Nowthatsjustducky's Rags to Riches Challenge 2015

[nowthatsjustducky]

Ever since I responded to a post earlier tonight recommending a new seller go ahead and start with a dedicated selling account and  try to attract buyers with professional looking listings instead of trying to rely on feedback received as a buyer to boost credibility, I have been mulling over a challenge I suggested in said post.

That said, I am now announcing Nowthatsjustducky's Rags to Riches Challenge for 2015.

The objective is to see how participants manage to build up a new selling account from scratch.  Rules and procedures for this challenge?  Hmmm.  Let's see here.

1:  Create a brand spanking new selling account.
2:  Log into the forums here on the new account and post in this thread:  give its i.d., the types of items that you will be dealing with on that account, the selling formats you will use, and other little policies you may implement (shipping, international or not, etc)
3:  Use that account only for selling so that there will not be any buyer feedback on it.
4:  Keep a tight record of the account's gross and net earnings.
5:  Check in regularly on this thread to give updates for various milestones such as:  your first sale on the account, first feedback received, achieving TRS, and anything else one may feel relevant.
6:  Once per month, perhaps around the 1st or so, give a status update with your current feedback and your gross and net earnings on this account thus far.
7:  At the end of the year, a final update to compare how the account fared throughout 2015.

Sound like an interesting experiment?  If so, I look forward to seeing a bunch of new selling i.d.s posting here.  Now to go finish setting up my new selling account and picking out the stuff to be listed this month.

[nowthatsjustducky]

Well, it is an ongoing thing.  And the second year for it is starting.  Anyone can join in at any time.  🙂

[savanna.dance]

Hi ducky, appreciate you and the thread and keeping us updated, over the year. Kicking myself for not seeing the initial posting and joining in. Thinking I may start the challenge, this year. Wishing you luck with the account and reaching the 50 item milestone!

[pikabo-icu]

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@usmc*usnmom wrote:

Oh my gosh, how did I miss this??

I would have so took you up on this. It would have been fun!

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Me too..

I missed it.. 

[loreenslit]

This is really interesting.  I wish I knew about this idea!  

I started 2 new ID's last Feb and March because ebay stopped giving me free listing on my 1 main  account which has a basic store, top rated and established in 2003.  I had built up to 2000 items listed each month by January 2015 and had most of them up with the 3 x listing for free.  Suddenly in February 2015 the promotions stopped.  I felt like I had to do something so I started this Id for my books and another one in March for clothing, keeping my store with 150 per month.  I immediatley started getting the free promotions on my two new ids.  Each of them had high limits of 1000.  I was really surprised.  Now this one has a limit of 3522 and I didn't ask for increases.  

As I said, I used this account for books and had it loaded up with almost 1000 titles until the end of February.  Plus I had about 100 items of kid clothing most months.  Now I have it stocked  mostly with kids clothing since that catigory sells better for me and books have a lower sell through rate.  Those books are waiting for a promotion.  

I probably didn't fit the perameters of your challenge since I didn't start with the same restraints.  

This month I did not get any listing promotions on any of my 3 IDs.   

Crow, Now I am thinking that if I open an new ID I might be limited to 10 items a month like you.... do you think that the number of IDs that one already has determines whether they limit you when you open a new id?  

[lindiloo21]

I took up your challenge in May, 2015. I did not adhere to all your original conditions, so did not post before. I started selling on a posting Id, I already had with 0 feedback.

Since May, I have had 48 US sales, for a total of $516, and 52 global sales, for a total of $554.

I have received 31 seller feedback, including 1 neutral.

I sell everything, with free First Class shipping. Still, I have made some money, as all my inventory was from around the house. I now use the proceeds, separate Paypal account, to buy stuff, I want.

Not getting rich, by any means, but not totally disappointed either.

Oh, and never got any limits, on the account, and never bothered to enquire either.

[megadestroyers]

Just came across this, and thought GREAT!!  Sounded like somewhat of an interesting challenge even though I was a bit late to the party.

But, then I thought............"Just what I need!  More selling id's that won't be able to connect because of 'lost connection' issues that seem rampent and far more frequent, likely because of Ebays **bleep**py mobile app!"

Not to be a stick in the mud, mind you....

Good luck to the Ebay seller Olympians!

[queenofspades77]

@nowthatsjustducky  I've been thinking of creating another selling account in addition to the one I already have.  This contest is just what I needed to motivate me to do so.  Are there certain multiple selling id policies I should know about before I begin?  This would be my first additional  selling account and we all know what happens when you break policy be it on purpose or accidental.  🙂

[ymeagainlord]

The only real restriction on multiple selling IDs is that you can't list the same item on multiple accounts - ie dupes (unless you're from you know where) and the IDs can't 'interact" - ie, buy/sell/bid/leave FB for each other.

[queenofspades77]

Thanks!  That's good to know.  I think my strategy starting out will be to use the auction format.  I'll list stuff at cost plus fees shipping & shipping supplies.  (my plus button is broken lol).  After I build up some feedback I'll start looking to make a profit.  What strategies do you all use when starting out with a 0 feedback account? 

[queenofspades77]

PS I'll be listing my auctions on Sunday and have them on auto relist until they sell.

[ymeagainlord]

I usually include a link to one of my higher FB IDs so they can check my FB (until I get a decent FB number on that one)

Unfortunately with ducky's contest you can't do that. It has to stand on it's own little feet.

[dr_vhs]

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@megadestroyers wrote:

Just came across this, and thought GREAT!!  Sounded like somewhat of an interesting challenge even though I was a bit late to the party.

But, then I thought............"Just what I need!  More selling id's that won't be able to connect because of 'lost connection' issues that seem rampent and far more frequent, likely because of Ebays **bleep**py mobile app!"

Not to be a stick in the mud, mind you....

Good luck to the Ebay seller Olympians!

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You  challenging me  bro?

[dr_vhs]

Meant for the op

[queenofspades77]

LOVE Clint Eastwood! ❤️