bidbits

Demi Moore Lets Some of Her Famous Doll Collection Go on eBay for Charity

I'd heard once that Demi Moore had a separate house for her doll collection. Hey, if you can afford it! But it's clear she and her husband Ashton are charitable folks...check out some of her toy and doll collection she's selling on eBay for the DNA Foundation:

http://stores.ebay.com/DNA-Foundation

So far I see cabbage patch dolls and A Bug's Life figures selling for in he $20-$30-$40-$50 range, But when the auction is over, who knows how high they will get.

Cool Online Booklet to Promote Your Yard Sale

I just found about a cool new tool to promote your yard sale online...it lets you create a simple booklet that lets people "flip through" the pages of your yard sale.

It's free to try, and also to use with 20MB content...more content and other features cost between $10 and $100 per year.

It's called simple booklet, and it's at:

http://www.simplebooklet.com 

Here's how Scott from simplebooklet describes it:

"We've built a tool which I think helps people who are doing yard sales to promote themselves in the digital age"  http://www.simplebooklet.com 

"A garage seller can create a digital flyer for free containing samples of some of the stuff they want to sell. It's all drag, drop, and format easy, no coding required.  Then, they can promote their yard sale through a rich html email, on their favorite social network, and even embed it in their own blog or website. We do all the hosting as well so they can even just pass on a short URL to anyone they want.

"Here's an example of a garage sale flyer.  http://midd.me/3nff  Hope you like it and find its worth passing onto your readers."

 "Thanks, Scott"

Thanks, Scott! Hope to try it out myself. Give it a whirl and let me know how you like it if you get a chance.

Evergreen Books that Sell Well on Amazon or eBay

Since I've been selling items on eBay and amazon, I've learned to spot a few things that jump out at me as no-brainers. In the book world, one area in which I focus, one of these is the bright red Betty Crocker cookbook known as the "red pie" cookbook. (I will write more about others in future blog posts).

It regularly sells for healthy amounts. Here's a snapshot of a few of the ones that recently sold on eBay:

 

As you can see, these sold for $50 and one for $66. And there was one that sold for more than that, not shown.

On amazon, there are 11 copies starting at (yes, that's *starting at*) $32.95 and going all the way up to $125.

But the nice thing about this book is it's not hard to find...you can see it often pop up at estate sales. yard sales, even thrift stores. It will be in varying conditions, but even the ones in just OK conditions sell pretty well.

(Why is it called "red pie"? Not because of an actual "red pie" food on the cover, tho there is a slice of pie on there; it's because the whole circle graphic on the cover is divided into pieces like a pie). Its actual name is simply the "Betty Crocker Cookbook," and in later years the cover got a redesign, but this red pie version is a favorite.

Why does it sell so well? It's one of those perennial favorites...a lot of people learned to cook with it, and now they are buying it for nostalgia or because they lost their copy, or to replace a worn-out one.

For more info on books that sell well and for what, get my ebook, "Over 500 Books that Sell for $50-$5000 on eBay" at http://www.yardsalers.net/500Books.asp.

Top Movies People Want But Can't Have

What are the movies on dvd people are chomping at the bit to own but that they can't because they are out of stock on amazon.com?

Amazon sends us these nice little updates, and as sellers it behooves us to pay attention to keep our eyes out for these hard-to-find items.

I did a little digging to see what these were and why they are so highly coveted.

(OK, admittedly some of the films are a little racy, but there you have it).

Here's a list of the top 50 with some of my commentary in brackets:

Song of the South

[This is an old Disney movie ("Well Mr. Bluebird's on my shoulder"), now looks pretty politically incorrect, hence hard to find].

Transformers [Blu-ray]

[sci-fi movie w/ Shia LaBeouf]

Are You Afraid of the Dark? - The Complete Firs...

From a reader review: "Arguably the best of Nick At Night. This series was written extremely well, and it shows in the longevity, sheer success and growing interest people have in the sets....
In fact, AYAOTD is so good, one could call it a golden stepchild of shows like Twilight Zone..."] 

