Yard Salers and eBayers: Issue 2! 1.2 - Oct. 21, 2002
The newsletter that's gathering fans daily.
Greetings all!
I’d like to thank you for subscribing, and want to start by saying that I want to hear from you, if you have the time to write to me. What do you like best about the newsletter? Least? What do you want to see more of? What categories on eBay would you like me to analyze? Would you like to read more on yard sales, estate sales, and other acquisition strategies, or more about auction techniques? Etc.!
You’re the Best Readers
This newsletter is only a few weeks old, and already I have the best readers! I have heard from several of you and am sharing the interesting exchanges we’ve had about your areas of focus in our “Reader Mail” section. Check out this issue’s Contents below. Don’t have five minutes to read it now? Print it out; take it to bed with you! (That’s my favorite place to read my newsletters!).
Good health and happiness to you all, and happy hunting!
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In This Issue:
1) Big Lots vs. Small Lots: Which is More Profitable?
2) Reader Mail
3) More Thoughts on Sniping
4) “New” Collectibles
5) Acres of Diamonds within Your Reach: An old-new recommendation
6) eBay Highlighted categories
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1) Big Lots vs. Small Lots: Which is More Profitable?
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To big lot or not to big lot?
I’ve been wondering a lot lately about which is better: big lots or small lots. Or, I should rephrase, which is more profitable?
My first conclusion was that you could make more money selling off items individually than you could lumping them all together in one big group. However, and this is a big however, there’s always the big all-important time factor. And, as we all know, time is money. Most of what I’ve sold, I’ve sold as individual pieces. Occasionally I’ve sold things off in related groups, for example, a lot of four books about Mount Everest, which I sold to a guy in Scandinavia for around $40…not bad!
But in my continuing quest to purge my existing inventory before acquiring too much more new inventory, I decided I needed a way to get rid of more things more quickly. Now, what did I have that people might want to buy in quantity? The trouble with mixed lots of clothing is that not everyone wants to buy a huge bunch of clothes at once. In fact, I believe most people shop on an item-per-item basis, and unless the bid is really low, they don’t want to pay for anything extraneous. (Unless they think they can auction it off themselves for decent money individually).
This weekend, in a frenzy of clutter-clearing activity, I cleaned out all the kids’ VHS videotapes in our movie cabinet that my kids don’t watch anymore. There were some good titles, like Beauty and the Beast, Rugrats, Blue’s Clues, etc., but they were basically just taking up space. I looked at some completed auctions for other large lots of children’s videos. Here are some samples of what I found:
- Lot of 61 VHS Walt Disney Movies: $346.05 (the titles were not even listed out; and you couldn’t tell from the picture exactly which films they were..I am guessing people emailed the seller to ask the names)
- Lot of 30 Disney Movies “Classics VHS”: $152.50 (these were listed and included popular titles such as Aladdin, Pinocchio, 101 Dalmations, and Beauty and the Beast).
- Disney Movies VHS Lot of 14 Some NEW: $105 (This is a good amount of money for fewer titles than the other auction: the new factor helps, as people can give them as gifts. Titles were: “THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER - TOY STORY - CINDERELLA - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST CHRISTMAS-THE ARISTOCATS - DUMBO - DISNEYS SING ALONG SONGS - 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA - ROBIN HOOD - ALICE IN WONDERLAND – PINOCCHIO”
I noticed that the Disney movies tended to sell very well. As you know if you’ve read my book, “What Sells on eBay for What,” brand is very important to auctions on eBay.
Notice how this auction with more movies sold for a little more than half as much as the last auction:
- “HUGE LOT 41 FAMILY MOVIES VHS VIDEOS!” $56.55
They weren’t bad movies; they included titles like Beatrix Potter, Digimon, Goosebumps; they just didn’t have some of the ubiquitously marketed titles like some of the Disney movies.
Another lot of 19 kids’ movies went for $36.00 -- things like Pokemon, Clifford, and Teletubbies.
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I concluded that even though I might do better to list each title separately, there was enough of a market out there for big lots of kids movies, and they were selling for enough money to make it worth my while to list ‘em all at once. So, of course, it will be up to you as to which of your items you want to group together. I encourage you to experiment, too (which can also be fun).
Ask yourself if your items ate the kinds of things people want a lot of. (As a parent who has succumbed to the urge to let movies keep the kids’ entertained for a few hours so I could get work done, I have to admit, a big bunch of movies for a hefty discount off retail prices is pretty attractive!). With kids’ movies, I decided it was.
