5 sets of Studio Hummel Ornaments

FleaPirates Plunder is bringing her blog back to life with a test. (Yes, I know, it's been months since I've had something to say!) You all know that I am an OLA gal. Actually I've been exclusively listing at OLA for over 4 years now! Wow! But I read an interesting article the other day, about the competition, eBay. In this article, (or what I call a bundle of fluff), the author is attempting to convince the reader that it is feasible to earn $10,000 in a year, selling your treasures on eBay. Really?

The comments section is the most telling. There you will find a score of folks who have been there, done that and disagree with the author vehemently. So I thought, "Why not give it a try?" I'm in possession of 5 sets of Studio Hummel Ornaments, which are in like-new condition and highly collectible. This is the perfect opportunity to see if eBay still has a buying audience.

The ornaments are made by Berta Hummel. All the boxes are dated 2004, although 2 sets have ornaments which are signed 2003. With the exception of a single ornament, all come with COA's and original boxing and packaging.

I've researched these ornaments extensively. Some sell as complete sets, which I prefer, keeping the set intact. Others sell individually, with select ornaments fetching some mighty impressive values, I might add! Taking all this information into account, I settled on an opening bid of $34.65 for each set, with a shipping cost of $5.35, bringing a total investment, for one set, to $40. (Combined shipping is available at FleaPirates, of course!)

Now for those of you who are saying, What the heck is she thinking?, I must admit this fact... I paid absolutely zero in listing fees. I was shocked, never expecting that small windfall. Apparently, if you are listing in Classic Auction formats, eBay now allows you to list 50 items, (without "the extras"), at no cost to you. If they sell, I must pay a Final Value Fee.

If they don't sell, they'll eventually arrive at my standby, and favorite listing place, FleaPirates Plunder at OLA. I've got lots of great items listed there already... you should go take a peek!

In the meantime, I'd really love to have tons of folks browse those Studio Hummel Ornaments at eBay. It would sure be fun to find out just what the Final Value Fees have become since I left in 2008. Just click on the Set # below to visit the auction... the ornaments are real treasures!

Set #26
Dolly and Me
Hold Me Tight
A Helping Hand

Set #27
Holiday Errand
Wrapped with Love
Bundles of Holiday Cheer

Set #28
Special Christmas Greetings
Sneaking Christmas Treats
Christmas Lullaby

Set #29
Quiet Thoughts
A Shiny Christmas Apple
Holiday Anticipation

Set #30
Christmas Prayers
Christmas Train
A Story for Christmas

Home Decorating with Shutters

It has been said that the practice of home decorating with shutters can be traced back to Ancient Greece, where builders appreciated the versatility of shutters, providing both light control and ventilation. Early craftsmen most likely designed those shutters with marble louvers. Not long after, as shutter popularity began to sweep across Europe, craftsmen began using wood to construct shutters, as wood was a more suitable material. The use of shutters spread further west when the Spanish started colonizing the Americas.

Plantation Shutters originated in the southern United States, where grand mansions were erected on cotton plantations. This particular style of shutter has a wider louver, (or vane), than those early shutters from Ancient Greece. The Plantation style remains a popular style to this day, and may be featured on both the inside and the outside of American homes. Today's shutters are made from a variety of materials, including solid wood, faux wood and vinyl, while some manufacturers offer Soft Shutters, which feature fabric covered louvers. Solid wood truly enhances this timeless style, with it's ease of care, versatile function, range of size and shape, and the warmth and beauty of hardwood finishes. With normal care, hardwood shutters can last a lifetime and thanks to their rich history, you can rest assured that shutters will be in style for years to come.

There are some fascinating legends that include shutters. Did you know that Lady Godiva rode naked through the streets of Coventry on a white horse in order to make her husband remit a heavy tax on the people? Residents remained closeted inside their homes on this day, except for a man named Tom, who peeped through shutter louvers for a glimpse of this beautiful lady. Hence, we have the term Peeping Tom!

Then there's King Louis XIV, who enjoyed watching the ladies bathe in the ponds of his gardens in Versailles... Louis did not wish for his palace guards to be distracted, so he installed shutters around the garden walls, so that the guards' view was blocked and he alone could peep through the louvers to gaze at the bathing women.

What is your reason for admiring shutters?

Many of you are familiar with my Antiques and Collectibles store, Fleapirates Plunder at OnlineAuction.com. Antique dealers, like me, often relish finding a shutter panel from years gone by. With their classic fashion elegance, those shutters can be re-finished to bring new life to a lost treasure, or showcased as is, for a more vintage style of decorating.

I also hold a full-time job at an Interior Design Workroom, where, for years, we've fabricated high-quality window treatments and home decorating accents that grace beautiful homes all across the United States. Right now I have, featured in my store, a selection of brand new Plantation Shutters that were ordered, and later canceled, by a client. Alas, it was too late to stop production. The good news? This is your chance to grab those shutters at wholesale pricing!

