posted on October 7, 2000 09:32:42 PM
There was a post in here tonight about paint damage to records, which brought back memories of this bizzare incident.
I reserve one room in my apartment for Ebay merchandise, to sell later. The door is usually closed.
Now, I'll admit that this room is NOT pretty. Boxes and stuff are piled literally EVERYWHERE (You know what I mean, right?). It's even hard to walk in there.
Well, my 80-year-old landlord came in one day, unannounced, while I was out to eat. He wanted to paint some ugly stains on the ceiling with a spray gun.
The result was PAINT ALL OVER EVERYTHING! Several of my records, videos, collectibles, etc. were destroyed.
When I complained to him, his retort was, "I WENT KIND OF BERSERK AND SAID TO MYSELF, 'HOW CAN ANYBODY LIVE LIKE THIS? And since there was no room to set up a ladder, I sprayed from the ground."
Well, in sum, he graciously DID reimburse me for my losses.
The moral is this, folks: BEWARE OF EBAY CLUTTER--IT CAN DRIVE PEOPLE MAD!!
posted on October 7, 2000 09:44:44 PM
Oh my gosh! It's true. My eBay clutter drove my husband over the edge. We actually had to move to a bigger place because he was so hostile over my 'eBay sprawl'.
At least your landlord reimbursed you. Must have been the clutter AND the paint fumes that pushed his buttons.
I love my new eBay room. It's got utility shelves, a bathroom, a ceiling fan, and I can walk through it!
posted on October 7, 2000 10:21:47 PM
WOW!!! ***I*** Could have written this.........the ebay clutter in my house is bordering on CHAOS!!!! I kept wondering how if it was just me with no workable system ?? or is every seller in this mess??? Tell me I'm normal.....Tell me EVERYONE is buried under an avalanche....I'd feel better.....
posted on October 7, 2000 10:51:05 PM
One of the funnier posts I've ever read was by someone who asked us to imagine what the average Ebay seller looks like:
Imagine this person putting their item packages together on the counter of the kitchenette in their trailer.
posted on October 8, 2000 12:25:51 AM
eBay clutter has taken over my life. We have a three bedroom house & there is just my husband & myself. The spare bedrooms are filled as well as the dining room. Six years ago we added a family room and now that has also been taken over by eBay.
There are empty boxes, packing material, priority boxes and tons of things I plan to sell everywhere you look. And I've only been at this a year and a half. Would I do it again if I knew it would be like this.
Absolutely, I love it.
posted on October 8, 2000 02:53:53 AM
Years ago we moved into a small house that we were renting and that day before we changed the locks our new land lord came and let himself in to be nosey and see what we were doing with the place. He knew we had 2 cars and both were gone but the wife was home. He was looking in the kitchen doorway when a hand grabbed his collar and the cold muzzle of a pistol was jammed against the back of his neck. The next sound he heard was the hammer being cocked.
She is nicer than me.
He got to walk out.
Why does anyone have a key who does not live there?
Why would they presume to enter without an appointment?
posted on October 8, 2000 03:37:26 AM
Modern landlords are like that. They make sure it is in the lease that they can do inspections, generally to inspect the fire extinguishers and such. Luckily, I moved out of my fascist-run $500mnth/500sq ft box right about the time I started on Ebay. Now our house is completely taken over with boxes and items. I have actually thrown mediocre items away to make room for better ones. It is starting to lose some of its appeal. The novelty wore off last year. I got an 8x12 outbuilding kit at Lowes for $750 and put it up so now I am starting on filling that up. Buy more than I can sell. It is amazing how much you can fit in those little buildings.
[ edited by skyscout on Oct 8, 2000 03:39 AM ]
posted on October 8, 2000 05:14:38 AM
So far my clutter has only taken over a couple corners....well, maybe 2/3 of one room.....but it has provided the (needed) incentive to get hubby to finish off the upstairs bedrooms so we can move the kids and reclaim one of the rooms downstairs as my Ebay "office". I'm getting much more selective about what I buy, and have a box going all the time for "donations", which gets dropped off at the Goodwill or Salvation Army on one of my weekly trips there. No time to do a yard sale!!
posted on October 8, 2000 06:01:40 AM
I do this for a living so I probably have a different attitude but I rent a 10x10 ft temperature controled room at the local u-store.
