A Rainy Day In Frankfort - NOT

Something happened yesterday at the Auction. Something was different, off center and subsequently the whole experience was not as enjoyable as I have become accustomed. 

J and I went the day before and I listed the lot numbers I was interested in. I goofed up by just listing them and not notating which aisle they were located. So I was continuously referring to my list and missed several of them! But I did manage to realize how to do this better the next time.

Many things were out of whack. My favorite auctioneer was not there. My hairdresser (small world and keeps getting smaller) is best friends with one of the new owners. The inside word is that three of them got together (including my fav auctioneer) and bought the business from the family owners. My fav and one of the three had a big fight and my Fav backed out. He is not part of the Auction House any longer. Bummer. He was not there and that was strike number one.

It seems I am one of the regulars now. I see the same people over and over. Jewelry Guy, Elvis guy, Throw Mama from the train gal, Cowgirl, Cute blonde couple, Big M, and a host of many others. They are talking to me now. "Bill" stood next to me for the wind down of the tables and practically talked my ear off! I just barely got in on one of the lots I wanted.

And Keith, one of the workers at the place, a runner, took my stuff to the car for me. I was able to get my car in the front lot and he carried all my stuff out there. My MO is to park in the back and carry my own stuff out and wrap the breakables. This was the first time I had two breaks. One occurred when the lot was handed to me, I think. The day before I never noticed a broken arm. So many people looking and removing stuff from the boxes it could have easily been broken during the time I looked on Monday until I bought on Tuesday. Strike Number Two.

Another piece was broken as I drove from the Auction House to the Value Mart to get money for Keith. He told me in the parking lot as another Spotter/Runner removed my car from its boxed in position in the front lot! He said, I need some change.

Strike Number three.

The Sawyier I had my eye on went for over 300 bucks. I lost interest when it started at "checkmark" 100$. I did get Ladies First by Tony Oswald and a lesser Sawyier. SCORE.

I hope it is just this Strawberry Moon making me out of sorts.

I just sold the Speakers I have had for some time, early last fall for 100$. I have sold the Scuba Fins and the Tarot Cards (they need to pay!) so the dumps that this week started out with almost two days of NO SALES has turned sunny.

What's The Deal?

 I wake up in the very middle of the night. Usually around the haunting hour of 3am. I have taken to doing two things in this crazy hour where only insomniacs inhabit. I either relist on Mercari or I watch U-Tube.

Now the U-Tube is very informative when it comes to reselling. you get so much good information and encouragement. Along with  ideas and BOLO's, what is hot. How to present your items and for heavens sake LIST LIST LIST.

What is very entertaining is when they take you on a sourcing trip. Be it to the garage sales or the THrift shops. I love the guys, they interact and goof around and talk it up a lot more than the women. I hate watching a video of a slender hand picking up a piece of glass, flipping it over, checking the brand then returning it. Over and Over. Give me some ACTION.

Recently, like last night I watched one of them go to a Goodwill. They had not been to this goodwill in over a year and was going to drop in on their lunch break. What do they find? A whole set of Fiestaware for 50 bucks. Stunning. What does my Goodwill have? Mainstay and Pier One.

Fast back to another reseller who goes to the good will and finds a black Dashound figurine Royal Doulton,worth over 560 bucks. What do I find i my good wills? Chipped Rudd Berrie.

I am beginning to think that perhaps the items are planted.

On a less sour note, tomorrow is an auction. J and I went and checked it out. Lots of good things.

New Day is Dawning

 Okay, I'm better. Shipping and boxing it up is still a BITCH but I have sold 4 items since yesterday and that helps. At the Auction pick up Monday I left behind one lot that I will pick up the next time I win anything with them. Right now they have an incredible amount of fishing stuff. I have had a lot of success with vintage fishing lures, but I just don't know. I will investigate and see if I want to dive into that territory again. 

When I was watching the sale Sunday night I was just bidding on anything that was about 10$ excluding what I was on the hunt for (vintage buttons) and lo and behold a lot with two fairy lamp lights! i got them super cheap, maybe 15$ for the two plus some other items. And they sold already. 30$ on Merc, 38.54 (lol) on Ebay plus shipping. So, hopefully the 150$ I dropped Sunday night will pay for itself very soon.

