Buying and Selling on eBay: Tips, Tricks, Problems & Questions

capnwes · Sep 10, 2013

txwoodworker said:
I don't enter the listings into any computer spreadsheet since that would be more work, and not add value to the product. I write everything down on a specially made sheet in a binder that has all the item measurements/descriptions (Thanks Spoo!) I use that sheet to list the items.

What is that? JK. I think, for me, typing would be much faster. Would love to see this sheet too.

Brianpore · Sep 10, 2013

capnwes said:
Quote: +1

Snoogz · Sep 10, 2013

Good info Wes.

Txwood, I use to write down the measurements on paper as well as bullet points of features of the item I needed to input in the listing...that took forever essentially because I was coping everything twice (paper / listing).

What I've done the last few months is combined my measurement process with my writing of the listings process...I have a template in Word Doc I open up, and input measurements and features while I have the item in hand taking in person measurements(it helps having a laptop handy). From there I have a separate folder I save these word Docs in, and when ready to start listing, I open up each word doc and copy & paste it into eBay.

This is probably the reason I hate the measurement process so much. Its time consuming in general because I am writing listings, titles, measurements all in one. At the end of the day, I feel it helps cut down the total time it takes. I'll measure / write listings for 10-15 items at a time, and that will take about 1.5 hours. Then I will take all pics at once of all items, and them match them up with the listings I've created.

I know some sellers (spoo) don't write much in terms of features in their listings. They let the pictures do the talking. I wish I had the customer base to allow my buyers to be educated in themselves to know what they are buying. I can imagine that helps cut down time for preparing listings. Essentially he just has to worry about measurements, title, and pics to prep. one day...one day...

Fueco · Sep 10, 2013

jebarne said:
The next ones are Tony Lama full-quill ostrich boots. I bought these for a company outing in Texas (along with a resistol hat) and wore them maybe 20 times. I got them down last night, cleaned, moisturized and polished. The have "george strait" embroidered into the inner pull straps. There were some of these online, but they varied so much in price, and none were in the George Strait lines. So not sure.

Not sure the value of a celebrity endorsed, lightly worn, 25 year old ostrich boot, but half of you folks will know.

I think that's kind of cool... I just saw a picture on Facebook of a friend of mine wearing a George Strait branded Stetson cowboy hat that was taken at Burning Man last weekend.

Given that George Strait is still a major celebrity, is still on tour, and recently signed a contract to produce at least four more albums, these should do okay.

Shoeluv · Sep 10, 2013

jebarne said:
OK folks. This one is a bit of a tough one. I've been taking my accumulated stuff out of the attic and getting it ready to consign or sell. I'm posting here because I'm not sure if its considered thrifting if its your old stuff.

I found these in a box up there, where they have been since 1993 since I was transferred away from Texas. Decided to put some leather lotion on them and polish them up, but I have no idea what price range these should bring.

The first are original Kalso earth shoes that I bought myself in 1977. I wore them occasionally until around 1979, but from 80 on, they never made it out of my closet. So 2 continents, about a dozen cities in 3 states. These are classics and I'm hoping there are still some dope smoking hippies my age who will need a pair of size 11's. I searched on them and all I see are versions that have come out of the company who now owns the production and tried to take the brand more broadly. And yes, I had clark wallabies, desert boots and chuck tailors in my School Shoe rotation.

The next ones are Tony Lama full-quill ostrich boots. I bought these for a company outing in Texas (along with a resistol hat) and wore them maybe 20 times. I got them down last night, cleaned, moisturized and polished. The have "george strait" embroidered into the inner pull straps. There were some of these online, but they varied so much in price, and none were in the George Strait lines. So not sure.

Not sure the value of a celebrity endorsed, lightly worn, 25 year old ostrich boot, but half of you folks will know.

So the Tony Lama's look like they will hit $90, here are two listings:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tony-Lama-B...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TONY-LAMA-V...d=100011&prg=8093&rk=2&rkt=5&sd=171067357356&

As for those black shoes, burn them and don't let the smoke come near you lest you be contaminated with their evil.

jebarne · Sep 10, 2013

Shoeluv said:
So the Tony Lama's look like they will hit $90, here are two listings:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tony-Lama-B...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TONY-LAMA-V...d=100011&prg=8093&rk=2&rkt=5&sd=171067357356&

As for those black shoes, burn them and don't let the smoke come near you lest you be contaminated with their evil.

oh my my.....obviously too young to remember Earth Shoes. One of the earliest "wellness" products and the first shoe created around the idea of "barefoot" = better posture.

