It's a shopping day!

I know I have no more room but I cannot resist the shopping on the weekends!

Today, I will go to Salvation Army and then a nice little store in my hometown called The Curiosity Shop.  Yes, shopping for bargains at these thrift stores benefits me but even better it helps organizations.  We all know the work of the Salvation Army.  The Curiosity Shop was started to provide money for a Senior living facility.  I may need that one day!  I hope not but....

Tomorrow, I will, of course, go to Goodwill, maybe two of them.  Then, I will stop by the ASPCA thruft store that benefits our local animal shelter.

It's all good.  People make donations.  Other people buy from those thrift stores to meet their needs from clothing their family to resell.

Everyone benefits and we save the environment in the process.

We've got to have something good these days considering all the idiotic things that are happening.

Have a great weekend. 

                    Just a few of the items for sale in my closet.  Please come see the rest.

 Poshmark keeps me busy!

I have shared how much Poshmark means to me these days.  It does keep me busy.  I work on it daily.  Sharing and following is my number one task.  Then, if I have taken pictures of an item or items, I had at least one listing because it keeps the closet fresh.  I take pix of any items I have waiting to be prepared for listing.  

But, my favorite thing to do is to shop the thrift stores for great items.

Right now, I need to postpone shopping and try to move some items out.  If I cannot sell them, I may have to make the difficult decision to purge and either take to Plato's Closet for a little bit of money or donate back to the thrift stores.

Why am I at this point?  Because I shop more than I sell! And, because I am out of space. I have two full racks and have taken over all or most of three closets! 

I also like organizing.  There's plenty to organize and track.  I keep a notebook of all the items I have!  

I am still considering a live show but the conditions and space available are definitely not the best.

So, I will continue to do silent shows a few times a week.

I have to sell some things soon or I can't go shopping!

Want to join Poshmark?

It's easy.  I recommend downloading the app and it will lead you through the steps.  Be sure to use this code to receive $10 of your first purchase:

LEPROF_74

See something you like in my closet? Comment that you read my blog and I will give you at least 25% off your item or bundle. 

What Poshmark does for me

I have something to do!  I was a teacher for 45 years.  Organization was my middle name.  When you have planned, on average, 25 to 30 lessons a week, you get bored with watching tv or reading. 

That boredom was intensified when I dislocated and fractured my ankle!  Surgery, a lot of pain, limited mobility, physical therapy, and being waited on by my husband was the most challenging experience ever.  And, I had two children!

Teaching was my creative outlet.  I loved coming up with bulletin boards or clever ways to get the students talking in French.  I especially enjoyed it when the lightbulbs went off and I could see it in their faces.

There were challenges in teaching too.  Not every student was exemplary- far from it.  But, every one had something to offer. I think people would be surprised at how interesting teenagers can be!

So, Posh gives me a creative outlet too.  I enjoy making Instagram posts or a story poster for my closet on Canva.  I like organizing my inventory.  I even like taking pix but wish I had a better lighting situation.

When I sell something, it is not only the money I like.  I am so happy to send an item or items to a buyer and get feedback from them that they are happy with it.  It helps the environment too.  

I am even enjoying writing this blog.  I hope people see it and get something out of it.  Maybe help with their closet and experiences.

Let's not forget the best part of all- sourcing.  That is the greatest adventure.

 

This is not a yard sale!

What else can I do to make sales?  Is a Live show my only option?

Here's what I have been doing- avoiding going all in on Live shows.

I share and follow several times a day.  I list new items all the time.  I have offered great sales.  I have done many silent shows. I post on Instagram.  I write this blog. I make offers regularly.  I update offers on likes and bundles. My prices are very reasonable, very. Probably, too reasonable.

This is not a yard sale!  I need to make a little profit. 

Poshmark takes a $2.95 fee from orders under $15 and 20% on anything over.  I have made sales where I make .03!  No lie- only 3 cents!  

I know a $5 sale with discounted shipping is a great deal for the buyer but I am not making anything on it. Well, 3 cents!

Let's look at some sales I have made.

1.  I sold a dress for $10.  I feel it was a fair price for a used dress.  

10- 2.95 Posh fee - 2.02 shipping discount = 5.03.

2.  I sold a top for $15

15- 3.00 Posh fee - 2.02 shipping discount = 9.98

3.  I sold a top for $20

20- 4 Posh fee- 2.02 shipping discount= 13.98

 4.  I sold a boy's coat for $33

33- 6.60 Posh fee - 7.97 free shipping = 18.43 ( an aside- this coat didn't cost me anything.  It was a gift my grandson outgrew)

Most of the items I sell have come from my closet, my friends items, or thrift stores.

