The auctions for the third week of February’s The $1000 A Month Thrift Store eBay Challenge ended Monday night. During the third week of the Challenge I had thirteen thrift shop items listed on eBay. Of the thirteen, nine sold. One of the unsold items was re-listed this week, The remaining three were put in my ebay store.
Here’s what my gross sales, expenses, and net profit look like after three weeks. Once again, not all the items have been paid for yet, so it may be necessary to make some minor adjustments to the PayPal fees entry. All items from the first two weeks have been paid for so PayPal fees shown for the first two weeks are now accurate.
| Ended | Sold | Cost | List Fees | FV Fees | PayPal Fees | Incid. Fees | Miles | Net Profit |
| Feb. 5 | $406.98 | $25.25 | $7.10 | $14.79 | $12.80 | $0.00 | $8.00 | $339.04 |
| Feb 12 | $262.98 | $20.00 | $13.35 | $10.90 | $11.23 | $0.00 | $8.00 | $199.50 |
| Feb 19 | $194.72 | $16.50 | $10.15 | $9.27 | $8.25 | $0.00 | $4.00 | $146.55 |
| Feb 26 | $39.30 | $12.75 | $8.00 |
As can be seen, I’ve fallen well behind the $250 a week average needed to reach my goal of $1000 for the month. The last week may not be much better since, with my father’s funeral and the house full of relatives who stayed an extra day, I was only able to get out to shop twice last week.
Here are the thrift store items I bought last week, along with what I paid for them. They are currently on eBay and will end the evening of Monday - 2/26/07.
- The Chronicles Of Narnia Boxed Set 7 Books C.S. Lewis - This is a re-list
- Virginia MN Diamond Jubilee Celebration Book - This is a re-list
- Pine To Prairie Cookbook Vol. IV - This is a re-list
- Vintage Open Bottom Sarong Criss-Cross Girdle - This is a re-list
- 1984 Ford Tempo Dealer Marketing Manual - $0.50
- 36 Time Life Home Repair & Improvement Books - $5.00
- Early Cabinet Photo Of Carrington ND - $20.00
- Chicago Professional Shaving Products Advertising Mug - $0.10
- Galena’s Historic Yesterdays 1820-1936 - $0.25
- Haul The Water Haul The Wood - $0.25
- Little House On The Prairie 5 Pack VHS - $2.50
- Lois Remembers - $0.50
- Lot 42 Animorphs Chapter Books - $4.20
- Ma’am Jones Of The Pecos - $0.25
- Pine To Prairie Cookbook Vol. III - $0.75
- Time Life Foods Of The World - 20 Volume Lot - $5.00
The one item that may help get me close to $1000 for the month is the cabinet photo of Carrington. It could end up selling for little more than I paid for it, or it might sell for $200 plus. It will just depend upon who’s on-line and finds it.
I did see one other thing I thought about buying, but decided not to, that might also have boosted the final figure for the month. One of the thrifts has an early Watkin’s salesman’s sample case they are asking $100 for. It’s definitely early and in nice condition. I passed on it last Thursday. When I got home I tried researching it on the Net and although there are a few similar items available, I couldn’t find one as fancy as this one.
It was still there on Friday and although my gut was telling me I should buy it, apparently it wasn’t sounding that confident because it’s still in the case.
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February 21st, 2007 at 1:59 am
I’m sure you’ve covered this before, but do you also list sales from your eBay store for items that you’ve purchased during this exercise?
February 21st, 2007 at 10:25 am
Randy,
I do buy some things at thrift shops that, for one reason or another, go directly into my eBay store, but for this exercise I’ve only included the items that I list in the auction format. I chose not to include these items for two reasons.
First, and most importantly, I’m guessing most people reading this only use auctions to sell and don’t have a store, so it would skew the figures for them. Second, the items I put directly into the store are things that have a more limited market and will likely take more than a month to find the right buyer.
I also have an account on Amazon and I regularly buy books at thrifts that go directly to Amazon rather than on eBay. On average, Amazon generates between $1500 and $2000 a month for me. These aren’t included in the exercise either because, once again, most readers probably don’t sell through Amazon.
