American Girl | ResaleQueen

Good Advice on Finding American Girl Dolls for Cheap Online

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:47:58 -0400

I have some advice for you guys if you are hunting online for American Girl items on the cheap. My daughter has 7 of the dolls and I also buy them all the time to sell. The most I have ever paid for a doll is $30, but that was for Lindsey the first girl of the year which I sold for $250. The last one I bought was Elizabeth for $1, the lady didn't care because her overindulgent mother-in-law had bought it as a gift for her daughter. People always ask me how do you find American Girl stuff at garage sales?

Well, this is how:

1. Craigslist, if you just go onto Craigslist for your local area and click the link for "for sale" type "American Girl" into the search box at the top of the page. You will find American Girl dolls not only for sale in the "items for sale" section but also the garage sale section. Since Craigslist is free and newspapers charge per word some people go into great detail in their listings and by typing "American Girl" into that top search box you will pull up all the listings that have American Girl stuff. Another bonus of finding it at a garage sale, no shipping cost!

People also are selling American Girl stuff in the classified and while some is kinda high Ebay priced, I found a woman selling 6 dolls and an Armoire for $125 for everything, she was a mom who thought played with dolls werent worth much and didnt want to mess with Ebay. Check this frequently because there are frequent posts and the stuff goes fast!

2. Ebay, I know everyone says Ebay is so expensive. Well, I have to tell you when I need $40 for groceries I put up American Girl dolls for buy it now $40. So when you are searching on Ebay, modify your search by checking the "Buy It Now" listings box on the left side of the page and "Just Listed" as well- if someone puts up Jess for $45 it will be gone fast.

Also for some reason people call American Girl stuff AG on Ebay, as though the Ebay search bot magically knows that this is American Girl, so if you type AG doll into the search box you are going to get a lot of homemade clothes a gramma made that "fit AG dolls" but you will also find dolls listed without American Girl in the title which are going to have way fewer people finding them and thus have a lower sales price.

Some sellers list dolls as Pleasant Company, some sellers think Pleasant is spelled Pleasent, a frequent mistake so check that too. Sellers also sometimes only list the dolls name like their whole title will be "Kit doll" no AG/American Girl/Pleasant Company. So keep an eye out for that.

3. Did you know that Goodwill ( as in the thrift store/charity) has their own auction site? When people bring in great stuff sometimes they pull it to the side and put it up on their auction site. If you go to shopgoodwill.com there is a round search icon on the top right of the page, click that then type in American Girl or Pleasant Company and there are always dolls on this site. You do have to register for to use the site, but it is a pretty easy Ebay-esque type of deal.

One of the most frequent stores selling their American Girl stuff this way: the Madison, WI store where the annual outlet sale used to be held and just down the road from Middleton, WI where the company began and where the outlet store is and the current annual sale is held.

Tags: American Girl Pleasant Company American Girl Doll Doll of the Year

How to Clean American Girl Doll Skin

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:49:28 -0400

Dont you just hate it when you see that promising peek of tan cloth body at a garage sale and get all excited only to find the poor American Girl doll you have pulled out of the stuffed animal bin looks like it should be begging for 35 cents a day on late night tv?

How do you remove that gross layer of kid grub from AG skin?

I use Magic Erasers, they are totally remove the gross grimey stuff leaving clean limbs behind.

How do you fix their hair?

My mother advises washing doll hair in fabric softener so I am going to give it a whirl on the old Pleasant Company Molly I bought for a dollar today. I will let you know what I find.

Tags: American Girl Clean American Girl Doll Pleasant Company

Garage Sale Season Ends and the Holidays Begin

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 09:01:15 -0400

This is my favorite time of year. After the Dirty Nurse costume is packed away for another year and before Aunt Trudy, the original Dirty Nurse shows up for Thanksgiving, it's clean out the house time.

The time of year when people call Empire carpet to freshen up for the Aunt Trudy. And how can sweet Aunt Trudy squeal with jealousy over the new Berber if she can't see it?