You'll find two styles of Plantation Shutters available. The photo at the left shows a smaller single shutter panel, of which we have 12 panels available in different widths and lengths. Additionally, we have 13 taller panels. Panels with long lengths often feature a center rail, which is basically a divider, placed at the consumer's specified height, to provide support and structure for a tall shutter. One of the features I especially like about center rails, is that they offer independent operation to the upper and lower halves of the shutter louvers, (meaning that you may keep one half closed, for sun blockage, while opening the other half, for air ventilation).

These shutters were manufactured by Lafayette. Located in West Lafayette, IN, this outstanding company can trace it's roots back to 1942! Highly recognized as one of the industry's top manufacturer's, Lafayette remains a widely used supplier of not only shutters, but a variety of popular blinds and shades.

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to decorate your home with quality solid hardwood shutters!
Click here to view the available shutters.

Here Come The Seasons!

 Can you believe it is October 1st already? The annual decorating and celebrating has gotten into full swing at my house... even our trees are finally starting to cooperate and are slowly evolving into beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow! It's one of my favorite times of year. As autumn leaves tumble to the ground, we plunge into Fall. Here come The Seasons!

The local brick-and-mortar businesses are overflowing with festive fall treats and sparkly autumn trimmings, along with lavish amounts of candy that you know we'll all buy, in anticipation of trick or treaters to come. Are you ready?

Online Sellers can get into the spirit, as well! There is already a thread in the OnlineAuction.com Forum, dedicated to showcasing our members' Fall finery. And did you hear about the latest contest at OLA? It's a store decorating contest! Announced only one day ago, and accepting entries until October 30th, this contest has already captured the attention of 6 stores, and will certainly tempt others to join in the merriment.

Start your season off right, by visiting the houses of these stylish sellers!
Jaswood 2
DraggonTagger
Fleapirates
FleasField
Aesthetics48
DebsVarietyShop

Which one gets your vote?
(No, you don't have to pick mine... hehe! They're all grand!)

All of the fine sellers at OnlineAuction.com are opening their doors to Holiday and Halloween sales! You'll find hundreds of wickedly great deals, on a variety of seasonal merchandise, using phrases like Halloween, Fall, Autumn, Witch, Ghost, and Costume in the search box at OLA. Scary decorations, spooky frills, cute accessories, and downright beautiful accents await you. To entice you, here are a couple auctions that I believe are worth sharing...

This Halloween Candle House with Ghosts, Skeleton and Mummy is featured at my house, (Fleapirates), for a starting bid of only $4.99! Set the mood for Halloween Haunting with a single tealight candle!

This Infant Toddler Pumpkin Hat Stocking Cap Fall Winter Baby is the latest handmade offering from my friend DraggonTagger! While this one is infant sized, look for larger sizes in her store, and be sure to check for other designs, like strawberries and blueberries! Prices start at only $4.

A Sinister Skull With Lantern Halloween is one of my favorite offers from YawningDawg! Attractively priced at $26.95, this is sure to add just the right spirit this Halloween season!

Yes, we've got enchanting jewelry, too! This Vintage Jewelry Charm GHOST Goldtone Halloween can be found at BlueHanahCottage! At only .99 cents, how can you resist?








Here come The Seasons! Happy Fall ~ Happy Halloween ~ Happy Hunting, from all of us at OLA! We hope you'll keep your eye on us, on these treasures, and on all the bargains at OLA, this season and beyond!

Researching the Waltham Watch Co

One of my favorite aspects of being an Antiques and Collectibles dealer is research. Many times dealers purchase an item merely because it is interesting, and while researching, find a horde of historical background, adding to the item's value and appeal. The majority of my research is done online, and today I am researching the Waltham Watch Co.

One of Fleapirates' fortunate finds was this 8 Day Travel Clock, manufactured circa 1918-1919 from the Waltham Watch Co. For it's age, this clock is in very good condition, both visually and mechanically. What a surprise to find that all the researching I needed to do was covered right inside the Waltham Watch Co website! In my experience, this is unusual, simply because the manufacturers don't make historical data readily available to the general public. Not so with Waltham... their products are so collectible, that they assist you with your quest.

Waltham was established in 1850, in Roxbury, Massachusetts. In 1860, due to the Civil War, Waltham's production was nearly halted. Thanks to the purchase of a Waltham watch, by Abraham Lincoln, Waltham regained popularity and strength. The watch that Lincoln bought currently resides at The Smithsonian Museum! And the Waltham Watch Co, now operating in Switzerland, is still producing fine-quality time pieces today.

The Waltham website has a search to help you find information on a specific watch via the submission of a serial number. They take that a step further, by letting you know which serial numbers fall within certain dates. Your result will even show all the mechanical details, like Grade, Jewels, Balance, and Setting. For inexperienced clock enthusiasts, (like me), they have an easy-to-use glossary, to explain the terms.

