Lynn’s eBay ezine Volume IV, issue number 40

Dear eBayers,

Check out this email that I just got from Dawn and remember that she was back for her second Live Boot Camp.

Dear Lynn,

I wanted to thank you for another fantastic La Quinta Boot Camp. It was informative, exhausting and invigorating all at the same time. At last year’s Boot Camp I knew nothing — this year I knew what I didn’t know and came armed with a long list of questions — none of which I asked because you covered them all during class. And with all the changes eBay is making, it was very important that we covered them and strategies for making the necessary adjustments. DSRs are so important now, and last year they didn’t even exist. Return policies and limits on shipping charges and listing multiples — you covered them all. And you still found time to educate us about antiques, research, shipping, smart buying techniques, the Dralle listing method, photography, after auction strategies and tips for streamlining our businesses.

And just as important, there was a great group of people at Boot Camp — everyone eager to learn and share their experiences and knowledge. There were plenty of opportunities to interact and get to know each other. We worked hard and we had a great time. You make learning fun and exciting. You have such a genuine love for what you do — your encouragement and positive energy makes me believe that I can do this — and do it well.

Thank you, Lynn. And Mo and Carmen and Lee and Jason and Joel. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Dawn

Diva Dawn LV (Check out Dawn’s eBay store here.)

Boot Camp 2008 La Quinta is going to be such awesome footage! Jason did an incredible job filming it and I believe it was our BEST boot camp ever.

If you already own Boot Camp in a Box you can get the La Quinta footage at a special price until it becomes our full Boot Camp in a Box. This special offer ends on October 20th. If you already own the Full Boot Camp in a Box or Boot Camp in a Box Lite, please email us for a special link to purchase the new footage.

If you don’t own the full Boot Camp, you can still get the 4 in 1 Boot Camps in a Box (Bellingham video, LAX audio, 2007 La Quinta video and 2008 La Quinta video) before we retire LAX and 2007 La Quinta video. Read more about this amazing offer here. This special offer also ends on October 20th. You will receive 3 sets of discs now with the boot camp in a box and the La Quinta DVDs later this month or early November.

Don’t delay! This is incredible footage and can change your business just in time for the holidays. The La Quinta 2008 DVD sets will ship out end of October/beginning of November. Read more here.

‘Trash to Cash’

by Lynn A. Dralle, ‘The Queen of Auctions’

So just what was it that sold that Mo did not want me to know about? It all goes back to last October when I was frantically cleaning my house and garage. I was expecting an out of town guest and I needed all hands on deck to get this place straightened up. I am sure you all know that feeling. It is especially difficult to keep a neat home when you work out of your house.

Like the trooper she is, Mo was over helping me clean up the garage. I went out to put something in the trash can and what did I spy? See for yourself.

They weren’t as easy to spot as in the photo I have shown here because Mo had cleverly covered them up with other garbage. She did this because she knew that I never throw anything away and that I would OF COURSE list these items on eBay before throwing them out or donating to charity.

What were they? Two empty Patron Tequila bottles and a pair of Nike athletic shoes. I quickly snuck them back into the eBay room and went ahead and listed them.

Mo said, “Are you out of your mind? Those Nikes are in terrible condition–they will never sell and who is ever going to buy an empty Tequila bottle?” I said, “Let’s wait and see.”

Well, none of the items sold at auction, so we moved them into my eBay store. About 4 months later, the Nike shoes sold for $9.99 to a gal in England. She was very happy with her purchase and I got to do a little “See, I told you so dance.”

Mo came right back with, “You know, you still have those Patron bottles staring you in the face.” They were on a shelf right across from the eBay desk.

It was such a great moment this morning when Carmen told me that not just ONE, but BOTH Patron bottles had sold and that they were already paid for!!!! Now, I really got to do a “See I told you so dance” and Now I got to write a “See I told you so” ezine. Life is awesome!

Here is the store listing for the Patron Bottles.

The point of this article is that you just never know what will and won’t sell on eBay. That is why I encourage you to follow my three very important tips.

#1. Always list an item at auction before throwing away, giving away or putting in your eBay store at a fixed price.

If you have an item that is unique, you must always list it one time at auction first. You will never know how to correctly price it for your store if you don’t do this. I bought 23 of the same coffee mug at that estate sale this past Friday. I put one of them up at auction to test it and figure out its value.

Here is one of those coffee mugs and it already has a bid!

Click here to learn more.

#2. Make sure that the item is worth at least $9.99.

Before I decide to donate an item to charity, I look at it and ask myself, “is that worth $9.99 to someone?” If the answer is yes, it goes on eBay. If it is a $1.99 or even $4.99 item, it just isn’t worth my time or the eBay fees. I want you to start thinking in terms of $10 when looking at your items. Remember, I make my living selling about 1,000 $10 items each month. Sometimes I get lucky and something sells for a lot more, but most of the time it is $9.99 items. Be happy with that!

See this flatware auction here.

Check out some of the flatware that I sold this week out of my eBay store. I sold $170 worth and most of it was priced at $9.99. Those $9.99 items can and DO add up!

#3. Your trash could be someone else’s treasure and vice versa.

About five years ago I got an email from a gal who had just read my book, The 100 Best Things I’ve Sold on eBay. She emailed to say a big Thank you because she had just thrown away a pair of her old riding boots. She was an avid horse rider and didn’t think that anyone would ever want a pair of used boots.

After reading my book, she went out to the trashcan and pulled them out. She decided to put some oil on them and was amazed at how well they cleaned up. She listed them on eBay and could NOT believe it when they sold for $71.50!

I am experiencing one of those trash to cash stories this week also. I picked up a vintage Polaroid accessory kit for $1 at my local thrift store several weeks ago. Obviously, someone was cleaning out their closets, came upon it, and decided it was really trash but chose to donate it instead of throwing it away.

Check it out here.

I can NOT believe how high it is and there are still four days left in the auction. I am getting inquiries from as far away as the United Kingdom and Thailand.

#3 ½ Never let Mo throw anything away before looking at it! (Just kidding)

Mo’s house and eBay room are way neater than my house!

I challenge you to start thinking in terms of $10 items and try some things on eBay that you normally wouldn’t. You just never know! That is why eBay is so much fun. I say eBay is like gambling but you NEVER lose!