From Garage Sale to eBay

Okay, I haven't been garage sale-ing in ages!  It has been way overdue but with the kids in baseball and track out weekends have been crazy.  So, I mapped out about 20 on Friday night in about 5 cities to go to on Saturday.  This included one city about 25 minutes away that had a '40 military family neighborhood garage sale.'  But, come Saturday I woke-up late and was not motivated to get my tush in gear.  So, by the time I was showered, dressed and had the kids dressed it was 10:30 and too late to go far.  I noticed something new (or new to me) in all of the garage sale ads.  The sales started about 7-8 am but most ended 11, 12 or 1pm.  I thought garage sales usually ran until 2-3pm.  Not sure if this is a new trend or it has just been too long since I've mapped out garage sales.  So, I ended up picking three in my city and mapped them on www.mapquest.com.  Mapquest lets me 'up arrow' or 'down arrow' the garage sales changing point A and point D, etc. so that I can get all the sales in a way that I am saving time and spending less gas.  I can also put in about 7 places to go from point-to-point-to point and it will total the mileage for all of it (great for tax write-offs).

So, the first garage sale was awesome.  It was 3 blocks away from me and the woman had a TON of stuff.  For $22 I bought:

A medium size suitcase in like-new condition.
A small designer purse (for my daughter).  Also like-new.
A Kokopelli doll-themed bathroom set including a large towel, medium towel, wash cloth, mat, soap dish, two night lights, shower curtain, a large cloth pad to hang on a wall and two figurines.  (this whole group was $12).  It was all used in the woman's guest bathroom for decorations.  My mom loves Kachina dolls and so I bought this set for her but kept the two figurines to try to sell on eBay.  Both have a soapstone base and look very unique.
A old push-lawnmower.  I bought this for $5 to resell on eBay.  Last time I sold one on eBay it sold for about $50 (plus the buyer paying shipping). Downside is it is HARD to build or find a box the right size to ship it.
An Undercover Sunshade.  It goes on top of most beach chairs to add overhead shade (brand new).

So, at the first one I spent $22 and my mom gave me $12 for the Kokopelli items I bought for her, so I was out $10 of my own money.

At the second garage sale everyone was packed up and gone.  Only the signs leading to the house were out.  The same with the third house.  This was very disappointing since it was about 11:30-11:45 and one said their sale ended at 12 and the other at 1pm.

I stopped by two in the same area but did a slow-drive-by and didn't see enough to warrant a stop.

I decided it was noon and to call it quits and head home since it seemed most were ended.  On the turn-in street right before mine I saw signs and on a whim decided to follow them.  The signs lead me down about three streets until I found the sale and I was glad I hadn't given up.

I have been looking for a patio table and found a great one.  The height is on the low-side but I still love it.

 I had the man having the garage sale help me load it into my car and it sat there for about 6 hours until my dad stopped by and was able to help me unload it (yes, it is that heavy).

 Picture in my backyard (dark because my cell doesn't have a flash.

Someone painted the sides orange so I hope it doesn't flake or peel.  The legs are a solid metal and look like cast iron.

Also, not pictured, my daughter found a wallet.  The man wanted $15 for the table.  I asked if he'd take $10 and he countered $12.  I asked if he'd throw in the wallet for $12 and he said 'deal.'  :-)

I've been trying to get my backyard more 'company friendly' for summer barbecues.  This table was a great add.  I got eight chairs (three shown) from someone on Freecyle.  I need to buy new cushions since these ones are faded but they are okay for now.

Finally, I bought this from someone in a 'Good Exchange' closed group on Facebook.  It has about 700 people in it that are local and people can list items for sell or that they are in search of (ISO) and post photos.  It is similar to Craig's List but since it is a closed group by invite only (these must be growing because I currently know of five of them locally) there is zero spam.

It is a like-new Roomba in original box and barely used.  I bought it for $45 and am hoping it sells on eBay for $90 (based on current completed auctions).  You can see my auction here:  Roomba.

