Resist the Temptation to Push the "Reset Button".....AGAIN....

Many of us do this.  Heck, I still do.  It's a nasty habit and leads to unproductivity.  It's called hitting the reset button on life.

I used to play video games as a kid.  I used to want to get off to the best start possible to set myself up for the best game possible.  So, when one little thing went wrong, I'd just hit the reset button.  I got really good at the beginnings.  I got really good at setting myself up for success.  But, every time I hit a snag or a challenge, I went back to the beginning where I was most comfortable by pushing the reset button.

It wasn't until adulthood that I started to realize that life does NOT have a reset button.  You have to muddle through the tough parts.  You don't get to start over when things don't go as planned.  The only Eminem song I respect is "Lose Yourself."  Think what you want about him as a rapper and musician, but these lyrics really ring true here.....

You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo

My point is:  We all get caught up in this "resetting life" from time to time.  And, we get frustrated in why we never seem to arrive at our destination.  We never tap our potential.  We need to learn to quit reaching for the reset button....stop trying to tweak every little thing....and just keep moving forward!

I've been reading a lot of articles lately on eBay's search engine, Google's search engine, and optimizing for mobile.  While it's important to keep up with the times and stay on top of things, we must resist the urge to go back and tear everything down just to start over from scratch.  This is killing you!  Just apply your changes as you move forward.  But, keep moving forward!

You have put a lot into your eBay business, or your Amazon FBA business, or whatever career path you chose.  You have hopefully read from trusted, proven successes that it can be done.  That you can achieve your goals.  Trust the path you are on.  If you are like me, and are constantly tempted to tweak little things and start over again and again, I write this to you so you will see the encouragement to trust your path.  I hope you make the decision today to move forward instead of sideways.

Make today count!
Chip

When it's time to change..

...it's time to rearrange!

Now that you're in the mood, here is where I'm heading....

I am incorporating auctions in my listings.  For the rest of the month of September I will list 5 auctions per day.  If I receive sales from just 20% of my auctions, I will add 1 item per day to my 2-3 per day average.......WITHOUT ADDING INVENTORY.

This is a space saver of biblical proportions.  I'll keep everyone posted.

Activity theory (Auctions vs Fixed Pricing)

Let's embellish something.  I read a statistic the other day about auctions hitting higher in search rankings than fixed listings.  Assume 1000 listings pull up and 100 were auctions and 900 were fixed.  And, 64 or something of the top 100 were auctions while the other 36 were fixed.  This means auctions carry a higher percentage of the top 100 and were over-represented based on pure numbers.  (I figure some of this gobblegook has to do with both new listing and ending soon bonuses, but whatevs.)

I also saw a video blog of a seller than lists auctions first and moves them to store after they don't sell.  But, she lists HIGH on the first auction shot.  She does this because she saw this over-representation, too.  And, because she swears it drives traffic to her store and keeps her numbers up.

Hmmmmmm.  Of course, this gets me thinking.

Why not list an auction, at YOUR price, and see if you can't flip a few things in a week?  So, I tried it today. I usually just dump things directly in the store with a Best Offer on them to cover my range of acceptance.  For example, a $25 shirt may have an offer on it for $20.  I don't care what it sells for in that range.

The auctions I put out there today were on some bigger ticket items, too.  I started the auction price at what I would typically put as my low offer acceptance.  If I felt it may work, I placed a Buy-It-Now on for what my original asking price would be.

This allows me to offer free shipping on auctions.  It also means since eBay dropped it's tiered auction pricing (where everyone used to fear going over the 9.99 mark) I can ask pretty much whatever I want.  I only need one bid......I don't need a war to start to get MY price.  However, the listing fees were higher.  In some cases, double.  I felt that's ok for the sake of experimentation, but don't know how I feel about it long-term.

The shirts I put out there were Hawaiians.  I put out two Reyn Spooners, a couple cheapies, and two Tommy Bahamas (one NWT).  These "should" get some attention at the least.  I'll be interested to see if a few of them sell.  If so, this will be one seriously quick way to get paid for some great thrift store finds.

Make Today Count!
Chip

Dear Diary...

I worked about 3 hours yesterday and photographed my thrifting pile from Monday.  I have 37 items completely ready to list, and got 5 up online.  Sold one shirt for $17.50....not great, but I'll take it.  We've knocked the lid off of July.

Here is a sample of what is coming to my store soon!


Brooks Brothers vintage tie...

Banana Cabana Camp Shirt with vintage trucks and palm trees on it...

More to come as the week progresses.

Here we go!  I'm a "thrifter" now, I suppose.  I have fallen in love with this hobby of finding things on the cheap and flipping/reselling them for profit.  I view it like daytrading nickels.  Either way, smart people, imo, are always looking to make a buck.  They buy low and sell high.....well, higher than what they paid.  If you are like me, follow along.

My plan is to share my "finds" and share their sale price.  I plan to post things as I find them.  I like golf shirts with course logos on them because I'm a golf nut....and used to work in the industry.  I like cool coffee mugs, too....dunno why.  However, as I have learned more about the possibilities in this trade, I am finding EVERYTHING has potential.  I am starting to buy and sell some of the craziest things.  I think by following you will either be amazed yourself, find something YOU like, or take up the hobby.  Either way, you will learn something by following along.

Check back often.  I'm an open book and don't mind sharing in the least.

Gotta start with a Masters Collection golf shirt.  April is coming and this is the premier golf tournament, in my humble opinion.  These shirts are only found in Augusta, GA.  But, they do pop up in thrift shops from time to time.  They sell well, too.  Not bad considering I bought it for $3 and sold it for....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200894965718?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649