September 14, 2010

The eBay Life "Score of the Day" is a North Face Denali fleece purchased for $15 and sold for...

eBay is definitely a numbers game.  The more you list, the more you sell.  I don't know if it has to do with the eBay algorithm or what, but every time I start listing, listing, listing, I start selling, selling, selling.  I know you get that initial boost, but there's something else going on....

The same holds true for yard sales.  The more yard sales you visit, the more likely you will hit the jackpot.  The most random yard sales on the most random days can sometimes bring you the biggest bucks.  It's just like gambling - except you really can make money.

It was a lazy Sunday morning.  I wasn't planning to go to yard sales.  In fact, I'd taken yet another oath not to yard sale on Fridays or Sundays.  (Saturdays is hands down the best yard sale day, and I am trying to buy less and sell more.)

But I just couldn't help myself.  I have to get coffee every day of the week, and if I see a yard sale sign on the way to Starbucks, the car just stops.  Once my foot's out the door, I'm like Lindsey Lohan in a liquor store.  Seriously.  I just can't help but buy something.

So last Sunday we were out getting coffee, and sure enough, the car stopped.

"Hey, there's that girl sale I was telling you about last weekend," said Niko.  Two girly girls were having a yard sale for the second time in two weeks.  According to Niko, things had been pretty expensive the week before, but this time, prices were low.  ( I love yard sale newbies.  They're so cute.)

Here's what we bought:  

The first thing we purchased was an awesome North Face fleece for $15.  This fleece was the Denali fleece that currently sells for $150 on the North Face website.  It looked like it had been worn once.  High-end outdoor gear = big bucks on eBay.




                            (Not the greatest picture, I know.)


We also picked up a "Chico Girls Rock" shirt for 50 cents (Shirts with the names of university towns on them are very popular.) 




Finally, we found two pairs of Ben Davis work pants in a very large size (not worth posting a picture of -- very utilitarian).  I bought them because name brand work pants in large sizes sell quickly.  

In addition, I purchased a wide variety of high-end lotions and home decor items for a few dollars. 

As soon as I got home, I researched the fleece and listed everything (my new rule).  This took me a total of 15 minutes. 


OK.  So let's cut to the chase.  Within three days I sold all three items:


1. Used North Face Fleece: Bought for $15 and sold for ..........

                           $60 


2. Ben Davis Pants ( I still have one pair left):  Bought for 50 cents each and sold for  ..... 

                           $9.99
                                             
3. Chico Girls Rock shirt:  Bought for 50 cents and sold for ....


                                          $9.99


Total profit for a Sunday drive that was not supposed to happen: 


                                              $66

                                             
                                           Cha Ching!  



For the best eBay selling tips around, follow my blog. (See the "follow" button to the right of this post.) Each week I will give you eBay selling ideas that you won't find anywhere else! If you need footwear, don't forget to check out my store, Blue Frog Shoes, where I sell name brand shoes and shoes in hard-to-find sizes.

6 comments:

  1. Nice score! You know what you are doing too; you knew it was OK to spend $15 on the North Face because it was quality and it was expensive. That is a sure sign of a savvy seller.

    Your blog is always an enjoyable read!

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  2. Wow great day! I have just started ebay selling. I love your blog and it has helped me look a little harder. Thanks

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