The clock I obtained is a standard quality travel / auto clock for that period. It is pendant set, with an open face, and contains 7 jewels, with Breguet Spring balance. The patent and the serial number are still easily deciphed on the clock. It has almost reached antique status! What a treasure!

Of course, now that my research is complete, this fantastic clock is for sale at my store at OnlineAuction.com! It's listed in a Classic Auction format, with bidding starting at $19.99.Stop by for a peek! And tell me what you think of this Vintage Waltham 8 Day Travel Clock!

Fleapirates is promoting Classic Auctions!

Today I moved 10 of my items for sale into the Sellers Specials category of Fleapirates Plunder. Each and every auction in that category is a Classic Auction, and all 10 of these fabulous finds are currently starting at just a quarter!

Fleapirates is promoting Classic Auctions!

I miss the bidding days, don't you? So I grabbed 10 things, dropped the price down to .25 cents, and we'll see what happens. At the very least, I'll be moving some product, and making room for all the things I've not taken time to list yet! LOL!

This link will take you to my Sellers Specials offers.

Please take a moment to see if something there peaks your interest! And keep checking back, because I believe I will try to keep this category stocked. Values will vary, and my aim is to keep a variety of products offered, so that collectors of many different genres may find a bargain or two. Happy shopping!

How To Make A Pull Toy for Your Pet

Introducing the latest video from Fleapirates, courtesy of

the Fleapirate Princess, FiyahFreak92!

In this video, learn how to make a pull toy
for your pet, using scrap fabric!

Dogs AND cats love 'em!

Don't have time to craft one yourself?
They're available for sale, at Fleapirates Plunder!

And thank you, FiyahFreak92,
for another fun video...

Celebrating The Collector at OnlineAuction.com

Celebrating The Collector

People have been collecting stuff for centuries. That stuff can range from everyday items, like pottery and glass, to commemorative issues, like stamps, to monetary assets, like gold, silver and coins, and more. The possibilities are endless, and if you revere a particular item, chances are someone else does, too. In today's internet savvy world, it's easy to find other like-minded folks who are willing to barter, trade, sell, and buy, often with reckless abandon. The joy is in the hunt... and the thirst to amass a collection worthy of acclaim can last years.

Jane Withers, the famous child star of the 1930's and 1940's, was a planganologist, or a doll collector. In 2004, Jane sold her entire collection at auction. What a collector's dream, to own a doll that belonged to the child who gave Walt Disney the line, "It's a small world, after all!"

People who collect autographs are called philographists. One example is Praful Thakkar, who has been collecting for over 50 years and boasts a collection of over 6,000 autographs! He even maintains an online gallery.

It is rumored that coin collecting became popular in medieval times, where coins were hoarded for both artistic and historical value. Those first coin collectors became what are known today as numismatists.

Philatelists collect stamps, and it is estimated that over 22 million people in the U.S. today enjoy this hobby! England's King George V had one of the most famous, and possibly the largest, stamp collection in the world. That collection, further developed by his ancestors, is entitled The Royal Philatelic Collection.

Rock collectors are termed petrologists, and may further divide their collections into specific kinds of rocks. They include igneous, meaning granite or volcanic rock, sedimentary, like sandstone or shale, and metamorphic, like slate or marble. People who specialize in sedimentary rock collections, may also be avid collectors of fossils.

Vladimir Nabokov, a multi-lingual Russian-American novelist and short story writer, was also a famed lepidopterist, or butterfly collector. Nabokov wrote Lolita while traveling on one of his annual butterfly collection trips in the western United States.

Although entomology is considered to be the study of insects, collectors are also referred to as entomologists. Many colleges today offer entomology courses, which are widely popular. One famous collector was prominent scientist, Charles Darwin.

Clock collectors are called horophiles, and antique collectors are, at times, called antiquists. You'll even discover collectors of beer related incidentals, like labels, (a labologist), and beermats, or coasters, (a tegestologist).

What do you collect? How did your infatuation begin? What is your greatest, or funniest, find? Frequently the stories behind the collection are as enthralling as the collection itself!

Indulge me with your story...
and you may appear in a future Fleapirates Plunder Blog Post!

Send your story to: Fleapirates@att.net today!  

Christmas in July at OnlineAuction.com

Now that the U.S. temperatures have left us sweltering, and the heat indexes are rising, the thought occurred to me this week that it was the perfect time to remember cooler, refreshing and jollier pursuits. Unseasonal? Perhaps, but how about Christmas?  So, unofficially, of course, I am declaring it Christmas in July at OnlineAuction.com! 





Close your eyes, smell the cookies baking, the scent of fresh pine boughs, feel the sprinkling of snowflakes on your face and the goosebumps sending shivers up your spine from the first winter chill. Recall the magic, the excitement of family and friends during the holidays. Feel better? Thought so. Now it's time to shop.


Valerie Fain mentioned the word sleepers on Facebook this week. Sleepers, for antiquists, are those rare finds that you stumble upon at a flea market, an antique shop, or an estate sale... you know the ones. They're under-priced and over-looked, and you just know that snapping up that treasure is your coup d'etat for the week! Let me tell you, the off-season is when sleepers prevail.

