Hi!
It has been another crazy week–you can’t even imagine? (Or can you?) January is always a great month for me on eBay and I hope it is for you also.
- Lynn Recommends: Making 2008 Your Best Year–Payment plan ends at midnight
- Special Announcement: Ask Teleseminar with Lisa Suttora
- Feature Article: An update on my eBay New Year’s Resolutions
- The Queen’s Update: We want to hear your eBay success stories!
This ezine is published once a week.
January 10, 2008 Volume IV, Issue 2
Dear eBayers,
I don’t know where to begin. It started out well. We went to Disneyland Thursday/Friday to spend the night and celebrate my brother’s birthday. We ended up having a blast. Check out “Uncle Lee” with my kids in the fake snow. Houston and I even went on California Screamin’ (the huge Roller Coaster) for his first time–we laughed so hard. And now, it is his favorite ride (mine too).
“Snow” in Southern California!
But reality set in when we returned to Palm Desert late Friday night. Saturday morning was going to be garage sales, a non-working computer and tons of backlog. Poor Carmen had to work Thursday and Friday without the main office computer. Stressful for her and us!!!
There were only two garage sales in the paper for Saturday and I was in desperate need of dinnerware and flatware for my New Year’s eBay resolution #4 from last week. If you missed that article click here. Please read this week’s feature article about how I dealt with this and how a few of my other resolutions are coming along. I am hoping it will inspire you!
So, Monday rolled around and Carmen was out sick and Mo only comes in on Tuesdays (for now). Instead of putting the new computer together, I had to answer the 300+++ emails that the Queen of Auctions received about eBay items over the weekend. They were exceptionally trying because everyone seemed to want tracking numbers and guess what? I had no way of getting them because our main computer (with UPS WorldShip) had crashed. I had to explain that to about 50 customers.
Then the lady from Canada with the huge Elephant filed a Paypal claim because there was a split in the back leg. “Calgon, take me away.” Do you ever have eBay days like this? Just know that I can sympathize!!! I ended up refunding her $30 of her $79.99 purchase price. But at least I didn’t have to refund the entire $119.99 with shipping/handling.
So, Monday afternoon a package comes in the mail. It was from Dory, one of my Queen’s Court members. Talk about cheering me up! Here is a photo of the gift and you must check out the “Lynn Recommends” section to read her wonderful letter. It turned my bad attitude right around!
Tuesday, I had Mo, my mom, and Carmen in the office–Thank God for big favors! Mo also brought a friend to help us get caught up. Boy, were we behind. Mo and Carmen are such good sports and Mo even set up a desk with her laptop on an apple box on the floor of the eBay room. Check these two out. They crack me and everyone else up!
So Tuesday, I try and set up the new computer (finally). I get it all set up and UPS WorldShip won’t work. All of a sudden, I realize it is 12:30 pm and my Griff interview is in 30 minutes. Stressful! So, I run back into my office to prep.
If you missed listening to the Griff and Lee interview from Tuesday check it out here. It was fun and interesting as usual! However, about halfway through I dropped my phone and my headset came unplugged. Listen to me get a little frazzled during and after that! Click here. Life is always exciting around here. I’m not kidding, We still need that reality show.
After the Griff interview, I finally got WorldShip working–after a dozen phone calls to my poor brother. I was so proud of myself and then the printer wouldn’t work. It took me until 4:30 Tuesday afternoon to get that going. I think I need an IT person in the office–although as you can see from the above photo with Mo and Carmen, there wouldn’t be enough room!
Anyway, it has been a stressful week, but I know that with the new computer working, WorldShip installed and the printer actually printing–it should be smooth sailing. Ha Ha!!! I am just grateful that my eBay business is going at full speed ahead. Don’t miss my feature article for more great details.
In the Special Announcement section, I tell about my first ever Ask Teleseminar with Lisa Suttora of “What do I Sell.” She is awesome and I really respect her. It will be Wednesday night January 16th at 5 pm Pacific. It will be free for Queen’s Court members but read this section to learn more and ask your questions–even if you can’t participate. Lisa is also an eBay Certified Provider like me. eBay has put its stamp of approval on her, too.
Don’t forget, we have chosen the dates and location for our only Live eBay Boot Camp of 2008. Mark your calendars now and watch for the on-sale date coming up soon. To get the best room rates for my students (and myself!) it will be held the weekend after Labor Day: Friday through Sunday, September 5th-7th. 2008.
This one will sell out quickly. Especially with the infomercial coming out the weekend of February 2nd. Watch for your special email invitation.
Remember that PriceMiner‘s Jim Kamnikar is going to give away a 2-year subscription to one of my lucky ezine readers. Click here to enter the drawing. We will choose the winner around February 1st. Good Luck!
And as an ending note, Happy New Year!!! I wish the best for you and your family in this coming year.
Here’s to Successful eBaying!
