posted on March 19, 2005 02:26:09 PM new
I am planning to revamp my "holding cell". I want to come up with a new way to store the items mainly the ones listed in my store.
In the past, I have put the items into see thru bins by the listing date, this works ok but I think others might have a better way. As you can imagine with a ton of store items (currently over 600 items, was as high as 700 items) and plans to have over a thousand in there in October I need a no fail system to find the items once sold.
I have read that some of you put them directly into priority mail envelopes with the ebay item number and fiel them that way - problem I see with that is I don't CURRENTLY know the ebay item number at the time I write the ad and put the items into the bins. So that would mean addign another step to go back after they have listed, pack them, record the number but not seal them since I have my accounting set up that I don't record cost of the item until it is sold and paid for I don't remove the price tag til shipping time. Besides, I often sell more then one item to a person at a time so I would end up with lots of used priority mail envelopes with item numbers on them just sitting here. I hate to waste them like that.
So, I am wondering what others do?
HOW do you store your store items and find them once they are sold?
posted on March 19, 2005 03:36:58 PM new
Some people assign each item a number, and include the number in the auction description, as well as attached to the item.
posted on March 19, 2005 03:51:40 PM new
It kind of depends on whether you have multiples of the same item and the size of them.
If you have individual items you can assign a code to each one a001,a002, a003, etc. As you write up the description, put the next number in the series at the end of the title then place the item in a large bin labeled "A". When the bin is filled, start over with bin "b" and b101, b102, etc.
If your inventory is items that you constantly stock and have quntities of you can use containers labeled with the same title or again use a code. For storing them you can use the stackable part storage bins.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on March 19, 2005 04:05:44 PM new
You might try changing the ending digit of the price to key you in to where they might be stored..ie items ending in a "2" are in the 2 bin, "3" in the 3 bin etc - that way you can tell at a glance when you process the payment where to find the item.
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"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on March 19, 2005 04:12:06 PM new
I assign a number to the item when I take the photo. I label the photo with that number and then put it in the priority envelope with that number. I file the envelopes numberically in bins and put them on a shelf. When the item sells I right click the photo to see the item number and then pull it from my shelves.
Life has been so much easier since I implemented this system.
posted on March 19, 2005 08:02:05 PM new
Neglus,
Thanks for the great idea. BTW - I looked at your store today (it's been awhile) & I love your Power Search page. May I ask, how did you do that?
Thanks.
[ edited by local on Mar 19, 2005 08:02 PM ]
posted on March 20, 2005 02:34:14 AM new
Currently I have 20 gorilla shelves unit to hold a portion of my stuff.
The problem is not the UNLISTED inventory .. it's what is already in the store.
I have one shelve unit that has auction stuff. Each been is labeled with the ending date. Everything that is sold on any given day is the removed and placed onto another shelve unit "waiting for payment". What is left is the relisted on relist day (I have one day that is nothing but relisted items, that way I know it is the second listing). This works great for my auction stuff.
The BIGGEST problem I have is store stuff!
I have 4 shelve units that hold 15 bins each for stuff in my store That's 60 bins of just my "guy" stuff. These bins are by listing date ... but STORE ITEMS don't show you the listing date. So I have to then go to a different area of ebay ... the the OLD items sold by seller list with completed items (I see they have changed it recently) to see this date to find out what bin it is in. At the time the item goes in the bin ... I don't have an ebay item number, sometimes it is days later before it actual gets listed ... but I know what date I am starting it on.
Now here is the biggest part of the problem ... some items where listed at 30 days, some at 60 days and some at 90 days (because I was moving I did not list past May). SO now, I have stuff in say the 1/1/05 BIN that closed and remains unsold and other stuff in that same bin that is still listed on ebay. This is where my confusion is coming into the picture. Without taking time to look in 2 different places on ebay ... the unsold items page and the OLD items sold by seller list with completed items IT is almost impossible to figure out what is happening with each item. And to make matters worse there is not computer in the area that has these shelve units so I am constantly running from one room to the other hoping to remember which plaid shirt exactly it is I am looking for. I thought about printing them off but all the ink will get very costly!
