# JohnClay is a sinner! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 9, 2015, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051 "2015-06-09T08:25:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051/101 "2015-06-14T01:50:45Z")
There were 19 watchers of the auction and in the last couple of seconds it went from AU$16 to AU$22.59 (US$17.47). It cost AU$2 for the initial listing plus there would be a final value fee and paypal fees, etc. It was an Australian buyer so I have to pay for the postage (maybe 70c). ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051/102 "2015-06-14T06:51:37Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > There were 19 watchers of the auction and in the last couple of seconds it went from AU$16 to AU$22.59 (US$17.47). It cost AU$2 for the initial listing plus there would be a final value fee and paypal fees, etc. It was an Australian buyer so I have to pay for the postage (maybe 70c). How much are you losing per unit? ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051/103 "2015-06-14T10:38:54Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > How much are you losing per unit? It’s too early to tell… Second sale: AU$53.20 to France ($35.00 + $18.20 postage) - though I think postage actually will cost me about $2.80 if it is thinner than 20mm and less than 50g. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051/104 "2015-06-14T14:04:02Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > How much are you losing per unit? Volume, volume, volume! ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051/105 "2015-06-15T08:18:35Z")
So far there have been 4 sales: (in AU$) $21.70 in paypal - $2 listing fee - $1.81 final value fee -$1.05 packaging -$1.40 postage = $15.44 $50.98 in paypal - $2.80 final value fee -$1.46 final value fee on shipping -$2.75 postage -$1.05 packaging = $42.92 (x2) $35.74 in paypal -$2.96 final value fee -$1.40 postage -$1.05 packaging = $30.33 Total earned for collectables: = $131.61 average: $32.90 each… So I am definitely making a profit so far… ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051/106 "2015-06-15T11:51:57Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > So I am definitely making a profit so far… Then why is your bank account negative? If I understand your posts correctly you have still spent more money than you’ve taken in. You’ve sold some pieces for more than you spent on them, but that’s not the same as making a profit. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051/107 "2015-06-15T21:00:19Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Then why is your bank account negative? If I understand your posts correctly you have still spent more money than you’ve taken in. You’ve sold some pieces for more than you spent on them, but that’s not the same as making a profit. Well, sure, if you’re counting _overheads_. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051/108 "2015-06-15T21:34:26Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Then why is your bank account negative? If I understand your posts correctly you have still spent more money than you’ve taken in. You’ve sold some pieces for more than you spent on them, but that’s not the same as making a profit. Actually now I’ve got $927 in the bank and $168.54 in paypal… ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051/109 "2015-07-02T06:16:09Z")
I think it’s safe to talk about the specifics now… BTW my wife just asked if I had borrowed any more and I said I did borrow another $200 but I paid it back and I borrowed $500 from my dad. She asked when and I said about a month ago. She later said “don’t be sneaky - tell me when you do it”. The collectable involved is a Lego Simpsons minifigure called “Snake”. He is in a $300 set - the “Kwik-E-Mart”. This is where I bought it from: [bricklink.com](http://bricklink.com) : > **[BrickLink Price Guide - Minifigure sim024](https://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?M=sim024)** > > BrickLink® is the world's largest online marketplace to buy and sell LEGO® parts, Minifigures and sets, both new or used. Search the complete LEGO catalog & create your own BrickLink store. The times it sold in multiple quantities (2+ at a time) was mostly from me. Recently I sold another one to an Australian for AU$39 and one to France for AU$58. The eBay fees, postage, packing and paypal fees would be about AU$7 each. So anyway it is on eBay as “Lego Simpsons Snake”. My competitors are more expensive and usually just sell the minifigure on its own. Sometimes they sell it with handcuffs. I sell it with handcuffs, a black stand (that normal Simpsons minifigures have), a $100 banknote, a crowbar, a tan money bag and a gun. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051/110 "2015-07-02T15:33:36Z")
How many have you purchased? How much have you spent? And you’ve only sold those two so far? ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051/111 "2015-07-02T20:18:08Z")
Hot Mama, I’m livin’ in Flush Town! ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051/112 "2015-07-02T21:43:55Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > How many have you purchased? How much have you spent? And you’ve only sold those two so far? [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18432776&postcount=81](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18432776&postcount=81) $740.58 for 36 - $20.57 each. (US$15.87) or if you include the accessories, postage and other minifigures I bought - AU$$1047.82 This is about the first 4 sales: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18439301&postcount=105](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18439301&postcount=105) I’ve sold 7 altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051/113 "2015-07-03T12:56:32Z")
Long story short, you’re fucked. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnclay-is-a-sinner/722051.md?page=5)