Whew! After a gazillion troubles with my listing service, I have finally got all my Meltonian listed in my eBay store. Everything you see listed there is available for immediate shipment. I have a few other shoe care products that I will be listing tomorrow (they will show up in that same link once they are listed). If you would like any of the colors you see in that listing, go ahead and order through eBay. If you need a color or some other shoe care product that I don't currently have listed, then come on over to our eBay Underground thread and let me know what you need. Or feel free to contact me through the Contact Us link at the top of this page or by leaving a comment on this post.
I'll be placing my order on Wednesday, August 31.
Showing posts with label Meltonian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meltonian. Show all posts
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Shoe Care Orders
I just announced yesterday that I've temporarily done away with my Addoway store until I can get my shoe products into my eBay store. I think I am ready to stock up again. I will be placing a large custom order with my supplier on Wednesday, August 31. That's one week away. Is there anything you need to complete your shoe repair arsenal?
Here's what I can get:
Meltonian Shoe Cream in a wide variety of colors ($2.25 each)
Sole & Heel edge dressing in black or brown ($4.00 each)
Barge Cement for repairing torn leather flaps ($4.25 each)
Suede and Nubuck eraser for the shiny spots on suede shoes ($7.00 each)
Kiwi Parade Gloss in black ($4.50) or brown ($4.25)
Suede and Nubuck aerosol cleaner ($4.25)
Suede Brush ($3.00)
Shoe Shine Buffing Brush ($6.00 each)
1/4" edge brush for use with edge dressing ($3.25 each)
1/2" edge brush ($4.50 each)
***I also have a variety of starter kits if you're unsure of what you need to get started:
Prices for these include shipping.
Kit #1 - Full Kit $35.95:
Kit #2 - Creams & Buffing Brush $21.45
Kit #3 - Edge Dressings & Brushes $19.45
Kit #4 - Suede Starter Kit $18.25
Shipping:
1 item $3.95
2 items $4.95
3 - 12 items $5.95
13+ items: contact me for shipping quote
Edge brushes ship free with anything else. If you order an edge dressing and an edge brush, shipping would be the $3.95 for just 1 item.
So if you are interested in any of this stuff, now's the time to let me know. You can contact me through the "Contact Us" link at the top of this blog, or you can leave a comment on this post, or you can come join us on Proboards for the latest group order discussion.
Here's what I can get:
Meltonian Shoe Cream in a wide variety of colors ($2.25 each)
Sole & Heel edge dressing in black or brown ($4.00 each)
Barge Cement for repairing torn leather flaps ($4.25 each)
Suede and Nubuck eraser for the shiny spots on suede shoes ($7.00 each)
Kiwi Parade Gloss in black ($4.50) or brown ($4.25)
Suede and Nubuck aerosol cleaner ($4.25)
Suede Brush ($3.00)
Shoe Shine Buffing Brush ($6.00 each)
1/4" edge brush for use with edge dressing ($3.25 each)
1/2" edge brush ($4.50 each)
***I also have a variety of starter kits if you're unsure of what you need to get started:
Prices for these include shipping.
Kit #1 - Full Kit $35.95:
- 6 creams (black, neutral, 4 shades of brown)
- 2 sole & edge dressings (1 each black & brown)
- 1 large buffing brush
- 2 small edge brushes (for applying edge dressing)
Kit #2 - Creams & Buffing Brush $21.45
- 6 creams (black, neutral, 4 shades of brown)
- 1 large buffing brush
Kit #3 - Edge Dressings & Brushes $19.45
- 2 edge dressings (1 each black & brown)
- 2 small edge brushes
Kit #4 - Suede Starter Kit $18.25
- suede eraser
- suede cleaner
- suede brush
Shipping:
1 item $3.95
2 items $4.95
3 - 12 items $5.95
13+ items: contact me for shipping quote
Edge brushes ship free with anything else. If you order an edge dressing and an edge brush, shipping would be the $3.95 for just 1 item.
So if you are interested in any of this stuff, now's the time to let me know. You can contact me through the "Contact Us" link at the top of this blog, or you can leave a comment on this post, or you can come join us on Proboards for the latest group order discussion.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Buying Shoes for Resale, Part 3 (Cleaning and Repairing)
Ok, so you've bought your shoes. Now what do you do with them?
