Hot Vintage Item to Sell on eBay - Chenille Bedspreads

Raise your hand if you know what chenille is? Well, if you don't here is a quick lesson. Chenille actually means "caterpillar" in French. Chenille yarn is thick, fuzzy, and soft, and lengths of it actually look like fuzzy caterpillars. According to Wise Geek, "Textile historians believe that chenille has been produced since the 18th century. It was not until the 20th century that it developed widespread popularity. In the 1930s, chenille became a popular fabric for housewares. Very sturdy versions of the yarn were used on bedspreads and even carpets. In the 1970s, it became a commercialized in garments. It was not until almost two decades later, in the 1990s, when standards for production were developed for chenille."

Chenille has a distinct look and feel, and is gaining popularity on the vintage market. Currently, there are over 2,900 completed sold listings for "vintage chenille bedspread" on eBay and prices go as high as $400. Chenille bedspreads are a great item to pick up at estate sales or at garage sales where Baby Boomers may be downsizing. Peacocks seem to be a common theme for this item. I remember having a chenille spread on my bed as a child and the luxurious plush feeling of the fabric.

Add chenille bedspreads to your BOLO (be on the lookout) list. They are easy to ship and can sell for pretty high prices.

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Why Aren't You Listing Winter Clothing on eBay in the Summer?

Sounds kind of silly, right? I mean, who in their right mind is going to buy winter clothing online when it is 90 or even 100 degrees outside? Plenty of people, that's who! Remember the motto, "People can't buy what isn't listed."

Here are a few examples from my eBay store, Atlanta Golf  Shop, of winter items I have sold this summer. So you can see the proof is in the pudding. Some items have been listed a while, others were newly listed. Bottom line - if you list it, they will come!

Levis Trucker Jacket, $7 at Goodwill, listed in March, sold in June for $79.97

Michael Simon Christmas Sweater $6 at thrift store, listed in February, sold in June for $39.97

LL Bean wool skirt $1 at thrift store, listed in May 2014, sold in June for $20 (BO)

Life is Good flannel pj pants $3 at Goodwill, listed in June, sold in a week for $25

J Crew Tweed skirt $6 at Goodwill, listed June, sold in 2 weeks for $55 on BO

Talbots sweater $6 at Goodwill, listed in May, sold in July for $59.97

100% cashmere sweater $6 at Goodwill, listed in June, sold for $35 on BO in July

Storybook Knits sweater $6 at Goodwill, listed in May, sold for $64.97 in July

Lanz of Salzburg flannel nightgown, $3 at Goodwill listed in June, sold for $49.97 in July

I think you get the idea. This post isn't to brag but to show what is possible. eBay knows no seasons. If you find it, list it. If you have it, list it. If you aren't listing winter clothing in the summer you are leaving money on the table. And maybe a lot of money.

Learn more about selling thrifted clothing on eBay by taking my downloadable courses and learn what else you might be passing by that has value on eBay.

The Profitable World of Selling Women's Clothing on eBay (Part 1)

The Profitable World of Selling Women's Clothing on eBay (Part 2)

The Art of Selling Women's Used Shoes on eBay

Make Money Selling Lots of Scrabble Tiles on eBay

Here is another "odds and ends" type item you can make money selling on eBay - Scrabble tiles. Scrabble games are an easy find at garage sales and thrift stores. Rather than selling and shipping the entire game (where the box may be crushed or torn and unappealing anyway), salvage the tiles. Let them accumulate over time and you have a item that is easy to ship in a padded flat rate envelope for $5.35 (with your eBay discount).

Your next question might be, who the heck would buy several hundred or thousand Scrabble tiles? Crafters, that's who. And what can be made from a bunch of random Scrabble tiles? Here are some examples:

Baby Gifts

Coasters

Teacher Gifts

Jewelry

Christmas Ornaments

You get the idea. eBay shows 682 sold listings for "Scrabble Tiles" in used condition. You can sell the wooden letter racks in lots as those are used for crafts also. The colored tiles will sell for more as they are more scarce. (Remember, the more scarce something is the more it is worth.) Just a ball park figure - a lot of 300 wooden tiles sells for about $25.

