I have an organization similar to yours: I use a shelf numbering system and there *may* be bins on a shelf (as with your dog clothes) but mostly the items live in trays on the shelves so I can walk up and see the item I'm looking for. I also have some different "things" that are used for storage like a unit with the 12x12x12 cloth bins that holds very small-smalls, like small toys on a card. I keep those in the smaller bins because it reduces the amount of shuffling through the contents to find an item. Spreading like items across multiples of those drawers helps too, so not all the die cast cars end up in one drawer, etc. Again, less fidgeting through to find the one that sold. I have an antique glass fronted display cabinet for the $$ small items because my first thought when it sells would be: look in the safest place possible! The best place I've found for bins is heavy items like a full set of the same pattern of china, or LP records, which also weigh down the shelves by being on the bottom shelf. Otherwise bins are an easy(?) way to store the Death Pile off-season so that when I need to work on that, I pull out a single bin, list everything in it, put that in the empty bin pile for later use. Doing so puts the kybosh on digging through the death pile and nitpicking what is to be listed: you pick up a box, you list whatever is in it, and you keep moving. (Worth noting here that there's a mix of items in each of those bins, so I'm not stuck in Book Land or CD Land until I can't stand to look at them any more. The goal is to get everything listed, keep moving, and list them in a profitable manner that's going to help drive traffic to the store.

Thank you for answering. My bin system is: Shelf A; Bin AA. These are most new smaller items. Clothing, stored pre-packaged in clear poly bags in 10” x 10” x 24” cardboard boxes; labeled numerically.

My place looks just like yours. I've always fretted that maybe I should be using bins like so many do. I'm glad to hear your rationale. I love that I can find my stuff so easily. And I am able to make use of every inch of space - with all the different item sizes I can fit things together very efficiently. Of course, there are bins and boxes on my shelves too, but only when it makes sense for the items, like you noted. It's a relief to believe I'm not just "messy". Honestly, I came by this method organically over the years, as it worked best for me. Thanks!

My situation is a little different. My store is small (26 bins) so misplacing an item isn't too bad, I've only had to search them all twice. My biggest problem is I have 2 dogs...hair everywhere. So all my items have to have bins with lids.

Lonnie as usual you are spot on with your opinion... SKU systems should be based on the inventory Type.... bagged clothing should go in bins...vid games should be in shelving units... As for shipping discounts..we cannot choose where people live...making "Shipping On Top" work...means giving the customers the best deal possible on shipping...just my thoughts...course I been following your model since I began my journey...in early 2018...👍👍👍👍😎

As far as storing my items, I use a combination of bins and no bins. First, I use clear bins. Second, I like to keep like items together. Clothing goes in bags, has individual item numbers, and goes in bins. I sell different craft products. I use bins for those. One bin is craft kits and one bin is other craft items. I put Video Games, DVDs, CDs, and other media in a bin. I definitely keep Plush in bins. Purses and bags go in a bin. Things that are bigger or don't make sense to put in a bin go on the shelf, like board games or dishes. I also have small drawer bins on shelves for small items such as keychains or jewelry. My inventory system is always a work in progress. I've been selling for 21+ years and every year I make changes in how my inventory is stored. For example, if I need to buy more shelving for whatever reason, I will only buy the chrome shelves on wheels. They are super easy to put together and I can move them around without unloading them. Some items I give individual item numbers to, such as clothing, plush, yarn, things I have multiples of that may be in different conditions, etc. Not everything gets an item number though. I have also found that painter's tape (I use Frog Tape) is the best to label things because it comes off clean. When I ship something out, I don't want my item number info on the product. The important thing is to find a system that works for you. I use the clear bins because I want to be able to see what is in the bin. I had a bins that were not clear and it irritated me. But others like the bins all one color to make it look pleasing to the eye. Another consideration of whether you use bins or not is WHERE you store your items. I live in the Midwest with fields and woods and a lake so there are always concerns about mice. We don't have a problem, but I never want to find a problem after I sell the item. Do you store your items in your home or climate controlled space? If you just have it out in your shed, is your shed secure from pests. Do you have a humidity issue? If so, storing in plastic bags or tubs may not be the answer because of condensation. There really needs to be a lot of thought that goes into how you store your items before you spend a bunch of money on something that may or may not work in your situation.

The 2xl robot was my favorite childhood toy.😊

It's 2023, you can have your own cosmetics brush, we won't judge 😊

We use more Bins than you do, Lonnie, but mostly because we carry even more small items than you do. When we relocated last year, It was a Lifesaver--we literally loaded the boxes onto the Truck and were able to unload and go right back into production the next day, keeping the same Bin Numbers as locations. There are large items in our inventory that are not in Bins. Overall, I like your process, and occasionally adopt some of your methods. Great Video!

