Welcome back bidders!

My kids went back to school today and the bidders seem to be back - coincidence? Yea Fall! My store also seems to be hopping -- that really goes in bursts, I can go for weeks without a single store item selling and then suddenly, for instance today, 7 items went.

Now I just need to replenish them. I made a quick run this morning while I still had wheels - my car has a transmission problem and is going to the shop -- I scored some vintage Atari games in their original boxes and the cutest Free People dress. The only problem is that it is black -- I have the worst time photographing black clothing, I can never catch any detail. Any tips?

So far, so-so

Well at least I'm sticking to my goal -- yesterday I listed about 12 items and the day before 10. A few of those first 10 were conversions to auction from my store listings. If you've had a store for a while it's good to go in, probably seasonally, and pull out a few items - some overlooked gems -- and give them better exposure by re-listing them as auctions. Since auctions come up more reliably in searches, you'll get a few more eyeballs on them.

While I have stuck to my part of the bargain, I can't say that bidders have been doing the same. I had 2 days in a row where no auction item sold and yesterday, only a $5 item. Boo-hoo, though not unexpected for August.

August eBay goals

Traditionally -- at least in the last 5 years in which I have been seriously doing eBay - August has been a slow month -- both for me getting listings up and for buyers who have more to do. Since we moved to Kentucky from Michigan, I have been getting a bit of a jump start when the kids go back to school in the middle of August and I get my house and my time back.

I seriously need cash (when don't I) and I still have a boatload of stuff (No I still didn't get to the yard sale), so I am going to set a goal of 8-10 new listings per day for the month. I'll go with the idea that -- If I list it - buyers will come! Here's hoping.

Garage Sale Part 2

Well, the sale just didn't happen last weekend, so I am trying again. The weather is much nicer this week anyway --- it dropped down to the 80s and the humidity died down to a tolerable level.

The plan for today is --

sort through and organize the huge pile in the center of the garage -- put clothing into boxes by size -- pulling out things that need to hang on racks.

price glassware and collectibles already in the garage

go through our closets, kitchen cupboards and basement for more items

For Friday.

make signs and price lists

post sale on Craigslist (our paper raised their prices again and it's over $25 for a 4-line ad)

clean up items for sale that have been outdoors (basketball hoop and baseball net)

move patio tables to driveway

post signs by 5 p.m.