Random Musings and Critiques Etc.

[RobLocke]

Seriously, @RobLocke isn't it time you did a "Random Musings, Unlocked" *podcast* as they seem to be all the rage these days?

I saw some of the YouTube channel highlights of Unlocked video and this might convert to be an audio podcast I'd actually listen to! (I'm not a big podcast talk fan, they intro and ramble and take ages to get to the point).

Not your thing or too busy with ShoponTV in front & behind the cameras and other work?

Yeah, I really should get a podcast up and running. It's been on my mind for a long time and I've got all the gear to do it. It's just a question of time. I'm literally tied up every waking hour, seven days-a-week, with SOTV. If/when I ever get my life back (or a portion of it), a podcast will shortly follow.

The reason we did UNLOCKED live was because I've always loved interacting with the audience. There are so many funny and interesting characters 'out there', whom I really enjoy talking to. Honestly, give me an hour of airtime and a bunch of cool people to interact with, and I'm a happy bunny. The day will come, and I'll probably do video podcast so you can watch it OR just listen to it. Easily done with the publishing services these days.

 

[PhædrusR]

... I'm literally tied up every waking hour, seven days-a-week, with SOTV. If/when I ever get my life back ...

Your bondage proclivities are your own concern!

Busy since April, as far as I can tell!

Happened to catch a few minutes of you selling a stick blender last night (ok, 'handheld food processor').
Still can't fathom the prices on these and Bamix, similarly.

Nice apron, btw.

The reason we did UNLOCKED live was because I've always loved interacting with the audience. There are so many funny and interesting characters 'out there', whom I really enjoy talking to. Honestly, give me an hour of airtime and a bunch of cool people to interact with, and I'm a happy bunny. The day will come, and I'll probably do video podcast so you can watch it OR just listen to it. Easily done with the publishing services these days.

Maybe you could do an episode with us TV shopping nutters.

 

[PhædrusR]

Fyi, Mark Ryes in an apron on Shop on TV (Fri 1-3am) doing Piranha kitchen gadget cooking prep demos, alongside Rob Locke.

 

[Duke of Cheese]

He was probably better sticking with Ideal World.

 

[Duke of Cheese]

Got back home from a long drive in the early hours this morning and relaxing before bed, saw some of Shop on TV. I’ve not watched it for ages and certainly not live. They featured Vintage Cash Cow. They had the guy who runs it as a guest and then one of the former dealers from Dickinson’s Real Deal, David Hakeney…This was essentially an external promotion for the company which makes its money on buying boxes of things like cameras, jewellery, toys etc.. no doubt hoping that each box contains one or two hidden gems along with the run-of-the-mill stuff that they have to deal with .There was an apparent £25 ‘extra’ money paid per bought box of goods by quoting a Shop on TV code. Other than that…that was the end of their direct involvement.

I have been on eBay for 24 years, and I am confident and experienced in both buying selling on there. There is no way that I would put a box of, say, collectible 1970s’ toy cars in the post, and send them to this company, and then get what is by design a low job lot type offer. Job lots are where the buyer makes their money, and the seller accepts the fact that by selling everything lock stock and barrel, they’re going to get at times a derisory amount in relation to what they are selling. As the owner regularly repeated, when he was on last night – selling to us in a big box cuts out all the hassle of you trying to sell things individually, with him expanding on all the other ‘horrendous’ pitfalls like having to actually do some hard work to sell as a reason to let THEM make the profits you should be making by selling individually.