I use Bins & Shelves both. Works for me. Love that your beautiful nutcrackers are moving.

No inventory system. I just store similar items together. CDs, records, jeans, hats by sport, nascar, transformers, tmnt, sporting goods(gloves and reels, then in a corner I have bats and clubs), kitchen ware, small electronics, large electronics, jackets, cameras, plush, shoes, baseball cards, comics/magazines, books, womens clothes, video games by system, toner, faucets, etc. I have a bin with pins, jewelry, patches. Everything is narrowed down into maybe 100 different categories. Been doing this 15 years and I have about 1700 items listed currently. It can take me a little while to dig for an action figure or a shirt since I have like 5 bins of action figures and 5 bins of clothing, but I don't have to keep track of where I'm putting each item when I create listings, I just remember where things are or know where to look.

I use large lateral file cabinets i buy used $75 each. 1 cabinet is same as 5 large tubs. the best of both worlds. easy to find stuff. protects, no wasted space, and you can put anything on top of them, heavy, bulky, or shelves.

I have been doing it like you for years, and for me and my situation it's ultimately been more of a hassle than a help. I've been moving to a mostly bin system for the very reasons you mentioned. Cleaner look, dust, and it allows more things to be stacked and stored in more efficient ways in my space. I have bins, drawers, cabinets, shelves. So it's a mix and everything has a bin number/name/letter so I know exactly where it is when it sells.

I don't have a shed yet. Storing inventory in the hallways of my house. So for my set up, bins are a must. I do have some items that I have on book shelves but I would say 95% of my inventory is in bins.

I store in clear bins by type (ceramic vs glass vs metal vs wood etc) in my shed. I do wrap in one layer of bubble before I store in the bins. We live in earthquake land so all open on shelves would not be I good idea. I keep a piece of paper taped to front of bin with a list of what is in it. Add new to bottom of list and cross off as I remove. Low tech but works for me. Have had to do a search about once every 6 months but search is limited to bins with that type of item. I keep all clothing, plush, games, ephemera, tiniest and most valuable in my eBay room inside the house.

Tissue and hand sanitiser makes excellent dry wipe erase.

I use bins for my inventory. It is to protect them from dirt and dust and organizes them nicely. Most of the items are media or video games so they stack very well in a bin adn fairly easy to pull them when an item sells

I used to use bins with clothes. Got to be too much so I went to Walmart and bought 5 clothes racks for less than $10 each. They have been great. Saves room and I am quicker finding shirts I sold

oh yeah the bushwackers...i only remember their arm movements and the name as they enter the wrestling ring hahaha i was young but that's all I understood at the time

Listing & pulling by yourself? Just like old times. But it IS nice when Candace is there too.

Can’t change your mind it’s what works best for you. Others may have a way that works for them. Either way it’s what makes you efficient.

I use several different ways for inventory storage. I do use bins for clothing, fabric, plush ...mainly unbreakable items. For my books, I have several bookshelves in my home that have code names...lol...where I store books and sometimes decorative items. I also have curio cabinets that hold my small breakables...lastly, I have a chest of drawers that I store jewelry, belt buckles, ornaments, things that I consider smalls, that are too small or fragile to sit on a shelf to be decorative. I don't have the luxury of your wonderful shed, so I just decorate with many of my listings and my decor changes on a regular basis. Works for me!

I sure love watching your videos but miss Candice she really completes you and you complete her glad she got to travel with her mom and daughter

I agree with refunding with multiple orders to same person. Also I use bins for items like plush or hats, clothing. All collectables are on shelves like you do in your shed.

