ISSUE 17: Jan 2005
Yard Salers: Issue 17! Keeping an Eye on Fakes
Subscribe at:
www.yardsalers.net
Yard Salers and eBayers: Issue 18! Keeping an Eye on Fakes: 3.18 – March, 2005
** New Year Edition **
Happy New Year everyone!
Hello, all! Hope you had a great holiday season, whatever you celebrate. Can you believe we're in the year 2005?
OK, so it's been a while since I wrote a newsletter, and December is one of the busiest seasons on eBay, but the rest of the winter is usually pretty lucrative for sellers as well.
I've been spending most of my time working on my new book project, but I'm in a lull right now so thought I'd crank out an issue and cover some of the many topics that have been fermenting in my brain.
I also have updated one of my most popular ebooks, and added a lot of new books and analysis to it. What say we all clear out our bookshelves in 2005, gain new space, and make money in the process?
A Series of Fortunate Events
One of the things I love most about yard and estate sales and thrift stores is you never know what will happen or what you'll find...you might hit the jackpot, or you might spend a couple of hours with nothing to show for it but a few trivial or even silly items. But, again, it's the thrill of the chase that keeps many of us going.
And it's not just things we might gain, I've found...it's getting out and meeting people you otherwise wouldn't have met.
Sometimes you even make a connection that amazes you. I had one such meeting a few months ago at one of the last yard sales of the Fall season.
I pulled up to a nice home in one of the prettiest neighborhoods around where I live, in the Mount Vernon, Virginia area (yes, if it was good enough for George Washington, it's good enough for us).
A friendly sixtysomething (my guess) gentleman had a variety of quality pieces of glassware and kitchen items, among other things. Something about him struck me as particularly affable and interesting, and I decided to ask him about his history in his home.
"How long have you lived in this house?" I asked.
"Oh, many years now, but it's been off and on because we were overseas a lot," he said.
"Oh really?" I followed up. (I love to travel but haven't done as much as I would like lately!). "For work?"
"Yes, I was in the foreign service."
Well, now I had to ask again, because both my grandfathers were in the foreign service, and it can be fun to compare notes.
I told him about my grandfathers both being in the foreign service, and asked where he was stationed.
"Various places, including Haiti," he replied, seemingly clipping his answer short lest he bore me.
But now it was getting really interesting. "Oh really?" I said. "My grandfather was in Haiti, too. He was the U.S. ambassador there for a number of years. But I don't suppose you were there at the same time."
"What was his name?" he asked.
I told him.
"Oh yes, I used to work for him."
He then proceeded to share with me some wonderful anecdotes that I had never heard about "Pop-Pop," as we used to call him, among which was that this guy I had just met, who I shall refer to as just "Jim," used to be in charge of dealing with the bodies of whatever unfortunate Americans in Haiti met an untimely demise.
"Jim!" the man recalls Pop-Pop bellowing. "There's another stiff for you in the garage!"
And so on.
It was especially amazing to hear these anecdotes because I didn't know "Pop-Pop" all that well, as he died when I was only five, and his idea of grandfatherly interaction was sequestering us four kids in his tv room while he and the adults had their cocktail hour. (I can only hope he would have become more interested as we got older.). But I had heard stories about him and his globe-trotting career.
So, you may be thinking, what did I buy at the yard sale? Well, I bought some nice martini glasses, and a pitcher that is like a relief sculpture of grapes and vines. But, as for what I *got* out of the sale, it was obviously a lot more than that...the most important thing I got was intangible.
So remember that the next time you meet someone at a sale, well...you never know who you might meet! Chatting with sellers and fellow sale-goers can reap dividends.
Do you have any stories about interesting people you met at sales? Email them to me at juliawilk@aol.com.
*****
Tsunami Aid
Like everyone else, I was horrified by the stories and images from the recent tsunami in Asia. The auction community has sprung into action, with numerous charity auctions and opportunities to pledge relief. One of the easiest and best ways I personally found to donate online was that on amazon.com: you could pledge money with only one click. (Yes, I am a big fan of their one-click ordering process).
Also in that spirit, I plan to donate 10% of the profits of my latest updated ebook, "Over 100 Books You Can Sell for $50-$100," to a tsunami aid organization.
Now, let?s get to the rest of the newsletter...
Now Updated with over 220 new book prices! "Over 100 Books You Can Sell for $50 - $100 -- well, OK, so it's more like Over 300 Books! Special half-price offer for subscribers -- only $4.95! Go here to pay by credit card and download it instantly:
http://www.aolmemorabilia.com/100bkclkslsub.html
****************************
Do you have your copy of Julia's book, ?eBay: Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks??
Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, and in most bookstores.
********************************
Have you checked out YAB?s web site? Give it a look at http://www.aolmemorabilia.com/yab (I know, the next step is a
better url).
I still need to plug in a few holes for a few back issues, but we?ll get there.
******
Do you like this newsletter? Please forward it (in its entirety) to a friend!
