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ISSUE 77:
Yard Salers Issue 77: July 2012: Amazonification of eBay; What Sells on Amazon without Competition; Recent Flips and Silliest Lot Flip Contest.

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Hello, all!

It's been a while. As always, I have much to tell you. In this issue, I will talk about some of the recent changes in the online selling world and what they mean to you.

And we will relate some of the Yard Salers' best tips from the online discussion groups, pick a best recent flip, and kick off the next Flips Contest. The prize for the next contest will be $50 PayPal cash again, as well as a free copy of the latest version of "Big Bucks Flips," hot off the press!

Yard Sale season is now in high gear, so as you find great items and flip them on eBay, amazon, or other sites, send in those flips to me at juliawilk@aol.com.

For the flips contest in this issue, we'll have some of the best flips from the Yard Salers discussion boards, and also the results of a fun impromptu "Crazy/Silly" listing contest we held on the Facebook site.

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Get my latest ebooks at the Yard Salers bookstore at http://www.yardsalers.net/bookstore.asp.
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Speaking of Amazon, Amazon Selling Expert Steve Lindhorst has a new book out, "The Best Time to Buy: How Online Sellers Earn More by Asking 'When to Buy' Instead of 'What to Sell'"

I read it myself, and it made me want to run straight out to one of the sources Steve mentions and snap up the stuff that I knew it would be the "right time to buy."

You can get it via my affiliate link at: atBuy the Best Time to Buy!.

As Steve says, "There is a ton of information that tells you what to buy. This book is different. The Best Time to Buy uses over 150 pages to take a fresh look at online selling. It teaches you how to lower your costs, and increase your profit margin.

"The result is more consistent and profitable online sales - no matter where you sell.

You can get it via my affiliate link at: http://www.multichannelsurfer.com/buy-when-sell-then/
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Next Flips Contest: We'll be doing another cash prize of $50 for the next contest, and runnerups winning free copies of my new ebook, which I really think is my best: Flip It Again, http://www.yardsalers.net/frequent_flips_sales.asp. Plus, the updated version of Big Bucks Flips is out!

You can email them directly to me at juliawilk@aol.com.
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As a reminder, the Yard Salers' Facebook group is at http://www.facebook.com/groups/27871336031.

News for Non-Facebookers! Some new message boards are coming to the Yardsalers.net site soon, so keep your eye out for them!
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Can you really find Masters Augusta National green golf shirts to sell? You can! I have already found two. For more insider info on which golf shirts sell the best and the best places to find them, I recommend Suzanne Arant Wells's  ebook, The Golf Shirt Bible. Only $19.95: How to Sell Golf Shirts on eBay

If the link does not work, try copying this into your browser:

https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=880449&c=cart&aff=156311&ejc=2&cl=34579
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Yard Salers uses the automated email system, AWeber. If you received a link to this issue in email, you should have requested this newsletter, and should not be receiving it unless you opted in. If you have any problems or questions about links in the newsletter, or other issues, feel free to email me at juliawilk@aol.com.

OK, now without further ado, let's get to the rest of this issue! *********************************************************************
1) Amazonification of eBay continues
2) What's Selling Well on Amazon these days?
3) Yard Sales Around the World and Prices: Are They Getting Unrealistic?
4) Latest Flips and Next Flips Contest
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Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27871336031
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BIG BUCKS FLIPS version 3.0 is out! 159 pages of fabulous flips, plus "Julia's Favorite Flips" Bonus. Flip it for big bucks: http://bigbucksflips.com/
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1) Feature Article: Amazonification of eBay Continues
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Since the last newsletter, I have been consistently both listing more and selling more on Amazon than on eBay. Most of these items are media or games - books, magazines, cd's, DVD's, and even catalogs. I am not one of those sellers who sells other items such as jewelry, but I did an AuctionBytes blog post interviewing top seller Skip McGrath with tips about how you can negotiate exclusives selling those kinds of things with Amazon was on EcommerceBytes not too long ago:

http://www.ecommercebytes.com/C/abblog/blog.pl?/pl/2012/3/1330970448.html

Skip McGrath on Getting Exclusives to Sell Merchandise on Amazon.

It's been said that eBay is doing more and more to be like Amazon, moving toward a fixed-price marketplace. A recent unannounced feature which adds a "Have one to sell?" option to listings popped up on eBay, underscoring this even more: "At the top of the product listing page directly underneath the photo, eBay now displays an invitation to shoppers to list an identical item on eBay. In some listings, it also provides the average selling price of the item - apparently to entice shoppers to make some extra cash by doing some casual selling."

