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

Ready for Fall Baking!

As a person who loves to cook, (and eat), Fall is one of my favorite times of year! This is due, in part, to the delicious array of autumn recipes that seem to arrive with the passing of the season. Apple Crisp, Baked Squash, Cranberry Sauce, and Pumpkin Pie... I am so ready for Fall baking!

One of my all-time favorite recipes was first published in the Chicago Tribune in 2007. (See the original post here.) The recipe is titled Mimi's Pumpkin Cookies, and was passed down from a Grandmother to a Granddaughter, who was the person who shared this with Tribune readers 4 years ago.

These cookies are fantastic! Easy to make and fairly easy on the budget, these light and fluffy delights are now a commonly requested treat in my home during the months of October and November. Watch for Pumpkin Puree, (Pumpkin Pie Filling), to go on sale at your favorite store. I always snap up an armful of cans. You just never know when you're gonna need to satisfy that sweet tooth... and there's so many tempting creations!

Not wanting the recipe to disappear in the archives, I thought I'd re-post it here, to share with all of you.  Are you ready for Fall baking? Enjoy! Happy Fall!

By the way, after they're baked, and you're scarfing them down with reckless abandon, don't forget to pour yourself a nice, hot cup of coffee, and stop by OnlineAuction.com to relax a bit, while browsing further treasures at FleaPirates Plunder!

Mimi's Pumpkin Cookies
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 20 minutes
Yield: 3 dozen

For cookies:
1 cup each: granulated sugar, vegetable shortening, pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon each: baking soda, baking powder, vanilla , cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

For icing:
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter, milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup confectioner's sugar

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl; stir in the vanilla and cinnamon. Set aside.
2. Beat sugar and shortening with a mixer on medium speed until creamy; add the pumpkin puree and the egg. Beat until just mixed together; reduce mixer speed to low. Add 1/4 cup of the flour mixture, beating until combined. Repeat with remaining mixture, beating after each addition.
3. Drop by generous teaspoonfuls onto a cookie sheet. Bake until barely brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.
4. For icing, combine the brown sugar, butter, milk and vanilla in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat on High (100 percent power) until brown sugar melts, about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from microwave. Stir in confectioner's sugar until icing is smooth, adding a bit more milk if needed to desired consistency. Spoon icing over each cookie.

Nutrition information per serving:
134 calories, 44% of calories from fat, 6 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 8 mg cholesterol, 18 g carbohydrates, 1 g protein, 82 mg sodium, 0 g fiber

Online Sellers: Should they be bloggers, too?

Keeping up with a blog is a lot of work. Countless hours are spent dreaming up concepts for the next post, researching topics, (hopefully) writing good content, avoiding spelling and grammar blunders, enhancing with images and video, and monitoring any feedback that you might receive. From an online seller's point of view, it may seem overwhelming. So the question-of-the-day is simply this.
Online Sellers: Should they be bloggers, too?

I've been debating this for the past week or two. Those of you who are familiar with my blog know that I spend time reading other blogs, from so-called experts in various fields that include SEO, Blogs, Social Networking, and the Antiques and Collectibles market. You've heard me mention, and quote, articles from one of my favorites, ProBlogger, but today I am going to ask you to consider reading and following one of my latest favorite bloggers, BlogTyrant. His writing style is refreshing... laid back and conversational, and he doesn't bombard you with paragraph after paragraph of tech-talk. I like that, because some of the other bloggers can easily get over my head with the language, the terms, or the instructions, and they simply lose me. BlogTyrant is different. You'll feel like you're chatting with him over coffee, in some quaint Australian cafe.

To be brutally honest, in his post Why Blogging Is A Waste of Your Time, BlogTyrant prompted me to question the validity, or necessity, of my own blog! This is good, however, as it stimulates a period of self-examination. Why am I blogging? Who am I affecting? Are there things a blogger like me, (or you), can do better? These are just a few of the questions that will both torment and embolden you. Should online sellers be bloggers? Thankfully, my answer is a resounding yes!

Online Sellers put the cart before the horse, in terms of the blogosphere. We opened our stores, stocked our shelves, rolled out the red carpet, and then realized that without SEO, we weren't going to see any traffic. So the quest began to find ways to develop those highly-desired backlinks and build our online presence, all the while enriching our knowledge of SEO. Twitter became an overnight hit. Facebook soon followed. Amid the social media revelation, many online sellers became bloggers, too. You know what? It's working.

