eBay

haute_again · ‎03-15-2017

I wish there was a way to know how many sellers throw away/donate their inventory. Do you throw yours away ever? Donate it?

I have donated some of mine but if I can't give away my inventory in front of the worlds largest audience here on eBay, there is absolutely no point in donating what no one wants. It's a sinking feeling but I've made my profit and what remains is garbage.

Opinions?

def.a.posting.id · ‎03-16-2017

KirstenRaye

Here is what is happening on my end of your items for sale...

I love that Hermes blouse and think its worth the asking price.

but since I have not sold one thing here in MONTHS...(except for something I sold for someone else)

I have no money in my paypal account to purchase it...

trickle down economics...

stupid 1% ers can't seem to figure that out....

don't pay the protelariat enough and they have no money to spend...

economy goes in the tank.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

<dapi>

previously know as def.a.posting id

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*coins · ‎03-15-2017

The stuff that gets too cheap or never sells for me usually gets donated to Goodwill.

https://bio.link/langs

dhbookds · ‎03-15-2017

One man's treasure is another man's trash.........

I would donate.........assuming the condition is usable and let those that take the donations decide whether they will keep/trash it........just because it doesn't sell on ebay, doesn't mean someone won't want it........

midsomerdreams · ‎03-15-2017

I rarely throw anything away at all, be it clothing or housewares, unless it is unusable. If I can't sell something after a while, or if I don't think it will sell in the first place, I'll donate it. I have a few different places, depending on the condition and the name brand of the item. I've tried consigning but honestly, I do much better here on eBay and it's a lot less hassle.

*eponymous* · ‎03-15-2017

I've made my profit and what remains is garbage.

You're not doing public service by listing. Either you want to try to sell your "garbage" or you don't.

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. ~ Anais Nin

retrose1 · ‎03-15-2017

ebay isn't the be all and end all of places to sell. A lot of times an item that won't sell here in a year will flip in 24 hours someplace else. You just need to put in front of the right eyes.

My merchandise has kind of a flow chart or bracket as to where or how it gets removed out of my inventory.

First there are sites and venues. And occasionally not just on one, it may move from one to another if I have faith in the item.

Then it flows to flea market inventory.

Then garage sale.

If it doesn't sell at garage sale, if the item is good enough and has a specialized donation worth, like winter coats, they will get donated for Coats for Kids or other specalized charity.

Then it will go to the thrift shop.

If anyone I know and love needs the item, it goes to them before anything else. My dad is wearing a down coat that he shopped for out of my inventory.

Now occasionally I will strip an item of parts of value - like buttons or trim, before I throw an item away.

(*Bleep*)

sharingtheland · ‎03-15-2017

I picked up some inventory yesterday (Monday?) and to get certain items I had to buy the lots they were in. Some of it is fine to use (small kitchen gadgets and things like that) but just not worth, to me, the time to research, clean up, photo, describe every little ding, etc, etc.

They're going to GW; absolutely nothing wrong with anything and others will be happy to have but just not worth it to me for the prices realized after all fees and work required. The other things in the lots will more than compensate.

In the "old days" I would have sat here for hours working on those low profit items that aren't in perfect stellar condition but nope, not anymore.

Sherry

=^.^= =^.^=
( ) ( )
" " =^.^= " "

sockmonkeydave · ‎03-15-2017

@haute_again

Our church runs a food bank in the basement.

Upstairs, they have a room called "the clothes rack"

They have all manner of items, not just clothes.

Kids toys, books, household items.

They don't charge for the items.

I have a house full of like new clothes, no way would I sell clothes, not my thing.

Resell shops don't want them, I will have a yard sale this summer.

And donate the rest.

milkglassanonymous · ‎03-15-2017

Donate! Someone's trash is always someone elses' treasure

bartermaniac · ‎03-15-2017

If you decide to donate, please do not use Goodwill. If you research, you will be shocked at how much profit that "charity" pulls in and how much their top people make is appalling. Please consider AmVets who will pick the items up from your porch, Salvation Army or another true charitable organization.

goodluckselling · ‎03-15-2017

@haute_again wrote:
I wish there was a way to know how many sellers throw away/donate their inventory. Do you throw yours away ever? Donate it?

