Remodeling? Lumber auction to be held tomorrow (no matter what the weather!)

On Saturday, March 1, 2008 at noon, trailer loads of assorted building materials will be auctioned off at Danny's Auction Barn in Foster, RI.

Materials to be sold include 8'– 10' — 12' and 16' boards, plywood, doors, wallboard and more.

This auction will take place inside the barn -- so no worries about the weather.

For more information:
Danny's Auction Barn
Rt. 6 (about 5 minutes from the CT/RI line)
Foster, RI

Phone: (401) 647-2558

Recent eBay fee changes send Norwich artisan to Etsy.com to sell her wares

“eBay has not scored any points with me, by claiming to lower the insertion fees, while increasing final value fees by another 3.5%. This means I will be forced to increase my jewelry prices, which are already set to what I would consider affordable and competitive for those in the market for something special for their wedding, renaissance recreations, or formal occasions.”

Meet Elizabeth Frank. She is 35 years old and she lives in Norwich, Connecticut. Elizabeth works as an Administrative Assistant in Old Saybrook. She also sells custom-made jewelry online. She got her start selling Beanie Babies on eBay in 2000. It sounds like a typical story.

But Elizabeth is far from typical. Although it’s more of a sideline for her, Elizabeth is a savvy business-woman when it comes to selling online. Her product-line these days is far from the world of Beanie Babies!

There’s another side to Elizabeth.

Her alias is ‘Mistress Kayleigh McWhyte, Order of the Laurel’. The title is part of a process of years of work and study in history and technique in medieval and renaissance arts and sciences.

Elizabeth is an active member of The Society for Creative Anachronism (www.sca.org). The SCA is an international organization dedicated to researching and recreating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. They learn by doing. Members are brewers, archers, calligraphers, heralds, fencers, spinners, blacksmiths, costumers, dancers, cooks and armored fighters. They enjoy feasting, spinning, needlepoint, equestrian, leatherwork, beadwork, socializing, live weapons competition, period music, theatre and much more. Elizabeth has been involved with the group since she was in the sixth grade and an active member since 1998.

The enthusiasm Elizabeth holds for her pastime is reflected in her work as a jewelry artist and calligrapher. Elizabeth’s specialty item is renaissance-inspired necklaces. Her pieces are exquisite in detail and styling.


When asked how she got started, she tells me she made the first necklace for herself in 2001. “People just pounced on it!”, she said. It prompted her to create more custom pieces for others.

While her unique necklaces and earrings are aimed at renaissance, fantasy, and history-buff customers, many of the designs adapt nicely to current fashions. Imagine the look with a pretty v-neck blouse!

She’s a busy lady. In addition to jewelry-making, Elizabeth devotes creative time to crafting illuminated manuscript pages. It involves not only calligraphy, but painting and gilding as well.

Most recently her time has been deeply absorbed with planning a wedding. In fact, she’s getting married (today!!!) and she and her husband are also working on buying their first home.

As an independent artisan, Elizabeth has much to say in reaction to eBay’s recent fee changes. Because she is not a high-volume seller, it will cost her more, making it more difficult to keep her prices competitive.

“EBay is not the same place it used to be. My items normally sell for under $25 each, and for the most part, I do this for fun.”

This is one reason why Elizabeth favors Etsy as an online venue for selling.

“Each listing on Etsy is just 20¢ and stays online for up to 4 months. They charge a 3.5% commission. In comparison, eBay charges approximately $16 per month for an eBay store, plus listing and final value fees.”

Elizabeth’s good business practices include buying supplies in bulk to save money. She wraps each jewelry item in colored tissue that matches the color in the necklace, making each package pretty enough to pass on as a gift. Additionally, she includes a business card with each shipment to make it easy for buyers to remember how they can find her online.

Her product photography is gorgeous, each photo carefully staged, taken with care.

Her ‘About Me’ page on eBay is informative and helpful to a buyer.

Most of all, Elizabeth has a great chance for future success in selling online because in spite of the huge competition online in the jewelry market, she targets a specialized niche. Her pieces are customized, wearable art — certainly something that won’t be found at Walmart.

Visit Elizabeth's shop, Archeress Arts on Etsy.com.
http://archeress.etsy.com

Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch set for auction

Want Michael Jackson's merry-go-round? How about his locomotive, or his curtains? Those items and more could hit the auction block next month as the pop star's Neverland Ranch will be put up for public sale unless he pays the more than $24 million he still owes on the property, according to a Tuesday court filing.

Click here for video:


read more | digg story

Charles Dickens collection to be auctioned

Rare works by Charles Dickens including a page from the original manuscript of “Pickwick Papers” and an illustration of the “Oliver Twist” character Bill Sikes are going on the auction block.

read more | digg story

Why not to take a 4-year-old to an Auction

We don't often bring our daughter along with us at auctions these days. While Jeff auctioneers, I struggle to keep 4-year-old Katie occupied. Sometimes they'll be another child in attendance and simply sitting nearby will be enough to entertain her. More often than not, when Jeff's working, I'll stay for just about an hour or two at most. If I'm really interested in buying, I definitely need to get a baby sitter. Take a look at this short video clip to see why. We're at Danny's Auction Barn in Foster, RI.


(more)

Controversial Feedback Changes at eBay Lead to New Tools

Starting in May, eBay will take away the ability for sellers to leave negative or neutral feedback ratings for buyers. Software developers are responding to the demand for buyer feedback data after eBay announced it would change the reputation system on the auction site. While no third party service may be able to record buyer feedback on all transactions, sellers are eager for tools that can help them avoid problem buyers.

read more | digg story

Get your spices at Ocean State Job Lot

My 21-year-old son, Jeff, and his lovely girlfriend, Elise, moved into their own place over the weekend. At a family dinner yesterday, there was no shortage of advice for them.

One of the best tips delivered their way was one I thought was well worth sharing.

"Get your spices at Job Lot."

Ocean State Job Lot is a discount chain specializing in manufacturers' closeout and overstock merchandise. The store acquires brand-name goods from manufacturers willing to sell them at a loss.

They carry a huge variety of spices (still in code!) for just $1 each. Compared to supermarket pricing, a deal like that gives reason enough to visit the store -- especially for those on a tight budget or just starting out.

Check out the Ocean State Job Lot location in Brooklyn, Connecticut. Hey, over there you also have a great big Salvation Army Thrift Store next door where you can continue on with your bargain shopping!

To find other Job Lot locations in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, click here.

Thieves hitting used car dealers for scrap metal

The latest talk over the weekend was about the ever-rising demand for scrap metals. Jeff and I sat next to a gentleman at the auction Saturday night who told us about a problem affecting area used car dealers — a rash of thefts of catalytic converters.

Apparently, thieves are crawling under vehicles and using cordless Sawzalls to quickly dislodge catalytic converters from underneath cars.

Paging through a small-town newspaper yesterday, I immediately realized why these old auto parts are in such great demand. A half-page ad on page 47 in The Shopper’s Guide for Winco Scrap Metal in Moosup is offering prices from $30 to $200 each for old catalytic converters. They even offer pick up service!



For those unfamiliar with the world of auto parts, a catalytic converter is one of several elements of the exhaust system that reduces the emission of harmful pollutants. They are most commonly found "under the floor" of the car.

What’s in it that's so valuable? Platinum.

A Web site promoting a How-to eBook for scrap-metal enthusiasts touts:

"Highest Gold, Silver, & Platinum Prices Since 1979!!!"

"Scrap catalytic converters contain some of the most expensive metals on earth - metals that never wear out, even if the converter stops working and must be junked! Nearly every vehicle sold in the US and Canada since 1975 is literally a "platinum mine" on wheels which can eventually be recycled. Thousands of converters are replaced daily (Ford once announced the recall of 680,000 converters - all of which became available as scrap!) and tens of thousands of cars are going to junk yards with their precious, platinum-loaded converters intact. The profit potential is mind-boggling, since the EPA prohibits the resale of these catalytic converters, with fines of up to $1,500 per violation!"

Out of curiosity, I checked eBay completed auctions...

SCRAP-CATALYTIC-CONVERTER-PRECIOUS-METALS-RECYCLING

And a current auction:
(Photo above. Currently bid up to at $351.62)

Up for auction at No Reserve is a Dual Catalytic Converter pulled from a '95 BMW 525i. These cats are being sold for scrap metal recycling only and not for reuse. The cats weigh around 17 lbs for both and are 16 inches in length ea.

SCRAP-METAL-CATALYTIC-CONVERTER-FOR-PLATINUM-RECYCLING

Here’s a related news story, from San Diego.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/02/01/news/sandiego/21_42_271_31_08.txt


Hmmm... before you junk your old car, you may want to remove something.


For more information:

Winco Scrap Metal
25 Ward Ave, Moosup, CT
Phone: (860) 230-0552

Rhode Islanders aren't the only ones obsessed with low digit license plate numbers

Delaware license plate No. 6 sells for $675,000

I guess Rhode Islanders aren't the only ones obsessed with low digit license plate numbers. A Delaware No. 6 license plate sold at auction today for $675,000

No. 6 is the lowest-digit active Delaware license plate ever auctioned at a public sale, said auctioneer Butch Emmert of Emmert Auction Associates. With numbers 1, 2, and 3 reserved for the governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state, single digit tags are much more elusive.

“You’ve got a supply of virtually none, so it’s the status that naturally comes with having something that’s hard to get,” said Robert Thompson, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University.

