Ebay and other online auction powerselling tips and information

Today's guest post is brought to us by Julia Wilkinson, author of "The eBay Price Guide - What Sells for What." Julia also writes the blog, Bidbits, where she offers information and advice about eBay selling, shopping for resale at garage and estate sales, and other tidbits about online selling. Since yard sale season is in full swing in most of the country, this post is quite timely - so take notes!

eBayers Prospecting Yard Sales: Finding the Diamonds in the Stuff

by guest author Julia Wilkinson 

Yard Sale season is blowing in along with the April winds, and eBayers everywhere are gathering their tote bags, grabbing their walking shoes and heading out on weekend mornings to prospect for "gems" that they can resell online. As a confirmed yard sale addict and longtime eBay seller, I've gotten a feel for the different genres of stuff that people are on the lookout for the most and can flip as easily as a hole-pocked pancake.

It's impossible to cover everything (isn't that part of the fun of yard sales -- the variety?), but here's a quick rundown of some of my favorites:

Glassware and Pottery (and yes, even mugs)

The card table covered with coffee mugs is one of the most familiar beacons of a curbside sale. And while it may not make your heart go "pitty-pat," like Leslie Keno spotting an original folk painting on Antiques Road Show, don't count these cups out automatically. Starbucks mugs, especially vintage; tumblers and other glassware commemorating events such as the Kentucky Derby; and old Fire-King drinking vessels (the white mug with the Burger King logo comes to mind) can be great collectibles. A limited edition Starbucks "Cyprus" mug just sold for $93.45 on eBay.

Fine pottery and china are often found out among the other lesser kitchen and dining room items; often just going with your gut as to what looks nice will serve you well. But, of course flip the item over and check for a signature and any other info that gives you clues to its value.

Art

Art is something I've recently gotten more into and have found it can be more lucrative than other things because there is less competition for it. Dig around through those boxes of old frames and you may come up with an original signed oil painting on stretched canvas, with a linen mat and wood frame, as I did the other day. It's better to have an artist's signature but even unsigned items will sell if they're nice.

Albums (as in vinyl)

This is a skittish category because so many of them are worthless, at least in terms of resale value. Rules of thumb: big, monster rock bands with huge fan bases, such as your Led Zeppelins, your Rolling Stones, of course your Beatles, and your Black Sabbaths tend to do well...the earlier and better condition the better. (For more info on reselling albums, see my special report here.

Linens, Curtains, Bedding, Household Items

People sometimes turn their nose up at this stuff, but an antique quilt is a major score. Any handmade cotton quilt, or even crocheted blanket, can be a big find.

Also, you can sometimes find new in the package tablecloths, napkins, curtains, etcetera etcetera and so forth. (Checked the prices of new tablecloths at Williams-Sonoma lately?). I saw a guy walk out of an estate sale clutching a six-pack of Williams-Sonoma napkins and placemats, a beautiful blue and red pattern, all cotton, for all of about six bucks.

Electronics, Stereo Eequipment, Cameras, Vintage Computers, etc.

These all have their areas of specialization, so you may want to research or know a little about the item before dropping big bucks, but if the price is rock bottom, I say take a chance. Two words: tube amp. Stereos with these older pieces inside can command amazing prices on the 'bay.

There's so much more to cover but I'll leave some of the discovery to you. Happy hunting!

Julia Wilkinson
Author, "The eBay Price Guide" (No Starch Press, 2006); "eBay Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks"