Coach Purse - Is it Fake?

Counterfeit handbags are known by many names – knock offs, replicas, imitations, and flat out fakes. No matter what you call them, they’re becoming more and more prevalent. They can be found on the street, on eBay, and even in small shops. Here are a few tips to help you spot the fakes because you never want to sell a fake, counterfeit, or replica Coach purse on eBay.

You have to first decide if you’re willing to buy a fake handbag. While it may not seem like it’s that big of a deal, understand what counterfeit items are associated with – drugs, gangs, prostitution, and various other crimes. Plus the products are often made by underage children in awful conditions. If you buy fake items, you’re supporting these conditions and these industries.

Although eBay does not allow sellers to offer knock off handbags, they are there because there is no way for eBay to check every new listing. However, sellers who are caught selling imitation Coach bags do have their listings removed from eBay and may even be banned from selling on eBay.

To spot a fake, begin by inspecting the fabric’s pattern. If the item is fake, the “Cs” will be off center, tilted a little bit, have jagged edges, etc. – basically they will just look “off.” Legitimate bags will have the pattern centered on the front and back. The seams will also be well done with no gaps, puckers, or breaks.

Another way to spot a fake is to check the quality of the workmanship and materials used. Legitimate bags will have straight stitches that are a consistent length with no overstitching. Coach bags are very well made, so a bag without these characteristics will be a knock off. Also check the brand of zipper used – all Coach bags have YKK zippers.

Pay attention to where the bag was manufactured. While Coach does make some of their bags in China, they do not make any bags in Thailand or Korea.

Look at pictures closely. Be sure that you’re seeing pictures of the actual bag you’re buying. If you’re not sure about anything, ask for more pictures – legitimate sellers will be happy to show you more.

You can also ask the seller to show you proof of authenticity. They should be able to show you a copy of their receipt or similar paperwork. If the receipt does not say the bag is authentic, it’s a knock off. It’s also a good idea to check out the seller – look at their feedback and their selling history. You can also get in touch with other buyers to find out if they were satisfied with their purchase.

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Make Money Selling Used PC and Video Games on eBay

At home gaming has become very widespread – Wii, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo, and GameCube are all extremely popular. The majority of people who play video games buy new games frequently because they get tired of the ones they have. By selling used games on eBay yourself, you can make more money than you would if you sold them to a game store (like GameStop).

Start by always saving the box for your games. Games bring higher prices when sold in original boxes. It is also important to include instructions and any other papers that were included with the game. Buyers like to know they’re getting a complete product.

Next research how much your game is selling for on eBay. Also consider selling similar games in a lot – such as selling 6 games together that are for a GameCube. Games that are extremely popular (such as Halo) often sell better by themselves. Research completed listings on eBay to determine the best selling method for your particular game.

It’s also very important to sell only working games on eBay. If you buy used games (such as from a yard sale or thrift store), be sure to test them before listing them. A buyer who receives a broken game is likely to leave negative feedback – plus it’s just common courtesy to sell a working product. Buyers will appreciate your honesty.

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Selling Starbucks Items on eBay

Starbucks is extremely well known all over the world. Some Starbucks themed items sell very well on eBay. Here are a few tips to help you understand what items to sell.

One Starbucks item that does well is their flavored syrup. Many of the syrups are only sold at certain times of the year. If you buy the syrup while it’s available, you can do very well in the off season. A lot of people don’t think about stocking up on their favorite flavor, so they’re willing to pay more than retail price to get it when they run out.

Older or hard to find Starbucks coffee mugs are big sellers as well. Many people collect them, and they can sometimes be found at a garage sales or in a thrift store. Architect City, Bella Vista, and Tel-Aviv mugs all have selling prices of more than $150. For more examples of popular mugs, check eBay’s completed listings.

Starbucks plush Bearista Bears (especially the limited or special editions) are also popular. They can also be found at a thrift store or garage sale. Bearista Bears created with a pro sports team theme can often be sold for more than $40 each. Grouping the bears into a lot is a good selling strategy.

Gift cards from Starbucks also sell well. They normally sell for 90% of their value. You can increase your profits even more if you get the gift cards free. Click here to find out how to get free Starbucks gift cards.

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Squeezo Food Strainers

Today's post is contributed by Amy Kagey. You can visit Amy's blog at Collectibles Online Sales.

Squeezos or food strainers or juicers are interesting items that can bought cheaply at garage sales and have a high resale value. These all-metal or half metal/half plastic kitchen tools are used by canners and home cooks to strain, juice and puree fruits and vegetables. They are very useful for making jellies, jams, baby food, tomato sauce and apple sauce.

Vintage Squeezos sell especially well on Ebay since not all older parts are interchangeable with newer models. I have found that the all-metal older models are more desirable than the newer models with plastic parts, though there is definitely a market out there for both since newer models can cost as much as $200.00.

Even just single parts of Squeezos are valuable on Ebay to the home cook who is missing a part of her Squeezo which isn't made anymore. You will see people on Ebay selling only the feeder, the plunger or the different screens in seperate auctions. If you familiarize yourself with the different parts, you may find them in boxes of random kitchen tools. You can also sell your Squeezo with missing parts, as many people are looking for their missing pieces or will be willing to purchase a missing part elsewhere. Be sure to mention any rust to the metal parts or any cracks in plastic parts, particularly the scroll piece.

Some names of Squeezo or strainer makers to be familiar with are Garden Way, Berarducci, and Victorio/Vitantonio. You may find the aluminum parts with these names embossed on them, just the name Squeezo or possibly printed on their original boxes.

If you want to photograph your Squeezo assembled according to its directions to show that it is complete, you will probably realize a higher selling price. If you're not willing to do that or aren't sure if all of the pieces are there, it's fine to just photograph the parts laid out. Generally, the buyer are very knowledgeable about these items.