“The very fact that they’re buyable and sellable is what gives them their value. Put more simply, it’s a status symbol."

Read the complete article at DelawareOnline.com.

Buying contents of abandoned storage units for profit

“There are people who make a living buying this stuff
and selling it at flea markets.”

An interesting article is out today on NorwichBulletin.com about storage unit auctions. This is where a lot of flea market sellers, antique store dealers, ebayers and other second hand merchandise sellers often look to get their merchandise. Check out the article for a local look at who attends and how it works!

Here's a video of a typical storage auction. It's not the one in Norwich.

A few tips to know if you have never been to a storage auction:

• Be sure to arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled auction time. Before the auction starts, the self storage facility or auctioneer will have a sign-in sheet and a set of their company rules that covers the terms and conditions of the auction. These vary at each site.

“Everything you see from the door is what you’re bidding on.”

• Bring a strong flashlight. You’ll be viewing units from the entrance area into the unit, and it’s often like peering into a dark hole crammed with stuff. It can be difficult to see what’s inside.

• Bring a padlock. If you purchase a unit, most sites require the high bidder to use their own lock to secure the unit.

• The high bidder must remove all contents of the unit within the time specified by the self storage facility. Facilities do not allow the use of their garbage cans or dumpsters, so plan to take the entire contents away with you. You are expected to leave the unit broom swept clean.

And, just one more thing to know... Buyer beware. There is risk involved:

Another bargain hunter's weekend... What to do & where to go

FRIDAY FEB. 15th

INDOOR YARD SALE — 8-4 PM

Lion's Club Benefit
509 Norwich Ave. Taftville, CT

Household goods and used furniture Fri & Sat.



ESTATE AUCTION — PREVIEW AT 4:30 P.M. AND AUCTION AT 5:00 P. M.

Leone’s Auction Gallery
2 Wedgewood Dr. Jewett City, CT

Phone: 860-376-3935

Antiques, household items, and collectibles from various estates.



AUCTION — PREVIEW AT 5:30 P.M. AND AUCTION AT 7:00 P. M.

Carroll's Auctioneers & Appraisers
54 Washington Street
Middletown, CT

Phone: 203-506-1121
E-Mail: Denroseent@aol.com




SATURDAY FEB. 16th


INDOOR YARD SALE — 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.

140 Scituate Ave. Johnston, R.I.
(off Atwood Ave.)

Phone: 401-952-6745

All household items, A-Z.



YARD SALE — 9 A.M. - 3 P.M.

25 Diana Ave. Smithfield, R.I.
Phone: 401-523-7435

32'' TV, hutches, household, patio.



ESTATE SALE PROVIDENCE — 9 A.M. – 3 P.M.

654 Mt. Pleasant Ave. Providence, R.I.
Near St. Augustines Church

Numbers Will Be Handed Out At 8:30AM. No Early Admission.

Family home with 90 years accumulation of antiques and household articles, consisting of Oriental Rugs, Sterling Silver, Royal Doulton, Lladro, Classical Bronze Statue, Painted Towle Trays, Fine Porcelains, Victorian Upholstered Furniture, 18th Century Slant Lid Desk (as is), Federal Stand, Marble Top Sewing Table, Custom Mahogany Furniture, Washer/Dryer, Refrigerator and More.

CASH ONLY. Items will be discounted After 2PM. In Case of snow storm, sale will be held next day.

INDOOR TAG SALE

OLD WARWICK GRANGE
1175 West Shore Rd., Warwick, R.I.

Thousands of items, antiques, collectibles, glassware, movies, toys, clothes, automotive, costume jewelry and more. Offers accepted.

HAVE-A-HEART FUNDRAISER/TAG SALE — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Boilermakers Lodge 614
33 Sacred Heart Drive, Groton

Hosted by the Animal Welfare League of New London County, Inc. Rain or shine. Pre-sale hours available by appointment only. With a donation of $5 you can get an early bird peek, shop, and beat the Saturday crowd. To make an appointment, call 860-445-0280. All proceeds go the the Animal Welfare League spay and neuter fund.

CIRCUS MEMORABILIA AUCTION —
PREVIEW 9 A.M. AND AUCTION AT 10:00 A.M.
William Brinley Circus Collection

Nest Egg Auctions
30 Research Parkway
Meriden, CT

Phone: (203) 630-1400

Step up, Now step up, Come One, Come all Its Stupendous, its colossal, its amazing!! This is a singular opportunity to view and purchase part of the lifetime collection of this famous circus aficionado.

TOOL AUCTION — 1:00 P.M.

Allen's Auction Hall
164 Hartford Pike
Dayville, CT

Phone: 860-779-2444

New and used tools.



