eBay

pierrelebel · ‎10-26-2015

Earlier today I advised my kids of the decision to finally close my eBay store before the end of November.

Different reactions.

My daughter: "What will you do then?"

My son: "What happens to your inventory?"

higgswtop12 · ‎10-26-2015

...both legitimate questions!

triber · ‎10-26-2015

I hope you will remain being helpful on this board Pierre!

vintagenorth · ‎10-26-2015

Yes, as triber said! Don't leave us Pierre!

fatdane · ‎10-26-2015

My wife's thoughts on my stamp stock - please get it sold before you die. She isn't a stamp person so it will probably be funeral at 10AM, auction at 2 PM.

pierrelebel · ‎10-26-2015

"please get it sold before you die."

Mary said exactly the same thing last Spring after we pack everything in Belleville to move it to Napanee.

I had some negotiation with a few dealers to buy large portions of the inventory but, unfortunately, nothing came out of it.

mr.elmwood · ‎10-26-2015

@pierrelebel wrote:
Earlier today I advised my kids of the decision to finally close my eBay store before the end of November.

Different reactions.

My daughter: "What will you do then?"

My son: "What happens to your inventory?"

My daughter: "What will you do then?" Means: "You're not planning on being a burden on me for entertainment are you?"

My son: "What happens to your inventory?" Means "May I have all the good stuff?"

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gifts_of_elegance · ‎10-27-2015

Hi Pierre,

I am about the same age as you. Right now I am trying to figure out how to raise enough money to buy out my supplier's Christian Dior inventory because he is closing up in February. Do I need it? NO!!!!!!!!! I have more than I will be able to sell in my lifetime. But if I stop growing my business, it will be admission that the end is getting near. I can't do that.

I remember when I had my major burn out and had to stop selling real estate. I cross-stitched day and night to keep busy, to have a "goal". Every night when it was getting dark, I got very depressed because I felt that I have not accomplished anything and did not have a goal for the next day. I went deeper and deeper into depression.

Then came the internet, kept me interested, but when I sold my first item, I was hooked because I had accomplished something. I knew then that I could never again do without that "sense of accomplishment."

I have a beautiful family, grand children and a devoted husband of 50 years. I don't ignore them, I spend time with them and enjoy it but I am not dependent on them for companionship. My body is getting weaker but my mind is keeping sharp.

I set my own hours. I close up 3-4 times a year and my husband and I go on vacation. We go for 2 weeks to 6 weeks at a time. I don't take a computer or a cell phone. We have been in places I never imagined we would see. I don't think about business while I am gone but I come back refreshed mentally (and usually in a wheel chair).

We are spending our kids' inheritance but we will leave them all the inventory we didn't sell. Its up to them what they will do with it.

reallynicestamps · ‎10-27-2015

so it will probably be funeral at 10AM, auction at 2 PM.

Yep, that's my plan. Since we are both from long-lived families, sometime in 2039.

Meanwhile, Ian has Danny Cantor's Small Queens up on Sparks Auctions (and Stamp Auction Network). Agents welcome.

zee-chan-jpn-books · ‎10-27-2015

Please excuse me while this snotty brat (me) pops in this thread to remind myself how young I'm, and how I still have mortgage that will take me 25 years to pay off...... and oh did I ever mention that I have been single ever since I was born?

Retirement just seems so, so far right now. I wonder if the pension system still works as it should a few decades later?

[/end random rant]

fatdane · ‎10-27-2015

I hope to retire a day or two before they fire up the crematorium to handle whats left of my carcass. I recently had some fairly heavy duty surgery. Obviously while I was in hospital I had to put things on vacation, but as soon as I was home I was back in business. Working with stamps and filling orders gave me something to look forward to each day, and was better, in my opinion, than looking at the mindless garbage that is called daytime television. My daughters are aware that when the time comes for me to shuffle off to eternity that they will have a basement full of stamps to look after. They have been told who to deal with, and who not to deal with, in disposing of things.

If I were selling "heavy" goods I would probably have to consider getting rid of my inventory - one reason I stay mainly with stamps and a few postcards.

I also predict that Pierre will remain active in some form until death or dementia happens, and hopefully that's will be sometime a looong time from now.

rose-dee · ‎10-27-2015

@zee-chan-jpn-books wrote:
Please excuse me while this snotty brat (me) pops in this thread to remind myself how young I'm, and how I still have mortgage that will take me 25 years to pay off...... and oh did I ever mention that I have been single ever since I was born?

Retirement just seems so, so far right now. I wonder if the pension system still works as it should a few decades later?

Trust me (us), those 25 years will fly by and when retirement is on the horizon you'll wonder how you got there so shockingly soon.

Since you're young, I want to pay forward a little gem of advice that someone gave to me when I was about 28 years old and having a great time earning a decent salary: "Be sure to send that old lady [she was referring to myself in the future] some money". It was a wise reminder I never forgot.

Start a deep, untouchable, secure savings account early (probably preferably RRSP, to save on taxes) and keep it up - no matter what. Even $50 a month can add up to a surprisingly large figure by the time you're 60. Don't worry about making a killing in interest or profit on that money, just let it sit there quietly and allow the interest to compound for decades until you need it. Use your "mad money" for flightier, riskier investments.

And invest in yourself and your capabilities, which I'm sure you're doing if you're here.

[End of older person's advice]

pierrelebel · ‎10-27-2015

"...predict that Pierre will remain active in some form... "

I hope you are right but, quite frankly, I do not expect so.

The worst thing that could happen to a stamp dealer is the loss of eyesight and, following my recent annual checkup with the eye doctor and following several extensive tests, it appears the nerve damage to my right eye is not repairable. As you may know, I have been diabetic for about twenty-five years (the last fifteen as insulin dependent) and expected that problem to eventually occur.

Like you, Mary has been told who to deal with, and who not to deal with, in disposing of the inventory but I would rather make it easier for her and do it myself. It should keep me busy for quite a while.

dutchman48 · ‎10-27-2015

Hi Pierre

So sorry to hear about your vision problems. Hopefully it will take a very long time for it to become serious.

John

pjcdn2005 · ‎10-28-2015

I am sorry to hear about your eye damage as well. Despite that, I do hope that you will be able to do much relaxing and spend more quality time with your family. You will be missed here.