A Vintage Seller's Black Friday: Smoke 'Em If Ya Got 'Em

[cyberontix]

Black Friday is my least favorite day of the year. I sell vintage and niche collectible stuff, and today and Cyber Monday are always absolutely horrible. Like, at best, I'll (hopefully) do as much business this week as I do on a regular week. 
I mean, obviously people are buying for others this long weekend, not for themselves. Lol I haven't even had one sale yet today, so there's nothing "black" about this day except my outlook.🤣
Oh well, ya can't win em all. Maybe I'll break out my 18 year old bottle of scotch and take a shot for every hour I don't sell anything. 😂😂

[meme6253]

Yeah this is a tough weekend usually,So many in the brick & mortars getting the BF deals, But you never know people look for a variety of items as gifts!, Good Luck!, Scotch does sound pretty good!

[kickin.assets]

Yeah, Black Friday, Small business Saturday, Cyber Monday means nada for us preowned clothing sellers. It’s tequila for me! Cheers!! 🥃 

[tobaccocardyahoo]

I do not think that any sellers of antiques, collectibles, ephemera and other vintage or antique items is likely to disagree with you. That is especially so if they do not dabble in new old stock items like many collectible toys. The major consumer focus is on giving, and many of us have nothing giftable.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

In general, I agree. Most people who are searching for gifts are searching for new stuff (and at bargain prices). But there are always exceptions. I do think ebay could do a much better job of marketing the site as a source for vintage Holiday decor, for example. It wasn't that many years ago that ebay was pretty much THE online place to shop for that stuff (mostly because it couldn't be found most anywhere else online). But like so much else, ebay has let its market dominance in that category evaporate, and now does far too little to remind shoppers that ebay still has a lot of that stuff. Instead, we get the ads for designer handbags, authentic high end sneakers etc

I had non ebay events disrupt some of my plans for ebay, but I'm still going to run some sales, sends coupons etc. And I'm going to try to keep listing more stuff that I think will have a chance of selling within the next couple months. 

I don't have high expectations for my sales. I think it will be a solid quarter over all in ecommerce, and I'm hoping to do at least as well as I usually do, but we'll see....

[fbusoni]

@cyberontix 

Well, think about it: you, me and everyone else on eBay are competing with millions of other sellers on dozens of other online platforms, as well as big box and department stores, all racing to the bottom to make a sale because its the day after Thanksgiving.

I am not interested in participating in that mess. 

In fact, just the contrary:  I'm raising my prices today on dozens of listing that each have 20 or more watchers.

I did that last night -- a very desirable collectible from the 1980s -- and 10 minutes later the item sold.

[silverstatetreasureboxes · Accepted solution]

@kickin.assets 

You do know that Tequila makes your clothes fall off and hopefully someone will buy them!!

[kickin.assets]

@silverstatetreasureboxes 

Yes & Yes 😂😂😂

[worldcoinauctions]

My hot season starts just after Christmas when people take back the junk they were given and buy the stuff they want! Continues until after the tax refunds are all spent. Woo!

That said I finally got to sit down, been hopping all day in the physical store.

[candd205]

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, FLOOR.

[cyberontix]

Definitely like that idea! 😂

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@fbusoni wrote:

@cyberontix 

Well, think about it: you, me and everyone else on eBay are competing with millions of other sellers on dozens of other online platforms, as well as big box and department stores, all racing to the bottom to make a sale because its the day after Thanksgiving.

I am not interested in participating in that mess. 

In fact, just the contrary:  I'm raising my prices today on dozens of listing that each have 20 or more watchers.

I did that last night -- a very desirable collectible from the 1980s -- and 10 minutes later the item sold.

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[cyberontix]

Totally. eBay's been all about smartphones since that hedge-fund monster Donahoe took over for a while, not just selling them but also using them to list stuff, like the algorithm loves it when you list something or tweak a listing through the stupid app. It's really sad. 😅

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@my-cottage-books-and-antiques wrote:

In general, I agree. Most people who are searching for gifts are searching for new stuff (and at bargain prices). But there are always exceptions. I do think ebay could do a much better job of marketing the site as a source for vintage Holiday decor, for example. It wasn't that many years ago that ebay was pretty much THE online place to shop for that stuff (mostly because it couldn't be found most anywhere else online). But like so much else, ebay has let its market dominance in that category evaporate, and now does far too little to remind shoppers that ebay still has a lot of that stuff. Instead, we get the ads for designer handbags, authentic high end sneakers etc

I had non ebay events disrupt some of my plans for ebay, but I'm still going to run some sales, sends coupons etc. And I'm going to try to keep listing more stuff that I think will have a chance of selling within the next couple months. 

I don't have high expectations for my sales. I think it will be a solid quarter over all in ecommerce, and I'm hoping to do at least as well as I usually do, but we'll see....

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[cyberontix]

I'd had six shots so far! *hiccup*
😂

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@meme6253 wrote:

Yeah this is a tough weekend usually,So many in the brick & mortars getting the BF deals, But you never know people look for a variety of items as gifts!, Good Luck!, Scotch does sound pretty good!

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[kandf_vintage_finds]

My vintage holiday décor is moving along just fine.  If buyers want it, they'll find it with eBay advertising or lack thereof.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

@kandf_vintage_finds Oh, I'm not saying vintage holiday decor won't sell...in fact, I'm using it as an example of something vintage that does very well this time of year. What I AM saying is: I think it would do even better if ebay made more of an effort.