I spoke of Christmas in July on Twitter this week. I admit it... I love Twitter! Where else can you talk randomly, (in 140 characters or less), and have people listen, not to mention, respond? My Twitter habit during the work week has become to choose a theme for the day, usually pertaining to an item I've got in my store. Then I expand on that, by featuring items from other sellers in the same genre. It's been really fun browsing OLA every morning! Boy, have I come across some interesting auctions and some sleepers.

For sure, I try to retweet some of the people I follow, and give credit to newsletters I receive which have interesting content. You have to mix it up at Twitter. Send personal greetings - comment on the news - talk sports. Shoot, you're probably all tired of hearing me rave about the Chicago White Sox by now, but just wait until the Green Bay Packers gear up for the season! The point is, variety is the spice of Twitter, and this week I featured a spicy variety of holiday related items. Care to join me for a few more?

At Supergranny's, you can find this New Box of 18 Christmas Cards Santa in Pool Reindeer on Golf Course. So cute, and priced at only $1.50! Very reasonable shipping costs make this a real bargain! (And she's one of my favorite sellers!)

This beautiful set is from NightWings! A never used set of Lenox Winter Greetings Everday 16 Piece Set Dinnerware NIB Plates/Salad plates/Bowls/Mugs, valued at $300! Can be yours for only $160, plus shipping and handling.

This is a JIM SHORE SANTA-NORTH STAR EXPRESS CHRISTMAS TRAIN #4011073, offered at auction by Linman. Bidding starts at an incredibly low price of $59.99!

Boy, is he cute! This FITZ AND FLOYD CHRISTMAS CANDY JAR is available at the store of PWittsStuff, for only $24.99. And guess what? Free shipping! What a deal!

And this lovely Bing and Grondahl Denmark 1980 Christmas in the Woods Bell can be found in Spock100's store. This seller has over 200 holiday items listed in their very well stocked store. I feature this store on Twitter quite a bit - love their merchandise!







Have I tempted you enough? Go to OnlineAuction.com and type the word Christmas into the search bar. As of this writing, there are 1660 Classic and Fixed Price listings for your browsing pleasure! And while you're there, don't forget to stop by and check out the holiday items at Fleapirates Plunder, too!

How To Take A Good Photo!

How To Take A Good Photo, the newest video release from Fleapirates, has hit YouTube! Inspired by our friendly OnlineAuction.com Customer Support Representative, Renee, this video touches upon basic tips, such as using the macro setting on your camera for detailed close-ups and including plain backgrounds for image quality.

In the past, I've relied heavily on my daughter, Emily, for inspiration, technical advice and video creation when preparing videos related to sales events and OLA. I'm a PC... and proud to admit that past videos were all created using Windows Movie Maker for XP. I loved 'em!

Today, however, Emily was able to film, create and edit this video using her new MacBook and iMovie software. She was pleasantly surprised to find out how easy, fast and fun making videos on iMovie is! Seems like there are even more fun tools! Yep, I'm jealous...

These tips are for everyone, not just folks taking auction photos, so please take a moment, watch and learn, and let my theater-student entertain you!

Memorial Day Weekend 20% Off Sale at Fleapirates

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

Here's hoping you have a safe, relaxing, sunny,
warm holiday weekend,
filled with friend, family, laughter,
and good memories!

This video is from 2007, but it's really nice,
and I wanted to share it...
in tribute to all those who have served,
have died serving, or are currently serving,
our beloved country.

In the meantime, if you are online shopping this weekend,
please take a moment to stop by Fleapirates Plunder,
where I am offering 20% off
purchases and bids through May 31st, 2010!

Use the coupon code above!
And yes, even classic auctions that end
after May 31st will be honored,
as long as your bid is placed
before Midnight CST on May 31st.
Be sure to omail or email me,
so I know to apply the discount on your invoice.

OMAIL:  to Fleapirates at OnlineAuction.com
EMAIL: baseballlvr1963@aol.com

SEO Is An Investment

Today I'd like to tell you about another fantastic presentation that I attended at the ECMTA Summit in Las Vegas. It was entitled Being Found in the Search Engines, and was presented by Dave Cook, who is the Senior Director of Marketing at TheFind.com. TheFind is the vertical search engine for shopping that puts every product, every store, every sale, coupon and discount, right at your fingertips. (Quoted from their About Us page.) Dave's been with TheFind since it's launch in 2006. Before that, he shared his SEO, SEM and Marketing expertise with other online venues, such as Buy.com. Those of you who know me well will understand why this particular presentation captivated me... the assimilation of SEO knowledge has remained a rousing quest for me! Dave said it best: SEO is an investment. Are you ready?