GENERAL MERCHANDISE AUCTION — 5:00 P.M.

Allen's Auction Hall
164 Hartford Pike
Dayville, CT

Phone: 860-779-2444

Weekly general merchandise auction merchandise sold changes weekly. Mostly used merchandise tools, box lots furniture, toys, seasonal items & more!

FUNDRAISING AUCTION — 6 P.M.

Hanover Church Parish
Baltic, CT

Phone: 822-8351 or 822-6771

A variety of items. Refreshments served. Auctioneer Nelson Courtemarche. Wheelchair accessible.



AUCTION — PREVIEW at noon. AUCTION STARTS at 6:30 P.M.

Antique Emporium
489 Old Hartford Rd.
Colchester, CT

Phone: 860-537-6110

Items Of Interest To Include:

Set of 2 8" tall Staffordshire Dogs, Bamboo Eisle, Porcelain Cigar Advertising Sign, Made in Bohema Czech Hot Water Pot, Skilton Foote & Co Bunker Hill Pickles Amber Jar, Vintage Costume Jewelry, Sterling Jewelry, Folk Art Hand Painted Mirror, Capidomonte Candlesticks, Capidomonte Table Pieces, Fenton Fairy Lamp, Fenton Basket with Hand Painted Flowers, Fenton Cranberry Opalescent Hand Painted Basket, Fishing Rods, Caliphers, Baseball Card, Glassware, Tools, Charcoal Smoker, Counter Top Country Store Display Case, Collectible and Antique Reference Books, Eagle Oil Finger Lamp with Reflector, Little Red Riding Hook Books to Include: 1902 Little Fairy Tales, LRRH Father Tuck's Fairy Tale Series, 1934 Walt Disney Enterprises LRRH and The Big Bad Wolf, 1888 Linen Red Riding Hood Book Puss in Boots Series, 1913 LRRH and other Stories, Echos Storyland McLoughlin Bios New LRRH, LRRH Hurst & Co NY, 1914 Red Riding Hood & other Stories, 1937 Whitman Pub Co LRRH Linen Book, 1923 LRRH a Junior Operetta, 1937 Whitman Linen Book, 1941 Story Favorites Florence Salten Linen Book, 1960's LRRH Golden Book, Playskool LRRH Theatre Play.

Furniture: Corner Shelf, Oak Shelf with Arched Top, Maple Desk, Corner Desk, Modern Hutch, Pine Armoire, Pine Dresser with Mirror, Twin Bed, Night Stands, Bookshelves

Many Hunting Items: Cabelas Fishing Pole in Case, Penn Reel, Ocean City Reel, Bow & Arrows in a Case

In Case Of Inclement Weather Please Call (860) 537-6110
Terms: 12% Buyers Premium, 2% Discount with Cash or Check



General Merchandise AUCTION — 7:00 PM

Danny’s Auction Barn
Rt. 6 in RI, just over the CT state line

Phone: (401) 647-2558

Sally's settee needs a home

Sally Rempel from Eastford sent me an interesting inquiry.

Hi Karen,

I purchased this settee at a tag sales several years ago for $5.
I have no idea how old it is or what it might be worth.

I need to find a new home for it as we have moved into a smaller house and have no place to put it.

Sally
ssrempel@yahoo.com

From what I've seen recently at auctions, furniture doesn't go for much these days. However, it's remotely possible that Sally could have something special... If anyone reading this has knowledge about Sally's settee, please feel free to leave a comment.

Sally's can be reached at 860-974-2241 or by email at ssrempel@yahoo.com if anyone is interested in adding this lovely piece of furniture to their own home.

On Valentine's Day, why not love yourself?

Today February 14th, a special day. If your significant other has yet to come through with a gift to really "wow!" you, why not treat yourself?

Beth Frank is a Norwich, Connecticut artisan. She creates stunning renaissance inspired jewelry which she sells on eBay and Etsy.com. Etsy.com is a wonderful site for artists to sell their wares.

I'll have more on my blog about Beth next week in a complete profile.

In the meantime, take a peek at her impressive jewelry designs on Ebay or Etsy.

Ebay bows to pressure: Listing fees cut for books, music, movies and video games

Online sellers who focus mainly on media items were particularly hard hit by eBay's recent changes in their fee structure. On average, these sellers put up more listings, yet don't make as much profit per sale.

In response to seller complaints, Lorrie Norrington, president of eBay’s Global Marketplace Operations, announced new fee changes on Monday.

Effective February 20th, eBay will lower insertion fees for books, music, movies and video games categories by up to 50 percent.

For example, auctions with start prices of $1.00 to $9.99 will cost 25 cents in insertion fees, compared with 40 cents under the previous scenario.

