I had it listed for $34.99 OBO, with free shipping. I received this offer for $24.99 today. I was all set to counteroffer (because of the free shipping), when I realized it was going to Canada. So no free shipping! I accepted the offer. The buyer immediately wrote me, thanking me profusely for accepting the offer. Her daughter is very excited to wear this in her aunt's wedding in February.
So if you have anything that can be used for weddings: white/cream dresses (adult or child), mother-of-the-bride outfits, or of course wedding supplies, now is the time to get them listed. Even if it's not specifically wedding-related, but could be, be sure to market them to wedding shoppers. Go through your existing listings and see if any of those could be marketed to wedding buyers too.
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I shipped out 22 packages this morning. Whew! 3-day weekends are really hard on online sellers. Every weekend, I declare that I'm going to keep up with my packaging as the sales come in, but it never fails. Every Sunday night (Mondays on 3-day weekends), I find myself still packaging at midnight, sometimes even the next morning, rushing to beat the mail lady. Every time. This weekend was no exception. I'm grateful for the sales - don't get me wrong. But I SERIOUSLY need to keep up with my packaging throughout the weekend next time!
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Remember how I said that some categories sell in spurts? Microwave turntables would be one of those categories. I don't remember the last time I sold a turntable. It's been several weeks. I sold two of them today. I don't mind shipping those at all, now that I'm buying boxes for them. The profit margin on these is so huge, that I don't even mind paying $2 a box for them. I just got a new box shipment in yesterday. I had been buying 16 x 16 x 6 boxes, but 6" was too deep. I was having to use WAY too many packing peanuts (which I also buy). So I went with 16 x 16 x 4 boxes this time. The UPS guy dropped them off, and I shrieked, "Oh! They're so cuuuuute!!" My 11 year old rolled her eyes and said, "Mom. They're boxes." I said, "Yeah! But I'm used to deep boxes. These are little and cute!" She said, "They're boxes." I told her to hush up and just let me be a nerd for a minute. She loved that.
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I also sold these today.
I always buy Soffts when I find them, as long as they're in great shape. I can usually get $25-30 out of them, but they are NOT a quick seller. These were a funky enough color that I knew they'd sell this spring. And sure enough! I'll ship them in a padded flat rate mailer, so I'm only out $4.90 on shipping for these.
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I stopped in at Goodwill today. I was there for 2 1/2 hours (with 2 toddlers!), but I found a TON of stuff! I'll be writing all about that tomorrow. I'm excited to get pictures taken of the new stuff so I can get them posted here and listed on eBay.
Love the new blog! I have a few microwave turntables to sell and am nervous about shipping them. I saw your tutorial on the Ebay Underground blog about how you have made them in the past. Looks really time consuming!! Can you post a link to where you buy your boxes for them?? And thanks for the reminder about flower girl dresses. Have one sitting in my closet right now that I need to list! :)
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm a nerd because I shriek when I get my little boxes delivered too! A friend just brought me a big bag of packing peanuts and I was thrilled. You would have thought it was a dozen roses. :P
ReplyDeleteLorraine
2 1/2 hours with toddlers??? Umm...I have 2 boys under 6 and in 20 minutes there usually swinging from the clothes racks. I must be doing something wrong! lol!
ReplyDeleteI went to Goodwill last night by myself (yeah!) and hardly found anything. Our Goodwill has been really lame lately!
ReplyDeleteBummer Tracy - mine's usually not so great, but I really lucked out last night!
ReplyDeleteMomtoqts - it was a miracle. I don't know how it happened. I let them play with the toys while I browsed the men's clothes, which are RIGHT beside the toys. (I'm not one of those obnoxious mothers who abandons her kids to trash the toy aisle. They played quietly and cleaned up after themselves.) Then they got to pick books to read while I browsed the books. Then they got their gumball while I browsed women's clothing. They did start to get impatient, but I had them help me count down how many more racks they had to sit through. That distracted them. :)
Lorraine - I understand! One of the highlights of our family Christmas get together is when I get to go around the room gathering up all the boxes and packing materials. lol @ a dozen roses - exactly!
Kim - they ARE time consuming. If you only have one or two, it's not a real big deal. But I have nearly 30 listed right now, so I felt justified in buying boxes. I just bought these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/190250306701?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
They ended up being $1.73 each. I only charge a $1 handling fee on my turntables though. Shipping can really be expensive for those, so I don't want to risk my DSRs by adding extra handling. Also, I usually buy them for 50 cents to $2.00. So when I sell them for $20-25, the profit margin is big enough that I can spare that extra $1 for the box.
So you charge a $1 handling fee in addition to shipping? I've never added a handling fee for anything. I didn't know how well buyers took that. Leigh
ReplyDeleteYes, on the items that I use calculated shipping for, I charge $1 US handling, $1.50 international handling. This covers boxes (when I can't use free priority ones), packing peanuts, bubble wrap, labels, etc. I have a really lousy Freecycle/Craigslist, so I have to buy all my packing supplies.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jessica for the link. I'm going to look into getting some if I plan on selling them!
ReplyDeleteHa ha, I had a great time this Christmas gathering up all the boxes and wrapping materials for shipping! My Freecycle is great for boxes and peanuts, though--I just got some more last night, as a matter of fact. My mom knows to bring me any boxes and packing materials when she comes to visit, too! It's funny how excited we Ebay sellers get about small boxes, LOL.
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