Time to take everything to Goodwill.

For the Ebay seller it is when we kick it into high gear, clear our calendars and hang out all day at the local thrift shop. It does seem strange that people would wait until the frost hits to clean out their house, but with holiday fast approaching Goodwill will fill with large toys, TVs, stuffed animals and clothing as people make room for the new.

Any mom looking at the Toys R Us Wish Book becomes increasingly clausterphobic at the idea of being surrounded with additional hunks of purple, pink and blue plastic.

Your job as a Suburban Recycling Professional is to turn those forgotten 2006 Little Tikes kitchens, American Girl dolls and Fisher Price Loving Family Dollhouses and market yesterday's trash as Christmas morning treasure. Good luck people.

Tags: American Girl Doll Fisher Price Loving Family Dollhouse Little Tikes Kitchen Goodwill Empire Carpet

A suggestion for Ebay customer service...

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:13:48 -0400

I don't function in a normal, social, human environment.

After years of hovering over a keyboard late at night singing the praises of whatever item I found by the side of the road that day the last thing I want to deal with is a bitchy grumpasaurus customer.

Email tends to bring out the worst in people, or it could be that other anti-social crumudgeon types like myself prefer to shop without social interaction so the grumpy asshole quotient is higher.

I got accused of selling a fake bag this week.

What made me really frustrated about the whole deal was that she never contacted me to express her suspicion and request a return. She didn't even email me and threaten me with a negative.

She just left me a neutral and said she bought the bag under the assumption it was real and it was not.

I emailed and emailed and she totally blew me off.

The bag was real, but the serial numbers of Kate Spades are easy to miss- still she could have emailed me back.

Now the worst...

My sister and I started a business selling a local company's catalog returns/store displays etc- they only have one outlet so it is a good situation for us.

A customer got her item from us, and wasn't happy.

Did she contact us and ask for a return?

Did she email a neg feedback threat?

No she called the company directly.

Sweet.

One grumpasauras rex just screwed up months of building a relationship and blew my whole pay off the Visa plan.

I wish you could to pay an extra 50 cents a listing for Ebay to hire Indonesian customer service reps say "I am sorry for your trouble- I am authorized to extend to you an offer of free shipping on any item up to 4.95 in value.

That would be perfect.

Tags: American Girl Lindsey American Girl pre-mattel doll American Girl Retired Resale Queen Buy American Girl Dolls

American Girl Warehouse Outlet Sale Details!

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 21:30:37 -0400

This is the info straight from the flyer laying on the couter at the American Girl outlet in OshKosh Wisconsin:

American Girl Warehouse Sale
June 21-24
-Bitty Baby Outfits
-Assorted Fisher-Price Toys
-Doll Outfits & Accessories
-New Items Arriving on Saturday
Warehouse Hours
Thurs,Fri, Sat 10-8 Sun 9-5
Warehouse Sale Site: 2105 Koeller Street at Aviation Plaza, OshKosh Wisconsin (Northwest of outlet store on east side of highway)

I can't go due to my niece's first birthday party. If you go, email me at thesmithmall@hotmail.com and I will post your review of the sale.

Tags: American Girl Doll Bitty Baby Twins American Girl Outlet Osh Kosh American Girl American Girl Sale

I told Kris to Quit Bugging You Guys

Sun, 17 Jun 2007 10:21:54 -0400

I'm sorry. Kris had the brilliant idea of setting the RSS feed to send out every listing I put up on Ebay. I had him change that this morning. Not everyone considers a vintage Zummi Gummi Bear plush on Ebay an event worthy of their immediate attention.

Sorry for the interruptions and back to regular programming.

Tags: American Girl Bitty Baby Gummi Bear Plush Eden Snowman Dooney Bag

The Real American Girl Outlet: 2 days ONLY!

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:31:38 -0400

So why did my trip to American Girl world suck so much? Where were the awesome deals? Apparently the company reserves all of the factory screw ups and customer returns (in other words the good deals) for their annual sale.

