How to Sell Vintage Cookbooks

While they are not technically considered to be antique, vintage cookbooks are still valuable, and are sometimes worth large amounts of money. The key is to find the right market. Determining where to sell an antique cookbook will require some effort, but it’s doable and certainly worth the time investment.

Start by researching the cookbook you’re selling. Different books have different values. Obscure cookbooks will obviously not be worth as much money as those by well known authors (such as Julia Child). The price is also affected by the condition of the book, as well as by the age.

Leaf through the cookbook and look for unique features. Special editions and signed copies are worth more than standard editions. If the book is in pristine condition it will also have a greater value.

Determine which online selling site is the best fit for your cookbook. Vintage cookbooks can be listed on Amazon, Abe Books, Etsy, Amazon, and of course eBay. There are many other used book sites as well. One of the best sites to sell vintage cookbooks on is eBay because they have so much traffic – plus many people think of eBay first when they’re looking for vintage and used items. Here are a few listings for vintage cookbooks that closed recently. Note the high prices:

While they are not technically considered to be antique, vintage cookbooks are still valuable, and are sometimes worth large amounts of money. The key is to find the right market. Determining where to sell an antique cookbook will require some effort, but it’s doable and certainly worth the time investment.

Start by researching the cookbook you’re selling. Different books have different values. Obscure cookbooks will obviously not be worth as much money as those by well known authors (such as Julia Child). The price is also affected by the condition of the book, as well as by the age.

Leaf through the cookbook and look for unique features. Special editions and signed copies are worth more than standard editions. If the book is in pristine condition it will also have a greater value.

Determine which online selling site is the best fit for your cookbook. Vintage cookbooks can be listed on Amazon, Abe Books, Etsy, Amazon, and of course eBay. There are many other used book sites as well. One of the best sites to sell vintage cookbooks on is eBay because they have so much traffic – plus many people think of eBay first when they’re looking for vintage and used items. Here are a few listings for vintage cookbooks that closed recently. Note the high prices:

Another option is to try to sell your vintage cookbooks to an antique store. They are always looking for more inventory, so this can be a great option. While you won’t be able to sell the book for as much as you could on your own, it is an easier option. For more ideas on what to sell on eBay, visit Online Selling Coach.

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Barbie Makes a Case for International Shipping

Photos courtesy of eBay.com

A few weeks ago, my thrift store consignment client presented me with about 50 collectible Barbie dolls to sell on eBay. The Barbies were obviously donated by a collector because they were all still on the original boxes, wrapped in another layer of cellophane, and could be sold as NRFB (never removed from box). The dates on the dolls ranged from 1980 until 1995. This was a huge lot of vintage Barbie dolls.

I have never been into the collectible Barbie scene and didn’t realize how many different Barbies exist. Let’s face it, these types of collectibles are for adults, not children. I was shocked to see that some of these Barbies retailed for up to $200. One in particular, the Bob Mackie Goddess of the Sun Barbie, had the original price tag of $198 on the box.

I got busy listing, listing, listing. (After 2 full days sitting at my desk listing, I was ready for a visit from Chiropractic Barbie!) As always, I offered international shipping on every Barbie. I am a diehard believer that international shipping will increase your sales exponentially and someone, somewhere in the world is willing to pay top dollar for an item if you will just take the time to ship it to them. In my opinion, the rewards of international shipping far outweigh the risks.

When the Barbies started selling, I was pleasantly surprised to see how many of them went to international buyers. I found this very interesting. I wasn’t necessarily the lowest price seller for these dolls, but I did offer international shipping which many other sellers did not. Global shipping gave me the competitive edge. Here is a short list of the Barbies I sold and where they went:

Circus Star Barbie – Canada

Disney 101 Dalmatians Cruella DeVil Barbie – Germany

Disney Alice in Wonderland Doll - France

Disney Pocahontas Braided Beauty – Norway

Disney Pocahontas John Smith Doll –Spain

Elizabethan Queen Barbie – Canada

Happy Holidays 1993 Barbie – Canada

Happy Holidays Barbie 1990 – Canada

Happy Holidays Barbie 1996 – United Kingdom

Island Fun Barbie – Germany

Island Fun Barbie – Sweden

Peppermint Princess Barbie – Canada

Skating Star Barbie – Canada

Spring Bouquet Enchanted Seasons Barbie - Canada

Super Hair Barbie – 2 sold to 2 different buyers in France

Victorian Lady Barbie – Australia

If you are not offering international shipping, now is the time. We live in a global economy and people just don’t see distance as a barrier any more. Now with eBay offering First Class International shipping labels via your selling manager, there is no reason not to offer international shipping on items weighing under 4 lbs.

Resources:

How to Print First Class International Shipping from eBay

10 Reasons Why all eBay Sellers Should Offer International Shipping

Ultimate eBay Shipping Guide – Free Download

Talk to Other eBay Sellers About International Shipping on my Facebook Group

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eBay Fee Changes Coming - But Don't Panic!

eBay has posted its Spring 2011 Seller Update. One of the controversial changes includes the way final value fees are calculated. According to the announcement:

"Starting July 6, to encourage and reward low-cost shipping, Final Value Fee rates for Fixed Price listings will be reduced and applied to the total amount of the sale —including shipping. This change applies to both eBay Standard fees and eBay Store subscription packages."

