To eBay or not to eBay - what do I do with the stuff meanwhile is the question?

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To eBay or not to eBay - what do I do with the stuff meanwhile is the question?

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Started 2 years ago by akcorcoran
Latest reply from Claycat
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nellieb
Member

I'm off to the post office for the 2nd time today...6 items listed last night, four are sold and two paid already! Yippee!

My goal is to list at least one item a day until they are all listed. Those not sold will either be donated, gifted, or placed on craigslist.

My SO and I are buying a house together before the end of the year and I don't want to have to move very much! I began uncluttering one of his bureaus last night, he is really good about getting rid of things, too. He gives me items to sell on eBay and we usually do quite well with his tools and guy stuff!

Posted 1 year ago #
Claycat
Member

Yay, nellieb!

Posted 1 year ago #
VitaReid
Member

I don't quite see how ebay is contrary to uncluttering.

I opted to give the lion's share of my belongings to thrift stores. I could not justify the inordinate amount of time I would have had to spend selling my items on eBay. I chose instead to devote my time to more lucrative undertakings such as marketing my voice over career. I was not willing to take time away from starting bridge and working on my blog.

I suggest you transport your items to the eBay seller who is 50 miles away. Find out what his commission would be first, and then determine whether the trip would be worth it to you. Another consideration would be how much free time you have and whether you are willing to spend cumbersome and time-consuming hours selling the items on eBay yourself. If you are, then it would be best to begin the process of selling your items on ebay.

Vita Reid - The One Minute Minimalist

Posted 1 year ago #
Claycat
Member

You have a point there, VitaReid!

I'm having trouble organizing myself and my time in order to be efficient with eBay.

One big problem I'm having is that my little digital camera is using battery power up so fast. I'm having to recharge batteries every 2 days! If I want to go faster, I'll have to do it every day! I may need to get new rechargeable batteries. I don't know how long they are good. Does anyone have any advice about good battery chargers and rechargeable batteries?

Also, I seem to be spreading myself all over the place. It's hard to find boxes the right size, and I'm having to cut some down. I'm not going to buy any if I can help it. I was fairly well organized to begin with, and it's suddenly chaos again around here. My wheels keep spinning, and I'm not getting very far.

Posted 1 year ago #
akcorcoran
Member

@Claycat, are your batteries regular AA batteries? I have to tell you that I switched to Eneloop batteries. You can read reviews and definitely to a shopping comparison search b/c you can find good prices, but they have changed my "battery life." They hold a charge incredibly well, even over time - plus it's nice they come charged! I initially got a set with the charger (key) - just 4, then went to 8, then ordered the big pack you'll see on Amazon. I keep them in rotation for all devices requiring AA batteries and they are really awesome. Amazon link below but check prices elsewhere:
http://www.amazon.com/SANYO-eneloop-Pre-Charged-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B000IV2WAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1267076663&sr=1-1

I also ordered boxes from the eBay USPS free tool (posted link earlier in this thread) - they take a while to come but you can get all sizes for free. That was on recommendation from this thread - and it seems it will work well.

Then again, I haven't managed to post again yet! Box of "things to sell" keeps growing. And, today, I received a Land's End bathing suit and rashguard that I got for my girls on sale $6.99 and $9.99 - well they don't fit and sending back is $6.95 shipping, so I guess I should sell them (and not sure if as set?) Argh!

Posted 1 year ago #
klutzgrrl
Member

Good thread. I've been considering ebaying, but I'm really not sure that I could put up with the additional administration. I'd love to have a yard sale, but again it's a massive effort.

It might be fun to just do a selection of things, keep it within a short timeframe so there's just the one week with the post-sale admin.

Posted 1 year ago #
Claycat
Member

Those batteries and the charger look great, Alexa. However, they are so expensive, I'm going to have to manage with what I have until I make some money. I know it will save money in the long run, but I need to make some money first.

Klutzgrrl, yard sales are so tiring. I haven't ever had the response that I needed to make much money. However, if you live in a busy area, where people have money, it might work for you.

Posted 1 year ago #
akcorcoran
Member

In understand, Claycat - but I can testify that I haven't bought a single AA battery in THREE YEARS! And, they are expensive too, so just figure out the package you need (my suggestion is below b/c you need the charger), then allocate some of your first profits from your auctions. If the photo batteries hold you up, then it prevents you from making money and it takes longer. But, I understand wanted to earn to cover costs - that's business, no matter how small the scale!

http://www.amazon.com/eneloop-pack-AA-MQNO6-Charger/dp/B001QAVPRA/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1267116426&sr=1-13

Posted 1 year ago #
Claycat
Member

That's more reasonable, Alexa. I may get it soon, because I believe our tax refund just came in. It will definitely save some time.

Posted 1 year ago #
terriok
Member

I have been selling on Ebay for years. I sell vintage (mostly) Nancy Drew books.

I was collecting them. As I was not working during the summer, I was rather broke so I started selling my duplicates so I could buy more books! HA!

If you have a Mac, as many of you bright people seem to have ;o), there is an application called GarageSale. Probably the best $40 or so I have spent in a long time.

You can upload all your photos to their website and that is all the less you have to pay greedy Ebay. So it pays for itself very shortly.

Selling is fun once you get the hang of it. I never thought I'd be able to sell anything but just so long as the item is nice I am very good at it! It is also a chance to meet a lot of nice people.

Posted 1 year ago #
nellieb
Member

I, too, enjoy selling on eBay. This week I've sold 8 or 9 items, can't remember, all are shipped. I usually sell items that can fit either into padded envelopes (and I buy them in large lots at Sams Club) or I charge for priority mail and use the free USPS boxes!