Analytics was the basis of the presentation. Dave's advice? Set up and use accounts at both Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools. Let the analytics run for 2 weeks before you start a SWOT analysis. SWOT = Strengths - Weaknesses - Opportunities - Threats

STRENGTHS

• Where is your traffic coming from? 
• How are users interacting with you? 
• Make a spreadsheet of your keywords. Analyze the word(s), the source, the traffic potential, and competitiveness. Which are the keywords that make sense for you?

WEAKNESSES

• Do you have enough ranking power to compete?
  This is important... be honest! And analyze your competitors, too!  Where do they get their sales? Look at keywords, backlinks, partner sites, social sites, and press releases.
  If they're outranking you, try alternatives, like changing word order, using plural / singular keywords and keyword modifiers.
• Here is a list of some websites that may be useful to you:
  1. Spyfu
  2. Open Site Explorer
  3. Majestic SEO (They have free and paid subscriptions.)
  4. SEOBook (Keyword Density) 
  5. Site Analytics Complete

OPPORTUNITIES
Here's the good news! eCommerce today offers merchants of all sizes numerous opportunities to compete successfully. Let's look at some ideas that you may choose to incorporate into your plan:

• Add quality, relevant content! Simply put, search engines base their results on relevancy. Use alternative keywords and phrases to cast a wider net. 
• Add your store to directories. Don't use Link Farms... just reputable directories. This creates backlinks for you. 
• Submit everywhere! Take advantage of places like the Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and ResellerRatings.
• When linking, anchor text matters! Be sure to use keywords in the anchor text. As an example for prom dresses, to optimize your anchor text, link the words Prom Dresses, as opposed to Click Here. 
• Use keywords in your image ALT tags, too. (See my post on Picasa!)
• Internal links are links leading to other information on your own site. These pay huge dividends! Use them, and make sure your anchor text is optimized.
• External links are backlinks. You can get them from blogs, (either in content or on a blogroll), from social sites, like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, from content sites, like YouTube, and from Community Forums. Use these sources yourself, and also ask your friends and colleagues to link to you.
• On social sites, find the Thought Leaders, follow them, and follow their followers! Build your network.
• Use the Google Blog Search to follow and comment on relevant blogs. Interact!
• If you have a data feed, submit it often to the various search engines. Fresh data is rewarded.
• Set up Google Alerts.

THREATS
Threats to your company success include such diversions as competing projects, technical limitations, subject expertise, overly aggressive optimization, and your time, not to mention your competitors! Keep an eye on those competitors! And DO NOT fall for these common misconceptions:

• A few keywords are all that matter. Wrong! Content is king. Keywords are your best tool.
• It doesn't matter what they do, as long as they get to my site. Nope! Watch out for a high bounce rate... irrelevant traffic does you no good.
• Meta keywords matter. Well, sort of. Actually, your meta description is more important, so be sure to include relevant keywords AND optimize your meta description to relate to your products.
  *** I found an interesting article on this! It's not from Dave Cook, but I enjoyed the read. Check it out! How To Use HTML Meta Tags

In closing, Dave also talked about site speed. This is how fast your page(s) are loading for the average user. Be careful not to use an over-abundance of fancy graphics and code that may slow down your load time! (I know... I love the fun stuff, too! Just use it in moderation.) Site speed affects how often and how deep you are indexed. Just announced, Google says that site speed is affecting rank, too!

You can find and follow TheFind.com at Twitter and on Facebook. I'd like to thank Dave for being one of my favorite presenters! If anyone is interested, I have his entire presentation, and you are welcome to contact me for a copy via email.

Lessons and Links from the eCommerce Summit

The eCommerce Merchants Trade Association Summit in Las Vegas last week was jam packed with offers, ideas, inspiration, and tools to help online merchants energize and advance their current business strategies. I was fortunate enough to attend, thanks to the sponsorship of OnlineAuction.com! This post brings to you lessons and links from the eCommerce Summit... I know you'll find something that will add to your success.

Paul Greenberg, of DealsDirect, was the first speaker, and his message really set the tone for the entire convention. Being a small business never felt so big! With social networking dominating so much of the eCommerce world today, opportunities for the small business abound. Your mission? Connect with your customers, and in connecting, build solid relationships... which in turn, lead to trust. Paul stressed the importance of focusing upon innovation and speed, as well as using as many channels as possible, whether those channels be multiple venues or added social networks.

Today, let's talk about some of the tools that are available to simplify social networking. I wrote down links to many of these tools from a number of guest speakers, but in all honesty, John Lawson, ColderIce, was the most informative speaker on social media. I recommend that you watch his entire presentation online. What follows are some of the tools that I've already had the chance to research and/or implement.

TWILERT:
This is an alert notification tool, similar to Google Alerts, that allows you to monitor search terms and keywords across Twitter. It is free and easily customized. Results are emailed to you.

WIBIYA:
Got a blog? A personal website? Wibiya is a toolbar that you may install on your blog or your website. (It works on all the popular platforms.) This multi-function toolbar allows your reader to:

• search your blog or website
• translate to other languages
• see and sort recent posts
• see videos on your YouTube Channel
• view real time stats about your page
• connect, recommend and "like" on Facebook
• connect on Twitter
• join a live chat
• and more!