There are plenty of products around to help you get them fixed up. I'll take you through step-by-step how I fix mine.
1) Get that price off!
This is very very important. How tacky is it to sell a pair of shoes for $50 only to have your buyer find a $2.97 price tag once they get them?? For Goodwill shoes, obviously just take the sticker off. I buy my shoes at several stores that write their prices on the soles with marker. (Even worse, one of the stores I buy from writes their prices on the INsoles with marker! Ack! No solution for that except to scribble it out.) I prefer to use Goof Off for this. I ran out of Goof Off and have been using Goo Gone, but it's just not the same. Goof Off reeks, so use it in a well-ventilated area. Goof Off will remove sticker residue as well as marker. Just dribble it on a paper towel or rag, and wipe it off. I've found that it works perfectly on black or silver marker, but the red is a lot harder to remove. If the Goof Off doesn't remove it, nothing will. You'll just have to color over it at that point.
2) Clean Them
Whether they LOOK dirty or not, you need to get the previous owner's feet OUT of them. I just use some hot water with Mr. Clean (or Lysol or whatever brand happened to have a coupon out when I bought it...). Grab a rag, wipe down the outside. Be sure to get that crack where the shoe meets the sole. Then scrub the inside. Be sure to get all the way to the toes, because that's where the cat hair likes to hide. Then do the sides of the soles, and finally the soles themselves. Keep a toothbrush and toothpicks handy for this. You'll find all kinds of goodies in the soles. Try not to dwell on it. Just think of the profit you're working toward.
3) Polish them
This is The Most Awesome Product in the world of a shoe seller! If you're going to sell shoes, build your collection of Meltonian Shoe Cream up until you've got at least one of every color. I have just started selling this, so if you're interested in trying it out, check out the Shoe Care Info tab at the top of this site. Once you've read the Info tab, you can contact me in several different ways:
4) Repair any damage
Patricia Nixey Klassen from our eBay Underground Facebook Group used to work in a shoe repair store. She says this:
I can get Barge Cement for this, so if you're interested, let me know. (Again, please read the Shoe Care Info tab first for important information!)
5) Fix up those soles!
This is another miracle product that breathes new life into old shoes. You've all heard me talking about my Ferragamos ad nauseum, so I'll spare you the details again, but check this out!
To use this stuff, put on your rubber gloves! Then give the bottle a good shake, take the cap off, and press it to your shoe sole. It will take a good bit of pressing, but eventually, the dressing will come out. Spread it around, and that's that! It will take several coats, but it's worth the time and effort. I did find that, when the dressing started coming out bubbly, I lightly wiped it off with a paper towel. That gave it a nicer look. (I also sell this! Shoe Care Info tab!)
6) Finishing touches
**Replace the laces if yours are worn out.
**Replace the insoles if yours are missing, but be sure to mention this in your listing.
**Finish your shoe off with a coating of Neutral Meltonian for a nice shine.
You are now ready to take pictures! But my tips for that will have to wait for another post.
========
Coming Up:
Part 4: Taking Fabulous Pictures
Part 5: Creating a Quality Listing
Part 6: Shipping Your Shoes to Their New Owner
========
In case you've missed the first two parts of this series:
Part 1: Brands to Watch For
Part 2: More Brands to Watch For
There are plenty of products around to help you get them fixed up. I'll take you through step-by-step how I fix mine.
1) Get that price off!
This is very very important. How tacky is it to sell a pair of shoes for $50 only to have your buyer find a $2.97 price tag once they get them?? For Goodwill shoes, obviously just take the sticker off. I buy my shoes at several stores that write their prices on the soles with marker. (Even worse, one of the stores I buy from writes their prices on the INsoles with marker! Ack! No solution for that except to scribble it out.) I prefer to use Goof Off for this. I ran out of Goof Off and have been using Goo Gone, but it's just not the same. Goof Off reeks, so use it in a well-ventilated area. Goof Off will remove sticker residue as well as marker. Just dribble it on a paper towel or rag, and wipe it off. I've found that it works perfectly on black or silver marker, but the red is a lot harder to remove. If the Goof Off doesn't remove it, nothing will. You'll just have to color over it at that point.
