Hi!
I am on story #70 and have only 30 more stories to write before the 4th 100 Best book will be going to press. Just in time for Book Expo in New York on May 28th! This ezine is going to be short and sweet. Just like Indiana.
Unfortunately, she is not really that short because we bought season passes at Soak City this weekend and if you are over 48″ the price jumps up by $30. Indy is about 10 inches over 48″. I asked her to try and walk so she looked shorter, but it just wasn’t going to work!
- Lynn Recommends: Selling Toys, Kids and Adult Clothes Teleseminar
- Special Announcement: 4-Part payment plan for Live Boot Camp
- Feature Article: How To Clean Up Your Kids’ Rooms And Prosper
- The Queen’s Update: Requesting more stories from YOU
This ezine is published every two weeks.
April 23, 2009, Volume V, Issue 9
When my mom read the last ezine, here is what she emailed to me (after reading that I wanted her to help list those little dresses). Yikes!
“Oh No!…not those old little girl’s dresses from the storage unit!!!!! Think I’ll stay home!!! Anyway, the article was good–you could have mentioned your Dralle Method, where you take your laptop and I Sell sheets and list along the way. But I guess they already know about that one. CU Soon. MM.”
Here is one of those dresses that she listed that already has a bid. Notice the terrible photo–apparently, it just doesn’t matter.
Luckily, when she threatened to stay home she was just kidding. She has been here for ten days and has been a lifesaver. Cooking for my kids, entertaining them, grocery shopping, helping me list on eBay, and even helping find photos for the new book. I can NOT let her leave on Thursday (that would be today).
One thing she did that was incredible is that she helped clean up the kids’ rooms. That is the basis of my feature article this week. Don’t miss it. ‘How To Clean Up Your Kids’ Rooms And Prosper!’
Speaking of kids and being prosperous, Houston got an iPod Touch for hitting four home runs in a baseball tournament. It was a bribery tactic and it worked. It was quite a while ago and the boys did win the tournament so I have been saving my pennies ever since to get him that iPod. I finally came through with the gift of the century and Indy looked at me and said, “Mommy, I do lots of great stuff also, can I get an iPod Touch?”
Wow, that broke my heart. I said to her, “Indy, I am so proud of you for everything you do. I am especially proud of you and your team for taking 3rd in Odyssey of the Mind and for that accomplishment, I will buy you an iPod Touch. Just give me some time to budget for it.” Well, while I was saving for that, she decided that she would rather have a trampoline. We just got it last week and even though it is small (only 8 feet), she loves it. Check out that look of joy on her face!
Since my mom is leaving soon, we went out for Sushi on Monday night. My trainer, Alida, www.bodyeverlasting.com, recommended a sushi restaurant close to my house. We texted her from there and asked the best thing to order. It was the American Male Roll. Not sure where the name comes from, but it was delicious. Check it out here!
Remember at the Pechanga Resort, where I had a very interesting experience in the elevator? Please read the Lynn Recommends section to find out more about my chance meeting with Debbie and the teleseminar we are going to be having in May! What a small world.
In the Special Announcement section, we are announcing a 4-part payment plan for live boot camp. I think there are only 8 seats left. Please reserve your spot now, before it sells out. We want to see you in La Quinta this August!
Finally, we are looking for more of your stories. Read below to find out how to submit your stories for consideration.
Happy 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.
In the elevator on the way to the ball field, I was talking to Houston about his cleats and making sure he had both molded and steel so that he would be able to pitch.
Here is Houston pitching for the first time on the 13 & under Longhorns.
A gal in the elevator looked at me and asked, “Are you Lynn?” “Yes,” I said and introduced myself. Her name was Debbie. She has a website to help people sell kids’ toys, kids’ and adult clothing. She reads my ezine and it was wild! We are going to do a teleseminar together next month (on May 13th) for the Queen’s Court members’ gifts. If you are not a Queen’s Court member, you can pre-purchase it here and get your questions posted now.
Here is an email I got from her, with a link to her website.
Hi Lynn!
Thank you SO much for being so kind in the elevator at Pechanga. How random was that?! I had always thought that I might meet you some day, but I wasn’t really prepared that day!! It was weird; I had thought of you that morning while we were watching our son at his little league game.
Anyway, I love your ezines and THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge! I also have a website, www.ebay-mommy.com, but my fan base is nowhere near yours. I mostly sell clothing and toys and the occasional collectible (thanks to you!).
I love your stories about your grandmother and can’t wait for your 4th 100 Best book. She reminds me of my late grandmother. :o) Keep up the great work and I look forward to seeing you again some time soon.
Debbie
I get recognized quite a bit in Palm Desert and Bellingham, WA, but I have never been recognized in Temecula! As we walked out of the elevator, Houston said, “That was so cool!” I should have taken a photo with her. Oh well! Next time.
I have been selling Tommy Bahama shirts for my friend Juliette and can’t believe this one went so high.
Don’t miss our Teleseminar on Wednesday, May 13th at noon. It will be a lot of fun! Queen’s Court members can start posting questions for Debbie on the forum.
Our ONLY Live Boot Camp of 2009 is coming up soon. Friday, August 28th, Saturday, August 29th, and Sunday, August 30th at the world-famous La Quinta Resort! There are only 8 seats left!
We have added a 4-part payment plan, so please click here to get your special invitation. When you email just let Mo know if you are a Boot Camp in a Box owner, a prior graduate, a Six-Steps to eBay Success owner or none of the above.
By holding it the last weekend in August, we were able to negotiate super great room rates for all you future students and the resort will not be very crowded. We will also be able to get the meeting rooms that we want.
Here are my 2008 Graduates! Not everyone sent in a photo but for those who did it made it easier for Carmen, Jason, Lee, Mo and I to get to know you all faster!
Don’t you want to see your photo on this board next year? I want to see you in La Quinta. Please let us know if you didn’t receive your special invitation. Contact us here.
My mom will be returning to help this year and we look forward to having her back with us for 2009!
‘How To Clean Up Your Kids’ Rooms And Prosper‘
by Lynn Dralle, The Queen of Auction
It has been crazy around here (as always) but within a span of about six months, Indy has outgrown Groovy Girl Dolls, American Girl Dolls, and Hannah Montana. She refuses to wear any of her clothing that has Hannah Montana on it. Unfortunately, that was about 80% of her wardrobe.
I sent a ton of their items to charity, but I kept everything that was eBay-worthy. I hope this article helps you to attack your kids’ rooms and make some money!
Tip #1. Have a plan of attack and get your kids to do as much of the work as they can.
I asked both kids to go through their rooms and weed out any books and toys that they didn’t use anymore. I also asked them to go through all their clothing and make a pile of what they did not wear anymore or what would not fit. In Indy’s case, a lot of it was just because of the brand names. She is ten, but I feel like a teenager on my hands!
Tip #2. Go through those piles with them or have another adult help you.
The piles were larger than I could have ever imagined. Wow, kids grow so fast and things that fit them six months ago just don’t anymore. I am so deep into writing this new book (which can be preordered here for cheaper than our issue price) that I didn’t have time to address the volcano piles in the upstairs hallway.
Speaking of volcanoes, check out this volcano that I helped Houston and his buddy Ian make for Science class (they got an A+). While my mom was here and my brother was out visiting, we had a Hawaii day. All-day in the pool, Hawaiian pizza, Hawaiian music and we set off the volcano for fun (all it takes is a huge bottle of Diet Coke and Mentos). What a blast! Literally.
Enter Mor Mor (my mom and their grandma). She did an awesome job helping to sort the items. She first helped each kid pick out what should go in a memory box. We let them choose certain outfits that were very important to them and then we pack them away in memory boxes in the garage. As an example, for Houston, we are keeping all of his baseball jerseys since it has been such a huge part of his life.
Next, my mom helped them make a pile for charity. Finally, she helped them make piles for what to sell on eBay.
Tip #3. Anything brand new with tags or salable on its own should be listed individually.
My mom wrote up all the items that were in great condition or new with tags individually on I Sell sheets and I took the photos. Then I put all the pictures on a disc so that she could list them for me from Carmen’s computer in the office.
Here is one of the first items to get a bid. I wouldn’t have predicted this in a million years but you just never know!
Click here to see this auction.
Tip #4 Sort everything else into lots by size or brand.
Next, I had my mom make lots of clothes all sorted by size. The lots ranged from 4 pieces to 16. We also made a huge lot of Groovy Girl dolls and accessories. That will be listed later this week. We were focusing on clothing this time.
Remember story #26 from the 1st 100 Best book? It was about clothing lots and here it is for you to read.
Click here for the story.
But back to 2009 and our mess of clothing to sell. Here is a photo of some of the grocery bags with all the clothes sorted by size. Sorry, the photo is so blurry. I should have taken more but am so focused on the new book!
Here is one of our best Hannah Montana clothing lots. We have had people email us about shipping to Denmark! How cool is that?
My goal is to sell all 15 of the lots for at least $9.99 each. And the 25 single items for at least $9.99 each. That would net me $400 and go a long way to help me pay my mom for all her awesome help this week! This way I get the items out of my house quickly and if they don’t sell, I will move them into my eBay store for $24.99 and up.
I hope this article helped you to see how cleaning up your kids’ rooms can be profitable. Also, I can’t wait for our teleseminar with Debbie in three weeks because she is going to have so much great insight and tips on how to make these types of auctions even better. Don’t miss it. If you are a Queen’s Court member it is free. If not, click here to sign up now and ask your questions.
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.
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
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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.