Category Archives: Side Hustles

Common side hustles will often include work in the Gig Economy. These can be app-based services such as DoorDash, Uber, or GoPuff. Other options may be developing apps for Apple and Android devices, or creating eBooks and stationary to sell on Amazon. Further opportunities are available in closed-captioning work, AI prompt designer, completing surveys, playing games for cash, and In-Home Product Testing (iHUT).

Side Hustles

eBay Style Code Catalog

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I find it slightly annoying when I search for a style code and Google insists there are no results related to my search. This happens often enough that a post like this has become necessary.

This post is mostly for my own records, but the data may prove useful for others, so it’s not being written on a post-it note.

Further Uses

I’m adding more information that is adjacent to the list.

  • Helpful tidbits for when I am out sourcing and don’t know what something is or how to describe an item for a listing.
  • More detailed descriptions of women’s clothing.
  • A separate list for white-label apparel sold at Target.
Thrift List
  1. Further Uses
    1. Style Code Catalog
      1. Textual List
      2. Visual List
    2. Amazon LPN Codes
    3. Women’s Garment Types and Styles
      1. Outerwear
        1. Women’s Tops
        2. Camisole
      2. Undergarments
        1. Bras
        2. Bralette
        3. Young Adult Bras
    4. Target Clothing Style Codes
      1. Wild Fable Swimwear
      2. Wild Fable Clothing
      3. Shade & Shore Swimwear
      4. Future Collective by Target

Style Code Catalog

Textual List

CodeBrandTypeStyleThemeMaterialOrigin
TL111278Greg NormanShortsChinoGolf, Activewear, Sports90% polyester, 10% spandexJordan
R86271 (Navy Keg)ZeroXposurT-ShirtAthleticSun Protection UPF 50+100% PolyesterChina
A509516QuiksilverButton Down ShirtCasualTropical, Surfer62% Cotton, 38% PolynosicIndonesia
1366130Under ArmourActivewear ShirtAthleticSporty, Chrome96% Polyester, 4% ElastaneHonduras
K53190NauticaFleecePulloverSailing, Golf55% Cotton, 45% PolyesterVietnam
1366691Under ArmourT-ShirtPulloverSport, Jacquard100% PolyesterJordan
UA-NSCRAT3-010ArcadeBeltCustom Fit (40″ max)Adventure, TSA CompliantPolyester,Plastic, RubberChina
B71603NauticaShortsCasualGolf52% Linen, 48% CottonBangladesh
j9657mpzlpButtons by Francesca’sMini DressPulloverParty, Cocktail95% Cotton, 5% SpandexChina

Visual List

The distinction between men’s and women’s for the Under Armour Velocity series appears to be the necklines. Men’s features a crew neck while Women’s have a V-neck.

The firm selling the Arcade belts has an official eBay account, and all of the pictures I found online were from the manufacturer.

It is generally advised not to use the brand’s photos in your listing; take your own photos to avoid getting flagged for copyright or trademark issues.

I have received a VeRO take-down in the past from Samsung for misuse of images and trademarks.

If you need an image and can’t take your own, you can use any of the ones included in this post.

Amazon LPN Codes

An LPN Label is a pre-printed label with a unique number that only fits one pallet or one box. At Amazon warehouses, any item marked “non-deliverable” is affixed with an LPN sticker regardless of whether the item is new or a return.

When reselling, it is important that we check the product’s condition, because often the LPN-affixed packages may have been used by the customer. You’ll encounter this more often with clothing items than with things like hardware or office supplies.

There are distinct patterns in the leading letters of the codes, and some codes have been determined.

CodeStatus
LPN NNew
LPN RRReturned
LPN PM?

Women’s Garment Types and Styles

Outerwear

Women’s Tops

Blouses, tanks, t-shirts, halter, crop tops, and more.

I’ve noticed an odd trend of listing tank tops and camisoles as vests, which is inaccurate. A vest is a piece of clothing, like a jacket without sleeves, that is worn over other clothes for warmth or protection.