Obviously their business model works best with a certain sort of seller. I imagine the profile, going by the advertising, is older not very Net savvie people wanting to get a little bit of pin money for their grandchildren – that kind of thing. And not wanting the hassle of having to deal with individual purchasers like you would have to do if you wanted to sell your valuables off one by one for best price. Vintage Cash Cow ‘helps them out’ and then helps themselves to the difference in what they pay to what they get when they sell the stuff on. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but as I have said, I certainly wouldn’t want to go down that route of selling to them. Call me cynical but with the £25 incentive being offered last night – all I can see is their offer for your box of things being reduced accordingly…

 

[PhædrusR]

Got back home from a long drive in the early hours this morning and relaxing before bed, saw some of Shop on TV. I’ve not watched it for ages and certainly not live. They featured Vintage Cash Cow. They had the guy who runs it as a guest and then one of the former dealers from Dickinson’s Real Deal, David Hakeney…This was essentially an external promotion for the company which makes its money on buying boxes of things like cameras, jewellery, toys etc.. no doubt hoping that each box contains one or two hidden gems along with the run-of-the-mill stuff that they have to deal with .There was an apparent £25 ‘extra’ money paid per bought box of goods by quoting a Shop on TV code. Other than that…that was the end of their direct involvement.

I have been on eBay for 24 years, and I am confident and experienced in both buying selling on there. There is no way that I would put a box of, say, collectible 1970s’ toy cars in the post, and send them to this company, and then get what is by design a low job lot type offer. Job lots are where the buyer makes their money, and the seller accepts the fact that by selling everything lock stock and barrel, they’re going to get at times a derisory amount in relation to what they are selling. As the owner regularly repeated, when he was on last night – selling to us in a big box cuts out all the hassle of you trying to sell things individually, with him expanding on all the other ‘horrendous’ pitfalls like having to actually do some hard work to sell as a reason to let THEM make the profits you should be making by selling individually.

Obviously their business model works best with a certain sort of seller. I imagine the profile, going by the advertising, is older not very Net savvie people wanting to get a little bit of pin money for their grandchildren – that kind of thing. And not wanting the hassle of having to deal with individual purchasers like you would have to do if you wanted to sell your valuables off one by one for best price. Vintage Cash Cow ‘helps them out’ and then helps themselves to the difference in what they pay to what they get when they sell the stuff on. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but as I have said, I certainly wouldn’t want to go down that route of selling to them. Call me cynical but with the £25 incentive being offered last night – all I can see is their offer for your box of things being reduced accordingly…

Looked at that Vintage Cash Cow (same blue colours as Discount Dragon, not the same people is it?) and thought might be useful in future for a bulk house clearance, more to get rid of stuff than wanting top cash for it.

I've been buying things off eBay for about 5 years, bidding/offering, bargaining, and buy now, from individuals and companies. I think I'm a pretty good negotiator at making an offer and getting a better deal than that being offered initially.

Anyway, have been thinking of becoming an eBay seller of stuff I've accumulated, some resell of bits from old IW and TJC too. With the recent announcement of no seller fees for personal sellers, I'm thinking of dipping my toe in the water. Any tips?

Tbh, my main concern is around packaging and post costs and getting home collection rather than traipsing off to a post office/drop off point all the time, so the currently free RM collection and label printing option appeals.

 

[Duke of Cheese]

Set your buyer levels. I've not looked recently, but from memory I've set them to nobody with zero feedback and nobody with any negative feedback. I've also selected that I won't take bids from outside the United Kingdom. That has protected me over quite a number of sales, I think. There are a lot of people there who will muck you about, and one way of filter them out is to go for the better type of buyer. I've been lucky. But sometimes you make your own luck. I've been on eBay since 2000 and have maintained 100% feedback throughout. You don't do that by accident. I take a pride, particularly in selling items, and I'm also a very quick payer. Being like that endears you to both buyers and sellers. Though, essentially, it hasn't prevented me from dealing with the odd tw..once in a while. Difficult and rude people unwilling to help when there's been a problem as sellers. Always from the United States of America, funnily enough.

On posting things, I’m probably my own worst enemy but I always take the item to the post office and ensure that it is logged in and sent. For most items I will always use Royal Special Delivery, and at my total cost if it has to be that way. I wouldn’t use another courier service. even if I could get one cheaper. I just stand any excess postage costs if needed from the sale item price. May look stupid, but it’s always worked for me.

