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How do you all stay organized?
 

Im doing well with a half dozen stealth accounts selling a few items each a month. Id like to add another six accounts for the upcoming christmas shopping season but am having trouble with the accounts I already have. I am trying not to overlap what I sell too much on any accounts, etc but to be honest its getting more and more difficult to keep everything straight. As an example even keeping my IP addresses in order is becoming a chore having over 1500 IPs saved in a spreadsheet so I dont overlap. Its becoming more difficult to find a fresh IP all the time.

Id like to lay out my organization here and open it to ideas and discussion. As well as gaining a better understanding of other techniques Id like to hopefully get some insights from those old pros around here we here about maintaining hundreds of accounts. Which to be honest boggles my little mind

I hope Im posting in the right spot, if not mods please feel free to move this to the appropriate area. Here we go...

I run a different Vmware machine for each account using WindowsXP to minimize resource requirements. This has worked well and seems more secure to me than simply changing logins. However I am considering switching to a cloud based VPS type setup and would then use different logins on the same virtual machine. The only problem I see here is no dynamic IP like using my home router allows. Im open to thoughts here...

So far Excel has been my tool to stay on top of things but Im hoping to find something else. Shopping for ebay inventory management software has been a nightmare. Basically because they charge a monthly fee per account which shatters my profits and whole strategy of diversifying the portfolio into several accounts. Or will it? Is there a smart, capable management system out there that can be had for say $10 per account per month? Im done beating my head against the wall and would love to hear thoughts from the community on this. It doesnt have to be fancy but showing sales from different "consignors" or something representing different accounts would be lovely so it would all tie in together.

Another galling issue Ive had with inventory management software in general is they always want to stick a static price on every item and my items sell for a few bucks different price EVERY time. So I found myself creating a new SKU for every sale, not saving me any time at all, etc.

So these my friends are some of the issues Im running in to. Im certain Im not the first one to come across these issues and sincerely hope an interest is taken here and perhaps a lively discussion crops up over different tactics and techniques. Without giving away too much of course!

Keeping track of 1500 ips for only 6 accounts? A fresh ip every time you log in?

I don't think that's necessary. From what I understand, what you don't want to do is use the same ip on any of those accounts but you don't have to have a fresh ip every time you log into one of your accounts. I may be wrong here, but that is my understanding.

Wait until a more experienced member verifies this.

Some of the approaches from other users are mentioned below. I'll look up my inventory program



http://www.aspkin.com/forums/multipl...cel-sheet.html


http://www.aspkin.com/forums/multipl...readsheet.html

how would you be able to control what ip address you get?

You can't unless you are using a private vpn with unique ips for each stealth account. That wasnt my point. My point was you can use a repeated ip on an account, you just cannot use that same ip on another account.

Actually I do understand what your saying, but for those who don't understand here is the scenario:

Account 1: IP. 222.222.222.01
Account 2: IP. 222.222.222.02
Account 3: IP. 222.222.222.03
ETC.

Account 1: IP. 222.222.222.01 (Repeat)

So it's feasible to get a repeat IP and use it with the previously used account.

This could actually be useful if I go the cloud route. I could order 1 IP per account and swap between them so thank you for that idea.


Keep the ideas flowing folks. I think were getting somewhere here.

I disagree. I have to agree with the OP on this one. If you gave him a 4 word reply and he does not understand then your message obviously did not help.

I don't know how you deal business but when my clients ask me something I am direct, honest, and very straightforward with them. I do not have time to act like Confucius and neither do my clients.

As to stay on topic with the thread. If Excel has been your tool that helps you the most in keeping organization, then find a book or youtube tutorial and learn more on being more efficient with Excel. For example, you could set-up your spreadsheet so that when you paste a new IP address and it matches an IP that you have previously used, the box will turn red and match you to which account you used has had the same IP.

