sadie999
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posted on October 22, 2001 06:06:22 AM
Good morning all!
Someone posted here about eBay sellers worried one minute the xmas season is going to be a bust, then having happy threads about how sales finally picked up. (I think it was Amy who compared it to manic depressives, but I apologize if that's wrong.)
So, I'm in manic phase this morning. I had my first 100% sell through rate in ages last night. Not a lot of auctions, but they all had more than one bid, and one item went from $24 to $99 in the last couple of minutes.
How's everyone else doing? Manic phase? Bummer phase? Something in between?
Peace,
Sadie
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foad
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posted on October 22, 2001 06:24:04 AM
Good morning Sadie,
Congratulations on your success - it's quite a rush to see those last minutes snipers, isn't it?
I've been doing OK - around 75% sell rate with around 90% of those having multiple bids. It was substantially quieter a few weeks back and I admit I was among the panic merchants worrying about the holiday season.
I'm not so worried now - what happens, happens and to a large extent it's out of my control. I'll just plod along like I always do and hope for the best. I'm testing the water at a couple of smaller sites but only on stuff I'm prepared to let sit for a while - not much happening anywhere else.
Enjoy your day!
Sara (foad)
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amy
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posted on October 22, 2001 06:25:47 AM
Manic because I had a great evening...book closed for $300, another at $51, a third at $43, a fourth for $53, a fifth for$47...and on the china side two items I relisted because the buyer deadbeated ended at twice what the first buyer was supposed to pay...
And depressive because I went to an auction yesterday and bought 3000 opera and classical record sets(78s and 33s) and got home and realized I probably won't get my $1000 back 
Oh, well, that is the first BIG buying booboo I have made since I started in this business...guess it will make a good deduction on the income taxes.
But what the heck am I going to do with 6000-8000 round things? I would wear my dog out using them as frisbees!
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Eventer
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posted on October 22, 2001 06:28:38 AM
But what the heck am I going to do with 6000-8000 round things?
Make mobiles out of them???
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amy
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posted on October 22, 2001 06:30:51 AM
Think the mobiles would sell on ebay?
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Eventer
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posted on October 22, 2001 06:34:57 AM
Think the mobiles would sell on ebay?
Now don't go changing the parameters on me! Geez, now I have to think up something to use them for that will sell. 
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amy
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posted on October 22, 2001 06:42:38 AM
Well, I'd HAVE to sell them...otherwise I wouldn't be able to walk through the house what with all those mobiles hanging from the ceiling 
And the RACKET...imagine the noise as they hit each other.
You know...Christmas is coming up...wonder if I spray painted them green and built a Christmas tree out of them...do you think it would fool the grandkids?
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sadie999
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posted on October 22, 2001 07:03:31 AM
The Christmas tree idea is a good one.
Amy, I don't know what kind of area you're in (city, small town, etc.) but maybe the best thing for the records is to consign them out to one of those wonderfully dusty, musty stores people go to when they want that type of thing? It might take you a year to recoup, but at least you wouldn't be listing (money and time), taking photos, and writing descriptions (time and more time). Oh yeah, and the dreaded shipping (more time). Just a thought.
Good luck with them.
Sadie
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loosecannon
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posted on October 22, 2001 07:06:07 AM
Amy,
Records are a tough business, IMO. I wish you luck with them. I sell the occasional record, but only pick one up if I think it's special in some way.
I'm not manic, but close. When I start an item high and it sits there for 3 days without a bid I get jumpy--"I'll show them, if they won't bid I'll just end it now. That'll teach them to put it on their "watch" list."
It usually works out for the best however. I've made some pretty fair sales lately.
But, I'm dealing with at least 3 deadbeats right now on auctions that total over $100.00.
[ edited by loosecannon on Oct 22, 2001 07:08 AM ]
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amy
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posted on October 22, 2001 07:12:46 AM
Sadie...I thought of that too
Loosecannon, I have never sold records before. I did sell opera video tapes a few months ago and they did well...but these...I'm trying to figure where my head was and WHY my husband didn't say NO when I asked him what he thought.
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holdenrex
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posted on October 22, 2001 07:24:03 AM
Ouch. Amy, I don't envy you that purchase. Most Classical LPs and 78s are very hard to sell. On top of that, shipping 78s is no easy task - they're more fragile than china. Many collectors won't pay top dollar for 78s on ebay due to the risk of breakage. Your best bet is (as always) do some research on the closed auctions to see if you have any winners. Then take the rest to a flea market or local auction house and, as you put it, take the tax write-off.
