Learning the hard way - memorable mistakes

[bsarafian]

Chances are if you've been selling or reselling for a long time whether here or any number of other venues  there's been something you learned the hard way, some big goof that you made that sticks in your memory.  I remember talking to an old-timer who deals in vintage/antiques - when he was starting out he came across a gorgeous brass antique ships lantern and he spent an entire afternoon scrubbing, shining and polishing it to a fair thee well.  He recalled how proud he was of himself until someone who knew more told him he just polished off the patina and a fair amount of the value.

I learned that if I'm selling an item that has to be disassembled I should make sure I can get it apart before I list it. Years ago I sold a treadle sewing machine base and when it sold I couldn't get it apart.  Thankfully it was only going to New York from Massachusetts but I ended up eating about $50 in extra postage because of the dimensions sending it fully assembled.  Now I've learned more and I can get pretty much anything apart (thanks to good vise grips and PB Blaster)- but I also know to double-check "Just in case."

What are some of your most memorable "learning experiences."

[tunicaslot]

Great thread! Mine was just last year - found a concert sweatshirt at a garage sale. I couldn't find any comps and was going to list it at auction and high bid takes it. I seldom do auctions and never changed my format so it was listed at BIN. Sold for what was my auction start price of $12.50. I had buyers messaging me offering me $200 +. Lord only knows what it would have ended at auction if I hadn't of goofed - but I honored the sale and learned to double check everything before hitting submit!

[18704d]

I've been selling a looong time here.

Recent mistake:

I have a few items which are the same small, bulky size,

but fit in a lined manilla envelope for first class package shipping.

I don't insert the item in the envelope when I put them on my postal scale to see how many ounces it is.

I place the item on top of the empty envelope on my scale, then add 1 ounce to the eBay postage calculator.

And then, after printing postage, I seal the item into the envelope and then Fight to tape the paid postage label on the bulky, oddly shaped package.

Guess what?

After the first dozen sales doing this,

I now easily tape the paid postage label on the Flat Empty envelope

and Then put my item inside and seal.

Sigh,

Lynn

[this*old*attic]

1. Leaving behind an extremely valuable and collectible vintage lucite purse because I thought it had a cigarette nine hole.... only to learn it needed a simple rhinestone replaced.

2. Wasting probably thousands of dollars because I thought old = good.

[this*old*attic]

cigarette BURN hole

[dhbookds]

lol, Lynn, how many times have I read something and realized how much easier it would be if I did whatever the advice was.......sigh.....

Mine was shipping cost..........did an "estimation" which cost me more than the item sold for (with shipping).......who among us hasn't screwed that up  at least once?.........

[inhawaii]

I hope all the newbies can learn from my mistake.

I've been selling on ebay for years. I never claimed the income. I never really thought i had to. It wasn't that much.  I figured everyone's doing it. Some stuff was stuff i had laying around the house.  Some stuff i had bought just to re-sell. 

Things took off for me in 2018. At the end of 2018 i received a 1099K from paypal. That means my income was over $20,000. This was the first time i ever got a 1099K.  I have no business license.  No receipts other than ones i can get online.   A ton of inventory that i have no purchase records for.  I'm totally unprepared. I am currently working with accountant/tax specialist but what a headache!   

I'm going to be doing it right in 2019 ... i just pray i don't get audited for past years, especially last year.

[divwido]

A way back in the beginning error, weighing about a bag sugar is not an accurate way to weigh something.

[divwido]

Excuse me, I'm tired. Trying to decide the weight based on the item and a new bag of sugar. I was WAY OFF.

[bsarafian]

It's a credit to your integrity you honored the sale.  I'm sure there are some people who wouldn't follow through and would say the price was a "mistake."

[bsarafian]

old = good.  That's a really good one.  I still run into people who think everything old is valuable (if only that were true) - I remind them "Grandma had junk too." 

[supercharger-parts]

We did that once with the incorrect price.......listed an item for something like  $7.16 instead of $71.60, we were relieved they only purchased one before we realized the error.  We honored the price and made sure to quadruple check, ha, ha.

[shipscript]

When I first started selling on eBay,  I was given a Barbie dream house to sell (an assembled cardboard affair from 1960). First I researched the competition and the shipping costs they were charging.  The other sellers were quoting very cheap shipping because the cardboard dream house was only a few pounds. Maybe they did not plan to protect the item with packaging.

After I located a box that would fit and went to USPS to calculate shipping, I found the box was oversized, qualifying for exhorbitant balloon weight shipping.  By resubmitting new dimensions until I found those that dropped the balloon classification, I was able to save a monstrous fee by cutting down the box by a half inch.  When I listed the item, the shipping was still significantly higher than the others so I had to explain safe packaging vs no packaging. 

I suppose this is a success story instead of a failure, but nonetheless, I could have been on the brink of disaster had I not prepared the item prior to listing.  From that experience I have learned to always do the prep and that size matters.

[disneyshopper]

Early in my selling career, about 18 years ago, I listed some mannequins for sale.  A buyer in Chicago asked if I could ship it overnight using UPS.  I said sure, weighed the item and gave her a price.  Little did I realize that the package was oversized, going to a zone 6 location, and ended up being charged an extra $40 on the UPS invoice.

[escuintla]

buying without searching Ebay, back in the times when owning a cellular was so expensive. 

I bought a bunch of Norman Rockwell plates 2 for $5

I went home, did my search, same price on Ebay. 

Salvation army was happy with that bunch.

Last mistake? Bought 5 posters of a band from the 60s here in San Jose CA. Listed them, knowing about scammers I sold the bunch to a local buyer the same day. $2,000

I met the seller 2 weeks ago, he was looking for me, a guy said he wanted to pay $3,000 each. 

I am tired of winning!