Tag Archives: Reselling

Daily Writing, Side Hustles

Past Attempts at Starting a Business

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In late 2012 I first heard about Bitcoin and started learning about how it worked and its potential to replace fiat currency. That never really came to fruition as we now know, but the world is perhaps getting more comfortable with the idea of transacting with crypto on occasion.

In 2013, I decided I wanted to buy one of the ASIC mining machines from a European company, it was called a Neptune or Saturn, I think. I didn’t have enough money in savings, so I headed to Suntrust (now Truist) and spoke with a loan officer.

My loan application was rejected; as I had no verifiable credit history. The only thing on my report was a credit card that had been opened without my consent back when I lived in Astoria, OR, by Wells Fargo, back during that scandal.

So, I went off to build a credit history, and that led me to Doctor of Credit and the FatWallet Forums.

First Business

I picked up several personal credit cards (Delta Blue) and also started mining Litecoin with a couple of old computers. I formed a Sole Proprietorship (Kasanje Technologies 13′-20′) and applied for an ITIN number, which I then used to apply for business credit cards.

All this while still working at nearly minimum wage for CVS/Health. At my peak I had 80k in personal credit and 14k in business credit. This was sometime in 2014-16. Of course by then the chip technology had vastly improved and the mining rig I originally wanted was obsolete.

Many things happened during my crypto period. I added more GPUs to my home rig, I fell for several scams, I bought and spent a couple hundred bitcoin on aging equipment, and my final mining venture was buying several Apollo Scypt miners. I still have those in my closet.

After some lightning strikes in 2019 and legal trouble in 2020, I closed the business and sold my remaining bitcoin to cover a portion of my debt. I had gotten a $3,500 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the Small Business Association (SBA) during COVID. I managed to pay it off in 2021, by paying $100 every month.

A couple of months later, Bitcoin hit 10k and I lamented my decision to sell. I would had enough to more than cover my expenses and been left with profit had I “HODL” a bit longer.

Second Attempt

In the course of my legal problems I struck upon the idea of building a talent agency for YouTubers. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I managed to convince myself enough to file Articles of Incorporation and start an LLC.

This is an old bad habit of mine going back to elementary school. I’ll often come up with an idea and create a framework around the idea without actually having any content to fill the space.

I still do it on this website, where I get hooked on a subject and then go out and design a template tailored to the topic without knowing anything about the topic or even knowing where to start researching.

Typically, I finish the template and then lose interest in the topic. That’s my Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) at work.

I had named the business “Bliss in Bloom: Influencers LLC,” I think it was the moment I came up with the name that triggered my old habit. I made social media accounts and a website for it. I designed business cards and had them printed. I went all out; without any idea of how to recruit anyone to join my idea.

That’s all it really was, just an idea. I went all in on an idea.

I did this recently when I coined the MSTT (Marginalized, Sexualized, Traumatized, and Trivialized) acronym. That led me to writing up a post, but all I had was those 4 words, so I had to research and build from the ground up.

That post didn’t really go anywhere because, its not in this site’s niche, and there really isn’t anyway to refer to it in conversation without things getting uncomfortable.

A week after forming the LLC I closed it. But I didn’t do it right, and I got a strongly worded letter from the NC Secretary of States office. I had to pay a small fine and then properly close the business.

3rd Times a Charm?

In July of 2024, shortly before graduating from Vance-Granville CC, I started selling items on eBay in earnest. I had previously sold Star Wars novels on eBay back in 2014-16, so my account had a good rating and history.

I had been getting a bunch of thrifting and reselling videos in my YouTube feed and that led me to getting hooked on the idea of being a full-time reseller.

So far its going slow, but I am making a small profit. Last year, I was in the red by about $30 come New Years Eve. This year, I should be finishing off with around $500 in net revenue from my eBay shops.

My main shop is (fatwalletrefugee). I sourced mostly men’s apparel from Goodwill, Safe Space, and Cause for Paws in the beginning. Over time, I picked up the odd women’s garment, mostly items with the tags attached.

After awhile I hit my free listings limit and looked up whether you could have more than one store. It turns out you can have multiple shops, they just need to have separate email address associated with them.

I have shops for women’s wear (lafemme1st), golf apparel (golfforless), and home hardware/automotive/building supplies (kingcastle).

