Saturday, March 14, 2009
Where’s the fun?
It is fun to watch active auctions close. Something listed low could sell for exactly what it was listed OR for reasons I cannot fathom, there can be many bidders in the last hours down to minutes trying to outbid each other. That’s fun!
How to set a selling price.
1. eBay’s Giving Works program automatically takes a minimum donation of $5 from the sale price and sends it to Mission Fish. I begin the bidding at a minimum of $4.99. If I need to, I group items to make a deal more attractive, or offer free shipping.
2. Look up the same items on eBay. See what range they are selling in. Price somewhere reasonable.
3. On Amazon it is EASY to see the range of the same books and other media. I don’t know how people make money selling at $.01. With the fees etc., the given shipping allowance, I don’t list anything for less than $3.25.
2. Look up the same items on eBay. See what range they are selling in. Price somewhere reasonable.
3. On Amazon it is EASY to see the range of the same books and other media. I don’t know how people make money selling at $.01. With the fees etc., the given shipping allowance, I don’t list anything for less than $3.25.
Thinking outside the box.
Craig’s List: Last weekend I sent John out to a yard sale advertised on Craig’s List. He came home with a bag of VHS tapes. A third of them might stand a chance of selling. In fact one did sell within 2 days. Made a dollar! Now a couple more and we will recoup our huge $4 investment. Sell a few more and might actually make something. A big experiment into the world of high $ sales.
Storage Unit Auctions: Looks like the 2nd Thursday of every month is UHaul unpaid storage unit auction day. An auctioneer travels from one UHaul location to another. An entire group of “followers” make the rounds as well.
There was no auction in Mt Juliet (paid up the day before) so I traveled to the next location – Madison because I really wanted to observe this process.
The locker is opened and everyone is allowed to walk by and look in, no touching! I wondered why some of the men were carrying humongo flashlights. Now, I know. If you want a really good look at the contents, bring a flash light.
The first (of two) was full of dusty dirty junky looking junk. It went for $40.
The second held 3 boxes, 2 large bins and a double mattress set. Sold for $70. I hope they got something worth the price!!!!!! The whole process is over in 5 minutes.
The group went on to Brentwood. I went to the Music City Thrift Store. I bought $10 worth of books and a bobble head doll. If we sell my precious purchases we may actually come out ahead by a few dollars.
Thrift Store: They all seem to have half off on a group of items (usually by color tag). We found a few things. Will try to resell.
What to buy?
That’s the question. I purchased several books off Amazon about flea market finds….I only had time to glace through one of them, but it was enough to know that a set of dishes at the thrift shop could be resold. I’ll go back Monday and see if they are half price – then it might be worth the purchase.
Storage Unit Auctions: Looks like the 2nd Thursday of every month is UHaul unpaid storage unit auction day. An auctioneer travels from one UHaul location to another. An entire group of “followers” make the rounds as well.
There was no auction in Mt Juliet (paid up the day before) so I traveled to the next location – Madison because I really wanted to observe this process.
The locker is opened and everyone is allowed to walk by and look in, no touching! I wondered why some of the men were carrying humongo flashlights. Now, I know. If you want a really good look at the contents, bring a flash light.
The first (of two) was full of dusty dirty junky looking junk. It went for $40.
The second held 3 boxes, 2 large bins and a double mattress set. Sold for $70. I hope they got something worth the price!!!!!! The whole process is over in 5 minutes.
The group went on to Brentwood. I went to the Music City Thrift Store. I bought $10 worth of books and a bobble head doll. If we sell my precious purchases we may actually come out ahead by a few dollars.
Thrift Store: They all seem to have half off on a group of items (usually by color tag). We found a few things. Will try to resell.
What to buy?
That’s the question. I purchased several books off Amazon about flea market finds….I only had time to glace through one of them, but it was enough to know that a set of dishes at the thrift shop could be resold. I’ll go back Monday and see if they are half price – then it might be worth the purchase.