2) Clean Them
Whether they LOOK dirty or not, you need to get the previous owner's feet OUT of them. I just use some hot water with Mr. Clean (or Lysol or whatever brand happened to have a coupon out when I bought it...). Grab a rag, wipe down the outside. Be sure to get that crack where the shoe meets the sole. Then scrub the inside. Be sure to get all the way to the toes, because that's where the cat hair likes to hide. Then do the sides of the soles, and finally the soles themselves. Keep a toothbrush and toothpicks handy for this. You'll find all kinds of goodies in the soles. Try not to dwell on it. Just think of the profit you're working toward.
3) Polish them
This is The Most Awesome Product in the world of a shoe seller! If you're going to sell shoes, build your collection of Meltonian Shoe Cream up until you've got at least one of every color. I have just started selling this, so if you're interested in trying it out, check out the Shoe Care Info tab at the top of this site. Once you've read the Info tab, you can contact me in several different ways:
- Find me on Facebook
- Email Me
- Comment on this blog post
- Contact me through the "Contact Us" link at the top of this blog
4) Repair any damage
Patricia Nixey Klassen from our eBay Underground Facebook Group used to work in a shoe repair store. She says this:
I learned from the old pro to gently lift that peeled rip,clean out any dirt if there is any,(usually made when walking on grass and heels dig in) pull the leather down to straighten from being accordianed up. Get some really good glue like "Weld Bond" that glues anything to anything.
Use a tooth pick or something small to put glue up under the flap on the inside of the leather and on the heel, wait a minute or two for the glue to set up then pull and press that flap into place using a downward rubbing motion with your thumb. Then here is the trick ... put several layers of a clean cloth over the spot and GENTLY tap with a hammer. (If you don't use a cloth you can cut the leather with the hammer) This thins the ridge of the join. Clean off any excess glue with a clean wet cloth. Let it dry over night. Polish with Meltonian and DONE!
I can get Barge Cement for this, so if you're interested, let me know. (Again, please read the Shoe Care Info tab first for important information!)
5) Fix up those soles!
This is another miracle product that breathes new life into old shoes. You've all heard me talking about my Ferragamos ad nauseum, so I'll spare you the details again, but check this out!
To use this stuff, put on your rubber gloves! Then give the bottle a good shake, take the cap off, and press it to your shoe sole. It will take a good bit of pressing, but eventually, the dressing will come out. Spread it around, and that's that! It will take several coats, but it's worth the time and effort. I did find that, when the dressing started coming out bubbly, I lightly wiped it off with a paper towel. That gave it a nicer look. (I also sell this! Shoe Care Info tab!)
6) Finishing touches
**Replace the laces if yours are worn out.
**Replace the insoles if yours are missing, but be sure to mention this in your listing.
**Finish your shoe off with a coating of Neutral Meltonian for a nice shine.
You are now ready to take pictures! But my tips for that will have to wait for another post.
========
Coming Up:
Part 4: Taking Fabulous Pictures
Part 5: Creating a Quality Listing
Part 6: Shipping Your Shoes to Their New Owner
========
In case you've missed the first two parts of this series:
Part 1: Brands to Watch For
Part 2: More Brands to Watch For
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Know What You've Got!
Back in December, I found a pair of Salvatore Ferragamo shoes at a Salvation Army for $7.99. That's a little higher than I usually pay for shoes, but these were in really good shape, and I thought I remembered hearing that that was a good name. Besides, they were a size 14, so I figured once the right buyer came along, I could sell these for a pretty penny.
I shined these up a bit with some neutral Meltonian Shoe Cream, but there was nothing I could do about the soles. They had the price written on the bottom, so I just scribbled over it with Sharpie. Very professional, no?
I researched this brand and was surprised to discover that they retail for an average of $600. There are even some styles that go closer to $1,000! For SHOES!! Now, many of you know me and my thrifter's mentality. I suffer from pretty severe sticker shock most of the time. I just can't grasp the concept that someone out there, somewhere, is willing to actually PAY these prices! But, as long as they're paying ME, who am I to question them?
So I optimistically priced them for $249.99obo. Within 12 hours, I had an offer for $100! I was so excited - I had only paid $7.99, remember? But I decided to let the offer sit for a day and see what happened. The next morning, I had no new activity on them, so I sent a counter-offer of $150. The buyer never responded, but I knew that was ok. It was very early in the game, and I knew the right buyer would come along eventually. I only pay 5 cents per month for my listings, so even if they sat for years, it would have been worth it to get a better price.