Golf for Less is the sportsperson's apparel shop that won't hurt your wallet. Enjoy low fixed prices on all shop items, New and Used. Golf for Less, where we always: Aim for green on the field and green in your wallet.
At King's Castle Home Improvement, we believe every home deserves to be a fortress of comfort, style, and functionality—your castle should be as grand as you envision. From expert renovations to premium materials, we’re here to help you reign supreme over your domain. Upgrade your home today and transform it into the palace you deserve. Please reach out to us directly with any questions you may have. Note that we offer free, no-questions-asked returns for up to 30 days after purchase. If you're not happy with the item for any reason after purchasing, simply open a return, send it back for free, and we will refund your money in full. Thanks, and have a great day!
Step into style without stepping out of budget! At La Femme 1st, our women's apparel shop is your destination for high-quality, trend-forward fashion that won't break the bank. Experience a perfect blend of value and elegance, designed to empower you to look and feel your best—every day.

Earning as of November for these other shops are:

  • Lafemme1st: $379.94
  • GolfforLess: $237.92
  • King Castle: $113.46

On my main account, I recently signed a revenue purchase agreement with Liberis (Oct. 30th). I received a $600 deposit to my bank in exchange for 30% cut of my daily sales. There was a $79 fee for getting the agreement completed.

Supposedly, this will be paid off sometime in June of 2026. My sales for the 4th quarter had plummeted so I am a bit concerned. But the 600 bucks was well spent paying down my AMEX balance after that trip to Washington State (Domestic Travel: Washington).

I had tinkered with the idea of this website being a part of my business, but I still feel its more of a hobby, especially now that I have purged the site of certain content (Hard Choices). Although, I have come up with a compromise that I think will allow some wiggle room.

Since I graduated from my college and am now holding a nice Business Degree, I ought to make some use of it.

So here are some tips for getting started with entrepreneurship.

Funding a Business

Securing funding is important for small business success and needs a smart approach to financing options. Considering personal risks and control can help you make informed choices that match your long-term goals.

Where do I get the Money?

Determining how much money you need is the first step in choosing the right funding source, like self-funding, investors, loans, or a mix of these.

Most places will want you to borrow a minimum amount ($1,000) they can charge interest on. For small amounts you might get sent to a Cash Advance site so be careful.

  • Self-funding means using your own money, like savings or family help, which allows you to have complete control over your business.
  • Crowdfunding is a low-risk way to keep full ownership while getting support from many contributors. I used Kickstarter for an art project once. IndieGoGo is another option.
  • Small business loans help you keep control of your company while getting needed funds. A good business plan and financial forecasts can improve your chances of getting better loan terms.
  • Venture Capital is a good choice for startups looking to grow quickly and willing to give up some ownership for funding.
  • Grants offer funding that does not need to be repaid, but competition is tough. Many grants are available for women and minority-owned businesses, like the Amber Grant.
  • Microlending can help startups that can’t get bank loans. It offers small loans that are important for starting up, though they come with interest payments.
  • Peer-to-peer lending platforms connect borrowers directly with investors, often offering better terms than traditional banks.

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is crucial for new businesses. It provides funding options like SBA-backed loans, which reduce risks for banks, helping entrepreneurs get financing.

They also have loans and resources for veterans, women, minorities, Native Americans, and rural businesses.

Using the SBA’s counseling and training services can greatly help entrepreneurs in securing funding and managing their businesses. Your local community college likely has a business aid office.

Long-Term Success

Selecting the right mix of funding sources (family loan?) for your business is essential. Entrepreneurs should consider options like personal savings, loans, grants, and investors, while keeping a balanced approach.

Taking into account risks, control levels, and financial knowledge can help in successfully financing business operations.

Continuous learning and consulting with financial experts (on Reddit) can help optimize capital structure, leading to new opportunities for business growth.

That’s it for today. It’s been rainy so I haven’t been out photographing towns this week. Expect a new Travel post sometime next week.

Thanks for reading!

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.

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

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.

Side Hustles

What Sold on eBay: Q3, 2024

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Next in this series: (What Sold Q4, 2024)

I began reselling/thrifting in July of 2024. This marked the start of the third sales quarter which was a fitting. I had previously used my eBay account for small book sales and some purchases.

