My Top eBay Moments This Week

I almost forgot to do my top moments post this week! Ack!

With all the horror stories of psycho Christmas buyers, I was really expecting to get at least ONE complaint last week, but I had none! No non-paying buyers, no returns. Oh - I did have a complaint that a pair of Clarks broke the first time the buyer wore them. Clarks are kind of notorious for that. I've gotten probably 5 or 6 complaints of the same thing during my time selling on eBay. Because I know Clarks have a tendency to do that when they get old, I don't even ask for pictures anymore. I just apologize profusely. I let the customer know that I inspect all of my shoes before I list them, and that I can't possibly predict what will happen to them later, but of course I will refund your entire purchase price and shipping. They have all been understanding so far.

I sold 48 items last week, 11 of which were shoes. My favorites:

I bought these back in March. When the time came to list them, I couldn't decide whether they were brown or black, so I decided to keep them. I wore the heck out of them this summer, but quickly got tired of them. They were in pretty worn condition, so I dumped them cheap. But they sold very quickly.

• Acquired: 3/12/11 (my sister-in-law picked them up for me)
• Listed On: 12/12/11
• Sold On: 12/23/11
• Paid: $6.90 (got that much back out of them just by wearing them all summer)
• Sold For: $15 (-$4.90 shipping)

I was SO GLAD to see these go! I have had them since LAST October. Yes, LAST October. I kept meaning to take better pictures, but I just never got around to it.

• Acquired: 10/9/10 (sister-in-law)
• Listed: ?/2010
• Sold: 12/27/2011
• Paid: $3.90
• Sold For: $17 + shipping

This was a super-fast flip! I probably could have gotten more for it, because it's a pretty cool mug, but I'm really enjoying all my fast flips lately. Always pick up 3D animal mugs.

• Acquired: 12/23/11 (local Goodwill)
• Listed On: 12/27/11 (how do you like that? 4 days after I bought it!)
• Sold On: 12/28/11
• Paid: $2.11
• Sold For: $20 + shipping

I "knew" this was a mistake as soon as I got it home. It's a V-Tech BigTop laptop. I tossed it on the pile and moved on to better things. Then during my crazed list-everything-in-sight mode last week, I decided to clean this up and get rid of it. I listed it with free shipping, thinking it would fit into a side-loading Regional A box (and ship as a 2 lb. package), but it didn't fit, so I had to ship it as a regular 3 1/2 lb package. That wouldn't have been a problem, except naturally, someone in California bought it. But I'm still happy with how it ended up, considering I probably shouldn't have bought it to begin with.

• Acquired: 11/15/11 (local Goodwill)
• Listed On: 12/19/11
• Sold On: 12/24/11
• Paid: $2.17
• Sold for: $24.99 (-$9.37 shipping)

The woman who bought this drove a hard bargain. We went back and forth in an offer/counter-offer several times. I decided to check the feedback she left for others and saw my eBay username on there! She was a previous customer and I didn't even know it! Because of that, I sold this for a little less than I would have liked, but I'm ok with that since she was a repeat buyer. She had previously bought a large Cheer Bear Care Bear for $25 and free shipping, so that's what I sold this one for. I am down to just one huge Care Bear. They all sold during November and December. Note to self (and to you!): pick these up and be sure they are all listed for next Christmas selling season.

• Acquired: 9/3/11 (yard sale)
• Listed On: 9/18/11
• Sold On: 12/29/11
• Paid: $1.00
• Sold For: $25.00 (-$6.57 shipping)

Always, always, ALWAYS buy these. I cannot keep these in stock. This is the Clairol Style Setter. Sometimes they say that on the cover, sometimes they don't. There is more than one Clairol Style Setter out there, but the red base always sells quickly for me. I have gotten anywhere from $24.99 - $39.99 for these. I had 2 sets to list the other day, so I put them both in the same listing for $39.99 or best offer, plus shipping, and I put that I had 2 available. I had a woman make me an offer for BOTH sets. I quickly jumped on it, not only because it was a good offer, but because she was buying both. I'm always willing to sell things a little lower if they buy more than one.

• Acquired: 9/23/11 (local Goodwill) and 10/21 (getaway weekend in West Virginia)
• Listed On: 12/20/11
• Sold On: 12/26/11
• Paid: $3.17 and $3.98
• Sold For: $30 each + shipping

Another very fast flip this week! I'm not sure what made these Clarks sell so quickly, but I don't ask questions :)

• Acquired: 12/23/11
• Listed On: 12/27/11
• Sold On: 12/28/11
• Paid: $2.99
• Sold For: $30.00 + shipping

I bought this at an auction over the summer that was to benefit a good family friend of ours with cancer. It was in the original box, but the box was in BAD shape. When I saw it, I just knew it was going to go higher than I wanted to pay for it. But I gave it some thought and decided I'd be willing to go as high as $10 for it (big spender, I know...). The evening went on and on and on and ON, and this gem didn't even make it out from under the table. I finally asked a friend of mine who was a runner that evening to please drag it out so I could bid on it. He gave me a funny look but pulled it right out. The auctioneer made fun of it, but started the bidding at $5. No bids, so he dropped to $2. Still no bids, so he dropped to $1. I bid and won it! What fun to get something for a tenth of what you had planned on paying! Took me awhile to get it listed, because I needed to test and clean it, but I finally got around to it the other week and I'm glad I did. It sold pretty quickly. I have another one (blue) that I'm hoping sells quickly too.

• Acquired: 8/12/11 (local auction)
• Listed On: 12/18/11
• Sold On: 12/29/11
• Paid: $1.00
• Sold for: $35.00 + shipping

We met some family for dinner last evening. I managed to keep from checking my email for most of dinner, but during dessert, I just couldn't help myself. Imagine my delight when I saw that this sold for my full asking price, which was a mere 7 cents less than our dinner bill! Another VERY quick flip!

• Acquired: 12/23/11
• Listed On: 12/27/11
• Sold On: 12/28/11
• Paid: $4.23
• Sold For: $59.99 + shipping

This was another item I regretted buying as soon as I got it home. They are Etienne Aigner, but they aren't even leather. I've never bought that brand, because I see it all the time. Brands that I see everywhere, I usually figure aren't worth the effort. But because these were tall boots with tall heels, I figured it was worth a shot. I was surprised at how high and how quickly they sold. This just goes to show that even those of us who have been doing this for awhile can't know everything about everything, and sometimes you just have to take a chance. Sometimes it's worth it, other times you'll get a dud. I listed them with free shipping, and naturally, they went to California again. Why do my free shipping listings attract the California buyers??

• Acquired: 11/1/11
• Listed On: 12/13/11
• Sold On: 12/24/11
• Paid: $4.99
• Sold For: $69.99 (-$11.43 shipping)

What were your favorite sales this week?