My shoes sat for 2 months with only 1 watcher. Now, I try not to put a whole lot of stock in my watcher count, because they rarely turn into buyers, and all that does is add to my frustration, wondering why they aren't just buying instead of watching. But then, about 2 weeks ago, I finally got another offer ... for $90. Blech. That was even worse than my first offer! I sent this buyer a counter offer of $150 as well, but again, never heard back from him. What if I had made a mistake in not accepting that $100 offer? I started to second-guess myself.
So I gave myself a pep talk. I had done the research. I knew they would sell well. Salvatore Ferragamo is a highly sought-after brand, and size 14 shoes are difficult to come buy. I just KNEW the right buyer would be along (am I starting to sound like a broken record?).
Then I got my Kelly's Sole Dressing in the mail from Tina. I decided to give it a try, and boy am I glad I did! Check out the difference!
So I took new pictures and updated my listing. I did make sure to mention in the item description that the soles were treated with sole dressing, just in case that might make someone NOT want them. Within 2 days of changing the pictures, I got an offer ..... for $180!!
That was $30 MORE than I had been willing to take earlier! My buyer paid that night, I packaged (and insured!) them the next morning and sent them on their way. He should be getting them today or tomorrow, so hopefully they're the right size. That's my last hurdle :) I'd hate to have to refund that $180, especially since I just spent it last night.
So what's my point? If I hadn't researched these shoes when I got home that day, I'd have probably listed them for $99.99 and been happy with that price. But I researched, I KNEW they were good, I KNEW the size was good. I aimed high and stuck to my guns. Yes, $100 for a $7.99 investment would have been grand, but isn't $180 even moreso?
ALWAYS know what you're selling, folks. If you try to research something and can't find anything about it, set your price super-high and let your buyers decide the price. I can't imagine a bigger eBay bummer than finding out too late that you let something go too cheap. Research, research, research!
Where's the best place to start your research? At our eBay Underground Facebook group, of course! There are so many people there who know about so many things - chances are good that someone will be able to help you out, or at least point you in the right direction. Stop on by!
I shined these up a bit with some neutral Meltonian Shoe Cream, but there was nothing I could do about the soles. They had the price written on the bottom, so I just scribbled over it with Sharpie. Very professional, no?
I researched this brand and was surprised to discover that they retail for an average of $600. There are even some styles that go closer to $1,000! For SHOES!! Now, many of you know me and my thrifter's mentality. I suffer from pretty severe sticker shock most of the time. I just can't grasp the concept that someone out there, somewhere, is willing to actually PAY these prices! But, as long as they're paying ME, who am I to question them?
So I optimistically priced them for $249.99obo. Within 12 hours, I had an offer for $100! I was so excited - I had only paid $7.99, remember? But I decided to let the offer sit for a day and see what happened. The next morning, I had no new activity on them, so I sent a counter-offer of $150. The buyer never responded, but I knew that was ok. It was very early in the game, and I knew the right buyer would come along eventually. I only pay 5 cents per month for my listings, so even if they sat for years, it would have been worth it to get a better price.
My shoes sat for 2 months with only 1 watcher. Now, I try not to put a whole lot of stock in my watcher count, because they rarely turn into buyers, and all that does is add to my frustration, wondering why they aren't just buying instead of watching. But then, about 2 weeks ago, I finally got another offer ... for $90. Blech. That was even worse than my first offer! I sent this buyer a counter offer of $150 as well, but again, never heard back from him. What if I had made a mistake in not accepting that $100 offer? I started to second-guess myself.
So I gave myself a pep talk. I had done the research. I knew they would sell well. Salvatore Ferragamo is a highly sought-after brand, and size 14 shoes are difficult to come buy. I just KNEW the right buyer would be along (am I starting to sound like a broken record?).
Then I got my Kelly's Sole Dressing in the mail from Tina. I decided to give it a try, and boy am I glad I did! Check out the difference!
So I took new pictures and updated my listing. I did make sure to mention in the item description that the soles were treated with sole dressing, just in case that might make someone NOT want them. Within 2 days of changing the pictures, I got an offer ..... for $180!!