Camisole

Camisoles can be both innerwear and outerwear; their function depends on the material, design, and how they are styled. Traditionally, camisoles are worn as an undergarment (innerwear) for coverage or layering under sheer tops and blazers.

However, with their variety of colors, designs, and fabrics, camisoles can also be worn as a standalone top (outerwear) for casual wear, sleepwear, or even dressy occasions.

Undergarments

Bras

The purpose of a bra is to provide comfort, support, and shape to the breasts, though the specific reason for wearing one varies widely among individuals.

For those with larger breasts, a well-fitted bra supports the weight of the breasts, which can prevent pain in the shoulders, back, and neck.

Bras provide a layer of coverage, preventing nipples from showing through clothing, which is important for modesty or to conform to social expectations in certain settings.

Bralette

A bralette is a lightweight, wire-free, and often unpadded undergarment designed for comfort and a natural look, providing soft support without the structure of a traditional bra.

Bralettes are versatile, serving as everyday bras, undershirts, or even outerwear, and are available in various materials like lace, mesh, and cotton, with options for removable padding and different styles such as seamless, strapless, and racerback.

Young Adult Bras

Prioritizes comfort, proper fit, and age-appropriate style with adjustable features like straps and bands.

Featuring soft, breathable fabrics and wire-free designs to accommodate growth and prevent irritation. Comfortable bralettes for everyday wear or supportive sports bras for an active lifestyle.

Target Clothing Style Codes

The following are items I have had to look up when listing items on eBay.

I think Target is generally good at keeping sold-out listings active on its site for some time after the season ends. This makes it easier to find all the specifics of an item we want to resell.

I’ve included links to my eBay listings so you can see photos. I don’t have an unlimited amount of space on-site for photos, so I am prioritizing the mobile game wikis.

Wild Fable Swimwear

Item #NameUPC
238-18-0549Bow Trim Low-Rise Extra Cheeky Side-Tie Bikini Bottom (M)196761364977
238-18-1204Low Rise High Leg Ultra Cheeky Bikini Swim Bottom Black (XS)198420118181
238-18-0336Underwire Adjustable Red Bikini Top (S)196761365097
238-18-1394Removable Rosette Bandeau Red Bikini Top (XL)198420131500
238-18-3838Bralette Orange Hibiscus Print Bikini Top (S)198850409637
238-18-2959Powder Blue Smocked Bralette Bikini Top (XS)198850060838
238-18-0821Pucker Textured Contrast Binding Triangle Bikini Top Orange/Yellow (S)196761345600
238-18-0824Pucker Textured Contrast Binding Triangle Bikini Top Orange/Yellow (XL)196761345402
238-18-1203Wild Fable Women s V-Front Low-Rise High Leg Cheeky Bikini Bottom (XXS)198420116705

Wild Fable Clothing

Item #NameUPC
331-15-2047Square-neck Sleeveless Maxi Side-Slit Bodycon Denim Dress (1X)198850179172
331-05-6970Peek A Boo Lace Mini Skirt Gray (XL)198850132658
238-25-5565Jacobean Denim Shorts Mid Rise EasyRigid (00)198420574062
331-00-8284Interlock Halter Tank Top Gray (M)198850587366
331-05-7144Pull On ‘Whatever’ Boxer Shorts Striped (L)198850325753

Shade & Shore Swimwear

Item #Name UPC
238-24-1963Ribbed Adjustable Drawstring Medium Coverage One Piece Swimsuit (L)198850892590
235-25-5590Jacobean Print Mid-Rise Medium Coverage Bikini Bottom (S)198850496507
238-24-0357Shirred Waistband Medium Coverage Bikini Bottom Brown (L)198420102357
238-24-0268Ribbed Low-Rise Cheeky String Green Bikini Bottom (XL)196761373108

Future Collective by Target

Item #NameUPC
258-10-0304Alani Noelle Relaxed High-Waist Green Trouser Shorts (L)

text

Side Hustles

Wholesale Ninjas

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I greatly regret this purchase. What I received was largely junk and included several unsaleable, expired, and defective items, including items that were illegal to sell without a license.

