Indiana-Joe's Epic Adventure Journal as I continue my successful journey through the Cash Lands of eBay & Craigslist Treasures!

Old Nintendo system sells for $13,105
By Mike Smith
Plugged In
February 10, 2010

Everyday folk discovering colossally valuable collectors' items amid everyday junk has been the lifeblood of antiques shows for years, but it's not every day you see a real-life gold-in-the-attic tale play out on eBay.

Last week, North Carolina eBay user lace_thongs35 thought she was putting up an everyday, 80s-era Nintendo Entertainment System (together with five games) up on the popular auction site. But less than an hour after the first bid, the price was over $6,000 -- and on Wednesday, when the auction closed, the final selling price topped $13,000.

Why? Not the console itself, but one of the games bundled with it -- a deeply obscure 1987 release called Stadium Events, a highly sought-after collectors' item. But it wasn't even the game itself that was worth the bulk of the money -- it was the original cardboard box, which collectors value at a breathtaking $10,000. Fewer than 10 complete copies of the game are thought to exist, and retro gaming aficionados consider it one of the hardest-to-find NES games ever made.

Bet you're wishing you hadn't let Mom throw out your Nintendo collection now, eh?

Joe that is amazing! Thanks for sharing your trip journey through e-bay & Craigs list.

Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

There are all kinds of treasures and collectibles waiting to be found and sold on eBay! Who would have thought of an old Nintendo video game still in the box. I know I will keep my eyes peeled at future garage sales this Spring! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

....As you build your Craigslist and eBay business, you will develop feedback on eBay. A feedback is the experience a buyer may have had whether it be "Positive", "Neutral" or "Negative." The more positive feedback you receive the better it is. Buyers tend to look to purchase from a selelr that may have more positive feedbacks. Thus, work on getting your positive feedbacks as part of your business plan. Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

"With more than 90 million active users globally, eBay is the world's largest online marketplace, where practically anyone can buy and sell practically anything. Founded in 1995, eBay connects a diverse and passionate community of individual buyers and sellers, as well as small businesses. Their collective impact on e-commerce is staggering: In 2009, the total worth of goods sold on eBay was $60 billion -- $2,000 every second." - eBay

ebay can be a great way to clean clutter and make some extra cash but the thing that most people don't realize is that 75% of all auctions close with NO BIDS.

That is why, as with anything else, your research is very important.
My wife has bought doll clothes at the dollar store for $1.00 and sold them two (2) weeks before Christmas for $30.00. That exact same outfit in July gets NO BIDS.
As Joe mentions timing is everything.
when listing an item your title and description are VERY important. This is what will bring your item up when someone does a search.
When doing your research on ebay:
Do a search for an item that's similar to what you want to sell.
after you get your results, do a scroll down the left side of the screen.
You will see a link for "completed Listings"
click on that link.
This will show you auctions that have ended.
This will tell you if the item received any bids, and if the item sold, how many bids it got and the final selling price.
Check out both the items that sold and the ones that did not and read the titles and descriptions. This will give you a good idea as to how to attract bidders for your items.
I hope this helps someone.
Bob

Thanks for all the addiitonal tips, I am sure others will find this helpful. I found that with Craigslist and eBay, that after I cleared the clutter, I had some items that sold better than others. I could sell books, sports related items, Disney items, really well. If I ran into a few items that didn't sell i would try bundling them as a package and sell the package.

Also, a friend of mine likes to give items to the local Thift stores and even works out "trades" with local resale shops. I nour area there are many resale/antique stores around in various communities. He has established a good relationship at thrift stores and resale shops. He once traded a bunch of unwanted stuff to a resale shop that traded him an old tin Coca-cola sign. There is a lot of people that collect signs especially coca-cola. He then sold the tin sign for more than what he was asking on his original items. Thus, its creating a system for moving merchandise just like a regular retail store when they have clearance sales. Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

...The key with anything we do in life is you get better over time and with practice. The Craigslist/eBay internet business is no different. As you work the system you may develope a nich or a short-cut that will help you later on. Ome tip that I learned is if I see an item that I believe might be a great item to resell, I can quickly check the inetrent for pricign to see if there are any like items listed or that have sold. This will help me determine if I buy a few of the items, none at all, or if I "wipe the shelves" and take them all! Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

"There's no genius behind it. It's persistence and listening to people."
~ Craig Newmark (founder of Craigslist)

.....Everyone is looking for "sweet" deals on Craigslist and eBay, however one of the keys is determining what those "sweet" deals may be. As a reminder, one of the greatest times to buy items is right after the holidays. For example, I have seen merchandise from a holiday at 75% to 90% off or more just the day after a holiday such as New Year's, Valentine Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

If you can buy some items for pennies on the dollar they may be worth holding for several months to resell them. Ond of my favoritie itesm to do this with is Christmas ornaments. I purchased many ornaments this year right after the holidays (January 2010) for under $1.00 each. I purchased well known characters such as Disney or other popular cartoon characters. Most of these ornaments were originally $9.99 to $14.99.

Thus, if I sell a few at the $9.99 starting just before Halloween time (October 2010), I can get all my money back plus make a nice profit for sales say October 1 through December 15th. The other very important key is prepare for your holiday sales and make sure you have a last day to ship before the holidays. Often there may a lot of last minute shoppers that want that last minute gift but in some cases the item will not be able to get shipped in time if you cut it to close to the holidays. Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

"Increased communication and transparency shifts the balance of power away from the back rooms and boardrooms and towards the individual. Once tasted, this kind of liberation and empowerment cannot be reversed. An increase in individual power and influence means more group power to positively impact the lives of the individuals in the group, if that energy is properly channeled." ~ Pierre Omidyar (founder of eBay)

* * * CALLING ALL CRAIGSLIST AND EBAYERS! * * *

Hey if you have bought or sold more than a few things on eBay and/or Craiglist please send me a "PM" or leave a post on this journal.

My true # 1 passion is real estate, however I have learned a lot about the eBay and Craigslist business. I have received a number of inquiries about additional tips used for the Craigslist/eBay business. I have accumulated many time savings tips, techniques and strategies during our 9 plus years of selling on eBay and I am starting to compile all this information. I would like to speak with several other DG Members that are currently doing Craigslist or eBay on a regular basis. Please PM or leave a message by Friday, February 19th! Thanks! - Joe

"To truly prepare for the unexpected, you’ve got to position yourself to keep a couple of options open so when the door of opportunity opens, you’re close enough to squeeze through." ~ Pierre Omidyar (founder of eBay)

Some time ago Italian charms were HOT on ebay.
My wife has an ebay account and so do I.
She would purchase bulk lots of charms, bracelets and charm tools with her account. Then we would pull out the individual charms that we new would sell and list them on ebay using my account.
We would then repackage the left overs in smaller lots. We bought lots of 300 to 600 and sold lots of 50.
When we saw that the market was starting to cool we cleared our inventory out.
Bob

Thanks for the post and sharing the insight and information with your internet business. There are so many ways to make money in this business. Good luck and continued success. Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

* * CALLING ALL CRAIGSLIST AND EBAY ENTHUSIASTS! * * *

Hey DG Members if you have bought or sold more than a few things on eBay and/or Craigslist, or thought about buying and selling on Craigslist and eBay, please send me a "PM" or leave a post on this journal.

I would like to speak with several other DG Members that are currently doing Craigslist or eBay on a regular basis. Please PM or leave a message by Friday, February 19th if you want to be on the list! Thank you for your time and participation! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

"The interesting thing was, I started eBay off as a hobby so it was free of charge.” ~ Pierre Omidyar

...One of the keys to selling items for top dollar on eBay is always try to have clear crisp pictures of the item you are selling. Let the picture do the selling for you. Another tip is try to store and save pictures of repeat type of items that you may sell for future use. The more organized you are with storing your photos the easier it will be to find them later when you need them. Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“One of the things that I repeat probably every day here is that our success is built on our community's success.” ~ Pierre Omidyar

....Is today the day you are going to make the decision that could change your life? If you want success are you willing to work for it? Anything that is worth anything is worth the effort. You can do it if you are committed to your success. Yard sale season is coming, spring cleanign is coming so that means there will be all kinds of stuff available andeven on Craigslist. So take the time to make some extra cash. Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! :)- Joe