So, items of my own or from friends, cost me nothing and are total profit.  I do share the profit on the friends; items 60/40 because they are gifting them to me and deserve a little something.

Items I get at thrift stores average out to about $3.00 an item.  Sometimes, depending on the item, a little more.

Conclusion- I need to sell more items or get a minimum of $10 an item.

Bundles can bring in more money in one sale but how that averages out per item may tell a different story.

Some bundle examples:

1.  I sold a bundle of 2 dresses for $22.00.  

22- 4.40 Posh fee - 2.02 shipping discount = 15.98

2. I sold a bundle of 3 items: dress, jacket, pants for $55.00

55- 11 Posh fee - 2.02 shipping discount = 41.98

So, on these two bundles, I made about $10 an item.  That's not bad.

It seems like some buyers want yard sale prices and do not realize that we sellers pay the Posh fee and the difference in shipping if we offer a discount. 

Something I can do to make a little more on my sales is to price the item at least 25% more than what I want to get for the item. Maybe even 50% more. 

Maybe I shouldn't have discounted shipping.  However, I feel it is a way to make the purchase more attractive.

As a retireee, I do worry about income and am hoping I can keep making lunch and coffee money on Poshmark! 

It does keep me busy and helps stop boredom and depression.  It gives me hope that my life is not worthless every time I make a purchase from a thrift store and list it for sale! 

Want to join Poshmark?

It's easy.  I recommend downloading the app and it will lead you through the steps.  Be sure to use this code to receive $10 of your first purchase:

LEPROF_74

See something you like in my closet? Comment that you read my blog and I will give you at least 25% off your item or bundle. 

Lesson Learned- Was it a scammer? Maybe.  I hope not. I am going  to believe it was a buyer who liked many items and when I canceled the sale and provided the explanation for them that Support gave me, they decided the solution was not worth the effort. And, that's okay.

I was so excited that I had finally sold a big bundle.  

Here's what happened; what I learned; and how to try to avoid it in the future.

What happened:  A buyer liked several items.  I made an offer on the bundle.  They bought it.  I tried to package in one box.  I went to print an overweight label but this was more then 10 pounds. So, then I started thinking what can I do?  Can I split it into two boxes and get another label from Poshmark or just send one box myself.  

I have learned in the past to check everything with support because they are great! Of course, I did everything else but that first.  I researched.  Asked on Instagram. Read Reddit and Quora.   Mostly, that resuted in sponsored ads telling me to go third party.  So, I asked support.

Support told me to cancel the order and ask the buyer to agree to it being split into two bundles so I would have the shipping labels needed.  I canceled the order and messaged the buyer.

What I learned:  It is often too good to be true. Signs to look for a possible scammer-  a buyer  has only one listing and very little information on that listing.  The  buyer has no love notes given and few or no responses to notes on their listing.  When the buyer does not communicate with the seller that is another clue they may be a scammer.  

I learned to be skeptical.  If someone likes a lot of items, message them first and ask them to select their top items so it stays under 5 lbs. If they are sincere, they will respond.

I also learned not to be so trusting.  I always treat people as I want to be treated and I assume everyone is for real.  I do not think people are criminals.

Biggest lesson:  When in doubt, ask support.

How to avoid it in the future:  The experience did prompt me to do some research.  I found this helpful site about scammers on Poshmark.  It is for both buyers and sellers.

Norton info on scammers

The scam I suspect was in play here is the Return Fraud Scam.  The Norton article explains it:

"In this scam, buyers abuse the return policy by claiming an item is “not as described.” They initiate a return to obtain a refund but send back a damaged or different item instead of the original. This allows them to keep the authentic item while tricking Poshmark into approving the refund. As a result, the seller loses both the product and the money from the sale.

Sellers can help prevent return fraud by using the following strategies:

• Create detailed listings with high-quality photos.
• Disclose any flaws in the listing.
• Take pictures or videos of the item during packing, showing its quality, packaging, and any identifying labels on the box." (Norton Is Poshmark Safe)

Final thought:  Stop to think and always depend on support when you are not certain what to do.

Want to join Poshmark?

It's easy.  I recommend downloading the app and it will lead you through the steps.  Be sure to use this code to receive $10 of your first purchase:

LEPROF_74

See something you like in my closet? Comment that you read my blog and I will give you at least 25% off your item or bundle. 

My first big sale! I hope there are more.

A buyer bought a  bundle of 17 items.  Nice stuff too.  I did offer a huge discount but the name of the game is to sell and to make room for more inventory!

Some of the items were for two of my friends.  We have a good agreement.  They give me the items and I get 60% of the net and they get 40%.  When their earnings accumulate to at least $10, I give them their money when I see them.  It's a fun relationship.

I've been doing more of clicking on the blue follows and maybe that is bringing more people to my closet.  I share a lot until my arthritic fingers cannot take any more!