Once you get the hang of it, you can list items fairly quickly. It also helps if you have similar items which is what I did this week.

This week I've earned about $139 from clutter in my house that had some value. I spent about 2 1/2 hours on all the work. I look at listing on eBay as a part time job. I am selective about what I list and I donate quite a bit when I do not think the effort to list is worth the value of the item.

Posted 1 year ago #
terriok
Member

Nellie,

If I buy the wrong item I do not have a problem with it. I just list it on Ebay!

I use the padded mailers too which I get on... where else? But Ebay!

That is how I was determining last night if I wanted to purge an item, mostly books. If it is not good enough for me to sell on Ebay, then out it goes (unless I really want it!)

I have had people from all over the world sending me their stuff! As if I did not have enough already!

But you can find anything on there.

What are you selling?

Posted 1 year ago #
nellieb
Member

Take a look under my seller name, Rosehilllady. Tonight I have a vintage needlepoint kit with one bid and a new with tags Mary Frances purse listed...it's currently at $51 and there are 9 watchers. I also listed a new primitive rug hooking kit this morning and have another piece of needlepoint listed. I've still got lots of different items to list.

Sometimes I donate the item instead. I have two books, one on procrastination and one on uncluttering, that I decided would not be worth it to list. They are sitting in my donate pile right now.

I also list for a company that does eBay sales. I am paid a flat listing fee per item. The last two months have been very slow, only one item each month. Some months, I list 30+ items for them which is a nice monthly check for me! They are going to re-advertise their eBay services so I am hopeful that there will be more in March for me to do.

Posted 1 year ago #
terriok
Member

I started hooking a rug in college for an art project! It was very nice, rather huge but it would take me all night in front of the tv to do one row. I never did finish it. I use to worry if I had enough yarn. Oh well!

I did check out your sales!

Good luck! ;o)

Posted 1 year ago #
terriok
Member

Oh and every time I use the camera, I recharge the other two batteries. I have 4. I finally got use to doing that. You might need a new set.

Would you believe when I first bought my camera I was buying new batteries all the time? Duh!~

Posted 1 year ago #
Claycat
Member

Terriok, you must have gone to the same college I did! I had to hook a 3x5 rug. Our professor gave us 2 weeks! Then he gave us a little more time. I finished, and then had a car accident, because I'd had so little sleep. I eventually got rid of that rug, because it involved such bad memories about that class. I completed everything on time. I was always in class. There was a pretty girl in class who finished very little of her work and was seldom in class. At the end, she was given an A, and I received a B. We had all of our work displayed in a room. When I saw my grade, I had a fit. I picked up everything that would break and threw it against the wall. I was so angry. I had that professor for 2 classes after that. I never got anything but an A again. :)

I am definitely going to order those Eneloop items.

I am having so much fun with eBay. I just sold something else that was bid up to a price I was not expecting. When I saw it last night, I was so excited, I couldn't sleep!

Posted 1 year ago #
terriok
Member

Wow!

I am sorry about that accident- that is awful.

My art teacher was great when I told her. She just started cracking up!

I taught for a long time and use to tell the little kids that if they laughed at my jokes, it would help their grades.

One year I had a brand new group in front of me. I asked if there were any questions. A little boy raised his hand. I had taught his sister another year.

"Is it true, Ms. B, that if we laugh at your jokes it will help us get good grades?"

"Did your sister tell you that?"

"Yes..."

Incredibly honest with the kids I replied "Well, honey, it goes like this. Let's say you are between an 'A' and a 'B' on your report card, if you laugh at my jokes, I'll give you the 'A'. And anyone telling that does not help is lying to you!"

So I'd get this cute forced laughter from all the kids and then we would crack up for real.
~~~
I had a prof who gave another guy a higher letter grade than me although my average was a few points higher. It was posted. (I was not among her favourites, of course.)

Her contention was that I had started out better in the quarter but that I had not improved unlike the other person.

Ok, well, you need to put that straight in the syllabus, lady, and not after the fact.

Another time in college, I was banging on a Math prof's door. I had missed the final. Cute guy, from England.

I knew he was in there and I did not need any nightmares about missing a make-up so I kept right on knocking.

After about 35 minutes he came out with a female student and they were all mussed up! I could not believe it!

But I have had far more tremendous teachers/profs than lousy. Their stories are not as entertaining but their classes sure were!

Eneloop??

I sold a book for $1500 once! It was my friend's book so I had to split the $ with him but that was really fun!!

Posted 1 year ago #
Claycat
Member

Terriok, I forgot to say my college experience was decades ago, early 70s. LOL!

I love your story about your students laughing at your jokes. That's great!

Eneloop is the brand of charger and rechargeable batteries that akcorcoran was talking about. They are supposed to be really good!

Posted 1 year ago #
terriok
Member

Oh, thanks!

Yeah, my college days started many moons ago too. ;o)

Posted 1 year ago #
Claycat
Member

Well, a couple of items have sold really well, a couple just moderately, and quite a few have received no bids. I'm a nervous wreck, because I keep checking eBay several times a day.

I hope the waiting gets easier. I'm really enjoying it in some ways. When I realize I've posted a good one, I get excited.

I'm certainly finding out that people bid for things that are unusual, and generally they will bid on the things that I like the best. (Doh!) So, if I decide to actually find stuff to sell, at least I know to look for something that interests me.

Posted 1 year ago #

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