Insertion fees for the first three levels of pricing will look like this:

$0.01 – 0.99 (auction-style only)
Original Categories Insertion Fee: $ .20
New Media fee: $ .10

$1.00 - 9.99 (auction-style and fixed price)
Original Categories Insertion Fee: $ .40
New Media fee: $ .25

$10.00 – 24.99 (auction-style and fixed price)
Original Categories Insertion Fee: $ .60
New Media fee: $ .35


Read more details here:
EBay further slices rates for some merchants in response to anger at fee changes

One Woman's Junk Is Your Treasure... Selling on eBay from Old Mystic, Conn.

Meet Erika Taylor from Old Mystic, Connecticut.
On eBay, she sells under the user name: One-Womans-Junk-Is-Your-Treasure

Working from home is a but a dream for many, from young mothers to retirees. Ericka Taylor, 52, from Old Mystic lives that dream everyday on eBay.

You might be surprised at what she sells: her inventory includes old typewriters, sewing machines and even vintage vacuum cleaners!

Erika started out selling a few things from her own home on eBay in 2004. Then she stopped for a while.

In February of last year, a friend of hers bought an old farmhouse in North Stonington. The house was full of stuff, and it was all going to the dump. On a whim, Erika thought some of that stuff might do well on eBay, and she she asked her friend to drop it off at her house. It was dumped on her front porch.

Erika's husband is a yard sale and flea market junkie. He doesn't sell on eBay himself, but he started researching items he saw at yards sales on eBay, and he was amazed!

"He really has a knack for it. Now our house looks like something out of the old TV show, 'Sanford and Sons'!"

She and her husband hunt out great finds to sell on eBay every weekend — even throughout the winter months. And she says, "The Stonington Dump is a gold mine!"

Apparently, the dump has a building where people can put out used merchandise they no longer want, but someone else may have a use for.

Ericka has a surprising list of items she has sold on eBay -- many are items I would never think of trying online myself. She searches out vintage electronics, including 8-track players, typewriters, sewing machines, and old vacuum cleaners. She also likes to sell old games, toys, and puzzles.

She claims many buyers have no problem paying for shipping on a vintage vacuum cleaner, and she doesn't mind packing them up for shipment!

When it comes to shipping, one sale that stands out in her memory was for a collection of Hot Wheels cars in a box that a man in Belgium paid $62 to ship!

In one year of doing this full-time, she has mailed items to 48 states and 14 countries.

Her former career was in developing Continuing Education programs. Erika's background in marketing and graphic design has given her an edge in creating attractive and informative listings that often result in higher bids than others selling similar merchandise.

Her tips for successful listings include checking completed auctions on eBay for items she may be unfamiliar with prior to listing them. Also, taking clear photos is important, and providing extra detail in descriptions. Erika supplies all measurements on whatever she sells, believing that the extra steps she takes with her listing process offers the customer a better sense of trust in dealing with her.

Ericka says, "It's important to me that my listings are appealing and informative for the buyer."

She also takes great care in her packaging. She wraps her merchandise in brown paper and uses her logo on packing materials.

If working on her own has a downside, it's the lack of contact with other people.

However, to ensure timely delivery, Erika ships packages every day. She enjoys her trips to the Old Mystic Post Office and the nearby UPS Store. She appreciates the efforts of the ladies at the Old Mystic post office — as well those of the staff at the nearby UPS store — and since she loves to garden, she'll often bring them flowers from her yard.

Check out Erika's eBay listings:

One Woman's Junk Is Your Treasure!
http://stores.ebay.com/One-Womans-Junk-Is-Your-Treasure

"The name says it all! Selling anything and everything as long as it is in good condition, unique, interesting, useful, vintage, decorative or fun! Typewriters, Sewing Machines, Vacuum Cleaners, Electronics, Books, Games, Toys, Magazines, Cameras and more!"

Monday blurbs... reflections and updates

-- Well, over the weekend, my husband and I decided to make a stop at the church tag sale in Abington. We were disappointed in that the ladies were already packing up at 11:45 AM when the sale was scheduled to run until noon.

-- Great news for my oldest son, Jeff! At 21, he'll be moving out on his own, along with his lovely companion, Elise. I'm thrilled for both of them, as they're fantastic together!

Jeff & Elise

Just starting out is incredibly exciting, but also stressful, as rents and household expenses are sky-high these days. Needing everything from silverware to curtains to a table to eat upon, now they are searching through Craigslist and newspaper classifieds looking for all-you-can-imagine to make a house a home. You can bet I'll be on watch for them at auctions and estate sales.

I can hardly wait to see their new place!

-- An update on the eBay auction featuring my "odd fellow" wrench-holding construction worker alarm clock... We have a bid!

-- This week marks the first of a new weekly feature for 'The Auctioneer's Wife' blog. I'll be profiling a local eBay seller, showing off what they sell and sharing their stories about how they got started selling online and why they love what they do! Check back soon, as I have some very interesting people lined up.