That was $30 MORE than I had been willing to take earlier! My buyer paid that night, I packaged (and insured!) them the next morning and sent them on their way. He should be getting them today or tomorrow, so hopefully they're the right size. That's my last hurdle :) I'd hate to have to refund that $180, especially since I just spent it last night.
So what's my point? If I hadn't researched these shoes when I got home that day, I'd have probably listed them for $99.99 and been happy with that price. But I researched, I KNEW they were good, I KNEW the size was good. I aimed high and stuck to my guns. Yes, $100 for a $7.99 investment would have been grand, but isn't $180 even moreso?
ALWAYS know what you're selling, folks. If you try to research something and can't find anything about it, set your price super-high and let your buyers decide the price. I can't imagine a bigger eBay bummer than finding out too late that you let something go too cheap. Research, research, research!
Where's the best place to start your research? At our eBay Underground Facebook group, of course! There are so many people there who know about so many things - chances are good that someone will be able to help you out, or at least point you in the right direction. Stop on by!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
How I Got Here
When I first started buying for resale, I was buying a lot of Corning Ware and Vision Ware at local auctions and thrift stores. At the time, these pieces were everywhere - and cheap! I was making a great profit on each piece that I sold. But I was also spending a lot of money on packing supplies, and a lot of time on packing and shipping! Then there was also the risk of damage during shipping. It took me a long time, but I have recently decided it's time for me to move away from these items. Sure, if I find an amber 5 quart Vision Ware dutch oven for less than $5, I'll certainly buy it, but I'm no longer seeking those pieces out. I have moved on to bigger and better things....
Shoes! I made it the whole way through my twenties not giving a rip about shoes. I always bought the cheapest clearance shoes at Payless or Walmart. I didn't really care if they were stylish, or even if they were comfortable, as long as they were cheap!
Then one day in the summer of 2010, I found myself in an upscale neighborhood on a thrifting road trip. I had a list of good shoe brands to look for, but, living in a lower income area, I had never even heard of any of those brands, much less found them in my town's one thrift store. So on this trip, I was very excited to find a LOT of shoes that were on my list! I think on that first trip, I found 15 or 20 pairs of shoes. I was uneasy about investing $6 in a pair of shoes, but I took a leap of faith and bought them all!
Then my sister-in-law, who lives in that town, suggested that I leave her a copy of my list. She offered to shop for me, and she started regularly bringing me bins (plural!) full of these shoes! Of course, the more I listed, the more I was selling. How grand it was to be able to just toss a pair of shoes into a box and ship them! No packing peanuts, no bubble wrap, no worries about damage during shipping. I was hooked!! And an added bonus ... I now have a fabulous shoe collection!!
I began taking road trips more often. Not always to that first town, but always to towns bigger than mine. The last time I was out at my sister-in-law's last December, I brought home *76* pairs of shoes!! My smaller trip in January got me 45 more pairs. I have about 130 pairs currently listed in my eBay store , and a pile sitting in my eBay room that needs listed. I regularly sell an average of ten pairs of shoes a week. But again, the more shoes I list, the higher that number grows.
In the past six months, I have gained the confidence to branch out and increase my risk. I have learned which brands sell quickly, which brands sell for a higher price, which sizes sell well. All of these things help me to decide how much I am willing to pay for any given pair. For example, I know that Danskos sell high, and they sell fast. I am always willing to invest more in them, knowing that I will be able to at least quadruple my money, and quickly. I know that Clarks sell very consistently. They don't sell for nearly as much as Danskos do, but they do sell regularly, so I always pick them up when I see them, as long as the price is right.
I even buy shoes that look well worn! 90% of the time, well-worn shoes are fixable. Don't pass up a good brand name shoe just because it has scuffs or wear. Meltonian Shoe Cream is the most amazing shoe product you will ever use. It is inexpensive and works great. Here is where I get mine. Tina is another of the administrators on eBay Underground and has recently become a Meltonian dealer.
Over on eBay Underground, we frequently extol the virtues of Meltonian. We often post before and after pictures. We compare Meltonian-treated shoe listings against non-treated shoe listings. We even have a video showing how to use it! We are great fans of the stuff. If you sell shoes, you positively MUST check out Meltonian (and eBay Underground, while you are at it!) I don't get anything for saying such great things about this cream. I am just an enthusiastic, avid fan!
