Thrift Store Item to Sell on eBay - Vintage Character Sheets

Here is something fun to look for in thrift stores and at garage sales. Vintage bed sheets. You're thinking, "Who would want to buy a bunch of old sheets on eBay?" Collectors and crafters!

Anything with characters from the 60's, 70's, and 80's are very popular on eBay. Some good sellers are Charlie Brown, Peanuts Gang, Strawberry Shortcake, Star Wars, Smurfette, and even the bear from the Snuggle dryer sheet ads. (I've sold Peanuts and Strawberry Shortcake and they did well.) Here are some recent listings:


EUC ~ VINTAGE PEANUTS 3 PIECE TWIN SHEET SET


Nice Vintage Smurfs Twin Flat + Fitted Sheet Fabric


TWO VINTAGE STAR WARS TWIN BED SHEETS or FABRIC - GREAT

Notice the number of bids on these listings - 8 bids, 11 bids, 23 bids. A lot of bids indicates a highly sought after item. You can find sheets, comforters, pillow cases, and window treatments at thrift stores for just a few dollars. An interesting twist: People aren't necessarily putting these sheets on their beds. This is another case of recycling - using an item as a raw material for something else. Creative crafters all around the world are making items out of the sheets - such as window treatments , tote bags, and other accessories. If you find these sheets and they are in fairly good condition, try to sell them on eBay. Crafters will cut the sheets apart anyway so it doesn't matter if there are small holes in them. Check out what someone did with some Star Wars sheets:



How to Turn Old Sheets into Shopping Totes
When you are listing the sheets for sale, be sure to use the key words "fabric" or "material" in the title. If you're going to offer vintage character sheets, be prepared to ship them internationally. Some of our USA characters from previous decades are hot in Japan right now.

Click here for my free list of thrift store items to sell on eBay.

Happy Selling!

Thank You for Your Prayers

Some of you heard that I had a car accident last week. No one was hurt, but my car was totaled. And it was paid for. Ouch! I've heard from the insurance company and will be getting a nice check to put towards another vehicle. The situation turned out much better than I expected. (Above is a picture of my sad little squished 2001 Toyota Camry that has gone to the big junkyard in the sky.)

Thank you all for your prayers and emails. I am just so thankful that no one was hurt. Yesterday was my daughter's 15th birthday and it was really a day of reflection. She is my first baby and I can't believe how fast the years have gone! Those are the things that matter in life - the people we love.



Here is a video I made for her - well, it was really more for me. You know, a mom thing.

Coupon Giveaway - 500 Free Grocery Coupons!

Well, unfortunately, my coupon experiment didn't go well. I made about $11 for about 6 hours of work. I couldn't keep up. It took more time than I anticipated. About 80% of the coupons sold, but I have too many other things going on to continue to do this for the small profit. I know coupon selling can be profitable, and I am lining up an eBay coupon seller for a podcast to talk more about it. My problem is I don't have any help or enough time to pursue it.

So, now I have over 500 coupons that I will not use. I have chosen what I will use and would like to pass these coupons on to someone. Just leave a comment below if you would like to have these!

Coupons include everything: food, beverage, health and beauty, medicine, pet, and baby. And based on my pile of coupons, I think I am a candidate for the Couponizer! Feel free to post this giveaway on your blog.

Happy selling,

Flea Market Item to Sell on eBay - Fire King Jadeite

Thanks to John S. (who is an avid flea market shopper and garage saler) for sharing this tip:

"Anchor Hocking Fire King items. The best items under this brand to look for are the green Jadeite items. I found 6 mugs at an auction and purchased them for $15 and sold 5 (that matched) for $125 and another time I purchased 11 plates for $30 and someone bought for $110. People seem to go nuts for the Jadeite. Unless you are extremely lucky you probably will not find them at the Goodwill and they do cost a lot more than the white items but people will cough up a lot more for them in the end."

Thanks John! I've never been lucky enough to find any Jadeite, but I always look for it. Here are some resources for learning more about Fire King so that you can identify a good find at the thrift store.

Click here for my free list of thrift store items to sell on eBay.

FireKing.net - Fire King collector site.

Suzi Max Blog - All about Depression Glass, 40's, 50's, 60's glass

Anchor Hocking Identification Guide

Happy Selling!


Image Source: Replacements.com, Alice-Jadeite pattern by Anchor Hocking-Cryst

Thrift Store Item to Sell on eBay - Masters Golf Shirt

I started my eBay career selling golf shirts on eBay. I live in Atlanta, the golf mecca of the South. My thrift stores are plentiful and abundant, and full of golf (polo) shirts. Many of them were brand new with tags. Golf shirts are given out at tournaments as gifts, prizes, or inside goodie bags. More often than not, the golfer didn’t get his size and just takes the shirt anyway. I am guessing that these brand new shirts end up at the Goodwill store and other thrift shops.

I started experimenting with sizes, colors, logos, brands, etc. I found the #1 hottest seller to be the Masters Golf shirt. Historically, before eCommerce and the internet, Masters shirts were only sold the week of the Masters, at the tournament. They aren’t available any other time at Augusta National Golf Course. You can find them on the internet (as people buy them only to resell them), but prices range upward of $150.00. Look for these in thrift stores for $3 - $5.

For those unfamiliar with golf, The Masters is one of four major championships in men's professional golf, and is always played on the Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, GA (about 90 minutes from Atlanta). The Masters takes place during the first week of April, it is the first of the majors to be played each year.



Look for the little yellow USA logo with the red flag. These are hot sellers used, and if you find one new, plan on making at least $60 on eBay. Any size of any type golf apparel with a Masters logo is a good seller. I have found vests, jackets, sweaters, caps, and even Women’s items (even though Women are not allowed to play at this tournament). As long as it doesn’t look like it has been run over by a car, you can pretty much sell anything with the Masters logo on it.

Here is a "pre-owned" Masters shirt that sold on eBay for $33. Click here to see the actual listing.



Click here for my free list of thrift store items to sell on eBay.

You can learn about other golf shirts to sell on eBay in my Golf Shirt Bible.

Happy Selling!

Crest Pro Health Toothpaste Deal at Kroger

I stumbled onto this deal when I was in Kroger the other night. My Kroger had Crest Pro Health Night paste in the 7.8 oz tube on closeout for $2.26. It is usually $4.50 to $5 depending on where you buy it.

I also had about 20 of these $1.50 off coupons. I always stockpile toothpaste coupons because they are great to use on the CVS ECB deals when you can get toothpaste for free.

So, I bought 14 tubes (all they had), and using my coupon, each tube came out to be .81 including tax. I got all 14 tubes for $11.27, the cost of about 2 tubes at regular price. Yeah, the checkout clerk gave me a funny look, so I said, "What? I just really, really, really, like to brush my teeth." And I gave her a big smile.

This toothpaste is selling pretty well on eBay. Here is a listing for 4 of the 4.2 oz tubes (half the size of what I found) that sold for $15, with free shipping.




Remember that you can put these types of non-fragile items in a USPS Priority Flat Rate mailer for $4.60 (domestic), unlimited weight. Health and beauty products usually do better in a lot than individually. Always offer international shipping. There are so many products available here in the US that are not available in other countries. And if they don't sell, my family has a year's supply of toothpaste for $11.

Happy Selling!

Paying it Forward - Free Book for Moms

I am participating in the Good Karma Experiment on Facebook so here is a freebie! Get a free copy of my book, "The Stay at Home Mom's Guide to Successful eBay Selling." So many people are losing their jobs, taking pay cuts, or can’t find work at all. Maybe this will help someone make a few dollars from home and pay some bills.

Here is the book on Amazon.

Get the free recently updated eBook version here (be patient, it takes a minute to open):

Please pass this on to others via email, post on your blog, your FB page, MySpace, work at home groups, Twitter, or anywhere else you wish. Keep paying it forward and let's hope this reaches someone who needs it.

If you can't get the link to open, send me an email and I will email the eBook to you. If you have purchased this eBook within the last 30 days, contact me and we will make arrangements to compensate you.

Peace and blessings,

New Podcast: eHow Top Writer Maria O'Brien

Today's guest was Maria O'Brien, the top earning writer at eHow, who consistently makes over $2,000 a month from a combination of her eHow articles and other passive income ventures. Learn how you can do this too, all from the comfort of home, in addition to eBay selling. Maria has undergraduate degrees in English Language and Literature and worked as a staff writer and assistant editor at a regional newspaper and then a trade publication. She now works as a freelance writer from home, devoting more and more time to residual income sources.

Maria has helped me tremendously in developing my eHow venture so that I now make a nice consistent income there too! Here is a screenshot of my earnings from 2008 - see what happened in September after I met Maria!


Writing for eHow is something anyone can do from home. Give it a try, you have nothing to lose. Click here to listen to the podcast.

Click here to get Maria's book and start making money on eHow today!

Happy Selling,

Hot eBay Item - The Snuggie

Ok, this one just makes me laugh. The product may be great, but the commercial is ridiculous. My 12 year old son and I laugh at the family wearing these to a football game. Come on, get real. No 12 year old kid is going to go anywhere with that thing on - he'd get beat up.

The commercial says you get two Snuggie blankets for $19.99. (So that would be about 10 each plus shipping.) These are selling on eBay for an average of $20 each. Some sellers are profiting on the shipping, charging $24 or more. This item does NOT cost $24 to ship!

The week before Christmas, they were selling for over $100 each. The issue was shipping time: If you ordered it through the 1-800 number or online, it took 4-6 weeks to ship. Some smart eBay sellers bought them ahead of time and had them on hand to sell to the highest bidder. (This tip was announced on my Facebook group back in December.)

Snuggie Royal Blue w/ bonus light
sells on SHOP.com for $18.84 plus shipping. Sellers have reported finding them at Walgreens and Rite Aid for less than that, so you might get lucky.

The profit margin is definitely not as high as before Christmas, but Snuggies are still selling. Click here to see completed listings on eBay.

Be sure to subscribe to my blog for more tips like this!

Related articles:

How to Increase Your Profit Margin on eBay

Make Money Selling As Seen on TV Products on eBay

How to Know What to Sell on eBay

Use the Free eBay Research Tool

Happy Selling,

20% off Coupon for Big Lots

Big Lots is one of my favorite places to find little gems hiding....just waiting to be sold on eBay! If you are a member of the Big Lots Buzz Club, you can click here to print a 20% off coupon for your entire order. Not a Buzz Club member? No problem! Click here to join so you can get the coupon.

Hurry though, the offer expires February 1. Need help with the Big Lots concept? Click here for my article, "How to Make Money on eBay Selling Items from Big Lots."

Happy Selling!

Free eBay Resources - eBooks, Audio Books, Reports

Cheap is good, free is better. Here are a few eBay related freebies I have stumbled across that may help you with your eBay business.



Free Audiobook: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I read this years ago and it was very informative. Lots of tips regarding running a business, personal motivation, time management, etc.




Free Gymboree Selling Guide: Spring is just around the corner. Now is the time of year to get rolling. Gymboree News has compiled a short Q & A report to help get you through some of the most common questions of selling Gymboree clothing on eBay. (If you like the Gymboree News and Gossip site, use promo code EXPOGYM for 20% off through 2/14/09.)




Free eBook: Tax Tips for eBay Sellers, Kristine McKinley, CFP®, CPA, certified financial planner. Kristine was recently a guest on one of my podcasts.



Free eBook: Best Match Made Simple. Understand what eBay's Best Match is, learn how to rank higher in search results, using the best key words in your titles, and common pitfalls to avoid.

Happy Selling!

Hot eBay Tip - Prilosec OTC at Target

Lissa over at Saving Your Cents shared this great eBay deal with me.

"I was in Target yesterday I found the Prilosec OTC 14 ct packages marked down from $10.49 per package to $2.66 per package. I knew that this was a good deal and tried to figure out what I wanted to do. Initially I picked up 10 of the packs. I had $1/1 coupons from the PG insert with me and got the 10 packages for $16.60 plus tax. I made sure that I could return them if I needed to (which is something that I learned from your podcast...and never would have though of before!)

Once I was home I looked on eBay. I am familiar with doing research to see what I should sell something for and how much I should charge for shipping etc. I saw that they were selling extremely well and made the decision to go back to Target and grab the rest.

I ended up with 19 boxes (266 caplets) for $33.75 with tax. I listed them last night as a "Buy It Now" for $120 with free shipping. I decided to offer free shipping to get a little more exposure from eBay. I woke up this morning (I placed the listing around 10pm last night) with an email stating that they were SOLD!"

Bottom line, Lissa's profit was $65.65 on this deal. Click here to see Lissa's listing.

Price of items: $33.75
Ebay selling price: $120
Fees (paypal/ebay): $20.60
Shipping: $6.27

Your profit could be even more if you get the newer coupons - there are a $3 off 1 Prilosec, and $7 off 2 Prilosec coupons available now. So using Lissa's scenario, buying your inventory can be a moneymaker! Get your Prilosec OTC coupons here on eBay, or here on The Coupon Clippers.

Thanks, Lissa!

(Tip: Check multiple Target stores if possible. Different stores have different items on clearance.)

Happy Selling,

100% Cashmere Sweaters - Old Navy Clearance

100% cashmere is a good, reliable, steady seller on eBay. (Click here for more information about selling cashmere on eBay.) I was in Old Navy yesterday and noticed quite a few cashmere sweaters marked down to $20 or less. You can also find these online at OldNavy.com. You may consider grabbing a few of these to try selling on eBay.


Old Navy Women's Cardigan - $19.99

Old Navy Cashmere Polo - $19.99

Other Old Navy clearance items

If you sign up for the Old Navy email updates, you will receive a $10 off coupon good on a $50 online order. Go to OldNavy.com and look for the grey box under the clearance banner. I tried it, and got my coupon in my email box in just a few seconds. The coupon looks like this:



Happy Selling!

Wow! eHow Featured Member of the Day!

I am so excited! I was chosen as the eHow Featured Member of the day today! eHow has thousands of writers, so it is truly an honor to be chosen as the featured writer. What a wonderful way to start the week. Thanks eHow!

Click here to view my articles - topics include eBay, online selling, internet marketing, frugal living, health and fitness, parenting, and travel.

Click here to learn more about how you can make extra money from home writing for eHow.

Have a great day,

Hot eBay Tip - Neutrogena Skinclearing Makeup

If you purchased my Hot List back in December, you read this tip:

"Neutrogena skin clearing makeup. This is an eBay Coach hunch. This makeup has been around for years. It is made with salicylic acid, which helps control acne. It is disappearing from store shelves and not being restocked. I have seen it marked down to half price in CVS, Walgreens, Target, and Rite Aid. I contacted the company about why it is on clearance, and never received an answer. A Walgreen’s employee told me that it was a packaging change, but I cannot verify that is the case. It is out of stock on Drugstore.com and Ulta.com, which are good indicators that it is going to be on eBay for high prices soon. I can’t tell you when the shortage will cause buyers to start looking on eBay for it but I can tell you that I am stockpiling it.

In any event, I am predicting that this will be a hot item. The most popular color by far is True Beige. If you see it marked down, and want to take a chance, get True Beige. You can always sell it in a lot at your cost if this tip doesn’t pan out."

Well my hunch has become a fact. Click here for the new product release information on Neutrogena.com. Today I was in both Walmart and Ulta, and Neutrogena Skinclearing makeup has been released in a new package, with new shades. So, if you rushed out and bought up the makeup in the old packaging, THOSE SHADES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ANYMORE. Hang onto them. So what does that mean? Small (or diminishing) supply = big demand.

Women are picky about their makeup. Anytime a shade or line of makeup is discontinued, women go nuts and will pay outrageous prices for it. Remember the Maybelline Ultra Lash mascara which originally cost around $4 a tube, was selling on eBay a few months ago for $80 a tube. Click here to read the details.

I've seen the Neutrogena makeup in the old packaging at Walgreens marked down again to $3.50. We will probably start seeing this in Big Lots and other closeout stores soon.

Related articles:

Make Money on eBay Selling Items from Big Lots

How to Get Free Cosmetics from Ulta

How to Find Walgreens Deals and Get Free Items

If you have not yet subscribed to my blog, please do so. I don't want you to miss any tips that could help you make money on eBay!

Happy Selling!

Thrift Store Item to Sell on eBay - Dansko Clogs

I've found a few pairs of Danskos during my eBay selling career, and I always feel like I've won the lottery. I look around the thrift store to see if anyone heard me say "YAY!!!" You can hit big with these shoes. Dansko clogs are made of an oiled leather and are very popular in the restuarant and medical industries as they are extremely comfortable for people who must be on their feet for extended periods of time. The oiled leather material on the shoe is perfect for people who work in environments containing liquid or moisture (such as kitchens or hospitals). Danskos sell brand new for upwards of $100.

I've found them at thrift stores for $3-$5 a pair. Many employees in restaurant or medical fields may not be able to afford a brand new pair at this price, so they often turn to eBay. I've sold used Danskos for over $50. These shoes come in unisex European sizing. Be prepared to ship them internationally. If you want to convert the European sizing to US sizing, use this chart.

Here are some examples of the black oiled leather Danskos that have sold on eBay (these are both used and could have come from thrift stores):


Item #220340549694, Womens size 7.5, sold for $70.



Item #290289073258, Womens size 8.5, sold for $86.

Click here for a list of other thrift store items you can sell on eBay. Want to know about more thrift store finds to sell on eBay? Check out Thrift Store Goldmine, which contains 61 pages of items just like this. You may already have some of these huge money makers in your house, and not even know they are valuable!

Happy Selling!

eBay Coach Experiment: Selling Coupons

I am intrigued by coupon sellers and how they make a profit, so I am doing an experiment. I've been buying coupons on eBay for years but haven't ever sold any. We get a free Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper on Thursdays, filled with the same coupon inserts that will be in the following Sunday's paper. I've managed to secure 20 of these free copies a week to do this experiment. So, my inventory costs nothing.

I have always wondered how coupon sellers make money doing this. It is a very labor intensive process, and I can only see a profit if you can get the coupon inserts free. For the purposes of this experiment, I am offering a batch of 20 coupons for $1.50 with free shipping. Coupons worth $2 and more I am putting on auction with a starting price of .99 and free shipping.

Here is how the math works out:



I wonder how these coupon sellers do it after paying for the newspapers. (You can get them free - read my article on "How to Get Unlimited Grocery Coupons FREE.") Some sell thousands of coupons a month. At 50 cents profit an item, you're going to have to sell an awful lot of coupons to make any money. Also, who is doing all the clipping? Do they hire people? Of course, some of the higher valued coupons sell for much more than $1.50. Some good ones to sell are diaper coupons, medicine coupons, pet coupons, cosmetics, hair products, and any type of refill (such as air fresheners).

I'd love to know more about this. From the looks of my experiment, for the time and effort, I think this one will be a thumbs down. I'll keep you posted!

Happy Selling,

What to Sell on eBay - Move Free Glucosamine Supplement

Supplements are another drug store / grocery store item you can sell on eBay. Here is how you do this deal.

Check WalMart, drug stores, or local grocery store for Move Free Glucosamine supplement, 80 count. This product costs between $18 and $20 off the shelf. Between Walgreen's, CVS, Rite Aid, Kroger, Publix and other stores, someone will have this item on sale buy one get one free during any given week. You just have to check your Sunday paper inserts to see where it is the cheapest.

Next, get some coupons.



Right now, there is a $5 off coupon available. You can either get these on eBay for about $2 for a batch of 20 ($100 in savings), or get them here. The coupon does not expire until 3/31/09. (Note, if you get them on eBay, use a different buyer id than your selling id. You don't want your competition to figure out what you are doing or discover how you are getting the item so cheap. Or, just buy from the other site shown and it will be your own little secret.) You can also click here for more ways to get unlimited FREE coupons.

Combining the BOGO sale with the $5 off coupon significantly reduces your price. Here is the math:



If your store offers a Senior Citizen discount day (Kroger's day is Wednesday and Seniors get 10% off their groceries), see if you can find a friend or relative to go with you and use their discount.

This item sells for up to $22 a bottle on eBay. Click here to see completed listings. Based on this scenario, your profit on one bottle of Move Free could be about $17 before fees. Not a bad deal!

Be sure to subscribe to my blog for more great eBay tips like this. No spam, just real information to help you make money on eBay.

Happy Selling!

Dropshipping Free Trial With Doba

I will be the first one to tell you that I have never used a dropshipper. I am fortunate enough to live in an area where thrift stores, garage sales, member's clubs, and retail stores are plentiful - so I have not had to look elsewhere for inventory. I receive questions daily from sellers who do not have access to these sources, and want to know more about dropshipping.

Dropshipping does work for some people. The key to success is finding a niche, doing your research, staying ahead of the competition, and of course, dealing with a reputable dropshipper. I've written several "anti-dropship" posts in the past, only to hear from sellers who swear by it and are very happy with it.

If you want to test out a dropshipping program, Doba is offering a free 7-day trial. Doba connects you to 203 wholesale distributors, manufacturers, and craftsmen in one place. When you sign up, you gain full access to all the drop ship wholesalers and their wholesale product catalogs. Doba is not only an eBay partner, but their partners also include Auctiva, Shopping.com, Terapeak, Visa, and many other familiar companies.

Your free trial with Doba includes:

Access to name brand products
Browsable, searchable product catalog
Push to Marketplace Tool (easily list auctions on eBay)
Easy and secure product checkout
Products shipped directly to your customer
Education resources and multi-media tutorials
Toll-free phone support

If you think you might want to check out dropshipping, this free trial is a good opportunity to see what dropshipping is all about, and if it can work for you either by itself, or in conjunction with what you are already doing.



Sign up for a Doba Free Trial!


Happy Selling!

What to Sell on eBay - J Crew Apparel (Michelle Obama Look)

I started selling gently used thrift store clothing on eBay in 2003, and J Crew has always been a steady seller. J Crew fashions are conservative, sophisticated, classic, and timeless. Now with Michelle Obama in the spotlight and in the White House, more women around the world will want to emulate her look. When you are out at thrift stores searching for items to sell on eBay, check the women's clothing and look for J Crew. Here are some items that have worked for me:


Twinsets. Look for 100% wool, cashmere, or those embellished with "bling." Click here for tips on selling cashmere on eBay - it is one of my all time best sellers.


Skirts. The basic black, knee length "career" skirt is always popular and versatile. Pencil skirts are great. Make sure it is lined - a lining indicates higher quality. Wool and gabardine are the best sellers.



Pea Coats. They are popular this year and are a classic. You can often find gently used coats at thrift stores for $5-$10 and they are good sellers.

These styles are good sellers even if they aren't J Crew brand. Here are some more resources for selling gently used (thrift store) clothing on eBay:

Make Money Selling Sweaters on eBay

What to Buy at Thrift Stores to Resell on eBay for Profit

How to Sell Used Clothing on eBay for Profit

Podcasts

Episode 6: What to Sell - All About Women's Clothing
Episode 14: What to Sell - Sweaters

Happy Selling!

Hot Item to Sell on eBay - Dual Action Cleanse

Sam's Club has this item in a special club pack for $34.95. This item is selling for between $50-$60 on eBay USA. Now is the time for health related products as everyone is in the "new year lose weight" mode.

You will find lots of variations on this product if you check completed listings. You want the club pack shown on item #390017388850 - it appears to be the most consistent seller.

No, you won't become a millionaire selling this, but if you can find it at your Sam's and sell it repeatedly, you can make some easy money.

Happy Selling!

Free eBay Research Tool

If you haven't heard of Terapeak, you may want to check this out. Good news first: Terapeak is free!

"Terapeak, an eBay Certified Provider, was founded in 2002 by brothers Anthony and Andrew Sukow while running their eBay Power Seller business. Terapeak then quickly established itself as the industry leader for eBay Research by being the first to provide eBay seller, eBay category, eBay Motors P&A, and eBay international research.

Terapeak is also the only company to focus exclusively on eBay research. Terapeak places focus on education, innovation and the customer experience. Terapeak also boasts the largest customer base for eBay research and is the fastest growing eBay research company." (terapeak.com)

Go to the Terapeak website, click on PRICE REPORT, and type in the keywords for the item you want to research. You will see results with stats on items with those key words. You can refine your search for more specific information.

If you are unfamiliar with how to price items, or want to check on the competitiond find out what they are getting for similar items, Terapeak is a great tool. Or, if you find a one of a kind or unique item but aren't sure how to list or price it, check Terapeak.

Watch a Terapeak eBay Research Demo

New Podcast: eBay Selling and Taxes

Thanks to Kristine McKinley for spending an hour with me this afternoon talking about all things eBay and taxes. Not the most exciting topic for most of us, but, Kristine definitely shared some important valuable information. The podcast covered:

What category to file your eBay business under (454112 Electronic Auctions)

Reporting eBay business income and losses

Whether your eBay business should be a sole proprietorship, LLC, or corporation and why

Inventory - how to report and document it

Common deductions for eBay sellers

Details about the home office deduction

Estimating taxes and quarterly taxes

Benefits of hiring your kids to help you with your home business

(You can listen while you work on your shipping or list your items. Multitasking!)

Kristine also has a free eBook you can download called "Tax Tips for eBay Sellers." You can visit Kristine's website at eBiz Tax Tips for more tips, tools, eBooks, and information.

Happy Selling!

Make Money on eBay Selling Items from Kroger

I discovered that Kroger can be a gold mine for finding inventory to resell on eBay. Especially if your Kroger has a large cosmetics and health and beauty section. Mega stores like Kroger are constantly offering newly released consumer items and resetting their shelves. Something has to be removed to make room for all the new stuff. That is where the markdowns come in.

If you browse your Kroger store, you will see big white tags on the shelf below the items that are marked down. The markdowns are usually 50% of the regular price. Kroger does not have a clearance section, items are just marked down in the department they are sold. For example, here are some items that I saw yesterday at my Kroger marked down to half price:

Nexxus Therappe Moisturizing Spray, reg price $17, markdown price $9.99

Neutrogena Spray Sunscreen, SPF 30, reg price $9.99, markdwon price $4.99

Aveeno Spray Sunscreen, SPF 45, reg price $9.49, markdown price $4.99

Sally Hansen Nail Polish, reg price $4.50, markdown price, $2.25

Clairol Perfect 10 Hair Color, reg price $11.99, markdown price $6.25
(Here is one that sold on eBay for $9.99.)




Aveeno Positively Ageless Daily Eye Serum
reg price $17.99, markdown price $8.99
(Here is one that sold on eBay for $13)

Also check the medicine, dental, weight loss, and vitamin aisles.

These markdowns may vary by store. Always do your homework before buying inventory to sell on eBay. Make sure you are comfortable with your investment before buying anything. (Click here for tips on how to price items to sell on eBay.)

Pay attention to coupons, too. You may find coupons for the clearance items that you can stack or layer for deeper discounts. For example, there was recently a $5 off Clairol Perfect 10 hair color coupon, so that made my cost on a $12 box of hair color (marked down to $6.25) only $1.25. I went on eBay, bought about 40 $5 coupons for around $2, bought a bunch of the hair color for $1.25 a box, and then sold the hair color in lots. A few extra steps, yes, but a way to get inventory dirt cheap. Here is a listing (not mine) for 3 boxes of Clairol Perfect 10 that sold for $14.99. Profit in this scenario is around $10 per lot.

Granted, your profit margins will be small on these items. But, if you can sell enough of them, it is worth the effort because you only create the listing once and continue to relist as long as you can find the product. These types of items are also good to sell in lots. Get enough of these types of listings going, and your store is almost on auto-pilot.

Click here to find out about more items from grocery and drug stores that you can sell for profit on eBay. Keep your eyes open at Kroger and see what you can find!

New eBay How-To Articles

New eBay How-To articles posted within the last 30 days:

How to Have Negative Feedback Removed

How to Use eMail Marketing with eBay Stores

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Happy Selling,

Clothing Lead Testing Law Will NOT Apply to Thrift Store Clothing

We can all breathe a sigh of relief! According to the LA Times:

"Federal regulators shifted gears Thursday and said they would no longer require that used children's clothing, toys and other items sold at secondhand stores be tested for lead."

Read the full article here.

Now we can all relax and get back to work!

Happy Selling,

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act Press Release

There has been a lot of buzz about the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act), regarding children's clothing and selling it on eBay. This new act will affect many clothing sellers on eBay - from the manufacturer all the way down the food chain to the small at-home seller.

Here is the official press release regarding this issue.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2009
Release #09-086
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In February 2009, new requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) take effect. Manufacturers, importers and retailers are expected to comply with the new Congressionally-mandated laws. Beginning February 10, 2009, children's products cannot be sold if they contain more than 600 parts per million (ppm) total lead. Certain children's products manufactured on or after February 10, 2009 cannot be sold if they contain more that 0.1% of certain specific phthalates or if they fail to meet new mandatory standards for toys.

Under the new law, children's products with more than 600 ppm total lead cannot lawfully be sold in the United States on or after February 10, 2009, even if they were manufactured before that date. The total lead limit drops to 300 ppm on August 14, 2009.

The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children's products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children's products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.

The new safety law does not require resellers to test children's products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children's products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.

When the CPSIA was signed into law on August 14, 2008, it became unlawful to sell recalled products. All resellers should check the CPSC Web site (www.cpsc.gov) for information on recalled products before taking into inventory or selling a product. The selling of recalled products also could carry civil and/or criminal penalties.

The agency intends to focus its enforcement efforts on products of greatest risk and largest exposure. While CPSC expects every company to comply fully with the new laws resellers should pay special attention to certain product categories. Among these are recalled children's products, particularly cribs and play yards; children's products that may contain lead, such as children's jewelry and painted wooden or metal toys; flimsily made toys that are easily breakable into small parts; toys that lack the required age warnings; and dolls and stuffed toys that have buttons, eyes, noses or other small parts that are not securely fastened and could present a choking hazard for young children.

The agency has underway a number of rulemaking proposals intended to provide guidance on the new lead limit requirements. Please visit the CPSC website at www.cpsc.gov for more information.

One seller from the SAHM Facebook group wrote eBay with her concerns, and received this response:

"We are aware of the new law and that until we make modifications to our current policies (if deemed necessary), there is no reason for alarm. Our Legal team is currently working with the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) in regards to enforcement of the law. Once our Legal team and the CPSC review the information, we will be forthcoming with information regarding this new law and how it pertains to eBay."

Click here to see and participate in a discussion about this issue on the eBay Children's Boutique Forum on eBay.

Happy Selling,

eBay Tax Expert Will Answer Your Questions

I have planned a podcast next week with Kristine McKinley, an eBay tax expert. Kristine specializes in helping eBay sellers, coaches, and WAHMS minimize taxes and keep more of their profits in their pocket.

If you have specific questions regarding eBay and taxes, please either email me at ebaycoach@yahoo.com, or leave a comment below. Kristine and I will try to cover as many questions as possible during the podcast. I'll post a link here when the podcast has been uploaded.



On another note, check the SAHM eBay Seller group for another member's club item that you can sell on eBay for profit. This one is a health/diet product. January is prime time for selling diet and weight loss product. Sam's Club is offering a free $25 gift card when you sign up for the Advantage Membership which costs $40. (Give the page a minute to load, it is slow.) A $15 Sam's membership is a bargain, and you can recover that cost selling just a couple of items.

Happy Selling,

eBay Fixed Price Listings Growing at Solid Rate

Interesting article about eBay's position in the stock market and projections for the coming year.

"eBay, has been cut in half this year (2008). Like Merck, eBay is a very profitable business with high returns on capital, and it converts about a third of its sales to free cash flow. However, eBay's once blistering growth rate has slowed considerably over the past few years and the online auction business in the US has matured, and investors have shunned the shares. Three years ago, eBay's stock was valued at about 50 time earnings, now it changes hands at about 12 times earnings.

That's too low for a company that still grows revenue at a mid-teens clip, and maintains a strong competitive position in most of its businesses. Even if you assume the US auction market never grows again, eBay's fixed-price sales are growing at a solid rate, the international business is doing better than headlines would suggest, and Paypal continues to be extraordinarily successful. eBay will never again post the 40%-50% annual growth rates that it did in the past, but at 12 times earnings, it doesn't have to deliver hyper growth for the stock to do very well."

[From Money Magazine, November 2008, page 75, author Pat Dorsey.]

Don't Put All Your Eggs in the eBay Basket

I bet you never thought you would hear me say that. I've been selling on eBay for over 6 years now, have sold over 16,000 items as a one person operation, and eBay is the core of my income. But, as we have all seen, eBay can be very cyclical and there are months where sales will be slow. Any entrepreneur will tell you that it takes multiple ventures to keep the cash flowing. Look at hugely successful people like Donald Trump, Oprah, and Martha Stewart. They all have done multiple projects to build their empire - and continue to pursue new ventures. Granted, we can't all be the Donald or Oprah, but we can use the concept of diversifying to safeguard our income.

About 2 years ago when I decided to reach out and help other moms and new eBay sellers, I had no idea how I would do it or where to start. I just knew I had valuable information to share and using the internet to reach people was most efficient way. My coaching business has been the most rewarding and satisfying venture so far in my life.

I found this book, From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur, that really inspired me to start a blog, network on social websites, and write my own eBooks. Maybe you have a passion for something you want to share with others. Perhaps you have valuable life experience that you can share with other people to save them time and help them along the learning curve. Maybe you have always wanted to write a book but don't know where to start.

Here are a list of resources that will point you in the right direction if you want to start blogging, write a book, or sell your own eBooks on the internet.


From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money with books, E-Books and Information Products - This book started it all for me. It is still my bible for everything from internet marketing, using social websites, and creating passive income streams.


The Everything Blogging Book: Publish Your Ideas, Get Feedback, And Create Your Own Worldwide Network (Everything Series) Explains all facets of blogging from including how to set up your blog; how to find hot topics to write about that will attract visitors; tools, plug-ins, and add ons; blogging for business; how to read and understand blog stats so you can improve traffic; making money with a blog.

How to Write an eBook to Sell on the Internet - My eHow article that gives the nuts and bolts of getting started.

How to Self-Publish a Book. I used the company iUniverse. Basically, you buy a package deal that gives you access to an editor, proofreading, on demand publishing, and marketing your book.


Sam Walton: Made In America This is one of my favorite books. If you need some inspiration, read this. A remarkable success story of a guy with an idea, perseverance, and guts. Proof that hard work is what takes you places in this world.

Happy Selling,

Kohl's Scam Continued

After talking with many of you yesterday about the Kohl's scam, I decided to send this email to the seller. People like this are what gives eBay a bad name. Most of us do a legitimate business selling a legitimate product or service. I hate to see people manipulate eBay and make it something sleazy - it just harms eBay's reputation and in turn, our reputations by being affiliated with eBay.

Dear Seller,

I am very disappointed and disturbed by this transaction. First of all, you didn't send coupons, but download links that I had to print. eBay policy states that all coupons sold through eBay must be physically delivered to the buyer, and may not be delivered by electronic means for home printing. No where in your listing did it state that I had to waste my ink and paper to print something. Third, the coupons clearly say 1 per household. Your listing was not only deceptive, but you are clearly violating eBay policy selling these Kohl's so called coupons.

She replied with, "There was nothing "deceptive" about this auction. This is not a "scam or fraud." If this was a scam do you really think I would have had 100% positive feedback."

So I replied with,

1) Your listing is deceptive. You are selling something that ANYONE can get for free on the internet. You are opening numerous free email accounts, signing up for printable coupons numerous times that are only meant to be used by one person one time, and then selling them for profit to unsuspecting buyers who think they are receiving a promotional coupon obtained in an honest way. Furthermore, according to the listing, the buyer will receive COUPONS, not download links. Digital items, including links such as the Kohl's coupons, may only be sold through eBay Classified Ads, and the seller must be legally authorized to sell the item. You can read eBay's policy on selling digital items by clicking here.

2) Your listings for Kohl's coupons violates eBay's coupon policy which states, "All coupons sold through eBay must be physically delivered to the buyer, and may not be delivered by electronic means for home printing." You can read this for yourself by clicking here. Perhaps in your 36 days of being an eBay seller, you haven't taken the time to read what is permitted and what is not. The first rule of eBay selling: Just because another seller is doing it does not mean it is permitted.

3) I buy grocery coupons on eBay all the time. This is the first time I have encountered something so underhanded and deceptive. This is not about a buyer reading a listing; this is about a seller offering full disclosure to her buyers. You are deceiving buyers by offering something that you obtained under false pretenses.

4) If what you are doing is "right," eBay legal, and you are comfortable doing it because other sellers are, I'm sure you won't mind that I have forwarded this information to both Kohl's and eBay.

Guess what? She doesn't have 100% feedback anymore.

Kohl's Coupon Scam on eBay

The other day, I was shopping for coupons on eBay and ran across a listing for Kohl's Department Store coupons. The listing was for 15 coupons each for $5. I noticed that many sellers do this, offering the coupons in batches of 10-20 at a time. Completed listings show over 3,300 listings for Kohl's $5 coupons.

I bought the coupons for $2.75 thinking they were actual store coupons that were going to be mailed to me. The coupons don't expire until 1/31/09 and 1 coupon can be used for each $5 or more purchase. My daughter's birthday is in January, so I am always looking for after Christmas deals to buy her birthday gifts.

The coupons were send as download links. I received a list of links that took me to a page to print each coupon. Then I began to wonder, how is this seller getting these coupon codes and passing them on?

After asking around, I learned how it works. If you go to this link at Kohl's.com, you can enter your email address and receive a $5 coupon from Kohl's. The coupon is emailed to you within a week. But you can only get one coupon per email address. I took a look at the coupons I received. Each one had a slightly different email address on it, like this:

maryA123@hotmail.com
maryB123@hotmail.com
maryC123@hotmail.com

and so on. So, these sellers are going out on the internet and opening a whole bunch of free email accounts, signing up for the coupon, batching the downloads, and selling them on eBay.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. eBay sellers have found a way to manipulate the system and stockpile these coupons. Coupon sellers do this all the time by purchasing multiple Sunday papers, clipping the coupons, and selling them, so is this the same? I think this technique is more of a scam than a legitimate way to sell coupons.

I can't say that this is a great way to make money. Using the seller in my example, the person had to go open 15 free email accounts, and sign up for a $5 coupon 15 times. That in itself took at least an hour. Her profit after eBay and Paypal fees is probably only $2. I can think of plenty of other things I can do for an hour that makes more than $2. Click here for a list of ideas.

I'm sure this "business model" (and I use that term loosely) is used all the time for other coupons. What do you think? Does this border on fraud, or a legitimate way to earn money on eBay? Please leave a comment below.

Hot Key Words for January Listings

Have you started getting them yet? Emails and sales flyers for January clearance.

Everywhere you look you'll will see the signs, "January Clearance!" In the brick and mortar stores, inventory is taken in January. To reduce the amount of inventory they have to count, or to make room for new spring merchandise, these stores run January clearance sales, inventory reduction sales, or liquidations. We can do the same thing on eBay.

Take a look through your inventory. What do you have that has been sitting there since last year? What is not moving? What do you have too much of? It is time to mark it down or list it in lots based on your cost. (Remember, those tax refunds will be coming soon so buyers will be looking for deals.)

Use key words like "clearance, inventory reduction, liquidation, and sale" on your item titles. If you have items in store inventory, consider using Markdown Manager to designate a percentage off sale. Your listing will appear with an icon showing the percentage off and the cost savings. Markdown Manager is free to use.

On the flip side, now is a great time to buy inventory to resell in your store. I was in DSW Shoes yesterday and saw some huge bargains. (A pair of $130 Coach shoes marked down to $39!) Don't forget about places like CVS, Walgreens, ULTA, and Rite Aid where you can use reward programs to get free items. Below are a few How-To articles with info on how to "work" those discount and reward programs.

How to Buy Shoes at DSW to Resell on eBay for Profit

How to Find Walgreens Deals and Get Free Items

How to Get Free Products from CVS

How to Get Free Cosmetics from Ulta (I got a sales flyer from Ulta, they have red-ticketed alot of their merchandise to 85% off. They also have the first discontinued item on the Hot List at 50% off.)

How to Get Free Items at Rite-Aid.



Fellow seller John-Paul has posted some AWESOME tips on his blog about some specific holiday items you can buy at Rite Aid and resell for profit. Remember the goofy leg lamp from the movie "A Christmas Story?" He is making a killing on those!

Happy Selling,

ReBay - Regifting Unwanted Holiday Gifts

Today's post is provided by Paul Cohen of Seller Sourcebook.

Christmas is over and and if you’re anything like me, you’re full of turkey or ham, maybe a little tired from all the festivities and have a mountain of used wrapping paper that needs to be recycled. The holidays are all about family, food and gift giving.

As you’re cleaning up that mountain of paper you might be thinking about the ‘Re-gift’. After all, what the heck are you going to do with those comic books Uncle Jim got for you? Sure, you were into Spiderman when you were 12, but c’mon that was 20 years ago! Thanks Uncle Jim.

And Aunt Betty, your wife really loved those earrings! Though secretly she whispered to you how she’d rather go Van Gogh than wear them.

Don’t be embarrassed about the Re-gift. Most have done it a time or two in the past - just stash that stuff in the closet for a year, re-wrap it next year and your nephew will get an introduction to Spiderman, right?

Not to sound greedy here ... but times are tough this year. Every time you turn on the news there are reports of more people losing their jobs, auto-plants are shutting down for an extra week or two and major retailers are shutting their doors.

Why give your ‘Re-gifts’ away next year if you might be able to make some money off of it this year? After all - with the economy in the state that it’s in - everyone can use a little extra just to pay the bills and keep food on the table.

‘R-eBay’ those gifts you aren’t going to use!

This is the perfect time of the year to eBay - many of the eBay shops will be closing their doors as the Christmas rush is now over which means there will be less competition and lots of people are going to be logging on to find that special accessory to wear on New Years Eve (I’m sure someone out there has the same taste as Aunt Betty!)

Whether you’re new to eBay or have been doing it for years - now is the perfect time to launch some new auctions and make some money off of all that stuff you just don’t need.

Keep in mind, not all listings are created equal - Professional-looking listings sell better and creating them is not as difficult as you might think. Head over to Seller Source Book to easily make professional-looking listings that will grab the attention of eBay browsers and instill confidence in them about buying from you.

SSB provides the image storage space, templates, tools and support you need to effectively ‘R-eBay’ instead of ‘Re-Gift’!