Auction of the Month: Old school goes new
school on eBay
"Vintage APPLE
IIC computer NIB Sealed Never Opened II C"
That was the title of the eBay auction that sold in late January for $2,553.00.
A vintage Apple IIC computer, sealed, and New in Box -- a
collector's dream, right?
Not if you're Dan Budiac -- the
winner of this item. After he won this coveted collector's item, he opened it!
(But he chronicled his experience on the photo sharing site www.flickr.com and his blog www.dansays.com
and got a TON of publicity for it!)
So today we're going to look at two ways you can tap into eBay's massive
traffic potential: by selling vintage collectors' items and by buying them!
a) Sell rare, collectible items on eBay
These days, you can buy -- and sell -- just about anything
on eBay. But collectibles are still the heart and soul of eBay today. For the
most part, you can use the same tried-and-true selling strategies to sell these
vintages items as you can for most commodity items -- with a few differences.
Let's take a look at Store Seller Vintchip's core
strategies for selling this rare item so you can adopt them for your own
collectible items...
- Include
lots of photos, with close-ups of flaws. When you're selling collectibles, especially
those that carry a higher price tag, including lots of photos is crucial.
The value of collectibles is often defined by the item's condition -- so
painting an accurate picture of the item condition is critical.
Vintchip has this strategy down to a fine art. The auction listing includes lots of close-ups of the boxed computer from all angles -- including a corner that got damaged during storage.
Tell potential bidders exactly why your item is rare and valuable. The auction listing copy leaves no doubt the item is truly a rare find:
"To find a complete system unopened and never seeing human eyes before is unbelievable... I have never seen another unopened Apple II C system in my life, and this belongs in a museum as this is the only way to correctly portray how a new Apple system from the early years of computing would arrive."
And you only have to look at Vintchip's 100% feedback to know he's been around the block and that he specializes in selling these items.
Describes storage facilities that can affect value. Because the condition of collectibles can have a drastic effect on their value, describing storage conditions is a wise move. That way you can eliminate any surprises -- and potential negative feedback. Seller Vintchip explains in detail how the item was stored in less than stellar conditions, and while he does, reiterates just how valuable the item is:
"I bought this system from a collector who said he bought this from the original owner who had just stored it and never got around to opening or using it. I have stored this system for years in a smoke free and safe place since. It does show some wear from shipping and storage, which was mostly from the original owner, who didn't understand what a rare item he was dealing with." - Establish
your credibility with a solid feedback rating. With the new seller rating
penalties being handed out these days, it's more important than ever to
deliver exactly what you promise in your listing -- and deliver it fast!
This is even truer when you're selling rare items. People need to be able to trust that the item you're offering is authentic... so they need to trust you. This will also ensure you item sells for the highest price possible.
You can check out the whole auction listing at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360014619309
b) Buy collectible items on eBay to capture massive
exposure for your other ventures
eBayer dbudiac won this
vintage auction -- with the unbelievable "unopened" and therefore
museum-worthy collectible -- and proceeded to open it!
No doubt Seller Vintchip -- and collectors everywhere
-- were gasping in horror. But for Dan, buying this
vintage computer was a way of recapturing a piece of his childhood.
"Ultimately, I decided that I didn't buy it as a financial
investment," Dan said in a recent interview. "I bought it so I could
stay up until
Giving the unwrapping the ceremony it deserved, Dan used social networking
sites to share his experience with other childhood Apple IIC owners,
including...
- Posting photographs of himself
opening the Apple IIC packages and posting photos on Flickr.
- Posting about the experience --
including childhood memories -- on his blog, www.dansays.com. You can also see the personal letter
he wrote to Steve Jobs to accompany his "warranty" registration
letter.
Since he bought the Apple IIC in late January, Dan's
chronicles have received:
- 348,201 views of his photo
journey
4,490 Diggs - Links from 286 blogs, including Boing Boing, Boing Boing Gadgets, Telegraph, Laughing Squid, and Gizmodo
To the
people who think it's absurd to spend this much on a twenty-year-old computer,
Dan points out that it only cost him a penny per person for the 348,201 views
of his photo journey.
See the "unveiling" that attracted so much attention yourself by
visiting:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dansays
As we're fond of telling you, the best way to beef up your eBay profits is to
funnel some of eBay's traffic to your off-eBay website, blog,
and so on. Dan Budiac is a prime example of exactly
how this can be done... and he got to relive a special childhood memory in the
process.
8. Final thoughts
Whew.
What a bruiser! But now you've got everything in one place.
I hope our February issue of Bidding Frenzy has answered all your questions
about the latest round of eBay changes and given you some ideas on how you can
improve your business and increase your sales.
Don't panic. You will STILL be able to make good money by taking advantage of
eBay's incredible reach. But now, more than ever, you'll need to MARKET your
items, not just list them and hope for the best.
Every month we'll keep sending you the latest strategies and tools to maximize
your success on eBay... and wherever else you decide to sell!
Thanks for reading, and as always, I wish you success with your eBay business.
We love getting comments and questions from our readers, and we read every one!
If you have any or would like to suggest topics for future issues, please email
us at: ebaynewsletter@marketingtips.com
Happy auctions!
Derek Gehl, CEO
Internet Marketing Center