So make yourself a little Scrabble Tile stockpile area and start adding to it when you see incomplete or less than optimal Scrabble games at garage sales and thrift stores. Crafters will thank you!

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Need Some Help Increasing Sales in Your eBay Store?

eBay can be a slippery slope to navigate. Auctions or fixed price? Free shipping or not? How to write listings and titles the best way for search engines? How should you optimize your listing for mobile buyers? (25% - 40% of all purchaeses on eBay are made on mobile devices.) Are you writing policies in a customer-friendly way? Is your return policy what it should be to attract customers?

I've been selling on eBay since 2003 and have seen a lot of changes. In fact, I've got some credibility as an experienced eBay seller and consultant:

Suzanne Wells Featured in Woman's Day Magazine

Suzanne Wells Quoted in Money Magazine

Suzanne Wells Featured on eBay for Business Blog

I can speak with authority here! One thing you can count on in life and on eBay is that things will change. Keeping up with eBay policies, procedures, and best practices is not easy. Let me help you maximize your efforts on eBay and make more money doing what you are already doing. I'll help you do it better you can make more money by making a few adjustments. The devil is in the details.

I offer a service called a eBay Store Critique, where I take an in-depth look at your store and make suggestions for improvements. Many times, sellers don't realize how they can optimize listings for search and for customer service. Getting more sales on eBay is about writing listings and titles so buyers can find you through search, combined with stellar customer service - being better than your competitors.

Here are a few testimonials from other sellers who saw good results from a store critique:

(See Jamie's store here)

(Visit Jnet's store here)

(View Nancy's store here)

(Click here to see Tricia's store)

 With an eBay Store Critique, you will receive an in-depth review of your store in writing within 3 business days. Reports are usually 10 pages long and point to specific listings that you can improve as well as policies, search engine optimization, photo tips, and anything else I see that could be changed to result in more sales. You also receive 30 days of email support so as you make changes and questions arise, I am your personal help desk 24 hours a day. I am here for you!

All successful athletes have a coach - they didn't achieve success by themselves. If you are serious about growing your eBay business, maybe it is time for a coach to help you achieve the success you deserve. (And yes, I have a business coach!)

Sign up for your critique today, and start seeing more sales.

(You do not need to have a store to have the review done. I can also evaluate listings without a store.)

Discontinued Item to Sell on eBay - Bounce Dryer Bar Fresh Linen Scent

The Bounce Dryer Bar - what a great invention. Just stick it in the inside of your dryer and it takes the place of dryer sheets for 90 days. There are several different scents, and apparently the Fresh Linen scent has been discontinued.

eBay completeds show 112 results when the keywords "Bounce Dryer Bar fresh linen" are searched. Some of the listings are lots of different scents so there are definitely fewer than 112 listings for a single bar. The regular retail price for this item is $5-$6. One can conclude that this item is selling at a premium. Some examples:

Lot of 5 bars sold for $72.99 on June 3

Lot of 5 sold for $57 + $9.45 shipping on June 7

Lot of 4 sold for $68.67 on May 28

Be on the lookout for this item at grocery stores, Target, Walmart, Big Lots, or closeout stores. If you find any - list and price  high. This item does not expire and if you wait until the supply is scarce, you can make more money.

Now, some readers (who are buyers) will think we are price gouging. Not so! We are not selling a life-saving product. No one is going to die if they don't have a Bounce Dryer bar. This is simply the law of supply and demand in action - the less there is of something, the more it is worth. eBay is its own marketplace governed by supply and demand dynamics. Scarcity is a driving force in how eBay sellers earn a living. eBay sellers are also providing a private shopping service by finding these items and making them available online. That is a service worth paying for.

These types of discontinued items are all around you - if you know how to look for them. Make sure you subscribe to my blog (top right corner) so you can stay in the know and receive these updates via email. Happy hunting!