The backlinks you create, and the connections you make, are like gold in terms of SEO.

For professional bloggers, the focus must be to gain a following and earn money off of each post, whether that revenue comes from affiliate advertising, adsense, direct marketing of services and skills, or guest blogging. While an Online Seller could certainly do that, there are rewards, as well, for socially engaging your client-base, building a network, helping and sharing with your peers, and in-direct sales through product promotion.

What kind of blogger are you? My goal for Fleapirates Plunder is basically all of the above, without the challenges of professional blogging. I hope that somewhere in my posts you've found a solution to a problem, a spark of interest in a new technique, news of utmost importance, an item at OnlineAuction that you cannot live without, and perhaps a chuckle or two.

Fleapirates is here to stay.

The conversation, however, does not end there. I challenge you to read other articles from BlogTyrant. Start with How To Blog Part 1. In this post, he emphasizes the importance of owning your own domain and hosting your own blog. Do you feel that is necessary? If so, why? I'll be researching that, and writing about that, in my next post. Until then, keep blogging! Yes, Online Sellers should be bloggers, too!

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!  

Fleapirates Plunder One Day Sale - Tue March 30, 2010!

  Fleapirates Plunder One Day Sale!

TODAY!
March 30, 2010

Today I am participating in the OLA Terrific Tuesday 12 Hour Sale,

but thought I would offer my special to anyone and everyone who visits my store(s) today!

Fleapirates Plunder
Save 30% on orders totaling $10 or more!
Shipping is not included in the discount, and may not be used towards $10 limit.
You may, however, combine products to reach that limit,
and I will gladly save you money on shipping by combined packaging.

Flea's Field
Buy one trading card at full price,
and get one trading card of equal or lower value FREE!
Standard shipping fees apply.

Discussing Photo Hosting and Image Optimization

Last week I was honored to be asked to co-host the Seller Buzz Radio Show with MetzyMom, because our regular co-host, Jan Bradshaw, is on assignment, and could not attend. While I missed Jan, I must say that being on the show with Metzy was quite a treat!

Previously, I had joined the Seller Buzz team as a correspondent of sorts. I've been working on a blog series about Photo Hosting and Image Optimization, which we had planned to debut on the site as it began to take shape. The timing was perfect... and we were able to use my blog series as part of the show!

If you missed last Thursday's episode, you can listen to the archived show by clicking this TalkShoe link. We talked about how there are numerous choices for sellers today, as far as hosting and optimizing images. (Did you know that according to Wikipedia there are 62 sites to Share Photos and 32 sites to Host Photos?) We stressed that each seller needs to research their options, read the Terms of Service, test the features, and choose which site meets their needs, as each choice may or may not be the right choice for you. What you expect from a service such as a photo hosting site may differ slightly from the expectations of your peers, and it may certainly depend upon what features are provided, or not provided, by your venue. In my research, I investigated the pros and cons of popular sites, like Photobucket, Flickr and Picasa for photo hosting, as well as the editing software offered at IrfanView. Last week's show covered both Photobucket and Flickr, while next week's show will include Picasa and Irfanview.

To summarize, I must first say that I normally like to look at both the good and the bad when critiquing a site. I like to join, use it and comment based upon experience. Flickr, however, has Terms of Service that state precisely what you can and cannot do, and it seems quite clear to me that using them for commercial purposes would be a violation of their terms. I did not test their image hosting. So I will caution any seller who chooses to disregard those terms... do so at your own risk. I will say though, that I think Flickr has most of the popular features that the other sites do, and users rave about how great their service is, so I would recommend it as a site for personal use.

Photobucket has long been my image hosting site. Obviously I am biased, but with good reason. You can upload your titled photos quickly and easily, add titles within the site for advanced album organization, add tags for photo optimization, and Photobucket hands you coded tags for use in websites, blogs, chat rooms and email. Making a slideshow is a breeze, as is loading and sharing video. Their editing software is as good as any other I have used, and they offer perks like glitter text, borders and watermarking. Users from OnlineAuction.com who are just starting out at Photobucket should know that you can pre-set your sizing when uploading, and size 320 x 240 is perfect for both the OLA auctions and the OLA chat room.

