I think you mean "successful", which is what you are when you achieve a goal you (or someone you report to) set for you. 

I've used listing automation since 1997, when I first realized that I wanted to do more online than just post a few knick knacks from time to time.  I knew that if I was going to grow, to be more efficient, I was going to have to automate, and automate as much as possible for as low a cost as I could achieve.

My solution for the past couple of years now has been SixBit - a complete online sales management software desktop applicate built on an SQL database (power) and created by the same team that created the software I've used since 1997 (experience/talent).

ANY new tool will cost you time to learn... but the savings after the education are what you need to look for.  The savings come from not leaving things out (things that you then have to spend time/effort to fix).  The savings come from the enforced organization that having a regular routine creates (when you now A-B-C works better than B-D-A-C, you tend to stick with what works better).  The savings come from NOT having to do certain things, knowing that your automated assistant is doing them for you (tracking payments anyone?).  The savings come from being able to do things fee-free that others pay for (SixBit's build in scheduled postings save me 10 cents per scheduled listing).  The savings come from you automation "having your back" when unexpected things happen (SixBit's agent starts running when Windows does - whether you log in or not, and that means you're updated even after MS Update Tuesday reboots your machine at 2am).

When I was volume selling (closed the business in 2008 - long story), I was posting well over 1000 listings a month, 15 a day for new, never posted before stock, and the balance in reposting of ending listings.  My automation meant that reposting was a 2 minute process, regardless of how many items I wanted to repost.  New listings were a few minutes (if the brand/style/color had been listed before) to maybe 30 minutes total if I had to take images.  Descriptive text was supplied by my client (I sold on consignment), so that was generally a non-issue.

Manually doing these things via SYI, on those occassions when I wanted to see 'what the other side' was doing, took significantly longer, with less satisfactory results.

True Story:  I got VeRO'd for my use of "Velcro", which is a trademarked name.  Several listings were pulled and continued incorrect usage would have costed me my account.  So I contacted the VeRO member contact person, they explained the issue and how I could resolve it, and I reviewed my source data from my client (who, I then noticed, listed some inventory with Velcro closures, some with hook-n-loop).

Using the features of the automation I was running at the time, I corrected my inventory data (my Item records) and then had the program update all currently running listings for those Items.  There were several hundred to be corrected.  I started the process and then had supper with my family.  After supper, I went back to the computer and everything was as it should have been.

My time spent, overall, was maybe an hour.  Not including the time to update the listings because "I" didn't update them - my computer did.  THAT's the power of automation - getting things done while spending time elsewhere.

Check out SixBit - use the link above and you can see the different versions available.  There are other options in eBay's list of "verified" applications -- perhaps one of those would be a decent fit.

Think about today.  Plan for tomorrow.  Act accordingly.

-Bob.

V.46 Trading Assistant/Consignment sales, since 1997!
See my About Me page for more details on the best tools for desktop automation for eBay!

"when i list the item we just put it in the room with all the eBay listed items. And when it sells, we go back into the room and try to find it."

Aside from everything else that Bob mentioned (and he's a good eBay guru to get advice from), you can do something really simple that will cost you nothing and save you tons of time:

As soon as you list an item, ebay assigns it an item number. So, when you've completed a listing, write the item number on a sticky label or whatever and attach it to the item. Then you can be sure that you are matching up the item with the listing. You could also store the items so that they're in numerical order by ebay item number, to make it a bit easier.

No matter where you go, there you are.

Check out Pincredibles!

"How did you organize all your inventory?"

I'm much better at it now than I was when I started, but I had 'previous experience' in that several of the companies I worked for prior to selling on eBay had HUGE warehouses.  Learning how to manage inventory is much easier when you have highly qualified instruction. 

Rather than try to go into all the details here, which would probably bore most of the regulars (and the frequent readers), I'd rather ask that you read thru my lenses on Squidoo, starting with Confessions of an eBay PowerSeller. At the bottom are links to several other eBay-related lenses I've created... they are pretty quick reads, but I like to think they present a lot of valid information.  Maybe not every answer you want, but enough to get you thinking in the right direction. 

One thing I can say now is that automation has always been a very big part of how I keep myself organized.  Today that means SixBit eCommerce Solution, a desktop application that not only manages my inventory, it posts my listings, tracks my sales, and helps me make sure I ship the right products to the right people AFTER the payment has cleared.  It's more than just my 'right hand man' -- it's the most important tool in my eBay toolbox (another of my Squidoo lenses).

When I was selling shoes, it was not uncommon for me to have over a thousand pair listed on eBay at one time -- meaning I had to have all those shoes stored somewhere.  I elected to use rental storage space, for two primary reasons:  first, I didn't want it at the house anymore, and second, the City of Memphis does not allow businesses to store inventory in areas zoned residential.  I could operate my business from home, and did, but I could not store long-term inventory there.  The stuff I was processing (imaging, etc) -- no problem.  But the long term stuff they want elsewhere... and since the rental space was a commercial enterprise, it was in a commercial zone!  And not more than 5 minutes from the house!!

(At my peak, I was renting 6 units for a total of 1200 sq ft of space.  Plus using the garage for a workshop/shipping station, and the dining room as my office)

Some of what you can do when you are small is not a good idea as you grow.  Plan ahead, be aware, and work -with- your local government as much as possible.  When I registered my business, the gentleman I spoke with was downright pleasant and seemed genuinely interested in what I was doing (eBay consignment was still rather new).  If there were more Public Servants with his attitude, going to the DMV wouldn't be nearly the chore it is today!    And yes, I made sure to let him know how much I appreciated his help AND his attitude - you never know when a supervisor may be listening, and it seldom hurts to be nice. 

-Bob.

V.46 Trading Assistant/Consignment sales, since 1997!
See my About Me page for more details on the best tools for desktop automation for eBay!

Thank you for the feedback!  Nothing strokes the ego quite as well as a simple "thank you".... or at least that's my position on the subject.  Love the awards, love the freebies and rebates and what-not, but there's still something special about a simple "thank you" from your peers.

So thank you for your comments, everyone.  And hopefully I'll be able to get my swelled head out the door tomorrow morning! 

-Bob.

V.46 Trading Assistant/Consignment sales, since 1997!
See my About Me page for more details on the best tools for desktop automation for eBay!

Hello Again Bob, I appreciate all your information it really helped me and I am excited about trying SixBit eCommerce Solution, but I am concerned about spending any money as the budget just isn't there yet. I did go on the website for SixBit and they offer a 30 free trial and my concern is if I take that free trail well it take alot of time to learn because I do not have anytime to spare and it seems my days fly by as I feel there is never enough time in the day to be able to list all the items I have to list and try to make budget. I work 8 to 5 Mon thru Friday and I dont have the time to bring home my work as I am a full time mom and wife.... Do you have any more great suggestion for that kind of person? Me

Thanks again for your valuable time and patience... L

"Is it ok if I post a link to this in the CCB?"

Probably, but what is CCB?

-Bob.

V.46 Trading Assistant/Consignment sales, since 1997!
See my About Me page for more details on the best tools for desktop automation for eBay!