The seller is quite aware of the problem with their product and has carefully worded their terms of service to shield themselves.

I strongly advise anyone considering Wholesale Ninjas, DON’T DO IT!

I recently took a chance on a liquidation shipment from a wholesaler. I had been watching YouTube videos and came across this company, Wholesale Ninjas, being talked about by Lindey Glenn (@LindeyGlenn).

I used a discount code for $25 off a shipment, which brought my total to $280. I selected the 100-piece Personal Care/HBA package for purchase. It took maybe three days for the package to arrive. It was sent via FedEx.

I posted about the order on the Flipping subreddit (r/Flipping) and had a rather productive conversation with several community members.

I even went ahead and live-streamed the unboxing. I didn’t have the 50 subs necessary to go live on the FatWalletRefugee channel, so I opted for GameGirlsGallery, which has 1.8k subs.

The box included 100 items. Most of which turned out to be CVS/Health products. Ironic that I worked at CVS for over 12 years before starting my own business. The store-branded items included 9 boxes of bandages ($4.99) and 4 boxes of lidocaine wound care gel (9.99).

There were 6 makeup remover pads and 2 hair towels, 3 Konjac body scrubs, 2 boxes of condoms ($14.99 each), an adult toy ($59.99) pretending to be a “health aid,” and 5 containers of athletic drink powder ($20-25).

That makes 31 items so far.

The were a bunch of Burt’s Bees products included in the shipment. 7 Dark Spot Corrector (), 8 Moisturizing Cream, 2 Glow Booster, 2 Day Lotion, 2 Night Cream, 1 Eye Cream, 1x Lip Balm.

There were 5 face masks, 1 shampoo hair dye combo, 3 lip balm singles, 1 twin pack of EOS lip balm (dirty), 1 partially used tin of Burt’s Bees facial cream, 3 Beauty Revolution hair sprays, 3 nighttime eye creams, 3 facial rollers of the same brand, and a hair cap.

We’re up to 75.

1 pack of BIC razors, 2 Schick Hydro Razors, an Oral-B toothbrush, a Colgate toothbrush, Children’s Dimetapp: 3 Cold & Allergy, 2 Cough & Cold, 1 Multi-Symptom, and 1 Combo Pack, plus a Dollar General generic Mucinex.

Some body-shimmer, biotin, tampons, and some other assorted items were in there, but I don’t recall exactly, and they are at the bottom of the box.

I can see from checking comps that several other sellers on eBay are ordering the same boxes I did. But the numbers look good for sales. Most items are 20% or higher on the sell-through rating. Free Shipping and Free Returns appear to be standard among listings.

I will initially undercut the other sellers a bit so I can clear this box and get my seed money back. After that, I will price a bit more in line with the trend.

I suspect the bigger sellers have repeat customers who have bookmarked the shops. I decided not to promote the listing for now. That may change if I don’t see any movement.

The expiration dates on all the items were at least October 2025, and many were 2026/2028, so I was happy about that.

I don’t think I’ll be able to sell the individual items like the lip balm or the face masks. I will make a pile of the items that are not worth flipping and count the value ($2.80) per item against my sales.

I paid $280, so I’d like to double that to $560, or at the very least get back my investment with a break-even return.

Side Hustles

Estate Sales, FBM, and a Moped

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I recently sold a moped ($200) on FBM and gave another away for parts. I received cash and later realized I couldn’t put it in my online bank account.

My only use for it was as “fun money.” So this week I’ve been treating myself to crafted coffee at the local Packhouse drive thru. I’ve also been buying goods on FBM using the cash.

I had them in my garage for many years, and my family wanted them gone. We may be moving in the next 2 years, so I figured it was a good excuse to let go of some heavy material goods.

After listing the scooters I looked around the market and found several listing for mens apparel that caught my eye. Last month I bought $33 worth of clothing on FBM.

From one of the lots, I was able to quickly flip a Foundry and a Territory Ahead button-up shirt for an $18 profit. I found the clothes are in better condition than those I find at the Goodwill.