As a sneak peek into next week, I'll tell you that Picasa is fast becoming another favorite of mine. As a loyal Photobucket user, I balked at change, but thanks to our OLA programmer, I decided to give Picasa a try. Sure enough, Picasa does everything that Photobucket does, without needing to upload my photos to a hosting site! You can use the Picasa Web Albums, of course, but to use this great service, with the tags that are so important to image optimization, you only need to download the program to your desktop. I've been using this for several weeks now, and am familiar with the features, so please, stop by the radio show next Thursday, listen to our review, and look forward to an upcoming Webinar on how to use Picasa. (Stay tuned to the OLA chat forums for more info!)

Lastly, I know a lot of you are wondering... why was IrfanView included in this series? Well, simply put, IrfanView, while not a photo hosting site, has features that some of our OLA users may enjoy. (Ok, anyone can enjoy!) It is the resizing options that I like. They're simple. The program loads onto your desktop, you open a photo in the Irfanview editor, click on resize, and viola! More advanced users may benefit from the feature rich options, which include video and sound effects, as well as images. We'll talk about this next Thursday, too, so I hope to see you in the chat room at Seller Buzz during the show!

Until then, stop by Fleapirates Plunder and take a peek at some of the new items I've added!

Auction Listings - What Are You Forgetting?

We've all had them... auction listings that don't sell, and weeks or months later we revisit the listing page and shake our head at how badly we worded the description, or how much better we could have taken those photos. What was I thinking? Most sellers would admit this, to some degree. It's human, and certainly nothing to be embarrassed about.

No, what I saw today, and what inspired this blog post, goes beyond simple revisions. It is what was forgotten. It makes me wonder... how many sellers don't even preview their listing before activating it? For sure, if this seller had previewed this auction, they would have seen how much it lacks.

Now, now, never fear... I will never specifically target anyone on a public platform like my blog! What I will tell you is that I was doing some research for a product that I would like to list. As is my habit, I use various search engines to find out how many others might have the same item, (or a similar item), and I peek at several listings, just to compare their descriptions and pricing to what I envision mine will be. That's a good habit, wouldn't you agree?

Anyway, I found myself at eBay. This seller's title caught my eye, as it was very near to what I had planned for mine. The title was great! When I opened the listing, here was the description, in it's entirety:

"THERE IS NO DAMAGE ANY QUESTIONS JUST ASK THANKS"

To be fair, the seller had included 6 photos. They weren't great photos, but by viewing the photos I was able to see that they had placed the item next to a ruler. I surmise that this was their way of giving me the measurements. Good thing I was determined enough to click through the photos!

Fortunately for this seller, I was not perusing their listing in the capacity of a buyer. If I was, I would have hit the Back button so fast that I would have never seen the photos! How about you? Would you buy from someone who did not take the time to give you pertinent information?

Here is what I think is pertinent information for online sales:

• Measurements: length, width and height, and sometimes weight
• Condition: used or new, any damage found and general appearance
• Color
• Branding, if any
• History, if available

Then let's move on to other information that may be included, such as:

• Shipping details
• Payment Options
• Return Policy
• Contact Information
• Any information that might sway me to purchase from you, as in possible uses for the product, original retail value, manufacturer's history, or other unique qualities of the item.
• A link to your other items for sale!

SEO is not the issue here, just salesmanship! If I were to apply my guidelines for SEO, as you all know I love to do, this particular listing would fail in all but the title. We'll leave SEO tips for another blog post. They did say no damage, so I guess I'd have to give them credit for the condition. It just amazes me that they said so little else.

Do you have a mental or written checklist that you use when creating new auctions? Mine is mental, and admittedly, I have forgotten a piece of pertinent information on occasion. Once, I forgot the measurements on a brooch, and was lucky to have a buyer that was interested enough to question me on it! As a rule though, most of my auctions have as much information as I can pack into them, as a courtesy to my clients.

That leaves me with my Thought for Today... As eCommerce merchants, let's all take the time to put ourselves in our buyer's shoes, and consider what would be important to us when writing auction listings, as if we, ourselves, were interested in buying that item. Hopefully, none of us will ever have auctions that beg for clarity, as this one does!

