS back in February?
I think that is part of it but it can't be the whole reason. I got my bar code issue fixed before the end of February, just barely and I think that may have been a contributing factor in February. Also I was on vacation for a week, but I still listed. I scheduled three items each day that I was on vacation, didn't hide my items and responded to any emails. The one thing I didn't get done was to get everything shipped on Friday before President's Day when I got back and that made everything a little late. But not too late.
I haven't checked any listings to see if they are ranked higher but my guess is that they are. I think ebay was having problems the last week of February because of the overwhelming number of stores that probably regained TRS. I hope they have resolved any problems and we can look forward to a smooth spring. Fingers crossed.
Has anyone else noticed that sales prices are creeping up? I have a range of prices but I don't usually ghave many things lower than $12.99. A few are small, multiple items that go for $4-6. I started listing higher priced items after about a year, when my "eye" had improved but the listings have been just sitting there. Staring back at me!! I don't know what the reason is but I'll take any sale that I can get. My upstairs heat pump just stopped working and I don't have a clue what is wrong or the cost to fix it. All of these recent super sales will go to staying warm.
Some recent sales
Vtg combat boots size 12...$75
And if you have swimsuits....list them now. I have sold 5 in March alone and 3 in February, and I sold several in January but I'm too lazy to go check to see how many. So list them when you get them because they aren't in stores yet and Spring Break is coming up.
And surprise..surprise I have been selling flannel pajamas. Several pair in the last few weeks. Everyone must be tired of the same old flannels and want something to spice things up.
OK...get back to listing. If you don't list you aren't allowed to shop. So list...list...list and stay well.
And surprise..surprise I have been selling flannel pajamas. Several pair in the last few weeks. Everyone must be tired of the same old flannels and want something to spice things up.
OK...get back to listing. If you don't list you aren't allowed to shop. So list...list...list and stay well.
Monday, February 29, 2016
When I'm 64...will you still need me...will you still feed me?
Aren't birthdays wonderful!!?? Thanks Mom for getting me out in the world 4 minutes before midnight so that I have a birthday every year and not just leap year. Four times the gifts!!
If you are old enough to remember the Beatles song "When I'm 64" you probably thought you would never, ever reach that old number. When you are 15 you think that number is so far away. My how time flies when you are living life.
I did get a birthday card, of sorts, from Social Security. Never said Happy Birthday or anything but it did inform me that I could apply for Medicare in 3 months.
WHAT??? Medicare is for old folks....wait....my name is on the envelope...must be a mistake...can't be for me...Medicare?
To quote a new movie title that I saw advertised recently:
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!!!
If you are old enough to remember the Beatles song "When I'm 64" you probably thought you would never, ever reach that old number. When you are 15 you think that number is so far away. My how time flies when you are living life.
I did get a birthday card, of sorts, from Social Security. Never said Happy Birthday or anything but it did inform me that I could apply for Medicare in 3 months.
WHAT??? Medicare is for old folks....wait....my name is on the envelope...must be a mistake...can't be for me...Medicare?
To quote a new movie title that I saw advertised recently:
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!!!
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Not making maximum profit
I've been watching a new seller who sells everything with free shipping. She gets most of her items from the GW by the pound outlet. She has only been selling full time for about 5-6 months.
I started watching her sales and her store when a fellow blogger recommended her approach to sales. She sells some great items, great brand names and she finds good stuff. She has a great style, photos look really good (better than mine) and she stages really well. From her shipping info I think that she could use some refinement. If you ship something poorely it reflect on how you perceive the item and therefore how the buyer will perceive the item when received. Wrap a piece of crap in tissue with a bow and it is still a piece of crap, but it looks nice!!
(Opinions are like a** holes....everyone has one and this is mine. No names and no store names please.)
This seller is selling good name brand items for what I think are way too low prices. But the kicker is free shipping. I agree with a lot of her prices but the free shipping is what I am having trouble with. If a skirt sells for $8.99 with free shipping that is not leaving much of a profit margin. I know, I know, ebay wants us to all do free shipping. Build the shipping into the sales price. I just can't bring myself to do it. As a seller, I just don't like free shipping. I do offer free shipping on occasion just because the number of similar items listed all have free shipping. That's about the only time.
And the mark downs. If you list an item, a skirt for example, at $10.99 and it doesn't sell, then lower the price each week by $1 until it does sell then you end up selling very cheap. Look at the numbers for a hypothetical skirt that eventually sold for $8.99. I estimated that it was purchased at the GW outlet for $.99 lb and weighed 8 oz. shipped. Shipping for 1-8oz would be the same so I assume it fell in there somewhere.
