Kevin retired usps, years ago when we parcels by hand we could see the fragile sticker or marking nowadays it is done by machine, a machine cannot can't we the word fragile. Years parcels were separated by 3 groups. Small (coffee mug. 2 backgammon tokens), medium (board games) large (tires, lawn chairs) old days less damage. Today you a tire drop on top a coffee mug. Bye bye mug. Last year had 3 mugs break with good packing using heavy duty white boxes. I started shipping in 1978, before machines only 2 breaks, one was my fault 1978, bad packing. My 2 cents. Thanks 😊
I buy tons of lots so I have giant death pileS! I haven't been sourcing very much which is hard for me as of course that's my favorite part. So I do the opposite if I go out sourcing I make myself list all the new things the same day even if it's 30+ items! That way my death pile doesn't grow.
Great tip to not lose top rated. So as soon as blue ridge mama says she wants to get an outside job with full medical & benefits ...you're fulltime reselling?
Oh I feel so special, you just read my question on the air! OMG!! Good advice about listing and one death pile thing. I have lived in Nevada for the past 34 years but I also grew up in CA and guess what? I’ve also got that kinda accent that sounds like yours and people always ask me where I’m from. I know why I sound this way it’s because I’m very laid back. Kevin you are awesome and I’m still in shock that you mentioned my name.
Was pleasantly surprised you liked my very nice 'eloquent' bubble wrap answer!😁🥰 I don't know if it will ever be a future thing..but my name is like Melissa without the 'Muh' front sound.😁 Was surprised Lonnie pronounced it right the other day on his show.--he must know someone with the name! Thank as always for your delightful & informative show. And I think your accent is nice & pleasant to hear👍😁
I sold some flower seeds on Facebook Marketplace and figured I could just put them in a regular envelope with enough postage for the weight. The post office did not agree with me and charged the recipient the cost of a small package. Luckily she was okay with that. It was the first thing I ever mailed to anyone. Lesson learned!
I make deals with myself like that too. like if I get up early and get a lot done before it gets hot that I can have a nap... I'm retired. I don't use fragile stickers, my thought is that they consider it a challenge to see if it's really fragile.
A couple things 1. I don’t have a death pile it’s an opportunity pile 2. I don’t source unless everything from previous sourcing trips are listed. My incentive to get things listed
4:14 My strategy is that I can't get more until everything gets listed. It's all just junk and clutter if it's not getting views to potentially be sold. Getting more inventory when there's already inventory to pick up makes no sense.
I normally don't have a set amount of cash I take with me for sales. I do try and take as much as I can, because hi never know what I might end up with. Was headed to one sale and stopped at one on the way there. Ended up making a deal for a bunch of military clothing and accessories for less than wholesale. The sale I was originally headed to, the road was closed to through traffic. I guess the other one was meant to be. Right now, everything I have is a death pile. Always look forward to your videos. Thanks for everything. Take care.
I'm originally from southwest Virginia; Dickenson County, aka Virginia's Baby. Occasionally I hear that VA drawl from you at yard sales, but it's never as strong as the Appalachian English I grew up with! Love the bubble wrap question! I was thinking about that just the other day. I use the same method you read here. My death pile is mostly clothes I haven't gotten around to listing yet because they're less valuable than other things I list on the daily. I will get to them.. eventually :)
Yes it matters. Fragile items get put into a separate mail bag and usually put in last or on top of everything. I forgot to add a sticker to a package and it cost me $50 becuase the item was broken and smashed by the usps. I worked for them when I was younger and I also worked with FedEx as well.
I worked for FedEx Express for 6 years at 4 different locations (I don't work there anymore, thank goodness) DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH A FRAGILE STICKER or DO NOT WRITE IT ON THE BOX. TRUST ME. I've seen some horrible things.
Better yet, don't ship anything fragile with FedEx. They use conveyors to move packages and allow boxes to drop from conveyor to conveyor. You have to pay extra for "hand processing", but frankly, it doesn't seem to make a difference. I always ship fragile stuff USPS, well marked FRAGILE and/or DO NOT DROP and have never had an issue. USPS also does not charge extra for this.