You can read the EcommerceBytes blog post about it here:

http://www.ecommercebytes.com/C/blog/blog.pl?/pl/2012/6/1340246411.html

I'll share some of my Amazon selling tips in the next article. But having said that, there are still things I look only to eBay to sell, like my funky tiki sculptures and used..um, pre-owned golf shirts.

Recently I've been on a kick to list at least one thing on eBay per day. It may not sound like a lot, but that's 30 things a month, 365 a year. By the end of the year you have hundreds of items in your eBay Store, if you have one.

If you want to join the collective fun, go to the Yard Salers Facebook group and look for the "One a Day" or "Wonaday" as our British Yard Saler Andrew puts it. :)

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2) What's Selling Well on Amazon these days?
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What's Selling Well on Amazon these days?

Over the months I've noticed that as more sellers enter the Amazon game, and more items are subsequently listed, there's a downward pressure on prices as each new copy of whatever book, cd, or other item is listed.

This bottom-feeding can get really annoying to the seller, especially as you may have been initially the first person to list a certain item. Then some second seller comes along and lists another copy of, say, a book you thought was obscure - and at a lower price. Then a third. So you have to keep an eye on your prices and occasioanlly either manually go thru your listings and lower prices -- or in some cases leave the prices the same, if the other seller's copy is in worse condition than yours.

Some sellers use repricing services..but those may not be a perfect solution either, beause sometimes assessin g the price of two ostensibly same items require human judgment. But if you want to use a reprcier service I recently wrote a piece bout it for EcommerceBytes.com: "Repricing Tools Help Small Merchants Win Amazon Buy Box," http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y212/m06/abu0313/s02.

And remember, what one seller lists as "very good condition" may be more like "good condition," so your "very good condition" listing competing with theirs should not necessarily be lowered in price.

In general, I've tried to get around all this bottom-feeding by listing more items that truly are rare, unique, and one-of-a-kind on Amazon. (At least for a while!).

These include:

- Back issues of magazines. Many consumer magazines fit this bill, especially as you dip into the 1970s and earlier.

And some magazines are just gold on Amazon...for example, old cpies of Vogue. People just love these thigns. I wish I could find them more often.

- Catalogs. Don't forget the humble print catalog. These thigns are actually going to get scarcer, especially as we swtich to a world where catalogs are going online.

Here's a recent piece I did for EcommerceBytes about how more and more catalogs are readable on tablet computers:

http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y212/m06/abu0312/s04/

Anyway, these for me have included:

- old Victoria's Secret catalogs

Around last Christmas, I sold three old Victoria's Secret catalogs, all with the same model on the cover, to the same person, for a total of around $50. My theory is that certain people collect certain models in the catalogs, and after a while the company uses newer models, so the old catalogs with those models they were fans of may no longer be in circulation.

- retail catalogs like old Abercrombie & Fitch and the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog

The Abercrombie and Fitch catalog was very collectible for its risque and sometimes controversial photographs.

- Pamphlets and other slim books. These are hiding in between books at library sales, estate sales, thrift stores, what have you (that's another reason I love the,..no one else is looking for them or at them..try it next time you are at an estate sale!). Not all are gold, but many are worth picking up, and are lightweight and easy to ship.

An example of one of these I recently sold was "Quaker Genealogies: A Selected List of Books." a very skinny book that sold for $8.50, but when you add in the $3.99 shipping, and consider it's an easy one to ship, and first class, it's a no-brainer.

- Art catalogs. Another great sleeper at sales. They are printed in limited editions and usually have strong demand for the people who collect or are interested a particular artist, and this gets dwon to some pretty "long tail" obscure artists. In fact, in some ways, the more obscure the artist, the better, because then the catalogue will be rarer and therefore you can price it higher.

One of these I sold recently, Exhibition of Paintings By Chang Dai-chien, sold for about $30 and went to China. That was fun!

Tip: If you have a scanner, it's nice to include an image of the catalog. I know this adds extra time to your lsisting, but that visual really can help you get the sale on amazon.

I also know this because i get so many "selling coach" emails from Amazon suggesting that I add images to my listings. Many of these refer to items that I added ong ago, before adding images to items was somethig I started doing as a matter of course. (I don't always do this; if the item is already up on amazn, and it's not selling for a lot, say $9.95 I don't always think it's worth my while."

Another Way to Increase Sales on Amazon

If you are not already using FBA, or Fulfillment by Amazon, consider signing up for it. It's easy to do, once you get the initial registration and setup down. I print my own labels using Avery labels, but Amazon now has a labeling service.

One thing I've learned lately about FBA? Don't just send them anything and everyting just to get the inventory clutter out of your house. Send them stuff that you think will sell, that has a good chance of selling..that's because if the item does not sell, and sits around in their warehouse, you will have to pay a long-term storage fee to Amazon. This can be especially bad for oversized items. I try not to send them my oversized books, and send them the brand new stuff I find at sales or vintage stuff that has high demand, such as the Betty Crocker "red pie" Cookbook.

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3) Yard Sales Around the World and Prices: Are They Getting Unrealistsic?
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It's interesting to me how yard sales differ troughout the world. I had long heard that England has what they call "boot sales," in the trunk of people's cars, which they call "boots." I have never been to ne of these but if I ever go back to England you bet that is on my list along with Buckingham Palace. ;)

(From the Palace to the flea market..of course!).

But, we in the US may sometimes forget how good we have it with this many yard sales.

British member of Yard Salers Andrew (who lives close to the Scottish border) tells us he has some South African friends "who are just back from 4 weeks in Ohio. The main conversation topic was YARD SALES - they had gone to one or two yard sales and had become big fans. They have lived in the UK & Europe for many years but are returning to SA in October so maybe they will spread the word Look out for some new members to this group from a different continent!"

I hope so! And I told him that if they were in Ohio they would be in the state which has the northernmost tip of the World's Longest Yard Sale.

Those who are new to the group and may have not heard of it: It runs every August, usually in the beginning of the month, from The Southernmost tip i Georgia all the way up to Southern Ohio near Cincinnati.

The "capital" is the sale is in Jamestown, Tennessee.

I went a few years ago with my sister and you can see some of my Youtube videos about it here:

We were in Tennessee and even took some video in Jamestown, but a quirky little general store, Cumberland Mountain General Store, which you can see in one of the videos, is kind of the unofficial official capital of the capital.

Outside the General Store:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJgr2t5BZiU

Inside the General Store:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdkfqvAPVuQ

And Yard Saler Lois tells us that Quartzsite, AZ is also a great town in the US for sales..check it out "in the winter months when basically the whole town turns into a flea market, gem & mineral show and rv show." What about yard sale prices? We expect pretty rock-bottom prices, at least I do, but sometimes we hit a sale where the seller seems to have looked up every item on eBay and expects to get that kind of money.

Every once in a while there's grumbling on the boards about Yard Sale Prices.

Yard Salers Patricia said, "I went to the worst estate sale ever today. Little tiny signs that I missed the first time I passed. Little tiny sign on the mail box too. The shades were all closed and no sign on the door either. I knocked and the lady let me in. Few lights on and mostly boxed up items for moving and junk everywhere. I found a few perfumes to buy and the guy gave me a really inflated price. I handed him the stuff and said good luck."

Fortunately she later came across a sale that redeemed the day:

On the way home I stopped at a great garage sale. It was right out of Country Living's how you should hold a yard sale. LOL A beautiful shaded lawn on a lake front cottage. Vintage items at reasonable prices and a cheerful seller. I thanked her for a great sale.

Have you noticed any yard sales with inflated prices lately? Email your stories about them to me at juliawilk@aol.com and I'll put them in the next issue.

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4) Latest Flips and Next Flips Contest
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OK, we didn't have much in the way of a Flips contest this last time around, so I am going to officially kick off our July/Summer Flips contest, and invite y'all to email me your entries. Please email them to me at juliawilk@aol.com.

But for now let's look at wjat's selling well for people, and some of the great flips from the Yard Salers boards:

What's Selling Well

Ginny tells us she "Had a table at a flea market yesterday and brought some of my vintage kitchenware too sell. I know flea markets are not the best venue to sell collectibles but I was there to sell some other household junk anyway, You know what item sold really well and at a good price? Refrigerator dishes, especially the small ones in primary colors. Must see if I can find more of them."

Refrigerator dishes..who knew? I could use some new ones!

Lois tells us she sold a "restaurant type Onion Chopper for $100 that I bought last week for $10.......yippee! Where else can you make money on your money like this?"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300727700227

Sandy sold a Fender guitar that she got for only $5!

"Wow, just had a couple of almost instant sales for items that I listed tonight. These have been sitting around awhile and needed to get out of the way. This one I paid $5 for and payment is already made. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160830124046

Sandy also tells us, "Metal detectors have been a sure bet for me. The vintage ones always go to someone that buys a lot of metal detectors or accessories for them."