This year it is on July 21st and 22nd, inconveniently located in Osh Kosh, Wisconsin. Other things to enjoy in Osh Kosh: Burger King and (tell me you didn't see this one coming) the Osh Kosh B'Gosh Outlet. I asked the clerk at the AG store when people start lining up. I wasn't shocked to learn people line up the day before and sleep out around here people do that for decent garage sales. I did a search for the hell of it on Ebay and was surprised to see several sellers hawking get in early tickets to the sale.

The sale starts at either 8 or 9 , but for a mere $120 a person you can go at 7am. So why does AG hoard all of the good crap for one day when mommies are driving up to Osh Kosh right and left to be disappointed by their "outlet"? For charity. The Madison Children's Museum gets the proceeds from the sale as well as the few 7am tickets being sold.

My sister/apprentice scheduled her daughters party for that day. I could find an excuse but when my sister/apprentice comes over on the 23rd and can't find a seat without moving Marisol's wave runner she may be suspicous. If you go email me and let me know how it was...

Tags: American Girl Sale Ticket American Girl Marisol American Girl Warehouse Sale American Girl Outlet American Girl Osh Kosh

American Girl Store Kinda Sucks To My Surprise

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:10:14 -0400

Well I just got back from the longest drive through nowhere I have ever taken. A brief 4-6 hours north of here is a little town called Osh Gosh and b'gosh it looks like everywhere else in America- Starbucks, then Target, then Starbucks, then TJ Maxx except for one very important landmark store. The promised land for any mommy of a little lady.

Yes, I got to go to the American Girl outlet store.

I was so excited that the tantrums and crying (lots of roadwork) on the way up didn't even bother me. I was going to my Graceland and no one was going to bring me down.

When the children and I fell out of the car covered in stale partially digested Goldfish crackers a brief 6 hours and 3 poopy diapers later. I was a little weirded out. Here is a massive company bajillions in sales, and it is the size of Baby Gap. Ugh. Once inside I was disappointed to find that they do not carry dolls AT ALL - not a one. They do carry all of the critters like Coconut, Licorice and all the AG pets as well as the pet accessories. Other than that all they have is clothes, and some of the doll clothes.

While the clothes are cute, they are infinitely cuter in the catalog on Kit's living look-a-like than they are hanging on a round chrome rack. What was even more disappointing was that most things were the same price as they are in the catalog, I guess you are saving a little by not paying shipping but it is not worth driving all day for.

They did have a small clearance table. White Bitty Baby shoes were $1 a pair so I got some of those to sell. They also had pink suede AG doll size boots and forest green boots- probably left overs from winter. They were three bucks a pair which while an OK deal wasn't quite the awesome deal I was looking for. This is what I ended up with 2 Bitty Twins discontinued Xmas set Ret.$44 I paid $14 for 6 pairs white Bitty shoes $1 a piece Bitty Twins boys retired sleeper $6 Elliot my son had to get Licorice which was the same old 19 bucks he is online and he got a few accessories some of which like the carrier were the catalog price.

I also got my two year old and her little friend American Girl Store New York t-shirts for 6 a piece. They have never been to New York, but I was so desperate for a deal they suckered me with the cheap tourist t. The only other deeply discounted thing were Bitty Baby Chocolate Cherry outfits which were $9 for the dress set and $10 for the coat. The matching girl's coat (of which they only had 1 left) was still $34.

When I came home and looked up the Bitty Twins outfit, I saw to my dismay they are selling for about $9.99. Every stay at home mommy in the Osh Kosh area must sell the outlet stuff. They had a few of the furniture type of stuff like the Bitty Baby wagon which was $25 there.

So, if you live within 20 minutes of the American Girl outlet it is probably not a bad deal. If you are a Chicago suburbanite- check out the clearance area of the American Girl site it is the same stuff and the same prices.

