Get Motivated

Permanent Marker Removal Secrets

Dec 30, 2017 Posted by:  jlann No Comments

For a reseller, there is nothing worse than finding an amazing deal just to notice that the store pricer has marked the item with a permanent marker. Don’t fret. Most items are salvageable. That’s to say, you can remove the marker without causing damage to the item.

Here’s the secret. First you will need three things. A pencil eraser, rubbing alcohol, and a paper towel. Sounds like a Mac Gyver episode, right? It’s not. I can guarantee that Richard Dean Anderson will not show up once you gather these items.

This technique can be used on semi-nonporous to nonporous items, such as stickers over cardboard, most product boards, platic, glass etc.

First dip the eraser in the rubbing alcohol and rub lightly briefly then wipe with paper towel. You may have to repeat this a couple of times as different surfaces hang on to the marker stronger than others. Between sessions notice if the item is colorfast. Most are…but if you see the color being take off, you may want to make short sessions or leave it lightened.

Note: If you are cleaning a product pressboard (cardboard covered with a thin picture cover) make sure that the alcohol does not stay on for a long time…it is forgiving, but if left on long enough it will soak through. Just make it brief sessions and you should be just fine.

You should not attempt this on porous items such as cloth and paper. Bonus tip…if you still want the product and will not be able to remove the permanent marker…grab a color-matching marker and cover it up by making minor details to the price to hide it. Such as a star or checkmark. In you selling description you can say item in like new condition except it has a checkmark on it. This way your buyer does not see what you have paid for it. You would rather have a star on it then have the buyer feel as if he or she didn’t get as good of a deal on it.

Happy new year!

Getting Started on Ebay

Nov 20, 2017 Posted by:  jlann No Comments

So you have set up your ebay and paypal accounts and linked them. You know how to post and add pictures to start listing your goodies. But wait! You are missing something big.

Did you do your research? That’s right, this is the one of the biggest things people overlook.

I ran into a lady who was impressed by the profit margins just for a “easy-pickup-and-grap” at the local thrift shop.

She asked me if I ever failed….the answer was a BIG FAT YES!  When I started, I failed all the time. I considered quitting, and saying Ebay wasn’t worth it. I am glad I stuck with it and did some research.

When I first started, I picked up designer name brands that I was familiar with. That bombed completely.

Research is knowing what will sell and what the profit margin will look like. Below are some tips to help you get started in the right direction.

1. Don’t be scared to buy out of your comfort zone. – Most important

Remember you are not buying for you and your likes and taste, but others. I have brought some crazy things to the counter and as I am paying for them the cashier asks quitely, “What are you going to do with that?” I have to giggle and say, “Make $75.00 on Ebay”.

True story: I was at a police auction with over 300 people crammed in one small area with tons of items, and I had my eyes only set for a coffee can of car fobs.

Everyone laughed at me for bidding of the can o’ fobs, which I stole for $10.00. Snickers from all sides ensued. One woman asked really loud….”What are you going to do with those?”

….I whispered in her ear, so that no one else could hear, but her, “Do you see each one of these fobs? Most are high-end car fobs and are worth $10.00-$70.00 a piece on Ebay. Her laughter turned to solemn amazement as she ran her hand through the fobs to estimate the value of the can’s worth…

Everyone else was left to wonder what I had told her…as they saw her immediate reaction. No one was snickering, but asking the lady, “What did she tell you?” …I could see one by one, everyone mockery turn to awe.

Won’t lie it was a great feeling, and I profited hundreds of dollars. Don’t be scared to buy what others might overlook.

2. Is it unusual?

This one ties into #1. The unusual sells. If you have never seen it heard of it. It is time to research it. More than likely it is going for a pretty penny on Ebay for it’s rarity or unusualness.

3. Is it hot?

Do a quick scan of what the snapshot looks like right now. (Not 2 weeks ago – Yes, it can change that fast.) You might think well I made hundreds of dollars on crochet blankets…I am going to do it again this season. Nothing lasts forever! People are fickle and will change on a dime. Always do research on the item you think is a sure thing.

4. Is the market flooded?

Even if it a sure thing, do research to see how many of them are selling currently. If there are too many on the market, that will drive the value way down and is the death of many good flippers. Go to Ebay’s site and in filters click “sold” to see how many are selling and at what price.

There are many other little tips, but I promised myself to keep each post short and simple to read. I will dump a few more are time goes on.

Saving Money In The Weirdest Way

Nov 15, 2017 Posted by:  jlann No Comments

We’ve all heard your parents say, “Save 10% of all of your earnings for investment, retirement addition or just for a raining day fund”. How do you do that when you need every penny? Well, playing with your physique on this one. I will share with you my secret to making putting away a little and not be as tempted to dive into it. I do this from time to time and it works fairly well.

1. Grab a Container (So far it sounds easy right?)
2. Go to your local bank and ask for a percentage of you earnings in presidential $1.00 coins.
3. Once you get over the embarrassment of asking for the coins go home and place them in your container.

That’s it! I know what your thinking….that is so lame because it is simple, but humans by nature have a collectors spirit. As you look at the container filling up you become attached to these coins as a collection it is hard to think of parting with them. Don’t ask me why it works …but it is a very good deterrent to spend it automatically.

There is one other reason why it is a bit harder to spend it on a whim…it is because it is a “weird” currency…one that is not used as much, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to haul and pay someone in all presidential coins like some kind of freak. Oh, and did I tell you humans are quite lazy to boot. Who would want to make any extra trip to the bank to exchange them?

For these reasons it makes it harder to spend them.

I would dare you to try it for 3 months…(I bet you end up saving these little coins for a whole year).

See how much you can save just by this one simple trick.

EBAY Motivational Turn-Arounds From July 2017

Jul 24, 2017 Posted by:  jlann No Comments
I always here people ask, “How much can you make?” and the answer is “millions of dollars!” WRONG…and worse yet they have no examples of what profited or tips of what makes the bucks. I don’t Ebay all the time and it is just a side gig for me, but here are some of my better finds for July 2017. Found these glasses for $6.00 and sold them for $24.50.

Who would have thought cookbooks were in so high of a demand? Well, guess what there are quite a few..I pick this set up for 3.00 per book at Goodwill and sold it for $29.00

Don’t forget about checking the store’s jewelry department! Sterling Silver and Gold are often overlooked. This week I found two charm sterling silver bracelets that were marked as fashion jewelry because they were tarnished or the associate was missed a 925 stamp.

Here are a few I am currently selling:

I picked this up for $3.00

I picked this up for $1.00