I lost the charge for my digital camera and stuck using my cell for pictures right now so I have to wait to list the Kokopelli figurines.  I'm hoping to save up money and buy an iPhone 4.  I'd love to have one with a flash on it and my current cell phone keeps freezing when I take pictures.

For now I can either take pics with my cell and have them grainy or wait until the charger comes in the mail (should be next week). I think for the detailed items I need to wait.

All in all it was a good day for garage sale-ing.  I didn't find much to sell on eBay but the sale of the Roomba, figurines and push mower should pay for the table and all the other shopping I did and maybe I'll come out ahead.  That is the plan anyways.

eBay Sales, Garage Sale Finds And Things That Don't Sell

It has been WAY too long since I have had a lot of auctions on eBay.  With my son having football games every Saturday it is hard to go garage sale-ing.  I am trying to clean, declutter and purge in the garage.  Everything is either in a 'next garage sale to get rid of' pile or on one counter-top, the 'list on eBay' pile.  The second pile takes up 1/2 of my counter-top.  The first pile is a lot more.  I have boxes in my garage on the floor, on the other counter-top and my shed almost completely full of garage sale stuff.

I am planning on having my next garage sale on December  24th or 31st.  I have had this two years now the first Saturday after Christmas and the garage sale was a HUGE success. This year, since the first Saturday after Christmas is New Years I might do it the day before Christmas instead.

The last two times I did this (I skipped last year since I didn't have anything to sell) I had four friends helping me for the first few hours of the day.  It was THAT busy. There were cars up and down the street and over 20 people in my yard at one time.  It was an absolute madhouse!  Why?  Because no one else is crazy enough to have a garage sale on that day.  So, regular garage salers, people with nothing to do and saw it in the paper, and people that saw the signs ALL came to my garage sale since no one else, anywhere around, was having a garage sale.  I had customers come from over 30 miles away in both directions.

So, where do I get my stuff and what do I do with it?

First I get things and I try to sell them on eBay if they are a decent size to ship and on Craig's List or Cheapcycle (a knock-off groups of Freecycle that is just starting up) if the items are large and too big or heavy to ship.

I get these items from garage sales (I mostly go to nicer cities that have richer residence) or moving sales, since it is a 'everything must go' attitude at them or church rummage sales (since people don't have their own nostalgic feelings on items they are selling so they usually have lower prices. I also sometimes find things at estate sales or thrift stores.

There is two good times to go to a garage sale.  The very beginning of the day, when you find the goldmine items before anyone else, but are paying close to their asking price.  If you go at the end of the day, especially on a hot day, they are DONE, don't care, just want to sell everything and not pack it up again.  They will give you super cheap prices at this time.

Once I have things I search them on 'completed auctions' on eBay to verify they are worth selling and the approximate cost that the item is going for, sold.  Sometimes things look like they'd be a great sell but are worth nothing.  These items, as well as the items I tried to sell but didn't, all go into my garage sale pile or to the thrift store as a donation.

The items worth selling get photographed and then listed on eBay.  Right now here is my current auctions: Debbzs eBay Auctions


I pay $2.50 a month to Auctiva, an outside listing company, for some extra perks in my listings.


I try to only list items that I think will sell for the minimum of $25.00 for it to be worth my time and so that I can make the most of my sales.


With any sale the cost of the listing, how much eBay collects and how much I have to pay to Paypal makes it where anything smaller in sales isn't worth it.

Something like this, a doggie door that fits into a sliding glass door, I will try to sell on Craig's List & Cheapcycle first, since it will be expensive to ship.  However, this particular one, is brand new and already boxed to ship.  A friend bought it online two years ago and never used it.  So it is ready to ship.  So, I will try to sell on Craig's list to save the money on postage and eBay fees, but if I can't sell it, I'll post it on eBay.

eBay going paperless

eBay sent out an email with 'new great updates' again. Funny how this always seems to benefit them but they act like it is the seller or buyers best interest.