Tags: American Girl Doll Bitty Baby Twins American Girl Outlet Osh Kosh American Girl American Girl Sale

American Girl Outlet here I come

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 11:54:24 -0400

In the middle of a short vacation with kids, if you can call it that, jk, I love'em, and we are going to be stopping at the American Girl Outlet in Wisconsin in about 20 minutes. Wish me luck.

Update to follow!

Tags: Emily Rose American Girl Doll American Girl Outlet Oshkosh Outlet

American Girl Dolls & Ebay: A Love Affair

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 10:23:32 -0500

"My daughter wants an American Girl doll for Christmas. I've always loved them and have been looking at them on ebay. Could you do a ReSale Queen on the American Girl dolls? What should I look for? Is it worth it to invest in an older doll or should I just buy new? What do you think?"

I love American Girl dolls too- that is the whole basis for their success I think. They totally appeal to mommies as well as kids.

As a buyer you have to make a decision. Are you taking the Beanie Baby route- buying the dolls as some sort of investment your kid can retire on at 19, or are you buying dolls for your daughter to fall in love with, to drag along on her adventures and to make her best friend.

Or maybe you just are wondering whether the older dolls are higher quality and you just want the coolest little best friend for your daughter.

To help you determine which path to take I am going to give you a little background on how these things are listed on Ebay and what you can expect to pay for each classification.

American Girl was the brilliant idea of a Wisconsin teacher. She started Pleasant Company in 1986 with a catalog. The reason a lot of people think dolls from this period are higher quality is because they were made by the Goetz company in Germany, a respected doll manufacturer. These dolls are tagged made in West Germany. The earliest dolls also had white bodies. Remember that when she started there were only 3 characters Molly, Kirsten and Samantha- so if your daughter wants one of the newer characters like Kaya then you cannot buy a "vintage" one.

On Ebay a white bodied doll which is the rarest of the older girls can sell for over 500 if it is in the original box with all tags in mint condition. Check out completed item 320040707406. Also valuable are accessories produced during this early period as they are perceived to be of higher quality than current ones.

So the next batch of dolls were made in West Germany but had regular flesh colored bodies, the side tags on these dolls also state Made in West Germany, though they are not as highly sought after on Ebay because they are more common. Expect to pay between 50-100 depending on the character, clothing, and of course condition. If you are interested in purchasing one of these put pre-mattel American Girl into the Ebay search box.

In the early 90's dolls were still made in West Germany, then production was moved to Hungary for a year then finally to China were they are made to this day.

In 1998 the Wisconsin teacher sold the company to Mattel. Pleasant Company as a name disappeared and the company was renamed American Girl to better utilize brand recognitiion. This helps to date any accessories or dolls you may find second hand, anything marked Pleasant Company irregardless of where it was produced is pre-mattel.

Now what's with the whole pre-mattel thing? Well I guess people freaked when she sold the company- like Mattel was going to Barbieize American Girl- cheapen the brand and the quality.

Mattel has definitely expanded the line of characters as well as produced movies and other stuff to publicize the brand. There are also the American Girl stores now which are really fun if you haven't gone.

I have both pre and post Mattel American Girls and personally I don't see a huge quality difference. Please don't email me and tell me I am wrong- it's just my opinion.

The dolls retail in the AG stores or catalogs for around $87 new. If you can do better than that on Ebay and your child doesn't mind a previously enjoyed doll then go the Ebay route. I wouldn't personally spend $100 just to get a pre-mattel doll for my child to play with.

Ebay is a cool place to find all the retired play sets. This is where the brand has really excelled in quality- ever tried to put a Barbie doll on a Barbie chair- it takes concentration and luck to get Barbie furniture to function. American Girl stuff has wonderful detail and quality. Even the things I find at garage sales years later are in awesome condition.

Look for the current sets on Ebay as well they are generally cheaper on Ebay than in the catalog.

How are people doing that? For one thing there is an American Girl outlet store in Appleton Wisconsin and you see a lot of Ebay items from that area since people go to the outlet then sell the stuff on Ebay. I haven't been to the outlet yet so I don't know if it's super cheap.

