Goodwill and Live Auctions

 Have I mentioned that I love LIVE Auctions? My absolute favorite is so exciting and makes my heart pound at time. I never really know what I'm going to get. Maybe something catches my eye when I go to the preview and I jot the lot number down. It's rare that I actually look an item up to check the comps. So when I see a lot of porcelain and milk glass lady hands (in many variations) I just know it's a winner. The day I fell in love the box of blue porcelain items I just knew. Just knew. Paid 45$ and sold the first item for 55$ and subsequently only have 2 items left.

It's a thrill when I get home and unpack the items which I frantically wrap up in paper that K brings to me along with sturdy boxes. I never really register what I have in there! Oh, I know there is a set of pewter mugs and a pitcher. I know there is a piano baby, but most the time I unpack and uncover a beauty like the about cream and sugar set. Gorgeous.  I have found similar items posted for too cheap in my opinion. So, I went higher thinking my "reputation" for exquisite packing and items as described.

Also, this week I have made numerous trips to Goodwill, not to source (because I have stopped sourcing from a typical store) but to drop off items that are either slightly defective or I can not sell.

Numerous.

Items include a portable sewing machine I won in an auction from my old auction house for 5$ Guess what? I could not stop at just one. I have two portable sewing machines from that house! Now I just have one. Will I ever crack it open and revisit threading a bobbin?  We will see.

Cook Books, Christmas items etc. etc. etc.

I have challenged myself to list my clothing. I have a plethora of sweaters, jackets and blue jeans. That is just the tip of the iceberg. My death pile is too overwhelming.

I only spent 20$ last week sourcing. I bid and won a box of vintage Jim Beam Decanters. 

That's all the news that fits. 

Moving Old Listings!!

It is a well known fact that if you are going thru your old inventory and touch an item, that item is likely to sell within a few day. Happens to me all the time. You would think I would learn to sort through all my inventory once a week! Ha ha. What ever it takes.

So this happened. I sold two Wedgewood plates that I listen in April and for the life of me could not find in my inventory room. Recently I have invested in Bankers Boxes and have numbered and lettered the boxes so inventory is easily found. But, before that it was housed in plastic tubs with inventory sheets.

So, as I was pawing through EVERYTHING I put the hot pink Minnetonka boots. They sold the next day. 

I also sold an Orange Swirl Art Glass Modernistic Style verses saying in the Murano style. It could be Murano but I could not find the sticker or mark. I've had it up since June (maybe..lol)

I sold two Elvis dolls to the same guy. Wish he had contacted me before hand as I could have bundled them together. Elvis up since late April (maybe early May).

An Audubon print from the 1940's which I picked up from the bins last hear and have had listed for quite some time! My first print/artwork sold. I got positive feedback also. Yay me.

A coral and silver necklace I bough way last year and have had listed since last summer. I first listed at 350$ and gradually came down. I let it go on a 100 offer. I think I paid around 36$ for it, so good profit despite the loooooooooooong wait.

 After my dismal week last week, this week was much much better. I netted close to 400$ after fees. I have not factored in my COGS. I will have to really buckle down and from now on when I list  to acknowledge the cost associated with the sale.  

Why so Slow?

 

Last week was probably the worst week I have had as a reseller since getting started last January. I sold a grand total of 5 items. I am very distraught, not discouraged. I continue to list and stick to the genre I love which is Collectibles.

I wish I had taken my love of old things more seriously long ago. My daughter who tags along to the Auction and to pick up some on line Auction wins made the comment that she hated to go to the Antique Houses with me when she was a kid. But loves it now (its a gene from my Mom).

I would take her to Goss Street Antique Mall. A grandiose three story affair that at one time may have been a train station and office building...?  Long gone now, turned into condo's I think but remains alive in my memory. There are lots of places still around town but this place was special in the sense that it was dark and dusty and had those spectacular old wooden floors, big large windows that spewed in rays of sunshine in which the dust bunnies dances. The booths full of old discarded junk. The top floor was furniture.  That dark goth style large wood monstrosities that use to be the staple of the turn of the century Victorian Homes.