SHARE THIS:
At OnlineAuction.com, we already have this feature. The button is also standard on my Blogger posts. However, you can place this tool on your browser, or in your personal website, for quick sharing of favorite places to a large variety of social networks.

SURVEY MONKEY:
This site does exactly what you'd expect... it creates surveys for you! What a great way to find out what your customers think and what your customers want. I've used surveys before, (at PollCode.com), but what I really like at Survey Monkey is the analytics! And you can easily share these surveys across all your networks.

HOOT SUITE:
This one's my favorite! This application allows you to merge all your social networks onto one page, for simplified interaction. For example, I have personal accounts at Twitter and Facebook, as well as a Facebook Fan Page, so my HootSuite shows me recent activity on all three accounts at one glance! Not to mention, there is a little HOOTLET that you can drag and drop to your browser, which allows you to post favorites to any or all your networks with one click. So easy! Go check this one out.

FACEBOOK:
I put Facebook on this post because I want to share two links with you... you're on Facebook, right? ;)
Start a Fan Page for your business.
Check out the Facebook Widgets page and make some badges to place in your blog, your website and in forum profiles outside of Facebook!

RAPPORTIVE:
Rapportive is a simple, free, plug-in application that gives G-Mail Customer Relationship Management capabilities. What is this? It allows you to see information about the people who email you in G-Mail. It also allows you to make personal notes about the sender, for future referencing.

TUBEMOGUL:
I haven't signed up for this one yet, but I am going to. Basically, TubeMogul is video distribution and tracking. This application allows you to upload and share videos simultaneously across multiple networks. It gives you analytics, too. Certainly worth investigating, and I will try this for Fleapirates' next video!

In his closing speech, ECTMA Director, Brandon Dupsky asked attendees to write down 2 goals that we wanted to implement over the course of the next 3-6 months. Mine? I'd like to bump up my social media skills, by putting to use these tools and being more proactive in social networks, and learn techniques to improve my use of video for advertising. What goals do YOU have?

Remember, perspective is everything.
Your definition of success is based upon your perspective...
the definition of a good, reputable business depends upon your customer's perspective.

How long is too long to wait for an order placed?

How long is too long to wait for an order placed?

I am pondering the answer to this question today. How many of you order from favorite vendors online? Being an online seller myself, I am very comfortable placing orders online, and do so often. Usually I am buying from a seller at my favorite site, OnlineAuction.com, but I also place orders from my favorite stores, like Barnes and Noble, Victoria's Secret and Nuts Online. All three of those stores, by the way, have excellent customer service and very speedy shipping!

What I would like your help with today is defining the standard of customer service expected from a small business owner who is either selling at their own website or selling at a venue like OnlineAuction, or other similar sites, like eBay, Etsy, Bonanzle, etc.

With my own store, I pride myself on fast shipping. The standard for me is next day shipment, meaning your item goes to the Post Office within 24 hours of receipt of cleared payment. Sometimes, I am fortunate enough to get payment early enough in the day that I can manage a same day shipment! Rarely do I need more time to get things prepared for shipment, and if I do, it is always accompanied by some sort of online communication explaining the delay.

What are your standards, as a seller? Please let me know by participating in the poll below!

When I sell an item, my standard shipping practice is:

To ship the same day cleared payment is received.To ship within 24 hours of cleared payment.To ship within 48 hours of cleared payment.To ship within 1 week of payment.To ship within 2 weeks of cleared payment.Oh heck, they'll get it when I'm ready!My items are made to order. I am prompt, with good communication.My items are made to order. I'll get around to it eventually!

pollcode.com free polls

As a buyer, my expectations are a bit more lenient. Two weeks from the date I paid is not unacceptable for me to wait for a package. If it arrives earlier, than I am pleasantly surprised. (That happens often!) Anything longer than two weeks, and I feel forgotten. After three weeks, I am beginning to think about contacting you for confirmation, or maybe beginning the chargeback process. How about you? Tell me your buyer's standards in the poll below!

As a buyer, I expect my order to arrive:

Fast! 2-3 days tops!Within 5 days.Within 1 week.Within 10 days.Within 2 weeks.Within 3 weeks.Anytime is good, as long as the seller stays in touch with me.Whenever - I don't mind waiting!

pollcode.com free polls

Perhaps these polls will encourage sellers to re-evaluate their current shipping practices. Good customer service is the greatest thing we can provide to our clients, in addition to outstanding products, so let's all remind ourselves to maintain a high level of customer service. Our buyers put their trust in us... they expect, and deserve, our committment to excellence and a satisfactory buying experience!

And buyers, please remember to pay promptly, check your messages for communication from us, and remember to allow ample time for our shipping services to get the order to you! Oh, and don't forget to leave appropriate feedback, if you've purchased at a venue that offers feedback for sellers. Our reputation is important!

The OLA Brigade Tours Iowa!