Another fun thing to collect in the American Girl collection and something that has done well on the secondary market is the American Girl doll of the year.

This started in 2001 with Lindsay, the only Jewish doll American Girl has come out with. Lindsey's in the box can sell for around $300- I was lucky enough to buy mine at a garage sale for $25. If you are not picky about the box thing expect to pay $125-$150 for an out of the box gently played with Lindsey and 80-100 for a naked played with one. She was only out for the year then retired December 31st.

Christmas 2003 brought Kailey an environmentalist- worth about $130 on Ebay. She was retired 12/31/04.

12/2004 brought Marisol a dancer doll with an Hispanic face mold- same as Josefina. She was also retired promptly, and Jan 1st of 2006 about a million hit Ebay. She is easier than the earlier dolls to find new in box I think a lot of people bought her to resell so mint in box is more common for Marisol plus it hasn't been that long since retirement. She is still worth around $150 new in box.

For 2006, there is Jess. Her story places has her paddling around Belize in a kayak for some reason. She is not yet sold out- still available on the AG website for $87. If you think you might want one buy them now last year Marisol sold out in very early December.

For 2007, the doll is going to be Nicki Fleming a Colorado girl who lives on a ranch and trains service dogs. Rumor has it she will have brown curly hair and blue eyes. She will be available soon.

I personally like the dolls that have been loved, they have more personality than the new in boxers. My favorite doll has Kool-Aid tinted hair and Sharpie tattoos as well as a bad haircut- dolls like this aren't worth much on Ebay maybe $25-$35- but hey that's why I'm the resale queen.

Tags: American Girl Lindsey American Girl pre-mattel doll American Girl Retired Resale Queen Buy American Girl Dolls

Ebay Sales Update

Sat, 07 Oct 2006 10:45:37 -0400

This is what my last stuff was bought and sold for.

Bitty Baby- bought .99 sold 24.99
American Girl of Today Doll like Kirsten- bought .49 sold 51.00
Scooby Doo Van & Figures- bought 5.00 sold 59.01
American Girl Camping Outfit- bought 2.00 sold 12.27
7 I Spy Books- bought 5.00 sold 14.99
Cabbage Patch TRU Police Boy- bought 6.00 sold 39.99

before Ebay fees of course...

Tags: Scooby Doo Mystery Machine Bitty Baby American Girl Doll

The links cough up cash.

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 10:33:48 -0400

Hey!

Someone actually bought something through my Ebay link and I got $4.32 for Slowski gas. Sweet.

Retirement to Boca is just around the corner.

Tags: AuthenticDooney and Bourke Signature Shopper Tote American Girl Doll

I hate money orders.

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 10:16:37 -0400

This has been a rough week for the Queen.

I was in desperate need of cash. So I listed several items on one day as buy it now auctions. I came back to my computer several hours later and checked my hotmail. This is the message I got for the Bitty Baby I listed on my paypal only auction:

" Thank you for the baby, I have a 5 year old who has lost hers. So this works out great. This is my first time ordering on ebay. Can I mail you a money order, or do I have to go through paypal with my credit card info?"

Then my Cabbage Patch Kid Toys R Us 2001 1st Edition sold.

First there was an email at 10 am that asked: "Is there anyway you would consider a money order for this item?"

Apparently by 11 am Cabbie fever took over and she could not wait for my answer. So not only did she bid, she did a buy it now.

A buy it now, with a money order. That's like running into 7-11 for an Aquafina, going to the register, getting rung up then calling your Cousin Vera back east to put $1.10 in a saddlebag- pointing the horse in the general direction of the Midwest and giving it a good slap on the ass.

How well would that go over with the clerk? You would be kicked to the curb.

And the problem is you can't bitch these people out because then they have the audacity to give you a neg.

The Bitty Baby chick is approaching it the other way which is to plead ignorance then throw your pathetic child lost doll story in to boot.

Ugh. Look people I need cash- got hungry babies.

If you don't trust your credit card number over the internet, if you prefer to live like it's 1983 then jump in your Country Squire Wagon and drive cross country to an American Girl store where you can conduct your transaction face to face like the good old days. Otherwise, get with the program!

Some people still don't trust Paypal. That's fine . . . just don't bid on my crap.

Tags: American Girl Bitty Baby Cabbage Patch Kids TRU 1st

Santa's Sleigh of Discontinued Toys

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 15:49:24 -0400

The childlike joy of Christmas has returned to my soul. For beginning in late September, a certain sanity flies south for the winter and insane parents world wide begin their search.

They are on a quest to find the one perfect toy that will turn their grumpy overstilmulated goldfish poppin munchkin into an appreciative, faithful youngster.

Some toys you can just run down to Toys R Us and buy off the shelf no problemo, but what if you want the Little Tikes Activity Garden Mason is so in love with at day care or the vintage Little People Airplane at Grandma's house your kid has a fit over when it's time to leave.

That's where people like me come in. You may think people who live for garage sales, church bazaars and going out of business sales are freaks, but keep in mind I am lining up at 5 in the morning outside St. Margaret Mary so your little girl can have the Eden My First Bear she lost replaced or so you can satitate your secret Cabbage Patch obsession.

Yes to the legions of Goodwill Dr. Feelgoods this is the best time of the year.

If you are buying some things to look out for. Toys toys toys, books are slowing down as school is into full swing and parental attention is shifting to all things big and plastic. Little Tikes is a great investment this time of year.

Anything that will make Babykins light up when she comes down the stairs Christmas morning- so you see you are on the lookout for things with the WOW factor. Sell a Step 2 Toddler kitchen set with tons of food, a Little Tikes Washer Dryer set so your little one can be just like mommy or daddy if you are lucky like that, and of course anything American Girl or Groovy Girl.

Stay away from anything outdoorsy- Spring is the time to sell your Tikes house or Cozy Coupe.

Tags: Step 2 Kitchen Eden My First Bear Little Tikes Activity Garden

The Castle is Getting Crowded and Smelly

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 10:36:04 -0400

So the Elmo investment didn't pan out.

It was entirely the fault of my assistant, however since she is both unpaid and related to me I have to ignore that fact and move on.

So this is when being a seller gets speculative. I could return the TMXs at Toys R Us, relist them and chance paying Ebay fees on another item that did not sell, or I can sit on them hoping that the little third world toy making elves will develop carpal tunnel and be unable to fufill the desires of spoiled preschoolers who need a $100 giggle box- which by December 18th could be worth $225.

These are the issues that keep the Queen awake at night.

Seriously though the Elmos are depreciating somewhat, what was last week's $100 sure thing is now a $70 sale.

So I think I am going to sit on them.

This is the problem. I am also sitting on American Girl dolls, Groovy Girls, bins full of Legos, Lego Dacta Table, Tons of books, Build a Bears, Step 2 Kitchen pieces, Today's Kids Baby Gates and misc stuffed animals.

My castle is becoming a crowded place that smells like a resale shop.

Thank goodness all the Prada at Goodwill was fake today- because who needs the clutter.

Keep an eye on thesmithmall's crap this week I am in the mood to purge.

Like anyone with a psychological disorder my urges come and go. Sometimes I do nothing but buy for weeks, then one morning I wake up and look at the messy storage locker I am living in-get fed up-and make a thousand in a day. Other disorders dont pay this well.

Tags: Elmo TMX Groovy Girls American Girl Bitty Baby

BREEDER SALE SPECTACULAR!

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 20:19:16 -0400

This weekend was the GREATEST GARAGE SALE OF ALL TIME. Alright, so I say that every weekend, but this weekend was a special one. TMOTTC (tri cities mothers of twins and triplets club) threw their annual fall clothing and toy resale event. These chicks may have weak pelvic floors, but they throw a serious sale. Their organizational techniques are unmatched. Dont mess with a chick who has developed a flow chart to get her laundry done.