Sandra sold "a vintage Fiestaware red mixing bowl for $99.50. I paid $1.00 for it last weekend at a garage sale. They thought it was a planter":
http://www.ebay.com/itm/120937050279?ssPageName=STRK%3AMESOX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1562.l2649

Linda and Robin tell us Fiestaware is marked..Robin advises "You just have to research your fiesta marks as some pieces are newer.."

Sandra also said "I have a book on Fiestaware so that helped me ID the bowl even though the red one was heavily glazed over the mark."

(Tip: If you have a type of thing you sell regularly. it really is worth it to buy some books about it and research it..for example, I can't tell you how many times I;ve used my Meissen porcelain book as a referece when selling Meissen on eBay. It also is full of wonderful, gorgeous pictures and approximate prices:

Meissen Porcelain Identification and Value Guide by Jim Harran and Susan Harran (Nov 1, 2005)-Illustrated http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/175-2025875-0665411 ]

Here's a new one..Stickers. Kathi says "I'm selling an envelope of stickers that I bought several years ago for $3. It's at $127.50 now. Can't wait to see what it closes at": http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=271004552864&ssPageName=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT#ht_13819wt_1282

"Huge Lot of 217 Shepard Fairey Andre The Giant Obey Stickers!"

When I last checked, it was already up to $135 with 4 bids!

Sandra sold this Coach bag to a lady in the UK:

"Sold this today to a woman in the UK...paid $10 at a recent yard sale."
http://www.ebay.com/itm/160824513301?ssPageName=STRK%3AMESOX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1562.l2649

Authentic COACH LEGACY HOBO Black Leather Shoulder Bag Purse MADE IN USA

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This time we're going to have some fun and I'm going to throw out those three flips to the readers. Which one do you like the best? Email me at juliawilk@aol.com or post on our Facebook group. The most votes wins the $50 PayPal cash prize.

And, don't forget to enter the July/Summer Yard Salers Flips Contest! Winner to receive $50 PayPal cash, PLUS two eBay Live collectible pins in a tin, PLUS a free copy of the latest "Big Bucks Flips" ebook.

Everyone else whose flip I mentioned above wins the free ebook of their choice, including the *hot off the press* *updated* version of "Big Bucks Flips." Or you can choose "Flip It Again" (available at http://www.yardsalers.net/frequent_flips_sales.asp.) -- or any of my other ebooks listed at http://www.yardsalers.net/bookstore.asp. Or at the bottom of this newsletter in list form. Just email me at juliawilk@aol.com and let me know which one you would want.

We also recently had an impromptu "Crazy Silly Lot Contest" in the Yard Salers' Facebook group, just for fun. Other than my very silly beanie baby/troll/funny little Scottish doll lot, a few Yard Salers stepped forward with their own odd offerings:

- Andrew listed his jigsaw puzzle-shaped record, "Thompson Twins You take me up 3 picture disc jigsaw shapes UK Arista vinyl record," http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360470182207

- Amy put forth her "1970 Spiro Agnew Mouthwash Box," http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220716770479;

- and Patricia stepped up to the plate with a "Fun Lot Assorted Christmas Ornaments Vintage & New Swedish Apple Trees Stockings," http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350578396171&.

All the entries were great, but the $35 PayPal cash award went to Patricia, as we went by the letter of the law of the contest, whereby the entry needed ot be a "lot."

But, the main point here is, see how great your odds are of winning money with Yard Salers? Had you been one of the entries, you would have had a 33% chance of winning! So get those entries for the next flips in!

No flops in this issue, though I need to mine the Facebook site. Remember to send in those duds too...they're good for a laugh, and the worst one wins a prize, too! A

So please email me your Flips stories at juliawilk@aol.com!

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Reader Mail
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No Reader Mail in this issue, but it will return in the next issue.

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OK, everyone, that's it for this issue. Enjoy the coming yard sale season and nice weather! See you all next issue, and remember to email those flips and flops to me at juliawilk@aol.com!

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I recommend the ebooks by Steve Lindhorst..he has done a lot w/ fba (Fulfillment by Amazon).

His ebook about selling on amazon is at: http://juliawilk.lindhorst.hop.clickbank.net?x=21

There is also a comprehensive course about selling on amazon/FBA at: http://paydotcom.net/r/109654/juliawilk/26850135/

(Both those links are my affiliate links to these products, but you can certainly purchase them via a different link as well..the price is the same).
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That's it for this issue! Any questions, comments, compliments, rants or raves, send to juliawilk@aol.com. On second thought, send the rants to my gmail account, juliawgal@gmail.com...I don't check it as often. ;)