So all of this is to say ... do your research. Learn your field, know what sells and what doesn't. Familiarize yourself with average sale prices for specific brands and use that information to make wise investment decisions. Also be aware of ways that you can buy a less-than-perfect item and transform it into something sellable. Don't be afraid to branch out and try something new from time to time. I had my list of five brands to look for, but I recently sold a pair of sandals for $98. It was a brand that wasn't on my list. My sister-in-law saw them and had a gut instinct that they were a good brand. She was right! So don't box yourself in. Be willing to take occasional risks and broaden your horizons.
If you are looking for more ideas of what to buy for resale, come check us out at eBay Underground. We've always got lots of great discussions going on about what sells, as well as other fabulous and free selling tips!
Shoes! I made it the whole way through my twenties not giving a rip about shoes. I always bought the cheapest clearance shoes at Payless or Walmart. I didn't really care if they were stylish, or even if they were comfortable, as long as they were cheap!
Then one day in the summer of 2010, I found myself in an upscale neighborhood on a thrifting road trip. I had a list of good shoe brands to look for, but, living in a lower income area, I had never even heard of any of those brands, much less found them in my town's one thrift store. So on this trip, I was very excited to find a LOT of shoes that were on my list! I think on that first trip, I found 15 or 20 pairs of shoes. I was uneasy about investing $6 in a pair of shoes, but I took a leap of faith and bought them all!
Then my sister-in-law, who lives in that town, suggested that I leave her a copy of my list. She offered to shop for me, and she started regularly bringing me bins (plural!) full of these shoes! Of course, the more I listed, the more I was selling. How grand it was to be able to just toss a pair of shoes into a box and ship them! No packing peanuts, no bubble wrap, no worries about damage during shipping. I was hooked!! And an added bonus ... I now have a fabulous shoe collection!!
I began taking road trips more often. Not always to that first town, but always to towns bigger than mine. The last time I was out at my sister-in-law's last December, I brought home *76* pairs of shoes!! My smaller trip in January got me 45 more pairs. I have about 130 pairs currently listed in my eBay store , and a pile sitting in my eBay room that needs listed. I regularly sell an average of ten pairs of shoes a week. But again, the more shoes I list, the higher that number grows.
In the past six months, I have gained the confidence to branch out and increase my risk. I have learned which brands sell quickly, which brands sell for a higher price, which sizes sell well. All of these things help me to decide how much I am willing to pay for any given pair. For example, I know that Danskos sell high, and they sell fast. I am always willing to invest more in them, knowing that I will be able to at least quadruple my money, and quickly. I know that Clarks sell very consistently. They don't sell for nearly as much as Danskos do, but they do sell regularly, so I always pick them up when I see them, as long as the price is right.
I even buy shoes that look well worn! 90% of the time, well-worn shoes are fixable. Don't pass up a good brand name shoe just because it has scuffs or wear. Meltonian Shoe Cream is the most amazing shoe product you will ever use. It is inexpensive and works great. Here is where I get mine. Tina is another of the administrators on eBay Underground and has recently become a Meltonian dealer.
Over on eBay Underground, we frequently extol the virtues of Meltonian. We often post before and after pictures. We compare Meltonian-treated shoe listings against non-treated shoe listings. We even have a video showing how to use it! We are great fans of the stuff. If you sell shoes, you positively MUST check out Meltonian (and eBay Underground, while you are at it!) I don't get anything for saying such great things about this cream. I am just an enthusiastic, avid fan!
So all of this is to say ... do your research. Learn your field, know what sells and what doesn't. Familiarize yourself with average sale prices for specific brands and use that information to make wise investment decisions. Also be aware of ways that you can buy a less-than-perfect item and transform it into something sellable. Don't be afraid to branch out and try something new from time to time. I had my list of five brands to look for, but I recently sold a pair of sandals for $98. It was a brand that wasn't on my list. My sister-in-law saw them and had a gut instinct that they were a good brand. She was right! So don't box yourself in. Be willing to take occasional risks and broaden your horizons.
If you are looking for more ideas of what to buy for resale, come check us out at eBay Underground. We've always got lots of great discussions going on about what sells, as well as other fabulous and free selling tips!
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