To learn how to do this will take time and initiative on your part. THIS is how you "show the door" to someone rather than give a random quote to gain a post on this forum.

this forum is not here to spoon feed people. if everything is written out in a step by step manner then all the current methods will become unusable because they are too publicly known. it's called stealth for a reason. there is a priceless amount of information here, people do not seem to take any risks. it seems all the people who complain are the ones who hang around and make no contributions at all, just seeming to take and not wanting to give.

I understand what you are saying and I agree with you. However, my point earlier was to show that you you can still help someone without giving them all the information. You simply direct them to the proper path. I've seen many posts where people just spout random messages to gain posts. I don't see why people just can't simply respond "There are many questions that you have that are answered in this forum already. Please take your time and search for this information yourself and you will most likely find the answer."

I mean literally its a true answer and it leads them somewhere. Giving a random quote doesn't help anyone...

Opening and closing of doors is done by aspkin.
Avoid forgetting that.

:focus:

Any of you use any programs for your inventory?

have used Quickbooks for years, it is very easy to use and does the job

Sorry I missed the whole post after my rambling! I am not sure what you mean that they software wants to stick a static price to things? When you enter inventory you enter a bill, choose an item and enter the price and when you invoice you choose an item and the price you sold it at. am i missing what you are trying to do?

My point here is that most inventory software Ive tried is geared more towards a web store with fixed pricing. I might sell 6 of the same trinket online but with auction format I get a different sell price every time. The software doesnt understand several prices for the same item. Which makes sense if you were running a POS system. Why would the price of twinkies vary every time one is sold? It doesnt make any sense. But given the auction style format it would be handy to be able to edit pricing in an easier manner. So thats what I was saying.

I am trying to teach myself Quickbooks. I am also learning more about Excel and thats going well.

Excel is nice because you have a lot of search options. IF you`re more geared for old school operations, notepad works fine.

Does your current inventory software let you create an invoice? I'm sure it must. From there why wouldnt you be able to change the sale price? You can not expect the price of ANY item to stay the same for good. Markets fluctuate, inflation happens. PM me if you want

My eBay and PayPal is integrated with AS/400 - Cost me about $300 to have developed. Well worth it considering it also works with my mc9090 scan gun for inventory control.

I create a new item within AS400, which allows me to send it to eBay. If an item hasn't been sold within 2 weeks I get a notification that tells me to adjust pricing (which is what I have to do as someone starts selling at a lower price, or something like the title wasn't specific enough with keywords)

I can add more inventory with a quick scan
delete damaged inventory or if I have to send a freebie
see where inventory is located (which is unnecessary as my warehouse isn't that big)
When I get down to 20% of inventory, it tells me to buy more.
Tells my profit per item, how much I made per day, week, months, etc.

Its also connected to my label printer so I can print out SKU tags, which are scanned for inventory control.

So, if I get 50 new Lion Stuff Animals (or something), I can go to my tag, scan, adjust tag from 10 which is what I had as inventory to my new total inventory amount of 60 (10 + 50) and then it will update my eBay listings' quantity.

My new software will allow me to put an item into auction format with a click of a button. It will take 20 items, then put them as a 7 day auction listed at a specific time, and then list another every couple hours or days or whatever variable I need to avoid market saturation.

Now the above sounds like a slick setup. I could use something like that.

Jim your Quickbooks is it the premier version that handles inventory? Or does QB 2012 Pro handle inventory as well? The wholesaler premier looks kind of slick but Im not sure I need that expensive software when the Pro might do...

I started with QuickBooks payroll ages back.

QB 2012 PRO handles inventory. It has the limitations you spoke to.

Maybe consider QB 2012 Enterprise Solutions. Intuit made some workable amendments.
(According to my quartermaster ;))

Since you are worried about costs, consider the free download off Intuit's site.
Little to lose imo.
:clap:

I have always used quickbooks enterprise solutions. It has just about everything you need to do business and if you feel you are missing something there are lots of add-ons

High Five, slimjim! :cheer:

Needed more depth than excel.

I did start off with chaotic stickies

It's really great. It made me seem like a bookkeeper before I actually became one :)

We were using ATTACHE, accounting & wages software local to Australia.

