The U.S. Economy and eBay

The price of gas around here changes daily, and yesterday it went up twice in 24 hours. The price of postage keeps climbing, food is getting more expensive, and those economic stimulus checks are absolutely useless. The government issues these checks to stimulate spending and the economy, yet everyone is in debt up to their eyeballs and is banking it or paying a credit card.

The fact that there are no jobs, stores are closing, big Fortune 500 companies are downsizing with some even taking away employee stock options because they are hurting so bad is adversely affecting how people spend, and what people are willing to invest in.

My main source of income is eBay, and I list about 10 high end items per week and the ones that do sell for over $100 bucks all go overseas. The items I sell for $15 bucks, are within the U.S. I don’t mind where my items end up as long as the cash is green that’s all I care about, but it makes my life very difficult wen I am trying to sell items like Yankees tickets, or Yankee related merchandise.

With all of this said, the baseball card aspect of eBay still seems to be doing fine according to completed listings and current ones. (I am doing my part in helping this part of eBay continue to strive.) My partner in crime and myself are working on opening an eBay store for baseball cards, and sports collectibles within the next month or two. Since we both collect cards ourselves, we figure this business will hopefully help us make money for profit, as well as get rid of some cards that we don’t really have a need for.

Swing by our baseball card blog to read about what we’re doing and buying.

http://cardboardproblem.blogspot.com

shipping charges

As a baseball card collector, I frequently search for bargain cards on eBay.  I buy a lot of cards and boxes on there, more or less from the same few sellers because I know I can trust them from past experiences.  However, once in a while you take a chance on someone new because they have some cards that you need.  Well, I got screwed.  I buy 3 cards from a guy who charges $3.50 for shipping.  No problem, cards will be in toploaders and a bubble mailer…. so he says.  I receive the cards in a white envelope that has been folded in half, taped up, and has a 58 cent stamp on it.  3 cards inside, all in one toploader, but he did spring for 3 penny sleeves so at least each card had that much protection.

I email the seller explaining to him my problem with the packaging, and more over what I paid for shipping.  I also said I will not leave positive feedback on any of the 3 transactions with out a refund.  I am still waiting for a response to my counter offer refund.  He offered $1.00, I broke it down for him real nicely by saying no. He told me I should understand how expensive all the fees are.  Yes, I do understand, but it isn’t my problem.  (In his first response he apologized for running out of bubble mailers, and was waiting for them. Go to the dollar store like the rest of us when we run out and make it happen.)  The seller is responsible for all fees, that isn’t supposed to be my “handling” charge.  People need to understand what constitutes excessive shipping, and what is considered a handling fee.  I told him to send me back $2.00, and $1.50 for shipping covers one white envelope, one toploader, 3 penny sleeves, and a 58 cent stamp.

I did not do any of this to be a bitch.  I did do all of this because people need to learn that they can’t take advantage of everyone.  None of the things he said to me should reflect my charges for shipping, nor will I let him get away with making me pay his fees.  I have my own damn fees to pay, and they are never reflected in my shipping charges.  I usually undercharge by mistake because I don’t like overcharging and sending refunds.  Depending on how this works out, I may post the whole interaction with responses just for entertainment, and his embarrassment.

Packing Items

I hate packaging items.  I really do.

I do have a cheap tip for everyone out there on how to pack your items securely and keep your boxes light.  Use your supermarket or mall plastic bags as padding in the boxes.  You get more than one use out of them that way, someone else can then use them again, and you keep your shipping cost down as well as your cost to buy packing material.

Most of my items are sponsored by Stop n Shop and Shoprite.

More tomorrow when I am not hating eBay buyers for not paying all at once so I don’t have to make multiple trips to the post office.

Powerseller haitus

So I was a Powerseller for a long time, got an office job then lost my status for 4 months. This week, after much work and sales I got my Powerseller letter, and status back. Hooray for me! I must admit I love eBay. I like selling, buying, bidding, all of it makes me happy. The downside to all of this- it’s my job. Literally, my job and sometimes it isn’t enough. I enjoy it too much to care that most people think it’s not a real job. I type things, I take pictures, I field questions and then ship the items. To me, thats work though to most people it’s me sitting in my room playing online.

If anyone else out there is just starting on eBay as a business, or does much the same as I do by all means leave me a comment and let me know what you’re doing and how it’s going.

sedaz28

That’s my user name on eBay, in case you are in need of checking out some collectibles, antiques, or baesball cards.  I have a vast assortment of stuff, but most of the time just antiques and collectibles.   I am a Bronze Powerseller, and will sell items on consignment if you are local.

I also would like to add that the winter is so boring with no garage sales or yard sales to pick up new items.

I collect baseball cards myself, and am always interested in trading depending on what you are looking for and vice versa obviously.

My faith in anyone actually reading this blog is minimal, so please feel free to comment.  I may or may not add anything to this, but thought it would be fun to have.