Bin Vs Open Storage: Personally, I use a mix, depending on the items to be stored. Like you, I pick up stock, when I source it and bring it back and bin it, until its turn to to be listed. I often take the bins with me on the pick-up, since it makes bringing back the bulk easier. Once listed, I decide based on the item, where and how it's to be stored, since I sell a very wide range of items they need a variety of storage solutions. Bins have all the issues you mentioned (neg & positive). Since I live in the Pacific Northwest, humidity during the rainy season can be an issue and we often have days in the transitional months that can have a 30-40 temp swing. Also, I have a few buildings I store in. Some are heated, some are not, so items like hardware and tools are done differently then media and soft goods. I use a 4 digit numbered bin system, for those items I bin. Part of the number tells me the Item Type, so if the listing lacks a SKU (or has a bad number), I have fewer locations/bins to search in for the "lost" item. I generally store large and pre-packaged NOS items loose on the shelf (no bin), since they are easier to dust off, if need be. I generally store soft goods (T-shirts, jeans, ball caps, Stuffed Animals) in bins, to keep the dust off. I cringe when i see Content Creators who use bins "Tumble" their items together while pulling, knowing that items and packaging are being roughed up. This is especially true of Collectibles with Clam/Blister Packs, when they store them with heavy items like tools and car parts. I try to store like items together and use different bins and boxes based on item and size. I like little bins (shoe box size) for little items. I store 8x10 photos in hanging file folders. This type of varied storage system does mean a mis-match of bin/box types on the shelf, so it is less ascetically appealing to look at, but easier on the stock. For items like coffee cups, I use stacking bins 1 cup high and use foam or scrap cardboard to separate them. For coins, tokens, individual trading cards and similar small items, I use snail mail envelopes stood on end, in a small box that holds a few dozen. I can flip through them like a Comic Box. For small tools, hardware and spare parts, I use Copy Paper Boxes to keep the weight limit to a minimum. Media is kept in Copy Paper boxes, in heated storage. Framed Art is stored stood up on a shelf or closet, rather then being stacked. Winter Coats are in a Closet, since they fill bins too fast. Items that are really susceptible to damage might get "Pre-packed" before shelving or left out on view in the house to enjoy while waiting for it to sell. If all my spaces were climate controlled and dust free, I would use more open storage, sizing the shelf height/area to the item type to be stored, but as with most sellers, the type and variety of items sourced is constantly changing and I don't like to spend time constantly modifying my storage system more then I have to. Great topic.

I think it depends on what you sell. I use both methods since most of my items are media they go in totes. I currently have 120 small totes with listed inventory in them. Breakables and larger items are on shelves.

I use bins and shelves. There are different types of items and each one sometimes need to be stored differently. I have my inventory SKU's Listed by Location, Shelf Unit, Actual Shelf, and then Bin # or type of packaging it is in. Works for me! Example: S2A1 (Shed, Shelf Unit 2, Shelf Level A, and Bin 1)

I also always refund shipping costs. Frequently leads to very good reviews when people are surprised, and often buyers also become repeat buyers. Buyers remember this kind of thing. positive surprises as well as negative ones. Especially with comics, I often have multiple orders where there is quickly an overpayment to the shipping costs.

When you sell everything but have limited space you do what whatever you can. There isn't going to be a single way to store inventory when you've got 20+ different types of items. You are using a "Bin" system but just no walls. You can use small bins or large bins... to me it's about maximizing the space you've got and fit the most value in one spot and not wasting time for anything. Afraid of something breaking in a bin? Prepack and put on shelf with other pre-packaged items. Have a small item that may get lost in a big bin/shelf? Just use a smaller bin for smaller items. This of course is easier said than done because when you're dealing with so many different items and year round year you'll have systems that aren't being utilized. I sell in a single category so I've got 1 single system for almost all my inventory (some items get pre-packaged).

Haha we have a similar listing style, when you were doing the manga lot I was thinking that if it were me I’d do around $3 a book, and that’s exactly what you did.

Lonnie, This video drops Friday, meaning only. 9 or10 more sleeps without Candice until your queen is back you should do days count down to her return so we can be excited for you too as a I love the way you two looked at each, I think is was a day or two before she left. When you realize you were gonna be apart, it was beautiful and heart warming to see that real I'm gonna miss you" look you two gave each other, I love seeing the love language between you two, it's rare to see but sweet. Anyway you're doing great solo, but yes, I know you'd rather have Candice there. 😊

I made an earlier comment in the defense of Bins, but then you covered what I had said. I guess I should watch the entire video before spouting what I think...lol.

I don't use bins or a skew system. I started my storage system many years ago, before I even knew of any other Ebay Flippers. I set it up off of intuition of what I thought would work. With well over two thousand items listed, I keep them all very separate and segregated. Within each unique catagory of storage, I keep those items separated. Its a very simple and effective way to operate in my book. The first Ebay KZreadrs I ran into were the Rockstar Flipper and Bonifide Hustler. This was around 2016, and I was fascinated by how different their storage systems were from mine. I always find this topic intriguing. Lonnie, your system has intrigued me to this day. It's certainly different from mine, but seems just as efficient.

