The eBay Life "Score of the Day" is a brand new Kohler faucet purchased for $1 and sold for....

I love Dancing With the Stars.  It's so bad it's good.  
I know, I know.  I keep saying that, but it's true.  It just keeps getting more and more fabulous.  I think I'm addicted.  

For those of you who haven't "friended" me on Facebook, let me give you a recap of this week's most amazing performance -- Margaret Cho danced to a karaoke version of Copacabana while wearing a '20s-inspired rainbow tassel dress and Big Bird hat.  Barry Manilow, eat your heart out.


Here's a photo:

Holy moly.  I realize she was trying to make a statement, but did she choose that outfit herself?


Which brings me to today's topic.  When selling on eBay, gaudy is good.  You may not be caught dead in a pair of pink lederhosen, but they're probably hot, hot, hot on eBay. 

So what else qualifies as "gaudy"? 


 * Christmas-themed sweaters with Santas hanging from the 
    shoulders?  Check!  

* Sparkly brooches in the shape of peacocks?  Check!

* Oversized Las Vegas Snow Globe / Music Boxes ?  Check!

Even cheap shoes will sell as long as they are crazy and unique.  (Bright green pumps, checkered platform sandals, sequined slippers -- get the picture?)  They won't sell for a million bucks, but if you buy them for next to nothing and they're in excellent condition, you can definitely make a profit.  Just take an excellent photograph and include the most important keywords in the title. People love funky -- even if it's from Payless.

This weekend I went to a yard sale and found an Elvis beach towel!  (Actually, I think it's supposed to be a tapestry, but it's as big as a beach towel.)  It was thin and soft and in perfect condition.  According to the seller, it's perfect for framing.  Hmmm.  Where should I hang it?  I paid a buck and listed it for $9.99.  

 If you're not, however, into selling the funky stuff, then focus on the fancy.  (How do you like that for a segue?  I had to get to my "Score of the Day" somehow.)  Do you remember the yard sale I attended where I found the incredible gold foil art pieces?  The woman who hosted it had just finished remodeling her house.  While browsing around, I looked down and saw a brand new Kohler faucet still in the box.  The box had been opened, but the faucet was unused.  Kohler products are insanely expensive - insanely.  A faucet can cost $1,000.  This one wasn't the $1,000 type (it cost around $150 or so), but it was still very nice.  I knew I had hit the jackpot.  She was asking..... $1.  I paid her and ran.


So I finally got it listed a few weeks ago.  I looked up the exact model and set the price relatively low since I didn't actually know whether all the pieces were there and didn't feel like dealing with a return.  (Had the box been unopened and brand, brand new, I could have gotten quite a bit more.)  Eventually I took a best offer of...


                                            $43!  Yay!

                                       Definitely a score!

Well, I've got to get back to work.  The post office closes in a few hours.  Have fun this week....and look for the gaudy!

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.