If I Started Ebay Over Again I’d Do This

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[@johnmohl4726]

Perhaps slightly off-topic, but if I were to start all over again, I would temper the desire to pick and balance it with more listing. When I first started doing this, I was always looking for that one extra yard sale or thrift store, and would be wasting many hours for little inventory, when I already had a growing death pile in the house. The allure of picking is always intoxicating, and the new reseller has to be careful not to be overwhelmed by it.

[@gomey70]

Yeah. Buying is easy and fun, but selling is harder.

[@mikeproctor]

I think a SKU system is a little age dependent. Don't worry you will get there. I'm 56 and kind of on the edge where memory is not what it used to be. I use a SKU system so I can forget about where stuff is. That leaves more room in my head for other stuff I can forget also, haha. I also tend to put like items in different SKUs so I don't pull the wrong one unless they are a multi-quantity item.

[@onemanstrash8233]

Also, as you age there is a bigger chance of health issues. Making it possible that someone else may have to pack and ship. Making that person HUNT for everything would be unfair. Just this old woman’s thoughts.

[@LaddFPF]

After printing labels on ink, cutting out, taping…. That first label after getting a thermal printer…. life changing

[@FrugalRad]

I can't wait.. hoping to get my first thermal printer this month.

[@bartermania]

Being happy waking up is half the battle. Nice video Kevin ✌️☘️

[@joeykirby2274]

Lol. Having handled glassware for years, I immediately got nervous when you picked up the art glass pitcher by the handle! Glass handlers will understand !😂

[@teresaann1475]

😅

[@beforeigaze]

I really like how these ideas can be applied to general organizing as well.

[@shoofrap]

Needed the large butter container and can use the single stick one to take butter to work for my bagel.

[@jcmmnx]

I'm just getting started and I'm prioritizing items that I like and have a decent amount of knowledge on as well as not messing with bigger items. As I get more comfortable I'll expand my inventory.

[@LilMissQuazyQ]

I would have been much pickier when I started, built a barn before starting instead of getting in a storage unit setting, and definitely would have used a sku system instead of trying to go back to do it now.

[@dhanicollins2448]

I switched to using QR codes for the items shipped via USPS. I save a lot on printing supplies this way. Of course this requires that I stand in line at the PO but to me it’s worth it.

[@mis7089]

I would be more particular in my stuff I buy, selling what I love. We started selling the kids outgrown clothes and stuff we were going to downsize to move. I like having the ability to work and be here for my family. That is the best part.

[@shalyndria]

Bonus of having two sheds.. you get a little extra exercise. Nothing wrong with that .

[@diankirkpatrick8162]

I started my ebay selling a little over a year, like you I have my items separated by like items, to me it just seems easier. I don't have a thermal printer yet but I need to invest in 1, I've been looking at them but it's hard to figure out what one I want. I just started doing the shipping through ebay in January, I was surprised how much it saved me. I'm one of the lucky ones, I rarely have to go to the Post Office, my son is the Post Master at our PO, he takes my packages when he drops his son off in the mornings :)

[@FrugalRad]

I'm in a similar boat, choosing a thermal printer is tough. I want to get one this month but I'm torn on all the different options.

[@Kristina-mm9ih]

I love the way you set up the second shed. It looks very cozy and inviting,

[@1Craftermom]

Just a comment on those people that are purchasing the labels at the counter at the post office, sometimes they do that because they don't have access to a printer and they're not ready to purchase a thermal printer, so when I was in that position I went to the public library or to a friend's house to print off my labels there and then brought them home, spending an extra $0.10 at the library to print off a label is better than paying full price at the post office, this is just sharing information

[@Thehonkingtree]

Yes, The Dream Is Still Alive! I am a part-time reseller working on being full-time, but I’m going through some recovery and reconstruction from breast cancer…. I believe it is how much work and effort you put into it. If you want to become full-time, You also need to put videos up there on KZbin as well. I am having a lot of apprehension trying to go public with my NON- photogenic self and put my silliness out there… lol But, I will…. 😊 Most importantly, I wanted to also say, that your shirt is Amazing…again today!! Love Andre the giant and Hulk Hogan? lol You all are awesome!! Have a wonderful day.

[@Helgol]

I got lucky with finding a Dymo 4xl at a garage sale to use as a thermal printer. Before then I was using half sheet adhesive labels and a monochrome laser printer.

[@twoglassysisters3787]

Our sku system isn’t necessarily to organize our inventory but more for keeping our spreadsheets in order. We do whatnot sales with so many items sold, that it helps to pull the correct item and move it to the sold spreadsheet.