David Garrett: Live In Berlin

[ I had never heard of this guy, but apparently the rest of the world is crazy about him. From a reader review: "In the US, we are latecomers to his talent. You can surf the net and read the news from across the world and David Garrett makes headlines. I don't know that anyone else could have me put on the "Summer" (Vivaldi) track and turn the volume way up. Just about everyone has heard "Dueling Banjos" (the Deliverance soundtrack), but they have never heard it like this..."]

In Europe and Asia, this guy fills stadiums because his sound is powerful, beautiful, and enchanting."

GOOD EATS 12-Pack Alton Brown DVD's Food Networ...

ALTON BROWN GOOD EATS 18 DVD SET 54 EPISODES!!!

[Food Network star Alton Brown; "

It's cooking meets chemistry meets science class meets recess. Mix in his quirky personality and random jabs at pop culture and you have great TV. Or as Alton says 'Good Eats!"]

Hey Arnold! Season 3 (6 Disc Set)

[Nickelodeon toon from the 90s. Per one reviewer, "Here's the 3rd Season we've been waiting for. It seems this third volume is being released after four and five because it contains near twice as many episodes as seasons four and five."]

Blackzillian Booties

[Um...this is kinda what you'd expect it to be.]

Ladies and Gentlemen... the Rolling Stones

THIS AIN'T GLEE XXX (Bluray DVD)

3 IDIOTS DVD [2 DISC SET] BOOK and STICKER

[From what I can deduce this is an Indian comedy spoofing the Indian education system...looks like it would be funny if I could understand it].

Live From Amsterdam [Blu-ray]

NOVA: Secret of the Wild Child

["This is perhaps one of the most important stories in the field of Child Development. Not only does it illustrate a story of unimaginable child abuse and provide unparalleled insight into the effects of social isoloation on the psychological and mental development of humans, but it also reveals the darker side of science -- a part so driven by notoriety and money that it ends up abusing Genie over and over. "]

The Expert Guide to Oral Sex, Part 1: Cunnilingus

Are You Afraid of The Dark? seasons 1/2/3/4/5/6...

2 Million Minutes: A Documentary Calculating th...

["Two Million Minutes - an intriguing look at how the three superpowers of the 21st Century - China, India and the United States - are preparing their students for the future."]

Walt Disney Collectible Classics Box Set - 10 W...

The Wizard of Oz [Import] [All-region]

Superbook Volume #1

[Animated episodes explain Bible stories to children, e.g. "My Brother's Keeper - Chris, Joy and Gizmo meet Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve. The travelers witness a jealous Cain who kills Abel, and then gets punished."]

Are You Afraid of The Dark? - (Box Set) The Com...

Ginger Snaps - The Trilogy (special Collector's...

[Twilight-esque saga: "...A hunger that began on the frontier in the 19th century, where Ginger and Brigitte Fitzgerald search for sanctuary from the shocking evil at the gate and experience the first bite."]

Restorative Yoga

As Is Magazine Presents: The BMF

[Story of a "Black Mafia"]

Twilight's Last Gleaming

VIPER GTS (DVD MOVIE)

Walt Disney Classic Cartoon Favorites Gift Set:...

Rachel and the Stranger

[A vintage movie based on "antiquated mores": "In the olden days, there were white slaves as well as black. Rachel And The Stranger may be the only movie to explore that topic, though lightly...William Holden (Bridge on the River Kwai) is a widower trying to raise his young son...at a cabin in the wilderness. On the advice of the parson in a nearby town, he marrys a bond slave played by Loretta Young (The Bishop's Wife), buying her out of servitude."]

The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Come Dream With...

This Ain't Dancing with the Stars XXX (Bluray) DVD

Young and Dangerous the Complete DVD Movie Box Set

My First Porn 1 - Digital Playground

This Ain't Star Trek XXX [Blu-ray]

Unico: Unico in the Island of Magic

CHALENE JOHNSON'S DVD WORKOUT: TURBO JAM CARDIO...

Unico: The Fantastic Adventures of Unico

PoleCats I: Beginning Pole Dancing

CLINTON ANDERSON- Downunder Horsemanship- Gaini...

The Crash Pad

Cuba: An African Odyssey

Shriek Show Presents: Psycho Killers Triple Fea...

Miyazaki 13 Pack (Castle in the Sky/Kiki's Deli...

Miyazaki 6 Pack (Castle in the Sky/Kiki's Deliv...

