Made $400 from eBay

I still need to subtract some mailing costs and I have one item that I offered on 2nd chance, but I'm doing pretty well on eBay.

The original post claimed the average household has 16 unused items worth $2,200. Well I have more than 16 items but so far I've sold a bit more than that. More of them I've posted here with pictures. A few I didn't.

Right now, I'd estimate my total haul at around $400. The last two auctions were my best ever, EVER.

I'm still amazed at how much they went for. It's almost sinful. I only wish I could say that it was because I had foresight to purchase the item knowing that I could sell it for a profit. But no, it was just dumb luck. I started a new hobby, started buying anything and everything to do with it, never used these, sold them 5 years later. The good thing is they were small and didn't take up much room to store for the last 5 years.

Did anyone else take the challenge? How did you do?

I love eBay but I doubt I'll ever do anything other than sell my own collections off through them. I just can't see me being a power-seller.

$1.69 McDonald's

eBay Thursday

Up this week (I skipped last week) I have:

4 more Taco Bell talking dogs. Complete set of 90210 dolls.

I thought I had a Michael Jackson doll (before he became a creepy, white, pedophile) and N'Sync. But actually I have, wait for it...

Vanilla Ice (haaa haaaa)

New Kids on the Block (haa haaa) I didn't even buy their music.

Spice Girls (same as NKOTB--didn't have their music)

and

M.C. Hammer--Is he still alive??

In my own defense I'm pretty sure most of these I bought on clearance, evidently hoping their were an investment. I just waited too long. Oh well.

I've since learned to just buy collectibles that I LOVE not because I've been told or that I hope will increase in value. This way if I buy it for me, and it does increase that's a bonus. If it doesn't it still brings me enjoyment. I used to collect Precious Moments. Now I limit myself to just one or two pieces a year to add to my nativity scene. I still LOVE Barbie but I don't buy the high end Bob Mackie and other designers as much, they just haven't impressed me like the first ones did. Some of the Byron Lars are ok but still not like the Mackie's, I'm probably influenced by all those years of watching Dynasty and award shows.

BTW-- I did watch 90210 but not all seasons I think I dropped off after the 2nd or 3rd year. Oh the shame.

I made an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of my profit/losses from eBay. I need to update it some selling fees and actual postage but I'm not doing too bad. At least I'm clearing stuff out of here. 12 things are gone and 3 are awaiting payments. Close to 16 but no where near $2,200. But I knew it wouldn't be.

Two more eBay auctions

(7) Taco Bell Talking Dogs

Pepsi Jersey

So I've be using eBay for years. Mostly buying but selling stuff too. I had a large collection of Precious Moments but then I decided to get rid of most of them so I sold them on eBay. I've bought tons of things. Over the years I've only had one guy who bought two things from me but then didn't want to pay with a money order (this was before PayPal). One time I bought something (can't remember what) and never got it, but it was only $15 or less. So I'm pretty confident using eBay.

Well in the last 5 weeks, I bought an eyeshadow, paid for it through Paypal right away, and now the seller has been suspended from eBay. Evidently s/he had started in the last few weeks started not shipping items after collecting for them. (Anyone else thinking Neil Entwistle?)

Then the guy who bought my not-bobbleheads didn't pay or email me. I sent an invoice, an email, then a reminder invoice. Nothing. Then I opened a dispute. Finally a response. Well he did pay today so now I just need to mail it. Update: 3/10 The dummy paid through Paypal with a credit card even though I told him I only take transfers from savings/checking accounts since I don't have a business account with Paypal. Ugg. Some people's kids.

I can't believe I never have problems then they come all at once. Oh well. So that's 3 out of 16 items sold. I still think the $2,200 is overstated.

16 Items equals $2,200 Challenge

According to a recent AC Nielsen study, the average American household has approximately 16 unused items worth nearly $2,200.

I found this fact on another blog. Very interesting and probably very true. Well as far as the 16 unused items. I KNOW that I've already Freecycled much more than that. I have been meaning to take pictures and post some things on eBay. A few weeks ago, I did get as far as getting some out of the closet, bringing them downstairs and looking at the sold prices on eBay. But then I didn't do anything else. I'll make that a goal for this week.

I read somewhere that you should start your auctions on Thursdays and run them for 10 days. I've always used 10 day auctions but I'm not sure what day I've started them on. I doubt I'll get $2,200 but I may be able to get $200 or so.

$1.25 Cherry Coke