** Don?t have five minutes to read the newsletter now? Print it out; take it to bed with you! (That?s my favorite place to read my newsletters!). **
**************************
In This Issue:
1) Keeping an Eye on Fakes: Spotting Authentic Dooney & Bourke
2) YAB Contest Update: The Pink Luggage Person, a $1500 Cookie Jar, and More
3) What Sells for What? Children's Books: A Preview of My Updated eBook
4) Reader Mail
7) YOUR FEEDBACK WANTED
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1) Keeping an Eye on Fakes: Spotting Authentic Dooney & Bourke
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Fakes are an ongoing big problem for sellers and buyers alike. Even major retail chains apparently get counterfeit items mixed in with real goods, and they end up on store shelves, according to a Jan. 4, 2005 WAshington Post article. The below letter regards how to to tell a real from fake Dooney & Bourke purse. (I'd normally put this in my Reader Mail section, but since the answer is kinda long, I decided to make it a feature).
**
I was reading your newsletter about how to tell fake handbags from the real handbag, I have 2 dooney and bourke purses.
Someone told me they were fakes, But they have the "Dooney And Bourke All weather Leather" tag sewed on the front, and the "Dooney and Bourke All Weather Leather" charm on the handle, but no serial numbers on the inside tag.
Are they Fakes, how could another company use the Dooney and Bourke name without being sued? I need to know, because I had intended to sell these on Ebay, but I dont want to sell a fake.
Thanks, Sarah
------
Hi Sarah,
I did look into the Dooney issue for you and pasted excerpts from a relevant thread [from the eBay Clothing discussion board] below. If you look at the top post, it says that a Dooney rep said not all authentic Dooneys do have the serial #. So your bags may be real. You can read the below for more info. If you really want to be careful, you could call D & B, or post pix of your items to the Clothing board on eBay. (assuming you still have them!) ;)
With all the fakes floating out there, the guidelines for listing brands on eBay are, as the second post indicates, that a bag should be real if you are going to list it with that brand name. To quote eBay's site:
"Do not list counterfeits, unauthorized replicas, or otherwise unauthorized items (such as counterfeit watches, handbags, or other accessories) on eBay.
"Guideline:
If the product you are selling bears the name or logo of a company, but it wasn't made or endorsed by that company, don't list it on eBay."
"Examples:
"The following are examples of items that may not be listed on eBay:
* A purse that has the Chanel? name on it, but which was not made by Chanel
* Sunglasses bearing the Oakley? name, but which are a style never made by Oakley
* A fake autograph passed off as the real thing
* Replacement parts for an Epson? printer which use Epson's parts number and name, but were not made by Epson
"Warning
Listings offering replica, counterfeit, or otherwise unauthorized items may be ended early by eBay. Multiple violations of eBay's Replica and Counterfeit Item policy could result in the suspension of your account."
-----------
Great, you're probably saying. So how do do I know if an item is real? Well, eBay worries about that too:
"The problem is," said eBay spokesman Hani Durzy, "how do you tell? We are in no position to judge whether something could be counterfeit or not." (Durzy was quoted about this in the aforementioned Jan. 4 Post article about "Counterfeit Goods").
But, eBay does cooperate with the people who can tell..the manufacturers themselves -- thru its veRO (Verified Rights Owner) program.
And the manufacturers do seem to be getting more serious about cracking down on the fakes -- and I don't blame them.
They spend a lot of money advertising their brands and building up a certain image, and personally, I feel like it's gotten to the point where with certain luxury brands, like Louis Vuitton, there are so many knockoffs floating out there that it makes one wonder why they should bother spending all that money on a real bag, because a lot of people probably assume it's fake anyway. But...that's just one woman's opinion! Personally, I don't spend that kind of money -- as in a thousand dollars or more -- on a purse..not yet, anyway..;) ..but I do believe in spending a bit more to get a quality item that will last. I'm a big fan of Coach purses and have had the same style purse for about 10 years now.
Apparently a lot of the fakes are originating in China, where labor is cheap and the stuff is mass-produced. An article in the January 2005 Harper's Bazaar indicated that if you buy one of these fake items, you may be supporting illegal child labor, or even terrorism, let alone trademark infringement. "Sales of fake goods on the streets of New York are thought by some U.S. intelligence agencies to have partially financed the bombing of the World Tade Center in 1993 and may have even contributed to the September 11 attacks," says the article, by Dana Thomas.
The excerpts from the eBay board are below. I hope it helps, Sarah! Best of luck.
Thanks,
Julia
------
post #1:
Question about D&B... What now???
"I have an auction running (1 bid so far) that includes a Dooney & Bourke shoulderbag. I got an email question today asking about the serial numbers... There are no serial numbers that I could find. Since I do not usually auction handbags and being unfamiliar with this particular brand/type of item, I called D&B and asked where the serial # would be, and if *all* D&B's had serial #'s. The representative I spoke to told me that *not all* of the bags have serial #'s (the one I have doesn't) - it depends on where they were manufactured.
"She said the bag may be authentic, but the only real way to tell is to send it back to D&B. I did not use the word "authentic" on my auction page (NOT to mislead, only because I had no reason to think it *wasn't* - I didn't know these bags could be fakes), but it may or may not be.
"I bought this from another seller a while ago as being a D&B and, not
knowing much about them, never questioned it's authenticity. Since I never used it, I just auctioned it in pretty much the same way I originally bought it - as a Dooney & Bourke. I would have figured "knock-off's" to be reserved for REALLY high-end bags.
"I guess what I need to know is, should I cancel this auction (I already have 1 bidder who did not ask any questions), or leave it to the potential buyer to ask before bidding...? I cannot guarantee authenticity (nor do I claim it), but yet it
may or may not be. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated... (BTW, there are no specialty shops around here that can verify this for me one way or the other)."