[@raquelswatching]

That's what I use my Sku system for. I sort of do what Kevin does and store with like items but within that, I might have items numbers, like the clothes, But plushies or action figures, they are just in their bins and I look for the one I sold.

[@marystucko]

I've been selling for a year, and my storage system is like yours. I buy a little of everything, so I think the sku system would complicate for me. But staying organized is key :-)

[@WHATISIT5000]

I would have started earlier having processes in place, business policies, work flow, SKU system and I would have gotten an accountant the very first year. Accountants are not that expensive and are totally worth it. By the way you can have both a SKU system and still put like items together, it's not mutually exclusive. I am the only one who ever touches my inventory and I consider my SKU system indispensable. Also backups for camera, printer, computer.

[@ToyAddict]

I also have a like-item system. I like it that way, but I do add a note in the custom SKU if I put something in a strange place or if something could fit in a few different places.

[@paulneron375]

Pete was at the Flea Markets a lot, (Allstate Arena, Swap- O - Rama, etc.) I had seen him regularly, and it was a challenge to negotiate with him. I wish in 95,' I got involved in THIS format , vs. The Market for 35+ years.Then It was the height of violence at the locations, ie: shootings,theft, jacking, and generally aggressive people. Here in Chicago that started to suck. Hence, on-line sales, selling the collections that I started & hoarded over the years worked for me. The rule is: keep only the top 10% of your collection, and verticals are the easiest to keep. They also retain a higher value over horizontals that require cabinetry and are caked with dust.

[@chantillyvintage]

Started selling on eBay 6 months ago. I’m still printing labels on paper, cutting & taping. I only sell a few items a week so right now, a thermal printer isn’t a necessary expense. But once I get the extra space I’m working on… it’s game on.😂

[@silverfoxfinance]

I send out less than 10 items a week and have a black and white laser printer that has toner and drums for $30 total. Will last me a few years and a 500 pack of paper is $4. Cant beat it. I just fold the paper to the label to save tape. Obviously, tape is a little more to my cost. But if you have high volume you need the thermal printer.

[@msalrightwme2645]

Why thermal ? I have a brother laser that we have used for about 25 yrs. We don’t print a whole lot yet . I am hoping I will have to get a better printer because mine won’t keep up . I am in the pre startup phase . I am trying to get space cleared in garage or and spare room. But both have inventory ready to sell . I need a good SKU system . I hate when I look for something and can’t find it .

[@MichaelJosephLamb]

Correct. Ebay is cheaper for USPS advantage, but not media mail (same price).

[@Eaglemadhatter]

I have a huge inventory and thinking about starting to list it. Been waiting for some items to continue to increase. Thanks for the input

[@dawnmajor-haring8957]

First time commenting, been watching your videos for over a year now. Great stuff, btw. I've been selling on ebay for the last year and a half regularly now...started in the 90s when ebay started. Ugh, I'm old. I think one thing I would have changed, is keeping my original user name/all of the feedbacks that I'd accumulated over the years. I have to agree on the shipping supplies, I still have that hoarder instinct in me when I can't get rid of a box in hopes of using it with my sells, but I've bought the bubble wrap from your link and will be purchasing a new label printer here soon. That'd be my other change is spending a little to make my life easier in this business, whether or supplies, spending on items worth selling or even the apps that do the work for me, just a few. lol

[@MrPaulMorris]

The number one thing I would change if I started again would be to use a SKU system right from the start--so much easier than back-filling after 18 years with a couple of thousand items! Second thing would be to invest in a label printer much earlier. Even if only shipping a handful of orders per day it just makes life so much easier and actually paid for itself in a month or so compared to using an inkjet. In terms of leasing commercial property, this was how I actually started from day one (but only because we were still tied into a lease on a suite from a business my wife had just closed down) and I have to say that was probably my most productive period despite being a total newcomer to reselling. Not only did we have space to keep unlisted and listed stock separate, workshop and admin areas but also the ability to keep work and life separate. It also made it far easier when we expanded to take on staff! I'm currently negotiating on premises again after a break of 15 years. I have been 'temporarily' renting storage for the last 4 years since moving home and it's a poor compromise.

