Lynn’s eBay ezine Volume V, issue number 14

Join us this Monday!

The telesminar in May with Debbie Ybarra of eBay-Mommy.com was incredible. I learned soooo much about selling plush toys and clothing.  Because it was such a hug success we are going to be doing another one on Monday evening, July 20th.

If you are a Queen’s Court member this is your gift for July. Please post your questions on the forums. If you are not a member, you can buy it at the low introductory rate here and email your questions to Lynn@TheQueenofAuctions.com.

Check out this email I got from Lynnette Seymour about the first teleseminar with Debbie:

Hi Lynn –

I just wanted to thank you for that great teleseminar with Debbie. Since listening to it just a few weeks ago, I’ve already picked up and sold enough plush for pay for my Queen’s Court membership this month and then some – on items I would have previously never even looked at! Plus there are some fabulous plush in my store that will pay for another month as soon as the right buyer comes along.

I’ve already listened to it twice and now have more sections to check out in the thrift store. Usually, I may or may not have browsed the men’s section for Hawaiian shirts. But now I am on the hunt for a Coggi sweater! In the meantime, I’ve found Tommy Bahama, Façonnable, and even a Versace! Looking forward to getting those listed soon.

Anyway, I was excited when I did the math and wanted to thank you – sold 4 plush for a total of $60.96 with at most a $3 investment. The Queen’s Court is invaluable to me.

The QC was really energized and buzzing after that teleseminar and for the weeks that followed.

I’ve also adopted Debbie’s idea of writing stuff down in an address book. On the QC we are calling it a BOLO book (for Be On the Look Out). I’m going to listen to it a 3rd time with my new BOLO book in hand and every future teleseminar.

Thanks! I plan on going fulltime within a year – and that I am SUPER excited about. Who’d a thunk that first Boot Camp in Palm Desert would change my life so much?

Thanks!

Lynnette

Shyflea’s Style Store

I am so proud of Lynnette and all of my Queen’s Court members. Even if you are not a member, don’t miss out on the Debbie teleseminar!

Click here to pre-purchase the teleseminar for Monday night!

‘AS IS and Worn Out can be better than New‘

by Lynn Dralle, The Queen of Auctions

Before we get into this article, just what does “As Is” mean?

My grandmother always marked items in her store with “as is” when something was wrong. It was common knowledge (and probably still is) in the business that “as is” meant that you should ask the sales clerk or store owner what was wrong with the item. Often times there wasn’t enough room on the tag to write, “crack on the base,” or “chipped at rim,” so the dealers would write “as is.” Sometimes, the dealers would also just put an “x” or “xx” to indicate that there was damage.

I love it when stores, estate sales and garage sale people mark their items “as is” if there is something wrong with the item. It can almost be thought of as meaning “sold as found.” But that “as is” prompts you to look closer and ask questions.

Now my tips for selling “as is” items on eBay.

1. Never pass up a chipped, cracked or repaired piece if it is from a good maker.

As I went through my new 100 Best Book—Home Run, to write this article, I was shocked at how many stories involved “as is” items.

If you have the book, check out stories, 26, 36, 39, 40, 47, 50, 55, etc! It is amazing to read how much some of these “as is” pieces went for. Some of them sold for over $200! Speaking of the 4th 100 Best book, I am recording the audio this week and the audio edition is available for pre-sale with free shipping. Click here to purchase now.

I just listed a really neat toby style mug on eBay this week. Even though it had chips at the top it was by a good maker and should sell.

Check it out here.

1. Make sure you put As Is, xx, Chipped, Cracked or Broken in your eBay Title
   

If there is room, I try and get As Is or Chipped in the title. Too many times I have sold items and the buyer has not read the description. They have quickly read the title, looked at the photo, and purchased.

I also try and put the damage IN CAPS right in the beginning of my description. If you do that and also get the As Is in the title and show a photo of the damage–you will save yourself numerous returns.

In fact, just last month a lady was haggling with me over a duck baking dish. We finally agreed on a price and even though I had chip in the title, and a clear photo of the chip, I thought to myself, I had better clarify this with her before I ship off this heavy item.

Sure enough, she had not noticed the damage and by emailing her beforehand I saved myself a costly return.

Here is that duck back in my eBay store.

1. Don’t wait to list “as is” items. List them immediately.
   

This is what prompted me to write this article. As I was looking back over my sold items from this past week, I kept shaking my head over a Villeroy and Boch antique bowl that was very “as is.” We are talking, cracked, crazed and chipped. I don’t know why I bought it for 50 cents, but boy was I glad that I did. And I had stared at it for over a month, not wanting to list it. Who knew that it would sell for so much and during the summer!

Click here to see what it sold for.

1. Worn and broken in Sporting Equipment can sell for good money.
   

Used sporting equipment like worn-in baseball gloves and used cleats can bring in big bucks. Many young athletes grow too quickly and they don’t have time to break in a glove or cleats. I sold three used catcher’s baseball gloves for charity last year and they brought in over $80.00 for the three! Just last month, I sold a pair of my son’s used baseball cleats for $9.99. Don’t throw anything away!

Check out the cleats here.

1. At Least don’t throw anything away before trying it on eBay.

My mom was cleaning out my kitchen cupboards, and she put a salt and pepper shaker in the throw away pile, because the base of the pepper was broken off. I said “Are you crazy? Those are Quimper Faience”. I put them on eBay and got $27.52 for them.

My As Is Quimper Faience salt and pepper.

The bottom line is that “as is” and used items will sell. Before you pass up any broken items or throw anything away, look at the item and ask yourself, “Is this worth $10 to someone on eBay”? If the answer is yes, get it listed! In this economy, everyone is looking for a bargain, and eBay is where they are going for those bargains. More eyes than ever are looking at items on eBay. Remember, your trash, is probably someone else’s treasure and that sometimes “worn in” and “as is” can be better than new.

Happy eBaying!

Lynn

We are looking for your eBay success stories to share with our ezine readers and possibly make it into a book of our reader’s best eBay stories.