Giving up.

[mike_jayroe]

After my worst year on e-bay I have decided to give up. Evidently I don't have the items people want to buy. I even tried them on marketplace and had no luck. Believe it or not some I offered for free. Even after two months, no interest was shown.

So I have decided to donate everything to Goodwill, or other places.

To all those who offered advice to a new seller, thanks a lot for helping me learn.

To everyone on here, I hope you have better luck than I did. Best wishes for the holiday season and next year.

[inhawaii]

Good luck to you Mike.

[mam98031]

I'm sorry you have had so much difficulty.  Have you ever thought of trying something else to sell.

When I started selling I chose to sell stuff I know a little about.  Crafting stuff.  Over the years what I sell has changed as I found what sells and what doesn't.  It is important to be able to recognize this and it appears you have come to this conclusion too. 

So why not try to turn this around.  What are your interests and/or hobbies?  Start there.  The answer may be just around the corner.  You are welcome to bounce ideas off us as many of us are always happy to help.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

I looked at what your completed listings are, and they are not bad items but IMO they are not good items to have listed today.

Your NASCAR items might sell in another season, but this is not the time of year that I made NASCAR related sales in the past. Just as many baseball related items they are unlikely to have strong buyer interest in the winter.

Your railroad items are a separate problem. I have railroad items listed now, and usually have railroad items listed. I have always had my railroad items tank when the economy has the sniffles. That does not mean no sales, but it means just a small fraction of my items sell because most of my railroad buyers have limited money to spend on collecting. They buy what is the best buys they can find when they have money to spend.

Lotting items often makes them less attractive, instead of helping sales.

If you have limited inventory, you might be following the right path by ceasing to sell on Ebay, but if you have much more than what you had listed it might be worth storing the inventory for 6 months and trying again then.

Good luck to you.

[gloryglorygifts]

I'm sorry to hear this but I understand. Marketplace isn't for everyone. I know someone with an extremely successful antique and new toy business and she sells in person at fairs and flea markets and from her own website.

I wish you well in your future endeavors. 

[mike_jayroe]

I was selling stuff that I collected over the years just to declutter my home, and added what I inherited after me brother passed back in July. Once I get done getting his house fixed up and sold, I am going to enjoy my retirement again just spending time with my two dogs, reading, watching TV, and taking care of "MY" house. 

I don't need the extra money from selling here. But thanks for the advice.

[chevymontecarlo88]

Sometimes taking a break is good for the mind and can lead to other opportunities. Good luck and hope you have a good holiday!

[mcdougle4248]

Best wishes to you. Enjoy your retirement!

[mam98031]

---

@mike_jayroe wrote:

I was selling stuff that I collected over the years just to declutter my home, and added what I inherited after me brother passed back in July. Once I get done getting his house fixed up and sold, I am going to enjoy my retirement again just spending time with my two dogs, reading, watching TV, and taking care of "MY" house. 

I don't need the extra money from selling here. But thanks for the advice.

---

My bad.  I now remember we have chatted before.  Again, I am sincerely sorry about the passing of your brother.

I hope you have a full and satisfying retirement !!!

[dhbookds]

Good luck Mike........sounds like you have enough on your plate......Have a Happy retirement!!!!

[pickapaper]

I wish you the very best with whatever you do.  I remember reading about your difficulties with getting rid of your brother's estate.  Sounds like you pretty much have that under control now.  I know it's been a long journey so you deserve to do whatever you want to do with your time now.   

You don't have to be a seller to come back and visit here.  You can still come back and throw in an opinion, a zinger, or just a "hey everybody".  Hopefully you will do that. 

[mike_jayroe]

I'm not quite done with the estate. Everything is gone, but now I have trouble involving getting the house ready to sell. My brother did not take care of the house. He has a split level.

Sewer pipe from the toilet down into the basement was rotted, and needed to be replaced. Plumber found lots of other problems with the plumbing not being up to code. So had to get all of  that fixed.

The AC did not work and needed to be replaced.  One day noticed the water heater developed a leak. HVAC team noticed the furnace had not been cleaned in a long time. With all the junk my brother had, he closed off all the vents. This caused the furnace to overheat and burned up some of the electrical contacts inside. Also had not been cleaned in years, if not decades. As it was 20 years old, had it replaced along with the AC and water heater. The HVAC is in the garage and the new county code says, NOT ALLOWED. Need to block it off from outside air.

Lots of wall sockets, light switches just had wires hanging.  So had to get the electrical up to code.

Front door is in bad shape with cheap materials, and several windows were causing problems. Getting new ones

Getting new kitchen cabinets also. 

With all the mouse **bleep** all over the kitchen also got new fridge, stove and dishwasher.

Also need to get water damage from before 2008 repaired, along with patching up and painting the drywalls throughout the house, fixing and cleaning the floor and some more odd and ends.

Every time I think I am getting done and can place the house on the market something else shows up.

Its a never ending disaster. Getting ready to give up and list it as is and let someone else worry about it.

Will keep you posted.

[44012]

Hi Mike, I wish you a peaceful holiday. And more peace and happiness in the years to come.

Wishing you all the best!!!! ⛄🙏✌

[dbfolks166mt]

     Wishing you the best wherever your journeys make take you. At some point not to far off in the distant future I plan on winding things up also. I to am retired and while I currently enjoy my retirement it is getting to the point where it may be time to fully do so. I have my inventory whittled down to the point where I can have one big pre-estate sale and what does not sell I will simply donate and take the tax write off. 

[smileysuethc]

Awe, your dogs are going to be so happy to have you hanging out with them more.  I would stay and continue reading but my two foster dogs are letting me know that I need to get up and start preparing their dinner.  Dogs are awesome!