Eye HEART My Customers

Dear Buyers,

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways.

I appreciate thee more than I can really say,

thanks, Anna Shoesmitten, for sending this modeling pic and making my day.

Love,

Elisa

aka

Elisav

Notyomamasebay

Going Italian Oulet Shopping - And Taking Orders!

Ok so I've been holding out on you.  Remember I told you guys in this post about my Italian father?  Well, I have a lot of family in Italy, and one of my favorite Italian cousins is getting married, so I'm heading over to the old country after a long three year absence to watch my crazy cousin Gianluca get hitched.

Aaaanyway, since my husband and son are staying home for financial reasons, I'm going to take advantage of a couple of days of my trip to hit some of the key Italian outlets.

Every day I move further away from an eBay-only sales strategy toward a personal-shopping based model, so if you haven't ordered anything from me yet, here's your chance!  Some of the outlets I will have access to are:

• Gucci
• Prada / Miu Miu
• Louboutin
• Tods
• Zanotti
• Rumor has it there is a Louis Vuitton outlet but I don't know where it is
• Any others you guys want to send me to

The Italian outlets are a shopper's paradise.  I visited the Tods outlet in Casette d'Ete with one of my cousins a few years ago, back when Tods was the "it" brand of the year, and got a pair of Tods loafers for $88.  So if you think of anything you'd like me to pick up for you my email address is in the "About Me " box on the left side of the page.  Feel free to use it!

My Alter Ego is Making Some Money...

... and she's getting good feedback too!  I've made about $65 so far with my second eBay account (the one for selling pre-owned, non-designer stuff - and my stash of ugly gifts) and have 100% positive feedback.  Ok, so I've only got 5 feedback so far but still!  This account is really easy to manage because I don't worry as much about all the TINY details of packing and sending people's stuff.  I don't stress if I don't send the item RIGHT THIS SECOND but rather the next business day just like I've stipulated in the listing.  I don't accept returns and I don't stress about listing items that are less than perfect as long as I've disclosed it.  In fact, I recently sold a cashmere sweater with a hole in it.  The lady who bought it LOVED it.  She didn't care about the hole!  All she cares about is she got an awesome cashmere sweater for $16.

So, all in all, things are good for anonymous eBay username number two.  Now, I know some of you are really curious to find my alter ego on eBay, but I think I'll keep it to myself for a little while longer.  At least until I sell all the stuff that I don't want my mother-in-law to see. :)

5 Tips for Protecting Yourself While Buying on eBay

While I spend a lot of time talking about my strategies for being a good eBay seller, a comment by one of my clients last week reminded me that the majority of you are not sellers but buyers, and that perhaps a short primer on how to stay safe while buying expensive items on eBay may come in handy.  I may be giving away some trade secrets here because I use my eBay skills to help me get great deals for my personal shopping business, but I figure I can always find SOME way to add value for my clients.

I will preface this by saying that there is no way to eliminate risk in life.  Yeah, trading on eBay can be risky.  So can crossing the street.  Risk is a healthy part of doing business and I consistently take advantage of the risk aversion of other buyers to get deals I wouldn't normally be able to get.  However, there are things you can do to manage risk, and that's what these tips are all about.

1) Check feedback. THOROUGHLY.  Don't rely just on the number of stars the seller has received, or on the percent of good back they've got to their name.  Read the comments people have left.  Read the seller's RESPONSE to buyer comments.  I am much more likely to buy from a seller with negative feedback who resonds politely to the buyer's feedback than I am to buy from a seller that attacks people who have left negatives.  Additionally, don't rely on just the feedback you can see on eBay's site.  Use this site: http://www.toolhaus.org/, to check for negative feedback left more than 12 months ago.

2) Ask for more pictures.  I don't care if the seller already has 25 perfect pictures in the listing.  You always, always, always ask for more pictures, SPECIFIC pictures, to check whether the seller actually has the item in their possesion.  Many scammers post pictures of genuine items that they have stolen from other listings.  Other post only stock pictures of their items that they've gotten from department stores.  Big no no.  It offers absolutely no proof the seller has the item on hand.  Be wary of any seller that won't send additional pictures - they've likely got something to hide.

