Selling off your Collection and What are NARU’s?

August 25th, 2006 |

Author: admin

Dear eBay Queen;

I’m selling off my Barbie’s (boohoo). I’m not a collector; they’re just taking up too much storage space. Would I be better off selling everything in one big lot or selling things individually? I have dolls, clothes, cases, houses and the airplane. I have dolls that vary in ages – some from the 60s and some from the 70s.

I’d like to get as much for these as possible. I’m hoping to help fund a trip to Disney World. The way I see it a trip to Disney with my boys, is better than Barbie’s in Rubbermaid containers

Charleen; Ottawa

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Dear Charleen;

Since you’re not a collector of Barbies, I will congratulate you on your ability to get rid of stuff you don’t want, or need any more. It is really hard for some of us (me included) to part with stuff we don’t need.

Barbies and their “stuff” from the 1960’s and 70’s, almost always sell well individually. You can research Barbie Lots by checking out completed eBay auctions, sorting by ‘priced highest first’’. I would suggest researching the dolls individually. The clothing usually doesn’t sell as high unless you know the name of each outfit, and it is complete with shoes and accessories. Unknown clothing or accessories would sell better in a lot. Most Barbie cases are $15 to $35 in ‘played with condition’, and go up in price the better the condition.

If you choose to sell your entire collection in a lot, there will be less work involved. You’ll be able to group items together and take photos, only have one listing to write up, and the items could be pre-boxed and ready to ship out. If you choose to sell each item in the collection individually, there will be individual photos to take and auctions to write up. Each auction you start under 9.99 costs .35 cents to list. But the reward would be more money for each individual item. Whichever way you go, the end result will get you that much closer to Disney World!

Dear eBay Queen;

Today, I was so excited to see that I had sold a book on a “Buy it Now” for $650.00. I immediately sent an invoice to the buyer. Within 30 minutes, I received an email from eBay (it was in my messages folder on "My eBay") saying that my account "may" have been compromised and I should immediately change my password (I did). I went back and looked at the book auction and discovered the bidder had been NARU’d (Not A Registered User).

I REALLY needed to sell that book, and I am a bit disappointed it wasn’t a legitimate sale. Did this book buyer compromise my account? I made sure all was legitimate and sent the invoice directly from the listing. Any ideas?

Frustrated…Ginger

Dear Ginger;

I am so sorry. I have had a similar experience happen to me, and it can really mess up your day. I am glad you were eBay wise, and checked your messages to make sure the emails were real and from eBay.

I would guess the bidders account was compromised, and to be safe, eBay is warning you of a possible account take over also. When an eBay account has been taken over, eBay will put a hold on the account, until the account owner has contacted them. Since you were able to surf eBay, there was not a hold on your account.

Don’t let this one transaction turn you away from eBay. Put your book back on. A better bidder will find it before you know it.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 160018641860 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page). Are you searching for that perfect lawn ornament to let you neighbors know how seriously you take Geography? Try this: Unique Electric Rotating Sphere Globe. It didn’t sell for the $75,0000 asking price, but it was just too unique not to show all of you. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160018641860

Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul. Do you have a question for the eBay Queen? E-mail: questions@asktheebayqueen.com .