How Joe Built a Top-Rated eBay Store with a 99%+Feedback Score — Stories from Vintage 36J
If you’ve spent any time browsing eBay for vintage vinyl records or collectible items, chances are you’ve come across Vintage 36J, a store known for its wide variety of finds and an impressive feedback score that doesn’t happen by accident.
Behind the store is Mr. Joseph Obiso or Joe as he is known to his friends, someone I know personally and someone who brings not just experience, but humor, personality, and a real love for the hunt into everything he sells. Joe has been part of the eBay world for decades, and along the way he’s collected more than inventory he’s collected stories.
I sat down with Joe for a relaxed, no-filter conversation about selling on eBay, memorable finds, customer stories, and what it really takes to keep buyers happy year after year. If you’re into vintage items, online selling, or just a good story, you’re going to enjoy this one.
Q: Let’s start at the beginning — how did you first fall into selling on eBay, and did you ever imagine you’d still be doing it decades later?
Joe Obiso : Yes, I started my eBay account in 1999. At first, it was just to buy some stuff, you know. I liked the concept, I read a book about it, it was pretty cool, and I didn’t really do a lot selling wise until like 2007 or so.
Then I had a bunch of baseball card sets that I had accumulated in the 1980s. I was thinking they were going to go into huge value, but there were so many cards made then. But I still sold them on eBay. And then I sold a few other things around the house.
I sold a couple of things for another law, and then, you know, I had mostly good experiences, some problems, but I didn’t really think I had time for this and I wasn’t really into it then. Once in a great while, I would sell something and, you know, later than that, but I really didn’t get into seriously selling until like 2019.
A lot of that was driven by the fact that I was cleaning out my parents’ house. They had a lot of stuff, and I found some interesting things. I found a card game from the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, and I sold that and a few other things.
I also found some coins and some other things like that and I sold them. And then I met this gentleman named Eric, and he was selling records on eBay, but he also had thousands of additional records. We struck a deal where I could sell them on the store, and that’s when I started listening more in earnest.
Today now I have over 3,300 items, and I’m looking to build it further, and about 3,000 of those are records. I’m listing records today. So that’s really how I got into it.
You know, yes, I’ve been an eBay member for over 26 years, but the real thing of it was only in the last five years or so I really started selling in earnest.
Q: Do you remember the very first item you sold on eBay? Be honest — was it a win or a learning experience?
Joe Obiso: Not really, no. I think it was probably a baseball card or a baseball card set.
You know, I had a lot of factory sets. I don’t really remember exactly. The first thing I sold, yeah, I think it was a baseball card set, like a Topps in 1987 or something like that. But I’m not 100% sure. It was just so long ago. But yeah, I think that’s the first thing.
Q: What’s the story behind the name “Vintage 36J”? There has to be one.
Joe Obiso: Yeah, I used to have my name as my ID and stuff. And I got a store and I said, I need something different.
Most of the stuff I sell is vintage. I mean, I have a few new things, but most of the things are vintage. They’re old records from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s. I sometimes have old source memorabilia. I’ve had license plates, comic books. All the stuff is really vintage.
It’s old. You know, I’m not selling really much new stuff at all. Even clothing is old. So I like the word vintage. But of course, when you do IDs and eBay has to be unique, the word vintage is taken.
So I went with 36. Thirty-six just happens to be my house number. My street address, which I’m not going to reveal in this call, is number 36. And J, my name’s Joe. So I think you can figure out the rest from that.
And you know, I think it’s a cool name. And now we have a logo and we’ve created a video for a store and everything. So I think Vintage 36J is going to be around for a while.
Q: You sell many different things from records to collectibles — what kinds of items do you enjoy selling the most?
Joe Obiso: Right now, I would have to say records. Probably 80 to 85% of my inventory is records.
It’s amazing how vinyl records can hold up. You can play a record that is 50 or 60 years old and it still plays close to how it did when it was first issued. Amazing durability. Another thing I like is they’re all the same size, easy to manage inventory, and USPS has a special media rate.
Vinyl records have made a huge comeback after almost being killed off in the 80s and 90s by CDs. Now there are more new vinyl records issued every year than CDs. People love records because the sound is richer and the artwork brings back memories. So I enjoy selling records the most.
Q: What’s the coolest, weirdest, or most unexpected item you’ve ever come across?
Joe Obiso: I once sold a 1950s wooden telephone booth. An entire booth. It had a light and ventilation. A gentleman in Georgia bought it and arranged pickup. It sold for about $1,600.
I also sold a set of bar stools from the same gentleman. Another weird item was old Kodak film canisters. I almost threw them out, but geocachers use them. I sold them in sets and made money from something that would have gone in the garbage.
Another was two shoe boxes of 1962 Salata T baseball coins. That little box produced about $1,600 in sales. Again, something that would have been thrown out.
That’s one of the great things about eBay. You never know. Someone collects it or wants it for nostalgia.
Q: Have you ever sold something and later thought, “Yeah… maybe I should’ve kept that one”?
Joe Obiso: Not really. I’m in this business to buy and resell. I want items to go to people who enjoy them and keep them out of landfills.
Q: Where does most of your inventory come from these days — estate sales, flea markets, auctions, or pure luck?
Joe Obiso: Estate sales, garage sales, record stores, and partnerships. Recently, I bought 64 records for $70 at a garage sale and have already made much more than that.
A key is building relationships with suppliers, paying fair prices, and being respectful.
Q: Have you ever gone out “just to look” and come back with a car full of stuff?
Joe Obiso: Maybe a couple of times. One time I bought several collectible vehicles unexpectedly. Hopefully someday I’ll come back with a car full of records or clothing.
Q: Your feedback score is incredible — what’s your secret to keeping buyers happy?
Joe Obiso: Fast shipping, communication, positive feedback, thank-you cards, refunds when needed, and combined shipping discounts. Customer satisfaction is everything.
Q: What’s the funniest or most memorable message you’ve ever received from a buyer?
Joe Obiso:A buyer opened a case saying he never received an item. Tracking showed delivery. Later he admitted it was delivered to the wrong house and he had it. It all worked out.
Q: How do you decide what something is worth when there’s no obvious price comparison?
Joe Obiso: I research on sites like Discogs, Popsike, or Google. If needed, I consult experts. Most of the time, you can find something online. Sometimes you just have to wing it.
Q: Selling on eBay has changed a lot over the years — what’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed?
Joe Obiso: Selling on eBay has changed a lot. The biggest change is integrated shipping. Recently, local pickup QR codes and automated feedback have helped improve security and feedback scores.
Q: What part of the business do you enjoy the most — listing, sourcing, packing, or talking to customers?
Joe Obiso: I enjoy all parts listing, sourcing, packing. Customer relations are the most important.
Q: What’s something new sellers totally overthink?
Joe Obiso: Perfection. Listings don’t have to be perfect. Also, chasing only high-value items. Most profits come from bread-and-butter items.
Q: If you had to give just one piece of advice to someone starting an eBay store today, what would it be?
Joe Obiso: Be consistent and have systems. Consistent listing, shipping, customer service, and clear processes.
Q: Final question — what’s next for you and Vintage 36J?
For 2026, the goal is to greatly expand the eBay presence with new categories.
Talking with Joe made one thing clear: success on eBay isn’t just about what you sell, it’s about how you sell it. Experience, honesty, customer care, and a sense of humor go a long way. Vintage 36J isn’t just a store; it’s the result of years of learning, adapting, and genuinely enjoying the process.
You can check out Joe’s latest finds on eBay under Vintage 36J and if his feedback is any indication, you’ll be in good hands.