Lynn Dralle, ‘The Queen of Auctions,’ Creator of the best-selling eBay Boot Camp in a Box and Boot Camp in a Box Lite.
If your New Year’s Resolution is to expand and streamline your eBay business for 2008, then Boot Camp in a Box and Boot Camp in a Box Lite are two great ways you can grow your business this year!
Check out this actual typed letter and gift that I got from Dory–the one that turned my bad attitude around! And made me soooo proud. (Her eBay store is Gizmo’s Gadgets and Goodies):
Lynn, I just wanted to send you a note to thank you for all that you have done for me. I don’t know if you remember, but I met you at eBay Live last year…I was getting married last summer and had just quit my teaching job…to do eBay full time. I bought your Boot Camp in a Box and it has absolutely been the best money I have ever spent!
When we returned from our honeymoon I had 50 items in my store. I now have about 600 items, made PowerSeller in November and my 30-day totals have been over $3,000 for the past several weeks. In October, I was able to hire an employee to do my packing (which I hate!!)…I have freed up my packing time and can now list more. I could NOT have done this without your help.
I had been finding that I was getting burnt out from teaching and looked forward to coming home and doing eBay in the evenings. You have been my role model, as I see that you are able to support your children and yourself by selling on eBay and that keeps me going when I question if I can do it. You have truly been an inspiration to me and have helped me see that I CAN do this. I also cannot thank you enough for the Queen’s Court. It has been invaluable in both helping and motivating me.
My husband has been so supportive of me on this, too. He helps by taking pictures and probably checks my auctions and sales reports more than me! He also has become a big fan of yours too–probably because I talk about you so much! Whenever I’m unsure of something he says, “Well, what would the queen do?” It’s so funny.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you and let you know how much you have helped me. We were at a crafts fair last month and I saw this sign that I’ve enclosed, and immediately thought of you. Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
-Dory F.
To make it even easier for you to put the Dralle Method into action, I have come up with a super special payment plan. Just click on either Boot Camp in a Box or Boot Camp in a Box Lite to see how easy it is. This payment plan expires at midnight tonight, so don’t delay!
Remember, I am an eBay Certified Service Provider. eBay lets me put their name on all of my products. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I want you to be as successful as I am.
And remember, Queen’s Court members receive a 15% discount on all of my website store merchandise. That includes Boot Camp in a Box!
I am excited to announce that eBay product sourcing expert Lisa Suttora and I will be doing a teleseminar on Wednesday Night, January 16th at 5 PM PST, 8 PM EST. Lisa helps people find stuff to sell on eBay.
It will be an ‘Ask Campaign’ so you can submit your questions ahead of time and we will pick the best and most frequently asked questions to be answered during the call. Click here to learn more and to ask your question. Once you have asked a question, we will give you a link to Lisa’s Special Report, “Product Trends for 2008.” I just read it and it is awesome!
eBay Certified Consultant Lisa Suttora
We all want to find more good merchandise to sell on eBay. Lisa is an expert at spotting trends for what people want to purchase this year and into the future.
So fire away with your questions here!
This is one teleseminar that you will not want to miss.
This teleseminar and transcript is free for Queen’s Court Members and is your extra gift this month. If you are not a member of the Queen’s Court and would still like to listen in, receive the download, and get the transcript, we do have a special introductory rate. Click here to sign up.
Even if you can’t make it to the call, drop by and ask your question here. The more questions we have, the more we’ll learn on the call. I am really excited about this call and we are SOOOO Lucky to have Lisa for an hour or so on January 16th!!!
‘Update on My eBay Business New Year’s Resolutions‘
by Lynn A. Dralle, ‘The Queen of Auctions’
So much has happened with these resolutions in the last week that I felt compelled to update you on my progress! Most specifically with Resolutions #1 and #4….
#1: Clean up the clutter in my house by selling Everything Unnecessary on eBay
Just by listing a very few items out of my messy closet, I brought in over $200 in the past several weeks. Check out what sold and for how much. If you want to read more about the items just click the links to go to the eBay pages.
Click here to read more about this Starbucks Train.
Sold for $9.99 and got shipped to Japan yesterday!
Remember that Greek or Roman warrior statue that I was thinking about giving as a gift but never did. He sold for $41.00 and then the gentleman paid another $34.95 in s/h charges to get him sent to Germany!
Click here to read more about the statue.
My total so far is $50.99….
I put away frames because I love to give pictures as gifts. But enough frames already, I had about 40 frames put away in that closet. I listed this Oriental one and it sold for $9.99.
Click here if you want to read more about it.
Then this Silver Oval one sold for $9.99.
Click here if you want to read more about it.
And finally this shadow box one. I never in a million years dreamed that it would sell for so much. You must click below to see the final bid price, because, quite frankly I am still in shock. I am soooo glad I didn’t give it away as a gift–especially to someone who would probably never even display it!
Click here to see the selling price.
The Shadow Box was shipped to Canada.