The biggest change is they are going 'paperless for payments'. They will no longer allow a seller to accept cash, money orders or cashiers checks as forms of payment. The only exception is for items that are pick-up only.

The new acceptable forms of payments are Paypal (which eBay owns stock in), credit cards or ProPay (not sure what this is).

Funny how I was informed about this by Auctiva via newsletter and I contacted eBay's live chat to ask about it and the live chat person told me,.. "No! Check your source of information because this is wrong." Less then a week later eBay notifies everyone about it.

I wrote a letter complaining (enough people do it and they might change it back, right? It has happened before).

This is what they said;


Dear Deborah,

Thank you for writing eBay in regard to your concerns.

I apologize for the misinformation you received regarding the Paperless
Payments policy. I see that you have been able to connect with live chat
since then and received the correct information.

However, I will go ahead and include that information here, as well.

Starting October 20, 2008 only permitted payment methods will be
displayed in the payment details section of listings. Sellers will need
to remove all references to non-permitted payment methods from item
descriptions. We know that this is a busy time of year for sellers, so
to allow sufficient time to change templates, we will wait until January
15, 2009 before we begin taking action against sellers soliciting
non-permitted payment methods within the item description of listings.


Here is a list of the accepted payments:

PayPal
Credit or debit card processed through an Internet merchant account
ProPay

Sellers may in addition offer to accept:
Payment upon pickup

For more information on this new policy, please visit the following
link:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/accepted-payments-policy.html


If you need further assistance, please don't hesitate to reply to this
email and let us know.

Sincerely,
Ashley Cu.

eBay Customer Support





So, there you have it.

Please tell me what you think!!

NEW fees, again from eBay

http://pages.ebay.com/sell/August2008Update/MaxShipping/

Okay, check out the above link. eBay is changing their shipping fees. On certain items, like books and cd and computer games, they are putting a max. amount that can be charged for shipping. Even if there is 20-500 books. The prices seem WAY too low. BUT, you can avoid this constraint. You have to now use the shipping calculator. Down side, you have to have your item all boxed up and know the exact weight while listing so that you know what to input.

Two reasons that eBay is doing this. 1- So that buyers do not get charged too much for shipping. 2- eBay collects a fee on the final balance. So, if you sold something for 99 cents and charge $20 for shipping they'd only collect their fees off of the 99 cents. BUT, if they limit this and you sell the item for $15.00 and charge $ 5.00 shipping eBay will now make the % of their fees based on the $15.00.

So, bottom line is more money, again, for eBay!

Debbie

Crazy eBay auction- Diet Coke with Lime

Okay, I did it. I posted something in the Totally Bizarre category on eBay.

Please view it, click 'watch this item' or even bid on it. There are a few outside websites that have the top bizarre things selling on eBay and I'd love to be listed on it so that others view me too!

:-)

Debbie


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280238284936&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=018

wierd crazy and bizarre on eBay

I have recently discovered that eBay has an 'everything else' category. This is for items that the seller could not find a category to fit the item they are selling. I have NO CLUE why these things sell. My brother thinks some are really people selling illegal substances. I can't say for sure. Some are just people bidding on crazy things for no reason at all.

	Weird Stuff
		Slightly Unusual
		Really Weird
		Totally Bizarre

Some things that I have seen lately;

an empty can of soda or energy drink. Selling anywhere from 99 cents to over $400. They say there is something 'extra' in the auction too since eBay ended the 'mystery gift' category.

A potato that looks like Mickey Mouse's head.

A bugger on a nose hair with a napkin (sold for about $6).

Someone shaving their kids and husband's head to raise money for the kids' wrestling team.

A piece of gum that is 33 years old and is the shape of a heart.

A jar of marbles that sold for $355.

Lots of silly, weird and strange stuff. BUT, do not look at with your kids around. There are some bondage/sex items and some photos with women in bikinis showing off LOTS of skin selling something completely different.

So, I'm going to try to list some soda cans! I will probably do it tomorrow! It can't hurt, right? We will see what happens!!!