My local Postal Clerks have told me to always mark "Fragile" or "Perishable" These will be segregated out to be held by hand I was told. Because of your glass video that I watched earlier today, I did not hesitate when the opportunity today came up for free dishes and bowls.
Your Postal Clerks are being unrealistically optimistic. I don't know specifically about USPS systems but have worked for Royal Mail here in the UK and in distribution and doubt the US systems are any different; mail will be sorted and resorted a number of times during its journey and much of that sorting will be partly or wholly mechanical. While your local Post Office staff might handle with extra care and segregate your parcels, once they hit the first sorting office they will all be tipped onto the same conveyor. The only reason to affix a Fragile sticker would be to remove one possible excuse for non-payment of a damages claim again a carrier. It is not unknown for the absence of such sticker to be used as grounds for refusing compensation. I had one incident many years ago where a PC was damaged in transit and the claim was initially refused because of 'Inadequate packaging and/or labelling'--with the absence of a fragile sticker being quoted. Only when I showed the tyre marks across the package and the fact that the metal case was squashed flat on one side did they relent and admit fault!
hahahahaha. Unless you live in a small town of 50, that's just fantasy. I've lived in 8 different cities and have brought my eBay biz with me wherever I went. Mail people always just tell me it does nothing because everything just gets tossed into the same pile. When there are 100 people coming into the post office every hour, they're... busy.
I don't Think the "Fragile" sticker matters to the postal workers, However, I like to put it on anyway! Maybe its reassuring myself or maybe I feel like if I were the customer, When I see it on the box I would feel that my items were carefully packed.
I always tell myself I am not going to buy stuff that may end up in my death pile. However, I always seem to add to it. I'm not for sure if there is any real good strategy to reduce the death pile size. It seems as if all of us resellers are hardwired the same. 😁
CWP...there ain't nothing wrong wit you accent...course being from South MS i feel like people think because i am from the south i/we are somehow not smart...every part of america has different cultures....within these cultures are sub-cultures.....for someone to judge anyone because the say "y'all" in stead of "you all" or "windar" instead of window....i live here for a reason....it the laid back, easy going, life style that we enjoy...and if you don't like the way we talk....just stay where you are....cause y'all ain't got nothing we need anyway...just saying....
I don't have a death pile I have a Death House. I have stuff everywhere! My wife keeps threatening to see if she can get me on an episode of Hoarders!! lol Thanks for the info.
I like your accent but have wondered how you have it being from CA lol but I’ve noticed I used words some of my friends use that I wouldn’t usually, had i never been around them . So maybe accents rub off to 😄
I didn't hear much of an accent. You should hear me from Maine...lol. I can git in the caa and ride down the rud apiece and look at all the hosses....lol.But i did stave up the caaa. lol
As far as a "Death pile" goes I try and call it something else otherwise I seem to look at it as a negative thing. I use terms like back stock or extra inventory. Also with the lettermail I'm from Canada and use that method within Canada all the time and still have my Top Rated seller badge! So are the ratings different for US?
@@commonwealthflipper It's different here in the UK too; tracking is not a requirement for TRS, you just need to keep late deliveries (either reported by the buyer or from the tracking) below 3%. I'm not sure whether the difference between eBay markets is down to customer expectations or simply the relatively high cost of tracking items here--even a simple confirmation of delivery adds 50% to the price of posting a small item. Over half my orders are sent untracked--I just print the postage labels online and drop into a postbox. These are typically small, lower value items where the additional cost of tracking would far outweigh any potential benefit (eg media)..
Okay okay, fine. I am taking pictures of the Scouting things death pile.. also know as my office floor. It has reached ridiculous proportions and I have 2 more 50 lbs boxes on the way (ack!). I use stamps all the time, the Canadian bay doesn't ding me for no tracking number, still have top rated. Now if you order one of my very expensive badges, I will send it at least registered mail. I have never had an issue, except sadly with Americans. Our small package air offers a number but isn't trackable, but does have $100 insurance and technically only paper can go internationally.
As I'm a niche market..my busy time is actually the summer. Badgers (badge collectors) aren't Scouting as much, this year in particular. Sometimes after Xmas I will get a rush of Badgers with gift money and will buy the $$ badge to put in their collection.