My motivation is waning. Could be the situation at home and how it is difficult to concentrate and avoid constant interruptions. But, last week I had two delicious wonderful unencumbered days to list list list and what did I do? The least listing I have done in quit awhile. My sales plummeted. I have had four days in two weeks of ZERO sales. 

I watched a YouTube video by one of my favorite resellers the Nurse, and she inspired me. She is a go getter like so many successful people I have known all my life. They just take the punches as they come and then put the nose to the grindstone and carry on. I am just going to put my excuses into a box and bury it. I am going to continue to organize the garage as best as I can (lol) (organization one of my least gifts!) and have a yard sale to get rid of all the dead stuff I thought might sale but didn't or I just am not interested in putting in the time.

Off to the PO.

Burn Out

 Is it just me or does this happen to people all the time? Packing is a BITCH. I'm sitting at the library purchasing shipping for two items sold on Ebay. Granted, the customer usually pays but Ebay takes a cut of that cost. And I some how said I would include shipping for a barbie Dol. That sucker was heavy. I have run out of my "Barbie" boxes and had to find one at Walmart. Its about 5 inches too much in height which I am certain added to the astronomical cost.

Also, the Fiestaware I shipped two weeks ago (via this slow Fed-Ex USPA agreement) arrived busted. I think I remember that the dishes weighed a lot more than I anticipated and I may have wrapped them a little too cavalierly. And the customer was a complainer She sent Merc the pics of the packaging with the smashed stuff obvious. She said I did not write Fragile on the box (I never do, she must not be a seasoned flipper), ad that the color was not Sea Mist but Turquoise. I put in the description that it could be Sea Mist. She said the top dish was faded and discolored and included a picture of a dish whoes color did not look like anything I took a picture of! Lighting is everything. 

I sent her an apology and she did not respond with anything. Even if I were pissed I would have at the very least written an acknowledgment of my note.

So I suppose that the more you sell, the bigger the chances of problems. Like shipping to the wrong address. Than God that worked out and Nick was a total sweetheart about it and I was able to send him a replacement and a 2nd one as an apology. Once again, why ar men so much easier to work with/ Most the time, not all the time!

Then I had a meet up to sell the Tarot cards and he missed the first meet not even alerting me until afterwards. OK, I can give him the benefit of the doubt, but the second time I assumed he knew to meet me at the same place. I waited 25 minutes before contacting him and he said he would be there in 20. I booked. Probably my fault, but I am just tired of people not honoring the meet up arrangements. Not all the time, but the times it does not work, it's a horror.

Just dropped about 290$ on a load of glass and buttons and some other wonderful things. Stained glass piece. And I need to just suck it up and list list lis.

Isn't it Just Like Me?

 I read on one of the Facebook selling groups I belong to that it is worthwhile to write down all the things you are good at and then take advantage of your strengths. Stacking I think he called it. Stack what you do well.

I thought, well I am good at research.

I am good at description which I have turned into a relatively good SEO.

I am a good photographer and have an excellent eye.

I am very versed in customer service.

I don't do drama on the Internet. You have in issue with me, I fix it, I don't dilly dally or argue around.

I am a good at sourcing. And improving.

And the list goes on.

What I am not good at, and I am finding is essential to this side business, is Organization.

I was once in a job interview and I realized way into the interview that I was very leery of this job. They asked the question, tell us where you have area's to improve and I just let it out. "I'm a procrastinator, I put off what I should be working on until the very last moment. (at the time working under pressure was not an issue for me as it is not, 15 years later), I'm unorganized and find myself frustrated because of it. I can't remember the 3rd thing I blurted out, but they were all true.

The funny part is, I got the job anyway. maybe they liked my honestly. Maybe their area boss, (my old boss in my other facility) told them to hire me. 

But today it is the same. I'm a procrastinator and I'm unorganized.

I spend an exorbitant amount of waster time looking for an 8$ item.

And now, my J is in another city with his daughter giving me a break because I was so close to the breaking point, and here I am, wasting time at the library, writing a post when I should be home taking advantage of this gift of time to list my death pile, prepare for a Yard Sale (move my dead inventory as I improve with my sourcing) and ORGANIZE the garage.

Nope, same old story 15 years later.

