Auctiva Review

For the past year or so I've been using Auctiva to list my auctions. I read many reviews of Auctiva and other auction management sites before I signed up. For me, it was time to stop listing directly on the ebay site because it was becoming too expensive and well, I'm cheap, so I decided to try Auctiva because it is free.

I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised and still using it more than a year later. Not only is Auctiva free but I save money by using it. I can post more pictures, schedule my listings and use templates all for free! There are a lot of template choices too.

So, while I hit the occassional "Auctiva Bug" where I write a listing and it won't let me save it or it won't let me add pictures, 9 out of 10 times things go very smoothly. I have no plans to change auction management sites anytime soon.

Now, off to use Auctiva :)

All Things Treasured Girl's Spring Line Goes on Sale Monday 1/28/08!

Instead of 20.....

How about 4 listings for January?

Not a great start to 2008 but I have been buying and getting ready to list. That's something. And All Things Treasured is having a 50% sale to make room for new merchandise so that's good too.

Now, if I can just find more time to list...I'm not sure why my kids don't find it as much fun as I do :)

2008 goals for JGJ2005

Ok, here are my 2008 goals. Put out there for all the internet world to see. Maybe that will keep me accountable.

My goals are:

1. 20 NEW auction every month
2. Work up a tag sale fund well before tag sale season begins in May
3. Hit a thrift store at least one time a week until tag sale season
4. Buy more.

No, I didn't just add number 4 in so that I can really achieve one of my goals. My kids need clothes and ebay is my favorite source :)

I'll update you all after the first quarter and we'll see how I do!

Need Ebay Merchandise? January is a great time to buy!

We all know that there are some great deals to be found right after each holiday. November 1 is a terrific time to shop for costumes and July 5 is great for patriotic merchandise.

However, if you want to find some real deals I suggest you hit your local thrift store, Goodwill Store or Salvation Army in January. January is historically my best month to find ebay merchandise in the thrift stores. I have a few theories why this is so:

1. People spend time between Christmas and New Year's Day making room for their new stuff. In order to do that, many people donate toys, books, clothes and gadgets by December 31 in order to get the tax benefit for the current year while making room for their new gifts. This leads to lots of new merchandise in the thrift stores that are great for immediate resale .
2. When the tree and holiday decorations come down, people think twice about repacking the things they don't love. Or they received yet another Christmas platter or ornament that they don't like. These things end up at your local thrift store and they will be cheap to buy in January! If you have the space at home and the funds available I suggest buying Christmas items in January and holding on to them for the next holiday season (more on when exactly you should list holiday items for sale to come in another post).
3. Let's face it...those of us in the colder climates spend much more time indoors at this time of year and now that the holiday festivities are over it is time to tackle cleaning out a closet or two. With any luck, that stuff ends up at the thrift store too!

So, whether you're looking for a great set of china, a rare vintage book, a designer sweater or a fancy Christmas ornament, January is the time go hunting in your favorite thrift stores for ebay merchandise.

Introduction

Hi and thanks for finding my blog! My name is Jen or jgj2005 on ebay. I started selling on ebay in 2005 to supplement our family income while I stay home with my young daughters. I just completed my third holiday season and I've learned quite a bit about selling (and buying) during that time. I'm going to try and share some of my insight with you....from where I find / buy the goods I sell, to how I organize my time, to my favorite listing techniques. If there is anything you'd like to see in this blog, please don't hesitate to e-mail or post a comment and I'll do my best to address it.