My account had a good feedback rating, which I think gave me an advantage.

I’ll start with what sold for each month (July, Aug, etc.) and then give a breakdown of my spending during the period.

I working a catalog of item details for stuff I get from bins that may be loose or new with tag (eBay Style Code Catalog).

July

Sales

It took me a while to figure out which brands would do well. My initial purchases did include a substantial number of flops.

My Net Return for July was $43.18.

ProductNet (Gross-COGS-Fees)
Patagonia Better Sweater L Fleece Vest10.87
2015 Pokémon Group T-Shirt7.39
Nike Dri-Fit Swim Pullover Hoodie3.88

Patagonia Better Sweater Vest Men’s Large Fleece Black Full Zip 25881

ProductNet (Gross-COGS-Fees)
Patagonia Synchilla Fleece Vest Gray5.64
Patagonia Beige Fleece Pullover16.50
Grand Slam Airflow Polo Shirt*(1.10)

Patagonia Jacket Adult L Beige Better Sweater Fleece Pullover 1/4 Zip (25522)

*Due to a pricing mistake, I lost money on this sale.

Spending

I have no other reliable sources of income other than perhaps my dividend portfolio. So spending needed to be kept at a minimum.

StoreAmount
Goodwill147.68
Safe Space21.00

August

Sales

I went overboard with my purchases in August. I also bought a clothes rack, packing materials, and clothes hangers. My Net Return for August was $215.93.

ProductNet Return (Gross-COGS-Fees)
Ralph Lauren Polo 3XLT Performance Golf25.09
Planet by Lauren G Cotton, Oxford Signature15.76
Grundens Children’s Zenith 282 Fishing Jacket20.74
Planet by Lauren G Cotton Oxford Signature22.41
Vinyard Vines 9″ Men’s On-the-Go Shorts8.21

Men’s 3XLT Polo Ralph Lauren Performance Golf Polo Shirt Blue

ProductNet Return (Gross-COGS-Fees)
Peter Millar Crown Comfort 1/4 Zip Pullover6.52
Peter Millar Perth Stretch Loop Mélange16.24
Adidas XL Red 3-Stripes “Rogers Wireless”4.14
Peter Millar Crown Sport Red Pullover9.07
Superdry Premium Lumberjack Flannel Shirt3.46

Peter Millar Perth Stretch Loop Mélange 1/4 Zip

ProductNet Return (Gross-COGS-Fees)
Peter Millar Crown Sport Perth Mélange10.81
P.E.C Detroit 32 Basketball Jersey3.83
Under Armour Tactical Shirt Brown XXL7.20
Gold Label Roundtree & Yorke Pink 16.56.96
Moscow Mockba Dynamo KHL Jersey20.46

Vintage Moscow Mockba Dynamo Men’s Size Large KHL Home Hockey Jersey Bauer

ProductNet Return (Gross-COGS-Fees)
Vintage Winchester Camo Bib OverallsRefunded (6.14)
Peter Millar Polo South Carolina Gamecocks8.84
Ralph Lauren Cotton Dress Shirt – Pink1.27
Bearded Goat Men’s Rover Pants5.63
Exofficio Women’s Large (12-14) Button Shirt3.05

Peter Millar Cotton Golf Polo South Carolina Gamecocks Medium Red/White Stripes

ProductNet Return (Gross-COGS-Fees)
Lands’ End Women’s Plus 3X Blue Raincoat8.26
Scully RangeWear Double Breasted Vest6.43
Patagonia Men’s Better Sweater® Fleece4.74
The North Face Women’s Khaki Shorts1.85
Roundtree & Yorke Gold Label Dress Shirt1.10

Lands’ End Women’s Plus 3X Blue Wind Waterproof Brim Hood Double Zip Rain Jacket

Spending

Previously, I had often avoided shopping for clothes. I tend to wear things until they’re completely spent. Getting hooked on clothes shopping was a new experience for me.

