micmic66
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posted on April 29, 2002 05:07:09 PM
I am an ebay seller and my house is a mess!! I have a pile of stuff everywhere that will hold a pile of stuff. Some stuff has been around nearly two years. It is the kind of stuff that never makes it to the garbage bag when I try to get things cleaned up. Much of my stuff is a piece or a part or a direction book or a box from being a hot ebay auction. I have a feeling I will never not have a bunch of STUFF. Anyone share this situation??
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dacreson
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posted on April 29, 2002 05:15:25 PM
Hello
Of course I have the same problem. However every 90 days I go though my office and assoc areas with ruthlessness. My wife is usually mad at me for several days. My cats hide for hours and my dog wants outside to stay!
However it is either that or be buried in semi useless junk
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Helenjw
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posted on April 29, 2002 05:19:25 PM
I think that I have more books than the library of congress and I'm running out of shelves.
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blackdog
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posted on April 29, 2002 05:25:25 PM
Why do you think they call it STUFF???!!! )
The picture in the previous post is absolutely NEAT compared to my AO!! I have half a barn, an old farm house, the back room of my store to be, and half of the house I live in filled to the ceilings! I am an auction-holic!
Thank goodness for eBay, so I can sell it again. I even had a live auction a couple of years back so I could do it again! Yikes. A born STUFF dealer!!
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gravid
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posted on April 29, 2002 05:37:29 PM
If it does not sell in two tries it is trash and gets the old heave ho....
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gina50
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posted on April 29, 2002 05:47:28 PM
TOO FUNNY Yep ~ same here !!
And I find that I am working all the time since my ebay office is right off of the kitchen .. you know .. always calling my name !!!
I did manage to clean out the garage from all of the box lots at live auctions ...I don't bid on those any more !!
All of my ebay stuff to sell for most part is in my guest bedroom .... thank goodness we don't get much company ... where in the world would they sleep ?? ... on a heap and to get to that heap they would have to take a flying leap !!! LOL !! Oh my !!
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dacreson
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posted on April 29, 2002 06:01:21 PM
"If it does not sell in two tries it is trash and gets the old heave ho...."
Quit that!!! Reduce 10% then 15% then 25%
Then combine with other "Rare and unusual" treasures. Trade it. Donate it for a tax relief. But on your lots tell a story. Everybody sells "stuff" How we present it is the difference. Just because no one wants it right now does not make it junk, just unappreciated
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dadofstickboy
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posted on April 29, 2002 06:11:10 PM
If it don't sell on Ebay,don't trash it.
Take and load it up.
Take it to a B&M auction.
They sell almost everything, and what don't sell they trash. You get a check no matter how small.
And you've gotten rid of it all!
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KatyD
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posted on April 29, 2002 06:18:22 PM
Lol! I like those "white elephants" in the cartoon, Helen. Looks just like my office..and basement..and my closets..and my...
Honestly, I hoard. I have stuff in the basement I've had for years, but I should have put most of it up on ebay like two years ago, when everything was hot. Alot of it I forgot about and now when I check selling prices, I'm in a state of 'reverse" sticker shock. But I'm determined to be ruthless and sell everything that isn't packed into my show inventory no matter what I get for it. Besides, I want to ship the stuff before the new postal rates go into effect. I'm thinking that is going to affect selling prices even more. Wouldn'tcha know I found a couple of boxes of retired Dept 56 Christmas buildings? I forgot I had those and this isn't the greatest time of year for THAT category.  So...I'll start with the china boxes... 
KatyD
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lindajean
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posted on April 29, 2002 07:31:12 PM
My apartment is such a mess I am embarassed when anyone drops by. Even my UPS guy just shakes his head when he drops off yet another item I just "had" to have!
Seriously, you every closet, every corner, every nook and cranny has stuff stuffed into and some I have had for 2 years as well. I know what you mean about reverse sticker shock! It makes me want to cry to think what this stuff was going for when I bought it and now it is hardly worth the effort. But, I too am determined to get it listed -- sooner or later -- so I better get back to work!
[ edited by lindajean on Apr 29, 2002 07:34 PM ]
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sparkz
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posted on April 29, 2002 08:17:54 PM
Why do you think building contractors put 4 corners in each room? To stack Ebay merchandise, of course. The only people who have any room to complain are sellers who live in round houses.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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mrssantaclaus
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posted on April 29, 2002 08:36:30 PM
I am trying to reform. Really I am!