I'm doing a bin system. IMO the biggest benefit of a bin system is that it's mobile. Box-036 is always going to be Box-36 no matter where you rearrange your boxes. You just have to find that box. - With a lot of longtail items it helps reduce dust and such if they're in bins. Sure, you can break out your duster or put on plastic. The other thing with bins is if you're going to put products in a bin you really need to wrap them. We do a lot of breakables and simply paper wrapping them prevents any issues (so far, knock on wood). - One of the downfalls is consolidating bins. If you move things from one bin to another you either have to change all the SKUs or modify the bin to have both, like you did with the dog boxes. I've found modifying boxes is the absolute most confusing thing for finding stuff. It's better to take the extra 5-20 minutes and change the SKU's (and when you change the SKU also include the old SKU so it shows as the item is in both places.) - As for losing items there are a lot of ways to find what you lost. When you're SKUing bin items you're usually putting several items in the same bin at the same time. So with that you'd just need to look for other items you listed that day that would have gone in the same box and that usually works. The other thing a lot of folks do is go through an annual (or semi-annual or quarterly) inventory check. That helps keep things in the right place. That will usually take a day or three depending on your setup. - As for knowing which boxes have space you can add to, simply get some colored stickers. If a box has space you slap a sticker on it so you know where to put stuff. Anyway, that's how we do it. I'm sure others have methods that work for them.

I use bins as well as filing cabinets. I have a vintage store display candy rack that holds smaller bins for smalls. Anything larger goes in totes under the bed or into a 4 drawer filing cabinet. If it is too large for those it goes under a table in our basement workshop room. I would love to have a setup like yours because I prefer being able to see items and move them around, but I don't have a dedicated reselling space right now so I have to store items wherever possible.

First the Larry David Nutcracker now the Gordon's Fisherman! Another Great video!

I use bins mostly because I can stack them and rearrange things easier as necessary to deal with ever-growing inventory. I do use shelves for larger items that don't easily fit into bins but the majority of my inventory are smalls. I think there is a valid concern for potential damage while rummaging through the bins but, for me at least, almost everything is low dollar, non-collectable items. I think I've single-handedly kept the local Costco in business from all of my bin purchases. 🤣

For your setup, it makes sense to not use bins. I use them for my setup because I sell ephemera (old paper) and to reduce the smell or dust, i use a variety of sizes of totes or bins. For my hard goods I don't sell a ton of it so all my tools go in one, household items in another, toys, etc. Plus for me I need to be super organized or pulling/packing would be a nightmare.

Lonnie, all I can say is that you are great with or without Candice in the vids!!!! Keep on truckin'!

Doing a great job Lonnie

The Bushwackers from New Zealand 😄

I take a generally 'open shelf' approach to storage using totes or bins only for small items or inventory that doesn't easily stack (eg t shirts). This usually makes for a more efficient use of space and makes it easier to pick. In my 'day job' I work for a distributor. Our warehouse has around 25,000 picking locations, all open shelves. If it's good enough for the million units held there then I guess it's good enough for my couple of thousand items...

Bins for plush and and fabrics , pre pack fragile ,rest like yours mix .. most important goal I do honest description clean and packed well.. idk y but still have lil f giving .. just treat it way I would respect and honesty my #1 how I run my business so far no neg knock on wood lol

Bins on the bottom shelves is kinda nice so I don't have to get down on the floor to see whats at the back of the shelves down there. Otherwise, I've switched to open shelves thanks to watching you guys. Thanks!

I use a hybrid system and so not use black bins but us clear one so I can see in the side. I also do not use lids - total waste of time and effort. I find I can store much more smaller items in bins.

Is there a reason resellers don’t pre-package items and label them accordingly? I feel like this should be part of the listing process to reduce time during the shipping phase

Would you ever put an additional shed on your property (if you have the space for it) for inventory only, instead of having a storage unit?

Sunday morning Quarterback Poster, Thrills and Chills Dog or Cat Halloween Costume Dragon, Hockey Player Nutcracker, Lot of 3 Star Wars insider Magazines, WWF Wrestling Magazine -The Rockers, WWE WWF Wrestling Bushwhackers Magazine, Bose TA-3 Wall Mounted Amplifier, 2005 Augusta Georgia Tiger Woods Win Hat, Lot of 2 Champion Spark Plugs, Toy Biz Marvel Legends Bullseye, Heirloom Holy Bible, Kirby Magna Mania Volume 2, Golfer Nutcracker, Captain Nutcracker. Thanks Lonnie for the video Take Care Out.

I think storage methods are based on what you sell. For you, selling a lot of medium & larger items, bins would likely have a lot of wasted space & some items might be in danger (imagine shoving nutcrackers in bins--eek!). For me, with mostly quite small items, bins can hold a ton of small items, and they're all perfectly safe. Plus, the one downside for me with open shelving is that long tail items can collect dust. And for me, I don't want to have to dust off items before shipping. I like to clean them, list them, put them in a bin, and know that I'm not going to have to dust them again. But that's mostly because dust sets off allergies for me, so it's my nemesis. Once I clean & dust items after buying them, I want them to stay dust-free. (And I have one of my kids regularly dust off the bin lids for me. 😉 ) BUT, I do wrap up the items before they go in the bin. They get whatever initial protection I would give them when shipping them, I just do that ahead of time.