If only I had money at the time, which I did not and was why I was entertaining my skeptical and bored daughter by dragging her to Antique Malls.

If only I had realized that one could make a career out of knowing things. Because it ain't easy when you are my age (old decrepit Baby Boomer) but I try.

I have invested about 60 bucks in a plethora of books ranging from Occupied Japanese Porcelain to Breyer Horses. As an investment and to sell. Ha ha. Lady Head Vases I have up for about 150$ I thumb through them and soak up info. One can pick up a lot of information by pictures and just recognizing the value in things. 

My sales have vastly improved this week. Three days left and I have sold 11 items, 10 paid for (the important part).

Off to track down a lost Wedgewood Plate and pack up two items.

Keep on keeping on, never give up, go what you love regardless of the barriers and the slow times.

September Sales

 More nice postings for September. Even thought September is starting off really slow I will not give up. Yesterday was a full day with taking Sissy to the Vet, she wouldn't cooperate so home again, then to Prospect to pick up auctions winnings....(good stuff that I hope others think is good stuff too!) that I got for a song (the way I like it), then on to S-ville to pick up Friday night auction winnings (another good haul!!) then back home and on to B to help her out because she does not have a car at the moment. Home to wrap and ship two packages....then I just said I'm not going to fret about posting and listing so I just drank three beers and had a great night sleep. I did listen to the Podcast that I have subscribed to that DJ told me helped increase his sales 66%. They concentrate on clothes but I'm open to improving my mind set and to learn from those who are successful and willing to share, at only 4.99$ month. 

From Prospect auction. Sold the day I listed.

Sold same day as posted. 

Just posted. Kitschy Piano Baby. 

Seattle Slew. Wish he was as famous as Secretariat and Man-o-War or Seabiscuit. My BIL buried Slew while working at the farm. A sad story, anytime a Triple Crown winner dies is a sad day. From my favorite Auction House. 

Scarecrown Nutcracker from The Wizard of Oz. I have so much Wizard of Oz item that I wonder if I am the only one fascinated by the Movie! I adore the Movie and watch it every time I come across it. Not only do I have the Nutcracker set (a little worse for wear) but I have the barbie set including Glinda the Good Witch and a set of Munchions. I have a Wicked Witch figurine and a sparkly purse. Something has got to sell sometime!! I got this from the auction house in my home town. This auction house has been a gold mine, a honey hole. I got a military lot that made me tons last year, I got an unwanted lot of boots etc and made a killing from that. I go a lot of wicker furniture that is phonomimal . Haven't listed any of that lot yet.  

A new Auction site gave up three barbie dolls, though one ended up being a Disney and the High Dollar doll came in a crushed box. Still, a nice ride to PoDunk Kentucky to pick up. And got four bottles of Avon cologne that will sell ....  eventually (lol). 

The staple of my listings, Barbie Dolls. From the David lot. Anything I sell from that is now profit!! And I've been dragging my heels listing them.

List List List Work Work Work

Going to shoot for Five listings a day on Ebay. Going to concentrate on listing what I have on hand, especially the latest haul. I think my sourcing is getting better and the more I post the more I should sell. The last full week of August I got into a rhythm and was posting a multitude each day, some days 8 items, and I had really good sales going into the end of the month. So, lets GO!  

 

New Month New Beginning

 My August ended up stronger than expected. I sold 54 items and made a decent profit. Had two unpaid items, no returns and no refunds. A win!!

Before I wipe clean my SD card, I'll post some of the items I sold.

I won this lot of blue ceramic porcelain blue lady bugs and some other vintage blue and white figurines from The Auction House. I have sold four of the  six listed and the earnings have paid for all of the  Auction loot that day.

I forget what I posted already, but these sold too. Also form the Auction, but at another time (I think) I wanted the box of items because they had two Painted Ponies in the box, when I won the Lot the Ponies both of them were damaged. The pegasus is damaged beyond selling, but he Winged Unicorn sold!! So did this lot of three Totsy horses.

Cream and Sugar Lady Bug sold without the top for the sugar. If i had had the top, this item would have been close to 200 bucks.

Peruvian Barbie sold. I am in the black for the two Barbie Doll lots I acquired thru David.