Weird item of the week: Construction worker holding a wrench alarm clock

I bought this odd fellow at auction last week. He came out of a box lot. I don’t know anything about him, and I can’t seem to find another one on eBay. Weird because wouldn't it seem to make more sense for a construction worker to carry a hammer rather than a wrench?

When his alarm sounds, he plays a wake-up horn.... I'm not sure I get the connection between the hard hat, the wrench, and the horn. Then, when you hit the yellow hard hat, he says, “Good morning!”

He’s strange and that’s why I like him.

There was another cute kids’ alarm clock in the box with him. This one is a cow. When her alarm goes off, she plays a funny farm song and then moos loudly.

Why did I bid on this box lot with 2 old alarm clocks and a pile of ashtrays? And why was someone else actually bidding against me???

Well, it could be that these silly objects remind me very much of an animated alarm clock that’s a chicken. These things sing, “Hey Baby, wake up!” when the alarm goes off. These rock-n-roll wonders fetch between $50 to $100 each on eBay!

— A completed eBay auction —

In fact, one of these chicken clocks is now on eBay — with 6 days to go at auction — commanding $75. It's new in the original box! That’s something I haven’t come across before. I'm betting it will exceed $100 when the auctions ends. It will be interesting to watch.

In the meantime, I'll post my odd fellow on eBay and hope he brings in at least a $10 bill!

Bits: The End of eBay’s Egalitarianism

While small sellers on eBay are complaining about changes to the fees and feedback changes, larger sellers are benefiting from discounts that for the first time in the site's history, treat high-volume merchants better than mom-and-pop sellers.

read more | digg story

A bargain hunter's weekend... What to do & where to go

FRIDAY, FEB 8th

THRIFT SHOP — 4-7 PM
Greeneville Congregational Church
Norwich, CT
— All clothes 25 cents —
For more information, call 887-8238.

FUNDRAISER: Pasta Dinner / Silent Auction
Norwich, CT
The Norwich Free Academy parent council will hold a pasta dinner and silent auction Friday in the school cafeteria. This fundraiser is to benefit a drug and alcohol free post-prom party. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. The auction starts at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $3 for students and $5 for adults. For more information, call 886-8167.

AUCTION — Antiques & Collectibles — 6:30 PM
Jason's Auction Service, Jewett City, CT
Antiques & Collectibles, including: prints, paintings, frames , 10K & 14K gold jewelry, sterling silver jewelry & signed jewelry, framed postage, a wood stove, a fireplace mantle, rocker, collectable plates, claw foot table, bookcases, a military lot, Hot Wheels & Matchbox cars, and Tonka trucks.


SATURDAY, FEB 9th

ESTATE SALE — 8 AM – 3 PM
198 Western Promenade (off Park Avenue), Cranston, RI
Near Roger Williams Park. FOLLOW SIGNS. ENTIRE CONTENTS OF HOUSE.
The sale is indoors. Some of the highlights include furniture (bedroom sets, dining room set with china closet, cedar chest etc.), CD's and records, tons of jewelry, kitchenware, dishes, pots and pans, a mixer, vacuum cleaner, giftware still in boxes, books and cookbooks, antiques, clown collectibles, tools, clothes, appliances, party supplies, shoes, lamps, candles, occasional tables. Everything is 1/2 price @ 1 PM.

MOVING SALE — 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
128 Dante St. off Admiral St. Providence (Near PC), RI
Tables, chairs, glassware, men’s XXL clothes air conditioners etc.

FUNDRAISER: Boy Scout Memorabilia Show / Swap Meet
9 AM – 3 PM
115 Fitchville Road, Bozrah, CT
To benefit friends of JN Webster Boy Scout Camp. A patch auction will be held at 1 p.m. and will include OA, camps, Jamboree and other memorabilia. Lunch and refreshments available. $2 admission. Scouts in uniform get in free. For more information, call 822-6235.

Tag and Bake Sale — 9 AM to noon
Abington Congregational Church
542 Hampton Road, Abington, CT

East Greenwich Antique Show/Sale — 9 AM to 2 PM
American Legion Post
1016 Main Street, East Greenwich RI
Featuring a wide selection of antiques and collectibles. Hidden treasures and surprises offered for sale by a variety of New England Antique Dealers. Furniture, Art, Glassware.

MOVING SALE — 10 AM to 2 PM
536 Church Ave, Warwick, RI
Couch and Loveseat plus many other items. All must go.

BUYING AND SELLING ON EBAY — 1 PM
Salem Public Library, Salem, CT
Carolyn Diedzik will discuss how to list items for sale and the best strategies for buying on eBay.

