Lynn’s eBay Ezine Volume VI, Issue Number 4

 

Hi!

I’ve missed you all and I missed writing the ezine! Glad to be back.

  • Lynn Recommends: Dinnerware Success Story–Volumes 1 & 2 – Get yours!
  • Special Announcement: 3 SPECIAL Announcements: Facebook, eBay on Location, Griff & Lee
  • Feature Article: The Early Bird Doesn’t Always Get the Worm
  • The Queen’s Update: Requesting More Stories from You

This ezine is published every two weeks.
March 11, 2010 Volume VI, Issue 4

It was a crazy month writing Volume 2 of the Dinnerware Success eBook! It turned out to be about 30 pages longer than the first volume. What was I thinking? But, I have gotten so many amazing emails from you all. Please read the Lynn Recommends section to learn more about the Dinnerware Success eBook.

Volumes One and Two turned out fantastic and I am now working on Volume Three. The price will be going up again at the end of March, so I encourage you to order it now and get started on growing your eBay business.

Speaking of emails, I have been getting really nice emails from someone named MayLyn for quite some time. I can’t always personally respond, but one day when I did, I heard back from her mother.

Here is what MayLyn’s mom sent to me:

Hello Lynn,

My daughter MayLyn loves and adores YOU! She is your BIG FAN! I’m not the one sending all these emails to you they are from my 14 yr old daughter. She was our 1lb. 4 oz. miracle baby I had toxemia & they nearly lost us both. She has disabilities with mild autism but she’s a joy! If she’s sending you too many emails let me know. She’s an eBay LOVER all the way…I enjoy it too. She has your books & loves them!

Here is a picture of my MayLyn when she was the Utah Figure Skater of the Month in December of 2009. She has won medals from the Special Olympics and other competitions.

MayLyn on the ice.

Here is an article she wrote about herself:

How I started skating: I started on July 24th at age 5. My interest in skating began by watching “Snowden on Ice” with Ekaterina Gordeeva. I was hooked on skating….my mom signed me up for lessons quickly and I was very happy.

Favorite skater: Ekaterina Gordeeva, Kristi Yamaguchi, Oksana Baiul, Jumping Jozef, Nancy Kerrigan, Karyn Kadavy, Kimmie Meisner, Yuna Kim, Rachael White, Kristina Struthwolf, Janet Lynn, Yuka Sato, Elizabeth Manley, Katarina Witt, Sonja Henie, Dorothy Hamill, and many more.

Favorite thing about skating: Everything!!!

Least favorite thing about skating: Not progressing and being down on myself and seeing someone do a move that I cannot do yet.

Skating goals: Landing a triple axel and a quad jump! and becoming professional.

What else to know about me: I’m a ballet dancer. I enjoy writing and Weird Al Yankovic and eBay. I hate school and getting up early; I’d rather ice skate. I also enjoy Vanna White and watching the Wheel of Fortune with my dad. I love taking care of handicapped children. I have two cats, Kaley and Sundayna, that I love so dearly. I love my life and I will always skate because it’s my passion.

Kind regards,

MayLyn’s Mom

What an awesome young lady! Maylyn’s positive attitude and outlook on life is just amazing! I am very inspired by her. What a privilege to know her. By the way, MayLyn, I hate getting up early, too!!!!

The “getting up early” is one reason I decided to write this week’s feature article about Thrift Store shopping vs. Garage Sale shopping. And the pros and cons to each one. Please don’t miss our article entitled “The Early Bird Doesn’t Always Get the Worm.”

In the month since I last wrote an ezine, a lot has happened both on and off eBay.  Houston has discovered girls! Oh, please help me! He has a new “friend” who he goes bike riding with. It is actually really cute.

Then Indy had her Odyssey of the Mind Competition. She and her team did great! Here is a photo of her team in action.

Indy is in the green wig on the right.

Then, the biggest news of all! After eight years of driving my car into the ground (I feel like I actually raised my kids in it–child car seat indentations, kool-aid stains, cleat marks, etc.), I got a (new to me) used SUV! It is so awesome that I am afraid to drive it. Anyway, I love it and last weekend my mom and I got to fill it up. What a difference a truck makes in our business.

Here is Houston with all the stuff, getting ready to help us unload it. Yes, I even bought a coffee table for only $25!

In the Special Announcement section, read about our new Facebook page and my interview with Griff & Lee this past Tuesday.

I heard from Lynette (a Queen’s Court member) and one of my first EVER Live Boot Camp Students from our Rancho Mirage Event in 2006, check out her email.

Hi Lynn –

Thanks so much for the Christmas plush. It just ended at auction for more than I thought! Yay!!

It was a fun gift – thank you! See what it sold for here.

Lynnette

Lynnette was smart to save her plush to sell closer to Easter. Way to go!

Speaking of Live Boot Camp, we ONLY have 9 SEATS Left for Live Boot Camp 2010. AND THE SIX-PART PAYMENT PLAN ENDS in 2 WEEKS. If you are considering joining us, we recommend that you reserve your spot early. This one is going to sell out quickly. Here is a link.

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.

Check out this score from Linda Bostock of Houston, Texas…

This was Linda’s subject line:

Thanks to you! and your E-Book!!!!!

Hi Lynn,

I just wanted to share my recent score with you. I had received my Dinnerware eBook a couple of weeks ago. We went to an estate sale the very end of January. I saw this beautiful set of stoneware and they were asking $220 for it. It was Noritake Blue Adobe. They usually go to 1⁄2 price on the last day if no one has purchased some of the pieces. Well, I asked about this set and they agreed to go to $110, then I bought so many other things, I asked if they would take $100 for the set. I had my fingers crossed and they said yes!

My husband was freaking out because I was spending $100 for a set of stoneware. I told him I was going to put them on E-Bay and he just said, “I hope you get your $100 back.” I DID! One sale at auction added up to $386.39. Then I also sold a teapot for $53.00 and 3 salad plates @ $14.99 each. Grand total so far is $484.36 and I still have a lot of pieces left. WOW!

You won’t believe what the tortilla warmer sold for!
See the completed auction here.

I just wanted to thank you so much for all your help. This certainly paid for my eBook and way more.

Thanks a bunch!!

Linda Bostock

Wow! Stories like that really make my day.

The Dinnerware Succes eBook is full of tips and information that really can make you money. The price is going to go up to $30 at the end of March (or whenever volume 3 is sent out)–whichever comes first. So, if you have been thinking about buying this, I highly recommend that you do it soon. Click here to order now.

(Queen’s Court members, don’t forget to use your discount.)

Here are the segments in Volume #1

Introduction

  1. Types of Dinnerware
  2. Manufacturers to ALWAYS buy
    (Pattern name in signature)
  3. Manufacturers to ALWAYS buy
    (No pattern name in signature)
  4. Tricky Manufacturers
    (Pattern name in signature)
  5. Tricky Manufacturers
    (No pattern name in the signature

114 pages!!!

VOLUME #2

  1. Manufacturers to NEVER buy
  2. Designer/Artists to Buy
  3. Best Selling Patterns of All Times
  4. Patterns to Buy
  5. Good Color Combos
  6. Good Themes
  7. Different Countries
  8. Identifying the Different Pieces

143 pages!!!

VOLUME #3 (Coming in March)

  1. Where to Buy?
  2. Research in the Field to Make Quick Purchase Decisions
  3. How much should you pay?
  4. Single pieces to purchase vs. Entire Sets
  5. Research at Home
  6. Pricing and How to Sell
  7. Condition and Seconds
  8. Cleaning
  9. Photographs
  10. Categories
  11. Title
  12. Let’s put it to the test–a Case Study with me

This eBook is a no-brainer moneymaker for YOU! Don’t miss out on our special price before it goes up again. Click here to order now. Volumes #1 and #2 are available now. Volume #3 will be available as a download around the end of March. Your purchase price buys all three volumes.

Remember that bunch of dinnerware I bought with my dad at the Goodwill for $4.99 less his 10% senior discount? Five of the pieces sold to the same lady for $193.00! That profit is more than enough to pay for a copy of my Dinnerware Success eBook.

Here is the dinner plate that sold for the most money.
See the auction here.

Order your eBook now at a still low price! Click here.
Order in three payments here.
You can read more here.

Three special announcements.

Number One. Wow! We have a Facebook Page. How exciting! Check it out here. Join us as a fan.

Number Two. I was on the Radio with Griff and Lee this past Tuesday. If you missed the call, instructions for listening in are here.

Number Three. I think this is the most exciting announcement of
all!

I have been asked to be a panelist on an eBay seller forum (moderated by the one and only Griff) at all of the eBay on Location events this year! So I hope to see you in Atlanta, GA March 19 & 20Dallas, TX May 7 & 8Chicago, IL July 9 & 10; or San Jose, CA September 1 & 2Click here to learn more.

‘The Early Bird Doesn’t Always get the Worm’
by Lynn Dralle, The Queen of Auctions

Thanks to MayLyn for being the inspiration for this ezine article! It is all about whether you have to be an early riser and hit garage sales or whether you can do just as well at thrift stores. This is an interesting tidbit. I just checked my auctions on eBay. I have bid on eleven auction items right now that add up to over $150.00. Of those eleven items, only one came from a garage sale. See, the early bird doesn’t always get the worm!

Now, let’s check out the pros and cons of Garage Sales vs. Thrift Stores.

Thrift Stores

So I walk into my favorite thrift store (sounds like the beginning of a joke doesn’t it?) and head to the dinnerware section. It was the day after Volume 2 of the Dinnerware Success eBook had been released.  You won’t believe what I found! Tons of items I had just written about. SCORE!

Here is a photo of my thrift store scores the day after Volume 2 of the eBook was released.

Pros:

1. No rush, you can take your time.

As you can see in the photo, I found a set of Mikasa Arabella. Actually, I found two sets all taped together–$14.99 for both. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I had the time to check them out, and carefully carry them to the counter. Not being rushed is a wonderful thing!

Here is an auction for some of that set that already has bids.

2. Great hours–go on your schedule.

Another thing that I love about thrift stores is that they are open for quite a few hours every day and some are even open on Sundays. I like that I can stop off whenever I am in the neighborhood. Really makes this a time and gas saver!

Here is an item that I picked up after my exercise class a few weeks ago. I paid $1.00. You will want to see what this one sold for!

Check out this auction here.

3. Constantly getting new merchandise.

The final pro for thrift stores is the fact that they are continually getting new merchandise. They are professionals at retail and understand the concept of quick turnover. Because of this, they consistently mark down slow-selling older merchandise. Here is a tiki mug that I bought when the blue price tag went half price last week. I got this for about 75 cents and there were two of them–so $1.50 for both. Awesome!

Check it out here.

Cons:

1. Can be overpriced.

Some thrift stores have decided that they are upscale boutiques. Help! These are the ones that we need to avoid. Although, even the ones that overprice don’t always know what they are doing. One of my thrift stores had an American Atelier dinnerware set priced at $175.00 and right next to it a Dansk set for $95.00. Guess which one I bought? You might just see the set I bought in the Dinnerware challenge at the end of Volume 3 of the eBook.

Garage Sales

Pros:

1. Your competition can’t be at every single garage sale at the same time as you and isn’t always looking for the same items as you are.

My mom and I got to a garage sale last Saturday in Indian Wells (well really it was in Rancho Mirage but for some reason, I keep saying Indian Wells–maybe because the big tennis tournament is out here this week–yippeee!) at about 8 am. The paper said that it started at 8 am but when we got there they said to us, “You should have been here at 6 am when we rolled open the doors.” I hate statements like that!

There was still a lot of merchandise remaining and I bought a lot of books. Then I saw this cute fish pitcher. It was priced at $1.00 and I couldn’t read much of what was on the base except for “Boston.” I thought I couldn’t go wrong with that and even though everyone else had passed it up, I had a feeling it was good.

I was right! This is the one item that I bought at a garage sale that has an auction bid this week–actually MANY bids! You just never know.

See the auction here.

2. Usually very reasonably priced merchandise.

By the time a person has decided to clean up their life and have a garage sale, we are hoping that they are ready to GET RID of Stuff and sell it cheaply. This is usually the case and if you make a huge pile of stuff, most of the time, you can get it all for a great price.

This happened to me at a charity/garage sale last weekend. I made a huge pile and got everything for $40.00. In the pile were these amazing decoupaged plates from an artist in Houston. They are sooooo cool!

This is just one of the really neat designs here.

Cons:

1. Sometimes the seller has a personal attachment to the items and they are OVERPRICED.

I was at a garage sale and the lady had five Madame Alexander Dolls. I asked “How much?” and she said $45.00. I thought that was for all of them but it was for each ONE. Yikes! I passed on those. Then there was a Tiffany perfume bottle that she priced at $20.00. I took a risk on it and it didn’t pay off big, but I didn’t lose either.

Check it out here.

2. Too early!

I do not like to get up early. And let’s be honest, most garage sales do start early and it is in your best interest to be there when they open. For me, this is a huge con to garage sale shopping, but I still do it every Saturday. I try and get out the door by 7:30 am. I am not a 5:00 am or even 6:00 am garage saler. That will NEVER happen. For some of you, this may be a PRO. There are plenty of morning people and my daughter is one of them! She is up at 5:30 am every day.

3. You may have to rush and grab items.

With a garage sale or charity sale, you must be quick. You need to scan the area as fast as you can and start picking up the items that you are interested in buying. I try to be quick without running anyone over. I have always said, that if it is meant to be yours, it will be yours.

My mom and I were at our favorite church charity/garage sale last weekend. We were some of the first in line and I was able to fill up several boxes with the best merchandise (for me anyway) quite easily and without being rude. Try and always be courteous.

Here is one of those items and I hope it sells for a lot! I paid $2.00 for this tray. Can you guess the maker before going to see the item on eBay? I bet “the other Mo” from The Queen’s Court can.

After you guess, check out the eBay page here.

I hope that this article has helped you to see that there are pros and cons to shopping at both garage sales and thrift stores. If you can make both of them a part of your sourcing strategy, you can and will be very successful selling on eBay.

Happy eBaying!

Lynn


Visit my eBay Store.

Visit my eBay auctions.

For more great eBay tips and stories, visit my website at:
http://www.thequeenofauctions.com


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.

The Queen of Auctions/All Aboard Inc.
PO Box 14103
Palm Desert, CA 92255
760-345-9355
Lynn@TheQueenofAuctions.com


Happy eBaying!!

Lynn


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.