Now, with some other big lot auctions I’ve done, I haven’t done so well. A woman in Canada got an incredible deal from me on 5 brand-name tops…for a dollar each! Two factors keeping that sale down: the items were different styles, and they were very summery, and I listed them at summer’s end (I admit, I just didn’t want to pack them away for the season). So that was an instance where the lot didn’t make a “lot” of sense.
But, if you’ve got a big bunch of similar items that people might want in quantity, and a big need to get rid of ‘em, fast, consider the big lot.
I’ll report in a later issue how my big lot of 21 kids’ movies did. Currently it’s at $31 with 9 hours to go.
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2) Reader Mail
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As I mentioned, I’ve gotten some great letters from several of you. I’d like to share some of them here, and also invite any of you to comment on them, or offer suggestions if you have them. Have a collecting question or problem of your own? Write to me! If I can’t help, one of our readers probably can!
Accordion Music and Boosting Your Sales w/ Extra Information
Remember our discussion last time on things we wouldn’t pass up to resell on eBay? Christine, who uses the eBay name bytheseastore, reports that she never passes up accordion music! “Weird, yes…but I always make excellent money on them when I find them.” Who knew?
She also says: “Another tip that has helped me beat out the competition: include information with each item. For example, I sold a cute set of sea horse salad fork and spoon servers, but I included 6 recipes for seafood salad… same with other kitchen implements. Do a google search, cut and paste, change the typeface and you have an extra edge. I do that with the religious items I sell too… Statue of St. Therese comes with novena prayers. Works every time!”
Christine, that is a great tip! Thanks. I will try it. If any of you try it, let me know how it works! I know I saw a Princess Diana dress auction book that was being offered for sale with a photo of an actual Diana dress from a mall display. It sold for a LOT more than the other Diana dress auction books alone.
We wish Christine luck – she’s leaving full-time eBay selling to take “a *gulp* JOB!” But..she still intends to sell part time.
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Trying to Find a Specific Vintage Sears & Roebuck or Montgomery Ward Catalog Reader Ross Sherwood wrote in with a very interesting dilemma:
“I am trying to locate a specific vintage Sears & Roebuck or Montgomery Ward catalog; it's probably circa early to mid 1920s to mid 1930s.
My very lucid 87-year-old father gave me an original oil painting of the Alamo that was painted by his mother (Ida Sherwood). What makes this painting more than just a family heirloom is that my father tells me this oil painting was commissioned ($200-250 - quite a sum back then) by either Sears & Roebuck or Montgomery Ward and used as a catalog cover. He does not recollect which one but he is certain it is either a S &R or MW catalog; he is absolutely certain he saw the painting on the cover of a fairly thick S & R or MW catalog and he thinks it was in the early 1920s - 1935 era (give or take a year or two, three).
I am at my wits end trying to track down S & R and MW catalogs of that era and acquire the catalog in question. Is there some reference center or collector you could direct me to?
Any assistance would be most appreciated.
Best regards,
Ross Sherwood”
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I told Mr. Sherwood that, short of keeping a “saved search” on eBay for the catalogs in question (which is difficult to do, since he doesn’t have the exact year), and doing free searches on them, he might try writing to the companies themselves. Many companies keep archives of all their old catalogs and other materials, but of course I can’t guarantee this. I also suggested he check out other online resources and communities. Auctionbytes, for example, has many good forums for discussion of different collectibles, as does eBay itself.
Anyone else have tips for Mr. Sherwood? Send ‘em in! And Ross, please let us know how it goes!
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3) More Thoughts on Sniping
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I’ve been overall satisfied with the results of the auctions that I’ve sniped. (I don’t snipe everything; just auctions I really want to win!). I have noticed what appears to be an increase in sniping (either that or people are hanging by their keyboards to the bitter end of every auction!).
But I have lost a few of my sniped auctions. Why? I simply didn’t set my bid too high. Now, obviously you don’t want to set your max. bid any higher than just that – the max you are willing to pay. But remember, if you only set it a few dollars higher than the current bid, there’s a chance someone is going to think a few steps (or bids) ahead of you.
That’s all for this week’s philosophical thoughts on sniping…except to say that, as a D.C.-area denizen, I feel for everyone who lives in the area like me, and has had to live in the current risky and stressful environment. My kids haven’t been able to even go outside for recess for weeks. And the streets and sidewalks have been largely deserted. Events have been canceled, etc. As of this writing, they think they’ve caught the snipers…let’s hope and pray that is so!
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4) “New” Collectibles
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I was thinking about collectibles the other day, and it occurred to me that if all our ancestors had saved everyday things in their original packaging, how we could all be making a pretty penny (don’t you love that expression…”a pretty penny?”) selling ‘em all off on eBay. (Or, heck, saving them for our own sentimental reasons).