 

Such Stupid Stress

I yelled at the dogs. Twice. I wanted to cry when I got in the car and realized I'd misplaced a check and not done the smart thing and put it in my purse. I was unable to print shipping labels from the Facebook App. I had a 100$ order that was nearing 3 days. Thank goodness the buyer is a patient nice person.

I had an offer for the Royal Daulton tiny Toby's and I was instructed to pack them up with care. Normally this would upset me, but now I know this is the norm because most people, or at least some people, ship irresponsibly. I packed it up with extreme care and when I went to print the label, FB had cancelled the order "for my best interest". I texted the person and received no response, so I suppose FB was correct.

I had one person make me jump thru hoops to sell a Monster High Doll and once I had complied with all her wishes I hear crickets.

I could not print another shipping label and when I let FB know, I went to my email account and found what I thought was the shipping label and sent the belt buckle to the wrong person!! I keep hoping the USPS will send it back and I can print the correct label for the sale.

I was over charged 20$ plus sellers commission and tax at the auction. But they did not fight me on the issue and are sending me the money back.

My garage is an absolute wreck. It took me hours to find an 12$ bunny purchase and I had to pay for the shipping!!

This morning after receiving the shipping label I was going to put my 'store" on vacay. But I got another order this morning, so I decided if it printed out easily I wouldn't close the FB store. It just did print easily.

I didn't sell anything on Thursday and that added to my stress, depression and what ever else I am feeling. I tell myself it's because my sales are increasing and I have a lot going on. Selling the belt buckles as fast as I list them is a double edged sword, especially with the problem the past week with printing labels with FB.

And the problems at home with J. twice this past week he has packed his bags to leave. It's a progressive insidious disease and I am not coping as I should. I choose to just roll with it, make sure he takes his medication. now I realize he can not go any where alone. He left money at Walmart the other day. The clerk was holding it for us when we returned. He can not find the car in the parking lot. He hallucinates and thinks his ex-wife is lurking about. He wants to go home. 

As I grow older I find I am becoming an extreme introvert. I enjoy being alone with  my books, my writing, my little side business, watching Hemingway on PBS, etc. etc. When you are married being an introvert is impossible especially living with someone who is increasingly needing constant attention.

I need drugs. 

What I sold This Week - April Fools

 

This is a dog Life Preserver or Life Vest for Water. I posted this some time ago as my daughter gave me a bag full of dog stuff to post for her. I relisted on Ebay and Mercari, sold one on each.

I have more to go. In red and in different sizes. Since they were free its pure profit BABY. Since my daughter owes me somewhere near to 2 Zillion mark, this is a windfall for me.

Posted one day and sold 2 days later I think. It was quick once I was able to read the back of the belt and list it with the proper manufacturer and specs. Guess what? Collector item. 

Listed this late last week and it sold on Monday, or the lady asked me to hold it until Friday which I will gladly do! She got hold of me on Wednesday and paid for it and off it went. She bought it for her father who worked on early model Mustangs, Sold on FB Mkt. From the auction last week. That auction has almost paid for itself and this was only one from a slew of ornaments in the box.

Found this Coach Belt at the bins. A long time ago. I guess I was hesitant to post it because I imagined someone accusing me of selling a fake. Upon inspection (I know ZERO about Coach) it appeared to be real, Great detail, coach logo in all the right places and I got it for $1.29/lb. So I listed at 17 or 18, 18 seems to be the sweet $$ amount, and it sold quick. Another listed this week and sold this week. I think I am learning two things. Relist and List.

I also sold a bunch of stuff that has been hanging around for a long time! I had to dig out a few of them. The Doll Head that I marketed as a CPK doll head, but its not. The eyes open and close so we'll see if I get dinged on that. Though I showed pics of open and closed eyes. Very Creepy.

Three Funko toys from Tommorrow Land sold. I bought these last year, long long ago having no idea about the new Funko. They use to do bobble heads. Last year I sold my Elvis Gold Lame Funko Bobble head to a collector in Japan. I only got about 60 for it. It was worth a lot more, but I needed to generate revenue.

Derby Glasses sold that I relisted. yay! Listed some more.

So, good week. Not over yet. Have sold three things so far today. Could be more and I have one more day to go to close out the week. 

Last week 20 sales/472.38 net profit.