 

[PhædrusR]

Set your buyer levels. I've not looked recently, but from memory I've set them to nobody with zero feedback and nobody with any negative feedback. I've also selected that I won't take bids from outside the United Kingdom. That has protected me over quite a number of sales, I think. There are a lot of people there who will muck you about, and one way of filter them out is to go for the better type of buyer. I've been lucky. But sometimes you make your own luck. I've been on eBay since 2000 and have maintained 100% feedback throughout. You don't do that by accident. I take a pride, particularly in selling items, and I'm also a very quick payer. Being like that endears you to both buyers and sellers. Though, essentially, it hasn't prevented me from dealing with the odd tw..once in a while. Difficult and rude people unwilling to help when there's been a problem as sellers. Always from the United States of America, funnily enough.

On posting things, I’m probably my own worst enemy but I always take the item to the post office and ensure that it is logged in and sent. For most items I will always use Royal Special Delivery, and at my total cost if it has to be that way. I wouldn’t use another courier service. even if I could get one cheaper. I just stand any excess postage costs if needed from the sale item price. May look stupid, but it’s always worked for me.

Thanks for all that @Duke of Cheese , very helpful, ta.

Presumably you're selling more valuable things requiring Special Delivery signature proof of receipt.

RM 2nd class even pays loss compensation up to £20 I think. Used it to return a £20 item to TJC. Cheaper than their Tracked 48 £3.99 label.

With other things, I've used Tracked48 (TkMaxx return). For parcels, there really is more than 1st/2nd class specifically now, more choice.

Apart from Amazon (who I boycott) delivery people, who can't read, nor find location and leave things under fences when it would fit through letterbox, all the other courier firms round here are very good, Evri, Yodel, DPD, UPS, TNT, etc.
I'd use whichever is best values/timely, provided I can print labels.
I like the USP of RM 2nd/1st/tracked 24/48 and free home pickup and they bring the label. Think they should advertise this more, very good service offering. Even if they do use Amazon AWS for their online purchase and Tracking site.

 

[Duke of Cheese]

UPS left a £3000 Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar outside my front door on the pavement virtually and walked off. Luckily I got home at the same time.

I have never sold anything much under £100 on there - hence using Royal Mail SD…

 

[PhædrusR]

UPS left a £3000 Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar outside my front door on the pavement virtually and walked off. Luckily I got home at the same time.

I have never sold anything much under £100 on there - hence using Royal Mail SD…

Yeah, admittedly some of them leave at door, some without even knocking and first I know is the email/text saying it's been delivered, if I haven't heard them. Fortunately we're pretty secluded so not a problem.

 

[cheeky chappie]

Got back home from a long drive in the early hours this morning and relaxing before bed, saw some of Shop on TV. I’ve not watched it for ages and certainly not live. They featured Vintage Cash Cow. They had the guy who runs it as a guest and then one of the former dealers from Dickinson’s Real Deal, David Hakeney…This was essentially an external promotion for the company which makes its money on buying boxes of things like cameras, jewellery, toys etc.. no doubt hoping that each box contains one or two hidden gems along with the run-of-the-mill stuff that they have to deal with .There was an apparent £25 ‘extra’ money paid per bought box of goods by quoting a Shop on TV code. Other than that…that was the end of their direct involvement.

I have been on eBay for 24 years, and I am confident and experienced in both buying selling on there. There is no way that I would put a box of, say, collectible 1970s’ toy cars in the post, and send them to this company, and then get what is by design a low job lot type offer. Job lots are where the buyer makes their money, and the seller accepts the fact that by selling everything lock stock and barrel, they’re going to get at times a derisory amount in relation to what they are selling. As the owner regularly repeated, when he was on last night – selling to us in a big box cuts out all the hassle of you trying to sell things individually, with him expanding on all the other ‘horrendous’ pitfalls like having to actually do some hard work to sell as a reason to let THEM make the profits you should be making by selling individually.