3) Pay with Your Credit Card.  I especially recommend this for big ticket items.  Have you ever paid for something with your card only to have it stolen right outside the store?  What did you do?  You called your credit card, right?  Paypal has a feature that allows you to pay for your purchase using your credit card balance.  Many credit cards have a liberal chargeback policy, which means you are essentially insuring your item against any problem you might have that eBay and Paypal can't help you solve.  This is only to be used as a last resort, as you should work with both eBay and Paypal to get your money back should, heaven forbid, something go wrong.

4) Get an Expert Opinion on Your Item.  There are free forums out there that will help you authenticate designer goods such as shoes and handbags.  I unfortunately only know of forums for these types of items, since they're the items I trade in, but I'm sure such forums also exist for electronics and the like.  The forum I frequent regularly is The Purse Blog Forum.  They have several authentication threads by designer where buyers can come and ask experts - people who are in regular contact with the type of item in question - for their opinion on an item's authenticity.  This forum has become an invaluable resource for me in my personal shopping business, and has also been instrumental in helping me learn more about the kinds of goods I sell.  Yes, I like designer shoes, clothing and bags, but I don't have the money to spend on them, so I rely on the collective knowledge of this group to help me make purchasing and other business decisions.

5) Develop a Relationship with a Seller.  Like moi. :)  If you don't like the service you get you can come spam my blog.

Good night folks!  Speak to you soon! 

Two Bonanzle Sales in a Row!

Bonanzle is really picking up!  I sold two items on there in the last week, which is VERY exciting since I actually made a profit on one of them and the other has been in inventory for MUCH longer than I'd hoped.  So long, in fact, that I was actually considering keeping it myself.  It was one of the first things I ever bought, and I have to be honest, I made some big buying mistakes with my first lot of item.  While I am making a profit on my new items, I'm also going through the process of "purging" older items that I either paid too much for or there's just not a market for on eBay.

One thing I've come to realize is that online selling works in cycles.  There will be periods where I don't sell anything for weeks on end, and then suddenly three or four buyers will pop up on the same day or on consecutive days.  The other thing I've come to realize is that everything sells eventually, but holding out for an item to sell for the price I want ties up cash flow I could be using to buy things that will sell more easily.  So now whenever I see something's just not moving I either sell it at the break-even price or if I can, take it back to the store.  Seems like common sense, but I waited to long with a few things I bought at the beginning, and then I was stuck!

Anyway, I should probably update my sales figures up there but frankly I'm so disorganized I have no idea how to aggregate all my selling venues anymore!  It was easy when eBay was the only place, now I've got Bonanzle sales and direct sales to take into account as well.  Maybe I'll just round up to $5000 and call it even.  What do you guys think?

Top Rated Seller!

I just got awarded a "Top Rated Seller" badge by eBay!

This designation is given only to Powersellers who meet certain standards of customer service on things like shipping, communication and accurate item descriptions.

I guess all my stressing about customer service actually got me somewhere!  Well, at least with eBay anyway.  Now let's see what buyers think of this stuff.

I'M A POWERSELLER!!

Soooo right after I was saying life was boring and nothing new was going on with eBay I logged on and found THIS next to my user id!

I have no idea what that means for practical purposes, but I know Powersellers get some extra perks like discounts and the like.  This is VERY exciting for me, I feel like I won a medal. :)

I'm definitely going to have to throw a cyber party to celebrate this one!

Running Out of Things to Talk About

With eBay super slow and my need to preserve the privacy of my personal shopping projects, I find myself low on things to talk about in the blog.  I have a couple of offers on some of my eBay stuff and I've actually been seeing some movement on Bonanzle but nothing to write home about.  My personal shopping has been fun.  I'm helping one client get ready for her wedding so that's been exciting.  She's going to look HOT.