"It’s a story that goes back more than 40 years. Anne Kalsø, a Danish yoga instructor, made the insightful observation that the daily raising of the toes relative to the heels could actually help people attain a physical feeling of wellness like that achieved in the yoga position known as ‘Mountain’ pose. Inspired by the thought that wellness, in its most organic form, could be made part of an everyday experience, she set out to develop the original wellness shoe – the very first Kalsø Earth

Shoe."

They couldn't keep up production and ultimately shut down for a long while in the 80's and 90's before someone bought the name.

they were crazy popular at the time. but then again, so were pet rocks, lava lamps, black lights, bell bottoms, 5 inch collar points.........

Orgetorix · Sep 10, 2013

I'm seriously thinking about building a table that's a little more than waist height and slanted like a drafting table, just for measuring stuff. My back kills me from bending over when I measure more than six or eight pieces at a time.

TheNeedMachine · Sep 10, 2013

Orgetorix said:
I'm seriously thinking about building a table that's a little more than waist height and slanted like a drafting table, just for measuring stuff. My back kills me from bending over when I measure more than six or eight pieces at a time.

Same here - I also use the same table when wrapping/packing and I get all wonky in the back. It's my dining room table that I do not use for dining, and I think instead I'm going to get some of those "risers" that people put under the 4 corners of their beds, for under the table legs, to bring up higher and I don't have to bend over (as much). Like these. No need for a separate table, and are temporary.

Snoogz · Sep 10, 2013

Orgetorix said:
I'm seriously thinking about building a table that's a little more than waist height and slanted like a drafting table, just for measuring stuff. My back kills me from bending over when I measure more than six or eight pieces at a time.

this is what I am planning on purchasing once I can get a decent deal on Craigslist...I really want to get an 48 x 36 size (hard to find for fold up option). I can double the use for measurements, and packaging if need be...the fold up portability is what I need. Who knows, may be a suitable place to take pictures of smaller items (ties, cufflinks, socks?)

Orgetorix · Sep 10, 2013

Snoogz, that's what I had in mind. Is the angle of the tabletop usually adjustable?

Snoogz · Sep 10, 2013

Orgetorix said:
Snoogz, that's what I had in mind. Is the angle of the tabletop usually adjustable?

Yes I believe so, the side adjustors on the legs should allow it to go up and down between certain degrees.

check this out. Price is off putting not because of the purchase price, but because of the shipping costs.
Hence why I am waiting out for a local Craigslist find.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAFCO-DRAFT...533?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2581cc1115

48x36 sounds like a great size for me, this will allow the most room to measure SCs, long pants, ect...

Shoeluv · Sep 10, 2013

Snoogz said:
Yes I believe so, the side adjustors on the legs should allow it to go up and down between certain degrees.

check this out. Price is off putting not because of the purchase price, but because of the shipping costs.
Hence why I am waiting out for a local Craigslist find.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAFCO-DRAFT...533?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2581cc1115

48x36 sounds like a great size for me, this will allow the most room to measure SCs, long pants, ect...

What about this one for ~$92 with free shipping

EDIT: Never mind that is just the top not the table

Acme · Sep 10, 2013

^FWIW, I use an ironing board for measuring shirts and pants. Cheap, effective, and designed to be used standing up, so my back doesn't get sore. Blazers I measure hanging, on a stand. A while back I bought a hanging mannequin. The mannequin didn't work out so well for displaying clothes, but the stand has been well worth the cost. I just hang up the blazer and measure away.

You can get the stands for around $40 on eBay.

txwoodworker · Sep 10, 2013

Orgetorix said:
Any way one of y'all can share this sheet template? Sounds very useful.

Ha, Spoo posted a snapshot of his one day and I asked him for the template... never heard back. I would share mine, but I think that's a personal thing based on what you sell the most of, how you like to take your measurements, what measurements you take, etc... I have the measurements listed in the order I take them, I can take a full set, then pick up the sheet and write them all down, I have a separate sheet for each type of item Suits and Sport coats share a sheet, but pants, shirts get their own, I haven't made one for anything else, even shoes, but I am doing a lot more shoes lately, so may come up with one. I actually think it was for the best that he didn't share, I was asking for way too many handouts 6 months ago when I was starting.- Also, I can't believe I've only been doing this since March.