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6 Tips for Shopping at Goodwill Outlets for eBay Merchandise

eBay sellers love the thrill of the hunt. Shopping and scavenging for inventory can almost be an addition. Once source of inventory is Goodwill Outlets. For those unfamiliar with a Goodwill Outlet, here are the facts:

Goodwill Stores is shipped to outlets all over the country.

Merchandise in Goodwill Outlets can be sold by the pound, commonly priced at 99 cents per pound. Merchandise can also be sold by the piece for about 75% off the regular Goodwill Store prices.

The same type of merchandise is sold in Goodwill Outlets that is sold in regular Goodwill Stores. The difference is that the items may be sorted by type (shoes, appliances, tools, etc.), or just brought out in huge bins for customers to sort through.

Goodwill Outlet shopping is a free for all. The experience can be totally chaotic and more like a stampede than an eBay sourcing trip. Be prepared to be pushed, shoved, bumped into, or even cursed at. Goodwill Outlets are not for the faint of heart.

eBay sellers who are up for the challenge of shopping at a Goodwill Outlet should be prepared. Here are some tips from seasoned eBay sellers for making the most out of your Goodwill Outlet visit.

1. Arrive early. It is not unusual for the line to form before the store opens.

2. Bring gloves. Since digging through bins is part of the drill, it is best to protect your hands. All kinds of gross items are hiding in the bins including bugs, small dead rodents, snakes, broken glass, metal shards, dirty underwear, used hypodermic needles, dirty diapers, or animal or human feces.

3. Don't start shopping until management blows the whistle - you can be kicked out for not following the rules.

4. Bring sheets to cover your cart. Other shoppers will pillage carts fill of merchandise.

5. Use a hanger or "grabber" to help reach items in the back or bottom of the bins.

6. Don't take babies or small children to the outlets. Not only can the outlets be unsanitary, but they are chaotic and small children can get lost in the shuffle.

Everything is sold as is - no returns or exchanges.

Even though shopping at the GWO can be a challenge, eBay sellers have reported finding some prime items in the bins. Some good finds reported on my eBay Sellers Facebook Group:

Queen Bee book that sold for $60

Leather jacket that sold for $750

Vera Bradley pet carrier sold for $60

Designer wool coats sold for over $100 each

Gurka duffle bag sold for $250

Burberry cape sold for $297

Patagonia top sold for $124

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. GWOs are only located in certain areas of the country. Find one near you at www.gwoutletstorelocator.com.

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Discontinued Item to Sell on eBay - Metamucil Clear & Natural

Here is another hot discontinued item to add to your BOLO list, along with the Coconut M&Ms I posted about a few days ago. Metamucil Clear& Natural Fiber Supplement. This item was discontinued and prices on eBay and Amazon are quite high for a single container:

1 11.7 ounce container sells for around $35 on eBay:

A lot of 3 containers sold for $120.98 on June 21:

Amazon shows several offerings starting at $37 for a single 11.7 ounce container:

So what does this mean? It means you can make a lot of money quickly and easily if you are able to find any of this product. Look for this product at all the usual places - drug stores, grocery stores, Big Lots, Walmart, Target, etc. Don't forget to check small town pharmacies and drug stores as product may be hiding there.

Discontinued items are literally hiding in plain sight. Knowledge is power. If you want to learn more about how to discover and identify big money making discontinued items, let's have a phone consultation and I will share my process with you. I've been making money on discontinued consumer goods for many years and you can learn how to do it, too!

Make sure you are subscribed (top right) so you can receive emails about the latest discontinued products to ell for profit on eBay. 

Good luck and happy hunting.

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eBay Consignment Done Right - Seller Offers 140,000 Consigned Items for Sale

If you are thinking about adding consignment to your eBay business model, you must take a look at Linda's Stuff - the largest consignment seller on eBay. Linda's Stuff was founded by Linda Lightman who started her consignment business in 2000 after seeing the power of eBay when selling her son's video games. Then she moved on to selling her own clothes. After a while, friends noticed Linda's success and began asking her to sell their items on eBay. Many of you reading this are in the exact same situation - you know how to navigate and sell on eBay, your friends know you have this skill, and you and want to grow without investing money in additional income.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Linda about her business to show the amazing power of eBay as well as the opportunities available to anyone who wants to tap into the eBay marketplace. I addressed some common questions asked by both new and seasoned eBay sellers on my Facebook group and privately through consulting and email.