Theme of the Week
Beginning this week I will be sending out emails suggesting an item or two of the week to get people thinking. I will send out reminders on Tues. Susan will send out a follow-up on Fridays.
3/8 Week 1 – Non Fiction books. These sell really well on Amazon. About one a day. Of the books I rec’d (about 15) we sold one later the day I listed them. This will be a slower, steady source of income.
3/15 Week 2 – Jewelry and Jigsaw Puzzles.
3/8 Week 1 – Non Fiction books. These sell really well on Amazon. About one a day. Of the books I rec’d (about 15) we sold one later the day I listed them. This will be a slower, steady source of income.
3/15 Week 2 – Jewelry and Jigsaw Puzzles.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I find the items donated to Nation2Nation on eBay?
Type Nation2Nation in the “search” bar. Press search. When nothing comes up, click the box just below where you typed and press search again (to include title and description).
Some items are not on eBay. If it is a book, DVD, VHS, game or other media it may be on Amazon where we can get a better price. Unfortunately, on Amazon, I have not found a way to search by seller. You can, however, search for your books by title.
Q: I don’t see the items I donated on eBay.
It may not be listed yet. Some items require more research than others.
Or there are many of the same thing currently listed and I’ll wait for them to sell down.
Or because a minimum donation to Nation2Nation is $5.00, I don’t list anything for less than $4.99. If it is something that can be grouped with similar items, I’m waiting to put a “collection” together.
Q: What kinds of things sell?
If it can be sent through the mail, it can be sold on eBay. Here is a list of things we’ve sold so far:
Jewel Tea casserole dish NO LID, Kinkade jigsaw puzzle, lace swag and valance, ornamental wood molding, wool travel size mattress pad, Barbie DVD, crash cymbal, Michelangelo drawing book, wireless router, Folio book set, bike lifts, Wii games, computer games, Blue-ray disc, wooden shoes, a chandelier and sequined appliqués.
Books and other media sell better on Amazon. A listing stays on Amazon for 60 days while on eBay it is only 7 days.
Q: What can I do if I don’t have “stuff” to donate?
There is an ongoing need for packing supplies like bubble wrap, packing peanuts and padded mailing envelopes. Any of these things are welcome. I also need a book case.
Start to think outside of the box.
Talk to your neighbors and friends about Nation2Nation. I haven’t found anyone unwilling to donate something.
It is about to be yard sale season again. Offer to help take away someone’s stuff in exchange for some of the leftovers.
Storage places auction off the contents of unpaid storage units.
On Craig’s List there are people giving away “stuff” for free every day.
Ask chain restaurant managers for free gift cards. Many have a budget for charity donations.
Do you have tickets to an event you won’t be attending?
You’ve heard the commercials…”we’ll take your unwanted gold….and give you cash…” We can do that too.
Pray for this part of Nation2Nation (redeeming eBay for India). It has huge potential to expand to other churches and raise money even in this economy.
Q: What if my stuff doesn’t sell?
Some things just don’t. If it is a timing issue, I’ll relist it later. If it is a pricing issue, I’ll adjust where I can. If after several attempts to sell on eBay, it will be set aside to try again later or for a yard sale in the fall.
Q: What about a receipt for my donation?
Nation2Nation will provide you with a “generic” receipt. It is up to you to keep a list of what you have donated and establish a reasonable value for that donation.
Q: How can I be my own eBayer and donate part of my sale to Nation2Nation?
In the section where you are “Choosing how you’d like to sell your item,” if the option to donate is not showing, click “add or remove options” which appears in the same yellow bar that says “Choose how you’d…..”
Select “Donate a percentage of sale.” Once that is activated, choose the prompts that show in that section. You will have to activate Nation2Nation as your designation by “selecting another nonprofit” and choose: Hickory Grove Church, PCA dba Nation2Nation. It will immediately show on your listing. Designate a percentage and you are done.
