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Garage Sales: Treasure hunt - Garage Sales |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Thursday, 19 July 2007 |
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Page 2 of 2
THE VIRTUAL GARAGE SALE
Get help for an eBay auction
By Erin Frustaci
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If hauling junk out to the driveway and sitting in the garage all day sounds like too much work, virtual garage sales may be the ticket. Thanks to sites like Craig’s List, eBay and Garagesalesanywhere.com, garage sales are as easy to find as a click of the mouse.
For those who aren’t exactly eBay savvy, stores are popping up to do it for you. Net Donkey, 330 S. College Ave., in Fort Collins, allows customers to bring in items, will do the research, take photos, create the eBay listing and ship the item once sold.
 John Morris, manager of Net Donkey, said stores like this one can save a person hours and hours of time.
“Plus, you can make more money on eBay than a garage sale,” he said. “You can hit 300 million people on eBay. Garage sales limit you to whoever is going to be out that Saturday.”
Of course, everything comes at a cost. Net Donkey takes out 30 percent for commission and fees from auction proceeds up to $500, 20 percent for proceeds between $500-$1,000 and 15 percent for proceeds exceeding $1,000.
“We don’t charge a listing fee, even if the item doesn’t sell,” he said.
Morris points out, though, that not everything will sell well online.
“A lot of times what something is worth and what it sells for on eBay are two different things,” he said.
Some things that typically do well on eBay are personal electronics, cell phones, PDAs, small antiques and fine china. Morris recommends staying away from small jewelry, and clothing unless it is specialized, such as outdoor gear.
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THEY SAID IT
Julie Koerner, e-Auctions in Fort Collins
What makes your job challenging and exciting?
Discovering all the different items out there that people have to sell. Since we research each item, there is a very large learning curve and it is fun and educational to learn about each one. The challenges of the new day and working with the public to help them recycle their valuables.
John Morris, Net Donkey in Fort Collins
What mistakes do people make in online auctions?
People that think they can just go to garage sales, and thrift stores, buy old stuff that looks cool, and make a ton of money. eBay is half science half art. If you only have half of it down, it will not be very successful for you.
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THEY'RE OLD FORM, BUT THEY'RE STILL IN STYLE
The dirty and tarnished bracelet sold for 50 cents, but cleaned up to reveal a sterling silver and 18-carat gold piece of jewelry worth several hundred dollars. It’s one of Jenn Callum’s best garage-sale finds, and an example of why — even in the age of the online auction — many treasure hunters still seek out traditional rummage sales.
Call it a garage sale, a yard sale, a tag sale or a boot sale, but don’t call it a relic that online auctions have rendered obsolete.
In fact, the Internet is increasingly complementing traditional garage sales, making it easier to connect buyers and sellers who once relied solely on newspaper advertisements and roadside signs. Many newspapers post sale listings online and other Web sites try to help sellers ramp up foot traffic by allowing them to post information about their events.
A greater amount of pricing information on the Web via online auction sites also is creating more savvy “garagers,” said Callum, whose Web site, www.garagesale-guru.com, offers information for buyers and sellers. Some shoppers search the residential sales specifically to find items that will fetch a much more attractive selling price online.
- McClatchy-Tribune | Only registered users can write comments.
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