-------------------------------------------
post #2:
"Prior to submitting an auction for listing, Ebay warns sellers that the bag must be authentic for it to be listed. The assumption that a bag could possibly be authentic is not good enough reason. Unless the bag [is] 100%, it cannot be listed and further investigation and research is needed prior to arriving to the conclusion that the bag is authentic."
-------
I'd collected some of the tips for distinguishing the real deal from the counterfeit items in my ebook, "How to Spot Fakes," for only $4.95. It covers some ways to tell if some of the major upscale-brand designer handbags and accessories are authentic.
If you want it, please email me at juliawilk@aol.com.
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2) YAB?s ?Best Item You?ve Sold at Auction? CONTEST; Winner Updates
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OK, so I awarded the fabulous prizes in the last (and first) annual YAB ?Best Item You?ve Sold at Auction? contest, only to find that....I couldn't find the winner.
As you may recall, the winning entry was from a Tim from Atlanta, GA. I was unable to get through to him via the email address I had. But I did just track him down, and now his prizes are on the way. We'll be plugging a new YAB contest soon.
Meantime, I heard from the pink luggage person (she had sold a "hot pink 2-piece vintage luggage set" for $235, and was one of the runner-up winners in the contest):
--------------
Hi,
I am the pink vintage luggage person. Thanks for your newsletter! BTW, recently, I found a Pinocchio Walt Disney cookie jar in a thrift shop for $5.00. I listed it on ebay at a beginning bid for $19.00. A fellow ebayer emailed me from OK and told me it was worth over $1500! Naturally, I closed the listing. I have since sent the pics to Sotheby's in NYC to see what they have to say. They will give you a free auction quote! Thanks again!
-----------
Thanks, Pink Luggage Person! (One of these days I have to remember to ask you your name!). Please let us know what Sotheby's said when you get a chance..we all want to know! You can email me at juliawilk@aol.com.
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3) What Sells for What? Children's Books
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As I mentioned, I've updated one of my ebooks , "Over 100 Books You Can Sell for $50-$100." There are now a LOT more than 100 books listed! The first category I've beefed up is children's books; the rest will follow. (To buy the ebook, please see the link near the top of this newsletter).
Here's a sample of the top sellers to whet your appetite (these books actually sold for over $100, so maybe I should change the book's title!):
(Item Title/ Final Price / # of Bids )
1266: Dr. Seuss. Horton Hatches The Egg./ $3,500.00/1
1376: Dr. Seuss/Ephemera. Flit Lotion In Box. / $2,600.00/ 24
RARE Mickey Mouse Library & Toy Book Set MIB / $1,691.61/ 14
RARE Das Puppenhaus, Lothar Meggendorfer Children's Popup Book/ $1,625.00/ 5
Seckatary Hawkins. Ghost of Lake Tapaho. Ralston / $1,001.11/ 13
1285: Dr. Seuss. Maybe You Should Fly A Jet! Maybe You / $1,000.00/ 11
LEMONY SNICKET ALL 11 PLUS AUTOBIOG SIGNED
VOL. 6 THROUGH 11 & AUTOBIOG ARE 1ST ED, 1ST PTG / $999.99 / 2
1176: Tudor, Tasha. Original Watercolor Illustration / $950.00 / 38
1293: Dr. Seuss. Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! / $950.00 / 5
1928 Hardy Boys Hunting For Hidden Gold - Red Ed w/DJ / $860.00 / 19
1229: [Sendak, Maurice]. Stockton, Frank R. The Griffi / $850.00/ 9
Hardy Boys SHORE ROAD MYSTERY W/DJ - BROWN endpapers!/ $800.00/ 2
Set of 53 +1 Nancy Drew Books by Carolyn Keene / $760.00 / 36
1281: Dr. Seuss. I Had Trouble In Getting To Solla Sol / $750.00 / 5
Hardy Boys Tower Treasure 1927 TRUE 1st Ed FINE Red DJ / $750.00 / 7
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6) Reader Mail
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A while back, Corinne, below, sent me an email asking about the gift market in general. I believe she saw part of the newsletter I used to edit for MyEZsale.com, which covered more general ecommerce issues. In any event, I thought my reply to her might be of some interest to YAB readers, so I'm including the exchange below. (After all, many of our
customers on eBay are buying gifts for their friends).
As always, I welcome your questions for the next issue of YAB, so keep those questions coming! Email me at juliawilk@aol.com.
-------
Hello Ms. Wilkinson ,
I was looking at your book information and was interested in knowing whether or not your book also covered topics including the questions below:
Do you have any advice or suggestions on the best way to penetrate the giftmarket?
Any opinion to which the best gift shows to go to?
Is there a benefit to exhibiting in one vs. cost of doing?
What would you recommend to approaching the "premium" markets? (Corporate sales)
Is there a book or magazine that you could recommend that would be useful?
Are there any associations that would be beneficial for us to join or get information from?
Is there a consulting firm you could recommend that could advise us as to best course to take?
What is your thought on rep's?
Do you have any suggestions on how to find a good rep? Benefits of national vs.
If your book does not, would you know of some resources that would be available to answer these questions?
Thank you,
Corinne
PS: I realize that you are probably quite busy, I hope that you don't mind. We are interested in hitting the ground running!
Corinne
-----
Hi Corinne,
Sorry for the much belated reply!
