Random Topics 3.1

[JayKay PE]

I actually did a mini-cleanse earlier this year.  Found out my library has a huge online catalog/OverDrive and realized all the paperbacks I had were on there.  I did a purge, kept only the 'important' paperbacks (aka; the ones I've read over and over again and can't get rid of), and have everything else sitting in bags for donation/selling.  Now that I've passed the PE I actually have some time to figure out what I'm selling and on what platform; I'm not even looking for a profit (per se), I would just like to get something for them instead of donating them.  Because I highly doubt my local library needs a whole collection of hockey player-themed romance.

 

[tj_PE]

I actually did a mini-cleanse earlier this year.  Found out my library has a huge online catalog/OverDrive and realized all the paperbacks I had were on there.  I did a purge, kept only the 'important' paperbacks (aka; the ones I've read over and over again and can't get rid of), and have everything else sitting in bags for donation/selling.  Now that I've passed the PE I actually have some time to figure out what I'm selling and on what platform; I'm not even looking for a profit (per se), I would just like to get something for them instead of donating them.  Because I highly doubt my local library needs a whole collection of hockey player-themed romance.

I've had the best success using both offerup and facebook marketplace (actually reaches different audiences) and saying it's cross posted - people follow through better when they don't know what other activity an item has gotten. 

 

[Road Guy]

we have a yard sale here where you can sell stuff or give away (no "fees")

 

[JayKay PE]

Yard sales are kinda 'eh' on LI.  Most people like going to estate sales more, and other yard sales are more of a 'pay for my junk' with nothing really good.

I think I'm going to post on facebook marketplace first some riding gear; I have two pairs of boots in good condition and some other stuff that I think will sell.  I've just never dealt with a lot of shipping before (I usually just do a media mail situation and thus I don't really know how much to charge for shipping), so I want to start out slow.  I have some textbooks also, not PE related, that I might see if I can get a few bucks for.  PE stuff...I might try to sell on this site, since it's Civil-related stuff that I'll never use again.

 

[tj_PE]

we have a yard sale here where you can sell stuff or give away (no "fees")

no fees on fb or offerup either - cash transactions

 

[tj_PE]

Yard sales are kinda 'eh' on LI.  Most people like going to estate sales more, and other yard sales are more of a 'pay for my junk' with nothing really good.

I think I'm going to post on facebook marketplace first some riding gear; I have two pairs of boots in good condition and some other stuff that I think will sell.  I've just never dealt with a lot of shipping before (I usually just do a media mail situation and thus I don't really know how much to charge for shipping), so I want to start out slow.  I have some textbooks also, not PE related, that I might see if I can get a few bucks for.  PE stuff...I might try to sell on this site, since it's Civil-related stuff that I'll never use again.

check on amazon for your textbooks, they buy some. and yeah i would post locally fb/offerup/letgo (offerup and letgo are tied to your fb account so you know its real people mostly), and do in person transactions. your big ticket items i think ebay lets you sell x amount with no fees every month or something like that. my cousin did ebay for a while. she has LOTS of stuff.

 

[Road Guy]

lol... I meant this "yard sale"

http://engineerboards.com/forum/11-yard-sale/

 

[csb]

I sold all of my PE materials I wasn't keeping on Amazon. It was pretty slick. 

 

[JayKay PE]

lol... I meant this "yard sale"

http://engineerboards.com/forum/11-yard-sale/

HAHAHAHAHA, yes, yes, sorry, I totally read your original post wrong.  I know about that yard sale and I was actually planning on posting up there (I'm getting rid of a CERM and some other Enviro books I won't need), but I need to use this weekend to sit down and just figure out reasonable prices.  It's really the only reason I haven't sold anything because I'm too lazy to do some internet research with an excel file to just get it done.

@csb I looked on amazon and they might only buy one or two of my books, and it's as Amazon credit...and to tell the truth, I'm trying to cut my amazon-cord soon.  They made it way too easy for me to buy junk I didn't need during the year!  I think I'm switching off prime/amazon music and just living with slow shipping and listening to the radio while I work.

@tj_PE Most of my big ticket items are actually stuff I think I can sell on facebook market pretty easy (I'm in a couple of specific selling groups for horseback riding stuff that go pretty fast).  It's just all the paperbacks that are killing me.

 

[Road Guy]

When we moved It was a full time job for me but I was like a professional craigslist advertiser for a while, but got rid of so much stuff that way - but that was 6 years ago - Next-door didn't exist back then or I would have used that more..

We get rid of all our big items that we don't want to take to goodwill via nextdoor, one mans trash is another mans treasure..