Are You Afraid of The Dark? Season 5

Inuyasha TV Series Collection (1-167 + Movies)

Naruto Movie 5 Shippuden : Bonds

ICE PALACE

James - Getting Away with It... Live

 [Another one I hadn't heard of. This is an English band called "too damn good for the average, American record-buyer" by one amazon reviewer. "Musically and lyrically, they are, without a doubt, one of the finest bands of the 90's (though they emerged in the 80's, they really hit their stride in the early 90's)."

"This concert, in their hometown of Manchester, was taped on the last night of their final tour with lead-singer, Tim Booth. What you will see here is a tremendously talented group of musicians performing highlights from an extremely impressive catalog of songs."]

Internet Selling King Has Marked Down His List-Building Class

Looking to build your mailing list? Who isn't in this Internet-crazed, web-site rife time we live in?

One of the most successful, and also I must say decent and honest business people on the web (I know him personally) has just marked down his list building course to $50 from $150. 

Click Here! to get the course.

You can get it by clicking my affiliate link above, which Jim has offered for a limited time. In it, Jim explains how he's gone from 0 email list followers to over 100,000. I plan to get it and use it myself.

Much success to you!   

 Pic: Jim and I at an eBay Live convention.

Hot-Selling Toys on eBay and How You Can Cash in on Them

Wouldn't it be nice to *make* a bunch of money this year on toys, instead of spending it? (OK so we probably all are going to spend on our kids, nieces, nephews etc..but what if while you were out shopping you could pick up the right things to flip on eBay, amazon and other sites? Toy selling expert Jenni Hunt has been producing an excellent series of reports every year about doing just that. She really does her research and analyzes all the top toys every year, where to source them, and exactly how to list them.

Click Here for More Info!

I highly recommend her reportsand her annual toy guide. As she says, you can't afford *not* to sell toys this year!

Of Flowbees, $2600 Perfume Bottles, and Other Great Things to Sell on eBay: A Collectibles Blog

One of my Yard Salers newsletter readers, Amy, has a great new blog where she posts about cool under-the-radar things to sell on eBay: http://stores.ebay.com/Collectibilities. Among the things she mentions are Flowbees (funky old haircutting devices), American Girl dolls, and vintage perfume bottles.

Her eBay Store is called Collectibilities.

Amy was also the winner of one of my "Flips" contests, where her vintage perfume bottle, picked up for $2, went for a whopping $2651 on eBay!

 

You can read more about that and other flips from the contest here:

http://www.yardsalers.net/backissues/issue1-69sept9-10.asp 

Or buy the compendium of flips at:

http://bigbucksflips.com/

Alcoholic and AA Books Can Reap Big Bucks

If you're selling books on amazon.com and eBay, keep your eye out for those AA and other books geared toward alcoholics and families of alcoholics.

I recently listed an Al-Anon book (for families of alcoholics) and it sold on amazon the next day:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Paths-Recovery-Al-Anons-Traditions-Concepts/dp/0910034311/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1286838006&sr=8-3

Of course, the best known alcoholic-related book is the AA "big book," the AA Bible. A first edition recently sold on eBay for $255, but more recent editions sell for decent money too.

Here's a second edition that sold for $38.85. 

 

You can find this book everywhere: thrift stores, yard sales, charity shops, estate sales. 

It's little wonder these books sell so well when alcoholism touches so many of our lives. I would bet everyone in the US knows at least one person in their extended family who is an alcoholic.

So keep your eye out for these books wherever you go. They're usually an easy turnaround.

--

Interested in other books that sell for big bucks? Download my ebook, Over 500 Books that Sell for $50-$5000 on eBay: http://www.yardsalers.net/500Books.asp

Stamps.com Offers Free "Holiday Shipping Best Practices" Webinar Sept. 22 2010

FYI all..I just got word that Stamps.com is offering a Free "Holiday Shipping Best Practices" Webinar. Here are the details:

Educational Webinar on September 22 Explores High-Volume Shipping Practices That Boost Profitability

LOS ANGELES, CA – September 16, 2010 – Stamps.com® (NASDAQ: STMP), the leading provider of USPS® postage online and shipping software to approximately 400,000 customers, is pleased to announce that it is offering a free, educational webinar for small businesses and e-commerce retailers to help them maximize the efficiency of their shipping processes in preparation for the busy holiday season.