Some examples of recent sales on Ebay:

New Garden Ways All Metal Squeezo Strainer - Sold for $160.50


Berarducci Metal Squeezo Strainer - Sold for $71

Vintage Squeezo Strainer Hand Crank w Chute & Filter - Sold for $42.73

The most I have ever paid for these at sales is only $20.00 and in some cases, I've only paid a few dollars. They are definitely great items to look for that sometimes are undervalued at garage sales.

Terapeak shows Squeezo Strainers with a 92.37% sell through rate!

Thanks, Amy, for this great information! If you would like to write a guest post about a specific eBay item or niche, contact me at ebaycoach@yahoo.com for consideration.

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Reader Question - Why Screen Shots and Not Actual Listings?

I received this message from JPC about how example items are presented on my blog:

"What bothers me about how you present these items on your blog, is that you just do screen shots, so you can't follow links to see the actual item, or to see the seller's other items. You are showing them and not allowing readers to actually find them, which could potentially have led to more sales." Great question!

There are several reasons why I use screen shots. First, eBay items are only archived for 45 days. Once the link becomes older than 45 days, it will be a dead link and won't work. Screen shots will be on the post forever. So, for readers who don't find the post until after 45 days, they can still see how the listing looked and not just get a dead link.

Secondly, having several screen shots in a row more convenient for reading and comparing than clicking back and from from the blog post to eBay several times.

Also, from a blogging perspective, a screen shot increases SEO. An effective strategy for Search Engine Optimization is the naming of images to include relevant keywords. These key words create an ALT tag for the image, which can be seen by search engines, and increases your SEO.

You can use this strategy on your eBay listings, too. When you take photos of your eBay items and upload them to your computer for editing, name the photo the same as the keywords of your item, rather than just IMG00009 like it comes out of the camera. So, not only can Google find your item by its title, Google can see the ALT tag and find it by the image, too! Furthermore, your listings' images will eventually show up on Google Images and may lead more buyers to your eBay store or listing.

For more tips about eBay selling, come join my Facebook Group where we have over 2,000 sellers networking and sharing positive energy.

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eBay and Home Business Tax Deductions

(Disclaimer - I am not an accountant, financial adviser, nor do I have expertise in advising on tax issues. This is just general information to point you in the right direction.)

I see this question a lot, "What kinds of expenses can I deduct on my taxes if I have a home eBay business?" According to my accountant, here is the answer:

Rule of thumb – if it is related to your business, keep track of it. You can probably write it off. Start gathering and tracking this information NOW before the holiday selling season starts. You are going to be busy with holiday selling, your own family holiday, and everything that happens in the 4th quarter. Don't wait until January to start scrambling. Here is a list of the types of expenses you should track.

Fees
Business license fee
Cell phone, internet usage
eBay fees (can be pulled from eBay sales reports)
Membership fees (auction templates, eBay groups, Stamps.com, Terapeak, Skype, etc.)
Paypal fees (can be pulled from eBay sales reports)
Professional fees (accountant, attorney, consultant, web design, etc.)

Office Supplies
Copies
Digital camera batteries
Labels
Paper
Printer ink
Postage
Shipping supplies (bubble wrap, boxes, tape)

Equipment
Book Scanner / cell phone app for pricing
Computer
Digital Camera
Furniture (storage shelving or tubs, desk chair, etc.)
Headset
Postage scale
Printer

Computer Related
Computer repair
Hardware (mouse, flash drives)
Software

Educational
eBay classes
eBooks, books, audiobooks, instructional mp3 downloads, online courses
Webinars

Use of Home Office
The IRS allows you to write off a percentage of expenses for your home based on the sq footage your office space occupies. If you have a 2,000 sq foot home, and your office space takes up 200sq ft, you can write off 10% of your utilities, home repair, mortgage, etc. Keep track of:

Home repairs
Utility bills

If you do not have an accountant and are doing this yourself, check these helpful resources:



You may also want to consider operating as a DBA (Doing Business As) entity.Check Legal Zoom for the advantages of becoming a DBA.

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Vintage Cabinet Hardware - Knobs, Drawer Pulls, Hinges

Vintage hardware adds nostalgia, character, personality, and a touch of history to cabinetry and furniture. Homeowners are going retro and buying vintage cabinet knobs, drawer pulls, hinges, and door knobs to add style and flair to their homes. Another use for vintage hardware is jewelry. Here is an example of a necklace made from an orate drawer pull.
Creative eBay sellers are offering all types of cabinet hardware. This niche is another example of re-purposing items. One Bay, you can find the hardware made from brass, porcelain, glass, chrome, crystal, and copper. Sellers may find a piece of furniture beyond repair and dismantle it to remove the hardware. A good example would be a chest of drawers or a keepsake trunk with hinges and handles.





You can find vintage hardware at estate sales where furniture is being sold. Another source is through remodeling contractors. If you have a personal connection with someone in the remodeling business, find out what they do with the old cabinetry and doors in the homes they are remodeling. The wood may be rotten and unusable, but the hardware may be sell-able. You may be able to get pieces for free, remove the hardware you want, and discard the rest.


Look for interesting pieces. Some good sellers include:

Brass Lion head drawer pulls
Brass Cherub drawer pulls
Jadeite knobs
Crystal glass knobs
Patina
Medieval style
1920s Art Deco style
1950’s chrome

Some sets of brass hardware can sell up around the $100 mark. More than likely, you will need to do some heavy duty cleaning to bring back the original shine and luster of these pieces. They can be really beautiful when restored and can help you make some money on eBay.

For more information on selling niche products on eBay, click here.

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