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eCommerce Matchmakers: Taking One Person’s Junk and Finding it a New Home

We all have junk laying around. It piles up in closets, attics and sheds. Once every year or so, most people do purges to the dump or a donation center. Several online articles claim that only about 20% of those donations get sold, the rest end up in landfills and according to the EPA, Americans throw away 4.5 pounds of trash per person per day!

Not all of your “Junk” is worth saving from the landfill, but there is a group of savvy shoppers showing up at your yard sales and local thrift stores. These folks are looking to save your unwanted items and find them new homes before they become a casualty. I’m not sure all resellers see themselves in this way, but I do. I am providing a way to reduce waste and reuse perfectly fine, and sometimes better than new, items.

If you want to save some of your items from the landfill, there are many ways to do it. Technology is wonderful and there are new apps coming out all the time to help you sell or give away your unwanted junk. Facebook Marketplace is growing quickly and now offers payment processing and shipping options. Phone apps are readily available as well including Poshmark, Letgo, Offer Up, Traidsy, Thread Up, Declutter and Chairish. eBay is fantastic because your item gets exposure to 128 million users worldwide. There is also Etsy for up cycled and vintage. Last, but not least, for books and more, Amazon Marketplace offers a safe platform to sell from home or store your merchandise in their warehouses.

Not everyone has the time to sell their unwanted junk, but you can save some of it by finding a local eCommerce matchmaker who will find it a new home.

Contact me if you would like to be added to a list of Consignment eCommerce Matchmakers. I will link your social media profile below.

Too see what I have available for re homing, visit our product pages or find us on eBay at https://www.ebay.com/usr/kc325e or https://www.ebay.com/usr/daintydiety

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Skylanders! We have them!

The Skylanders games and figures are probably one of the most ingenious marketing decisions ever! There are now 5 games with accompanying game figures. Collectors range in age, and eBay is fabulous place to buy and sell. For all you sellers looking to cash in on all those figures you will see this summer at flea markets and yard sales, Skylanders Character List  is one of the easiest sites to identify your characters. As usual, always search “solds” one eBay for current Values.

If you are a collector, check out the figures and other merchandise I have currently have available!

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Littlest Pet Shop Collecting: Online Sources For Identification

Identifying LPS Figures!

Most LPS are fairly easy to identify with the right tools.

One tool, is ebay! Use the Cat in the photo as an example. Go to ebay and search for “LPS cat green diamond eyes glitter”. The search results tells me this is #626. Typically, you want to put in the type of pet, (Cat, Dog, Mouse ect.) the body color, eye color, and any identifying shapes. Once you have a number, you can verify it at this Wikia.

Fan Blog sites are another useful tool for some of the less common pets like bees, fairies and more. Nicole’s LPS Blog is one such site. This particular site has a wealth of information sellers can use to market their pets and enhance descriptions. If you are a collector, you will love browsing her pages.

Other Fan sites with loads of information are Pet Shop Shoop and Collectimania.

Vintage LPS Collector is a community of LPS Fans and Collectors of the EARLY VINTAGE pets. Complete with forums and a Facebook page. You can also buy/sell/trade there.  Check them out!

If you have a favorite LPS site to add, please leave it in the comments!

Littlest Pets Available for sale from KC’s Attic

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How Thomas the Tank Engine Built my Stay at Home Business

Both of my sons were addicted to Thomas the Tank Engine. If anyone walked into my house they were guaranteed to witness wooden track layouts all through the living room. Thomas on the VCR with the first and then DVD with the Second. My younger son went nowhere without a train in each hand. Before them, it was their uncles who were just as addicted as they were who handed many movies and die-cast vehicles down. The Thomas phenomenon has lasted decades, and will last for decades more. Why? Because some kids AND adults just LOVE trains!

I hear people ask, “What is the bread and butter of your ebay business?” For me? Toys! Including a non-stop inventory of wooden, Trackmaster/Tomy, and Die-cast toy trains. If I can get my hands on a lot of Thomas and Friends or other Brio Compatible sets, I can list with confidence that they will and DO sell.

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Currently, my ebay store has 48 train related toys and books. I would have more, but they have been flying off the shelves!

For those considering a business? Work with what you know! My many years mothering Thomas fans has helped me know what to buy and sell.

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Mom’s tips for Selling on Ebay

We sold our first item back in 2002, and have been hooked ever since. “We” as in our household. It started out selling things we did not need anymore, and amazingly enough, other people bought them as fast as we could list them. Of course those were the years we “toyed” with selling. As time went on, buying and reselling became a weekly hobby. Our “dates” out without the kids are “on the hunt” for ebay treasures, and that time together is priceless. For the past 2 years I have taken a serious approach to selling and am able to share a few tips for those just getting hooked on ebay selling!

FIRST

Start selling items you are familiar with or have laying around the house and don’t make it about the money, but about the experience. There will be a learning curve, so use these items as your trial run. Try some different styles, like Buy It Now, Auctions, and Auctions with Buy it now. You will learn how to post an ad, go through the payment process, and learn about different shipping options that work best for you.

SECOND

Never start an item lower than you will be happy with and ALWAYS include shipping into your price or add a calculated shipping. So many times I see new sellers put an item for 99 cents with free shipping and end up losing money. Also, it is not good customer service to pull out of the deal because an auction ended below your expectations. You will get negative feedback and no one will buy from you unless they are desperate.

THIRD

Join some online communities such as Facebook groups. These groups will help you with tips, support, and items to BOLO “Be on the lookout” for.

FOURTH

Learn to give great customer service! Always answer questions with a smile and never patronize or fall trap to someone’s negativity. Make your customer want to come back. This is especially important if you focus on a niche market like children’s clothes or books.

And YES those cute salt and pepper shakers are for sale in my store!