"You know, what we used to say around here was that it's a different company every three months. And that's really the Internet business. It's so fast moving that three years, it might as well be 30 years in any other industry. So it has been very, wild ride.” ~ Pierre Omidyar (founder of eBay)

....Spring is almost here. People everywhere usually have a spring cleaning sale. The other great thign is a moving sale. Some people do not want to ttake large items or even small items. When they move there may decide to clear all the clutter. My friend went to a moving sale last week where a guy was getting married and he was selling everything from his furniture to his comic book collection! Thus, you never know what you might find and those comic books sure as easy to sell on eBay! Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“We believe that business can be a tool for social good, ... Microfinance has already shown that enabling the poor to empower themselves economically can be good business.” ~ Pierre Omidyar (founder of eBay)

....Today was a good day. I have an opportunity that is coming together and I feel very blessed and fortunate. I also have a small group of friends that have been very helpful and I really appreciate their time and assistance. It is great to know their are others that can really make a difference and be willing to help. Sometimes the ripple affect will be able to help countless others. I always feel fortunate to know people that lead by example and are gracious enough to help others.

There are so many different things you can do with this internet business. The choice is up to you based on your area and potential local niches. I know a friend of mine who use to work in a car junkyard started selling car parts over the inetrnet. This became big business. Sometimes there are cars out there that they no longer make but are on the road and in need of various parts. What if you found a way just to sell assessories or tailights over the internet. This is just one idea if youy like cars. What if you like the Precious Moments figures. this could be another nich foir you. The opportunities are endless the only limitation is the one you may set! Go for it! Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“The revenues came in at $500, and I thought, 'This is pretty good,” ~ Pierre Omidyar
------------------------------------------------------------

"eBay Inc. revenue for the full year 2009 was up 2% from 2008 to $8.7 billion, and the company reported net income of $2.4 billion. eBay said its Marketplaces business plans to continue to focus on trust, value and selection in its core business to drive GMV growth, and on format expansion."

~ By Ina Steiner
eBay Q4-2009 Revenue Up, But Marketplace Turnaround Uncertain
AuctionBytes.com
January 21, 2010

Keep sharing those great ebay tips. Thanks

Tahnks for stopping by my Craigslist/eBay Journal. I believe more and more members can share tips and startegies to continue to make it better for all. Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

...Have you ever thought back to the "good old days"? At times we oftren think back to when we were younge and for some of us that could mean records, 45's, 8 tracks, early video games, hula-hoops, Cabbage Patch Dolls, etc. We all enjoy thinking back to when we were younger and some of the more simple things might be viewed tday as a look back in history. Often people lile to have things from their past and they will often pay a good buck to get these collectible types of items. Thus, find your niche and who knows the demand for these items. Also remember a good way to check the demand for an item could be to check current or closed eBay auctions to see what has sold and for how much. Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“People naturally gravitate towards eBay because it's the largest marketplace. We're the original. We've been around the longest and so far, we've been able to hold our own.” ~ Pierre Omidyar (founder of eBay)

APNewsBreak: Superman's debut sells for $1M
By Jake Coyle, Ap Entertainment Writer
Febraury 22, 2010

NEW YORK – A rare copy of the first comic book featuring Superman has sold for $1 million, smashing a record set just last year.

The issue sold Monday morning is a 1938 edition of Action Comics No. 1, widely considered the Holy Grail of comic books. It features Superman lifting a car on its cover and originally cost 10 cents.

It was sold by a private seller to a private buyer, neither of whom released their names. The sale was conducted by the auction site ComicConnect.com.

The previous comic book record was set last year when $317,000 was paid for the same Action Comics No. 1 issue. This copy fetched a much higher price because it's in better condition

Check those closets!

Check that Attic!

Check that Basement!

Check the Garage! ....

I hope your Mom did not throw away your Comic Books and Baseball Cards!

