| I have really learned ALOT in my short time | | | | winner!!!), because you want to clear out |
| selling on Ebay. I don't claim to be an | | | | your inventory to make room for Fall/Winter |
| expert, but after less than one year, I am | | | | clothing. |
| now a Power Seller, and I have over 100 items | | | | |
| selling in my store, Dragonflies and | | | | · June-September: I would start putting |
| Ladybugs. These are some of my tips and | | | | up your fall outfits and Back To School |
| tricks that I have learned along the way. I | | | | items. People start gearing up for this time |
| hope that I can help you like so many of you | | | | of year. June and July are typically slower |
| have helped me!!!!1. Research, research, | | | | months due to vacations, and people already |
| research!!!! It is really important that you | | | | have obtained their summer items earlier in |
| research the items that you are interested in | | | | the year. |
| selling. This tells you a lot! What is hot | | | | |
| and what is not. What items are going for, | | | | · September-October: Put your Fall/Winter |
| what people are buying, and whether or not | | | | Clothing up for sale, give shipping |
| the market you are interested in is already | | | | discounts, etc. Start listing Halloween |
| saturated with sellers. Ebay has new features | | | | Costumes in September, and start listing |
| that allow you to look into the past at what | | | | alternate items like toys, games, dvd's, etc. |
| items have ended at. You can also learn how | | | | in November for Christmas.9. How To Buy NWT |
| to be competitive with your fellow sellers.2. | | | | Gymboree and Name Brand Clothing: It is |
| Join Paypal. If you have not already, it is a | | | | really hard to purchase a large volume of NWT |
| "MUST" to sign up with a paypal account in | | | | clothing, and I can personally vouch for |
| order to sell on Ebay. It is a really safe | | | | this, because I have made ALOT of mistakes |
| way to do business. I was leery at first, but | | | | this past year, and I have lost a lot of $ in |
| now I am very comfortable with doing business | | | | the process. These are my recommendations |
| this way. BE CAREFUL: do not answer any | | | | gained from my own mistakes, but you can |
| e-mail that appear to come from Paypal. I did | | | | create your own method for obtaining your |
| this and it was a "spoof" e-mail. If you are | | | | inventory. |
| unsure whether or not an e-mail is | | | | |
| legitimately from Paypal or Ebay, sign into | | | | · I applied for a Gymboree Visa Card, |
| the site through your server, not through the | | | | which allows you to get 5% off all of your |
| email, or contact support and ask.3. Invest | | | | Gymboree purchases, even during sales, apply |
| in a Decent Digital Camera: Most of you may | | | | online anytime. |
| already have a digital camera, but if you do | | | | |
| not, there are a lot out there for a | | | | · Join mailing lists, like Gymboree's |
| reasonable price. I have a Kodak Easyshare | | | | Circle of Friends. They will email you all |
| CX7300. This is not an expensive camera, but | | | | the sales prior to, and they will email you |
| you should have at least 3.1 Megapixels in | | | | online coupon codes, which can save you a |
| order to produce halfway decent photos. A | | | | bundle. |
| picture is worth a thousand words. I know | | | | |
| that I will not even look at an auction if | | | | · Buy sale items only, get your 5% |
| the picture is of poor quality.4. Take Good | | | | discount, and buy when they are offering |
| Photos: This brings me to my next important | | | | Gymbucks! This way, you can shop again, |
| tip, take the time to take good photo's. | | | | getting more inventory for your buck!!!! |
| First, you should purchase a white and black | | | | Just think that if you have $50 in Gymbucks, |
| poster board. This provides you with a good | | | | you can get $100 in inventory for only $50, |
| background for your items. You really should | | | | this is 1/2 off. And, if you only shop the |
| not take your photo's on your bed, carpet, or | | | | sale rack, then you will DEFINATELY save |
| table. It looks more professional to have a | | | | more!!! |
| clean and non-distracting background for your | | | | |
| items. Posterboard looks the best, a white | | | | · Finally, if you must buy lots online, |
| sheet would work too, just make sure it is | | | | here are some sellers that I |
| pressed. I have made that mistake, and some | | | | recommend:1. Special Delivery |
| of my pictures do not look as good as they | | | | |
| should. Finally, make sure you take the | | | | 2. Dragonflies and Ladybugs |
| pictures in the right kind of lighting, they | | | | |
| will look better to your potential buyers.5. | | | | 3. K and Bs Closet |
| Honesty is the BEST Policy: Set up a clear, | | | | |
| concise, and honest description. If your item | | | | 4. Here Comes The Stork |
| has even a tiny flaw, make sure to notate it | | | | |
| in your auction. This will save you the | | | | 5. Gymboree GoddessThese sellers put GOOD |
| hassle of an unsatisfied customer on the | | | | quality lots together for reasonable prices, |