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rainbowman11
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posted on October 22, 2001 07:36:19 AM
I am a lot more encouraged than I was a couple of weeks ago. Maybe that is due to the increase in page views and sell through rates or maybe it is due to my great yard sale finds this weekend. Now, I have something really good to sell. Not Christmas stuff tho. I panic when I only get $30.00 a week. That's not enough to pay one bill let alone several! But it's picking up, Thank God.
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paintpower
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posted on October 22, 2001 07:36:35 AM
My auctions are also picking up a bit. I'm not sure if it is just that we are coming out of the slump or because I changed to fixed shipping and listed the shipping in my auctions. You CAN cause yourself depression trying to figure out why sales go as they do.
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Eventer
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posted on October 22, 2001 07:38:14 AM
How about offering them as targets? Like for skeet shooters? You could spray paint them cool colors?
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amy
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posted on October 22, 2001 08:03:49 AM
Eventer...I like it, I like it!
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deco100
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posted on October 22, 2001 09:51:48 AM
I'm for dropping them on Afghanastan and letting them try to figure out if it's a new kind of delayed bomb, anthrax, or what!
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Eventer
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posted on October 22, 2001 09:53:48 AM
Okay, combination of the two. Paint Osama's face on them, offer them to skeet & target shooters. Probably make a small fortune & can retire from ebay.
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micheneraddict
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posted on October 22, 2001 10:36:37 AM
I like where this is going. Paint them bright orange, photocopy Osama bin Laden and paste him on them.
Shooters would have the added benefit of getting to shoot at the crap their parents listened to (Mario Lanza-take that) as well as bin Laden.
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amy
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posted on October 22, 2001 11:18:09 AM
The last three posts made dropping that grand almost worth it!!!
ROFLMAO!!!!
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kiara
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posted on October 22, 2001 11:22:26 AM
All good ideas, Amy.
Once you start selling them everyone will copy you. Make sure Martha Stewart sees the Christmas tree and the mobiles as they will be a trend overnight.
This will greatly deplete the remaining supply on the market so prices should increase on those.
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llama_lady
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posted on October 22, 2001 11:37:14 AM
-Paint vibrant colored music notes on the records, then glue them around a ready-made box. Put a nice potted plant inside for an interesting gift.
-punch holes on four sides. String them together to make a Barberella type skirt.
-glue felt to the bottom and use them as hot plate coasters when you are eating in the family room.
- spray them with blackboard paint, write some neat stuff on them, punch a hole at the top and hang them on your Christmas tree. (I would hang them from my giant evergreen outside.) You could also spray paint them glossy gold and silver and do the same.
- When you are (or your contractor) is pouring a sidewalk or patio, put them on the patio (while it is still wet) in various places along with other musical "stuff" and make a great and wacky patio.
- You could probably use them to decorate a wall in the music room or a room you use for music.
Exercising my tired brain today.
geesch my brain is too tired today
[ edited by llama_lady on Oct 22, 2001 11:38 AM ]
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touchofeurope
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posted on October 22, 2001 11:54:18 AM
Turn them into wind chimes - a different kind of music? Especially if you paint them with something cool, like music notes - I'd put one on my patio!
Thanks for a good few laughs!
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sadie999
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posted on October 22, 2001 11:59:39 AM
Sell them as almost indestructable origami. Six albums, plus instructions (first one being that they need to be heated before shapes can be formed).
I'm thinking they'd make good lazy susan if stacked the appropriate height apart.
I love the dress idea.
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amy
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posted on October 22, 2001 05:06:53 PM
Such wonderful ideas!! Everyone is so creative. I have laughed so hard!!
The skirt thing is fabulous.
Thanks guys...I was really down last night, wondering how I could have been so stupid (and thinking of everything I could have done with that money), but now I'm laughing about it...you really lifted my spirits!
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gravid
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posted on October 22, 2001 05:46:46 PM
It is always worth a shot to sell them as a lot in the wholesale category.
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undercovers
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posted on October 22, 2001 07:09:57 PM
so now i know where all the bidders were last night....not at my auctions...only 10 % sell thru...they were bidding on all of yours...
i hope your sales are great....cross your fingers for mine
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