| Most Recent Posts Treasure Hunting on eBayPosted Jun-24-08 15:04:44 PDT The informationist in me
understands the importance of keyword searching. Computers are a bit
stupid in this one respect. Most search mechanisms can only produce
results for the exact word you type into a search box. Therefore, if
there is a typo in an eBay title or description, the result list will
not include that auction. Listings with errors are viewed by FAR less
people, and generally will sell for much less then a properly listed
item. You may be surprised how many listings on eBay contain such
mistakes. How does one find these buried treasures of eBay? You could
run multiple searches for every possible misspelling or typo, which is
quite tedious and time consuming, OR you can check out the following
very cool websites: The first tool for "sniffing" out such listings is TypoHound. Type the item or keyword you are looking for into the TypoHound search box and it will generates a search with the following typos:
This tool offers some advanced search options such as limiting a search to a specified category, "buy it now" items, searching both title and description, and more. Both sites are excellent ways to find extraordinary eBay bargains! Yo ho! Thrift Shop pre game thoughtsPosted Jun-22-08 16:34:55 PDT Before one embarks on a Thrift Shop adventure, a few thoughts on how to approach this unique shopping experience which is part art, part sport. 1. Be Patient. These shops do not perform on command. It is not the shopping excursion for the person who tears a page out of a magazine and takes it to Bergdorf's to buy the whole look top to bottom. You can not expect to find a Chanel bag or Manolo's on day one. However, hang in there. Eventually pretty much everything shows up in these shops. 2. Buy something if it screams out to you. Chances are, you will never find that item again. Some thrift shops, such as Savers, will let you return items for store credit within seven days. Even if you can not return an item, mistaken impulse buys here will generally not dent your overdraft account. 3. Look for quality. Cheap is cheap. We are looking for VALUE. Take a good look at seams, zippers and hems for wear and tear. Hold sweaters and knits up to the light to do an x-ray of sorts for moth damage. 4. Look at labels. A vintage Gucci jacket can also easily be resold on eBay if you change your mind. 5. Do a bit of fieldwork. Find out when the shop brings out new merchandise. Most shops also have sale days. For example, the Savers in my neighborhood runs a half price sale on a certain color tag every Thursday. Whatever has not sold of that color by Monday is 99 cents. There are also Senior discount days, and other special promotions. A bit of fieldwork will get you closer to being awarded your black belt in thrift shopping. 6. Carrying a jewelers loupe or small magnifying glass is not a bad idea. I have fished a number of 14K items out of junk jewelery bins. Also good for reading marks on china and collectibles. Remember that life may be a journey, but thrift shopping is all about the hunt. Think panning for gold, or playing a slot machine (buy something for a dollar, list it on eBay and see if you hit a jackpot). I hope you all get out there and hit a big one!! |
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