| receiving end. Also, I learned that what may | | | | and they usually offer either FREE shipping |
| seem like "Excellent Condition" to you, may | | | | or a shipping discount. I have bought from a |
| not be the case for others. Be careful when | | | | lot of other seller (s), whom I will not |
| listing something used as LIKE NEW or in | | | | mention here, that don't put fair lots |
| Excellent Condition. I consider an item to be | | | | together, they give you a lot of duplicates, |
| in Excellent condition when it has never been | | | | unsellable sizes, and single pieces which are |
| washed or washed and worn maybe one time. | | | | harder to sell separately. What you want to |
| Other than that, I would describe used items | | | | look for are the quality and prime selling |
| as Good Used Condition or Lovingly worn. I | | | | sizes: 12-24 months, 2T, and 3T, some 4T. |
| try not to sell anything that would be | | | | Anything under 6 months and over 4T are |
| considered fair or less than good.6. Use | | | | Harder to sell. You would like to have |
| Professional Auction Tools: You should invest | | | | outfits and dresses. Items like shorts, tops |
| time researching some of the auction listing | | | | and leggings that don't match can be harder |
| tools that are on the internet. I have | | | | to generate a profit. You would like one or |
| provided you with a lot of resources on my | | | | two Boys outfits and no more!!! |
| Sell on Ebay page that will give you the | | | | Unfortunately, boys clothing is not as |
| tools to produce a professional looking | | | | popular as girls clothing. Although it is |
| auction. I highly recommend The Sellers | | | | cute, it is harder to move in your store. If |
| Sourcebook and Auction Insights.7. Join Ebay | | | | the seller puts boys clothing in your lot, |
| Selling Forums: Ebay gives you a lot of | | | | request that they give you a full outfit, if |
| selling tools and allows you to join in on a | | | | they allow it. Also, no seller should |
| variety of community forums and classes. Take | | | | include socks, hats, or hairbands in the RV |
| advantage of these resources, other, more | | | | of their lot, if they do, don't buy from |
| experienced sellers can be of help. Some | | | | them!!!!!10. Hidden Treasures: Believe it |
| forums that I recommend using to advertise | | | | or not, my best money making items have been |
| your auctions and search for other auction | | | | my Used and Gently worn Name brand clothing. |
| sellers are:1. Coupon Chix | | | | You can find a lot of "gems" in thrift stores |
| | | | and local garage sales. You would not |
| 2. Once Upon a Life | | | | believe what people donate. I have found |
| | | | Oilily, Hannah Anderson, Gymboree, Janie and |
| 3. Here Comes The Stork | | | | Jack, and Baby Lulu at Thrift Stores and |
| | | | Garage sales, paying only pennies and selling |
| 4. WAHMS United | | | | for over $20. Which comes out to a huge |
| | | | profit for you!!!! Some highly recommended |
| 5. Just Between Moms8. Selling Times and | | | | thrift stores are:1. Goodwill |
| Dates: When you list your auctions is equally | | | | |
| as important as everything else. I learned | | | | 2. Savers |
| early on that on what day and time I listed | | | | |
| my auctions had an impact on my sales volume. | | | | 3. Salvation Army |
| I found that starting my listings on Monday | | | | |
| and Thursday evenings had the best results. | | | | 4. American Thrift StoreI would recommend |
| This may not work for your items, so you will | | | | going through your Yellow Pages, finding all |
| need to experiment a little with this. In | | | | your local thrift stores and hitting them all |
| addition to your listing days and times, the | | | | on a monthly basis. Remember, thrift store |
| seasons for selling is also important. This | | | | inventory changes daily and weekly, so you |
| is especially true when you are selling | | | | have to be diligent and patient. You must go |
| clothing and gifts. Here are some GENERAL | | | | frequently and search for these hidden |
| seasonal Guidelines for you to follow when | | | | treasures.11. Auction Listing Write Up: It |
| putting up your listings:· January-March: | | | | is very important that you take the time to |
| Get your spring and summer clothing items up | | | | write up a clear and concise auction listing. |
| and running. Easter is approaching, so any | | | | Make sure to include as much information as |
| cute dresses and Easter outfits will sell | | | | you can about your item, and most of all, be |
| well at this time. If you sell wholesale | | | | HONEST. It is better to list all the flaws |
| lots, I would recommend saving your summer | | | | than to try to "mask" them. I have had some |
| outfits for the buyers to get their hands on. | | | | sellers tell me not to say that something |
| | | | does or does not have "stains", they claim |
| | | | that it is up to the buyer to ask further |
| · April-June: Still sell Summer items, | | | | questions. I have not found this to be the |
| break out the 4th of July items, but start to | | | | best for me. I like to list EXACTLY what is |
| run SALES (shipping sales are always a | | | | wrong. |