And don't forget to stop by and check out the Six Week Extravaganza, currently in Week 4, (which is Tech Week), at OnlineAuction.com. Great deals! You can find me, at Fleapirates Plunder!

What's New and Exciting at OnlineAuction.com?

As we wind down from the 2009 Holiday Season, January seems to be a month of resolutions, new hopes and dreams, and the perfect time to take stock of different areas of our lives. So what's new and exciting at OnlineAuction.com? Plenty!

The OLA Team Blog is now actively recruiting new members!
     
If you would like to learn how to blog, and you are an active seller at OLA, this is a great opportunity. The team members stand ready and willing to offer support in learning blogging techniques. Blogging is fun and rewarding, as many team members have enjoyed the success of selling through direct contact via the team blog. For buyers, regularly following the Team Blog is a great way to stay abreast of new merchandise being featured from some of the finest sellers at OLA.

The Special Sales Events and Weekly Games Chat forum has been a busy place. January's Scavenger Hunt kicked off last Sunday, and was already won! Bingo games seem to stay popular, and while one just ended, I am sure another Game will be scheduled soon. The Wednesday Wave is on hiatus indefinitely, but another game has evolved... the Tuesday Wave, which features an evening long chat, and the sale of $2 items, and looks to be a hit with thrift-conscious members.

The Six Week Stimulus Extravaganza is organized and ready to premiere on January 31st. This event is open to all OLA members, and seeks to bring new buyers to OLA with a large seller-sponsored advertising campaign, while at the same time helping sellers to develop good SEO habits and exposure to social media sources over the course of six weeks. Look for ads on Twitter, blogs, Facebook, MySpace and YouTube, as well as word-of-mouth and local advertising during the coming weeks.

So far, 21 sellers have commited to joining this extraordinary event! There is plenty of time left to join, however, and I imagine that by January 31st, that number will grow. Each seller will offer a maximum of 10 "special" items per week, and weeks have been broken down into themes, to make browsing, bidding and buying easy and fun! My last blog post shows the categories that you will find in each week. We hope you'll mark your calendar!

As a teaser for the Extravaganza, here is some info on our hosts! Hosting Week 1, Collector's Week, we have Fleapirates, (that's me!), specializing in estate goods, sale bargains and flea market treasures. Hosting Week 2, Interiors Week, is StubsInc, offering a wide variety of antiques, collectibles, and oddities. Hosting Week 3, Personal Week, is MetzyMom, featuring homemade goat's milk bath soap and spa products and other unique finds. Hosting Week 4, Tech Week, is IceColdSales, where you'll find a little bit of everything, from collectibles, to books, to tools and gifts. Hosting Week 5, Hobby Week, is TJinTX, offering  quality and unique items for everyone, including a terrific selection of new and vintage jewelry. And closing out the sale, hosting Week 6, Splurge Week, is Curiocache, who boasts a treasure trove of sparkling genuine gems and jewelry, books, toys, collectibles, what-nots, bric-a-brac, knic-knacs, whatzits, widgets, oddities, "uniquities" and so much more!

Please take a moment and browse the stores of our hosts and sellers. As of this writing, additional participants are: FleasField, DustyCorners, Bedding4Me, Goldi, AdirondackArts, GrammyKay, Sixftrs, Davendeb1178, Crochenlady, Supergranny, Fabulous12345, Aphrodite, Nazgul, Raggy-Lady, and Kidatheart10.

Finally, our charming OLA Customer Support representative, Renee, has been keeping sellers busy with various contests! It started at Halloween, when she challenged everyone to break out the Halloween decorations and dress up their stores. That continued through Thanksgiving, and through the holiday season, and this week Renee has announced a Valentine's Day contest! (There are nice prizes, too!) So get in the spirit and decorate your OLA store!

Don't forget to stop by and see all
the sweet stuff at Fleapirates Plunder!

Baseball Withdrawals

Is anybody else having baseball withdrawals? Spring Training doesn't start until the first week of March, 2010! It seems so far away! Thankfully, many of us die-hard baseball fans, while wrapped up in the frenzy of holiday activities, can also stay busy keeping tabs on trade rumors concerning our favorite teams and players.

