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Are you a perfectionist? If you are and you carry this trait over into your eBay listing skills, you will never make a living at eBay. Keep on reading to find out why.
- Special Announcement: Something special is brewing
- Feature Article: Are you an eBay Perfectionist?
- The Queen’s Update: Our 5th 100 Best Story from YOU!
- Lynn Recommends: The 100 Best and More 100 Best on CD
This ezine is now published once a week.
March 15, 2007 Volume III, Issue 10
Dear eBay friends,
I have been sick with bronchitis and it has not been fun! I rarely get sick but have been going at breakneck speed recently–trying to write the third 100 Best book, still list 100 new things each week and spend time with friends and family.
Melanie and I had a blast while she was here visiting (my best friend from Boston) but the backlash has caught up with me. I guess I needed a rest because I am really sick.
Here are Mel and me with our friend John at dinner during her visit. I have known John (DK) since college–he appears in The 100 Best story #57 and his parents appear in More 100 Best #82.
So, without my usual high energy level, I have found that I rely on the Dralle Method of listing more than ever to keep my eBay business going strong. I had a great February and March is starting out really strong also.
What I have come to realize is that you can not be a perfectionist when you sit down to actually list–KISS–have you ever heard that one? Keep It Simple Stupid. That is one of the foundations of my technique.
This week’s article addresses the art of Keeping it Simple. People are always are asking me “How do you list an item in just 2-3 minutes?” You won’t want to miss this article.
We have been hearing from a lot of you that my newsletters are not making it to your email inbox. Just know that every Thursday they will arrive and if you haven’t seen it by Friday, it will be posted on my website. Also, the emails we have been having the most trouble with not being delivered are AOL ones. So, if you have another email address please sign up again with a non-AOL address.
There is a great story this week from one of our ezine readers about some McDonald’s Fire King coffee mugs that sold for over $70. Don’t miss this one!
Finally, I recommend our preorder special for the audio recordings of my two 100 Best books.
Here’s to Successful eBaying!
Lynn Dralle, ‘The Queen of Auctions,’ Creator of the best-selling eBay Boot Camp in a Box.
Something special is brewing this month at the behind-the-scenes office of my brother, Lee. We have uncovered never-seen-before footage (excellent quality) from my Bellingham Boot Camp. It is all video–not just audio. So, as we get that ready to go, please keep watching for more special announcements.
By the way, It will only be offered to current Boot Camp in a Box owners. And keep in mind that this is a completely different event from the LAX audio you may already own. Different people, different experiences and actual garage sale footage will teach you many important lessons and more dimensions to help your eBay business grow and grow!
If you don’t own Boot Camp in a Box yet, click here to learn more and read just-in fresh testimonials!
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I am an owner of Boot Camp in a Box. And I love it. I am not yet up to 100 things a week speed, but am enjoying eBaying a lot more!! When it got here, you would have thought it was Christmas. I was listening to the CDs at home, in the car, and my husband was looking at me pretty strangely! I can’t wait to try more of Lynn’s ideas. –Diane B., Flint, MI |
I am really excited about this and can’t wait to announce the “Lost Bellingham Footage” to my Boot Camp in a Box owners in a few weeks!
‘Are you an eBay Perfectionist?‘
by Lynn A. Dralle, ‘The Queen of Auctions’
I guess I have to ask myself this question first, before I can ask all of you! Here is what the dictionary says about a perfectionist, “a person who is displeased by anything that does not meet very high standards.”
It is funny, but I originally was going to answer the question with “I am not a perfectionist in any sense of the word.’ However, after reading the definition, I had to think about it a little more. I actually did some soul searching. I found that I do expect perfection from others and myself for many things.
To get a better handle on it from the outside, I asked my family members if they think I am a perfectionist. My brother said, “No, I don’t think you are. You are a go-getter and you just push through. You don’t get caught up in the details.”
This is a very important lesson from Lee and this is what this article is all about.
In my eBay business I expect our best effort when it comes to answering emails quickly, shipping safely and giving excellent customer service. The area where I just push through in my eBay business is in how much time I take to list an item.
I want the description, title and photo to be accurate and honest, but they do not have to be PERFECT.
I get frustrated when I am teaching eBay sellers to list quickly and instead they want to spend half an hour on each listing. They check for typos, rewrite text over and over (like they were writing a novel), add colorful graphics and sometimes even music.
The details can paralyze you and keep you from making a REAL living on eBay. Your goal is to list as many items as you can in an hour. My record is 47! You should be shooting for 15 to 20 per hour. Quick listing is the basis of The Dralle Method. If it isn’t up for sale, how can it sell? If it can’t sell, how can you make a living?
