Make Money Selling Fragrance Samples and Trial Sizes on eBay

I just love garage and estate sales. I love digging through the boxes and looking for the hidden gems. It's the thrill of the hunt, meeting new people, and never knowing what cool things you might come home with to sell on eBay. One of those things is fragrance samples and trial sizes.

Yes, they sell! You can batch these types of items together and sell for good money. I'm talking about all the little samples you get when you buy cosmetics or fragrances at the mall or from Avon or Mary Kay. Some people have stockpiles of that stuff and it ends up in their garage sales. Estate sales are great for these kinds of products because sometimes there are decades worth of fragrance samples and trial sizes in a big box and you can negotiate a killer price.

I purchased the items in the photo above at an estate sale yesterday for $15. The Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds products will sell for about $50 in a lot. The Poison EDT is 1/3 full and will sell for around $25. Not bad for 10 minutes worth of work on my way home from Saturday morning errands.

Need more proof? Here are some eBay stats:

6,000+ completed sold listings for "perfume samples"

2,000+ completed sold listings for "cologne samples"

6,500+ completed sold listings for "EDT samples" (eau de toilette)

There is probably some overlap, some listings with a full size container included, but you get the idea. There is definitely a demand for "itty bitty" fragrance samples on eBay.

Remember fragrances are flammable and HAZMAT and can only be shipped parcel select (ground). They may not be shipped First Class or Priority.

Now go check your bathroom junk drawers and see what you have to sell!

Related Articles:

Selling Vintage Perfume Bottles on eBay

 Estate Sales for Beginners

Flipping Craigslist Items on eBay

Grow Your eBay Consignment Business - Sign Up for Consignment Sellers' Directory

Consignment is an effective way to grow your eBay business and increase your profit without having to spend money buying more inventory or paying helpers. The benefits of consignment include:

1. Get exposure to products you may not otherwise find on your own. Consider this free education! You will learn valuable information you can apply to your own business in the future by dealing with other people's merchandise.

2. Reduce risk of low DSRs and defects because of increased number of transactions. Once a seller has fallen below Top Rated Seller or standard performance level, the only way to recover is by having a larger percentage of satisfactory transactions. Consignment merchandise helps sellers "water down" defects and low DSRs.

3. Build feedback faster. The more feedback you have, the more established you will appear, and the more consignment clients you will attract.

4. Make money without spending money. You don't have to buy the inventory or hire help. Your investment is time.

5. Create a steady stream of inventory coming to you. Once you build a consignment clientele, customers will return to use your services. Your clients will like the way you help them make money!

6. Create a supply of inventory where there is little or none. If you live in an area that does not have great merchandise in thrift stores, where thrift store prices are too high, or where winter weather prevents yard sales, consignment is a convenient way to source inventory and continue making money.

7. Sell inventory in better condition than traditional sources. Sometimes the inventory in the major thrift store chains has been man-handled so much that it is beat up and not in great condition. Consignment items may come to you directly from  someone's home where it is in pristine condition.

eBay used to have a Trading Assistant program that connected eBay consignment sellers with potential clients. That program was discontinued in 2013. There are millions of people out there with items to sell, who don't have the time or inclination to learn to sell on eBay, who are looking for sellers to sell their items. Also, many sellers in my Facebook Group have indicated they have huge stockpiles of inventory and would love to find a local person to sell those items for them.

I personally receive emails frequently from people looking for a way to connect with eBay sellers to sell their merchandise. Seeing a need to connect sellers with those who need their services, I am creating a directory of eBay Consignment Sellers. Here is how it will work:

1. The directory will be free for clients to access. 

2. The directory will be posted here on my blog so that those seeking a consignment seller can find it quickly and easily when using internet search engines.

3. The directory will be organized by city and state. And it is ok if there are multiple sellers in the same city. Each seller will more than likely have their own pricing structure, want to work with different types of products, and be in different locations. Don't worry about fellow sellers in the same area - there are plenty of clients to go around.

4. Seller's name, email address, and link to eBay store (so prospective clients can check you out) will be listed in the directory. Phone number will be optional. Once the client contacts a seller, all of the particulars about pricing, fees, etc. can be worked out between seller and client. (So yes, your name will be on the list and will be found by Google - but so will your eBay store name - and that is good for business!)

5. I will aggressively market this list on my social media channels, my blog, article sites, and in my newsletter. My reach on the internet:

     YouTube - 12,000 subscribers, 22,000 monthly views

     Twitter - 11,000 followers

     Facebook Group - 20,000 members (Sellers who may need your help!)

     National eBay Examiner - 30,000 monthly views

     eBay Coach Blog - 30,000 monthly views

     Newsletter - 7,000+ subscribers

6. eBay sellers included in the directory will receive a copy of my Standard Consignment Agreement and a consignment tutorial with information about how to get started with consignment, how to promote your consignment business, and  a recommended commission schedule. I'm helping you get organized and giving you a road map before you even start taking on clients.

