eBay

kaykakfs · ‎10-03-2018

Welcome to the Scrounge Lounge October 2018 Edition

Harvestig Sales still seems fitting. As the leaves change to autumn colors may the widgets turn green!

Our History: The Scrounge Lounge formed on the old Auction Listings board in 2003.

Who are we? Ebay buyers and sellers who love the thrill of the hunt.

We find treasures in the usual, and at times, unusual places.

Here in the Lounge we share our finds, talk about sales, share our successes and our mistakes, we ask and answer questions, help identify widgets, and we'd love to hear about all your scrounging adventures!

kaykakfs · ‎10-16-2018

What I really popped in for was to say, boy, has feedback changed!

I don't remember when I last left feedback, but it's completely different, and the changes seem to benefit the seller.

Positive was the only option - you have to wait 7 days to leave negative or neutral.
The only other thing I was able to do was leave a comment.
I looked for the 'stars' and it wasn't available. It said that the seller already earned five stars for other aspects of the sale/transaction (I don't remember the exact wording).

I thought that was interesting. Star ratings were such a big deal (when I last sold) and so many buyers didn't seem to understand that 4 stars was not good enough by ebay standards.

I am curious if there was a problem with the deal what happens to the stars. Damaged goods, maybe chalk it up to an act of God or the USPS 😛 but what about SNAD? Does the seller still get 5 stars?

Note my transaction was 5-stars. My curiosity is just that.

sunfarmer · ‎10-16-2018

Kay did you say both you and your DH are unemployed right now? Was that because your DH retired or am I wrong?

kaykakfs · ‎10-17-2018

Sun, yes. DH had a job lined up when we closed the shop last year. Six months later the company lost a multi million dollar contract and as the last hired he was among the first to go.

sunfarmer · ‎10-17-2018

Oh well that stinks Kay. I am sorry to hear that. Can he reopen the old business?

mississippi*mercantile · ‎10-18-2018

Mornin' all.

Sorry about the job situation, Kay. Hope that is resolved soon!

Just a quick hello, waiting for a furnace service call.

Had an annual service check (that I pay for monthly so no charge to replace parts, thankfully) He said the blower fan is getting weak so wanted to replace; parts came in a day, and he'll be here in a bit.

Still doing paperwork. Have a new form from the job issue to complete, copy and send to attny.

Nice to see ebay is doing something for sellers with the no starts and no neuts or negs for a week.....I was so mad yesterday when looking at my unsold listings, coins, especially, have at least 4 links to outside companies selling same for so much less its pathetic. I can't compete with that. Sickening. SO, ebay got some hate mail from me, but that was before I saw this LOL so they be gettin' more next time I have that 'How can we improve" questionairre.

It's a pretty day today and the dryest we've had in a long time so will have to get the rider going and blow some leaves down the yard.

Later!

Oh, Survivor was good last night! I stayed up late to watch at midnight.

mississippi*mercantile · ‎10-19-2018

Good News on my washer. My furnace guy said yesterday he'd take a look at my washer...and found a broken belt. (I did not know this energy company worked on all appliances)! So, in order to fix it, he's put me on all appliance insurance plan, which is only $12 more a month and covers everything, washer dryer, fridge, hot water heater, AC, and told me to call in in another week to two weeks and he can come replace the belt.

I grew up in this little town where service people (used to) care. I went downstairs to see what he was doing with it and saw the belt there, he says, there's your problem. After getting the runaround from this plumbing co. who wouldn't even return my call after last week..about some clogged pipes. Guess it was last Thursday or so I woke to find my kitchen sinks not draining. Thankfully I had a full bottle of draino and that worked but I had mentioned that to the gal answering phones that I'd like these pipes cleaned out too as well as fix the washer (and find out why my washer is draining into my sink in the basement....but they forgot all about that when she said HE SAID that my washer "Probably" was a "Circuit" issue...and that buying a new one would be cheaper. Needless to say I'll never call them again. I get so sick of these plumbers saying they are SO BUSY. HIRE SOME HELLP. (Remember, last year it took a local plumber FOUR MONTHS to come back here and finish a simple faucet repair! I was LIVID) I just don't get it.

Back to slaying the next dragon!

The state sent me some form to fill out about helping with medicare cost, I guess. Have to read the whole thing. That would be great cuz I don't know how I'm going to manage with that extra $135 taken out of SS.

ebay still blows.... I'm not happy with their ads running people off to other sites. That's so crazy, shooting selves in the foot. They obviously are getting some payback from those ads, must be way more than the % they are getting from sales??? PHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHTTTT

TY for the VENT lol

kaykakfs · ‎10-19-2018

M*M, good news on the washer. I'm glad your furnace guy figured it out.
Good luck figuring out the Medicare stuff. Yesterday I saw a commercial on TV. It was AARP. Some of their articles are informative, and easier to understand than government forms.

Sun, no, there is no going backwards with the business. Having a new job lined up made it easier to take the leap. But it was time. Cars today are more about electronics than mechanics. Other than routine maintenance (brakes, tires, fluids) it's increasingly more difficult to make cost effective repairs. To keep up requires a whole new skill set and we were old dogs not wanting to learn new tricks.