I hope you are realizing from reading this article that many of the items we sell are going to other countries. In fact, over 1⁄2 of the things I sold out of my closet are now spread all over the globe. Don’t limit yourself to only selling within the US. You will be hurting your business if you don’t take the international plunge!
Grand running total so far from the closet: $96.97!
Then I found these two huge Department 56 snowflake ornaments that I was going to use to decorate for Christmas. Why? I don’t know–call me crazy but I thought they were really cool. Leftover from our Christmas Gift Department at the shop.
However, I think that they are really cool now that one sold for $22.49 and the other sold for $23.49!! And I just found a third on in my garage that I am listing right now!
Click here to see if the new one has any bids!
Grand running total to this point is $142.95!
Then I sold Crabtree and Evelyn baby items from the Antique and Gift store leftovers. I was saving them for gifts but (once again) never used them. Some of the original ticket prices were $4.95 but I sold 4 different items at $9.99 each! Several went to London, England.
Click here to read more.
And finally my pièce de résistance!!! Maureen (Mo) couldn’t believe what this sold for and sat staring at it for about five minutes. I only paid $5 for it. Click on the link below to see what it is used for and what it eventually sold for!
What did it sell for? Click here.
Grand total: $233.42!
And there is still a ton more stuff to list from that closet and other closets in my house. In addition, not everything sold at auction and I have moved those into my eBay store where they will eventually sell! Pretty cool start on my resolution #1!!
Now on to resolution #4……
#4: Look for more flatware and dinnerware
This year I am going to find and SELL more dinnerware and flatware. These are the items that I can list faster and make the most money on.
This is a very important part of my business plan for this year. I want to stay focused on this because it will allow me to list and sell more items quickly and more profitably.
So, I was bummed this past Saturday to find that there were only two garage sales advertised in the paper. And, I was exhausted from being at Disneyland for two days. So I said to my mom, let’s just sleep in and skip the sales. She finally agreed. She can be more serious about this than even me!
At 6:30 am on Saturday morning my doorbell rings. Guess who? My housecleaners. I had forgotten that they were not coming on their usual day and I told them to be there before 7 am because I would be leaving for garage saling. What an idiot I am!
So, I got up and did a little bit of eBay work, and at about 9 am my mom called and says, “Come on let’s go out saling.” Fine–my relaxing day was ruined anyway! We left at 10:30 and I just want this to show you that even late on a Saturday you can still find good things.
We hit an estate sale that had a bunch of nice items still left. She was priced a little high, but since it was late in the day, she was willing to deal. I got two huge boxes full for $45. I got Limoge pieces, Dansk and even some Lenox. I don’t have any of those items listed but I will update you if anything does REALLY well.
Then, we hit the only other garage sale listed in the paper–a community sale in a mobile home park. Even though it was 11:30 by now we still found great items. I bought two large lovely Denby Limoges Cache Pots for $22.50 each and a set of Mikasa Mosaic for $15.00. There were three huge serving pieces plus more in the Mikasa Mosaic pattern. The dinner plates alone list for $39.99 each on Replacements.com.
Click here to see if it has any bidders. But don’t worry, even if it doesn’t sell at auction it will go into my eBay store and I know it will sell from there at $19.99 per plate–I sometimes raise prices when things don’t sell at auction. Isn’t that fun?!
But the best piece of the day was at a thrift store–which just goes to show you that my resolution to find more dinnerware and hit my thrift stores more often is already working!! We went to three thrift stores that Saturday. I found a Lenox dinner set for $38.00 at one, nothing at the second, and a Rosenthal teapot at the third.
My mom found a pair of Harley Davidson leather chaps at the 2nd thrift store, so that made it worthwhile. She paid $16.00 and she started them at $24.99 to protect her investment. Once she listed them, she immediately got an email asking her to add a buy it now–a big NO-NO. But now she knows she has something good.
Click here to see what they are up to.
I had to smile when I was at that third thrift store. A made-in-China figural fruit teapot was priced at $4.99 and my Rosenthal Germany one was only $2.99. You see, there are still bargains out there!
It turns out that my teapot was designed by Pucci for Rosenthal. Pucci is well known for those wild print dresses in the 1960s. When doing my research, I also found that Andy Warhol did some designs for Rosenthal also back in the 1970s.
Click here to see what it is up to!!!!
When I did my research on PriceMiner a similar one had sold for $108.00. Wish me luck!!
Here’s to a very successful 2008 on eBay and off! I hope your eBay New Year’s Business Resolutions are paying off just like mine.
Happy eBaying!
Lynn
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 10,000+ subscribers. If you’re ready to jump-start your eBay business, make more money, and have more time, get your FREE tips now at www.thequeenofauctions.com
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.
A big thanks to everyone who has already submitted a story! 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 PowerSeller 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 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
Visit my eBay Store.Visit my eBay auctions.
For more great eBay tips and stories, visit my website at:
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.