Throwing all of my inventory away

[haute_again]

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?

[stonevintage]

I would encourage anyone wondering what happens to items they donate to their local thrifts to simply ask what company does their recycling and then look at that recycler's website.  You'll notice on the link I provided below they are part of an organization of nationwide recyclers of these items (link in red at bottom of page).

http://buffaloexportllc.com/usedmerchandise.html

Here's a photo example of the Gaylord Boxes (4'x4' heavy cardboard boxes) that we sort unsellables into. These are picked up and bundled (bundles ready for shipping shown on link).  Our Gaylords were taken to a warehouse to be picked up by Buffalo that pays around 50 cents a point for all items. It's small but its not in the landfill.  Many people come and go thru thrifts and ASSUME these items are being discarded but they're not. The price even at only 50 cents a point adds up:)

[kias]

I donate mine but I make sure that it's a 100% volunteer organization - no high $ paid CEO's and the money generated stays within my community

[haute_again]

Thanks for all of the reply's, even the mean spirited ones.  I don't have anyone around here that I can discuss my eBay issues with so I enjoy the feedback, views and responses to my post/question.

One of the other things I wonder about other selling habits is how often do you take a step back and look at the whole picture? 

I know there are sellers who  believe eBay is just a numbers game and try to hit the "magic number" of listings.  Do you still believe this approach is a viable one?  I personally do not and I'll site many a seller here on that with the mention of international duplicate listings.  I don't believe it gets them more sales.  I think it only makes for a frustrating shopping experience weeding through it all.

[haute_again]

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@haute_again wrote:

Thanks for all of the reply's, even the mean spirited ones.  I don't have anyone around here that I can discuss my eBay issues with so I enjoy the feedback, views and responses to my post/question.

One of the other things I wonder about other selling habits is how often do you take a step back and look at the whole picture? 

I know there are sellers who  believe eBay is just a numbers game and try to hit the "magic number" of listings.  Do you still believe this approach is a viable one?  I personally do not and I'll site many a seller here on that with the mention of international duplicate listings.  I don't believe it gets them more sales.  I think it only makes for a frustrating shopping experience weeding through it all.

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I'm quoting myself as an after thought. 

I have rules in place for what I buy.  When I bend my rules in an attempt to diversify,  that's usually  about the time I take that step back and look at the whole of it.   It never has worked for me, diversifying.  Usually for me, diversifying means one of two things;  I don't know enough about the product to add it to my inventory and I knew better that to try to add it, sort of like "madness", you've done it before and repeated the same thing over again but yet, like magic, there's supposed to be a different result LOL.

[def.a.posting.id]

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@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. 

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@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. 

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<dapi here>

you might be right about that....

I dumped tons of my inventory....

mostly in Am Vets drop off boxes and to a local hospital

thrift shop.

it felt good to get rid of stuff that use to sell here.

the first bag is the hardest and after that you will rejoice at all the 

room you have.

[sharingtheland]

One of my B&M store regular customers worked at GW and was horrified at how much they threw away.

Not arguing this point but some people use GW and other places as dumpsters.   I mean, they "donate" really truly beat up disgusting junk.  I can see why a lot gets thrown away.

[bubbleman2010]

Here the minimum is $25.00 a ton landfill fee a box of clothes is $25.00 so its cheaper to drop the stuff off at salavation army or free goodwillie than to pay the landfill fee. They sift through skim off what goodies they can find send them to their ebay site listers and the rest is either tossed or put out to the public. Both places don't really employee anyone mostly use convicted crack heads and shoplifters doing their community service work. 1st time offenders 100 hours 2nd time 500 hours...

[ittybitnot]

Just posting to the end of the thread. 

I was particularly 'reminded' by the person that bought box lots and had left over STUFF....I have done the same thing for years.  My answer would be to have OTHER selling outlets.  I  sell on other venues where the fees are not so high, so I can still sell cool vintage items for a few dollars. I sell at a local market and have "$1.00" day...I buy storage lockers, and anyone that does that has to have a venue to get rid of all the, for example, plastic kitchen items etc.   When you get really sick of the stuff hanging around after that, DONATE.  You may even get a tax deduction for same.  I had a girlfriend that was not the brightest crayon in the box that would DONATE, and go purchase the same stuff back....DUH.  I am old, I am an ebay dinosaur, but I thank the heavens every day dimentia has not set in....LOL. 

[ittybitnot]

P.S.   You can have at a local market or yard sale.....THREE for A DOLLAR day......."Dont try to get away without taking THREE things, even if you do not want them.    

[notactive2021]

You seem to carry nice items and have a good eye. If the others that didn't sell were equally as nice and just didn't sell I would try to relist with BINs or maybe sell them elsewhere. 

[haute_again]

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@bubbleman2010 wrote:

Here the minimum is $25.00 a ton landfill fee a box of clothes is $25.00 so its cheaper to drop the stuff off at salavation army or free goodwillie than to pay the landfill fee. They sift through skim off what goodies they can find send them to their ebay site listers and the rest is either tossed or put out to the public. Both places don't really employee anyone mostly use convicted crack heads and shoplifters doing their community service work. 1st time offenders 100 hours 2nd time 500 hours...

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Kind of the same thing in my area.  There was recently a mass firing for theft as well.  A lot of managers were caught stealing from the back, some of them had organized  with regular employee's and it was like a theft ring.  The palm Beach and broward goodwills are littered with internal thieves.

[haute_again]

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@notactive2021 wrote:

You seem to carry nice items and have a good eye. If the others that didn't sell were equally as nice and just didn't sell I would try to relist with BINs or maybe sell them elsewhere. 

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Aww {hugs}

Everything I have right now is what didn't sell.  I'm tired of it cluttering my space which is very limited.  I want/need to get rid of it.  My clearance sale is not going very well as you can see LOL

This is my last relist on this stuff.   It's being tossed/donated at the end of the duration.

[bubbleman2010]

ebay is no longer a quick flip operation its just long term storage and a return on money invested. No bank or stock can match the return on investment  from here so one just has to sit and wait for the right person to come along. If you don't have the storage space or don't have the investment bankroll the next best thing is to just go get a part time job....

[rixstuff]

I have donated my losers and had folks start picking over them the minute they hit the donation bin. One man's poison is another man's bacon. I have also had items nobody would touch online nearly cause fist fights at the flea market. I have had items sit unwanted here and sell like hotcakes over on Etsy and vice versa. Items that didn't sell for $3 each sell for 4 for $15 as a lot, some items do better fixed price with best offer, some at auction. Mix it up - make lots, pair jewelry with clothing, soap with dishes, etc. It all sells eventually.

[retrose1]

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@stonevintage wrote:

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.

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The manager of the Goodwill in the poorer neighborhood drove a Jag to work (it was parked in back for everyone to see if the parking lot was full enough) until one day I heard a higher up tell him that it isn't a good idea to display wealth to the potential donaters.  There is a 10 year old BMW there now.

The Goodwill here brags to reporters that their merchandise is supplemented with new store stock, and that any donation more than a few years old is not put out on the floor.  They hint around about what they do with it, but I know several people who have worked there over the years and all of them told me that it goes in the dumpsters. 

Our Goodwills keep one slightly handicapped person on the payroll to sweep in the back room in order to keep their not for profit status.  They are never let out on the floor, they hire trendy teens for that, especially the Goodwills in the high end strip malls.