Hi!
We are in the midst of garage sale season and I am wiped out. I hit sales on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Guess what? I can’t park in my garage anymore (what is new?) The Nicaragua teleseminar was awesome and we have a free download! Read more below.
- Lynn Recommends: Listening to the Free Download of our Nicaragua Teleseminar
- Special Announcement: No ezine next week & My book is almost done!
- Feature Article: The Post Office has Gone Dimensional
- The Queen’s Update: Our 12th 100 Best Story from YOU!
This ezine is published once a week.
May 3, 2007, Volume III, Issue 17
Dear friends,
I am wiped out from garage sale season here in the desert. I went out on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and shopped until I dropped. My mom actually did drop when she fell while helping me buy dinnerware. Not a pretty story but she is doing better now that she bought an ankle brace. Yikes!
All of this fit in my mom’s mini-van!
I did buy a huge set of Fitz & Floyd dinnerware for $325.00. F & F (look for this signature) is a great manufacturer and I already have bids on several of the items. I am hoping to turn it into a quick $1,000 on eBay this week to help pay for our deposit on the lots in Nicaragua.
This is one of the dinner plates.
Click here to see the current bidding.
I was at a sale on Saturday and bought a rabbit cookie jar. The lady looked at me and said, “Are you Lynn?” Oh my goodness! Shelly recognized me from my books and e-zine. Then she said, “Are you still working on story 89?” How cute was that? This happens all the time in Bellingham, but this was a first for Palm Desert! When I get the cookie jar listed I will let you know to watch the auction. Hi Shelly!
Don’t miss out on the Lynn recommends section–it has the free download to our Nicaragua teleseminar (or you can click here.) Even if you aren’t interested in investing in another country, the information that John shares is invaluable if you are nearing retirement age. And who isn’t? By the way, the retirement age for tax benefits in Nicaragua is 45. What?!! You must listen to John explain this! I was pretty excited!
In our special announcement section, I will tell you why there will be no ezine next week and update you on my book’s progress–how wonderful!
My feature article is about the US Post Office and their rate increases which will go into effect May 14th. You won’t want to miss this one because they are adding dimensional weight to the way they charge. Just when you thought that the USPS pricing couldn’t get any more confusing–trust me–it has!
Finally, this week we have another great story about the things you all have sold on eBay. This one comes from Sandi. She tells the story of a coffee mug that sells for 63 times what she paid for it!
Here’s to Successful eBaying!
Lynn Dralle, ‘The Queen of Auctions,’ Creator of the best-selling eBay Boot Camp in a Box.
San Juan del Sur reminds me of what San Francisco must have been like around 1849 when the Gold Rush began to explode. Think of cobblestone streets and small “mom and pop” businesses. San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua is an entrepreneur’s paradise just waiting for people to stake a claim to their dream business.
eBayers are entrepreneurs at heart and this area of the world is crying out for goods and services. Peter and I did and I don’t want you to miss out on this incredible opportunity. Click here for the download of the teleseminar.
In the last eighteen months, San Juan del Sur has experienced a greater than 200% increase in property values. For more information on John’s development, please click here.
Our teleseminar last night was so much fun! Thank you to everyone who called in to listen. It was a change for me because for once, I wasn’t in the hot seat. And Peter, John and I love to talk, so it was awesome!
In case you missed out on our incredible information about this Nicaraguan investment opportunity, our teleseminar is under 60 minutes and can be downloaded here. John is offering a super special incentive to all of my e-zine readers. Be sure to listen through to the end because John has an offer for six of you that expires soon.
There will be no ezine next week for several reasons. The most important is that my brother is going to be in Argentina working with his church on a mission trip. I can’t put out an ezine without my brother and that is just one reason why I am dedicating my new book to Lee! Check back on May 17th for the next issue.
Speaking of my new book–I finally finished the 100 stories! And for the first time this year, we are doing a galley proof. Not because we are smart, but because we had to. I set unrealistic expectations (like I always do) for how long it would take to finish this book. Why settle for what’s here when I can shoot for the moon?