Wouldn’t you love to go back in time and say to old great-great-grandpa Buck, “Buck, save those old Levi’s! They could pay for my kids’ college educations someday!”
I wonder how many things we could buy new today, keeping them sealed in their original containers/plastic, would pay off nicely as investments down the road? Most of what I sell and collect is not in such packaging, but I have made a few purchases with that idea in mind.
For example, having always been a big Beatles fan, I bought the “Beatles Anthology” new, sealed in plastic, when it came out a few years ago. I figured the first edition might become a nice collectible, and even if it didn’t, I’d have something I really liked.
I’ve also bought several of the Franklin Mint Princess Diana doll outfits for my daughter (I should put those last three words in quotes, since I have to admit, I enjoy looking at them a lot!). They just came out with a replica of her wedding dress, which I think is going to be really popular. Now, I don’t know how long they’ll keep making them, or if either of these examples is going to appreciate hugely over time, but I just wanted to get you thinking about what purchases…small or large…might pay off down the road as collectibles.
Thoughts on this topic, or examples? Let me know! Email me at juliawilk@aol.com!
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5) Acres of Diamonds within Your Reach: An old-new recommendation
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I’d like to close with a book recommendation: “Acres of Diamonds,” by Russell Conwell. I ordered this book on half.com a while ago, on a whim, remembering it in a lecture by an old high school social studies teacher. I started reading it, and found it fascinating. It’s a very slim volume, but is as relevant today as it was when the author first wrote it, in the early 1900’s. The basic premise is that if you see a need people have, and fill it, you can make a lot of money. Isn’t that the American Way? I was going to suggest that you get the book, whether used or new, but it turns out it’s right here on the web! Check it out if you get a moment; I think you’ll be glad you did. http://www.temple.edu/about/temples_founder/acres_text.html
6) eBay’s Upcoming Highlighted Categories
I found this on a discussion list about eBay. Remember, the holidays are the best time to make money on eBay! (*as well as
10/31 - 11/6
Themes:
Winter
Holiday Décor
Highlighted Categories:
Photo & Optics
Jewelry
Winter Sports
Motors (Vehicles, Parts & Accessories)
Clothing & Accessories
11/7 - 11/13
Themes:
Holiday Gift Planning
Holiday Party Planning
Highlighted Categories:
Electronics
Toys
Sporting Goods
Holiday Home Décor
Crafts
11/14 - 11/20
Themes:
Holiday Shopping: Expert Picks
Holiday Shopping: Luxury Gifts
Highlighted Categories:
Books
Movies
Music
Video Games
Toys
Motors
Jewelry
11/21 - 11/27
Themes:
Holiday Shopping Ease & Value
Gifts by Recipient
Highlighted Categories:
Jewelry
Collectibles: Holiday & Home Décor
Clothing
Toys & Hobbies
Motors
11/28 - 12/4
Themes:
Holiday Gift Giving
Highlighted Categories:
Jewelry
Electronics
Photo & Optics
Books
Movies
Music
Collectibles: Holiday & Home Décor
Toys & Video Games
12/5 - 12/18
Themes:
Buy It Now, Get it Fast
Highlighted Categories:
Jewelry
Electronics
Photo & Optics
Books
Movies
Music
Collectibles: Holiday & Home Décor
Toys & Video Games
Highlighted Features:
Listings with Buy It Now
Listings that offer Expedited Shipping options
12/19 - 12/25
Themes:
Last Minute Gift Giving
Electronic Delivery
Highlighted Categories:
Gift Certificates
Flowers
Magazine Subscriptions
Listings Offering Buy It Now and Overnight Shipping
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That's all for this issue! See you next month.
Happy yardsale-ing and eBaying!
Julia
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eBooks by Julia L. Wilkinson:
[all my ebooks are offered at substantial discounts from their regular price of $8.95 to the subscribers of this newsletter. Only $4.95 each! If interested in any of them, please email me at juliawilk@aol.com.]
New eBooks:
-- Making Big Bucks off Catalogs on eBay:
http://www.aolmemorabilia.com/clkslcat.html
- Over 100 Books that Sell for $50-$100 on eBay: email me!
- Selling Kids Clothes on eBay: email me!
(these last two will be available for purchase via my site soon).
Julia Classic:
What Sells on eBay for What:
http://www.aolmemorabilia.com/clkbnksales.html
My Life at AOL (available at amazon.com and 1stbooks.com)
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Copyright 2002 Julia L. Wilkinson
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