I've been a busy bee this week. I have nine listings ready to launch. Yay me!
It's been a long time. Using the current listing form was relatively easy *fingers crossed* that I got it all right. The biggest shock (for me) was the cost of shipping. I've been out of the loop on the last couple USPS price increases. I think the last time I used a padded flat rate envelope it was 5-something.

Weather here turned chilly! I had to close all the windows. No complaints. I like crisp. But the sudden change takes some getting used to.

mississippi*mercantile · ‎10-19-2018

Hi Kay, great on the ready to go listings! Best to you on sales. I think this last "Michael" event has effected a lot of people and sales!

Thanks on the win win on the washer. I'm hoping that will do the trick. He seemed pretty sure it will!

AFA AARP, I appreciate the info but this die hard conservative will never deal with AARP because they support/contribute big bux to the D party so I'm OUT. not a dime or red cent. Like my "NO solicitors" sign says. "We don't care if you're giving S#!t away" lol.

I think I'm caught up now on forms, for now. Copied, faxed, sent. Done. EXCEPT Medicare, just need to make a few phone calls and decisions but it's Friday so I'm not doing it today. Should, but NOT. I have another 20 days...lol

That is a shame on the mechanic/electronic car issues. At least my vehicles don't fit into that all electronics and computerized category, still expensive to fix though!

sunfarmer · ‎10-19-2018

I looked a bunch of stuff up yesterday. Got prices figured out to put on my hallmark ornaments but did not list any so far. I am way behind on what any shipping but media costs too. Have to figure that out and figure out box sizes then maybe do pictures and actually list.

Great on getting listings done there Kay. Hope they sell first time out.

Yep MM the way you make sales is to give stuff away. Otherwise it just sits there. Seems to be the way it is. So you need to get stuff for nothing to sell here. Sure hope the washer repair works. Good for the furnace repair guy.

Ebay is advertising on TV along with Etsey and Amazon. I guess the push for Christmas sales is on.

dtexley3 · ‎10-19-2018

Sun, 90% of the Hallmarks ship great in the 6x4x4 eBay box. Cheap and light, most are 4-5 oz in box.

For those that don't like AARP, go for their competetor on the conservative side AMAC. You should be able to find people that you can call for free that will explain your options clearly. The company I work for fields them in our state and the other companies do as well in addition to those put out there by consumer orgs. Call AMAC and see what they say.

Sales have actually been pretty steady, way behind in listing though.

Member of the Grumpy Old Man crew

patd3283 · ‎10-19-2018

"After getting the runaround from this plumbing co. who wouldn't even return my call after last week..about some clogged pipes. " From M*M...

Plumbing companies are paying a $10,000 (that's the right number) bonus for plumbers who come to work for them for six months. Guess they are really having a hard time finding plumbers even with all the trade schools here. P,S,: hope you are not on a septic system...

Our unemployment rate is 3.6% so if you can breathe and chew gum at the same time you can find work. Even a couple of friends who own fast food restaurants are having a hard time except Chick-fil-A which seems to keep their workers.

Kay, what does your DH enjoy doing? Could it turn into work? My DH closed down his business after about 35 years (he was tired of it) and was a little lost for a while. I knew he would be good at one job and talked with a friend of mine. He and DH got together and DH followed him for a while and finally began working for him. Unless they were really busy (Spring and Summer), DH would do one job in the morning and another in the afternoon. He liked the more laid back pace and not having to be in charge all of the time.

Kay also, if you can weigh your items (postal scales are pretty inexpensive here), you might be best going with the ebay calculated shipping. Even first class is going to be zoned with the new postage rates after the first of the year so things going to CA will cost more than items going close to home. Also note that if you use the quick listing form that Best Offer is automatically offered. Best to use the Advanced Form.

BigBoy is waiting to be tucked in. Patd

patd3283 · ‎10-19-2018

Dtex, how is your hip doing? Did you figure out what was hurtin' ?

Patd

kaykakfs · ‎10-20-2018

What's a 6x4x4 ebay box? Something you buy?
I like free boxes. Though some of my sources have dried up. I have enough stashed in my closet to get started.

Dtex, I don't think I'd ever heard of AMAC. Took a peek. Looks like you can read some articles without membership there too. Good to know.

Pat, ty for the heads up on the change in FC switching to zoned shipping.
I do have a scale and typically use calculated shipping for anything over 13 ounces unless it's going Priority Flat Rate.

I wonder what other sellers will do. Free shipping is popular. Easy to manage with FC Mail. Adding zones could be a game changer. Time will tell.

Steady work that pays a living wage is hard to come by. We'll figure it out.

It was raining this morning but we went out anyway and it dried up. It's late in the season, there won't be many more 'community wide' sales so it's hard to skip one. Slim pickings but we had fun.

mississippi*mercantile · ‎10-21-2018

Kay, I *think tex meant priority box, that's the size of the smallest (except for the small flat rate)..and yes they are free, just order them from USPS.com.

Sun, afa getting stuff for free to sell, the only good thing about that is I'm not buying anymore. I have enough to sell for the rest of my life, at this rate!