This year I am watching what will develop for White Sox outfielder Scott Podsednik, who is evidently being courted by 4 other teams, (the Royals, the Tigers, the Cubs, and the Giants).  As a Sox fan, I want him to stay on the South Side, where I think he has been an asset to the Sox line-up. He is a solid player and an effective base stealer, but lacks the powerhouse bat and fielding stats required to elevate him to superstar status. (I'll take a solid lineup over one single superstar anyday!) However, those facts, combined with his age, may see Podsednik heading to a new clubhouse this spring. I am eager to see what General Manager Kenny Williams will do.

So isn't this the perfect time to organize those baseball cards? My collection is all going into a new store... Flea's Field, which I opened up just a couple of weeks ago! You might have guessed that my focus will be baseball related items, but I intend to include some football, basketball and auto racing trading cards, too, and just about any sports collectible that I can find. I am just getting started, but am working hard to fill the shelves. Building a new store is fantastic fun, and I hope you'll stop by from time to time to check out what I am featuring!

Get to know some of the fine folks who collect and sell sports collectibles and cards. On OLA, you can find great deals from people like Sparky44_1999, SportsAuctionsOnline, and JimsCollectibles. On Twitter, I recommend MyHouseOfCards, and I would be remiss if I did not mention my old friend, CardmanLou. Enjoy your off-season!


   
~ Fleapirates Plunder ~

Hunting For Handmade Treasures

One of my favorite hobbies is crafting. I like to create, and I like to buy! It doesn't really matter if it is sewn, glued, carved, knitted, or strung, if it is handmade, I am interested. At this time of the year, who can resist that local Christmas Bazaar filled with homemade ornaments, hand knitted scarves and fresh baked goods?

In that spirit, I'd like to invite you all to browse the handmade treasures that are currently for sale at OnlineAuction.com.  Just recently, I searched the site, using only the word handmade. There were 1095 results! Just look at some of the fabulous items I found... I think it might inspire you to rethink your holiday gift giving this year. Wouldn't a handmade item lend a more personal touch than a gift card? Or maybe, in addition to that gift card! With great prices at OLA, you can certainly afford to do both.

From KornKountyTreasures,
a Hand Crocheted Heirloom Baby Bib and Booties.


From Foxy10159,
a Sterling Silver Handmade Eagles Eye Gemstone Jewelry Set


From Aphrodite,
a Decorative Seashell Soap Dish Hand Made Out of Seashells


From DustyCorners,
a Gingerbread Grandmother Doll Handmade ooak


From LFWoodworking,
a Christmas Ornaments set of 4, handmade scrolled solid oak


And from Fleapirates Plunder,
a Homemade Fabric Gift Bags for Wine Bottles and More


Have fun plundering ~
There are more beautiful handmade gifts just waiting to be found!

Happy Holidays from all of us at OnlineAuction.com!

Shopper's Arena Grand Opening!

Its time to expand!

I am proud to announce the Grand Opening of
Fleapirates Plunder at Shopper's Arena!

Click the banner below to browse all the new stores!

And here is my banner, linked to Shopper's Arena!

Now, my OLA friends... this is just an expansion!
I am not abandoning OnlineAuction.com!
I love OLA! Its my home.

I consider this a positive addition to my SEO plan.

You can find me at either store, this blog,
the OLA Team Blog, or on Twitter,
and, one of these days, I'll add a Facebook page, too!

Each store will have items unique to the venue.
No double listing for me!
Feel free to contact me, or make purchases, at either site.
Sign-ups are easy at both places,
and the communities are awesome!
Or, if you'd like, just ask and I will move product
to whichever of the venues you prefer.

Wish me luck!
Be sure to stop by and grab some deals
at the Shopper's Arena Grand Opening...
and every day values at OnlineAuction.com!

~ Fleapirates Plunder ~

Bookmark It!

At OnlineAuction.com, we've got a bookmark button. It is similar to eBay's Watch List or Internet Explorer's Favorites list. This is a feature I use all the time, even if I don't end up buying the item. Do you use bookmarks?

We've also got a Favorite Sellers list, but I have to admit that I don't use it much. If you list an item that interests me, you are suddenly one of my favorite sellers!    And if our previous transactions have all been pleasant ones, you're likely to reside permanently on my "mental" list of favorite sellers. I have a good memory! I am also not the least bit nervous about purchasing from sellers who are new to me. What better way to make a new acquaintance?

But back to Bookmark It!

At any given time, I have 2 - 3 pages of bookmarked items. Remember when you were a kid and the Sears Christmas Gift Book arrived? My bookmark list resembles my Christmas list from years ago! You knew you couldn't have it all, but it remained on the list anyway. You hoped.

How do I discover all these treasures to bookmark? Well, browsing at OLA is easy! First, sit and watch the Featured Auctions for a bit. There's all kinds of eye candy in that scrolling banner! Then browse the category list, because you just never know what might spark your interest. And last, but not least, keep an eye on the Whats For Sale forum in OLA Chat. Many times I've been lured into an impulse buy, or bookmark, just because the seller featured an irresistible item in chat.

Once you've made a purchase or two, you'll develop a Favorite Seller list of your own, so don't forget to check those stores! OLA Sellers are always adding new merchandise! Have fun and browse... I guarantee you'll find a great buy!

This is probably a mistake, but I'll give you an idea of some items that currently reside on my bookmark list. Fight me for 'em, if you must!

Green Bay Packers Sunglasses Style 2
     ~ from Jerseysnmore

Guitar Player Magazine back issue May 1990
     ~ from Build-A-Box

The Kid's Book of the American Quarter Horse AQHA
    ~ from Curiocache

NEW PASHMINA CASHMERE Wrap Silver Gray GIFT
     ~ from BlueHanahCottage

Fantasy Tree Tealight Holder
     ~ from YawningDawg

American Miniature Case Art by Rinhart Book Photography Antique Frames
     ~ from Supergranny

A nice assortment, wouldn't you agree?   Find your treasure today!

You can always start in my store! Fleapirates Plunder

Fleapirates Plunder One Day Sale!

Fleapirates Plunder
One Day Sale

Wednesday November 11, 2009

20% OFF STOREWIDE!

Mention that you saw this offer on my blog!

Browse through new and vintage collectibles, jewelry and more!
Here are just a few treasures that you may find...

Click on any photo below to visit the auction details.

Practicing the Art of Effective Communication

In two of my recent blog posts I talked about the importance of timely shipping in the area of ecommerce sales. As buyers' expectations hold sellers to a high level of customer service, you'll find that successful sellers are also practicing the art of effective communication.

Effective communication guarantees your customer's comfort. Let's be realistic... in today's online world, you often know little or nothing about the person or company that you send your hard-earned dollars to. By communicating with the customer, the seller is proving their committment, providing valuable information and putting the buyer at ease. This is especially important with online transactions, as they take days to complete. Compare yourself to the largest retailers, like Walmart and Target. Most send an email, confirming your order and sending shipping notification. Do you?

At OnlineAuction.com, we have an in-house communication system. Along with regular communication, all of our invoices are sent through the o-mail system. While I find it extremely useful in communicating with seasoned members, it has been challenging, to say the least, for new members. The staff at OLA have taken steps to make new members aware of this feature and it's benefits. What can you do to help new members communicate with you?

Something new I have started is adding a brief paragraph in each listing about the importance of checking OLA o-mail. I currently have 700+ listings, so adding this to each one is going to take some time! I think it is worth it, though, as the first place someone will check for information is the listing itself. Here is an example of what I am adding:

PLEASE NOTE!
If you are the winning bidder,
please remember to check your OLA o-mail for an invoice from me!
(Not your email!)

This small blurb may be all that is necessary to inform them of where to find communication from me! Since they'll be aware to look for an invoice, I can also get their attention for matters pertaining to payment options, shipping preferences and estimated delivery times. And if they have a question, or a comment, they will know that I am easily accessible via this method.

Now I know it not always that simple. So here is my recommendation if you have a member who is not communicating with you. Contact Renee. Be sure to send her the auction number and the member's ID. She has a friendly form letter, sent by email, that will remind a member to check their omail. It is not accusatory, not threatening, and it has been effective for me several times. Renee can be contacted through the omail system, (just type in Renee), through email to renee@onlineauction.com, or by calling OLA Support at 1-800-900-2828.