I don't use bins for the same reasons as you. I can be walking up to a shelf and spot the item and grab it and walk away in seconds!

Yikes! You have a couple of Comic Informers magazines in your Hobbit box. That was comics fanzine I was involved in back in Houston during the 80s!

Do you guys hold any type of business insurance/ item insurance on your shed? Was always curious if bigger, independently ran eBay stores insure their items incase something were to happen.

Does anyone know what is the name of the video where Lonnie shows how to test a graphics calculator? I'm about to list my first one.

What's with the white wire cubes. Its falling over!

Have been a full-time reseller for over a decade.... I do not use bins for storage (clothes being the exception, to keep dust free).

Not to change the subject but my better half is considering reselling. Picked up a few things over the summer and I just wondered do you guys add things to your home owners or rental insurance. ? And is it like a separate policy? Thanks guys. Frank

I just let you know eBay change sports card and trading card grading scale in their listing. You need make a change all of your sports cards.

Hi Lonnie, we started watching you when you were packing listing eBay by yourself, and always enjoyed, still enjoy watching your how to sell, pack and information videos. Long time, part time eBay’r here. I’m doing it myself now & trying to keep up, it’s tough. We shared researching, listing, packing & shipping. It was nice to hear you say you appreciate all she does too btw.. I miss my helper for all reasons not just eBay. You have your hands full with Candice away😵‍💫😳 We stack blk/yellow bins because we don’t have shelves. Not enough room, but these can get real heavy too😮. Would rather have a shed w/ shelves b/c it’s all in the living room & 2 spare rooms!!🙃 I’m sorry if this is a dumb question or has been asked/answered before but what is manga? (Say or write this to Candice when you hear from her.. “Arrivederci” pronounced “ah-rrrre-va-dare-chee”. Definition: Until we see each other again, or goodbye for the present, Italian). Take care.. you got this! ☺️👍

@lorainerobbins2098

9 ай бұрын

@@EgaTehPro thanks!

What is the size of your shed?

Listing challenge going great Lonnie 👍💪💪 couple more Nutcrackers going out which is good 👍

I'm sure you've answered this in a previous video, but where in the world did you get all the nutcrackers??

I keep waiting to hear Candice introduce herself even though i know shes gone.

👍

Sorry Lonnie this is a follow question how do I convince the insurance company that I paid $5 for something I believe is $500?

I understand your point about having to search every bin if you forget or incorrectly put the wrong location. But isn't that a fault of the seller and not the bin system?

I have to use bins and boxes ,I don’t have the room, I’m working out of a spare bedroom ,I wish I didn’t have to like you because everytime something sells and I can’t find it I get Anxiety attack and get stressed out uni find it.

@lukesimpson3080

9 ай бұрын

I get exactly how you feel. I’m in the same situation. I’m working next week on a better system of listing each item and which box it’s in.

Did you hear about EBay banning uranium glass on their platform?

You better keep up! Candace is going to give you a spanking when she gets home!😂

I stole my current storage system from another youtuber (cant remember who) and store most everything in bank boxes. I also have open shelves for larger items

Idk i went from 4-7 sales a day to lucky i make one a week!. 😅

Before the manga fans pile on, I feel that I should tell you that the correct pronunciation is MAHN-guh.

First

I agree with you not using bins. Although they do protect the inventory, their not-quite-rectangular shape takes up a lot of room on shelves. No bins or cardboard boxes maximize the space better.

Miss Candice, 🙋 but you are doing an awesome job without your wonderful partner. 💐⭐⭐

I use bins without lids. I run a smaller store though, 32 bins. Then the top of the shelfs are for bulkier items that don't fit or I don't want creased etc. The island in my store is also inventory but typically bigger boxed items, like gaming consoles, etc. I polybag all items though. I know its a expense most would see as a waste, but its pennies per bag. The bag keeps items clean, dustless, protected and the looks nice for the customer when they receive it. I don't have a problem with cards or ends on toys or whatnot not getting beat up because I don't over fill the bins and keep an eye on what goes in the bin, heavy on bottom etc. Also the poly bag does help keep the edges nice as well as box scuffs etc. I definitely see the advantages of no bins how you run though for sure. Id be scare to shit If='d grab an item thought and tumble 4 to the floor in the process.... LOL.. Love the vid man !!! Happy Selling !!!!

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