Selling Buttons on Ebay

Well, as my button supply overfloweth, I thought I would also try to sell a few of my more collectible button finds on Ebay. And I learned a few things.
First, there are many button sellers on Ebay. Second, many/most of them are successful. This could definitely be a great niche.
However, my cool buttons didn't sell that well. I had a great blue celluloid button in the shape of a mum (see above) ...An identical one went for $12. Mine sold for $3. With one bid.
Another great buffed celluloid button. Didn't sell at all.

Here's what I think. I think button buyers on ebay are button collectors. You need to earn their trust. I'm selling all sorts of odds n ends on ebay. Knife blocks, kids books, silverware..etc..etc..Who am I? The button buyers will go back to the professional button stores/sellers who have shown they know what they're doing.
Well, I'm learning. And I've got lots of odds n ends I need to clear out and sell on Ebay. So I'm filing away the button niche idea. Maybe for the future. For now, I'll hang on to the Satsuma vintage buttons that I think are valuable...and sell my buttons slowly but surely on Etsy.

The Organizing Continues!

I managed to scrounge another organizer from my carpenter husband's workshop. This one I labeled by material. So now my vintage buttons are separated by color and what they are made of.
I've got MOP, leather, wood, glass and more!

Getting Organized

Ok, well my button collection is really taking over. My husband is threatening...well, things if I don't sell some. No, actually he's very nice. But the hints do get dropped. "You bought....more buttons?"
But I need to get organized so I know how to destash and how to share my extras with others!
So I found this handy-dandy organizer at the thrift store. And I used my handy-dandy little vintage label maker (also a thrift store find) to make my labels. Sorted a fraction of my buttons by color.
When a little bin fills up, or gets close, I can throw together a listing. Sounds like a plan.
I figure I only need about 14 more organizers like this. Well, it's a start.

Auctiva Changes Its Mind

The Only Free Auction Tools for eBay Sellers

So, I still do occasionally sell on Ebay. I do consignments for friends and sometimes there are items I need to move quickly. Not completely thrilled with the rise in fees and such, but what can you do?
I had been using Auctiva to list my items. Free photos, nice templates, a scrolling gallery and a way to track my consignors. Or is that consignees? I never remember.
Well they recently lost some affiliate income they were receiving from Ebay, so could no longer offer their services for free. They introduced a very complex fee structure that got everyone up in arms. (they better change their logo above!!)
I went ahead and switched to Seller Sourcebook. They were offering a 10% discount to "Auctiva Refugees". They had a flat fee per month. Sounded great. It was okay, I'm sure I just needed to get used to it. It was pretty slow..but I was starting all over.
Then I read today that Auctiva changed its mind!! They decided to go with a flat rate system!! YAY!
You can read what Jeff Schlicht, CEO of the Auctiva Corporation wrote here.
I switched back over, hoping to give them another chance...and hoping fees won't go up in a year or sooner! I like my fast listing.
You can sign up for faster and cheaper ebay listing here

A Trip to See the Tulips

Last week my family together with some friends hit the Skagit County Tulip Festival in Washington State.

I got some great pictures which I'll make into greeting cards. I usually just share my cards with friends and family, but I also sell them online in my etsy store: fishboneimages.

Speaking of this store, I don't give it enough attention. I don't know why I have a hard time promoting my creations...but have no problem talking about the supplies I sell. Lack of confidence I guess. I'll have to work on that!

So, enjoy some tulips and think spring!

Grocery Game Update

Ok..so I got the bad news that Albertson's will no longer be accepting other store coupons. (see previous post) Hmmm. This may affect my Grocery Game playing. I have a toddler and I love to only have to go to one store. *Sighs*.
Well the idea behind the game is still sound. Layer your coupons with sale prices!!
I'll keep you posted.

The Grocery Game

So I'm beginning to see the direction this blog is taking...not just gabbing about my online selling but sharing tips and thoughts on different ways to save money! And make money. (hopefully)
Today I went grocery shopping. Not my favorite thing in the world. But recently I discovered The Grocery Game.
Yes it involves clipping coupons and making lists. But the great thing...all the brainwork is done for you!! And I need all the help I can get.
The thought behind this site is to stock up on items when you can get them dirt cheap...and then you'll have them when you really need them. The Grocery Game provides a list of items every Sunday for a store in your area. (and the areas are growing) For me, that store is Albertsons. I have until Tuesday to get the best deals. That's because Albertson's flyer goes from Tues to Tues. But another store may work differently.
The list tells you what items are a good price and which are a fantastic price and probably the lowest you'll find for a few months. It has you combine store sales, store coupons and manufacturers coupons so some things even end up being close to free!! But the list tells you where to find the coupons..so start saving your Sunday paper inserts! And I discovered that Albertson's takes other store's coupons, so I can clip coupons from Safeway and Fred Meyer and use them all in one place!! Saves gas!
Yes the list costs money. But you can do a 4 week trial for $1. After that (for me anyway) it's $10 every 3 months. You easily earn that back in one week's shopping.
You can even add on a list for a drug store like Walgreens or Rite Aid and get cosmetics super cheap!
Just be careful to buy only what you normally use no matter how cheap something is!! Stocking up on canned garbanzo beans because they're $.19 a can is useless unless you're gonna use them!
So how did I do today? Well I spent $68.26 but I saved...$72.29. Awesome. And I bought name brands..Starbucks, Woolite, Cottonelle, Birds Eye, Nabisco...
Shopping has never been so fun.