That being said I don't want to stop writing in here because I'm afraid of losing the habit, so could I ask you guys to give me ideas on what to write about??  Is there anything you guys are curious about that you want me to cover?

Let me know!

Stuck in the eBay Doldrums

The eBay business has been unbelievably slow lately, although thankfully my "special find" clients have been keeping me busy.  I've been strongly considering toning down the eBay and dialing up the personal shopping lately because frankly I have so much fun on these special assignments it's like I'm not doing any work at all.

This weekend I went on the hunt for a pair of Christian Louboutin pumps for a new client.  The trick with these shoes is that the sizing on them is really inconsistent, and varies wildly by style.... so I just had to try a few pairs on myself so I could get a good sense for which sizes would work and not work. :) I have to tell you, while Mr. Louboutin makes some of the most exquisite shoes I've ever seen, some of his styles leave me kind of cold, while some are downright hideous.  However, when he does it well, he does it very, very well, and I had to give myself a good talking to to keep myself from buying a pair of $600 shoes.

But I digress.  Back to the personal shopping.  As much as I love it, there's definitely a few kinks I have to work out in the business model.  It first started as a service to get people nice things at a discount, taking advantage of my eBay nagivation skills and outlet proximity.  I would then split the discount with the client, keeping part for myself as payment.  The problem with that is that sometimes people ask me for specific things that are hard to find or difficult to get at a discount, in which case I either have to work for free OR not take the assignment because, frankly, I don't feel right asking someone to pay more than retail for something they could have easily have bought for themselves.  In fact I feel very guilty making money off this model at all, but at the same time I don't want to turn someone away knowing I could do something to help them even if I don't get paid.  Some people just don't have the time to go shopping to identify the right article of clothing or the right pair of shoes and are more than willing to pay someone to do it for them.

So this is what I've decided for a process and fee scedule.  First, I ask the client how much they are willing to pay for the item and I do my best to stay under that price.  I calculate a fee for myself that is 10% of the price of the item or a minimum of $30, BUT I try my best to use the tips and tricks I gave you here to come in under what the client is willing to pay even with the commission.  It feels like a win-win, but I'm still having some qualms about whether this is fair.

What do you guys think??  How would you price this service?

Say Hello to Mr. Choo. Jimmy Choo.

Black Jimmy Choo Cutout Pump in 38.5

I went to a store secret supplier I don't normally go to on Weds and found these beauties waiting for me.  I've also just purchased my fourth pair of Louboutins, in shocking pink.  They'll be here sometime next week.  I'll post pictures once I get them. :)

I'm posting these on eBay tonight but as always if any one of you wants them do email me and the blog-reader discount will apply.

Oh yes, and the carpet is back.  I didn't have time last night while my son was wrestling me for the camera and trying to get to the shoes (which he calls "pates" for the Spanish word for shoes - zapatos) to lay out the construction paper.

I Have a Secret

One of the things that's been bothering me all this time as I've transitioned into selling new, premium designer items is that I miss the quick petty cash I used to get from selling more inexpensive used clothing.  The less expensive the item, the easier it is to sell, which essentially amounted to quick pocket change when I first started out.  Now I actually have to worry about things not selling (not a SINGLE one of my items this week has bids), and while I have a pile of pre-owned clothes THIS high to sell I don't want that stuff to mix with my designer stuff.  It just feels weird to have my brother's two year old plaid J. Crew shorts mixed in with my brand new YSL sandals.  The other thing is that now everyone in my family knows about my eBay store and can find it through this blog, so I can't put things up for sale that they would give me crap about selling (like gifts I didn't like).

So.... I opened up another store!!  I haven't listed it anywhere, I don't track it nearly as closely and I don't plan on telling anyone about it so I can list as much crap as I want and not worry about:

1) My reputation being ruined by selling a pre-owned item that I disagree with the buyer about.  I'll be the first to admit my standards aren't super high when it comes to pre-owned clothing, and frankly perceptions vary so widely it's just bound to happen.

