aging out

[keziak]

I blather way too much here so I'll just pose the question: have you or others you know aged out in the business and for what reason? work is too heavy? want more time to do other things? don't need the money like you once did? bored?

Or, on the flip side, even as you get older do you decide to NOT change your business model and to hell with age, it's just a number?

[yuzuha]

---

@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:

@yuzuha 

I've heard you talk about those crane games before, are those the claw things that come down?

     I had a friend who is passed but she was the sole heir to her grandparents general store. She saved everything including all the 1950s bubblegum prizes. Well guess who ended up with them? Me. I sold a lot of them on the bay and I still have a stand up gum machine filled with these prizes. And then I landed a gas station gum machine this year from 1964 and now I don't have any more prizes to put in this one! So I'll probably end up looking for some on ebay!

---

Yes! I play the Japanese kind rather than the American ones-- the Japanese ones are 95% skill-based (as opposed to the US ones, which are mostly just luck given that the claws are almost always rigged), so with practice and experience it's easy to win a lot of things if you've got a good understanding of physics and how the claws work. The prizes are also a lot nicer than the ones from US claw machines, too... that $25 figure I just sold was a crane game prize. I've had a bunch go in the $40-50 range because they were highly sought after, too. All things considered, really not a bad hobby to get into, haha!

[chapeau-noir]

---

@moondogblues wrote:

"decrapitate, "?

Is that a word...Websters wants to know.

---

If it's not, it should be.

Hey @moondogblues  - here's something from your namesake to get you going - Bird's Lament 

[evry1nositswindy]

Fun thread!  I am finding that as  I get older, I am listing more.  I got overwhelmed last holiday season with all of the nasty messages from buyers asking where their item was.  I had to take time away because it was really hurting me and affecting how I was with my family.  I used my time wisely though.  I took every book off of every shelf, numbered/lettered them all,  and as I put the book back, I put a note on the eBay listing as to location.  I have kept it up for nearly a year and it has saved many headaches.

Books are the best to sell!  Book buyers are great and I make someone's day when the book arrives.

"There's more to life than books you know...but not much more"  ~~Morrissey

[chapeau-noir]

---

@evry1nositswindy wrote:

Fun thread!  I am finding that as  I get older, I am listing more.  I got overwhelmed last holiday season with all of the nasty messages from buyers asking where their item was.  I had to take time away because it was really hurting me and affecting how I was with my family.  I used my time wisely though.  I took every book off of every shelf, numbered/lettered them all,  and as I put the book back, I put a note on the eBay listing as to location.  I have kept it up for nearly a year and it has saved many headaches.

Books are the best to sell!  Book buyers are great and I make someone's day when the book arrives.

"There's more to life than books you know...but not much more"  ~~Morrissey

---

😃 

"When I get a little money I buy books, and if any is left I buy food and clothes."  Erasmus

[richard1rst]

When I ran a B&M store I was pretty much trapped in the store all day every day.

The internet part is actually a relief because I can do what needs to be done at my leisure as long as it gets shipped on time. You know the old adage “Work will always expand to fill the time available in which to do it”.

In the beginning you spend just as much time learning the ropes, taking the pictures, searching for suppliers, etc. In time, as you re-order previously sold items, the store takes on a life of its own.

With that suddenly discovered extra time I have begun to reward myself:

I have driven a NASCAR racer at the Los Vegas motor speedway.

I have gone skydiving

I piloted a P-51 Mustang, barrel rolls included

I piloted a B-25 Mitchell Bomber (sadly, they wouldn’t let me do a barrel roll)

I took to the sky in that water powered jet pack thingy that lets you skim over the water

Before the lock downs, many fancy meals at many fancy restaurants.

Finally, I satisfies a life long dream by buying a fully restored bright red 1933 Ford hot rod in which I gladly tool around town.

Now the point of all this is that those things cost money.

I can’t age out. I am trapped here in order to earn the money to do all those things.

Something about velvet handcuffs comes to mind.

[chapeau-noir]

Well, I used to ride 24-hour ultramarathon races and I SURE can't do that without a nap now.  😫

[glasser]

I don't know if age out is how I think of it. More like a roller coaster. I didn't sell for years and have been back for a few.  I sell 99% no reserve auctions--I know old school. It works for me. Just sold 5 items ended this weekend and all realized very good prices. I will say that aim not sell items for less than $100 (though that does happen :()

How much I sell is always based on how much I can find to sell. Sometimes I am inventory rich and other times a bit dry.  But since I sell via auction, my sell through rate is 100%

Over the years selling and shipping have gotten much easier.

[chapeau-noir]

---

@glasser wrote:

I don't know if age out is how I think of it. More like a roller coaster. I didn't sell for years and have been back for a few.  I sell 99% no reserve auctions--I know old school. It works for me. Just sold 5 items ended this weekend and all realized very good prices. I will say that aim not sell items for less than $100 (though that does happen :()

How much I sell is always based on how much I can find to sell. Sometimes I am inventory rich and other times a bit dry.  But since I sell via auction, my sell through rate is 100%

Over the years selling and shipping have gotten much easier.

---

Actually, for what you sell no-reserve auction is the way to go.  Those of us like myself who sell just regular sort of common items are the ones who do poorly at auction and have learnt to stay away from them.