StoreAmount
Goodwill447.56
Safe Space36.50
Cause for Paws17.81

September

Sales

I watched a lot of YouTube channels related to Thrifting, and I got a better idea of what I should be looking for when I shop. Net return was $211.03

ProductNet Return
Roundtree & Yorke Shorts (Lot of 4)9.96
L.L. Bean Women’s XL Tropicwear Rhubarb12.61
Military Woodland Camouflage Outerwear5.16
Columbia Cargo Pants Men’s 38×32 Granite4.78
HANG TEN 10 Men’s XL Surf TrunksReturned

Women’s Tropicwear Shirt, Long-Sleeve, Petite XL Rhubarb

ProductNet Return
Underwraps Cowgirl Vest & Chaps12.35
Hugo Boss Mexico City Polo3.19
Roundtree & Yorke Travel Smart Shirt4.93
NuWave Precision Induction Cooktop15.60

NuWave Precision Induction Cooktop 1300W

ProductNet Return
Under Armour Tech XL Performance T-Shirt6.92
Burt’s Bees Firming Day Lotion (4 packs)61.20
RLX Ralph Lauren Wicking Stretch Golf Polo9.30
PJ Paul Jones Men’s Sweater Vest Cardigan2.71
Unisex Adults Inflatable Shark Halloween4.91

Burt’s Bees Firming Day Lotion Renewal

ProductNet Return
Peter Millar Summer Comfort Polo10.31
Ecko Unltd Jogger Sweatpants Gray6.74
Quince Fleece Sweater Shirt7.65
Power A Armor Case for Nintendo 3DS6.24
Laurel Valley Golf Club Peter Millar7.69

Peter Millar Summer Comfort Performance Polo

ProductNet Return
PATAGONIA Men’s Retro Pile Gray16.06
Carhartt K84 Original Fit Short Sleeve Blue3.73

PATAGONIA Men’s Retro Pile Gray

Spending

This month, I started a 1-item challenge, whereby I ask myself, “If you could only have one thing, what would it be?”

I mostly held to it for about two weeks and then I had a 3 day period where I spent $170+.

My total spend for September came in at $307.15.

StoreAmount
Goodwill299.86
Safe Space3.50
Cause for Paws3.79

My goals for the next quarter are to limit spending to around $100 per month and to reduce my dependence on using promoted sales. My best sales have been the ones without advertising and those where I did not offer free shipping.

I also need to take a good look at my selling prices and adjust my strategy accordingly. There were several sales in September that were close to a loss because I was both sending and taking low offers without considering my cost of goods.

I’ll have a follow-up post for Q4 in December.

Errant Literary, Side Hustles

A Growing Inventory

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In July this year, I got back into reselling and thrifting. As of this writing, I have 93 items on my eBay store. I have sold 27 items and had a single return. My 90-day total for sales is $710.

I ran out of space in my closet, which was already packed with junk. So, I bought a Laiensia Double Rod Clothing Rack on Amazon and a 50-pack of coat hangers from Target.

coat hangers
coat hangers

The coat hangers were on sale for $6.40, and the rack was $16.14. I used a gift card from Swagbucks for the rack, and I charged my Amex for the hangers.

I’ve been changing my sourcing to the Amex to earn some miles. A few shops I have gone to don’t accept Amex, and I have used my Cap1 Walmart card at those locations.

I’ve shopped at Goodwill, Safe Space, and Cause for Paws. I am planning on hitting up some garage and yard sales next year. I’m also thinking about maybe checking out estate sales. Of course, it is easier to plan shopping trips than to list the products I already have.

My pile of unlisted apparel is getting bigger. If I listed everything, it would put me over 100 items in my eBay store. I did put up some “lots” after I found three sets of matching men’s and women’s shorts.

I got three Chino by Anthropologie relaxed-fit shorts, 2 pairs of “The Wanderer” Anthropologie shorts, and four pairs of Roundtree & Yorke shorts in size 42. Actually, I’ve misplaced the men’s shorts somewhere in my room.

I am sure they will eventually show up. Probably?

Let’s see what else. I failed a job exam for a search rating position at Telus International. I passed the first two portions of the exam, but I screwed up on the final test and they don’t do retakes.

College is moving right along. I am working on the 4th chapter of business communications. We’re starting to talk about social media communications for businesses.

I must admit, I suck at social media. I recall back in 2007 thinking MySpace and Facebook were fads that would fade away…

That’ll be it for today. I will post again on this topic once we enter the 4th Quarter for Thrifting.