What are your Goals, Plans, Intentions for July 2021?

[rosachs]

Each month, we like to set goals, make plans, or just put together a quick list of the things we want to accomplish, resolve, achieve, or finish during that month. This thread has been a tradition of the Building/Starting An eBay Business boards for as long as I can recall. It's also a chance for those participating to socialize a bit without violating board rules.

So what is it you'd like to commit to, or are working to continue during the month of July 2021?

[gwzcomps]

Grow my local, Facebook, and direct sales.  I grow weary of all the problems eBay creates and refuses to fix.  It is to my grave disappointment I still need this dumpster fire of a site as of now...

I would try to grow my eBay business, but I no longer see the incentive when it is quite clear eBay no longer wants small businesses on their site.

[femmefan1946]

[rosachs]

For July, I want to get my PC-related listings up by 50%, which isn't yet a lot since the current total is something like 50-60.  I've got the parts pulled, and I've been doing pictures every now and then when time permits (pics are quick, easy, and can be edited later).

Also want to take as many grandkids as I can to the Safari Park south of Senatobia, MS.  I've heard interesting things, and if it's a drive-thru park, as the literature says, then a wee bit of rain shouldn't affect the fun.  Three rows of seating means we can fit 8 adults or 4 adults and 6 kids (provided no car seats are needed).

And since it's been over a year since I've been, it's time to renew my Memphis Zoo membership and check out all the penny-press machines.  Which also makes a great weekend activity - but the kids and grands meet me there.  It's only $5 to park, so they won't go broke, and I usually buy lunch and drinks (preferably water), so it can be a fun day for everyone.  Except my bank balance, but that's what it's for - can't take it with me so I may as well convert it into memories, right?

Picked up a new bulk lot of elongates - rather disappointed, actually. 10-15yrs ago I had a supplier, on eBay, who delivered wonderful bulk lots - good variety, mostly clean (not cleaned, just not junk-drawer-nasty), and the sold very well.  She's retired for several years now and the others who have stepped in really need to get their game on!  I don't buy as much bulk anymore because of the condition -- better condition and I'd buy more at one time.  But if I'm looking at spending a couple days to do a basic cleaning, then sorting, the cleaning the best of the best... it just doesn't make much sense. 

And selling smaller random/unchecked lots is no way to make any money either -- too many buyers expect premo coins in a "you clean" bulk lot.  Just not happening, and I don't care to deal with their "Not As Described" excuses for not reading.

Work is work.  I've got a lead on a few remote programming positions that I'm actually qualified for!  When I started getting inquiries, I had to take a good look at why I wanted to switch and what would my new goals be for my income.  Was I really wanting to do this, or just chasing a (much) bigger check?  And since most of the contracts are corp-to-corp, I'd have to redo my LLC and run the billing thru there.  Lots to think about.....

But the weekend is here and I'm going to enjoy it.  I may work a half-day on Monday, just to get a wee jump on the postal packages before Tuesday.  I doubt we're going to be swamped... sales have been trending down all week as people get more into their 3-or-4 day weekend plans.  Then they get home, all sunburnt and exhausted, and they're looking for things we don't have online -- Aloe lotion, Lidocaine creams, anything to numb/cool the burnt shoulders, head, nose, arms, and those cherry-red legs that were so creamy white on Thursday.  🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Have a safe holiday everyone!!

-Bob.

PS: don't forget to 'float' this conversation so you can find it easier!

[jayjaspersgarage]

Three fence bids, a redwood deck bid and a large yard sale tomorrow where I take all the large or expensive stuff  I wouldn't dare sell on ebay.  Should make about $900 profit on tomorrow's sale while pitching new decks and fence repairs to everyone who drops by.

For July on the JayJaspersGarage ebay store I plan to list more clothes and shoes before I list more very rare matchbook covers.

[postcardcountry]

July begins with cataract surgery on my left eye this coming Wednesday.  My store will be on 'time away'.  With things so slow, I may just take down all my listings, edit titles and descriptions (and specifics if necessary) and then relist as if new items.  (thank you sixbit!)

Then after vision settles down (or I get used to it) I can start taking pictures of the contents of my maxi-global empire (sometimes called opportunity pile or death pile) and getting some other items listed to go with the current inventory.

Real Estate here in Middle Tennessee has been hot, hot, hot so the estate / moving sale company I work for is busy every weekend until September.  Many weekends we have two sales.  Our competitors are busy too, with as many as 30-40 sales per weekend.  Resellers certainly have their choice.  I am in 'Just List July' and not buying anything more.

[dhbookds]

Good luck with the surgery, Postc......I sure "saw" alot better after mine.  Of course, I had failed a Dr. Lic eye exam before I knew anything was wrong.  Amazing how bad my vision had gotten and I didn't realize it. 