Horrendous.

Changed over to QuickBooks.

Did not need to buy the Dummies Guide:clap:

yes that's how easy they make it, and i think at a very reasonable price. i suggest it to a lot of people and they are all happy with it. my old boss thought it didn't do enough for one of his companies so he bought SAP, i begged him not to. let's just say they are not in business anymore

Thanks for all the input guys. My next step seems clear. Get ahold of some quickbooks and learns it. I will download the freebie version first then go from there. I dont mind investing in software as long as it is what I need. With the input offered here I feel confident that QB will be a useful tool for my business. At least confident enough to download and try the free trial :clap:

I like the oldskool pen and paper trick. Put all my receipts in a gift bag, then sort them when needed. One bag is expenses, another bag just normal everyday, and the notebook to stay organized.

Hey you quickbook guys what version of premier would you recommend? There are options and as an ebay seller Im not sure which would be best for us. Im leaning towards QuickBooks Premier Manufacturing & Wholesale as I consider myself a Wholesaler. But maybe General Business would be sufficient? Or even Retail maybe for advanced inventory management? Im interested to hear experiences with these versions and what you all might recommend.

Just get the basic quickbooks enterprise solutions. It should have all of those options inside. I have not noticed much of a difference between those different choices. You need something basic. Manage inventory, create bills and create invoices. You won't use most of the options it has. Find the cheapest solution and post a link

Your free download of QB Enterprise will kick start you.:yar:

Excellent thank you gents. I am off to check out these free trials Im hearing about. I will report back.

Ive decided to hold off and wait for QB 2013 which should be out soon.

A bit of a topic change regarding Power Seller status. One of my accounts has achieved Bronze level and I am wondering what the implications are for a stealth account. Will this put me under greater scrutiny? Will it make my life easier? Is this a milestone I should attempt to achieve with all my accounts? Im just not sure if this is a good or bad thing and how much so. Please enlighten me.

for a beginner there is no difference between QB 2001 and 2013. don't wait, get an old version and learn. you will not use most of the features in it regardless, so there is no point to wait for the 'new' one which is usually just a BS upgrade

This is true Jim. However I need a little time to save up an extra couple hundred bucks in any event so waiting until next month either way. By then 2013 should be out and hopefully drive down the price of 2012. Ill decide then which version to grab. Thank you all for your advice. Ill be asking for more soon enough.

You are not listening. Why do you need 2012? Go on ebay and buy an older version for 1/2 the price

Yes I get it. Regardless I need to pay my upcoming monthly bills before buying software so I have some time to shop around. Thank you again for the advice.

Okay for the original topic, 1500 IP's seem scary to me, and then my question is how did you arrive at 1500 in the first place? Like a few people have said here, each time you log out of one account and then do the IP changing step your computer should automatically change IP and will also recycle the IP's to individual user account too.

Now for the QUICKBOOK Lovers, please welcome me on board.

=}

Club thank you for your contribution. Every time I power cycle my router it gets me a new dynamic IP address. I have no control over what Ill receive and my fear is that Ill receive the same IP as Ive had in the past and Ebay sees both of my accounts were logged in from that same IP. This is something to avoid correct?

I wish I could just manually switch IPs between my few accounts but I dont have that much control and must make due with the random IP I get. 1500 is alot Ill agree. Ive been keeping this excel file since the start of this year when I got serious about my Ebay business. Maybe after 6 months I could delete those older IPs? I dont really know how long Ebay keeps that kind of record. I dont know if Im being smart and protecting myself or being a paranoid loon going way overboard. Still.. I havent had an account closed yet.

Cheers

No, your router will NOT repeat an IP that belong to another account for you when you switch user accounts.
Reason been that if you log out of the user account and change the mac address settings correctly, you router will only produce an IP address that belongs to the number you have changed from the previous one, so there's not way of you having repeated IP for two or more account.

That being said, I don't want to give too much info that I may not be authorized to give as I don't want to upset aspkin or green bean. Keep learning the process and you'll find out more.