[@montegoselections]

Another great video! I can’t believe the number of years are went with printing labels on a laser printer, cutting with scissors and taping on my packages! Ugghh. Thermal printer was a game changer. The next was a shipping table. Both of those sped up shipping so much. I have always used a SKU system out of fear of not finding things. Like some other comments, if anything were to happen to me, for a shorter period of time, I know my wife could find and ship items that need to go out until she could shut the store down. Unfortunately with cross listing now, it is more complicated, but my eBay store is the bread and butter so I needed that to be easy for others. As small business owners, the business is highly dependent upon usually one principle and so health or other reasons have to be considered for me to be less anxious. 😊

[@johnjeffreys6440]

When I first started, I retrieved anything I sold via the upload date. Recently, I converted each item with a 3-letter code like zab for example. Much better system. It allows the seller to refresh listings---without changing the upload date. Wish I began like that, but had no suggestions at the time.

[@FrugalRad]

So do you enter the 3 letters into the custom Sku field?

[@johnjeffreys6440]

@@FrugalRad just the title

[@TonySullivan-cr6wr]

As always enjoyed the video keep up the great work all round you are helping someone somewhere.

[@Mazooc]

Great content Kevin. Thank you for delivering with impossible quality and frequency.

[@ordiekelleher2641]

Love my key chain😊

[@cml12150]

Hi Kevin.I love your set up.I think it is perfect!I would love a set up like yours.Have a good night.

[@OriginalNethead]

My stock in trade as a seller required that it be kept in a climate-controlled area. No storage buildings need apply. Rhinestones don't like moist air, and glue can't take heat. Fortunately jewelry doesn't take up a pile of room.

[@fatgrandmafinds]

I have a sku system and about half my stuff isn't in it which can be problematic but it keeps things interesting. I keep intending to spend a day going through and filing everything but I get distracted by KZbin 😂

[@eboyd53]

Even with a SKU system you can either misplace or send the wrong item because you misread your SKU. :\

[@chadwick24605]

Hello love your content I'm new to this wish a fellow Virginian luck. I have so many questions but this video was very helpful thanks.

[@silverhairstacker8664]

Things I should have done earlier 1. Thermal printer 2. Shrink wrap 3. SKU system 4. Google search 5. Increase ASP 6. Stop listening to channels that don't teach much. Things I should have done earlier that I still do 1. Buy big stuff (I have 400 square feet to resell in - it just doesn't fit well - I hate packing big stuff - age 68 I don't like lifting heavy stuff) 2. Organize the death pile (I have the sources and ability to buy far more than I can ever get listed, and so I must be in the top 1 percent of sellers who are completely messy) (fortunately, I can be messy as hurricane during an earthquake and still make good money) 3. Get over my distaste for listing. (Listing is my least favorite part of the business)

[@leslliegordon785]

Why don’t you start your own EBay? Create it for the smaller sellers and without China and larger corporations. Keep the same integrity of EBay and rules of authenticity to product. IMO, you’d be the perfect choice to create such a platform.

[@Aaramlias]

When I started out my business a long time ago and didn't sell online at the time. If I had to do things differently when I had my storefornt and all of sudden I couldn't compete then again instead of going horribly in debt because of it I would have taken my business online back on Ebay and Amazon (which I had been on a few years before that for a while, I might have built up my retro stock too and held on to some of it, Some of it that sold for nothing now sells for 100s to 1000s of dollars. I would also back them hunt down stock at thrift stores too where I could have got stuff for very little. If that had failed I would have went back to work instead of spending another 5 years going badly in debt, I would have tried to learn about stock sooner too instead of waiting almost a decade to learn new stuff. If I had done that I would be doing incredibly well by now because of doing so much better during the 2020 years when everything went crazy online.

[@garettanderson6772]

If I started from scratch I think I would say the hell with ebay and go straight to whatnot.

[@avernus3001]

3:26 , I LIKE YOUR OPINION!!!

[@johnjeffreys6440]

Where's your packing material like bubble wrap. Do you use different things?

[@christhegoose]

Firm believer in a SKU system. Not sure how people sell without one.

[@stonycreekpicker1385]

Surprised to hear you have a disdain for possums. I live in a semi-rural area (lots of critters) and we have a lot of possums. They are mostly harmless and we even hand feed some of them. I understand they look scary because they have a mouth full of teeth but they've never tried to bite me. I've often wondered why they don't make good pets so I looked it up on-line. The sad truth is they only live about a year. I still use a laser printer and intend to switch to a thermal label printer as soon as I run out of toner. One cartridge costs around $75 and I need four!

[@legoboy-ox2kx]

My laser printer toner costs about 30-40 bucks per cartridge and I've only had to replace one of them so far. I got the printer for $30 with toner originally lol

[@legoboy-ox2kx]

I have a samsung laser printer that I love lol

[@hwcinc]

Just from an 80 year old man I’d like to mention that that system works for you. What happens if you are not available?

[@onlyluvisreal6691]

I have the same system 😅😅 it's just how my brain works 😅😅. It helps to see things and I can see what's selling.