Enjoy the following interview and take note of how a real pro does it!

Q: There are currently 140,000 items listed in Linda's Stuff eBay Store. Is this about the usual amount that is listed all the time?
Linda's Stuff:  Yes, this is the usual amount we list on Linda’s Stuff.

Q: There is a mix of auctions and fixed price items. What is the strategy for determining what format an item will be listed?
Linda's Stuff: All items on Linda’s Stuff starts on an auction/ bidding.  When items do not sell, it is then moved to a ‘Buy it Now.’

Q: Linda's Stuff offers a 14 day return policy. How many returns do you usually receive a month?
Linda’s Stuff: Our return rate is about 10% in a month.

Q: Based on feedback numbers, it appears that Linda's Stuff sells about 18,000 items a month. Is this an accurate estimate?
Linda’s Stuff: We sell about 25K-30K a month, (although we wish everyone would leave feedback- buyers sometimes do not).

Q: On the listings I researched, Linda's Stuff does not use eBay's Global Shipping program. Why not?
Linda's Stuff: We thoughtfully made the decision  to not use eBay’s Global Shipping program, as we are happy with our current shipping model.

Q: Your company employs over 100 people. What different kinds of tasks do your employees do?
Linda's Stuff: With over 110 employees, the roles in our business vary from Marketing to Listers to Photographers, Customer Service and so on.  Each person contributes to the organization and management of Linda’s Stuff.

Q: Do you hire employees with eBay selling experience?
Linda's Stuff: eBay experience is not a requirement, as we provide training to all our employees.

Q: Linda's Stuff has been in business for 15 years. What is one piece of advice you can give the smaller "at home" seller to improve their eBay business?
 Linda's Stuff: It’s important to do your research when listing items and market them in a way that entices your audience.  Customer service is also important, as if a person has a good experience with you, you build brand loyalty, trust and retention.

Make sure you check out Linda's Stuff on eBay and study how she does it.

Start getting your piece of the eBay consignment pie - sign up to be listed in my eBay Seller's Consignment Directory now. Don't let potential clients get away because they don't know about you!

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CPAP Machines Not Allowed on eBay

You can sell pretty much anything on eBay, but there are some medical and personal items that are not allowed. CPAP machines, used for sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders, are not allowed on eBay. There was a discussion recently on my eBay Seller Facebook Group regarding this issue. Jessica asked,

"My dad is questioning how he can sell his CPAP machine. We think it's against the rules on eBay because we see mostly parts listed. How do people get rid of these machines?"

We are so fortunate to have so many knowledgeable people in the group to advise on these kinds of issues. Aleeda, a former coaching client of mine and a respiratory therapist had a great answer:

"A CPAP requires a prescription to be sold. That is a law by the FDA - federal offense. (There is a sticker on the bottom of it that states Rx required). Sorry, but this is a personal pet peeve of mine as I am a respiratory therapist and have seen many people hurt by CPAPs they have bought off the internet, garage sales, etc. If your dad no longer needs it, then he may think about donating it to a local sleep lab. Some of them take CPAPs in for people who do not have insurance. There are also some muscular dystrophy organizations, hospices, pain clinics, etc. that may take it."

Kathy added, "You can contact companiesand they will buy them from you if the usage on them is low. I did just that with 2 that I got at a yard sale. Got over $100. Sorry, can't remember the name of the company, but maybe someone on here will know. They buy and refurbish them."

There are all kinds of medical and personal care items that are allowed on eBay and estate sales are a good place to find these items - many new in the package. For example, these items don't require a prescription and sell on eBay regularly:

Diabetic test strips (must be in sealed box and not expired)

Adult diapers

Braces and supports

Hearing assistance

Caregiver products

Read the complete list of eBay prohibited and restricted items here. Be an educated seller and keep your account happy and healthy!

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