Gary
February 21st, 2007 at 11:01 am
Gary,
Two questions…
1. How do you determine what goes to Amazon, what goes to your eBay store and what goes to eBay auctions. I’d love to sell on Amazon, but I’m never really sure how to make the proper determinations.
I’ve asked this question before, but you’ve never responded with an answer.
Maybe you could do a blog post on this question?!?
2. When will the “Magazine Gold Premium Newsletter” return?? I see you’re still offering it, and I’ve paid for the subscription, yet I’ve not received any additional issues since #1 & #2.
Again, this is another question I’ve asked and again you’ve not responded with an answer.
I’m sure like myself, other subscribers are also curious!?!
Thanks in advance!!
February 21st, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Stephen,
I’ll get a post on the blog either today or tomorrow covering how I decide whether I’ll put a book on Amazon, my eBay store, or at auction.
Regarding the newsletter - In October of last year, after things got back to some semblance of normal here, and I started working again, I had to cut back on the different projects I had on the fire.
One of those that was cut was the newsletter. At the time, all subscribers were sent an email offering them the option of either a full refund or a free copy of the Profiting From Garage Sales book when it became available (should have been this week but my father’s illness and funeral has delayed it a week or two). Those who asked got their refunds and the rest were put on a list for free copies.
I realize you’ve asked about this a couple times before, and each time I’d sent you an email explaining the opitions. For whatever reason, it sounds as though you never got them.
The offer still stands. Just let me know which option you choose. As for the subscription page, I thought I’d deleted it, but apparently not (shows how much interest there was in it).
Gary
February 21st, 2007 at 9:04 pm
(Loud Crying follows)
WAHHHHH!!! I WANT THE NEWSLETTER!! WAHHHHHH!!
LOL!!
Seriously though, I’m SOOOO sorry to hear about your Father, we just went through the same thing with my wife’s dad!!
I send my sincerest condolences and deepest sympathy for your loss!!
You know, I’ve been following your insights for so long (cold items days) and have increased my knowledge so much because of them I kindda feel related to you…kindred eBay brothers.
You’ll be in my prayers
No, I never received that email. I thought it strange to not have heard something after I’d asked several times!!
I’ll ALWAYS take the information over the $$$!!
Send me the eBook when It’s done, that’s worth way more to me than $20
Gary, you’re a stand up guy and a honorable person!!
PS…If the Watkins Salesman Sample case is the leather case, follow your gut and pick it up!! My granddad was fond of saying, “Think long, Think Wrong…Follow your first thought” I was at a show recently and saw a complete one in a leather case priced at $400
February 21st, 2007 at 9:27 pm
One more ??
What type of thrift stores are these you’re shopping?? They can’t be Goodwill or Salvation Army stores, are they??
The ONLY ones in our area here in Upstate NY are the Goodwill & Salvation Army Stores, and they NEVER have anything like you find!! And if they do they have everything set as “Internet-Ebay” prices…VERY HIGH!!
I’d never be able to make $500 monthly, let alone $1000 from the thrifts within an hour of where I live and I’m not sure driving further would be practical!?!
But just seeing what you’re buying is a great education in itself…Keep the challenge going all year, it’s a GREAT learning tool!
February 22nd, 2007 at 1:18 am
Stephen,
You must have been reading my mind. I had a post half written about the seven thrift stores in Grand Forks. I just finished it a short time ago and it’s been posted. I’ll do the where do the books go post in a day or two.
The Watkins case is all wood with a metal handle. Nicely made with dovetailed corners. It has four sections - two deeper sections (one on each end) meant to hold the larger bottles; a shallow open areas in the middle (possibly for spices??); and under that an even shallower drawer that pulls out from both front and back (maybe brochures, catalogs, order forms, etc.??).
Thank you for your condolences. You’re right - we do go back quite a ways.
Gary
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Gary,
If I were YOU, I’d spend the few $$$ and get that case before somebody else does!!
My grand mother who was a big time antiques dealer in the 60’s & 70’s in Southern California once told me that the ONLY purchase you regret is the one you DON’T make!!
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:45 am
Stephen,
It was still there this afternoon and I’m still thinking about it. I offered the manager $60 for it this afternoon, but they still have it.
Gary