Our choice of a town wide sale was a bust this wkend.  Weather was a factor I'm sure, but also probably alot of people took advantage of long wkend to get "away" maybe.   Just as well, perhaps we can catch up listing the treasures from previous wks. 

I will shoot for 35 sales this month, June was so bad, I don't even want to think about it.  Am going to also shoot for listing 100.......Really need to start keeping track and putting emphasis on that.  Anyone want to join in a challenge? 

[buyselljack2016]

My goal is to get more of my inventory listed.

Along with that, as it is related, I have made a note for myself to get some shipping boxes constructed for some items that don't fit the "off the rack" size boxes, so that I can get them listed.

[postcardcountry]

I went to the eye doctor because I really couldn't read street signs until I was on top of them.    And reading was becoming more difficult, depending on which pair of readers I was using.   Turns out 95% or so was a cataract problem.  When they did the first eye 2-3 weeks ago, the world suddenly got brighter.   And clearer.  I am sure 2nd eye will make things even better.  Funny, I can actually read the subtitles on the TV now....so I know what the weather warnings are.

[karmy2005]

I finished June with 574/750 but sold more higher end items than before so that is always good. I'll set goal at 700 for July. 

I'm closing in on 17,000 listings, I've been listing a little at a time but hoping I can get motivated to list a bunch at one time.

Happy sales to everybody.

[downrightspecialkids]

Karmy, the sales volume you do is amazing. I still have to read the article Postcard posted. 

DH books, we used to have a thread for listing at least 5/day, but eventually everyone dropped off of that group chat. My personal goal is to list 20/day, but I almost never get it done. I'm usually only around 10/day, which just isn't enough. I really need to work on that and get more listed.

Like Postcard, I have a maxi global empire over here in the basement waiting to be listed. 

I know for bills, my sales goal has to be 250 just to get by, although it seems that is going to be a stretch this month. June was already terrible, as was May, so I am not sure what July will look like, but I am thinking it may not be great. 

I also need to really get my workspace in order. I am just a disorganized mess. 

Yme has set a goal for 200 sales for July. They still will not let her post on the boards. It's quite ridiculous that a mod can disagree with a comment and ban you from the boards. 

[luxgoods]

I am going to watch the euorpean soccer matches and wimbledon and drink heavily in the evening

[femmefan1946]

@postcardcountry 

What they don't tell you is that the new lens is fixed, unlike the clouded natural lens.
So you may still need either reading glasses or driving glasses.

But being able to see without the yellow cloud is a blessing. And there are some cute frames around these days.

[buyselljack2016]

Your post reminds that I need to push my wife to get her cataracts done.

They have been getting worse, but have been put off for a bit because of her macular degeneration in one eye.

She got new glasses back a bit, but even they are not meeting the needs. Would not make much sense to buy glasses again as the same will happen.

Biggest reason is that she has gone from "no corrective lenses" on her drivers' license to,..........  can't even pass the eye test with glasses on.  Her license will be revoked in December if the issue (reading the eye chart) is not corrected.

[sin-n-dex]

I've got holidays coming up starting on July 10 (for about 9 consecutive days). My partner is busy running his business all the time so it will leave me time to do my eBay.

On my list of things to do over my holidays (let's face it, it's the only significant time I have to do eBay this month):

- Turn the giant box of butterfly stamps into some larger lots of uncut partial sheets and photograph the butterfly lots that have been done for listing.

- Photograph jewellery - I can't stress how important that is, I've been putting it off for two years

- Finish sewing brand tags into some handbags and photograph and list them

- Sort through all the junk coins at the coin shop (about 150 lbs worth) to find stuff to put into auction lots

- Finish working on the book of mint Great Britain and Channel Islands stamps to do some new listings

- Get a bunch of auctions queued to list (used coin albums, tokens, Canadian bronze medallions)

- Do a ton of listings for all the new stuff that's in my basket (I have managed to take pictures of this already)

If I manage to get through enough of that I'll work on my own stamps, but I think the next week needs to be dedicated to the brick and mortar store (he piles on merchandise for me to work on for weeks until I have time to do it at once, but I always get items as they become available). It's also good money if I actually do the work.

Generally on vacation I allot the mornings to do necessary stuff I hate doing (like sorting coins, or updating spreadsheets), then the afternoon is project time (so each day I will pick something to work on from about noon until I run out of daylight). And in the evening I do listings. I don't like to waste my daylight with working on the computer so I do tasks that are easier to do with daylight (like photos, sorting stamps and merchandise that requires a lot of inspection). When I work on the really boring stuff I watch TV at the same time. Makes me not notice how much work I'm actually doing.

C.