I have donated some of mine but if I can't give away my inventory in front of the worlds largest audience here on eBay, there is absolutely no point in donating what no one wants. It's a sinking feeling but I've made my profit and what remains is garbage.

Opinions?

My opinion is who cares how many others throw away or donate inventory? I am not sure why this is something anyone would make a wish for this kind of info?

Small businesses are no different than large big box companies. At some point all businesses have to consider non-nuetral-negative revenue producing factors out of the business model.

This does not just include merchandise. Think about other areas of your business as well as merchandise that might need some reworking. Time is a revenue expense. Buying supplies properly is revenue producing. Having the right tools for the job, is fantastic to get your desired result.

subscriptions (ebay store, third party apps)
add-on additional cost features
time sourcing
researching products to sell
programs that reduce time spent with pictures, or setting up listings
buying packing material in different quanitites

These are all things that probably need addressed as areas that can produce more revenue. Do not just focus on non producing inventory.

Goos Luck Selling!

stonevintage · ‎03-15-2017

It's always better to donate for so many reasons. It's not right just because it didn't sell well here that it's worthless. Take away the shipping costs, fees and paid time to remarket these items and you have their true value.

Did you know that all the large chain thrift stores recycle and resell tons of items not good enough to be placed in their store? They do, the unusable clothing is purchased by large recycling companies that ship overseas to be made into all sorts of things. You may have some of it right under your feet in your carpet padding. The household items get picked up too and end up being bid on in tonnage lots and end up in parts of the world not as fortunate as we are. All these efforts minimize what ends up in your local landfill and people do benefit from the donation.

I donated 14 shopping cart loads to my local thrift stores so far in the last couple of weeks. The items all sold within a few days. I saved the very best and traded one thrift (not a non profit thrift so they buy/trade) for items I could use. Garden hoses, yard tools etc. They contacted me yesterday and want to outright purchase from me:) They loved the stuff I have - so as I get more room to work, I'll get all the items out of the totes and on tables in the shop and they'll be doing a "shopping trip" at my place in the next week or two.

Also, stop by one of your local businesses that has collectibles/used retail items that is a collective (one that rents booth space out to sellers). They are happy to take your name and number and pass it along to their renters. Better to have one or two of them come thru and look at your stuff to buy than the hassle of a yard sale:)

retrose1 · ‎03-15-2017

@bartermaniac wrote:
If you decide to donate, please do not use Goodwill. If you research, you will be shocked at how much profit that "charity" pulls in and how much their top people make is appalling. Please consider AmVets who will pick the items up from your porch, Salvation Army or another true charitable organization.

Agreed. Not only the amounts of money the big shots pay themselves - but Goodwill throws away anything that is not hot trendy stuff. So you might as well put the vintage stuff in the dumpster if you donate to Goodwill and save them the min wage time they will pay someone to do it.

One of my B&M store regular customers worked at GW and was horrified at how much they threw away. She set up a vintage section with higher priced good vintage, which was always sold out and rather than give her a pay raise for making them more money, they fired her for not throwing the stuff away.

(*Bleep*)

luckythewinner · ‎03-15-2017

@haute_again wrote:
I wish there was a way to know how many sellers throw away/donate their inventory.
{snip}
I've made my profit and what remains is garbage.

My opinion is that garbage should be thrown away.

stonevintage · ‎03-15-2017

What an interesting piece of advise. Our Goodwill does exactly as I stated below. The clothing bailing equipment is right on the side of the building. I've watched them bail the clothing. I've worked with employees that worked there and I know where the bailed bundles go. On average in our area 40% of donated clothing never makes it out to the sales floor but goes directly into the recycle containers. You might be surprised what some people donate to get that tax deduction slip.

Our puchaser for these items in the Northwest US is called Buffalo recycling.

They pick up monthly from the smaller thrifts In WA, OR & ID. Goodwill ships out directly.

http://buffaloexportllc.com/profile.html

The shipments go out the Port of Seattle. Please don't tell people not to donate to a specific thrift unless you know how THEIR thrift operates. Ours is way above board and if you take the time to look at Goodwill's full financial disclosure (easily found online) you will see where the money goes. I took the time and the facts are totally different than the stupid rumors.