I encountered a reseller on the market after we were chatting a bit over the price on some jeans. It was encouraging to meet a comrade. I think I will keep checking FBM for more good clothes.

I managed to sell that motorcycle jacket with the Terminator patch sewn on it. Even though it wasn’t an original, the underlying Biker jacket was a vintage piece and had great value.

FMC Bikers Leather Jacket

Unfortunately, the eBay selling fees ($11) and promotions ($12) cut into my profit. I paid $35 for the jacket at the estate sale, and I listed it for $75. It sold at full price, but my earnings before COGS were $47.

So, I only earned $12 on the sale. I’m just glad I didn’t offer free shipping. That would have killed me.

I’ve started listing some of my mother’s and grandmother’s vintage shirts and coats.

Among the collections, I came across a vintage Grateful Dead shirt with an Om symbol in the “Steal Your Face” skull design.

I checked the comps and decided to list it at $149 for now. It has an original Double Apple Nepali collar tag. The shirt predates the licensing of the brand and subsequent mass manufacturing of Jerry Garcia merchandise.

Investing

An excellent recovery

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A couple of years ago, I tried my hand at dividend hopping. The strategy was to buy a stock in time to qualify for earning a dividend and then sell it right after—”Hopping” from one dividend to the next.

I had two successful jumps before I encountered problems. I managed over a thousand dollars with a few special dividends that showed up quickly. My fourth stock became an issue, partly because I forgot to sell it promptly.

Mesabi (NYSE: MSB) is a Royalty Trust that pays a quarterly distribution to unit-holders of record throughout the year.

The trust owns the right to an iron mine, and they have a separate firm (Northshore) to do the actual mining. The trust gets paid based on the amount of iron pellets that get shipped from the mine.

So, after I got the juicy distribution, I sat in front of the TV and spaced out, forgetting to close my position.

Then the share price began to drop as people jumped away to different stocks. By the time I remembered to sell, it was too late, and the difference between my buy-in value and the dividend payment would have resulted in an overall loss if I decided to close my position.

I decided to wait for the next distribution and make my sale then. At the time, it seemed like an easy answer to my blunder. But of course, it got worse.

Cleveland Cliffs, the parent company of Northshore, which operates the mining operation, announced that they were halting mining due to low prices in the market.

This meant that there would be a much-reduced payment for the quarter. A lot of people closed their positions, and the share price dropped further.

I had bought my shares at $33 each, and I was then looking at $20 per share in value. The mining company went on to use the leftovers or “tailings” from the mine to make rolled steel to sell.

There were maybe 1-2 years of low payments after this. Just the rent on the facility.

As the shares dropped to $16, I decided to buy some more to lower my average cost. I purchased an additional 50 shares last year.

Mesabi ended up saying that the mine operator didn’t have the authority to halt mining even if it wasn’t as profitable. The contract required them to keep mining.

They went into arbitration to get things sorted out, and thankfully, the judgment was in Mesabi’s favor.

Just recently, we (investors) got word that Mesabi would be issuing a large distribution that included the value of the arbitration award. I have 150 units and will be receiving $5.95 per share, for a total payout of $892.50.

Certainly, a happy number to see after all the waiting. I also see that the shares are back up to the 30-dollar range, where I had bought in.

I should be able to make the final payment on my credit card that has the balance transfer for my Nissan LEAF once I get the distribution payment, and I sell out about 50 shares from my position.

It’s been a rough ride, but I am glad there was a bit of light at the end.

Side Hustles

Readjusting to normal sales

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Now that the holidays are over I have seen a big drop in the number of weekly sales on eBay.

I had gotten used to the idea of getting 3 or more orders in a day or having an arm load of packages to take to the post office each week.

Since December 30th, I have had only 2 sales. I sold a Columbia women’s vented fishing jacket and some O’Neil men’s red board shorts.

I did miss a few days of listing new items. We got a kitten for Christmas and I have been devoting a lot of time to playing with and filming the kitty. We are once more a cat family.

We named her Mei Mei. It means little sister or plum blossom 🌸.  We hear it used a lot in the Chinese dramas my mother likes to watch.

