Vintage Crochet Patterns Sell?

crochet

 

I don’t think I’ve ever sold a pattern of any type.  Not sure why, but I haven’t.  Maybe I should!  Someone just posted some info to the Score Board about vintage crochet patterns.  Click here to see!

 

In addition, don’t miss Goodwill Haunting’s latest scores.  She  just posted some new ones!  The item pictured below, for example,  sold for a nice chunk of change!  (Click here to see all of her latest cha chings!)

 

oil can

 

Posted by ebaylife 05 / 06 / 2013 Comments 0 Comments

eBay Opening Shoppable Windows!

Remember the eBay pop-up stores?  Well, now eBay is opening “shoppable windows.”  Sounds interesting.  Click here to read the story!

Posted by ebaylife 05 / 06 / 2013 Comments 0 Comments

May: Our Biggest Month Ever!

It’s Official!  April was slow….but May was a our biggest month ever!  That’s right.  Were heading into the slow season, yet sales were way up last month.  We sold 626 items!

 

marvin

 

Wanna make money this summer?  No problem.  But be sure to treat your eBay business like a job.  I’ve been hearing a lot of eBay sellers talk about the fact that they find it difficult to pay their bills, yet most of them only work a few hours a day…if that.  Would you be able to pay your bills if you only went to work  a few hours a day?  Probably not.

 

This summer, I plan to time myself.  If I don’t watch it, I dawdle.  I waste time.  I check my email 50 times a day.  Time management is an issue for me.  It’s an issue for a lot of people.  If you sell one-of-a-kind items on eBay, it’s important that you list new items every day.  This is an easy task to accomplish if you set a goal for each day.   I have a hard time sitting still, so setting a timer keeps me on task!

 

And in my experience, the summer months can be quite profitable as long as you keep listing.  If you’re selling one-of-a-kind items, you need to be listing on a daily basis.  You should be able to list at least four items an hour including pictures.  You might be able to list a lot more than that if you are selling products that are already part of the eBay catalog.  We attended the eBay Radio Party a few years back.  When we got home, it was hot, hot, hot — too hot to go outside.  So we sat down and started listing.  We had one of our highest months ever.  It’s getting hot again, so I’m hoping to get a bunch of goodies listed during the month of July.  (I have to teach summer school the entire month of June.)

 

FYI:  A few years ago, I wrote an article for Auctiva entitled ” Make Your Summer Sales Sizzle.”  Click here to read it.  The article gives tips on how to keep your business going during the summer months.  In addition, you might want to check out the webinar I just watched.  It was hosted by Topratedsellerwebinars.com, and it’s all about cleaning up your eBay store.  Good stuff and it’s free!

Latest Comment

It's all about getting things on!

By ebaylife

Posted by ebaylife 03 / 06 / 2013 Comments 4 Comments

Repurposing Old Movie Screens

I was checking out the Thrifting With the Boys Facebook group and noticed that Scott Henshaw of Nannette Store  posted a video of his office.  Scott has  the coolest man office I’ve ever seen.  Johnny would love it.  (Maybe someday we’ll have a house big enough so that we can both have offices!)

 

 

Anyway, one of the things I noticed about his office is the fact that he uses old movie screens as backdrops for his photos.  (I’ve seen these screens at yard sales but always pass them up.)  If you don’t have much room, this is a fabulous idea.  Paint the metal part of an old movie screen the same color as your walls, hang it in a convenient place, and pull it down when you need it.  Ingenious!

 

My photo studio takes up a ton of room.  Maybe I should think about picking up one of these awesome screens!

 

FYI:  Scott is a full-time eBay seller who lives in the Pacific Northwest.  Check out his official website here.  He’s an eBay Education Specialist and Trading Assistant, too!

Latest Comment

I think that I fixed it. Sorry about that. :)

By Scott Henshaw

Posted by ebaylife 29 / 05 / 2013 Comments 3 Comments

Simon Sells!

Have you checked the Score Board lately?  Someone just posted a vintage Simon game.  When I was a kid, I loved Simon!  This particular Simon was purchased for $1 and sold for an incredible price.  I’ve actually seen this game  go for even more than this seller was able to get.

 

simon

 

It’s funny because my mom bought one of these just a few weeks ago.  It doesn’t work, but I’m going to sell it for parts.  I think someone might also be interested in the box and the owner’s manual.  Click here to check out the Score Board!

Latest Comment

Yup, that seems to be a problem!

By ebaylife

Posted by ebaylife 28 / 05 / 2013 Comments 2 Comments

Oh No! We Sent Out the Wrong Product!

memorial

 

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  It’s been an eventful week!  A few days ago, we had an earthquake.  The whole house was shakin’!  In addition, sales have been very strong, the weather has been great, and the Silver Dollar Fair is in town!  I’m trying to get Johnny to go.  I love the fair.  I want to see animals.  I want to eat cotton candy.  I want to ride the rides.  We’ll see if it happens.

 

I also spent the week making deals and putting out fires.  It seems like I’m always putting out fires.  I guess it comes with the territory.  Sometimes products get doubled listed.  Sometimes we can’t find products even though we have a great numbering system.  Sometimes we send out the wrong product to a customer.

 

That’s what happened this week.  We accidentally sent someone the wrong product.  Oh no!  What to do?  Freak out?  Get mad?  No way!  Here’s what I did….

 

1. I contacted the buyer who was sent the wrong product and explained the situation.  She was very accommodating.  I sent her $7 ($2 more than it would cost to ship the item to the right buyer.)

2. I contacted buyer #2 to let her know that she might not be getting her product on time.  She was ok with it.

3. I sent buyer #1 the correct shoes.

4. Buyer #1 informed me that the package she sent to buyer #2 cost over $12 to ship.  (She didn’t send it in a flat rate envelope.  Oh well.)  In response, I sent her another $7 via Paypal.

5.  Both buyers received their products.  Buyer #2 left the following feedback:  ”Perfect transaction!”

 

Whew!  Problem solved!  The key to solving problems is to solve them immediately!  Let buyers know what’s happening.  Bribe them with money if necessary.  (I do that quite a bit.)   You made a mistake, so you need to fix it.

 

I wonder what will happen next week…..  (If you made a mistake this week, feel free to comment!)

Latest Comment

Glad I could help! :)

By ebaylife

Posted by ebaylife 25 / 05 / 2013 Comments 4 Comments

I Love Ki Feedback!

I use Selling Manager Pro to automate my feedback, and I have it set so that people receive positive feedback as soon as they pay.  However, the feedback automation feature offered by eBay is limited.  For example, I also like to thank people for leaving positive feedback, but Selling Manager Pro’s feedback automation feature doesn’t allow me to do that.  Enter, Ki Feedback — another app from the Ki people!  I love it!  It’s saving me sooooo much time.  Check it out here! 

 

ki feedback

 

Latest Comment

Since we can't leave negative feedback anyway, I just leave them feedback immediately. It leaves a good taste in the mouth of honest buyers.

By ebaylife

Posted by ebaylife 22 / 05 / 2013 Comments 2 Comments

Staplers Sell!

I was listening to another episode of Suzanne Wells’ You Sold What on eBay? and heard her talk about a Pan Am stapler that sold for $40 + shipping.  Check it out!  Airline memorabilia + stapler = Cha Ching!

 

stapler

Click here to see the completed listings for the term vintage stapler.

Latest Comment

Thanks for sharing, Miriam! Even after 10 years of selling on eBay, I am still amazed at what sells.

By Suzanne Wells

Posted by ebaylife 21 / 05 / 2013 Comments 1 Comment

Don’t Miss eBay Radio!

eBay Radio starts in just a few!  Don’t forget:  If you miss the live broadcast, listen to the archives.  Click here to tune in!

 

ebay radio party

Posted by ebaylife 21 / 05 / 2013 Comments 0 Comments

Shark Tank Season Finale Online Now!

Wow!  The Shark Tank season finale is available online.  Yay!  Click here to view the latest episode of my favorite show!  Watch while you work….

 

shark tank

Posted by ebaylife 21 / 05 / 2013 Comments 0 Comments
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