Have you considered opening a second store just for the small, light stuff and then offer flat rate shipping? I don't know how well it will work in practice, but I've been seriously considering doing it for media (CD, DVD, VHS, Video Games, etc) because of the sheer unlisted volume I have atm. It kind of helps offset the costs with Canada Post (even with the discounted rates atm) if you can really encourage people to buy volume while still giving them choice.
@@flipistics4270 I sell all badges for free shipping. Most of my customers are multiple buyers and repeat customers. For larger items, I generally do a flat rate of $15 in Canada.
Are you reminding me to do a video on it or are you asking what it is? Q4 is the last 1/4 of the year. The selling season. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and CHRISTMAS
Halloween. I think there wont be one this year. Rose Parade already Cancelled. Hollywood Christmas parade not happening. I just wonder about pumpkins or Christmas trees.
I bring $200 typically and occasionally have to go to the atm ;) my accent is amplified outdoors too lol
Kevin retired usps, years ago when we parcels by hand we could see the fragile sticker or marking nowadays it is done by machine, a machine cannot can't we the word fragile. Years parcels were separated by 3 groups. Small (coffee mug. 2 backgammon tokens), medium (board games) large (tires, lawn chairs) old days less damage. Today you a tire drop on top a coffee mug. Bye bye mug. Last year had 3 mugs break with good packing using heavy duty white boxes. I started shipping in 1978, before machines only 2 breaks, one was my fault 1978, bad packing. My 2 cents. Thanks 😊
I buy tons of lots so I have giant death pileS! I haven't been sourcing very much which is hard for me as of course that's my favorite part. So I do the opposite if I go out sourcing I make myself list all the new things the same day even if it's 30+ items! That way my death pile doesn't grow.
Luv the southern accent. Part of the reason I listen to ur channel. Used to live in Virginia in Bassett
Thank you Kevin for positive content and stamp question.
Great tip to not lose top rated. So as soon as blue ridge mama says she wants to get an outside job with full medical & benefits ...you're fulltime reselling?
My definition of a “Death Pile” is....Laundry!
Oh I feel so special, you just read my question on the air! OMG!! Good advice about listing and one death pile thing. I have lived in Nevada for the past 34 years but I also grew up in CA and guess what? I’ve also got that kinda accent that sounds like yours and people always ask me where I’m from. I know why I sound this way it’s because I’m very laid back. Kevin you are awesome and I’m still in shock that you mentioned my name.
Was pleasantly surprised you liked my very nice 'eloquent' bubble wrap answer!😁🥰 I don't know if it will ever be a future thing..but my name is like Melissa without the 'Muh' front sound.😁 Was surprised Lonnie pronounced it right the other day on his show.--he must know someone with the name! Thank as always for your delightful & informative show. And I think your accent is nice & pleasant to hear👍😁
The fragile sticker works on big or heavy items and its best to buy ypur own red ones. Put them all over your package
I sold some flower seeds on Facebook Marketplace and figured I could just put them in a regular envelope with enough postage for the weight. The post office did not agree with me and charged the recipient the cost of a small package. Luckily she was okay with that. It was the first thing I ever mailed to anyone. Lesson learned!
I make deals with myself like that too. like if I get up early and get a lot done before it gets hot that I can have a nap... I'm retired. I don't use fragile stickers, my thought is that they consider it a challenge to see if it's really fragile.
I make sure to stock up on extra shipping supplies before Q4.
A couple things 1. I don’t have a death pile it’s an opportunity pile 2. I don’t source unless everything from previous sourcing trips are listed. My incentive to get things listed
You have tought me so much..Thank you!
4:14 My strategy is that I can't get more until everything gets listed. It's all just junk and clutter if it's not getting views to potentially be sold. Getting more inventory when there's already inventory to pick up makes no sense.
I normally don't have a set amount of cash I take with me for sales. I do try and take as much as I can, because hi never know what I might end up with. Was headed to one sale and stopped at one on the way there. Ended up making a deal for a bunch of military clothing and accessories for less than wholesale. The sale I was originally headed to, the road was closed to through traffic. I guess the other one was meant to be.