2) My mom wandering into my store and seeing that I'm selling the shirt she gave me for 99 cents.

The premise of my new store is that every auction starts at 99 cents, no matter what.  Do you guys remember how fun that was?  Anyway, I've already made $14, and it's looking like I'll close the week with some nice pocket cash for my troubles.  But sorry, I can't tell you where this store is or what it's called, because that would defeat the purpose.

Shhhh.... don't tell anyone.

Has Anyone Seen This Dress??

I'm helping a friend/client find it to wear to a wedding related event. She doesn't recall where she found this picture, but it was online at a blog of some sort.  The dress looks like some sort of chiffon / silk voile with a banded collar, pintuck bodice, self-covered buttons and a pleated knee-length skirt.  It's reminiscent of the 1940's.  The picture looks like it might have been a magazine spread of some sort and frankly, I don't keep up with the fashion mags (I know, shame on me).

I've hit the prerequisite stores online but have found nothing that is exactly right.  I'm going to the physical stores to look for it next, but if you guys see anything that looks like this, could you let me know??  Thanks!!

I'm Back, and Bigger than Ever

I ate everything under the sun in Mexico City.  I thought for sure my Nicaraguan stomach bacteria would trump the Mexican food and water bacteria.  Boy was I wrong.  Ouch.

Anyway, I got back tonight and I'm having a hard time getting back into my old rhythm with the eBay business.  I'm not compulsively checking my auctions tonight, or "spying" on my visitors with my tracking program.  I'm not creating new listings or thinking about what I'm going to buy next.

Maybe I'll think about all that stuff tomorrow.  I've got a few ideas about how to expand the business, but you guys are going to have to wait to hear them.  Right now I'm off to have a really bland dinner and to play with my son.

On Hiatus for a Week!!

Hey guys, I'm going on a business trip this week and will probably not have time to post.  Just wanted to let you know in case someone other than my son actually missed me!

Thank You for Sticking With Me!

My first post was entitled eBay Startup - The Road to 50, in reference to the little number that appears next to your eBay username totaling the number of pieces of positive feedback you have received.  At that point I had around 25 feedback, and I was still focusing on selling my own pre-owned clothes, as well as my son's.  My goal was to reach 50 points - a prospect that seemed as reachable as the moon.

The big realization came very soon thereafter.  I was making an average profit of $9 per item, and given the constraints on my time unless I could signifiantly increase my profit per item this business wouldn't even pay for a night out at the movies.  That's when I found the Secret Supplier, and started seriously investing in inventory.

That's also around the time I started making new friends. I wanted to take a moment to thank some of the people who have been here since the beginning, even though I'm afraid I may inadvertently leave someone important out!  If I do, please call me out on it!

• Allie and MM.  MM is one of the best customers EVER, and one of my first off eBay buyers.  Allie has a fantastic eye for what to put in the store - every item she's suggested or given me to sell my store has been unbelievably popular.  Both have gone out of their way to help me succeed, in more ways than I can count. Thanks for your support, guys!
• Tammy from This Mama Works It. Fellow eBay mama and awesome blogger.  I've learned a TON from Tammy over the last few months.  Still your biggest fan, Tammy!  Thanks for continuing to read after all this time.
• Anna Shoesmitten. Anna is a fellow Guiseppe Zanotti and Christian Louboutin lover and a great customer.  She's been very generous in helping publicize my store, and I just can't say enough good things about her blog!  She also introduced me to Shoehunting.com, just about my favorite site to gawk at shoes!
• My blog readers, known and unknown.  I hope you don't mind my calling you out, but special thanks to "Hollywood Maryland", "Equatorial Guinea" and "Pittsburgh Pennsylvania".  I don't know who you are or how you found me, but you've been around for a very long time and for some inexplicable reason you keep coming back!  Thank you!  I'd also mention "San Jose California" but they haven't come back in a while, and I kind of suspect that was eBay spying on me anyway.  And of course, my friend D, just about the most loyal reader EVER.