Obviously their business model works best with a certain sort of seller. I imagine the profile, going by the advertising, is older not very Net savvie people wanting to get a little bit of pin money for their grandchildren – that kind of thing. And not wanting the hassle of having to deal with individual purchasers like you would have to do if you wanted to sell your valuables off one by one for best price. Vintage Cash Cow ‘helps them out’ and then helps themselves to the difference in what they pay to what they get when they sell the stuff on. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but as I have said, I certainly wouldn’t want to go down that route of selling to them. Call me cynical but with the £25 incentive being offered last night – all I can see is their offer for your box of things being reduced accordingly…

I wonder how honest they would be with a customer if something they sent in was extremely valuable. e.g. customer sends in a mixed box of jewelry from a deceased relative and it's worth an offer of let's say £1000. Except for one item, a ring that any honest reseller would offer £10,000 for.

The cynic in me does wonder if the customer would be advised accordingly, or if they would just be offered the £1000 with the company keeping their fingers crossed ...

 

[Duke of Cheese]

I sold a job lot of Timpo Toys (remember them?) about fifteen years ago now. Cowboys and Indians and horses mainly. About fifty figures in total. I sold them on eBay. The bids got to £170. I was delighted as I thought that was a reasonable return for what I was selling. Later, delving in to Timpo values more in depth, I discovered one particular figure in the lot (a cowboy with a rare clothing colours combination) was valued around £170 on its own!!! What I got for the entire lot. Clearly, the buyer (a regular purchaser of Timpo) had spotted the figure and bid accordingly. Essentially, they got the rest of the lot for ‘free’. In the same position I’m sure I would have done the same, as would many others, probably. It’s the same at car boot sales, with people scouting around for unspotted valuable items, and then paying pennies for them. It used to be the case also that you could go round charity shops back in the late 90s early 2000s and find collectible items the shop staff had no idea about on value. Not any more, you can’t. They are completely clued up now and have people employed centrally to value incoming stock. Hence, going back to Vintage Cash Cow and their business modus operandi…They are focusing on a clueless market, prepared to include, through ignorance, that super rare item in a low worth box of accompanying goods. No way would they alert the sender - in my opinion, at least. As I and many others wouldn’t if we found a genuine 1933 penny, say, on a decorating table in a field on a Sunday.

 

[Dr Quincy MkII]

They had Paul Brodel on last night doing live demos with a microwave toastie maker. It is what it is but the food looked edible and he was competent in using it. The presenters sampled the food and sold the product without much BS. It really isn't hard to do.

 

[Wanderer]

They had Paul Brodel on last night doing live demos with a microwave toastie maker. It is what it is but the food looked edible and he was competent in using it. The presenters sampled the food and sold the product without much BS. It really isn't hard to do.

I saw that and thought I must be hallucinating or something.....

 

[PhædrusR]

They had Paul Brodel on last night doing live demos with a microwave toastie maker. It is what it is but the food looked edible and he was competent in using it. The presenters sampled the food and sold the product without much BS. It really isn't hard to do.

Saw that. Small square plates. Main problem was the price, £25 + p&p (£3 or £4).

Got the bigger TJC/(IW) homesmart larger grill plates for just over £10 (discount codes!) with free p&p!

Homesmart Microwave Long Grill - Black & Red - 7265495 - TJC

Homesmart Microwave Long Grill - Black & Red - 7265495 - TJC

www.tjc.co.uk

And did burger, buns, etc. on them other night as a test, really good, bun and burger griddle char marks, cooked, caramelised, perfect!

Microwave grilling is now officially a thing and approved by me!

 

[Dr Quincy MkII]

I spotted Charlie thingymajig from Create and Craft presenting with the drones last night. I'm glad he's still being employed as I have always found him a decent presenter. Grounded in reality and not hyperbolic