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