Right now, everything I have is a death pile.
Always look forward to your videos. Thanks for everything. Take care.
I'm originally from southwest Virginia; Dickenson County, aka Virginia's Baby. Occasionally I hear that VA drawl from you at yard sales, but it's never as strong as the Appalachian English I grew up with!
Love the bubble wrap question! I was thinking about that just the other day. I use the same method you read here.
My death pile is mostly clothes I haven't gotten around to listing yet because they're less valuable than other things I list on the daily. I will get to them.. eventually :)
Yes it matters. Fragile items get put into a separate mail bag and usually put in last or on top of everything. I forgot to add a sticker to a package and it cost me $50 becuase the item was broken and smashed by the usps. I worked for them when I was younger and I also worked with FedEx as well.
"Fragile items get put into a separate mail bag"
hahahahahaha
I worked for FedEx Express for 6 years at 4 different locations (I don't work there anymore, thank goodness) DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH A FRAGILE STICKER or DO NOT WRITE IT ON THE BOX. TRUST ME. I've seen some horrible things.
Better yet, don't ship anything fragile with FedEx. They use conveyors to move packages and allow boxes to drop from conveyor to conveyor. You have to pay extra for "hand processing", but frankly, it doesn't seem to make a difference. I always ship fragile stuff USPS, well marked FRAGILE and/or DO NOT DROP and have never had an issue. USPS also does not charge extra for this.
When I used to mail breakable items, I would write on the box... FRAGILE!! THROW UNDERHAND!!
Never had a problem.
You do sound like your from the south. I was born in Tennessee but grew up in Los Angeles. So folks think i was born here. Enjoy your videos
My local Postal Clerks have told me to always mark "Fragile" or "Perishable" These will be segregated out to be held by hand I was told. Because of your glass video that I watched earlier today, I did not hesitate when the opportunity today came up for free dishes and bowls.
Your Postal Clerks are being unrealistically optimistic. I don't know specifically about USPS systems but have worked for Royal Mail here in the UK and in distribution and doubt the US systems are any different; mail will be sorted and resorted a number of times during its journey and much of that sorting will be partly or wholly mechanical. While your local Post Office staff might handle with extra care and segregate your parcels, once they hit the first sorting office they will all be tipped onto the same conveyor.
The only reason to affix a Fragile sticker would be to remove one possible excuse for non-payment of a damages claim again a carrier. It is not unknown for the absence of such sticker to be used as grounds for refusing compensation. I had one incident many years ago where a PC was damaged in transit and the claim was initially refused because of 'Inadequate packaging and/or labelling'--with the absence of a fragile sticker being quoted. Only when I showed the tyre marks across the package and the fact that the metal case was squashed flat on one side did they relent and admit fault!
hahahahaha. Unless you live in a small town of 50, that's just fantasy. I've lived in 8 different cities and have brought my eBay biz with me wherever I went. Mail people always just tell me it does nothing because everything just gets tossed into the same pile. When there are 100 people coming into the post office every hour, they're... busy.
We can’t get many quarters or Change right now.
This is great! Can you do reader's questions again or maybe you still do
I don't Think the "Fragile" sticker matters to the postal workers, However, I like to put it on anyway! Maybe its reassuring myself or maybe I feel like if I were the customer, When I see it on the box I would feel that my items were carefully packed.
I always tell myself I am not going to buy stuff that may end up in my death pile. However, I always seem to add to it. I'm not for sure if there is any real good strategy to reduce the death pile size. It seems as if all of us resellers are hardwired the same. 😁
Kevin! Just started watching. What’s with the double sunglasses? 😂😂😂💕
Lol. I was wearing them on my eyes outside and put them on my neck when I can inside. Lol. Forgot I had them
Commonwealth Flipper and then on the hat. 😂😂💕
🤔
6 eyes. Lol
CWP...there ain't nothing wrong wit you accent...course being from South MS i feel like people think because i am from the south i/we are somehow not smart...every part of america has different cultures....within these cultures are sub-cultures.....for someone to judge anyone because the say "y'all" in stead of "you all" or "windar" instead of window....i live here for a reason....it the laid back, easy going, life style that we enjoy...and if you don't like the way we talk....just stay where you are....cause y'all ain't got nothing we need anyway...just saying....