We are debuting the book in New York at Book Expo America on June 1st, 2007. That means that I needed to be done writing by April 15th and instead, I was in Nicaragua. So to have copies available to autograph, we decided to print 400 galleys.
Galley proofs are preliminary versions of a book. They are called that because, in the days of hand-set type, the metal type would be set into a metal frame called a galley. Galleys are used today as advance reading copies for reviewers, magazines, and libraries. They can also be used before a final press run to make sure you have no typos etc. Smart.
I will be signing some of the Galley copies at Book Expo and the rest will be taken with us to eBay Live at the end of June to be given as a gift with purchase for our special eBay Live offering. Those 400 copies (expensive ones, too) will give us a little breathing room and time to make changes before our final press run. I can tell you this much–the final book is going to look nothing like our Galley copies.
If you are lucky enough to get your hands on one of these galley copies you may want to keep it–as it may be worth money someday on eBay. 
‘The Post Office has gone Dimensional‘
by Lynn A. Dralle, ‘The Queen of Auctions’
I want to address the US Post Office pricing increase that takes effect on Monday, May 14th. I will try and make some sense out of it for you all. I have been sitting here for about two hours and am having a hard time figuring it out myself! Just kidding (kind of). Here is what you need to know:
- First-class letter is increasing from 39 to 41 cents.
- The flat rate priority envelope–my favorite–is going from $4.05 to $4.60. 13.5% increase(I will probably start charging $5.95 instead of $4.95 s/h for this) 20% increase
- Flat rate priority boxes are increasing from $8.10 to $9.15. 13% increase
- Dimensional charges for Priority–this is where it gets tricky and you need to know what you are doing.
To figure dimensional charges, you first have to know your zones. Then you need to know how to measure your boxes. I can not possibly cover all of this in an ezine. Please watch for a special report on USPS shipping coming out soon.
International rates have also increased. If you have attended a boot camp seminar or are an owner of Boot Camp in a Box I will be sending you out a new international rate chart in the next few weeks. Click here for more info on BCIB. Don’t use the old rate chart anymore!
There was always a type of dimensional weight going on with international so just remember that if the length, girth, and height are over 36″ you will pay the four-pound price regardless.
The rates which have increased the most are the rates to Europe and Canada. We think that this may be because of the exchange rate of the Dollar with the Euro and ever-increasing gas prices. Whatever the reason, just know this:
- Rates to Canada have increased the most between 18% and 25%. What is the most shocking to me is that a two-pound package airmail used to cost $6.70 and now it cost $8.26.
- Rates to Europe have increased between 18% and 22%. Yikes! These rates should have been gradually increasing over the years and not making these drastic changes. I am not happy.
- Finally, rates to Japan and Australia have increased the least at only 20 to 30 cents each. No percentage rate to figure out there! We can’t really figure this out but just know that if you have one of my rate charts from a live seminar or Boot Camp in a Box–the lower half is still accurate!
By the way, the USPS may not be our best and only option ANYMORE to ship internationally. I will have to check out all of our options at eBay Live and during my real-life eBay business and do an analysis. So, please watch for my eBay shipping special report coming out after eBay Live in June. I won’t steer you wrong and will do my best to save you money!!
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 all links as they are and append this complete blurb with it: The Queen of Auctions and eBay Power Seller, Lynn Dralle, publishes ‘eBay Tips & Tricks’ a weekly ezine with 9000+ subscribers. If you’re ready to jump-start your eBay business, make more money and have more free time, get your FREE tips now at www.thequeenofauctions.com
I am happy to present our eleventh story for The 100 Best Things You’ve Bought or Sold on eBay! This week’s story is from Joni in Southern California. She writes about a mug she wouldn’t give up on. Click below to read…
Click here to read the story…
Please patronize Joni’s auctions (sandiegana) and store (Sandiegana Collectibles) and make her business this year even better.
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 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 antique 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
Happy eBaying!!
Lynn
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Lynn is an experienced eBay Power Seller, author, and teacher. If you want to know the eBay tips, tricks, and tools that Lynn uses for buying and selling at an online auction click here.