Interesting questions. I'm not a specialist on the gift market, although I have thought about selling items as "gifts" on eBay (through the use of their little "gift box" icon, among other things).
I did find the following stats on the gift market: "The gifts and decorative accessories market reached sales of $35.97 billion in 1996, up from $21.5 billion in 1991."
This, from a publishing info site, PublishCentral.com, which was
exploring the trend of books as gifts. It goes on to say that the gift industry is shifting to a more year-round business; with less dependent upon once-a-year Christmas sales than in the past. And two trends that are influencing this market are "cocooning" and collectibles, which means gifts related to the whole stay-at-home movement (or lack
thereof) and increased nostalgia.
That reminds me of a gift I gave to a friend of my husband's. I thought it would be fun to round up some candy that we could remember from our childhood days, such as "Gold Rush" bubble gum (OK so it wasn't actual "Gold Rush" -- I think it was called Gold Mine, but it was the same kind of little yellow "gold" nuggets that came in a cute drawstring bag), Pop Rocks, etc.
It's worth noting that in case you wondered if or where there were designated "gift" categories on eBay, they live under the mysterious "Everything Else" category (under "Gifts & Occasions"), and are subdivided into such categories as Gag
Gifts, Gift Baskets, and Gift Wrap.
As to your other questions, I'd suggest you get on google and enter phrases that would dig up that info for you...I put in "gift market" but you can search on "gift association," etc.
May I use your letter in my next newsletter (I don't have to use your name)?
Best of luck and if you get a chance, please let me know how it goes!
Julia
----------
Hi Julia,
Thank you so much for your response. I don't recall what I saw now that inspired me to send you those questions. I suppose it was one of your books that made me think you may have had the answers. I realize now that your market is a bit different, though from a personal view (not work related) I love it and am interested in your book "What Sells On E-bay for What?"
Do you update the book (or does it even need to be updated?) to current trends? Do you also provide any resources in how to find out what kind of value the items have? Then, one by one, I will tackle your other books!
I have several items that I believe will be of interest to others. I have signed up for your newsletter as well and look forward to receiving it.
Yes, if you think there is an interest for these questions, by all means use them. I was able to get several of them answered and now have decided to use another tactic for our product. Hopefully I've made the correct choice :).
Thank you again,
Corinne
--------
Hi again Corinne,
LOL..well if I hadn't waited so long to reply, you might have been able to remember. ;)
I will be updating "What Sells on eBay for What" and am also working on a paperback book which will provide similar info. But most of the info in "What Sells" is still valid.
In terms of resources for prices, I talk a little about that, but essentially there are:
- eBay's own Completed Items feature, and
- the commercial products which license data from eBay: e.g., Hammertap's DeepAnalysis, andale's Pricefinder, and terapeak's marketplace research.
Google any of 'em to get to their web sites, if interested. The web site
Auctionbytes.com is also an excellent general resource to keep on top of trends and resources in the industry.
Also, I will be putting out a new issue of my newsletter soon.
Thanks so much, and best of luck with your business! Pls. keep me posted as to how it does, if possible.
Julia
---------
Hello,
I just signed up for your newsletter and thought I would share this with you;
http://www.kygallery.com/ebayexcuseform2.html
Sincerely,
Paul
Thanks, Paul!
I checked out the excuses and I must say they brought a smile to my face...and also that I recognized several of them as having come from some of my buyers. (But not many...the vast majority of my buyers are wonderful people).
I encourage my readers to check out the url above if you need a chuckle, especially if you have been recently burned by a buyer and are feeling bitter. Here are a couple of my favorite buyer excuses:
- I found another one that is cheaper, sorry.
- Somebody outbid me so I bid on another one. What is this stuff about retractions?
- I'm sorry, I just realized I already have one of those.
-----
Julia
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YOUR FEEDBACK WANTED: An Update to ?What Sells on eBay?: Secrets of the (High-Margin!) Powersellers; The Real Deal on Wholesalers, and What Else Do You Want to See?
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Note: I am always open to reader articles, so if you want to write about something relating to yard sale-ing and eBaying, just flag me down! I will of course give you credit, using your eBay ID, web site, or any other contact info. I?d love your feedback on this topic, as well as other topics you?d like to see me address.
***
That?s it for this issue. Until next time, happy yardsale-ing and eBaying!
Julia
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eBooks by Julia L. Wilkinson:[all my ebooks are offered at substantial discounts from their regular price of $8.95 to the subscribers of this newsletter. Only $4.95 each! If interested in any of them, please check the urls below or email me at juliawilk@aol.com.]
New eBooks:
- Making Big Bucks off Catalogs on eBay: http://www.aolmemorabilia.com/clkslcat.html
- Over 100 Books that Sell for $50-$100 on eBay:
http://www.aolmemorabilia.com/100bkclkslsub.html
- Selling Kids Clothes on eBay: email me!(these last two will be available for purchase via my site soon).
- How to Spot Fakes
Julia Classic:
What Sells on eBay for What:
http://www.aolmemorabilia.com/clkbnksales.html
My Life at AOL (available at amazon.com, booklocker.com, and 1stbooks.com)
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Copyright 2005 Julia L. Wilkinson
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Thank you for subscribing to Yard Salers and eBayers. Yard Salers and eBayers email newsletter may be freely distributed in its entirety, so please pass it on. (Individual sections MAY NOT be copied and/or distributed without written permission of the publisher.) No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Yard Salers and eBayers makes diligent efforts to obtain accurate and timely information. However, Yard Salers and eBayers disclaims any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in Yard Salers and eBayers, whether or not such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.
End
** New Year Edition **
Happy New Year everyone!
Hello, all! Hope you had a great holiday season, whatever you celebrate. Can you believe we're in the year 2005?
OK, so it's been a while since I wrote a newsletter, and December is one of the busiest seasons on eBay, but the rest of the winter is usually pretty lucrative for sellers as well.
I've been spending most of my time working on my new book project, but I'm in a lull right now so thought I'd crank out an issue and cover some of the many topics that have been fermenting in my brain.
I also have updated one of my most popular ebooks, and added a lot of new books and analysis to it. What say we all clear out our bookshelves in 2005, gain new space, and make money in the process?
A Series of Fortunate Events
One of the things I love most about yard and estate sales and thrift stores is you never know what will happen or what you'll find...you might hit the jackpot, or you might spend a couple of hours with nothing to show for it but a few trivial or even silly items. But, again, it's the thrill of the chase that keeps many of us going.
And it's not just things we might gain, I've found...it's getting out and meeting people you otherwise wouldn't have met.
Sometimes you even make a connection that amazes you. I had one such meeting a few months ago at one of the last yard sales of the Fall season.
I pulled up to a nice home in one of the prettiest neighborhoods around where I live, in the Mount Vernon, Virginia area (yes, if it was good enough for George Washington, it's good enough for us).
A friendly sixtysomething (my guess) gentleman had a variety of quality pieces of glassware and kitchen items, among other things. Something about him struck me as particularly affable and interesting, and I decided to ask him about his history in his home.
"How long have you lived in this house?" I asked.
"Oh, many years now, but it's been off and on because we were overseas a lot," he said.
"Oh really?" I followed up. (I love to travel but haven't done as much as I would like lately!). "For work?"
"Yes, I was in the foreign service."
Well, now I had to ask again, because both my grandfathers were in the foreign service, and it can be fun to compare notes.
I told him about my grandfathers both being in the foreign service, and asked where he was stationed.
"Various places, including Haiti," he replied, seemingly clipping his answer short lest he bore me.
But now it was getting really interesting. "Oh really?" I said. "My grandfather was in Haiti, too. He was the U.S. ambassador there for a number of years. But I don't suppose you were there at the same time."
"What was his name?" he asked.
I told him.
"Oh yes, I used to work for him."
He then proceeded to share with me some wonderful anecdotes that I had never heard about "Pop-Pop," as we used to call him, among which was that this guy I had just met, who I shall refer to as just "Jim," used to be in charge of dealing with the bodies of whatever unfortunate Americans in Haiti met an untimely demise.
"Jim!" the man recalls Pop-Pop bellowing. "There's another stiff for you in the garage!"
And so on.
It was especially amazing to hear these anecdotes because I didn't know "Pop-Pop" all that well, as he died when I was only five, and his idea of grandfatherly interaction was sequestering us four kids in his tv room while he and the adults had their cocktail hour. (I can only hope he would have become more interested as we got older.). But I had heard stories about him and his globe-trotting career.
So, you may be thinking, what did I buy at the yard sale? Well, I bought some nice martini glasses, and a pitcher that is like a relief sculpture of grapes and vines. But, as for what I *got* out of the sale, it was obviously a lot more than that...the most important thing I got was intangible.
So remember that the next time you meet someone at a sale, well...you never know who you might meet! Chatting with sellers and fellow sale-goers can reap dividends.
Do you have any stories about interesting people you met at sales? Email them to me at juliawilk@aol.com.
*****
Tsunami Aid
Like everyone else, I was horrified by the stories and images from the recent tsunami in Asia. The auction community has sprung into action, with numerous charity auctions and opportunities to pledge relief. One of the easiest and best ways I personally found to donate online was that on amazon.com: you could pledge money with only one click. (Yes, I am a big fan of their one-click ordering process).
Also in that spirit, I plan to donate 10% of the profits of my latest updated ebook, "Over 100 Books You Can Sell for $50-$100," to a tsunami aid organization.
Now, let?s get to the rest of the newsletter...
Now Updated with over 220 new book prices! "Over 100 Books You Can Sell for $50 - $100 -- well, OK, so it's more like Over 300 Books! Special half-price offer for subscribers -- only $4.95! Go here to pay by credit card and download it instantly:
http://www.aolmemorabilia.com/100bkclkslsub.html
****************************
Do you have your copy of Julia's book, ?eBay: Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks??
Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, and in most bookstores.
********************************
Have you checked out YAB?s web site? Give it a look at http://www.aolmemorabilia.com/yab (I know, the next step is a
better url).
I still need to plug in a few holes for a few back issues, but we?ll get there.
******
Do you like this newsletter? Please forward it (in its entirety) to a friend!
** Don?t have five minutes to read the newsletter now? Print it out; take it to bed with you! (That?s my favorite place to read my newsletters!). **
**************************
In This Issue:
1) Keeping an Eye on Fakes: Spotting Authentic Dooney & Bourke
2) YAB Contest Update: The Pink Luggage Person, a $1500 Cookie Jar, and More
3) What Sells for What? Children's Books: A Preview of My Updated eBook
4) Reader Mail
7) YOUR FEEDBACK WANTED
***************************
----------------------------------------------
1) Keeping an Eye on Fakes: Spotting Authentic Dooney & Bourke
----------------------------------------------
Fakes are an ongoing big problem for sellers and buyers alike. Even major retail chains apparently get counterfeit items mixed in with real goods, and they end up on store shelves, according to a Jan. 4, 2005 WAshington Post article. The below letter regards how to to tell a real from fake Dooney & Bourke purse. (I'd normally put this in my Reader Mail section, but since the answer is kinda long, I decided to make it a feature).
**
I was reading your newsletter about how to tell fake handbags from the real handbag, I have 2 dooney and bourke purses.
Someone told me they were fakes, But they have the "Dooney And Bourke All weather Leather" tag sewed on the front, and the "Dooney and Bourke All Weather Leather" charm on the handle, but no serial numbers on the inside tag.
Are they Fakes, how could another company use the Dooney and Bourke name without being sued? I need to know, because I had intended to sell these on Ebay, but I dont want to sell a fake.
Thanks, Sarah
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Hi Sarah,
I did look into the Dooney issue for you and pasted excerpts from a relevant thread [from the eBay Clothing discussion board] below. If you look at the top post, it says that a Dooney rep said not all authentic Dooneys do have the serial #. So your bags may be real. You can read the below for more info. If you really want to be careful, you could call D & B, or post pix of your items to the Clothing board on eBay. (assuming you still have them!) ;)
With all the fakes floating out there, the guidelines for listing brands on eBay are, as the second post indicates, that a bag should be real if you are going to list it with that brand name. To quote eBay's site:
"Do not list counterfeits, unauthorized replicas, or otherwise unauthorized items (such as counterfeit watches, handbags, or other accessories) on eBay.
"Guideline:
If the product you are selling bears the name or logo of a company, but it wasn't made or endorsed by that company, don't list it on eBay."
"Examples:
"The following are examples of items that may not be listed on eBay:
* A purse that has the Chanel? name on it, but which was not made by Chanel
* Sunglasses bearing the Oakley? name, but which are a style never made by Oakley
* A fake autograph passed off as the real thing
* Replacement parts for an Epson? printer which use Epson's parts number and name, but were not made by Epson
"Warning
Listings offering replica, counterfeit, or otherwise unauthorized items may be ended early by eBay. Multiple violations of eBay's Replica and Counterfeit Item policy could result in the suspension of your account."
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Great, you're probably saying. So how do do I know if an item is real? Well, eBay worries about that too:
"The problem is," said eBay spokesman Hani Durzy, "how do you tell? We are in no position to judge whether something could be counterfeit or not." (Durzy was quoted about this in the aforementioned Jan. 4 Post article about "Counterfeit Goods").
But, eBay does cooperate with the people who can tell..the manufacturers themselves -- thru its veRO (Verified Rights Owner) program.
And the manufacturers do seem to be getting more serious about cracking down on the fakes -- and I don't blame them.
They spend a lot of money advertising their brands and building up a certain image, and personally, I feel like it's gotten to the point where with certain luxury brands, like Louis Vuitton, there are so many knockoffs floating out there that it makes one wonder why they should bother spending all that money on a real bag, because a lot of people probably assume it's fake anyway. But...that's just one woman's opinion! Personally, I don't spend that kind of money -- as in a thousand dollars or more -- on a purse..not yet, anyway..;) ..but I do believe in spending a bit more to get a quality item that will last. I'm a big fan of Coach purses and have had the same style purse for about 10 years now.
Apparently a lot of the fakes are originating in China, where labor is cheap and the stuff is mass-produced. An article in the January 2005 Harper's Bazaar indicated that if you buy one of these fake items, you may be supporting illegal child labor, or even terrorism, let alone trademark infringement. "Sales of fake goods on the streets of New York are thought by some U.S. intelligence agencies to have partially financed the bombing of the World Tade Center in 1993 and may have even contributed to the September 11 attacks," says the article, by Dana Thomas.
The excerpts from the eBay board are below. I hope it helps, Sarah! Best of luck.
Thanks,
Julia
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post #1:
Question about D&B... What now???
"I have an auction running (1 bid so far) that includes a Dooney & Bourke shoulderbag. I got an email question today asking about the serial numbers... There are no serial numbers that I could find. Since I do not usually auction handbags and being unfamiliar with this particular brand/type of item, I called D&B and asked where the serial # would be, and if *all* D&B's had serial #'s. The representative I spoke to told me that *not all* of the bags have serial #'s (the one I have doesn't) - it depends on where they were manufactured.
"She said the bag may be authentic, but the only real way to tell is to send it back to D&B. I did not use the word "authentic" on my auction page (NOT to mislead, only because I had no reason to think it *wasn't* - I didn't know these bags could be fakes), but it may or may not be.
"I bought this from another seller a while ago as being a D&B and, not
knowing much about them, never questioned it's authenticity. Since I never used it, I just auctioned it in pretty much the same way I originally bought it - as a Dooney & Bourke. I would have figured "knock-off's" to be reserved for REALLY high-end bags.
"I guess what I need to know is, should I cancel this auction (I already have 1 bidder who did not ask any questions), or leave it to the potential buyer to ask before bidding...? I cannot guarantee authenticity (nor do I claim it), but yet it
may or may not be. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated... (BTW, there are no specialty shops around here that can verify this for me one way or the other)."