I was reluctant to add $120.00 a month to the budget but I found that the dumpster diving rights on the site more than made up for the rent. My first week there I made enough to pay for the rest of the year. One item I picked up sold for $610.00
If it gets too crowded I will go to a 10x20.
posted on October 8, 2000 06:06:44 AM
Wow. I don't feel so bad anymore... Bob just shakes his head when he goes in the eBay room. I have been working very hard this past week getting ready for the Club99 promotion to start next saturday. Everything I can manage to get listed will go on at 99 cents - no matter how much I paid for it... I really need to make some room!
posted on October 8, 2000 06:29:13 AM
Off the subject briefly but is it not illegal for your landlords to enter your home when you are not there? They may own the building/house but you pay to live there and have rights! I would not stand for someone entering my home without my knowledge!
Back to the clutter, we only have a two bedroom home so I dont have an extra room for "stuff" (probably a good thing!) but we do have very large rooms so my clutter area is the corner of my bedroom. I have a bookcase there and use the shelves to store my things. I also use my china cupboard in my dining room to put items that have bids and I have a box that I keep items that I am listing or that will be listed. I am very picky about clutter. I dont like it! So I always make sure my stuff is stacked neatly and out of the way.
posted on October 8, 2000 07:10:36 AM
Tee hee.. all ebay stuff lined by size & number in empty diaper boxes (er, not used; I buy diapers 4 packages at a time.. they're clean!) in the garage over the course of 4 shelves and probably a 1/3 of the floor.. CDs kept in the house on shelves under our personal collection (we're so anal.. all alphabetical by artist) so cluttered.. but neat!
posted on October 8, 2000 07:30:43 AM
kiki2 -
Depends on the circumstances. Most state laws allow the landlord to enter without permission to prevent damage ... like when I noticed water running down a basement wall I immediately went into the unit on the first floor (broken dishwasher hose) and did damage control. They also allow entry if rent is overdue beyone X days.
Ordinary maintenance requires notice. Not permission, just notice. Refusing entry after notice is grounds for eviction in this state (and I have used it). Unless the landlord is being unreasonable about the number of times, in which case the judge would side with the tenant.
I was using it for the first time to get some AC work done, the tenant had legal notice and refused to let me and the service tech in, I wrote another letter explaining the legalities of the situation, they still refused, so I evicted them and got the work done.
posted on October 8, 2000 08:09:07 AM
Oh, I'm so happy, finally I'm in the height of fashion to be a packrat. 30 years, and still want more. How about a course.....hoarding 101, lol! Ebay is my excuse to buy MORE!
posted on October 8, 2000 08:10:22 AM
OOOH these posts make me feel right at home!!
I have paths thru-out my house-lol kinda sorta---theres stuff under my beds in my closets,my garage is full, barn is full, outside 2 sea containers are full & EVERY room in my home screams that EBAY RULES the premises! Sad thing is I'm too lazy to list and move it out
Boxes, p-nuts & bubble etc, are kept outside in one of my sea container along with ooodles more stuff that I need to sell "someday"!
Only thing I can say to myself and others is Thank God we have the stuff to sell when we decide to.
So I think there is a bright side to this OVERWHELMING chaotic looking mess!
PS: My hubby spends every sunday morning looking in the Real Estate section for a larger home---little does he know--I view the thought of owning a larger home in the same light as I view a womens bigger purse-- Just giving me more room to fill up with more goodies!! he he
Here comes the kitchen sink!
posted on October 8, 2000 08:11:59 AM
I know someone who is actually leaving her husband and moving out of the house because she can't stand the clutter anymore. They both do eBay, but he is obsessively bringing home truckload after truckload of stuff. Every single downstairs room has a path thru all the stuff, packing materials, boxes, etc. And they have a full-size mobile home parked next door for storage that is also packed to the brim with more stuff!
posted on October 8, 2000 08:22:34 AM
I started out in the sewing room which was a medium sized sun room off our living room with two glass doors on each end. After awhile some of the sewing stuff got moved upstairs because of ebay stuff. Then the rest of my sewing machines got moved upstairs to make room for more eBay stuff.
My 82 year old mom lives in a large old ten room house and doesn't use the upstairs anymore. So about 4 months ago I moved everything over there. I have a computer room, an area to do photography, a packing area, and a very large storage room that is so packed with boxes I can't walk through it!
This way I can work and keep Mom company (and keep an eye on her!). I still have two more rooms to expand to, if I need. But I keep telling myself I need to get things listed and sold before I do that - I don't want it to get out of control!