BECKY
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pmelcher
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posted on April 30, 2002 02:53:09 AM
My family room is now a 'packing materials and shipping room', the pool table is the wrapping table, the living room has boxes from the last two auctions, my spare bedroom (computer room) has the whole bed covered with current auction items, boxed and ready to go. When my in-laws come to visit it is a 'fire drill' to get the stuff out to the garage. Then when they leave it takes me 6 months to get it 'organized' again. I work 10 hour days so really don't have much time to work with auctions, but I love them. This will be my retirement hobby (with income!) I also buy so there is always something coming and going.
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nanntique
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posted on April 30, 2002 04:07:41 AM
OK, OK, OK
I want y'all to please stop looking in through our windows. Nope, I'm sorry, nobody can look in the windows, as there is too much 'stuff' piled against them.
It kind of reminds me of being a kid, and piling things up to make a fort or camp.
I'm thinking of reorganizing all our stuff to comply with the dewey decimal system............... nawwwwwww!!!!!
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pelorus
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posted on April 30, 2002 07:53:57 AM
Let's not forget those one or two rogue peanuts that always seem to be on the floor no matter how often I clean them up.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on April 30, 2002 08:52:54 AM
There's a popular book out (can't recall the title) the theme of which is that this hoarding behavior you all seem to enjoy is a form of mental illness.
There are various underlying reasons why you can't get rid of things and that when you do, you immediately replace them with more things. eBay is just an elaborate excuse to cycle through your hoard.
The upshot is that when it gets to the point that your stuff owns YOU, it's really not funny any more on many levels. It can keep you from achieving your goals or confronting your demons.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on April 30, 2002 09:01:51 AM
Ah, here it is. _Stop Clutter From Stealing Your Life_ by Mike Nelson.
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dacreson
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posted on April 30, 2002 09:37:03 AM
"Ah, here it is. _Stop Clutter From Stealing Your Life_ by Mike Nelson."
Works for me. I have severl hundred of this book ....somewhere........
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nanntique
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posted on April 30, 2002 11:03:35 AM
Yeap -
I think I will order 2 boxes of that book. I can use them and taped together recycled Priority Mail boxes to make a coffee table.... if I only had room for a coffee table..... oh well, maybe some day. Of course, then I would have to find the coffee!
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lindajean
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posted on April 30, 2002 11:21:10 AM
Aw c'mon Fluffy -- don't you have just a little hoard stuck somewhere?
I just consider it like coin or stamp collecting -- just my stuff is larger but I don't have any more in actual count than they do!
Seriously, I have to admit it is an addiction. If anyone sells anything by the hundreds or thousands in the paper I am first to call them and try to work out a deal. I figure if everything else falls through I can always have yard sales the rest of my life!
At least I keep it all IN my house, not in the yard like the guy on TV last night. But then, there are the 2 storage units and....
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outoftheblue
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posted on April 30, 2002 11:27:24 AM
Our apparment should be called an Ebay obstacle course. I could use it to train athletes.
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sun818
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posted on April 30, 2002 11:46:31 AM
thanks for this fluffythewondercat. There should definitely be a place for all things in your home. I try to keep all my eBay stuff to a work room which include items for sale and shipping materials. We have shelves to utilize the vertical space as best we can. But it still gets cluttered from time to time. I set manageable goals like clearing the work table, or clearing half the desk. If I think about organizing the entire work room, its too daunting and I would never get started
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daleeric
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posted on April 30, 2002 01:56:01 PM
I am a mess too! I filed all morning yesterday and have a ton of paper to shred. As far as the house goes I am trying to do a couple of rooms a day so it doesn't get overwhelming. The same with the office, I will do my best to file as I go. I have been neat for 24 hours now. Wish me luck!