I don't have a death pile I have a Death House. I have stuff everywhere! My wife keeps threatening to see if she can get me on an episode of Hoarders!! lol Thanks for the info.
Have you ever heard not to cut down Flat Rate boxes... USPS gave me a rough time yesterday... that was the first I’d heard that
Hmm four sets of eyes this video lol
I like your accent but have wondered how you have it being from CA lol but I’ve noticed I used words some of my friends use that I wouldn’t usually, had i never been around them . So maybe accents rub off to 😄
I didn't hear much of an accent. You should hear me from Maine...lol. I can git in the caa and ride down the rud apiece and look at all the hosses....lol.But i did stave up the caaa. lol
As far as a "Death pile" goes I try and call it something else otherwise I seem to look at it as a negative thing. I use terms like back stock or extra inventory. Also with the lettermail I'm from Canada and use that method within Canada all the time and still have my Top Rated seller badge! So are the ratings different for US?
I believe they are.
@@commonwealthflipper It's different here in the UK too; tracking is not a requirement for TRS, you just need to keep late deliveries (either reported by the buyer or from the tracking) below 3%. I'm not sure whether the difference between eBay markets is down to customer expectations or simply the relatively high cost of tracking items here--even a simple confirmation of delivery adds 50% to the price of posting a small item.
Over half my orders are sent untracked--I just print the postage labels online and drop into a postbox. These are typically small, lower value items where the additional cost of tracking would far outweigh any potential benefit (eg media)..
First! love to watch the Brown family!
Kevin, I didn’t think you had an accent. Apparently i have an accent too😂
What do u ship chairs in
Okay okay, fine. I am taking pictures of the Scouting things death pile.. also know as my office floor. It has reached ridiculous proportions and I have 2 more 50 lbs boxes on the way (ack!). I use stamps all the time, the Canadian bay doesn't ding me for no tracking number, still have top rated. Now if you order one of my very expensive badges, I will send it at least registered mail. I have never had an issue, except sadly with Americans. Our small package air offers a number but isn't trackable, but does have $100 insurance and technically only paper can go internationally.
As I'm a niche market..my busy time is actually the summer. Badgers (badge collectors) aren't Scouting as much, this year in particular. Sometimes after Xmas I will get a rush of Badgers with gift money and will buy the $$ badge to put in their collection.
Have you considered opening a second store just for the small, light stuff and then offer flat rate shipping? I don't know how well it will work in practice, but I've been seriously considering doing it for media (CD, DVD, VHS, Video Games, etc) because of the sheer unlisted volume I have atm. It kind of helps offset the costs with Canada Post (even with the discounted rates atm) if you can really encourage people to buy volume while still giving them choice.
@@flipistics4270 I sell all badges for free shipping. Most of my customers are multiple buyers and repeat customers. For larger items, I generally do a flat rate of $15 in Canada.
My death pile is a bit different than others.... mine is a sop full of stuff that belonged to dead people.
I started listing Halloween yesterday....🎃💀
Kevin, how do you ship records. I picked some up, but dedicated record boxes are expensive! What do you use?
I have a video about it in the how to play list and a link the the boxes in the description. 😉
Q4?
Are you reminding me to do a video on it or are you asking what it is? Q4 is the last 1/4 of the year. The selling season. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and CHRISTMAS
Halloween. I think there wont be one this year. Rose Parade already Cancelled. Hollywood Christmas parade not happening. I just wonder about pumpkins or Christmas trees.
Whats you ebay account so i can look at what you have. Thanks
There is a link to it in the video description. Commonwealthpicker is the store name.
Death Pile aka Money Pile
Woohoo second. Love your videos Kevin.
I like to keep at least $500 in my prison wallet at all times...
That's gross dude..
@nikkinik4188 it took 4 years for someone to finally get my joke. I commend you.
@@retrohead2408 🤣
Jesus loves you, man. ❤️✝️🩸❤️