7. Cost for sellers to be listed in the directory is $50 per year. For less than the price of one Starbuck's coffee a month, you can get exposure to thousands of potential clients 24 hours a day. Clients can contact you directly about selling their items on eBay for a commission. You can be added to the directory at any time and there is no long term commitment and no pressure to renew.

8. New to consignment? No problem. Sellers who sign up for the directory will also receive free email support to answer your consignment questions for as long as you are listed in the directory. I am here for you whenever you have a question, need help, or want advice.

So let's work together to grow your eBay consignment business. Just click the button below to sign up to be listed in the directory and let's connect with all those clients with great stuff to sell on eBay. Don't leave any more money on the table - sign up today!

What Kind of Dress Is This?

Keywords are very important on eBay. You want your buyer to be able to find your item so it is imperative that you use the same keywords in your title and description that the buyer is searching for. I see a lot of questions on my Facebook group about clothing, especially the names of different styles of dresses.

If you ever find yourself in a bind trying to figure out a style for any type of clothing - shirts, skirts, coats, or jackets, head over to Pinterest and do a search for Style Guides. There is so much information on Pinterest about clothing you will be shocked! Everything you need to know is right there and it is very visual so you can find what you need quickly.

Just for reference, below is a Dress Style Guide so you can see the different styles and their corresponding names:

Selling clothing on eBay is a lucrative business. Thrift stores are packed with inexpensive clothing for the picking - lots of low hanging fruit that can be flipped on eBay for nice profit if you know what to look for. Learn more about selling women's clothing on eBay at these links:

Best Keywords for Selling Handbags on eBay

Why I Sell Ugly Shoes on eBay

Lumberjack Chic a Profitable Niche on eBay

5 Ways to Save Time and Money Printing Shipping Labels from Your eBay Account

 

Everyone can use more money, and we would all like to have more time. Save both using eBay's shipping workflow. Did you realize that if you aren't printing labels through eBay, you are missing out on discounts? That's right, for every package you don't ship through eBay's portal, you are leaving money on the table. And over time, the savings are substantial.

Take a look at the above screen shot from my eBay shipping screen - notice the savings? The discount on this one package was over $6! Here are reasons why every seller should be printing labels directly from eBay:


1. Save money with eBay discounts. Let's say you ship 50 items a month. Even if you saved $1 on each package, that is $50 a month, or $600 a year. What could you do with an extra $600 each year? Buy more inventory? Take a modest vacation? Pay down debt? Add to your retirement account?

2. Save time not going to the post office. This saves both gas and time. (And hassle if you have to take small children to you - who are notorious for falling asleep in the car as you drive into the post office parking lot!). Your postal carrier will pick up packages for free - that is their job. If you are just starting to need pickups, ask your postal carrier about how they like their customers to do things - where to leave your items, if you need to schedule online, etc. Every carrier is different. (Exceptions for not using carrier pickup are if you are on a rural route and cannot get pick up, or if you won't be home and don't want to leave packages outside unattended.)

3. Get free tracking. Both you and your buyer can access tracking information online through eBay.

4. Save time answering "Where is my package" questions. Many buyers know how to access the tracking info, or if you have to find it, the info is easily accessible through eBay.

5. Free reprints. Ooops, your 3 year old stuck the label on the dog. No problem. It is easy (and free) to reprint a label on eBay. (Find the item on your SOLD page, choose the MORE ACTIONS tab, choose PRINT ANOTHER LABEL. You will only be charged for the label that is actually scanned through the post office.)

So, if you aren't printing labels through eBay now is the time to start! Check out these free resources to help you fly along the shipping learning curve - you got this!

Download my free eBay shipping flowchart here.

Step by step instructions from eBay about how to print shipping labels. 

Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business

Are you using LinkedIn? 350 million other users in 200 countries are. That's a lot of people in one place on a website to network with.

Some of you know that I am actively seeking a new career right now, in addition to selling on eBay and coaching. (It's time for a new adventure!) I have been taking classes on how to use LinkedIn and wanted to share what I have learned. If you aren't using LinkedIn to network and grow your business, it is time to learn.

LinkedIn is NOT a place to sell your eBay items. I can't stress this enough. Nobody will stay connected with you if you are constantly posting "buy my stuff" on your page. LinkedIn is a place to connect with professionals and network. You will meet all kinds of people that you can connect with others, as well as connections that could enhance your business.

Let's make sure you understand what networking means. This concept is often misunderstood. Networking is not about you, it is about other people and community. Give before you take. Learn what others do so you can connect people who can benefit each other. In turn, they should learn about what you do so they can made beneficial connections for you.By using LinkedIn, you could find:

Suppliers for products / opportunities to buy inventory
People who need help selling their items (consignment)
Information about community events, classes, seminars that could help your business
Local sellers to network with


A few quick tips:

Make your profile as complete as possible so you can be found in searches.

Provide a photo. People want to work with people not blank-faced avatars.

Use the correct keywords to describe what kind of work you do.

Make lots of connections - search for people you already know from different spheres of influence from your life such as extended family, neighbors, past and present co-workers, college and high school classmates, your kids friends parents, your healthcare professionals, etc.