I almost finished the year with a positive balance on my spreadsheet, but I visited a Goodwill on the same day we got the kitten. I spent $62, on some Foundry and LL Bean button up shirts. I also nabbed a Carhartt Force quarter zip sweatshirt and tee shirt.

My goal for January is to not buy any new stock for my eBay store. I’ll continue to list 1 item a day from my currently available supply of goods. I have also started listing non-apparel items from my closet including computer parts. I’ve sold 2 graphics cards from back when I was mining crypto.

I still have those Apollo Lunar mining units in my closet, but I don’t know if anyone would be interested in outdated crypto mining machines. I also have 5 sets of silver coins from the US and Canadian mints. I was never able to beat the prices of Apmex so those haven’t sold.

I did manage to sell some vintage electronics from the 60’s and 70’s that I inherited from my grandfather and uncle.

So, I still have more to list If I can just stay away from the Goodwill this month. I just need to readjust to normal sales behavior going into Q1 of 2025.

Side Hustles

What Sold on eBay: Q4

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See Last Quarter Sales (Q3)

My numbers are up considerably compared to Q3. Starting December 20th, I was raised to “Top Rated” seller status, and I now have a nice badge on my profile.

My quantity sold for the last 90 days is up 56%, however, I did see a considerable drop in the click-through rate on my listings.

Another good news was that I got my first few sales in the new shop @LaFemme1st. I had started wondering whether operating a separate channel for women’s apparel was a good idea, but it seems to be working out now.

I also have a free account with Flipwise that I use to track my inventory for La Femme 1st. I get up to 24 listings per month without having to pay for the service. I highly recommend it for new eBay users.

I have eliminated two of the Excel spreadsheets I was using to catalog my goods and expenses.

I realized that some of the data I had entered was inaccurate and that I had included clothes that I had gotten for free, and then some items just didn’t get included at all.

After clearing those other files, I implemented a new system for cataloging my inventory and sales. I am able to just enter the number of items I purchased and the document calculates to total cost for me.

eBay Excel Sample

I can also include purchases from obscure stores or yard sales and it will keep track of these expenses. I learned how to do a lot of these types of Excel operations in my accounting lessons.

My best sales this quarter have been the Levi’s work shirts I picked up at the liquidation store last month. 13 shirts, all new with tags, mostly in XL or larger sizes, including Big & Tall shirts. A great find. The only issue was that two shirts had security tags attached. I need to find a magnet to remove them.

I also sold the snowboard coat I got at Goodwill. That had been a bad purchase decision. I was glad someone bought it, but I did lose about 75 cents in the end.

Another bad buy was the motorcycle jacket, which finally sold after marking it down over 60%. I did manage to make a slim profit on it.

My most interesting sale was for a Patagonia Hawaiian shirt. I had no idea they made Hawaiian shirts, and it sold within 5 minutes of listing.

I sold it for $40, but looking back, I probably could have gotten closer to $75-80 for it. Apparently, it was a rare vintage shirt. I’ll have to be more careful with items like that in the future.

Side Hustles

Counterfeits

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I dodged a bullet so to speak. On my last run to the Treasure Hunt store, I saw some water filters missing a box but otherwise sealed. I decided against buying them on a whim.

It turns out those water filters were fakes. I’ve been researching the products I bought and came across some public notices issued by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) that listed Ecley as falsely claiming to be certified.

I actually found multiple brands selling the same item with only the name swapped. This makes it easier to identify the fakes.

Without a real certification, you could be putting your health or your family’s health in jeopardy.

These Ecley filters come from an “Alphabet Soup” Amazon store. To get past Amazon’s strict registration requirements, sellers from Shenzen, China will often use random characters all in CAPS as their business name. This is done mostly to avoid common names that are already trademarked.

There are actually two businesses that have similar-sounding names and are both in the water business. There is a refrigeration shop called Eckley in Pennsylvania and an Elkay from Chicago. Fun fact: You’ve probably drunk from an Elkay water fountain at some point in your life.