Oct 3, 2009

OnlineAuction.com Knows Art!

Have you visited OnlineAuction.com lately?

OnlineAuction.com Knows Art!

This category has items starting as low as .25 cents, as well as items that start for as much as $7,500.00!!! With 41 subcategories, and more than 1300 listings, you're sure to find something you can't live without!

Some of the wonderful works of art you can find are:

Signed pieces of Jiang Tie-Feng
Work by Richard Montanro, Phyllis Shanks and many other gifted artists!
Lindena Orchid Litho Plates
Handcarved Quartz Crystal
Hand Blown Glass
Ivory Sculptures
There's even a Bronze Statue!!!



I've included are some photos, just to entice you...
just click on the photo to visit the auction listing!



With so many items to look at, there's sure to be something for everyone on your gift giving list this year. And who knows what you might need for yourself!


Take a trip through the OnlineAuction
ART Category today!

In addition to Art at OLA,
you can find other treasures in my store,
Fleapirates Plunder!

Blogging at OLA

OLA MEMBERS,
the bloggers, and the wanna-be-bloggers...

I have found some great information on how to improve our linking.
We are doing a good job, but we could be doing even better!
Want to know how?

Then you'll have to meet me this Monday night,
in the OLA Team Blog LIVE CHAT area!

Monday August 17, 2009 - 6pm PST, 8pm CST, 9pm EST

Go to the Team Blog, at: http://olateamblog.blogspot.com
Look on the right sidebar for the LIVE CHAT box - click on it.
When prompted, enter your OLA user name.

All OLA members are welcome,
but I'd like to stress that this info will be
most important to current bloggers.

Also, if anyone has questions about blogging,
or joining the Team Blog, or creating links, etc.,
this would be a good time to ask the Team..
I'll be happy to open up a discussion!

No sign-ups necessary, but let me know if you want a reminder!
Hope to see you there!


To browse treasures at Fleapirates, click on the banner below!

FLEAPIRATES BLOG & OLA TEAM BLOG

Choose A Category Special for July 29, 2009!

The OnlineAuction.com Wednesday Wave is a great time to take advantage of special sale prices offered by participating sellers! To qualify, you must be an OLA member, (buyer, seller, or both), sign up to be a participant, and make a single purchase during game hours.

You may register to be an OLA member by clicking the banner below.



The Wednesday Wave info and sign-ups are located HERE.

I am offering a Choose A Category Special for July 29, 2009!

10% Off Items in the Jewelry & Watches Category
15% Off Items in the Books & Publications Category
20% Off Items in the Pottery & Glass Category
25% Off Items in the Collectibles Category

Sale prices do not include discounts for shipping,
(although I always offer combined shipping rates).

Hope to see you at the Wednesday Wave!

For the musicians...

Do you have musicians in your family? Boy, I sure do... my kids! It started when they were toddlers, and much to my delight, music has stayed with them through the teenage years. They've developed an appreciation for all styles of music, and with that goes a curiosity and desire to explore the possibilities of creating music with various instruments.

We've had maracas, zylophones, an assortment of drums, (the djembe is the favorite), a violin, a piano, a recorder, and various guitars, just to name a few! Right now, my oldest child is an accomplished bass guitar player, playing in a local band, and is working to make a career in the music field.

Naturally, I keep an eye on what great deals are available online for music lovers and enthusiasts. While I am not always in a position to buy instruments or accessories, I love to browse, (and I've certainly bought a good share)! I've met some great people while doing business at OnlineAuction.com, and today I'd like to talk, once again, about one of my favorite members.

Bryant, from Build-A-Box, loves to buy, re-build and re-sell guitars. A true musician, he thrives on the hunt, puts his heart into the re-build, and prides himself on offering quality instruments to even the most discerning players. He offers other things for sale at OLA, as well, (like the computer tablet that I gifted last Christmas), but if you talk for any length of time with Bryant, you'll know that music is his passion. Last holiday season he even worked with me to find just the right gift for my bassist son, from ProTools, who was thrilled to receive a set of books which are teaching him how to create and operate a recording studio on his computer!

This kind of personalized service, with thoughtful communication, great products, excellent pricing, and affordable, fast shipping is exactly why I watch Bryant's auctions on a regular basis. I wanted to feature him today for this reason, and because he's got the coolest Custom Fender Stratocaster listed right now! You gotta see it!

Isn't the just the most beautiful guitar you've ever seen?

Luthier made, hand turned, birds eye maple neck.

Custom Luthier hand wound pickups.

Period correct tuners.

Flawless shaping.

Original bridge and blue paisley floral finish.

And the kicker? Best offers considered!

He's the expert, so click HERE and read all about this offer!

Browsing his store, you'll also find two other really nice guitars. I'll post the pictures and the titles, just to give you a little teaser! You click on the title to view the details.

G&L S-500 Premium Tribute Tri-Burst 06 Swamp Ash Body

Godin Performance Series

All you guitar folks have fun, and don't forget to stop by Fleapirates Plunder, too!