Snoogz said:
Good info Wes.

Txwood, I use to write down the measurements on paper as well as bullet points of features of the item I needed to input in the listing...that took forever essentially because I was coping everything twice (paper / listing).

What I've done the last few months is combined my measurement process with my writing of the listings process...I have a template in Word Doc I open up, and input measurements and features while I have the item in hand taking in person measurements(it helps having a laptop handy). From there I have a separate folder I save these word Docs in, and when ready to start listing, I open up each word doc and copy & paste it into eBay.

This is probably the reason I hate the measurement process so much. Its time consuming in general because I am writing listings, titles, measurements all in one. At the end of the day, I feel it helps cut down the total time it takes. I'll measure / write listings for 10-15 items at a time, and that will take about 1.5 hours. Then I will take all pics at once of all items, and them match them up with the listings I've created.

I know some sellers (spoo) don't write much in terms of features in their listings. They let the pictures do the talking. I wish I had the customer base to allow my buyers to be educated in themselves to know what they are buying. I can imagine that helps cut down time for preparing listings. Essentially he just has to worry about measurements, title, and pics to prep. one day...one day...

That would be the goal, directly putting the measurements into the listing as I take them, would this be possible in Garage Sale? I'm not a mac guy, but there has to be some equivalent PC version. I've played with turbo lister and couldn't get the hang of it, maybe because I was just starting out. Having a listing template laid out just like my spreadsheet that all I had to do was merge the pictures into it... The REAL ultimate goal: making good listings as easy as it is to list stuff on your phone, get an Android tablet with the best camera, take the shots in the eBay mobile lister, android app, put in the measurements, pack the thing up (DISCLAIMER: or don't pack) and wait for the sale. Hell, how easy it was to list stuff by taking phone pics using the Android eBay app was the gateway drug into this whole mess to begin with. I think. It's all foggy now.
I am putting less and less additional descriptions into my listings, I can't really measure if it's having a negative effect. I like reading well thought out descriptions, even ones that are overly enthusiastic with lots of these!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Orgetorix said:
I'm seriously thinking about building a table that's a little more than waist height and slanted like a drafting table, just for measuring stuff. My back kills me from bending over when I measure more than six or eight pieces at a time.

Also, and you can tell my why this shouldn't work: I taped a measuring tape to the table (clear packing tape all the way down so it can't get jacked up) with the end of the tape exactly at the end of the table, it makes some measurements extremely fast, especially pants: waist, outseam, inseam, cuff height, leg opening, thigh, take about 10 seconds on the table. I still keep a tape around my neck for a few things, but I've figured out how to get great measurements with just the table. I've also begun to add the word "approximate" to the measurements, copying someone internet famous here.

TheNeedMachine · Sep 10, 2013

jebarne said:
I got garagesale in a Mac bundle several years ago. Used it a couple of times to sell concert tickets. When I found out that only about 10% of my personal stuff is consignable (300 shirts, 15 suits, dozen pair of shoes) I upgraded to the latest version of garagesale to get the latest templates. It's a one-time license fee to purchase. Plus they have add-Ons you can buy.

My only beef so far is that if you want to change a background image or texture in a template, you have to have an FTP site and you have to manually edit the HTML pointers built into the template to your FTP site address. Plus isn't always clear which image is the background.

So generally, it's a pain unless you are already hosting and developing your own sites. I do a site about every 2 years so it would take me a day to set it up and test it, which I might have available at Xmas.

Maybe fueco and his HTML skills could do a step by step.

Templates with image backgrounds, tables that contain details etc, generally look like junk (illegible) on mobile. I know the stuff looks great on a real computer, but when I'm out comparison shopping on something I intend to buy for myself, and use something like the RedLaser app (barcode scanner) to see what the same thing sells for elsewhere...it's pointless to look at the eBay listings that get constrained down to screen size due to background images / tables / etc.

So, that said, are garagesale listings "scaleable" to mobile - i.e.: it strips out all the constraints and just gives me the info & images?

Buying and Selling on eBay: Tips, Tricks, Problems & Questions

Stylish Dinosaur

B&S (BS) ambassador-in-chief

Distinguished Member

Stylish Dinosaur

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Well-Known Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

Definitely full canvas only

Half canvas is fine

Really don't care

Depends on fabric

Depends on price

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: