Monday, April 27, 2009

Discontinued Item to Sell on eBay - Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil



24 Maybelline Twin Brow & Eye Pencils Charcoal Grey


This item was included in the February Hot List. Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil in the color CHARCOAL. The color has been discontinued. Sellers have reported finding this at dollar stores for $1 per twin pack. As you can see, the lot above sold for $89.99, which is only about $4 profit per item, but if you find a bunch of them it is a good profit. Some listings with fewer items in the lot are selling for an average of $10 per twinpack. Click here to see all completed listings.

Click here to see my FREE list of discontinued items to sell on eBay.

The latest Hot List, released April 26, lists 7 items like this that are discontinued and profitable on eBay. Click here to get your copy of the Hot List.

Happy Selling!



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Sunday, April 26, 2009

Discontinued Item to Sell on eBay - Dep Hair Sculpting Clay


DEP SPORT SCULPTING CLAY 3 OZ Discontinued


This item was included in the March Hot List. Dep Sport Sculpting Clay for men. You may find it at Big Lots, dollar stores, and other closeout stores. Also check flea markets.

Clearance price = $3-$4
Average selling price on eBay = $14 per jar
Click here to see completed listings

http://ebaysellingcoach.blogspot.com/2009/06/discontinued-items-to-sell-on-ebay-free.html

The latest Hot List, released April 26, lists 7 items like this that are discontinued and profitable on eBay. Click here to get your copy of the Hot List.

Happy Selling!



Work at Home with Doba

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Thrift Store Item to Sell on eBay - Burma Bibas Shirts


Burma Bibas is a line of men's clothing sold at Nordstrom, Saks 5th Ave, and other fine stores. The shirts are usually silk or polynosic and can be golf style or button front. Retail price on these shirts are $50-$70. The 100% silk shirts are good sellers on eBay. The profit on these is not as high as on some the other items I have posted, however, these are a reliable seller. Here are a few completed listings. All of these are for used or preowned Burma Bibas shirts that can be found at thrift stores for $3-$5.



Burma Bibas Shirt-Size XL-Gorgeous-ss


BURMA BIBAS GREEN Button-front 100% SILK S/S shirt s L


Burma Bibas Silk Short Sleeve Shirt (XXL) Purple


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

Happy Selling!



Research your competition

Monday, April 20, 2009

Thrift Store Item to Sell on eBay - Chico's No Tummy Pants


Chico's is an upscale women's clothing boutique that offers trendy, fashionable, yet comfortable clothing. You may have seen Debbie Phelps, mom of gold medalist Michael Phelps, wearing Chico's clothing during the Olympics last year. She has collaborated with Chico's to create the Debbie Phelps line.

Chico's offers the no-tummy pant: "Slenderizing 'No Tummy' Pant has front darts and a smooth elastic waist for a leaner silhouette. In a wrinkle-resistant blend with a straight leg. 95% Acetate, 5% Spandex. Machine wash, no iron." ~Chicos.com These pants retail for $60 and up.

Look for these at thrift stores. You'll pay $3-$5 per pair, and they are great sellers. Larger sizes do especially well. Keep in mind that Chico's has its own sizing system. "Our focus on comfort is the reason for our unique sizing. Our sizing starts at a Size 0 or Extra Small and ends with a Size 3 or Large. These sizes are comparable to the standard 4/6, 8/10, 12/14, 16/18 women's sizing, but the difference is in the versatility."

Here are a few recently completed listings.


Chico's Platinum Jeans Sz 2.5 Reg ~No Tummy Jean~ EUC!


CHICO'S TRAVELERS WHITE "NO TUMMY" SLINKY PANTS-2-12/14



CHICOS TRAVELERS NO TUMMY PANTS HOT FUDGE sz 2 R - NWT!


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

Happy Selling!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

USPS Shipping Supplies - What NOT to Do!


Be careful misusing USPS Priority Shipping supplies. I received the following comment from a reader, however, you should ABSOLUTELY NOT do this!

"An illegal but good to know trick, is if you can't find the right size box to ship something and can ship it cheaper than a flat rate box, use a flat rate box, turn the box inside out, re-tape it together so it looks like a plain cardboard box and voila, free unlimited supply of boxes, be careful though, if they see that you have used a flat rate box like this they will return the package but for a here and there quick fix for the right size box this is a good trick."

No,this is not a good trick, it is foolish and tacky. First of all, this statement is printed on the Priority Mail and Express Mail supplies:

"This packaging is the property of the U.S. Postal Service and is provided solely for use in sending Priority/Express Mail. Misuse may be a violation of federal law."

Since you are dealing with the United States Post Office - a branch of the Federal Government - misusing the supplies is a federal crime.This statement pops up when ordering Priority Supplies on USPS.com:


Second, if the post office discovers you have turned a box or envelope inside out, they will charge for an upgrade to Priority. And guess who gets to pay the difference between First Class or Parcel Select to the Priority upgrade? Your customer. The customer will receive a slip in his mailbox that he has a package to pick up, and when he goes to the post office to get it, he will be charged for the postage upgrade. Now, won't that make you look great? No, you will look cheap, tacky, and unprofessional. Is it really worth all this just to get a free box? If you need boxes for First Class, Parcel Select, or international, check the free section of Craigslist, FreeCycle, or Facebook yard sale groups where people give away all sorts of free items.





Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Thrift Store Item to Sell on eBay - Men's Cole Haan Loafers


Cole Haan is a designer label that began in 1928 in Chicago. Today, Cole Hann is known for its high end, quality footwear for men and women, leather goods, and accessories.

Cole Hann loafers are great sellers on eBay. They are made of high quality leather and are identifiable by the blue, green, or red Cole Haan fabric logo inside the shoe. The shoes usually have cushioned, leather insoles. The tassel loafers do especially well.

Here are a few recently completed listings for Men's Cole Haan loafers. You can usually find these shoes at thrift stores for less than $5 a pair. Check out the selling prices on these shoes!


COLE HAAN BRAGANO Brown Men Tassel Loafer Shoes sz 10.5



BRAGANO COLE HAAN MEN'S LOAFERS DRESS SHOES SIZE 9.5 D



COLE HAAN BRAGANO ITALY MEN'S BROWN WOVEN LOAFERS 8 M


Here are a few tips for shopping for used shoes to resell on eBay:

1) Check the sole. Is there enough sole left for another person to put more miles on the shoe? Leave it behind if there are holes in the sole. On black soles, you can add a coat of she polish on the sole to make it look newer.

2) Check inside the shoe for rips or tears.

3) If applicable, do laces need to be replaced? If you've found a really nice shoe with no laces, or broken laces, it might be worth springing for a $2 pair of new laces.

4) Look for scratches and stains. Some can be covered with a coat of shoe polish.

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

Good luck, hope you find some!



Drop ship with Doba

Shipping Tip - USPS Flat Rate Mailers Not Just for Documents



A few clarifications and notes:

1) When I say, "You can put anything in these," of course I mean anything that is allowed by the post office. It has to be legal is the point.

2) Domestic flat rate, unlimited weight, $4.95 before adding Delivery Confirmation, insurance, etc.

3) International flat rate, 4 lb weight limit, $12.95 before adding tracking, insurance, etc. Customs form must be attached.

4) Flap must seal on its own. Envelope must not be modified - cut, 2 taped together, etc.

5) Click here to order the Flat Rate cardboard mailer online.

6) Join my FaceBook Group!

Forget going to the post office - try Stamps.com. The primary benefit to Stamps.com is that it is the only online shipping site that allows you to print First Class International at home. I ship 75+ packages a week, 90% of them go out of the country as FCI or in Flat Rate envelopes. I never go to the post office!

Happy Selling,



Friday, April 10, 2009

eBay Seller FAQ: Should I Open an eBay Store?


This question has been appearing lately on my Facebook group, so I will make the case for opening an eBay store. According to one of our members, 47 items is the threshold that justifies opening an eBay store - at least as far as fees are concerned. (See the math below.)