It's nice, but not as convenient as having it at home.
A note to hinz: Thanks for putting your about me page link on - just bid on one of your neat items!
posted on October 8, 2000 08:58:48 AM
YUP, Guess this clutter IS normal. I have been at this over 3 years and its in the basement, storage area, porch, den, hallway etc etc.....nice to know I have ebay soulmates.....
posted on October 8, 2000 09:13:40 AM
*LOL* Now I don't feel so bad. I had an old country store I closed this year. It's connected to my house. I gave up the 60+ hour weeks and no freedom. I was lucky to get 2 days off a month. Well, the 43 X 38 store is now my Ebay area. Yes, it's totally full with narrow aisles through the stuff I am still sorting through. I swear to my hubby that I need to stay home from yard sales, auctions, etc, long enough to sell all this. At least I do have a fairly uncluttered area for shipping. Just don't look to the other areas where all the spare boxes are. I managed to convert the old shelves ( including soda racks) for storage of the Auction items. The plan was to move my computer out there. If I still plan to do that, I'm going to have to sell,sell,sell and make some room first
posted on October 8, 2000 10:01:34 AM
I dont have much cutter in the house but my inventory takes up a good chunk of the garage we use here for storage and a fileing cabinet next to my desk.
My brother who lives near me has online auction too and has found a neat Idea he deals in lots of carnival depression glass art and so on he uses is items to dedcorate there house with all the art work and old glass, figurines and stuff it look pretty nicely decorated as he sells it he replaces the bare spots makes them look like they live a million dollor life with all the antiques glass and art they have around.
Then again when he goes buying he dont skimp he has no doubt or fear of picking up one Item or set for $90 to $300 with hopes makeing money back on them.
how ever my computer desk is where the clutter is a 8 year collection of hardware and softwear floopys you name it.
posted on October 8, 2000 10:15:24 AM
The basement is my ebay salt mine. After learning how quickly this stuff accumulates, we made a rule: If it goes on ebay, it goes straight to the basement. Course, I'm the one who's constantly trying to enforce that rule!
The stuff that goes to the antique malls stays upstairs 'til it goes. It's always funny to see the faces of guests when they look around at the menangerie. Right now, for instance, besides the usual sofa, love seat, etc. in the living room, we have a floor model xylophone, huge tramp art cathedral, a couple of empty barrister bookcases, a teacart with a dollhouse and oak telephone on it, etc., etc. My aunt/uncle came over last week and all they could manage was "Oh my." Haha!
posted on October 8, 2000 12:43:26 PM
Fountain House - That's too funny! My aunt and uncle visited from New York in September and I threatened the kids with grounding for life if they even attempted to open "the door." I can just imagine there looks - and what they would tell other family members - if they ever got a peek into that room!!
I'll have to have Bob read this thread so he knows that I'm not the only one!
posted on October 8, 2000 12:53:07 PM
LOL hinz! Mind you, I did *not* say anyone was allowed to enter the dreaded basement door! This is a hard-hat area with necessary warnings posted, such as "Watch for Falling Objects."
NOBODY gets to see that place! Just us lucky family members that have to actually work down there!
posted on October 8, 2000 02:43:27 PM
hinz- I also just checked out your auctions. I have an exact set of teaspoons that you presently have listed. Mine came in a hinged little case. They were given to me by an elderly friend to sell. I guess I'll keep an eye on your auction to see how well they sell before I list mine.
My eBay inventory started out in my family room but now has invaded my garage and closets. The nicer knick-knacks I display in my entertainment center. I have a dresser just for the packing materials needed. ~Patricia~
posted on October 8, 2000 07:26:18 PM
OH MY!!!! What a topic for me on this Sunday evening. I got so exhausted moving around in my house all day today wondering what to do next. Finally picked out a few things and got them listed on Ebay. My Mother has saved for years and I told her if my house ever started to look like hers, I was quitting. Well, it does and I did not quit. So====
Now I lay me down to rest,
I pray my bidders do their best,
To fight and snipe and hike the price,
Cause Ebay is my greatest vice.
...the ebay clutter in my house is bordering on CHAOS!!!! I kept wondering how if it was just me with no workable system ?? or is every seller in this mess??? Tell me I'm normal.....Tell me EVERYONE is buried under an avalanche....I'd feel better.....