Sale price 8.99
Shipping 2.60
Paypal fee .56
Ebay fee, 9% .81
Cost of skirt .50
Poly mailer, label .15
Total cost 4.63
Profit 4.36
I don't know about you but that is a lot of work for $4.36 profit. I know its almost half of the selling price.This isn't taking into account vehicle expenses, time, storage or any other fees. Just the actual cost of this one small item.
I think my time is worth more than this. The only way to make any money doing ebay this way is very large volume. Frankly, I don't think I could do business this way. My daily goal is $100. Most days I do this amount or pretty close. Some days I go over, most days not. But I would have to sell 25 items like the example above each and every day to make it worthwhile. Yesterday I sold one item at $19.99, purchased for $1. and shipping charged. I made a profit of $16.58 after fees. Imagine if I had sold one item for $4 profit. I would be devastated. I would soon go under or burn out.
I don't mean to berate this ebay seller. I wish her all the luck.But my fear is that she will burn out fast and never know what hit her.She is working very hard with lots of sales but low dollar sales. I don't see the point of lowering listings every week when they don't sell. Customers who watch the store see what is happening and decide to wait until the price gets lowered before buying. Does lowering prices each week draw more buyers?
I want customers who buy now at the price I am asking. I set fair prices and I don't like to take less unless something has been sitting for 2 years, not 2 weeks.
Just my humble opinion. I hope the seller slows down and raises her prices and makes more money. Flame outs are never good.
I started watching her sales and her store when a fellow blogger recommended her approach to sales. She sells some great items, great brand names and she finds good stuff. She has a great style, photos look really good (better than mine) and she stages really well. From her shipping info I think that she could use some refinement. If you ship something poorely it reflect on how you perceive the item and therefore how the buyer will perceive the item when received. Wrap a piece of crap in tissue with a bow and it is still a piece of crap, but it looks nice!!
(Opinions are like a** holes....everyone has one and this is mine. No names and no store names please.)
This seller is selling good name brand items for what I think are way too low prices. But the kicker is free shipping. I agree with a lot of her prices but the free shipping is what I am having trouble with. If a skirt sells for $8.99 with free shipping that is not leaving much of a profit margin. I know, I know, ebay wants us to all do free shipping. Build the shipping into the sales price. I just can't bring myself to do it. As a seller, I just don't like free shipping. I do offer free shipping on occasion just because the number of similar items listed all have free shipping. That's about the only time.
And the mark downs. If you list an item, a skirt for example, at $10.99 and it doesn't sell, then lower the price each week by $1 until it does sell then you end up selling very cheap. Look at the numbers for a hypothetical skirt that eventually sold for $8.99. I estimated that it was purchased at the GW outlet for $.99 lb and weighed 8 oz. shipped. Shipping for 1-8oz would be the same so I assume it fell in there somewhere.
Sale price 8.99
Shipping 2.60
Paypal fee .56
Ebay fee, 9% .81
Cost of skirt .50
Poly mailer, label .15
Total cost 4.63
Profit 4.36
I don't know about you but that is a lot of work for $4.36 profit. I know its almost half of the selling price.This isn't taking into account vehicle expenses, time, storage or any other fees. Just the actual cost of this one small item.
I think my time is worth more than this. The only way to make any money doing ebay this way is very large volume. Frankly, I don't think I could do business this way. My daily goal is $100. Most days I do this amount or pretty close. Some days I go over, most days not. But I would have to sell 25 items like the example above each and every day to make it worthwhile. Yesterday I sold one item at $19.99, purchased for $1. and shipping charged. I made a profit of $16.58 after fees. Imagine if I had sold one item for $4 profit. I would be devastated. I would soon go under or burn out.
I don't mean to berate this ebay seller. I wish her all the luck.But my fear is that she will burn out fast and never know what hit her.She is working very hard with lots of sales but low dollar sales. I don't see the point of lowering listings every week when they don't sell. Customers who watch the store see what is happening and decide to wait until the price gets lowered before buying. Does lowering prices each week draw more buyers?
I want customers who buy now at the price I am asking. I set fair prices and I don't like to take less unless something has been sitting for 2 years, not 2 weeks.
Just my humble opinion. I hope the seller slows down and raises her prices and makes more money. Flame outs are never good.
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