General Merchandise AUCTION — 5:00 PM
Allen's Auction Hall
Rt. 101, Dayville, CT

General Merchandise AUCTION — 6:30 PM
Antique Emporium
489 Old Hartford Road, Colchester, CT
Preview starts at Noon
For more information, call (860) 537-6110

General Merchandise AUCTION — 7:00 PM
Danny’s Auction Barn
Rt. 6 in RI, just over the CT state line
For more information, call (401) 647-2558

20 Examples of Unusual eBay Feedback

POSITIVE: Thanks for great Rainbow Brite lunchbox. Should shrunken head be inside?

NEUTRAL: Excellent communication, but should've poked holes in box before shipping the kitten. Refunded.

NEGATIVE: Despite indication in listing, I could not fit item into any of my body cavities.

And the list goes on ...

read more | digg story

Don't miss the Boy Scout Memorabilia Show & Patch Auction to be held Saturday in Bozrah

A Boy Scout Memorabilia Show and Swap will be held this Saturday, February 9th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m, at 115 Fitchville Road, Bozrah. The show is to benefit Friends of JN Webster.

June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation is located in Ashford. Established in 1964, the reservation occupies 1,200 acres of land that is home to approximately 1,230 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts each summer during its six-week season.

The Friends of Webster is a group of people who work together to support the program at the camp. Many of its members attended JNW as youth or as adults, and some even served on staff.

Members of FOW have carried out several projects to enhance and improve the programs at JNW over the years. The new Ranhoff Nature/Ecology Center was built with funds raised by FOW. The Friends recently renovated the Trading Post and are currently working on the Health Lodge.

Two Savage competition target rifles are available for use at the shooting range, thanks to a FOW purchase. The group would like to purchase more rifles for the scouts' use.

A patch auction will be held at 1 p.m. and will include OA, camps, Jamboree and other memorabilia.

Lunch and refreshments will be available. A $2 admission will get you in the door to support a great camp. Scouts in uniform get in free. For more information call 822-6235.

Danny's Auction Barn announces new Flea Market to open in April / Spring Auction Schedule

Danny Calise, owner of Danny's Auction Barn in Foster, RI has made an announcement that his new flea market will open in April at his location on Route 6 near the RI/CT line.

Danny holds hopes for success in that he has heard "from a reliable source" -- whom he did not name -- that Rocky Hill Flea Market in East Greenwich, RI has closed for good.

I recently spoke with a dealer who sells there who told me that he expected to return in the Spring. He said that the phone number for Rocky Hill plays a recording stating, "See you in April."

Imagine my surprise then, when I phoned the number today. I got a recording saying that the number had been disconnected. I double-checked it to be sure I dialed correctly. I did. Maybe Danny does have reliable "inside sources"!

Anyway, along with the new weekend flea market, Danny's regular and special auctions will continue.

Another lumber auction will be held on Saturday, March 1 at 12 noon. To ensure that inclement weather does not rain on the parade, this auction will be conducted inside the barn. The last lumber auction was a huge success -- a great opportunity to pick up bargains if you'll be doing home improvements.

On Friday, March 14, Danny will hold a Horse and Tack Auction at 6 pm.

On Sunday of that weekend, the biggest Livestock Auction of the year happens -- Danny's Palm Sunday Auction -- which starts at noon and runs into the night. The auction boasts a huge variety of small farm animals and birds, as well as yard and garden supplies, and spring plantings. It attracts bidders from near and far.

A Fishing Auction will be held on Friday, March 28, at 6 pm. There's a wide array of poles, reels, and accessories for the sportsman as we embark on the fishing season for 2008.

Finally, an Equipment Auction will be held on Sunday, April 6th at 12 noon. These auctions usually offer previously owned construction and other industrial equipment. I will provide an update here once a list is provided of actual items to be sold.

For more about Danny's Auction Barn, check out:
http://www.dannysauction.com

10 ways of using eBay traffic to send qualified leads to your own eCommerce Web site

If you’re an eBay seller, do you have a Web site?
Or, if you have an eCommerce Web site, are you using eBay to drive traffic into your Web site?

This article came out this week:
You too can strike it rich by opening an online store

I found the headline funny because a lot of people really believe this!

Before I became an Online Editor, I was a Web Designer. I did it for 10 years. I met with small business owners and independent entrepreneurs regularly. The time spent with them was equally valuable to me because I was on the receiving end of a multitude of marketing concepts — some I thought were ingenious and others I felt compelled to seriously question.

While I could set up appealing and functional Web sites for my clients, it’s getting buyers to actually find the site and walk through the virtual doorway that’s the tricky part! Just because “you built it” does not mean “they will come.”

Everyone selling something online is looking for a way to generate targeted Web site traffic. If you’re going to have a Web site to sell something, you’ll need to actively market it. It takes effort, creativity and time.