Searching OnlineAuction.com

Did you know that there are numerous ways to find the great bargains available at OnlineAuction.com? From Antiques to Video Games, and from Verified Sellers to Founding Members, if you know how to search correctly, that can't live without item is easy to locate. Let's take a peek at the various options... I'll bet there is one you haven't used before!

The Search Bar on the OLA Home Page:

• Enter your search criteria and search ALL CATEGORIES.
  This is the broadest search, and will give you results that match any and all of the word(s) you designate.
  
  
• You may also set this search bar to show results in a specific category, by using the drop-down menu to change the words ALL CATEGORIES to your category of choice.

Advanced Search:

Advanced Search offers you the opportunity to set parameters. You may enter as much information as you like, and the more specific your request, the more specific the results will be. They are useful to search other people's auctions, as well as your own! Here is a brief synopsis of what they search fields will accomplish for you:

• The Search Phrase is where you place the words describing any specific item you are searching for.
  
  
• If you know the auction number, enter it into the Auction # field for a fast way to get directly to the listing.
  
  
• The Categories field allows you to choose a single category to search.
  
  
• The TYPE field gives you the option to view only certain types of listings, (Classic, Fixed Price, Dutch, Absolute or Sealed).
  
  
• The SORT option is a drop-down menu which will display the results according to the method you choose. Try them all!
  
  Price Lowest First / Price Highest First is a great tool for researching the prices of your competitors, or to see if an item you are interested in is in a reasonable price range as compared to other sellers.
  
  Bids Lowest First / Bids Highest First is especially useful if you are researching a product that has multiple listings and you'd like to see the amount(s) of bids that have been placed.
  
  Ending First / Ending Last is one I use quite often. When featuring an item in the chat forum, under Interesting Auctions of the Week, I usually choose the ENDING LAST sort option, so that I can quickly pick an item which has plenty of time left for maximum viewing on the thread!
  
  Title Descending / Title Ascending will alphabetize the listings for you.
  
  Auction ID Descending / Auction ID Ascending is a great way to check your own listings! Use the Descending tool to sort auctions from newest to oldest, and the Ascending tool to sort from oldest to newest.
  
  
• On a budget? You may also set a price range, and peruse only those listings which fall within your boundaries.

Advanced Search also allows you to search by seller and by bidder.

MEMBER SEARCH:

• Do you know the name of the member and wish to see what they have for sale? In addition to using the Advanced Search link, you can click on Member Search and enter their user-name. This will bring you to their Feedback Record, where you can click on View All Member's Auctions, (if they are a seller), or Ask A Question, which will initiate an omail to the member.

SOME EXTRA TIPS:

• Another way to get to see a certain member's listings is to click on their name, either in the chat forum or on any OLA page. This will also bring you to the member's Feedback Record.
  
  
• When accessing someone's listings through their Feedback Record, you will be taken to an OLA Search Page, which will highlight all of that member's active listings. You can sort through their products by using the grey Search These Results box that is located on the right of your screen. The functions work similarly to the Advanced Search options.
  
  
• Verified Sellers do not have a store. You may recognize that a seller is a Verified Seller by looking for a key icon located next to their name. The easiest way to search products that a Verified Seller offers is to use the grey Search These Results box detailed above.
  
  
• Founding Members have a store. You may recognize that a seller is a Founding Member by looking for a set of gold wings located next to their name. The easiest way to search products that a Founding Member offers is to access their store directly. Do this one of two ways:
  
  1.) Enter the url into your browser's address bar. It will read the same for each seller, changing only the name at the end. See below! (The green text will be changed to feature your intended seller.)
  http://www.onlineauction.com/store/fleapirates
  
  
  2.) Click to enter any one of the auction listings in the OLA search results. You will find a store link under the Details, Shipping and Payment box at the top right, (look for a house icon). You will also see the words See all My Auctions at My OLA House at the bottom of the listing. Click either of these links and go right to their storefront! Categories are located on the left of the store.

NOTE: If any seller has not yet organized their store categories, please contact me for assistance! You can also contact either Rowen or Renee at OLA by omail or by calling 800-900-2828.

OnlineAuction.com Knows Antiques!

Have you visited the OnlineAuction.com
Antiques Category lately?

This category has items starting at .25 cents,
as well as items that start for as much as $7,500.00!!!
With 42 subcategories and more than 1200 listings,
you're sure to find something you can't live without!

Some of the wonderful things you can find in this category:

Signed Toby Weller Mug, Occupied Japan

1920 LANG Chair

1930s Marlene Dietrich Silver Gelatin Portraits

1800s Mercer Art Deco Platter

Rogers Bros Silver (all kinds!!!)

1940's Celedon Lamp

Signed Wedgewood Pieces

17th Century Brass Thimble

1938 Zenith Tube Radio

There's even a signed Ivory Buddha!

Click here!
Take a trip through the OnlineAuction
Antiques Category today!

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