Give and ask for endorsements and recommendations. An endorsement is where you recognize your connections skills such as ecommerce, internet marketing, or social media. Recommendations are written comments about someone's work.

Connect with me on LinkedIn here and feel free to leave an endorsement or recommendation. I am happy to reciprocate to help you build your profile.

Related Articles:

How to Use Pinterest to Market Your Business

Free eBay Shipping Flow Chart

How to Reduce Returns on eBay

eBay Seller Success Story $6,000 in Sales in 30 Days

 Mandy posted her numbers on my Facebook Group over the weekend with this message:

"Hit one of my goals of hitting $6k in 30 days on Ebay. Took 2.5 years to get here. Now my next goal is to get to $7.5K. This is just from mostly clothing sales. I'm at stay at home mom with 2 babies under 2. I am super focused with nap times and in the evenings. So nice to being able to be home with the babies and still have a good living! Thank you to everyone in this group, as this is where I started and was inspired."

Mandy and her husband Corey have really come a long way. They were coaching clients of mine a couple of years ago and were just getting started with their ecommerce journey along with a new baby on the way. With hard work and discipline, anything is possible. It takes some planning to work at home with two babies so I really commend Mandy for making it all work.

Here are Mandy's stats for the last 30 days:

1,202 items in inventory
280 items sold
$300-$600 average spent on inventory each month
Lists 99% of her items on Buy It Now 30 days or GTC

Mandy offers free shipping on most listings because "There is a filter for the customer to see only listings with free shipping. I dont want to be filtered out." She does not offer free shipping on larger items.

You can visit Mandy and Corey's store on eBay here to see the types of items they sell.  Looking through their feedback (they are Top Rated Sellers) you can see most items are priced under $30. This just goes to show that money can be made using the resources around you with consistency and dedication. Slow and steady really does win the race.

Congratulations for your amazing success, Mandy, and keep up the great work!

Are you ready to build an eBay business like this? Mandy (and many others like her) are proof it can be done.  Let me help you make money on eBay by:

Showing you how to get started. Learn all about selling on eBay with my eBay Basics Course. 

Showing you how to  diversify your product line. Thrift stores are packed with clothing and shoes you can buy cheap and sell for 3-5 times the thrift store price on eBay. Grow your knowledge base with these downloadable courses:

The Profitable World of Selling Preowned Women's Clothing Level 1

The Profitable World of Selling Preowned Women's Clothing Level 2

The Art of Selling Preowned Women's Shoes

Improving what you are already doing. I'll pinpoint exactly what you need to change to improve SEO (search engine optimization), customer service, and shine brighter than the herd of other eBay sellers. Sign up for a store critique here.  

See what these other sellers are saying and let me help you boost your sales today! eBay can be a full time gig, what are you waiting for?


Related Articles:

eBay Success Story - Karen Wilson

eBay Success Story - From Homeless to $250k

From Librarian to Top Rated Seller

4 Reasons Good eBay Descriptions are Important

If you are like most eBay sellers, you  want your items to sell on eBay, and you don't want returns or problems after the transaction, right? You want buyers to easily find your listings, right? And most of all, you want to achieve and keep Top Rated Seller status, right?

Spending a few extra minutes on your description will help attract more customers, reduce returns, and serve a a good insurance policy against INAD (Item Not As Described) cases.

1. eBay recommends 200 words about the product in the description area. This helps buyers find your items through search.  Even though you have information in the item specifics area (where you check the boxes), you still need to write it out in the description area so the search engine can find it. Keep text about policies, returns, and your personal rules to a minimum - the search engine is looking for words about the product. Here are tips from eBay for Basic SEO on your eBay listings.

2.  Measurements are very important on anything you sell on eBay including clothing, household items, collectibles, baby items, toys - everything. It is especially difficult to buy clothing (for children or adults) online without knowing the measurements. Buyers will compare a clothing item to one they have that fits properly. If a seller does not have measurements on the item, the buyer may not ask for them and may just move on to the next seller. Buyers don’t like to wait for answers, so try to provide everything possible up front. The extra few minutes you spend measuring an item can help you get a sale.

3. If a buyer opens an INAD case, the more information you have in the description area, the better. I have had INADs removed when the buyer claimed the item wasn’t described correctly, and called eBay Customer Service to show them that the information was in the listing but the buyer didn’t read it. Having enough of the right information in your description not only informs the customer but it protects your account.Remember, too many cases or returns for INAD affects your defect rating and eventually, your account.

4. It is just good customer service. You are a buyer, too, right? Remember the only thing between you and your potential customer is a computer screen. The buyer can't touch, hold, or examine the product like they could in a brick and mortar store. Your only tools are photos and words. You have the power to describe the product in great detail so your customer understands exactly what they are getting.

For more helpful tips like this, sign up for a store critique. I'll give you an in-depth review of your store, in writing, along with 30 days of email support for any other questions you might have after the review is done.

Related Articles:

How to Find the Price of an eBay Item Sold on Best Offer

Avoiding a Defect When You Can't Ship an Item

Understand Your Defect Rate Before it is Too Late!