In your item description please add this at the bottom:
Proceeds from this listing will go to Nation2Nation, a non-profit organization, called to equip national pastors from Sri Lanka and India for gospel ministry through theological training, church planting, mercy and medical missions.
Nation2NationHG
Note of caution: The minimum donation to any charity is $5. So plan your sale accordingly.
Q: Will you help me become my own eBayer?
Yes. The only string attached is that you will agree to sell something for Nation2Nation.
Type Nation2Nation in the “search” bar. Press search. When nothing comes up, click the box just below where you typed and press search again (to include title and description).
Some items are not on eBay. If it is a book, DVD, VHS, game or other media it may be on Amazon where we can get a better price. Unfortunately, on Amazon, I have not found a way to search by seller. You can, however, search for your books by title.
Q: I don’t see the items I donated on eBay.
It may not be listed yet. Some items require more research than others.
Or there are many of the same thing currently listed and I’ll wait for them to sell down.
Or because a minimum donation to Nation2Nation is $5.00, I don’t list anything for less than $4.99. If it is something that can be grouped with similar items, I’m waiting to put a “collection” together.
Q: What kinds of things sell?
If it can be sent through the mail, it can be sold on eBay. Here is a list of things we’ve sold so far:
Jewel Tea casserole dish NO LID, Kinkade jigsaw puzzle, lace swag and valance, ornamental wood molding, wool travel size mattress pad, Barbie DVD, crash cymbal, Michelangelo drawing book, wireless router, Folio book set, bike lifts, Wii games, computer games, Blue-ray disc, wooden shoes, a chandelier and sequined appliqués.
Books and other media sell better on Amazon. A listing stays on Amazon for 60 days while on eBay it is only 7 days.
Q: What can I do if I don’t have “stuff” to donate?
There is an ongoing need for packing supplies like bubble wrap, packing peanuts and padded mailing envelopes. Any of these things are welcome. I also need a book case.
Start to think outside of the box.
Talk to your neighbors and friends about Nation2Nation. I haven’t found anyone unwilling to donate something.
It is about to be yard sale season again. Offer to help take away someone’s stuff in exchange for some of the leftovers.
Storage places auction off the contents of unpaid storage units.
On Craig’s List there are people giving away “stuff” for free every day.
Ask chain restaurant managers for free gift cards. Many have a budget for charity donations.
Do you have tickets to an event you won’t be attending?
You’ve heard the commercials…”we’ll take your unwanted gold….and give you cash…” We can do that too.
Pray for this part of Nation2Nation (redeeming eBay for India). It has huge potential to expand to other churches and raise money even in this economy.
Q: What if my stuff doesn’t sell?
Some things just don’t. If it is a timing issue, I’ll relist it later. If it is a pricing issue, I’ll adjust where I can. If after several attempts to sell on eBay, it will be set aside to try again later or for a yard sale in the fall.
Q: What about a receipt for my donation?
Nation2Nation will provide you with a “generic” receipt. It is up to you to keep a list of what you have donated and establish a reasonable value for that donation.
Q: How can I be my own eBayer and donate part of my sale to Nation2Nation?
In the section where you are “Choosing how you’d like to sell your item,” if the option to donate is not showing, click “add or remove options” which appears in the same yellow bar that says “Choose how you’d…..”
Select “Donate a percentage of sale.” Once that is activated, choose the prompts that show in that section. You will have to activate Nation2Nation as your designation by “selecting another nonprofit” and choose: Hickory Grove Church, PCA dba Nation2Nation. It will immediately show on your listing. Designate a percentage and you are done.
In your item description please add this at the bottom:
Proceeds from this listing will go to Nation2Nation, a non-profit organization, called to equip national pastors from Sri Lanka and India for gospel ministry through theological training, church planting, mercy and medical missions.
Nation2NationHG
Note of caution: The minimum donation to any charity is $5. So plan your sale accordingly.
Q: Will you help me become my own eBayer?
Yes. The only string attached is that you will agree to sell something for Nation2Nation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