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utahoes
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posted on April 30, 2002 06:18:07 PM
I used to buy on eBay (when I had a full time paycheck coming in), but now that I am retired (after 32 years with the local telephone company), I am "cleaning out the house". I started selling on eBay a year ago and am cleaning out the house and making money in the process. I start by cleaning out a room in the house. I separate the stuff into two piles, yard sale and eBay. I take pictures, write up my descriptions (on a self made form for each), upload them and wait for the money to roll in. I have kept every box that has ever come into this house, and have not bought a packing container yet. My front room is my eBay item storage area. Down stairs guest bedroom is my box storage area. It has worked out pretty good, but the REAL secret to selling on eBay is "not to buy"! I have sold my husbands old jeans, shirts, kids toys, old Franklin planner, dolls, collectables, you name it, I sell it. Husband is amazed what I am selling on eBay and the money I am making. During the 2002 Winter Olympics, I bought a bunch of things that went on sale for 25% off. Did really well with them. I was also a volunteer and got some of the volunteer clothing and gear for a really good price. Made about $400 on all of my Olympic items. Just remember, keep organized and have all of your boxes, packing, etc. in one place. When someone wins an item, I immediately package it up for postge rates. But, I don't put the name and address on the item until I get the money. Good luck to any retired person. This is the way to go if you want to clean out your house and make a little extra spending money too!
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timetravelers
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posted on April 30, 2002 06:49:58 PM
Good to know it's not just me, wow lottsa goodies..well anyone here ever try to get a refinance on your house..hiding books & paintings prints etc behind couches,under beds is good for misc..for when the APPRAISER comes to INSPECT & expects it all neat & lovely..then we can never find a thing for about 2 more years.
I won't keep books etc in garage in case of mice,dampness etc..so moving it all to one room will throw a table cloth over it & make a nice table out of it LOL still working on the i love lucy closets that can be dangerous to open that extra closet without a helmet on..
Just donated 11 boxes of stuff to the goodwill also great finds,didn't sell on auctions or the yard sales..just keeping the best stuff,with listing so high now I changed to only listing items worth a little more than i used to. How do people that sell things for 2.99 or 1.99 pay the fees ebay paypal,a/w whatever..like working for free & a 14.00 auction takes the same time as a 1.99. thanks i don't feel alone with my junk (er lovely collectibles) knowing you are all out there too!
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outoftheblue
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posted on April 30, 2002 10:16:45 PM
timetravelers
anyone here ever try to get a refinance on your house..hiding books & paintings prints etc behind couches,under beds is good for misc..for when the APPRAISER comes to INSPECT & expects it all neat & lovely..
Are you kidding? I could hide the couches and the beds behind our ebay stuff.
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barbkeith
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posted on May 1, 2002 03:49:17 AM
Yes, I am a mess. I have decided to have a yard sale just to get rid of a lot of stuff. I went back to work part-time (22 hrs a week) and I have lost interest in Ebay. I never thought that would happen. After getting so few bids and hits during tax time I have been so unmotivated. So, a lot of the stuff I have collected for Ebay is going in my yard sale. The hardest thing for me is to stop buying the stuff. It's so hard to turn away from "a really good deal". My shed is jam packed full of stuff and so is my office (spare bedroom). I just have to de-clutter myself. I need to call that Clutter Consultant I read about.
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timetravelers
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posted on May 1, 2002 03:58:08 AM
i know outoftheblue LOL i moved a huge table into the spare room,covered it in a fancy quilt underneath are boxes of lovely items..right..huge decorative basket filled with packing boxes,tape labels etc..looks like a nice workroom..it will be odd to be able to find my scissors..anyone else ever wonder if we accidently packed the scissors or the tv remote in a package? then find it the next day..whew..
not sure if you guys realize what has been going on for awhile at ebay? i thought it was tax time slowdown too i mean slow..but actually they have had a lot of trouble check out the announcement board..then check this it's the tech board..a real eye opener..even mentioned in the cnet news..wow..not good when people cannot even see the home page..!!
check this out..it's not us..it's them
hope they fix it soon I mean really soon http://forums.ebay.com/dws
14@[email protected]
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trippys
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posted on May 2, 2002 05:53:58 AM
Please tell me---WHAT is a couch, a coffee table, a dining room or a kitchen table? Let alone a back porch? At least we're not alone! Thanks, everyone!
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bookwave
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posted on May 2, 2002 06:00:48 AM
Well it seems everyone has there own idea on this one-but if want the most money for an individual auction you might want to have patience with buyers,the right one will come along as a collector or just start them out at 1 penny for something you just want to get rid of and something with high value place it high and keep relisting,it will sell believe you me.
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