[@davidbeard6154]

My first sale was a little more than a year ago but I am likely to start using a sku code soon as well as getting a store and using my genie.

[@kathleenparker9297]

You know what, you are just smart 👍

[@tufferguy5651]

you have employees my friend. just no payroll.

[@chuckwheeler6298]

What would really worry me is that even if your pretty successful as a reseller like say 80k pure profit a year that sounds like a lot but you gotta factor in health insurance which is a must, and then things like 401k with a company match.. I’d really have to be doing atleast 100k in profit to replace my job. It’s cool though I enjoy my little video game niche I make alittle money, and I get to always have all kinds of games and systems around to play with.

[@commonwealthflipper]

Yes but you also save a lot by not going to a job as well. Attire, eating out, no mileage deductions etc. Plus the taxes if done correctly are far less on that 80k. If you take that into account. And put that money in a Roth it is a net plus.

[@S.A.D.i.S.T.I.C]

i just sold a casio sk-1 for 200 dollars used a couple months ago

[@buyatreasure]

Does What Not have rules like Ebay's VeRo policy or can you sell whatever you want without repercussions? Congrats on all the sales. This was my 1st week ever on ebay that I sold nothing. 😢

[@boogineer]

I would have the kids Beanie Babies when they were worth something.😂

[@boogineer]

“Sold”

[@squirls1025]

Do you prefer bubble wrap or the foam padding rolls? Also, what size bubble wrap do you prefer? As my store grows I am finding I like the foam wrap because If the bubbles pop that it is where the wrap creates a cushion for everything. I do enjoy the plastic wrap to keep everything together and prevent scratches as well

[@calebsholar9978]

I have over 250 items listed and 1500 items sold. Started selling about 1.5 years ago. And still don’t have a “store” account. What are the upsides to making your account a business account? Thanks

[@callie9343]

I do have a question maybe someone come answer how do you gain followers on ebay? Should I do store cards or like wheres the best place to advertise my store

[@The1eviltemptress]

Wait, why didn’t you tell us what Pete does for his inventory?

[@Serenasattic]

Do you find year of the end inventory is a pain for taxes?

[@snosister]

possums are awesome! They eat ticks! They are marsupials! They are nocturnal! They are America's Wallaby/Kangaroo!

[@lynnesroufe8068]

For example, if a lot are listed on line and not sold, will not buy at this time, not sure if that's right thing I'm doing? Would like to be able to check the resale rate faster. Please help... Faithful Follower, Love your videos.. very helpful information..

[@SuzanRussell-z2o]

How do you value an item that you already own?!

[@itsasimplelife4us]

I have a question and hope someone can help! I am in Ohio. If I GROSS over $10k in sales auction or BIN by accepting offer, I have to have an Auctioneer's License! This is incredible but true! Most Sellers just disregard it, but I gross considerably more in eBay alone, mostly accepting best offers. I have some ideas, but maybe other Sellers could help me with ideas. 27:13

[@edstecher3763]

Stretch wrap.

[@dollarbielsyall]

Perhaps Commonwealth Flipper can learn something from his own video (though it will take just a bit of inductive thinking) Premises: - Held off getting a thermal printer, then when he finally bit the bullet, was very glad and wished he’d done so sooner - Held out on buying boxes, but when he finally started to, he immediately saw the value - Held off on getting poly mailers, but soon realized the value of having them once he did - Held off on not investing in a custom shipping bench, but… The list goes on but right now… - Continues to hold off on using custom SKU locations… One would think that with such a body of evidence presented by HIMSELF, that he could recognize a pattern, but no. Maybe he just needs a little additional perspective. Well, here it is

[@positivelypoindexter5322]

What do you mean about getting a store if you have 250 items?

[@88picks54]

👍

[@tomyost481]

I got back into eBay about a year ago. I just realized that when I ship, I pay eBay prices yet on my sales my buyers pay over the counter shipping. Should I be refunding that difference??? I have refunded up to about $80 before. Of course I do when they pay before I can get them combined shipping. What is the consensus on this? Should I just keep 10-20% of the overpay? Thanks.

[@commonwealthflipper]

nope. You can but I do not unless it is a combined order and they ask

[@justbrian_47]

hey Kevin you should be careful with your channels Retro Rick got his Channel hacked and he lost it. so watch out Kev

[@JohnD-m7p]

Was this video a list of things you’d change or…just another excuse to list (1 by 1) each of your sponsors or affiliates? Hard to tell the difference???

[@princesspeach613]

Hello how do I send message you about some vhs ive found, some sealed