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post #2:
"Prior to submitting an auction for listing, Ebay warns sellers that the bag must be authentic for it to be listed. The assumption that a bag could possibly be authentic is not good enough reason. Unless the bag [is] 100%, it cannot be listed and further investigation and research is needed prior to arriving to the conclusion that the bag is authentic."
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I'd collected some of the tips for distinguishing the real deal from the counterfeit items in my ebook, "How to Spot Fakes," for only $4.95. It covers some ways to tell if some of the major upscale-brand designer handbags and accessories are authentic.
If you want it, please email me at juliawilk@aol.com.
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2) YAB?s ?Best Item You?ve Sold at Auction? CONTEST; Winner Updates
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OK, so I awarded the fabulous prizes in the last (and first) annual YAB ?Best Item You?ve Sold at Auction? contest, only to find that....I couldn't find the winner.
As you may recall, the winning entry was from a Tim from Atlanta, GA. I was unable to get through to him via the email address I had. But I did just track him down, and now his prizes are on the way. We'll be plugging a new YAB contest soon.
Meantime, I heard from the pink luggage person (she had sold a "hot pink 2-piece vintage luggage set" for $235, and was one of the runner-up winners in the contest):
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Hi,
I am the pink vintage luggage person. Thanks for your newsletter! BTW, recently, I found a Pinocchio Walt Disney cookie jar in a thrift shop for $5.00. I listed it on ebay at a beginning bid for $19.00. A fellow ebayer emailed me from OK and told me it was worth over $1500! Naturally, I closed the listing. I have since sent the pics to Sotheby's in NYC to see what they have to say. They will give you a free auction quote! Thanks again!
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Thanks, Pink Luggage Person! (One of these days I have to remember to ask you your name!). Please let us know what Sotheby's said when you get a chance..we all want to know! You can email me at juliawilk@aol.com.
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3) What Sells for What? Children's Books
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As I mentioned, I've updated one of my ebooks , "Over 100 Books You Can Sell for $50-$100." There are now a LOT more than 100 books listed! The first category I've beefed up is children's books; the rest will follow. (To buy the ebook, please see the link near the top of this newsletter).
Here's a sample of the top sellers to whet your appetite (these books actually sold for over $100, so maybe I should change the book's title!):
(Item Title/ Final Price / # of Bids )
1266: Dr. Seuss. Horton Hatches The Egg./ $3,500.00/1
1376: Dr. Seuss/Ephemera. Flit Lotion In Box. / $2,600.00/ 24
RARE Mickey Mouse Library & Toy Book Set MIB / $1,691.61/ 14
RARE Das Puppenhaus, Lothar Meggendorfer Children's Popup Book/ $1,625.00/ 5
Seckatary Hawkins. Ghost of Lake Tapaho. Ralston / $1,001.11/ 13
1285: Dr. Seuss. Maybe You Should Fly A Jet! Maybe You / $1,000.00/ 11
LEMONY SNICKET ALL 11 PLUS AUTOBIOG SIGNED
VOL. 6 THROUGH 11 & AUTOBIOG ARE 1ST ED, 1ST PTG / $999.99 / 2
1176: Tudor, Tasha. Original Watercolor Illustration / $950.00 / 38
1293: Dr. Seuss. Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! / $950.00 / 5
1928 Hardy Boys Hunting For Hidden Gold - Red Ed w/DJ / $860.00 / 19
1229: [Sendak, Maurice]. Stockton, Frank R. The Griffi / $850.00/ 9
Hardy Boys SHORE ROAD MYSTERY W/DJ - BROWN endpapers!/ $800.00/ 2
Set of 53 +1 Nancy Drew Books by Carolyn Keene / $760.00 / 36
1281: Dr. Seuss. I Had Trouble In Getting To Solla Sol / $750.00 / 5
Hardy Boys Tower Treasure 1927 TRUE 1st Ed FINE Red DJ / $750.00 / 7
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6) Reader Mail
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A while back, Corinne, below, sent me an email asking about the gift market in general. I believe she saw part of the newsletter I used to edit for MyEZsale.com, which covered more general ecommerce issues. In any event, I thought my reply to her might be of some interest to YAB readers, so I'm including the exchange below. (After all, many of our
customers on eBay are buying gifts for their friends).
As always, I welcome your questions for the next issue of YAB, so keep those questions coming! Email me at juliawilk@aol.com.
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Hello Ms. Wilkinson ,
I was looking at your book information and was interested in knowing whether or not your book also covered topics including the questions below:
Do you have any advice or suggestions on the best way to penetrate the giftmarket?
Any opinion to which the best gift shows to go to?
Is there a benefit to exhibiting in one vs. cost of doing?
What would you recommend to approaching the "premium" markets? (Corporate sales)
Is there a book or magazine that you could recommend that would be useful?
Are there any associations that would be beneficial for us to join or get information from?
Is there a consulting firm you could recommend that could advise us as to best course to take?
What is your thought on rep's?
Do you have any suggestions on how to find a good rep? Benefits of national vs.
If your book does not, would you know of some resources that would be available to answer these questions?
Thank you,
Corinne
PS: I realize that you are probably quite busy, I hope that you don't mind. We are interested in hitting the ground running!
Corinne
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Hi Corinne,
Sorry for the much belated reply!
Interesting questions. I'm not a specialist on the gift market, although I have thought about selling items as "gifts" on eBay (through the use of their little "gift box" icon, among other things).
I did find the following stats on the gift market: "The gifts and decorative accessories market reached sales of $35.97 billion in 1996, up from $21.5 billion in 1991."
This, from a publishing info site, PublishCentral.com, which was
exploring the trend of books as gifts. It goes on to say that the gift industry is shifting to a more year-round business; with less dependent upon once-a-year Christmas sales than in the past. And two trends that are influencing this market are "cocooning" and collectibles, which means gifts related to the whole stay-at-home movement (or lack
thereof) and increased nostalgia.
That reminds me of a gift I gave to a friend of my husband's. I thought it would be fun to round up some candy that we could remember from our childhood days, such as "Gold Rush" bubble gum (OK so it wasn't actual "Gold Rush" -- I think it was called Gold Mine, but it was the same kind of little yellow "gold" nuggets that came in a cute drawstring bag), Pop Rocks, etc.
It's worth noting that in case you wondered if or where there were designated "gift" categories on eBay, they live under the mysterious "Everything Else" category (under "Gifts & Occasions"), and are subdivided into such categories as Gag
Gifts, Gift Baskets, and Gift Wrap.
As to your other questions, I'd suggest you get on google and enter phrases that would dig up that info for you...I put in "gift market" but you can search on "gift association," etc.
May I use your letter in my next newsletter (I don't have to use your name)?
Best of luck and if you get a chance, please let me know how it goes!
Julia
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Hi Julia,
Thank you so much for your response. I don't recall what I saw now that inspired me to send you those questions. I suppose it was one of your books that made me think you may have had the answers. I realize now that your market is a bit different, though from a personal view (not work related) I love it and am interested in your book "What Sells On E-bay for What?"
Do you update the book (or does it even need to be updated?) to current trends? Do you also provide any resources in how to find out what kind of value the items have? Then, one by one, I will tackle your other books!
I have several items that I believe will be of interest to others. I have signed up for your newsletter as well and look forward to receiving it.
Yes, if you think there is an interest for these questions, by all means use them. I was able to get several of them answered and now have decided to use another tactic for our product. Hopefully I've made the correct choice :).
Thank you again,
Corinne
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Hi again Corinne,
LOL..well if I hadn't waited so long to reply, you might have been able to remember. ;)
I will be updating "What Sells on eBay for What" and am also working on a paperback book which will provide similar info. But most of the info in "What Sells" is still valid.
In terms of resources for prices, I talk a little about that, but essentially there are:
- eBay's own Completed Items feature, and
- the commercial products which license data from eBay: e.g., Hammertap's DeepAnalysis, andale's Pricefinder, and terapeak's marketplace research.
Google any of 'em to get to their web sites, if interested. The web site
Auctionbytes.com is also an excellent general resource to keep on top of trends and resources in the industry.
Also, I will be putting out a new issue of my newsletter soon.
Thanks so much, and best of luck with your business! Pls. keep me posted as to how it does, if possible.
Julia
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Hello,
I just signed up for your newsletter and thought I would share this with you;
http://www.kygallery.com/ebayexcuseform2.html
Sincerely,
Paul
Thanks, Paul!
I checked out the excuses and I must say they brought a smile to my face...and also that I recognized several of them as having come from some of my buyers. (But not many...the vast majority of my buyers are wonderful people).
I encourage my readers to check out the url above if you need a chuckle, especially if you have been recently burned by a buyer and are feeling bitter. Here are a couple of my favorite buyer excuses:
- I found another one that is cheaper, sorry.
- Somebody outbid me so I bid on another one. What is this stuff about retractions?
- I'm sorry, I just realized I already have one of those.
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Julia
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YOUR FEEDBACK WANTED: An Update to ?What Sells on eBay?: Secrets of the (High-Margin!) Powersellers; The Real Deal on Wholesalers, and What Else Do You Want to See?
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Note: I am always open to reader articles, so if you want to write about something relating to yard sale-ing and eBaying, just flag me down! I will of course give you credit, using your eBay ID, web site, or any other contact info. I?d love your feedback on this topic, as well as other topics you?d like to see me address.
***
That's it for this issue. Until next time, happy yardsale-ing and eBaying!
Julia
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eBooks by Julia L. Wilkinson:[all my ebooks are offered at substantial discounts from their regular price of $8.95 to the subscribers of this newsletter. Only $4.95 each! If interested in any of them, please check the urls below or email me at juliawilk@aol.com.]
New eBooks:
- Making Big Bucks off Catalogs on eBay: http://www.aolmemorabilia.com/clkslcat.html
- Over 100 Books that Sell for $50-$100 on eBay:
http://www.aolmemorabilia.com/100bkclkslsub.html
- Selling Kids Clothes on eBay: email me!(these last two will be available for purchase via my site soon).
- How to Spot Fakes
Julia Classic:
What Sells on eBay for What:
http://www.aolmemorabilia.com/clkbnksales.html
My Life at AOL (available at amazon.com, booklocker.com, and 1stbooks.com)
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Copyright 2005 Julia L. Wilkinson
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Thank you for subscribing to Yard Salers and eBayers. Yard Salers and eBayers email newsletter may be freely distributed in its entirety, so please pass it on. (Individual sections MAY NOT be copied and/or distributed without written permission of the publisher.) No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Yard Salers and eBayers makes diligent efforts to obtain accurate and timely information. However, Yard Salers and eBayers disclaims any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in Yard Salers and eBayers, whether or not such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.
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