With the next eBay boycott on the horizon, I dug this out to remember what eBay was like in the early days. Almost brings a tear to one's eye.
When is someone going to redo these lyrics to fit the new version of eBay?
The eBay Song Lyrics
A used ... pink bathrobe,
a rare ... mint snowglobe
A Smurf ... TV tray,
I bought on eBay
My house ... is filled with this crap
Shows up in bubble wrap Most every day
What I bought on eBay
Tell me why (I need another pet rock)
Tell me why (I got that Alf alarm clock)
Tell me why (I bid on Shatner's old toupee)
They had it on eBay
I'll buy ... your knick-knack
Just check ... my feedback
"A++!" they all say
They love me on eBay
Gonna buy (a slightly-damaged golf bag)
Gonna buy (some Beanie Babies, new with tag)
(From some guy) I've never met in Norway
Found him on eBay
I am the type who is liable to snipe you With two seconds left to go, whoa
Got Paypal or Visa,
what ever'll please
As long as I've got the dough
I'll buy ... your tchotchkes
Sell me ... your watch, please
I'll buy (I'll buy, I'll buy, I'll buy ...)
I'm highest bidder now
(Junk keeps arriving in the mail)
(From that worldwide garage sale)
(Dukes Of Hazzard ashtray)
(Hey! A Dukes Of Hazzard ashtray)
Oh yeah ... (I bought it on eBay)
Wanna buy (a PacMan Fever lunchbox)
Wanna buy (a case off vintage tube socks)
Wanna buy (a Kleenex used by Dr. Dre, Dr. Dre)
(Found it on eBay)
Wanna buy (that Farrah Fawcett poster)
(Pez dispensers and a toaster)
(Don't know why ... the kind of stuff you'd throw away)
(I'll buy on eBay)
In my never-ending effort to find interesting niches, I've found a great one thanks to one of my eBay students - Mason jars. Well, not just Mason jars, but fruit jars. The one at left recently sold on eBay for $1025. On average though, it's the amber jars that bring the highest return. Some brands bring more than others. Names like Lightning, Globe, Canton, and Eagle add to the value.
Color Matters with Fruit Jars
You'll notice in the examples below that color matters. If you list fruit jars on eBay, make sure you list the name, and the color. Common special colors include:
Aqua
Amber
Citron
Green
Don't invent your own colors if you're selling fruit jars. Learn which terms the collectors use and stick with those terms. You want the collectors to find your jar, and they search for certain terms.
Keep your eyes peeled...
Watch your local garage and estate sales for these jars. They are out there. I'm kind of kicking myself because I passed up a case of aqua jars recently. They weren't the really old ones, but I should have known better.
The more primitive the jar, the better. Look for the "wavy" glass and bubbles in the glass. That's known as "whittling" and you'll see the high priced items on eBay often are "whittled". Midget is a popular term for real midget jars. And if it has a matching glass lid, just buy it. Chances are, it will sell on eBay.
The average price for "amber fruit jar" according to Terapeak, is $70.25 over the past 30 days. The best selling time is Sunday between 6-7PM Pacific time (surprise). The avg. sell-through rate is about 50%. Take a look at the amber fruit jars on eBay right now. This is interesting stuff:
eBay affiliate sites were given an 30-day extension on the deadline to update their links to the new eBay Partner Network. eBay recently announce they were taking their affiliate program in-house. Commission Junction has managed eBay's affiliate program for several years.
This is welcome news to those who've been worried about being early adopters. It appears the bugs are getting worked out though and the new system is working. Here's what eBay had to say:
We’re off to a great start and we are happy to report that in the three weeks since launch, more than two thirds of our affiliates’ traffic has already moved over to the new system.
Several of you have asked for a bit more time in migrating your links. Because we know there are some special circumstances that may require this, we have arranged to extend the migration deadline until May 31st. This will apply to Half.com and all eBay countries migrating EXCEPT Belgium, Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Singapore, which will still expire on April 30th).
If you haven't looked into eBay's (generous) affiliate program, one of the best places to learn about it, and actually make some extra money is Build a Niche Store. I've had a couple for about a year and a half and regularly make a little extra money with each site. It's really a great little program, buy it once and use it on as many niche sites as you'd like. Go check out Build a Niche Store.
I'm speaking on niche selling at eBay Live! this year, so I have been working hard at finding profitable niche markets. I've tried to find a good balance between:
high average price
intense interest from consumers
high sell-through rate
product availability
Red Wing Crocks
One product I found has great potential. Red Wing Crocks. I'd never heard of them until I started doing the research but it turns out Red Wing is a pottery company in Minnesota that makes some pretty desireable stuff.
Redwing Stoneware Company in Redwing, Minnesota started in 1877. In 1894 they merged with two other pottery companies and were called the Union Stoneware Company. One of the three later went out of business and the remaining two formed the Red Wing Union Stoneware Company. They settled on the name Red Wing Potteries, Inc. in 1936.
The vintage Red Wing crocks have several different markings on them that changed with the history of Red Wing. The vast majority of the Red Wing crocks have “Red Wing” written on them as an identifying mark. Other Red Wing crocks marks are:
Union Stoneware Co.
Minnesota Stoneware Co.
RWSW Co.
The 30 day stats for "red wing crock" using Terapeak:
Average Price: $123.48
# of Listings: 360
Sell-through: 77.50%
The one mark that is truly the mark of a vintage Red Wing crock is the stamped “wings”. Keep your eyes peeled for those.
Here are some examples of Red Wing Crocks on eBay right now:
I've been reading eBay and Amazon discussion boards and articles today. It's the same negative talk, complaining, struggling to make ends meet - all as usual.
Then I thought of last night's American Idol. Jason Castro sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". He sang the version made popular by the late Hawaiian singer, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (known as "IZ" by his fans. I found Israel's version on YouTube and it just made me feel so relaxed to listen to it and watch it. I thought I'd share it with you - take a few minutes and just enjoy it.
From my inbox this morning: How to use Your IRS Rebate check
As you may have heard, the Bush Administration said each of us would get a rebate check to stimulate the economy.
If we spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money, will go to China. If we spend it on gasoline it will go to the Arabs, if we purchase a computer it will go to India, if we purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala, if we purchase a good car it will go to Japan, if we purchase useless junk it will go to Taiwan and none of it will help the American economy.
We need to keep that money here in America. The only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it at yard sales, since these are the only businesses still in the US.
Gary Hendrickson at The Auction Rebel is running the "Garage Sale Challenge" again this year. If you haven't read Gary's blog you are missing a real treat. Gary is an inspiration to people who frequent garage sales and thrift stores. He got me going and now I can't stop. I've also made some very good money by following his advice.
He sells on Amazon and eBay which I believe is a very smart way to do business. His blog is not a ranting negative site about eBay, but positive and practical.
Last year, he did the "$10,000 Garage Sale Challenge" where he took a small amount of money and tried to turn it into $10,000 profit by the end of a set time period. He showed all his expenses and accounting during the challenge. His stated goal was to show that anyone can start an eBay business with little money, and some hard work, in a short period of time. He sure proved it to me.
This year, readers are invited to participate. There are rules to this challenge which you can find on his site. But what a great summer project.
I just hope no one in my area reads about it...I have enough competition at garage sales already.
Gary Hendrickson at 