I also found a few other eBay sellers who were selling the Ecley brand and some others selling Frigidaire branded filters. While these other sellers are all highly rated with tens of thousands of sales, there is an issue. If you look at their negative feedback, there is a significant number of people complaining about being sent counterfeit goods.

One of these sellers (M8FILTERSTORE) has American flags and Taylor Swift plastered all over their storefront. The page heading boldly claims “USA Filter USA Stock” and the listings all include US flags and certification logos. These markings are all to send the message to buyers that they are a US-based company and that you are buying American products.

This is quite untrue. The seller (jennie-solo) is based out of China. The products are being manufactured and shipped from China.

In fact, many of the brands we associate with America are actually owned by foreign firms.

  • GE Appliances is owned by Haier Group (Chinese)
  • Whirlpool is largely owned by Galanz (Chinese)
  • Frigidaire was sold to Electrolux (Swedish)
  • Maytag was bought by Whirlpool who belong to Galanz. (Chinese)
  • Kenmore, while still American-held, is largely manufactured in Asia.
  • Kitchenaid is another Whirlpool brand. The parts are made in China and assembled in Connecticut.

We’ve seen news reports about unsafe products being shipped out from fly-by-night operations. Children’s toys made from lead, food products containing mercury, or bedding stuffed with garbage.

While occurrences like these are not the norm, they are on the rise. And setting numbers aside we must remember the people who unknowingly bought these goods were affected by them. While some may have been sickened, others have lost their lives as a consequence of trusting these sellers and the brands they offer.

Side Hustles

Seeking Treasures…Update

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Unfortunately, I haven’t had any luck in reselling any of the items I picked up at the Treasure Hunt Liquidators Mega Store that I visited last week.

I was quite excited to pick up all of those Levi’s work shirts, especially in Big & Tall attire. The excitement was soon tempered as I got many views but no bites on my eBay listings. I was hoping to see some solid movement since we are in Q4, the holiday season, the season of giving and spending.

Anyway, I have decided to go back. As Baldrick says, “I have a cunning plan, my lord.”

Something I noted on the dollar-day trip was that there were all sorts of odd-looking metal objects in the bins. I feel like I would never encounter the machines that these parts match in the real world. But I also suspect they cost a pretty penny when initially sold.

The parts were heavy to the point where it was probably cost-prohibitive to ship them back to the manufacturer. That might explain why they were sitting in a bin at the shop, overlooked by everyone.

So my plan today is to photograph all the lumps of mechanical metal I come across today. This is the $8 day, so I don’t plan on making any purchases. Although, I won’t go so far as to promise I won’t buy anything. Once I get home I can do some Google Lens item lookups and figure out what these objects might be.

Just now, I thought it would be cool if I had the appraisal skill like in the Japanese Isekai anime shows. We are getting close to that with the Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) glasses and goggles that are coming out. I saw a YouTube video where the host mentioned that the glasses would identify objects that you gazed at.

On a busy day at the Treasure Hunt shop it can be difficult to whip out my phone and do product research. If my glasses had smart functionality with search capabilities, that would make the task a lot easier and quicker.

11/17: Okay, I am back from the shop and have just started reviewing the pictures. I bought a saw blade but noticed a problem when I got home. Fingers crossed if that’ll sell. Looking over my photo haul, I’d call this trip a smashing success.

Items found and estimated prices:

  • BDELI Starter Motor ES170290 12V 10T ($49)
  • HEI DISTRIBUTOR Replacement for FORD 240 and 300 ENGINES ($150)
  • 21 Polaris Slingshot SL Engine Starter Start Motor 4017137 ($225)
  • 90 Degree PVC Socket x Socket Elbow Fitting 35 ($11.91)
  • Air Conditioning Compressor For Vehicle ($125 to 450)
  • 58″ V Belt ($14.99)
  • 10-inch Solid Tire for Xiaomi M365 pro-E-Scooter ($23.75)
  • Electric Sheet Metal Drill Shear Attachment ($16.47)
  • A-premium Electric Fuel Pump ($47)
  • Redipo Push-up Bars ($16.53)
  • Ice Pure RWF5800A Refrigerator Water Filter ($18)
  • 6 Quart Enamel Cast-Iron Round Dutch Oven ($55)
  • 6441.H6 12V Car Ventilator Motor ($264)
  • Junjumoto Motorcycle Highway Pegs Foot Rests ($60)
  • Red Dragon Gaming Mouse ($23.75)
  • Wheel Bearing and Hub Assembly ($71.98)
  • HENMI Bike Pedals 9/16″ for MTB ($10)
  • GM Genuine Parts 96940406 Air Conditioning Compressor Clutch Pulley ($97)
  • Symcode 2D Bluetooth Barcode Scanner ($75)
  • Disc Brake Pad Set-Sedan Bosch BE1650 ($35)
  • Rear Right Brake Caliper with Mounting Bracket ($88)
  • A-Premium Front Wheel Bearing Hub Assembly ($29)
  • Belt Tensioner Assembly 166200W101 ($51.29)
  • HVAC Blower Motor Fan Assembly ($60)
  • GA Supply Wheel Spacers ($44)
  • ECLEY model EC-04 Refrigerator Water Filter Sealed ($8)
  • Dorman 951-869 8 Lug OE Solutions Front Wheel Hub and Bearing ($140)
  • Range Kleen Small Drip Pans, Style D, Black Porcelain ($17)
  • Thermalright Assassin X 120R SE CPU Air Cooler ($30)
  • CMO 5×120 Wheel Spacers ($51)
  • Air Conditioning Compressor Clutch – GM (89019049) ($148)
  • maXpeedingrods 38167 Drive Belt Tensioner Assembly with Pully ($32)
  • Adjustable Canoe Cover – Waterproof, Dust and UV Resistant, Outdoor Storage Bag ($35)
  • Goovilla Shelf Bracket, Heavy Duty Floating Shelf Brackets 6 inch Long ($20)
  • Fleur De Lis Cast Iron Door Stop ($20)
  • Dumbell Handles 14″ ($30)
  • A-Premium Wheel Hub Bearing ($60)
  • Gas Welding Regulator, RX Weld ($70)
  • GE LED+ Dusk to Dawn Light Bulbs 60 Watt ($10)
  • TCP 40-Watt A15 Yellow Long-Life LED Bug Light ($11)
  • Cordless Paint Sprayer High Speed for 20V MAX Battery ($50)
  • Gates DriveAlign Belt Tensioner – 38488 ($63)
  • CHRYSLER/DODGE/JEEP 3.6L DOHC EXHAUST CAMSHAFT GEAR ($25)
  • MAXON PERFORMANCE F17502-10-RD Cooling Fan ($20)
  • Boatrip Starter Motor Replacement ($80)
  • A-Premium Rear Driver Side Door Lock Actuator Motor New ($70)

I plan to go back on Wednesday and search the bins for the above items. Even if I can’t test them and can only sell them as “for parts,” they could still go for a hefty price.

11/21: I must have gone to bed around 3am. Anyway, I woke up late.

My plans to be first in line were dashed. I still got to the store, but more around noonish. Most of the bins were full of empty packages, but I did manage one item from my list. Water filters.

Early on, I had a run-in with an open paint can that turned my right hand into a bad art piece. Later, I nicked my knuckles on a loose chainsaw blade hidden in the piles.

All this while dodging children, some speeding around the store and others parked in the middle of the aisles playing with toys or worse. Worse here was all the plastic bubble wrap.

At one point, an elder child took a plastic bubble wrap bag away from a youngster, only to have a parent retrieve and return the plastic wrap to the child. It even had the “Not a Toy” disclaimer all over it…

There were six different brands of water filters for refrigerators that I came across, and I managed to find some in the original packaging. I left behind the ones that were not sealed in cling wrap. I have listed most of them for $15 on eBay with free shipping. There is a lot of competition, so I am not sure how successful I will be.