 

[MA_PE]

I think they might be national but there's a group called freecycle on Yahoo where you can give away stuff that still has some useful life to it.  You can't sell anything but it's a great way to get rid of stuff without filling up the landfills.  You post up what you've got and folks will respond via email that they'll come and pick it up.  You make arrangements by swapping phone numbers or emails and providing the address where the stuff will be.  Leave it outside in the driveway and they come by and get it.

Can be anything....furniture, old electronics, books, knick knacks, old lawnmowers...  The site draws the line at pets or animals which cannot be advertised.  I found it useful to get rid of things.

 

[csb]

 I looked on amazon and they might only buy one or two of my books, and it's as Amazon credit...and to tell the truth, I'm trying to cut my amazon-cord soon.  They made it way too easy for me to buy junk I didn't need during the year!  I think I'm switching off prime/amazon music and just living with slow shipping and listening to the radio while I work.

I sold them via Amazon- I was a "used" listing under the main listing. They even gave me shipping credit. However, I totally get the Amazon cutting. It's a drug for sure. 

I think they might be national but there's a group called freecycle on Yahoo where you can give away stuff that still has some useful life to it.  You can't sell anything but it's a great way to get rid of stuff without filling up the landfills.  You post up what you've got and folks will respond via email that they'll come and pick it up.  You make arrangements by swapping phone numbers or emails and providing the address where the stuff will be.  Leave it outside in the driveway and they come by and get it.

Can be anything....furniture, old electronics, books, knick knacks, old lawnmowers...  The site draws the line at pets or animals which cannot be advertised.  I found it useful to get rid of things.

We once freecycled a toilet!

 

[Road Guy]

my 15 year old discovered that goodwill has a website and he has been buying (oddly enough) instruments (like trumpets, French horns, etc) from goodwill and reselling them on ebay for like $200-$300 profits-  dude probably has more in checking than I do...

 

[tj_PE]

HAHAHAHAHA, yes, yes, sorry, I totally read your original post wrong.  I know about that yard sale and I was actually planning on posting up there (I'm getting rid of a CERM and some other Enviro books I won't need), but I need to use this weekend to sit down and just figure out reasonable prices.  It's really the only reason I haven't sold anything because I'm too lazy to do some internet research with an excel file to just get it done.

@csb I looked on amazon and they might only buy one or two of my books, and it's as Amazon credit...and to tell the truth, I'm trying to cut my amazon-cord soon.  They made it way too easy for me to buy junk I didn't need during the year!  I think I'm switching off prime/amazon music and just living with slow shipping and listening to the radio while I work.

@tj_PE Most of my big ticket items are actually stuff I think I can sell on facebook market pretty easy (I'm in a couple of specific selling groups for horseback riding stuff that go pretty fast).  It's just all the paperbacks that are killing me.

@amazon cutting - THE HORROR

similar to freecycle i am in some buy nothing groups and people ALWAYS want my shit. the only thing i haven't been able to get rid of thru there is some CAT5 cables.

 

[Audi Driver P.E.]

my 15 year old discovered that goodwill has a website and he has been buying (oddly enough) instruments (like trumpets, French horns, etc) from goodwill and reselling them on ebay for like $200-$300 profits-  dude probably has more in checking than I do...

Behold my new business model!

 

[Road Guy]

He is like the younger brother on better off dead..

 

[JayKay PE]

my 15 year old discovered that goodwill has a website and he has been buying (oddly enough) instruments (like trumpets, French horns, etc) from goodwill and reselling them on ebay for like $200-$300 profits-  dude probably has more in checking than I do...

My dad does something similar when people post instruments without knowing what they are, but I think his price point is a little higher than your sons...  Also, he tends to deal in mouthpieces and will sometimes buy a cheap instrument ($500ish) and re-sell just the mouthpiece for around $700.   Does your 15-year old look at specific brands/types, or is he just re-selling as-is by instrument on ebay?

 

[Road Guy]

He does something similar, he will look for ones missing a mouthpiece or damaged and try and repair or locate a mouthpiece  if he thinks he can. He plays the French Horn and Mellophone  - but he even bought a couple of (whatever you call the tiny tuba for concerts) and resold them. 

He also buys old laptops for dollars and takes the parts that work and strips them and sells them - maybe he can buy his own car!  he is a keeper

 

[vee043324]

Thanks friends you’ve inspired me to get rid of half my shit. 

How does a 600sqft apt have less storage space than my 200sqft studio?! 

 

[vee043324]

Also don’t buy $200 beds from Wayfair. They are terrible and then will convince you to do something extreme like return it and buy a $900 sealy with $200 5-inch down mattress topper. 

Tbh that might end up being one of my best purchases this year but will give an update when it gets here in a few days wooo