I normally do not pull sold item out of the store bins until payment is received. I got to change that part too! Because what happens if I don't pull it when sold is I forget to relist it or put it back into the store after non payment & FVF is filed.
posted on March 20, 2005 05:28:25 AM new
With my jewelry items, it's easy. I have a peg board in the store room and I hang them according to listed date on the board in rows - those ending soonest to those ending latest. To hand jewelry not carded, I put it into a plastic bag and hole punch the top. I can reuse that bag over and over. When one has a bid, I place it in a clear bin. I don't prepackage my items because I offer both priortiy and first class on those items. Right now, I don't really have a system for the handbags. I may buy another peg board for those as well. I only list about 50-70 items per week so this system works for me. Most of my handbags are heavy and can go in a flat rate box so I may start boxing them and storing them that way. Right now, my storage room is a mess and since it's unheated I've decided to wait for warmer weather to clean it up. Could take days!
posted on March 20, 2005 06:05:11 AM new
Local - thanks for the compliment on my "Power Search" page. My sister designed it for me. She has just started selling on ebay but her first love is web design/art. She did a great job!
**********************************
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on March 20, 2005 07:49:47 AM new
All my dogs come pre-packaged. I have them on a peg board arranged by breed. The bigger boxed ones are on selves by breed.
For my pins, I bought some of those metal boxes with around 48 small drawers used to store nut and bolts and labeled each drawer alphabetically by pin name. I buy and sell these in bulk, so I also got some clear storage boxes and labeled them for the packages.
Cheryl
For your handbags, you should check at some department or discount stores. They are always disposing of racks and shelves. You may find one made for hanging handbags for very little or nothing at all. That's how I got all my shelving. Grocery stores are a very good source.
" Never mind looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. Run down the tunnel, and light the bloody thing yourself"!!
posted on March 20, 2005 08:42:38 AM new
Hello,
What you all are talking about here is the most important part of selling on Ebay and will get you in trouble faster with sloppy stock management, resulting in lost sold lots or switched lots which is worse. a good inventory management system is a must.
However a specific recommendation depends on many variables that are not all the same with each seller, such as lot size, frailness, available storgage space and quantity of inventory.
Whatever system you use absolute control is rule one. If you are big enough, inventory wise, go look at a store such as Radio Shack and study how they do it. Usually the best way is to assign a SKU Number which is just numbers and letters that help with location and picture ID etc as others have pointed out. Insure this SKU number is with each listing on Ebay and on the item.
Don't forget to do a wall to wall inventory two to four times a year.
Again control is the key.If your system has control and flows so you can find items with ease, you have a good system no matter what it is.
Kind regards,
David,
posted on March 20, 2005 08:42:48 AM new
Cheryl - Gt is right, another source may be to look for a used store fixture outlet in your area.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on March 20, 2005 10:34:11 AM new
When new inventory comes in,I sling it in the ole' E-Bay pit. I use the seek and ye shall find method. If you seek long enough and hard enough...you'll find it.
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on March 20, 2005 01:09:22 PM new
One of the things that has helped me is to print out the invoice immediately (or within a day) after a group of auctions end. Then keep these together on a clipboard, so that I know what is going out. As I get paid for that batch, I ship the item. Having the invoices in front of me reminds me when I get a slow pay or have to quote shipping for a TBD. Among other things the invoices are dated so one knows when an item has been sitting around, waiting to be shipped. Printed out 24 invoices this morning and wrapped about 2/3 of them already for shipment in the morning. Might now help with PREsale inventory, but sure does make POST sale easier.
posted on March 21, 2005 06:23:04 AM new
Currently my store has only about 200 items but my store room has more like 500+ working on relisting and changing to store format this week... anyways I never have 2 of the same thing. I use 2 cd shelving units they have very small shelves. That way I can line up teacups and small items in a row, Seek and find. Big Metal Shelving racks for other larger things like vintage cameras, books, Old jars, postcards & ads, ornaments etc basically just get grouped by like items. Occasionally I'll have to pull up the picture from the auction to remind me which florida postcard that was But otherwise I'm a seek and find but organized so atleast I know what area to look into.
BTW ~ Ack if I had everything packed and ready to go in Priority boxes 1. I'd be constantly opening everything (whoo hoo Christmas) or 2. The minute I package in Priority, it's an international sale.
Just gotta find what works for you
Good luck Angela