I have many ideas and suggestions. Here’s something to consider...

eBay is by far the largest and most exciting selling environment on the Internet. Potential buyers are swarming to the site every day in need of something — quite possibly, it’s something you are selling.

Why not utilize eBay to drive traffic to your own eCommerce Web site?

Ebay has rules against straightforward advertising and blatant efforts to lead visitors away from their site. However, there are effective strategies you can use that are allowable.

No matter who you are or what you sell, you’ll get a LOT more browsers than actual buyers on your eBay auction listing pages. You might get 6 bids on an item, but it’s quite possible that 300 visitors took a look. Don’t let the exposure go to waste.

Here are 10 steps you can take to enhance your chances of driving eBay traffic to your own eCommerce Web site:

1. Sell complimentary products
Your auction and eBay store listings should be related to what you sell on your own Web site. At least be sure to target a similar buying market.

For example, if you sell toe rings and fancy socks on eBay, you might sell pink flip-flops on your Web site. Maximize the chances that your eBay traffic will provide qualified leads to your site — those already interested in what you’re selling.


2. Have an effective Web site address
If you don’t already have your own Web site, make sure you obtain a memorable domain name, using words that clearly relate to your products. Secure a dot-com if you can.

3. Use an email link in your auctions
In your auction pages, make sure you tell visitors that if they have any questions about your listing, products, or policies, they can email you. Make it simple by having a live email link on the page, like this one: info@avenuestosold.com

Say -- as an example -- your domain name indicates that you carry pink flip-flops, and you have someone who is interested in purchasing a toe ring looking over your eBay auction page: Although in email format, and it will be seen with an “@” in front of it, they may be interested enough to check out “PinkFlipFlops.com.”

4. About Me page
Set up an “About Me” page on eBay. It’s completely free, and that’s the one place where you are freely allowed to link.

If you want to make the most of the opportunity here, offer an information product (eBook, insider tips, how-to video, etc.) that can be downloaded on your Web site. Your topic should be directly related to your product line. That will provide incentive for potential buyers to click through to visit your Web site.

Additionally, once the customer makes contact with you, you've acquired a targeted lead. Start building on that relationship. Encourage them to sign up on your mailing list, direct them to your Web site, and start selling.

5. Email Signature
Set up a signature file to automatically display at the bottom of every email you send. The signature should include your Web site address and a line of text emphasizing why the recipient of the email should visit your Web site right away.

Now, every time you are asked a question from an eBayer about an item you have up for auction, reply with your signature line in place.

6. Participate in eBay discussion groups
If the topic is related to your product line, you can link to an auction as an example.

7. Write!
Create an article about your niche selling area and submit it to article directories. Write press releases. Always include a link to your Web site.

8. Participate in Social Networking
Post links to your eBay auctions and eCommerce Web site on MySpace and FaceBook sites. Use eBay selling widgets to attract interest in what your selling.

9. Get profiled on my blog
If you live in Eastern Connecticut or Rhode Island, send me an email and tell me about yourself! I’ll write up a profile and link to your auction listings AND your Web site. Please send me a photo of yourself, tell me what you sell, and share with us how you got started selling online.

10. Submit a video to YouTube
Have a friend film a video of you talking about your product. Demonstrate it and and explain why what you’re selling is better than other similar items. Be sure to mention your Web site address and eBay user name. Upload it to YouTube and social networking sites. Plug that video into your actual auction listing page too.


Please click to digg this article if you think it's helpful!

Peek into an old newspaper for a journey back in time

An important issue of The Norwich Bulletin Newspaper from 1963

It's not all that uncommon for people to save newspapers covering historical events. Old newspapers and magazines can be found on a regular basis by those who frequent auctions, flea markets and garage sales.

At a recent auction, an aged, browning newspaper caught my eye on a table otherwise crammed with nics-nacs and box lots of assorted hardware objects.

The reason I was drawn to it was two-fold. There were actually two newspapers folded together — obviously decades old, saved for their historic headlines and reporting of a major tragic event in our history. But not only that, these papers illustrate a slice in time in the history of Eastern Connecticut and the newspaper where I now work, The Norwich Bulletin.

According to HistoryBuff.com, the age of a newspaper is not the key factor in how valuable it may be. Papers with front page coverage of major events in American or world history command the highest prices. Basically, the more important to history, the higher the value.

However a search on eBay for completed auctions shows me that there are a whole lot of saved newspapers for Kennedy's assassination out there... probably the reason why most don't sell and those that have sold come out in the range of just $10.

To find out more about value in old newspapers, check out HistoryBuff.com. It's an extensive Web site focusing primarily on how newspapers and the press covered major, and not so major, events in American history. It's nicely done and quite informative!