What: Free webinar to discuss USPS shipping best practices for the busy holiday season

When: Wednesday, September 22, 2010, at 11:00 am PT / 2:00 pm ET

Where: Register at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/189058627

Topics Covered: With the busiest shipping and mailing time of the year just around the corner, small businesses and e-commerce merchants can boost their profitability by implementing the latest time-saving shipping tools and techniques. In this 60-minute webinar, Stamps.com shipping experts will discuss how to:

• Add a sense of urgency to increase early sales.
• Provide a hassle-free shopping experience.
• Package merchandise to minimize damage and returns.
• Test pricing and free shipping offers.
• Streamline shipping with batch processing

About Stamps.com

Stamps.com (NASDAQ: STMP) is a leading provider of Internet-based postage services. Stamps.com's service enables small businesses, high-volume shippers, enterprise shippers, and consumers to print U.S. Postal Service-approved postage with just a PC, printer and Internet connection, right from their home or office. The Company targets its services to small businesses and home offices, and currently has PC Postage partnerships with Avery Dennison, Microsoft, HP, Office Depot, USPS and others.

 

Stamps.com, the Stamps.com logo and PhotoStamps are trademarks or registered trademarks ofStamps.com Inc. All other brands and names are property of their respective owners.

 

Nightmare Postal Stories of eBay Sellers

 

I heard from a reader of my Yard Salers newsletter (yardsalers.net) about her worst postal experience as an eBay seller, which led to her only negative feedback. Read on:

Hi Julia!

I have an interesting story. The only negative feedback I have ever received on Ebay came from a guy in Pennslyvania mad about not receiving his Olsen Stelzer boots that were "lost" by USPS in April of 2008. (and he was really MEAN about it!)

Of course they were not insured, so Paypal took money from my account and refunded the guy. It cost me about $50 with the $12.95 shipping, not to mention the $5 I paid for the boots. This was a reminder to me to just automatically insure anything that goes for more than $30 on Ebay.

Well..... in June of 2010, my mailman delivered two Priority Mail boxes to my door. My first thought was, "Great, someone gave me an invalid address or is returning something without telling me first." The postman said, "No these are from us."

I was confused as I recognized my weight and note scribbling on the side of one of the boxes. Come to find the boxes contained those boots from April 26, 2008 AND a pair of shoes from Feb. 2 of 2008 that I did not know never reached the buyer! (I am in the process of remailing the shoes to the lady who never got them, hoping she is still at that address. She paid less that $12 including shipping for those).

Enclosed was a letter stating the mail was recently recovered from an abandoned storage unit in my hometown of Sioux Falls, used by a suspect in a mail theft case who had already been sentenced to one year in prison! Turns out he had stolen over 25,000 parcels and letters over 1.5 years. He was supposed to be driving the mail from the Annex where I frequently drop my packages if I miss the mailman, to the airport just 2 miles away. How's that for a surprise!

I finally relisted the boots and they sold for $39.99 just the other day with several other watchers but no more bids. I am assuming the suspect never got around to opening my packages otherwise they would have never known how to get them back to me!

Barbara

 

I asked Barbara if she could track them, and she said "Yes, I did have a tracking number but all it showed was the item was scanned here in Sioux Falls. I thought about sending the newspaper story online link about the theft to that guy and went thru all my old feedbacks to find the guy's user id but then thought he was so mean he wouldn't care anyhow. Most people are at least cordial when there is a problem. I guess tho, in retropect, USPS has only lost these two pkgs, maybe one more that was insured, and recently this year one flat rate envelope to Europe (which I did not insure and will make sure to do from now on).

There is a number I have to call (still haven't gotten around to that) where I think the PO will credit me the shipping expenses I paid, after all they got their money for it, I should be able to send the other item again at no cost."

I agree, USPS in general is very reliable, but when something goes wrong it is painful. I once had a buyer insist she did not receive the package, but my tracking info said it was delivered.

Another strange occurrence was what I called "The Strange Case of the Boomerang Shoes." A pair of Ferragamo shoes came back to me, returned, in the mail, weeks after I mailed them. I never heard from the buyer and couldn't track them down.