Want to communicate with me? Drop me an omail! Leave a comment here! Find me on Twitter!
I love to chat!

Good luck!
Keep on practicing the art of effective communication!

Timely Shipping is important!

In my last blog post, I asked my readers to share their practices and expectations about ecommerce sales. There were two polls, and readers were encouraged to participate in whichever poll applied to them. The response was over-whelming... timely shipping is important!

The first area of discussion that was polled focused upon sellers. The topic was: When I sell an item, my standard shipping practice is...

Results varied. Seventeen people responded, and I will assume they are all active sellers. One person voted for Same Day Shipping. Wow! That is outstanding customer service, and anyone who can achieve that on a daily basis deserves a pat-on-the-back! That is awesome!

Nine people voted for within 24 hours and six people voted for within 48 hours. This is what I expected, and the standard that I hope all sellers strive for.

Finally, one seller also voted for within one week.  In my opinion, one week is the longest it should take, and while delays are not unheard of, especially with made-to-order products, perhaps this seller should pay close attention to the Buyer's poll, where they may find that their buyers are looking for delivery options that are considerably faster. At the very least, I expect that this seller is maintaining open lines of communication with their clients, to put the clients at ease with a longer estimated delivery time.

What might cause an acceptable delay in shipping? Acceptable, to me, means that either the seller has stated clearly in their listing that they only ship on certain days, or that their item(s) are custom-made. If a buyer knows in advance what to expect, longer delivery times are no longer an issue. It is, however, an issue that every seller must consider. Are your shipping restraints putting off buyers?

The second area of discussion that was polled focused upon buyers. The topic was: As a buyer, I expect my order to arrive...

The results were close. Eighteen people responded. Here are the results:
Within 5 days - 6 votes
Within 1 week - 6 votes
Within 10 days - 3 votes
Within 2 weeks - 3 votes

This is enlightening! These results should prove to all sellers that today's buyers are savvy about shipping transit times. They expect prompt service, and are likely not to return if they don't have a satisfactory buying experience.

Let's all do everything we can to ensure that our buyers are repeat buyers!

Thank you to everyone who participated!
Fleapirates Plunder at OnlineAuction.com

Arthur Court Monkey Stand Salt and Pepper Set in Original Box

Arthur Court Monkey Stand Salt and Pepper Set in Original Box


This stunning collectible comes in the original box.
The base is hand-polished aluminum.
The shakers feature a swirled clear glass pattern.

I find no faults with this pre-owned set.

Measures 4 inches wide, 2.75 inches deep, and 3.25 inches tall.

The box is in pristine condition,
and indicates that this set is model # 04-0596.
This set, with charming monkeys, is now discontinued.

An elegant addition to your dining table!

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OLA Welcome Home Sale Concludes

Today marks the conclusion of the OLA Welcome Home Sale. Over 62 sellers participated in the year's largest OnlineAuction.com sale, featuring 5000+ products, attractively priced, and promoting Classic Auctions which lasted for 7 days.

I am thrilled to say that I had several sales at Fleapirates Plunder! Thank you to all my treasured buyers! I am proud, and blessed, to be a part of such an active, friendly and professional community.

Holiday shopping was at the front of my mind this week, as prices were slashed and great deals abounded. You should have seen my bookmark list... it was over 3 pages long! Unfortunately, some unexpected home issues affected how much I could spend, and I was only able to snag one treasured gift. What didn't get gobbled up in the sale remains on my bookmarks, and I'll continue shopping again soon. I usually start holiday shopping early, don't you? Last year, I bought nearly every gift on OLA! This year will be no different.

My plunder this week is a purchase from The*Tiki*Shak. It is a Cardinal Bird Feeder that my Mom will adore! She loves cardinals, and collects anything that shows off those beautiful red birds. Tiki has lots of other neat treasures in her store... click on the cardinal pic and I'll take you there to browse!

This may not be the brightest idea I've ever had, but I am going to let you peek at a few of the items that are still on my bookmarks. (Fight me for 'em, if you must!) These items are still listed in Classic Auction style, and to see their details, just click on the photo. And don't forget... if you are not yet a member of OLA, sign-up takes only a minute or two, and it doesn't cost a thing to become a basic buyer. We'd love to welcome you to our community!