Who knows what tomorrow may bring.  But for today, I feel very good about my closet and Poshmark.  It has provided me with something to do that is fun and a little profitable.  

Please come shop my closet and you, too, may receive a huge discount on great stuff.

Update on AI- It can be turned off.  You do not have to use it.

Want to join Poshmark?

It's easy.  I recommend downloading the app and it will lead you through the steps.  Be sure to use this code to receive $10 of your first purchase:

LEPROF_74

See something you like in my closet? Comment that you read my blog and I will give you at least 25% off your item or bundle. 

Oh no AI!

First, I am not a fan of Artificial Intelligence.  As a retired teacher, I fear kids will not learn to think for themselves.  They already think all they have to do is ask Google! More cheating!

So, I had an upgrade alert on my app.  When I added another listing, it was very different,  Now, it scans the pic of your item and generates a description.  You still add all the essential info but it does fill in some for you.  Trouble is, it may not be accurate.

It may generate a nice, weill-worded description but it is very generic and trite.  It is important that the title and description say what you want it to say.

Example:  I added a listing for a bodycon sheath dress that was a floral pattern of yellow and orange flowers on a teal background.  I had to type in the title three times so it said what I needed it to say.

Another was a full skirted dress and the AI said it was assymetrical because the pic was off kilter.  It called it cowl necl. It had a shiny bodice and AI said it was sequins!  It is actually polka dot.

So, good rule of thumb, double check before you hit the list button!

It does generate a generic "this will be a nice dress for a wedding or special occasion"  Pretty soon, nothing will be unique and everything will be the same unless we continue to do our own descriptions.

I am going to add a few more listings tonight and see how this new addition to Poshmark goes.  Most likely, I will continue to do my own wording and continue to giggle at the AI descriptions. Sequins! Right! 😏

Want to join Poshmark?

It's easy.  I recommend downloading the app and it will lead you through the steps.  Be sure to use this code to receive $10 of your first purchase:

LEPROF_74

See something you like in my closet? Comment that you read my blog and I will give you at least 25% off your item or bundle. 

Tennis first and Posh second!

I've been totally engaged in watching Tennis.  Indian Wells is a great tournament.  Best match so far- too many to count.  American players are doing fantastic. 

Then, another uncontrollable setback.  I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and sometimes, for whatever reason, my hands hurt and I have limited movement.  So, limited typing, following, sharing.....

I did what I could and have managed to add a few new items.  I REALLY need to clear out some items.  I need to make room so I can go shopping some more.  That's my favorite part.  The adventure of looking through the thrift stores to find a New with Tag item or the perfect brand!

Today, my hands returned to practically normal.  And, the sun was shining.  I decided to take a drive and sit by the lake and read.  I think I could literally see the buds in the trees emerge!  The birds chirping.  Fresh air!  I love signs of spring.

I also made a listing on Canva to promote a sale. I REALLY need to make more room!  We are empty nesters.  My son's bedroom is now my Posh closet. Between the clothes and the picture-taking equipment, there's not much space.

Come check out my closet.  Let me know you read my blog (make a bundle and add a comment) and I will happily make you a great offer.

Want to join Poshmark?

It's easy.  I recommend downloading the app and it will lead you through the steps.  Be sure to use this code to receive $10 of your first purchase:

LEPROF_74

See something you like in my closet? Comment that you read my blog and I will give you at least 25% off your item or bundle. 

 All of a sudden.....sales

There seems to be no rhyme or reason to when I make sales.  I do know that sharing, following, and listing helps.  

It is so weird.  No sales for a few days and just when I go to spend a night at my vacay home (my mom's house), there are sales!

Fortunately, my husband is a big help.  I send him the email and he gets the item packaged including writing the card and taking it to the post office.

When I was taking care of my grandsons and living near them, my husband did all the packaging and getting it posted.  In fact, he wanted all the best materials so he bought a lot of tissue paper, tape, and every box or envelope possible from USPS.  I've not had to get anything at Dollar Tree for a long while.

My son surprised me for my birthday by sending me another ring light, a tripod for my phone and a bunch of storage things so I can get organized, protect my inventory, and do a live show.

I am still scared but silent shows just are not cutting it.  I did a giveaway at a silent show and I had to pay the shipping and didn't make one sale.  And, I need to make some money here.  I cannot give this stuff away and pay for others to take them!

So, I will have to just get over my fear and JUST DO IT!

Want to join Poshmark?

It's easy.  I recommend downloading the app and it will lead you through the steps.  Be sure to use this code to receive $10 of your first purchase:

LEPROF_74

See something you like in my closet? Comment that you read my blog and I will give you at least 25% off your item or bundle.