...Have you started searching for those old baseball card and comic books collections? You never know what other people enjoy collecting and you find your niche and it will produce cash in your pocket. The key is trying to determine value on some items because you do not want to sell just anything that has no appeal or collectable value. If your out and about and you think you found a great deal on soemthing, you can always scan eBay to see what it has sold for or is currently selling for. Thus, if you have internet access on your phone this is helpful. If you locate some hot potential itemns at a store, maybe you can call home to have someone else chec-out the eBay listings for you. Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

"What makes eBay successful.. the real value and the real power at eBay is the community. It's the buyers and sellers coming together and forming a marketplace." ~ Pierre Omidyar (founder of eBay)

...Today is the day to start clearing the clutter and making cash with buying locally on Craigslist and selling globally on eBay!

Come join my group... Indiana Joe's Craigslist and eBay Treasure Team!

DON'T DELAY...JOIN TODAY! * * * OPEN MEMBERSHIP * * * for All DG Members!

http://www.deangraziosi.com/content/indiana-joes-craigslist-and-ebay-tim...

I joined your group for the RE part, is that ok? (I saw that you included that)

(I find and sell a TON of RE on Craigslist)

Rina

Thanks for stopping by my Epic Craigslist and eBay Journal. Also, thank you for joining the Craigslist and eBay Treasure Team (group/club). I believe it will be a great group of members that can exchange tips, techniques, information and strategies for eBay and Craigslist. Whether it is real estate content or other information on other goodies, a lot of it works the same. Wishing you continued success in all you do! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Come join my group... Indiana Joe's Craigslist and eBay Treasure Team!

DON'T DELAY...JOIN TODAY! * * * OPEN MEMBERSHIP * * * for All DG Members!

http://www.deangraziosi.com/content/indiana-joes-craigslist-and-ebay-tim...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OMGosh! Thank you Indiana Joe and Stacey for sharing your EBay success story. My husband and I have sold some stuff on both Craigslist and EBay and I have heard about people making money with their EBay business'. But I never thought I could do it myself as I wasn't sure how to approach it. Your concept of buying locally and selling globally is FANTASTIC!

I am so happy and grateful that I tuned into this posting I am due to change my job from childcare provider [of three toddlers, UGH!] to "stay-at-home mom"/investor this August. I have been looking for a new avenue of income that I can work from home at the convenience of my family's schedule and I think an EBay business would work wonderfully.

I also thank God and AP's spirit for guiding me here.

Thanks for stopping by my Craigslist/eBay Epic Adventure Journal. Stacey and I are so happy to be able to share our tips, strategies and techniques with everyone. We have more than 10 years of insight to provide and I believe so many others can learn from my mistakes that I made early on. The great thing about this internet business is there is little risk with no need for lots of money, credit or inventory, like when you are starting a traditional business. I believe anyone, anywhere can succeed in this business because you buy locally and sell globally!

With the economy being soft right now, I know a lot of people are in credit card pain or they feel anxiety every morning when they get up. We were just like everyone else looking for a better way! The Craigslist/eBay business is a perfect way to just make an extra $500 or $1,000 a month or even a week. You could take this business as far as you want to go, because I believe the potential could be endless based on your focus, determination and effort.

Please feel free to ask any questions. Good luck with exploring the Craigslist/eBay business and let us know how your progress is goes. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Hello Joe,
Just wanted to thank you for your posts and insights.
I have joined your group.
Bob

Thanks for stopping by my journal and for joining the group. I look forward to exchanging ideas, tips techniques and strategies with all the members. Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

....Okay ity is never too early to think about gearing up the internet business for the holiday shoppers! Once Halloween hits, its fair season to advertise for those holiday shoppers. After all Christmas Eve is only 10 months away from today! May sound funny now, but in 10 months if you have gift to buy, you wwill hear the clcok ticking away. So, now is the time to gather some items that you can sell today or even for the holidays.

Some people have asked me what the first item sold on eBay was. Well, the founder of eBay, Pierre Omidyar, started this business in 1995 and sold the first item on eBay in late 1995 which was a broken laser pointer pen. Can you believe the Buyer actually paid $14.00 for the broken laser pointer?

Thus, you never know where your great beginnign may start from and when you think about it, 15 years ago was not that long ago! Where will you be in 2025? Buy Local on Craigslist and Sell Global on eBay! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

"The interesting thing was, I started eBay off as a hobby so it was free of charge.” ~ Pierre Omidyar (founder of eBay)