;-)

How to be frugal and cut auction fees on eBay

It wasn't written by me but a great article on how to save money on the little 'pennies add up' things on eBay.


http://http://www.auctiva.com/edu/entry.aspx?id=Controlling-Auction-Fees

eBay, save money at the end

Often I sell things on eBay that due to size and/or weight are pick-up only. This is up to you if you want to do this. Some people do not like to meet buyers face-to-face and do not want them knowing where they live or work (depending on where the item is you are selling). So, this is at your description. I figure that if someone did a Google search they'd find my name, dob, address, blood type and a million other things that should be private so my address isn't the end of the world but since it do not think it is safe to invite strangers into my home with me and the kids home I either bring the item to them, have it outside or in my garage already, or meet them in a parking lot or at my dad's work. The garage thing works if it is too big to move or have in my van and transport.

When you do have an item like this do NOT use Paypal! Think frugal! Paypal takes 3.9% plus 20 cents per transaction (right now, rates do change sometimes). So, on a item that you sell for $100 you are already paying eBay and now pay Paypal $4.10. I ask them to pay me cash and all but one was fine with that (he preferred Paypal or a cashier's check for his own buyer's protection).

I recently sold something and the buyer was in Chatsworth. The item was to heavy for me to really lift so I had a friend come over (thank you, Joe) and put it in my van for me and I brought it to the guy. I was already meeting my dad for lunch in the valley so it was only 15 minutes out of my way. Well, the buyer was so happy that I brought it to him that he paid me $91, the amount of the auction, PLUS he gave me $ 15 more for the gas! This was great to me!

I got paid to bring it to him. Didn't tell him my address. and avoided the Paypal fees. All for 15 more minutes of my time!

:-)

ME on eBay

I have to email eBay for the URL link again (I had it but accidently deleted it) but if you want to view my auctions on eBay you can do an advanced search by using my user name

Debbzs


;-)

Changes in eBay

eBay has made some changes in the last few months with the way things are listed. If you list something wrong they will not send you an email telling you to fix it. They will just pull the auction.

Some things that they notice more now or new changes.

1- in the subject/listing line you can not put 'like new or like-new'. They said that it has always been this way but recently they have started to pull auctions for it. Their reasoning is this. If a buyer does a search on eBay. Say they want a new computer. If they type in the words 'computer, new, Apple' on a search they will get everything that is Like-new too. So, it makes sense but is a pain. An alternative is to put EUC which means excellent used condition.

However, In the description part where you type more details about the item you can still put like-new.

2- Not sure why but a friend had an auction pulled recently. In the description part of an auction my friend put ' will take checks, money orders, Paypal or cash' and eBay pulled the auction.

He was told by eBay that auctions are not allowed to be listed saying that someone will take cash.

Go figure!

3- Fake items. There have been quiet a few lawsuits going on with companies suing eBay for counterfeit items being posted. So, eBay is on the look out for them. I've had a few auctions pulled for purses that were fake. All of them looked and felt real to me but I guess someone from the purse company checks the auctions and notifies eBay. Even NICE purses from mulit-million dollar houses have fake purses! You can not guess who would or would not by seeing how they live.

4- Offensive or hate items. This is where things get blury and do not always make sense. For example. things that are from WWII and are German will be pulled because it is offensive to people what Hitler did. So a German military uniform, a swatzka, a lot of things with German writing and simiar things will get the auction pulled. You can NOT list them item and just not mention it and not show the offensive item and say 'please email me for photos'. If it is implied that there is more. eBay will pull it.

However, things of this nature that are photographs (even of burned, mulitated bodies or gas chambers are okay. Same with books and coins.

If you do an eBay search with keywords like K - three times (without spaces- I just put that so that it will not come up on a Google search as easily) offensive, racist, hate, etc. you will get about 100-200 items. I've seen photos of cross burnings and a family standing in front of a tree with an empty noose hanging from it and other horrible things and it is okay since they are photographs. There are more but I will not waste my time or give audience by going into more details.