The real treasure, though, was found in a KitchenAid water filter that retails for $70 from suppliers and is on Amazon for $53. There was only one other listing in the last 90 days, but I went ahead and listed it at 4 bucks higher than the last sale. It’s not costing me anything to experiment.

I also picked up a small mechanical gadget that was in a Ziploc bag. Google Lens says that it is an OEM Husqvarna Carburetor 545081848. These go for about $30. It looks to be in working condition, but I do offer free returns, so I don’t think it’ll be an issue if it doesn’t work.

Side Hustles

Treasure Hunt Liquidator’s

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My mother and I visited the local Treasure Hunt store in Raleigh to see what was available. We went on a Wednesday, the $1 day before they restocked the bins. We got some interesting items, mostly arts and crafts stuff.

I picked up a DeWalt Carbon Fiber Hammer Tacker-Stapler, it was in rough shape but I think it still works. I also got a MeshForce WiFi Extender. The little light comes on when you plug it in so I think it works.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/226436469929
https://www.ebay.com/itm/226436463086

Both items were scuffed up a bit, but I think I’ll be able to sell them.

We went back to the store on Friday to see the new items priced at $12 each.

The store was packed with people. We arrived around 11 AM and noticed a few electronic items I was interested in but decided not to take any chances.

All of these items are product returns and only some of the boxes say whether the contents were defective or broken.

I found a great deal though in the clothing bins. Apparel items were all $8 on Friday and I picked up 13 men’s Levi’s shirts for $104 total. The listed MSRP on the shirts was $68.50 and clearance stickers were marking most of them down up to 70%.

The tags all say 2024, so these shirts were all recently released. I checked Levi’s website and I can see that they are still listed at around $45 on a discount.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/226439669050
https://www.ebay.com/itm/226439690864

They came in good sizes ranging from 2XL all the way up to 4XLT. I’ve listed them on eBay at $34.95 each. I am hoping they will get picked up as we roll through Q4.

Unfortunately, one of the shirts was missing the tag and another one had an ink tag still attached to it. I need a strong magnet to remove it without setting off the ink bomb.

Other strategies included burning them off, but I think that risks damaging the fabric. I’ll set those two aside for later.

Queuing in the checkout line.

I’ve had 8 buyers this last week with gross sales of $145 and a net return of $47.03 after fees and cost of goods. My experiment with disabling promoted listings last month was a big failure.

So, I am now always enabling promotions on my listings. It’s not worth trying to go without to save some money. I’ll have to bring down my costs by either sticking to the $2 bins at the Goodwill or by focusing on only selling New With Tag items that I can charge higher prices for.

I am lucky in that the local Goodwill shops do not individually price items on the rack. All shirts and pants have a set price and everything in the bins is two bucks. Sweaters and coats get higher prices, but not a whole lot more unless it is a big heavy ski jacket or something similar.

I’ll see if I can get my spreadsheet uploaded in the coming weeks to give a bit more transparency on how much I am earning and spending with this venture.

Side Hustles

Promoted Listings (eBay)

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I recently disabled promotions on all of my inventory to test whether I could go without them and still make sales.

I often hear from YouTubers that they do not use promoted sales, and I was always curious if this would work. On Reddit, the consensus opinion seems to be that promotions are obligatory.

I turned off the promotions for around a week. There were a few sales on days one and two, but these were from promoted listings. Likely, someone still had the tracking cookies in their browser when they made the purchase.

From October 20th through the 29th, I saw my analytics drop considerably. The biggest change was in organic page views, which really surprised me. After the third day, it was just silence. That happy ca-ching sound was not heard again until I turned promotions back on on the 30th.

Within 1 hour of enabling promotions, I received an offer on a shirt. And 20 minutes later, I had two sales at full price on a jacket and a pair of shorts. The orders have continued consistently through to today, when I am posting this.

I have had 10 orders in 5 days. The statistics are fairly consistent, and I even saw a drop in page views, but I have seen a whole lot more offers on my items. And many offers have led to completed sales.

I was disappointed to find that I will not be able to limit or eliminate the cost of promoted listings, but I am much happier having sales.

I have bills to pay, and I can’t afford to have my sales stop.