Opening a store is crucial if you want to sell on eBay as a business, rather than a hobby. First of all, the listing fees are only 3 cents per item for a 30-day listing. You can list hundreds of items in your store inventory for practically nothing, as opposed to running all auctions for between 35 cents and one dollar per item. Yes, the final value fees are higher on store inventory, but you don't pay these fees unless an item sells. You can display hundreds of items very inexpensively by setting up an eBay store.

Second, having a store is like your home base on eBay. Buyers may check out your auctions, but if you have a store, they can look for other things that may interest them. If you offer combined or discounted shipping for multiple items purchased, customers will be compelled to buy more from you at one time. Having a store gives you brand recognition - you can build a customer base and customers will return if they like your service and your products.

Here are some simple suggestions for a successful eBay store:

1)Study your eBay Store traffic reports. With this information, you can make educated adjustments to your store that will improve your sales.

2) List your entire inventory in your eBay Store. At $0.03 per listing, 500 items will only cost $30 per month. Your store listings will show up on search engines, driving traffic to your store, and on eBay searches. The more items you have to attract buyers the more sales you will potentially make. People can't buy what they can't see.

3) Accept PayPal as a payment method. More than 90% of eBay buyers pay using Paypal. Failure to accept Paypal will cripple your efforts to collect payment from your buyers.

4) Have a fair return policy. A fair return policy pays for itself many times over in sales and repeat business than it costs in actually issuing refunds. If an item is returned, just relist it again and move on.’

5) Keep your shipping fees fair and competitive. You’ll pay the price for excessive shipping fees on the DSR (detailed seller ratings) because your customers can rate the fairness of your fees. New sellers often think they are clever charging a ridiculously low price for the item counterbalanced by an enormous shipping fee. This is called circumventing fees and you can be suspended from eBay if you use this strategy.

And here is the math that justifies opening an eBay store:

On auctions, it costs 35 cents to add the buy it now option.

Store listings cost 3 cents each for a 30 day listing.

Store fee is $15.00 a month for the basic subscription.
15/.32 = 46.875 (rounding up to 47)
Thanks John S for doing the math!

Hope this helps you make your decision about opening a store. If things don't work out for you, closing the store is always an option.

Happy Selling!


Thrift Store Item to Sell on eBay - Cycling Jerseys


I stumbled on this one a few years ago. I didn't even know what I had found. It was in the kids section and had a Ben & Jerry's design on it - with a $120 tag. So for $2, I figured what the heck, give it a try. That cycling jersey sold for over $80!

Cycling jerseys aren't cheap - they are made with a competitive edge. "Cycling jerseys are known for their advanced textile technology, using some materials that wick moisture (sweat) away from your skin, others that conform to your body to decrease drag, and some that compress to your skin to help with muscle and fatigue issues." -IndieBike.com. I was not aware of all this - when I found the first one it felt so light and flimsy I couldn't imagine anyone paying so much for it! If you find cycling jerseys from specific events or races, those are considered collectible and you'll make a great profit.

Thrift store employees just don't know what they have hiding in their store. I usually find cycling jerseys in the children's section, with vests, or mixed in with short sleeved shirts. I've paid $1-$4 for them. You will notice that the fabric is very thin and has a sheen to it - so they are easy to spot once you know what you are looking for. Look for brands like Pearl Izumi, Gore, Voler, Rapha, Castelli, Giordana, Sugoi, Canari, Campagnolo, Zoot, Craft, and Descente. Retail prices for new cycling jerseys can be over $150.

Below are a few recently completed listings for cycling jerseys - all are in used or pre-owned condition.



Rapha Country Cycling Jersey - Italy/Pink Size L NICE!



Klein Team Jersey Giordana Large LN NR RARE


Men's Rapha Plum Purple Cycling Jersey Top L Large


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

Happy Selling!


