Today I posted my first sale item ever on EBay.
This was a long time coming folks. I first started thinking about posting some of my more valuable items on EBay twenty years ago. But I procrastinated because I wasn't sure how to do it.
I had briefly considered hiring someone to sell my items but then I thought "I can do this." Then I put it off again. Now twenty years later I finally did it!
The past two years I have been slowly downsizing items in my storage room that I haven't been using and never will use. Many of those items have little worth. I've been donating those items to local thrift stores. However, I do have some items that have value. Actually, I have quite a few items of value that I just can't justify giving away to thrift stores. Why not make some money off of them?
The first items I have put up for sale are twenty-eight boxes of dollhouse furniture. I had subscribed to this place called "House of Miniatures" from Terre Haute Indiana. What was I thinking? I was going to actually put together this furniture and have a dollhouse? Really? Chalk it up to youthful folly.
I bought these kits for an average of $14.95 a kit about forty years ago. Yes, FORTY. Man oh man, how fast time goes by.
I figured these kits would be worth something today. Especially since the House of Miniatures went out of business. I checked EBay to see if anyone else was selling these kits. They were.
I checked the prices. Reality check, the kits were averaging $5.95 a box. There goes my get rich quick scheme. These kits match my house, worth less now than it was when I purchased it in 2006. Heck, I guess I'm worth less.
 |
| House of Miniatures kids and shadow boxes for sale on EBay |
Now to do my research and learn how to see on EBay. First the cost of mailing the kits and two shadow boxes, tool kit and glue. Total weight nineteen lbs. I check at both the local multi-purpose mailing store (FED-EX, UPS) and U.S. Post Office. Max mailing cost (depends on distance) was 90210 (yep, Beverly Hills, California) was $77.95, plus the cost of the box to mail the kits. Hmmm, a lot more expensive than I thought.
Armed with my cost information I took my photos of the items and posted them for sale this morning on EBay's website.
I posted them as an auction item. Now I'm feeling the excitement. This is fun.
Now already I've received an inquiry from a potential buyer. She questioned the mailing costs. I had posted a $50 flat Fed Ex rate. She thought that was too much. I'm glad she sent me that inquiring. I made a change on my sell posting and put in to calculate the postage charge.
I have to tell you folks, this is going to be fun. It's going to be interesting to see how much I can sell these kits for.
Next up, I have about two dozen vintage jeans of all brands that I've been accumulating all my adult life. I've never thrown away jeans. They have to be worth somethings especially after seeing those $500 distressed jeans for sale in Nordstrom's when we were in Beverly Hills.
Why do I have so many jeans for sale? Don't tell anyone but these jeans don't fit me any more. For many years my waist size was 32 inches. About ten years ago it crept up to 33 inches. Now folks, my waist size is 34 inches. I kept these jeans assuming I could get my waist size down to 32 inches. That's not going to happen folks. I have to face reality, my shape has shifted. Shape Shifter Ron.
I'm entering another new phase of my life folks with my entry into the EBay seller's market.
Exciting times.