This announcement has some sellers in an uproar. But that is not unusual, every time eBay changes the fee schedule (or anything else for that matter), you will hear a ruckus on the eBay Community Boards and in your eBay groups. Let's all take a deep breath and look at this rationally and consider all of the changes as a whole.

I think the purpose behind this change is that eBay is trying to get a handle on those sellers who sell their item for .99 with $20 shipping. This is called circumventing fees and is an eBay policy violation. Sellers do it anyway. I actually find this amusing, as if these sellers think they are outsmarting the eBay system. If they are caught, they can be suspended. After years of trying to police this strategy, eBay is trying to collect fees from these unscrupulous sellers. Charging fees on the total amount of the sale, including shipping, may be the only way to do it.

Before you panic:

EXAMINE YOUR NUMBERS!

eBay has provided calculators here where you can plug in numbers and see how the fee changes will affect you. Sellers will receive 50 free auction listings a month which is a significant upfront savings. Sellers can add Buy it Now to 50 listings for free. Final value fees in some categories will be less.

Click here to read the entire update, view the new fee schedule, and run your numbers on the calculators. eBay has also set up a special discussion board for sellers to ask questions and chat with eBay staff. Click here to visit the Spring 2011 Update Special Discussion Board.

Some sellers have speculated that eBay is making these changes to "get rid of the small seller." I don't see this at all. I see eBay operating under the "long tail theory" which states that a larger share of the population rests within the "long tail" of probability distribution. A few may dominate, but the sum of all the smaller sellers is greater than the sum of the few that dominate. Small sellers are a huge part of eBay's seller base. Why would they want to get rid of them?

Keep in mind that eBay, like life, is constantly changing. eBay provides the world's largest online marketplace where we can sell our items and enjoy the freedom of running our own businesses and working from home. Being able to adapt to these types of changes is what makes sellers successful. Look at the facts, ignore the hype, and make your own decisions.

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How to Use Facebook Ads to Grow Your eBay Business

Facebook is the most visited site online - and almost everyone has heard of it. Because of the huge amount of people that Facebook reaches, it can be a great place to advertise. However, the advertising system that Facebook uses is picky and has both pros and cons (like any system).

One thing that’s very important to keep in mind with Facebook ads is that they won’t create a huge amount of sales, which is typically the point of advertising. But, Facebook ads do allow you to access specific markets easily. Facebook’s system for creating ads lets you choose only to show your ad to people with certain interests. Plus, you can choose specific age groups, employment status, place of residence, and even whether they’re married or not. This is a big plus because it helps keep you from wasting money and time on people who won’t be interested in your product.

It’s important to highlight the most important information on the display of your Facebook ad - not many people actually click on Facebook ads. But they can still be valuable tools because they allow you to connect with your target demographic and create a brand for yourself. The more often people see your product, the more likely they are to make a purchase. Facebook ads can be part of the process that gets people to that point.

Testing a variety of ads on Facebook can be a great way to get feedback on what types of ads are the best for your business. Facebook has made it very easy to track the success of your ads. And because the ads are very reasonably priced, you won’t be out a lot of money.

Setting up an affiliate link is also a good way to track the success of your Facebook ads. This will allow you to see what purchases occurred as a result of your ads.

If you want to test the waters a little, Entrepreneur Magazine has a special going on. Use the coupon code TFWJ-6TRW-VCHX-P6VX and you’ll receive $50 in free Facebook ads.

Helpful Facebook Advertising Resources:

• Facebook Ads
• Suggested Best Practices For Advertising On Facebook
• Common (Facebook) Ad Mistakes
• Ad Format FAQ
• Facebook Advertising Guidelines

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Sublingual HCG Drops - Niche Product to Sell on eBay

You may have seen the HCG Diet and sublingual HCG drops discussed on the Dr. Oz show on February 21, 2011. (Click here for video segments from the show.) It has long been known that HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin hormone) promotes safe, rapid weight loss without hunger. Dr. Simeons created this weight loss protocol and wrote his famous manuscript, Pounds and Inches, back in the 1950’s, after 16 years of research and testing to perfect the protocol. In the past, HCG has been available only by prescription and in the form of injections.

In recent years, HCG has become available in sublingual drops. This easy to administer form has allowed thousands of people to safely lose weight without the hassle of daily injections. Thousands of people have lost weight successfully with this diet (large amounts of weight – even over 100 pounds!) and kept it off.

The HCG Diet niche on eBay is huge and becoming more popular every day. You can find very active support groups for HCG dieters on Facebook, Yahoo Groups, and HCG website forums – and a large percentage of these motivated dieters are seeking products that can be used on this protocol. HCG diet products have made their way to eBay. Sublingual HCG drops, diet kits, recipe eBooks, detox products, and specialty low sugar and low carb food products are all very good sellers.

Click here for more information on the HCG protocol, kits, and related products. Whether you agree with the HCG protocol or not, you cannot deny that this is a popular niche and consumers are buying these products. Check eBay for completed listings for sublingual HCG drops and related products.

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