Thursday, April 9, 2009

Source for eBay Inventory - DSW Shoes


DSW is a huge shoe retailer that satisfies "the passionate shoe enthusiast." I have found incredible deals at DSW for shoes to resell on eBay. For example, I found some UGGs slippers for $15 (discontinued color) and they sold for $65 in just a few days. I found a pair of Cole Haan loafers for $12 and they sold for $58. The key is learning to work the DSW system.

Visit DSW.com and enter your zip code on the store finder to find a store near you.

Sign up for DSW rewards. It is free. This is their loyalty program where you earn points for your purchases. You can sign up online or in the store. You will accumulate points that will generate gift certificates. (I usually receive them in $15-$20 increments.)

Visit your local DSW and head to the clearance section at the back of the store. There will ALWAYS be items on clearance, and new items are moved to the clearance section daily. Also, new markdowns are made daily. Click here for a sample of what you can find in the DSW clearance section.

The DSW pricing system is color coded. Each color tag represents a different discount percentage. Look for signs on the endcaps of the aisles that explain what each color means.

I always look for the largest discount - about 80% off the regular price. I zone in on that color tag, and have my kids look, too.

Look for brands such Born, Merrell, Keen, Teva, Ferragamo, Nike, Cole Haan, Uggs, Doc Martens, Ralph Lauren. The expensive high end brands.

Larger sizes and wide widths in both mens and women's sell the best on eBay. If in doubt, or you have to stick to a budget, go for the larger sizes, such as ladies 8.5 and up, and mens sizes 11 and up.

As continue to shop and purchase items from DSW, your points will accumulate on the rewards program, and you can apply the rewards to new purchases, making your inventory investment even less. DSW is one of the few retailers that allows you to combine coupons and discounts. Check out this receipt below (not mine) of a purchase for some shoes that were originally $39.95 - and the person got them for a penny! How is that for practically free inventory?



Happy Selling!



Drop ship with Doba

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Thrift Store Item to Sell on eBay - Vintage Rotary Phones


This is a fun category. I'm not talking about the Alexander Graham Bell type phones that are antiques - but those (horrible?) avocado or golden harvest colored phones from the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's that we had in our kitchens and family rooms. Do you remember the powder blue or flamingo pink trim line phones we had in our bedrooms? These vintage phones are very collectible and are great sellers on eBay - and they don't even have to work!

Gone are the days when you ordered your phone from the phone company and they brought it to your house. No running up to Walmart to buy one. And the phone company had to come to your house to turn on the phone so you could use it. And remember standing in the kitchen next to the wall or sitting in a chair by the phone table in the family room to have a conversation? Cordless phones hadn't been invented yet - much less cell phones. If you were lucky, the cord would reach into a bathroom or closet and you could have some privacy. Imagine teenagers today stuck next to the kitchen wall talking on the phone!

Here are a few completed listings for vintage rotary phones. Keep your eyes out for these at thrift stores, garage sales, and estate sales. Thrift store prices are usually around $3-$5 for an old phone. Checkout the selling prices!




Vintage WESTERN ELECTRIC YELLOW ROTARY WALL PHONE nice




Vintage Pink Western Electric Rotary Desk Phone 500


Vintage Red Rotary Dial Wall Telephone Phone FIRE DEPT


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

Happy Selling!


MagicJack

Monday, April 6, 2009

Thrift Store Item to Sell on eBay - Under Armour


Under Armour - NYSE: UA, is a USA based clothing company that sells form-fitting, moisture-wicking performance apparel originally designed to be worn under sportswear. Under Armour has evolved to every day street clothes and has lines for men, women, and children for a variety of sports.

Under Armour has been a good seller on eBay since it came on the market. You can find the pieces at thrift stores for less than $5. Look in the children's section - some of the form-fitting pieces look so small that the thrift store employees often mistake them for children's clothing. Below are some recently completed listings for Under Armour. All are in gently used or pre-owned condition.



Under Armour Cold Gear


BOY'S UNDER ARMOUR ORANGE LOGO HOODIE. EUC!! SZ YLG.



UNDER ARMOUR WOMEN'S RUNNING PANTS CAPRI PANTS MEDIUM


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

Happy Selling!


SlimFast