I've emailed eBay about this. Asking why a uniform is more offensive then these photographs and they have not replied to me!

So, you can try to read their guidelines for this but it doesn't always work.

If you get an auction pulled eBay will refund your listing fees BUT it is a 'ding' against you. Too many and eBay can put you on a restriction for a probationary time or even refuse to let you list on eBay.

eBay- 2nd chance offer

eBay has a second chance offer to let you relist something for FREE if it does not sell the first time.

Beware. NOTHING is free! They are a business!!!

There is a catch.

If you relist the item a second time and it sells you will only have to pay the listing fees once.

BUT if you relist it a second time and it does not sell. You will have to pay for two listing fees. For the first time AND the second time.

So, if you think it will sell try to lower the price, edit the description. Change the category, etc. to ensure it will sell.

Also, if it is a big price item. Wait a week or two to relist. A few times a week I get an email a day or two after the auction is over by someone saying they missed the auction but still want to see if they can buy the item. You can do this by just sending them a invoice with Paypal or by doing a 'end it early' with eBay or putting a Buy it Now on the item for the buyer to buy it right away. The first option is frowned upon by eBay (since they won't get final auction fees) and is not under eBays protection for fraud so the second two ways are a safer way to sell.

eBay- powerseller

If you haven't noticed eBay has now changed their fees (again). They sent out a mass email acting like they were doing everyone a favor by offering Gallery photo for free. This is great since I use it on every single auction I post. BUT, when I clicked on the email to read all of the details they then mentioned other changes in their fees. Most were increases.

I am not going to log onto eBay to get the exact amounts since they change often but one thing someone can do to try to save money is to become a Powerseller.

There are a few requirements to be a Powerseller. Feedback, # of completed auctions and # of listings each month have to have a minimum.

Final listing fees for Powersellers are a less then for someone else listing on eBay.

It is about a 3% difference so depending on the item it can be significance and fees add up quickly!

last month I paid over $150 in eBay fees! I do not know how people make money by selling things for 1 cent. I can't see how it is worth their time. After the eBay and Paypal fees they have lost money. Keep these fees in mind when you are going to list or re-list something.

eBay tip

If you are up in the middle of night listing things on eBay schedule to post things at a 'decent hour'. If you list things consider when other people will be up. Since the most common auction is a 7 day auction but you can not choose a time difference it will end the same time and hour you begin it.

It does not always happen but it is nice when auctions get into a bidding war at the end of the auction. The chance of this happening increases when your auctions is ending at a time that more people are on the internet.

BUT, it does not stop there. I am in California. But I have to think about where others are as well. Now, I do sell internationally (why not?) But that is another topic. So, When I list something I try to schedule the auction to post around 4pm, my time. That way in the rest of the U.S. it isn't too late at night and people might still be online.

eBay tip # 2

Buy packing/shipping tape when it is on sale. There are about 10 different types of tape you can choose from if you go to an office supply store. Some are industrious. Others labeled as packing or moving tape. There is clear or brown tape. So much to choose from.

In my experience the second to cheapest or cheapest works just fine for my eBay shipments. The store brand is often the cheapest but check the sales.

www.overstock.com sometimes has free shipping and incredibly low prices for tape (sign up for their e-newsletter online).

Today I found out that Office Max is having a sale and there is a coupon for 50% off shipping tape (limit three). It expires on Saturday and the closet Office Max is about 8 miles away but I am going that way anyways and going to map out my driving to save on gas.

eBay tip # 1

eBay has recently been making changes and getting more strict in things they will or will not allow in the auctions. In the past many auctions had the words 'like new' in the title or subject line to tell people the item they are selling is, well, like new! BUT, now, eBay will pull the auction if they catch it.

Their reasoning (which actually makes sense) is that if someone did a search for something and had the word 'new' in the search they'd get all the 'like new's as well.

Something to use instead is EUC which means 'excellent used condition.