I hope you take this lesson to heart. Here is a great example from last week. I bought a beautiful paperweight at an estate sale for $3. It was signed ‘Scotland’ and ‘Caithness.’
Photo of my Scottish paperweight.
I listed it quickly at $9.99 with a very short description. Here is my description: “Caithness Starlight Scotland Art Glass Paperweight Blk Black and white with controlled bubbles. Beautiful. 2.5 by 3″. N64363 and signed. Great condition.”
Two days into the auction it was bid up to over $220. At that point, I decided to do some research. I got on PriceMiner.com and found that the most one of these had sold for in recent history was $48.50.
I couldn’t figure out why mine was worth so much. Then I got the email from eBay telling me that an incorrect bid had been placed and that it had been retracted.
Here is a question from an eBay member and my answer, to show you what happened.
Q: Hi! I would like to respectfully inquire if the numbers going into this bid are correct. Earlier today I checked and the bid was up to $220 something, then it went down to $20. I would like to bid, but am questioning what is going on? Thank you in advance for your response.
A: Hi there, If you look at the bidding history, a bid was retracted because an eBay buyer mistakenly added two zeros to an $80 bid making it over $8,000. Everything is now fine. Thanks! Lynn
My point is that I didn’t do the research until I realized that I might have a special item. I also didn’t spend time writing about the paperweight company or how many of this style were made and its original retail price. I did find that the original retail was $85 and if I would have put this into the description, it may not have sold for as much as it did.
Even with the bid retraction this piece went for a pretty penny! More than my research showed. Did I need to take more time and write the perfect description? Obviously not. Click here to see what it sold for.
KISS. Keep it simple and you can make a REAL living on eBay. Don’t dream about it, Just do it!
WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Lynn’s past ezines here.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR ON YOUR WEBSITE? Yes, you may – just as long as you include this complete blurb with it: The Queen of Auctions and eBay Power Seller, Lynn Dralle, publishes ‘eBay Tips & Tricks’ a weekly ezine with 8000+ subscribers. If you’re ready to jump start your eBay business, make more money and have more free time, get your FRE E tips now at www.thequeenofauctions.com
I am happy to announce our fifth story for The 100 Best Things You’ve Bought or Sold on eBay! This week’s story is about Fire King mugs from McDonald’s. Click below to read…
Click here to read the story…
Please patronize Micki’s auctions (Mickademous) and make her business this year even better. Thanks!
We are looking for more great stories of your eBay adventures. We know there are many great tales out there, so please submit your story along the lines of the stories from the 100 Best Books and a great side story with photos will help. If we use your story, you will receive a $35 merchandise credit on my website or towards my eBay auctions and you will have your story featured–along with your user id–in my ezine! It may also eventually end up in a published book!
By the way, when I mention my ezine readers’ user IDs with links to their auctions–it actually helps their sales! Amazing how that works. Click here for the guidelines for submitting your stories.
eBay Power Seller and third generation antiques dealer, Lynn Dralle, is the creator of Boot Camp in a Box, the home-study course where you can learn to implement the Dralle Method to maximize your eBay profits.
If you liked today’s issue, you’ll love this step-by-step course that is guaranteed to be the most complete and enjoyable guide to selling on eBay that MAKES YOU MONEY.
Read all about it here.
The Queen of Auctions also offers free articles, teleseminars, how-to books, tracking guides, DVDs, eBay Boot Camp training and other resources to help entrepreneurs make their eBay business a six-figure sales machine. Click here to learn more.
The Queen of Auctions/All Aboard Inc.
PO Box 14103
Palm Desert, CA 92255
760-340-6622
Lynn@TheQueenofAuctions.com
I am hard at work recording The 100 Best Things I’ve Sold on eBay and More 100 Best Things I’ve Sold on eBay to be released on audio CD. You will be able to listen and learn in your car or on your iPod! Preorder now at a special price.
Don’t miss out! I will be sharing extra insider info that is not in my two books and I am having a blast recording them. I know that you will laugh, cry and learn along with me.
We are offering a limited time presale special on the package including both audio books. Expected ship date is April 15th. (We want to cheer you up at tax time!) This audio program will be delivered on twelve to sixteen audio CDs. After this introductory special, it will sell for $29.99 each book or $49.99 for the two books–for a limited time we are offering both audio books at a special introductory price of $39.99. Click here to pre-order now!
Happy eBaying!!
Lynn
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