C 30, C60, C90 – Bow Wow Wow (1980)

February 23, 2024

This is a decision I made on my own – I’m pulling all the cassettes from the eBay store and wanted to explain:
(Just my opinion on selling cassettes there, the store’s doing fine, no disasters & I’m getting good feedback etc.)

eBay – Item Condition by Category
Movies & TV, Music, Video Games:

Very Good – There is no damage to the jewel case or item cover: no scuffs, scratches cracks, or holes.

I get it, it should be like new but the next level down is “Good” where you’re practically giving stuff away. Fair price is all I’m looking for and I don’t think I can get that on eBay for cassettes.

So I ended up pulling all of the cassettes from the store a second time. First time was because of scuffs on jewel cases. Decided just to provide new jewel cases.

Now it’s scratches that I missed the first 2 times around. See the 3rd and 4th picture around the reels. Click on the picture to enlarge.

Like I said, I get it. Not going to deal with it. I’m just moving on to something else. I do have a significant amount of cassettes that I can put up in bulk lots but the “good stuff” is going to the back of the line.

— David

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? – Chicago (1969)

February 21, 2024

People runnin’ everywhere
Don’t know where to go
Don’t know where I am
Can’t see past the next step
Don’t have time to think past the last one
Have no time to look around
Just run around, run around think why
— Robert Lamm

The schedule I set up crashed and burned. Didn’t even look at it today. I’ve still getting things done but the schedule was too complicated so I switched just to a simple list of tasks that I could set to repeat if necessary.

I do want to make something clear – I’m not so self-absorbed that I think anyone really cares much about my scheduling attempts or even most of the thoughts that pop in my head as I ponder the minutiae of my daily life. I won’t lie – I do hope I’m not boring people, but a lot of what I’ve written about is to provide context – My brain isn’t my friend.

And in that jumbled mess that is my brain – I’m looking for that spark, it’s not not just motivation – it’s bigger than that – it’s the spark that make’s life worth living. And I’m putting my search out there.

If I’m sounding altruistic – I’m not, I’m pretty much the embodiment of a bitter old man who looks at the past with regret and future with disillusion. Don’t bother me and I won’t bother you. I’m doing ok today though and I’ve got work on doing the things that keep me doing ok.

I admit hasn’t been much of a search so far – I’d like to think I’m just warming up and eventually I’ll get into a groove – but for now it is what it is, small strides.

Speaking of, it’s a nice day – going out for a walk.

— David

Time – David Bowie (1972)

February 19, 2024

Time – He flexes like a whore
Falls wanking to the floor
His trick is you and me, boy
— David Bowie

I spent most of Saturday working on a way to set up a schedule using the apps currently on my computer. Started in the morning, by 3:30 pm I was looking at apps to buy although I already have at least 4 or 5 task schedulers and have tried out another 4 or 5 in the past.

OCD in action – It had to be a certain design, I won’t go into details – it’s silly, a piece of paper would work. I found an app I liked but when I went to purchase it I saw I would have to purchase it twice, once for the desktop and again for the phone. Aww.. fuck it. I made my own.

It worked, I’ve had 2 days of getting things done. Not so much because of the schedule but it’s because I invested enough into the schedule that I am currently using it. It’s an emotional thing not a logical thing.

I already knew what I needed to get done, didn’t need to schedule it anyways.

— David

Time – Pink Floyd (1973)

February 17, 2024

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way
— Roger Waters

I’m putting a schedule together setting up specific times to work on things, thinking that will get me organized and into a routine.

The truth though – that also gives me an excuse not to work on the things I should be working on. I can work on them tomorrow, today I’m working on my schedule to help me get things done.

Putting something down on the schedule gives me such a feeling of accomplishment. It’s like I actually did something.

— David

Lost in the Supermarket – The Clash (1979)

February 13, 2024

I’m all lost in the supermarket
I can no longer shop happily
I came in here for the special offer
Guaranteed personality
— Joe Strummer and Mick Jones

Made some good buys, some bad buys but should be able to break even after 3 days of estate sales, garage sales and thrift stores. It’s a lot harder than it appears on YouTube. I’m luckier than a lot of flippers that are starting out as I already have a huge collection of DVDs, CDs and Cassettes pretty much ready to sell so I can take my time as I learn and not feel pressured to buy.

With Google Lens and the eBay app. everything has changed, sellers are able to look up things by picture so they’re searching the listings and unfortunately pricing things by what people are asking for. They don’t realize or just don’t care that the items people are trying to sale are generally priced higher than the ones that have actually sold.

I also see a lot of buyers walking around with their phones and looking everything up, I’m one of them but it’s not as easy as it looks. Besides the “sold for” prices, you need to check for the sell through rate (how many sold over a specific period compared to how many are currently listed), and be really specific on the item you’re looking up (size, model number, color etc). It’s hard to do in a crowded area and even harder to do it quickly. It’s exciting to find something new in box for $2 that retails for $20. Then you get home and see only 1 has sold in the last 90 days. Not exactly a high demand item.

As I mentioned before, I’ve been scouring reddit for reselling information and watching a lot of YouTube videos. A lot of information conflicts – YouTube resellers are into clothing while the reddit posters are saying it’s oversaturated and has too much competition. And the reddit people still hate on all the people I follow on YouTube.

You do need to pick some categories and learn them. Learn them well. I was at an estate sale this weekend that had a table full of ties for $1 each and women’s clothing for 50¢. I had to pass on everything because I don’t know anything about clothing. While there’s a good chance everything good had been picked over already (and don’t discount the estate sale people involved in shenanigans) there’s also a decent chance that they missed something.

I’m finding I’m doing best on things that aren’t priced and having to ask “how much do you want for this”.

Similar to the table of ties and closet of clothes oftentimes books, DVDs, VHS etc. are priced the same instead of individually so if you know what you are doing you might be able get some good deals. I am finding the quality of a lot of these things are on the lower side though so even if it’s a good title it still might not be worth picking up.

I haven’t listed anything I bought yet on eBay, that’s the least fun and most important step.

North Texas Radio

North Texas Radio

Iced Earth – Burnt Offerings – Cassette – Tested – Good

Season To Risk – Season To Risk – Cassette – Tested – Good

Sacred Reich – Surf Nicaragua – Cassette – Tested – Metal Blade – 1988

Swervedriver – Raise – Cassette (1991) – Tested – Good

Chum – Dead To The World – Cassette (1996) – Tested – Good

Soundgarden – Ultramega Ok – Cassette (1988) Tested – Good

C 30, C60, C90 – Bow Wow Wow (1980)

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? – Chicago (1969)

Time – David Bowie (1972)

Time – Pink Floyd (1973)

Lost in the Supermarket – The Clash (1979)