So this is how a big sale works. A club like the good old TCMOTTC rents a space, these guys rent a stadium which is brilliant you already know by the location in the newspaper ad that this sale is going to be huge. Lesser local clubs for the explosively fertile actually get together and rent livestock and specialty county fair barns to house their sales. Nothing says quality, clean merchandise like ducking through 4H banners on your way to the breastpumps.

The idea behind these sales is to raise money for cash strapped mommies as well as the organization. In order to sell at the sale, you have to be a member. Unless you put your name on a waiting list, pass a phone interview and submit to an inperson interview and information session. I know this sounds like hell a work but I completed all 3 rounds and was granted the golden password to resale nirvana. My seller id, number 432.

I had a brilliant idea, starting last spring when everyone else was looking for summer clothes, I started my search for near to free fall and winter designer kid clothes. I emptied my daughters closet and started hoarding all the boutique brand and gap crap I could hustle. It actually worked out really well since the problem with kids clothes in the first place is that kids grow out of them, especially toddlers and little kids.

All mommies know that you can't predict growth spurts or standstills in growth-kids don't really progress through sizes they stall out in some, skip others- so most moms aren't buying several seasons ahead. I started going to church sales and yard sales on the last day. The leftover summer clothes were torn Garanimals gear, however you would be amazed at the Hanna Andersson, Oilily, Gap and other expensive junk I found lying there like last weeks Ramen.

So now you can understand why I was so psyched about this garage sale this week- I had 19 winter coats alone. Nonmembers got 65% of the sale price, not exactly awesome but I figured if I just sold a huge volume I would be making mad cash. They don't release the member percentage. A woman there-member I should say- said the last sale was around $30k total sales, $12k went to the club.

Friday morning is drop off day, I thought I would be in and out of there- but these ladies don't trust those who eject eggs one by one. They went through each piece of clothing I had checking for stains or tears it took nearly an hour for them to check me in I had so much crap.

The first sale day is actually Friday night the day before it opens to the public. This is the VIP members only sweet sale preview when most of the good stuff at cheap prices goes. The sale committee works out a schedule. Of course they go first, then the members of the club who volunteer at the sale, then the members who don't volunteer and then us freakish wannabe nonmembers.

The sale started at 4:45 but we couldnt get in until 7pm. If I could figure a way to get onto the committee I would. Maybe if I lie- I could just rub some blue eyeshadow under my eyes and dust myself with baby formula- "sorry I'm late guys- the quads are just so needy...". I think I could pass.

So finally I got to go in along with my sister who is my apprentice, she had to work a shift in order to gain entry I asked if I could just bring someone to the sale and I was told they would have to stand in the hall- I am tellin' you these multiples madres are serious. So this is what we got:
JJ Cole Bundle Me paid 2.50 ebay value $30; Groovy Girl w/sleeping bag $4 will be added to lot of collected Groovy Girls which will ebay for $75-90;Todays Kids gate $10 Ebay for $80, Todays Kids gate for $20 will also Ebay for $80, Scooby Doo Mystery Machine and set of action figures $6 Ebays for $65-$70, Pottery Barn blue gingham crib skirt and sheet set times 2 of course from someones twin boys paid $6 per set Ebay $25 per set; American Girl clothes and karaoke machine paid $4.

I have to do more research in the 'completed's to find out the outfits title, year of release, character intended for and whether or not it is retired- depending on these factors will sell for $10-$70 or I may keep for a lot since I find American Girl dolls from time to time for 50 cents at Goodwill; Little Tikes Hot Wheels Mountain which we will be stripping for parts and piecing off on Ebay paid $10 pieces are worth $60-$80; Step 2 kitchen pieces these are HOT HOT HOT -they are small toddler size play kitchens that are no longer produced and 'Buy It Now' for $110 on Ebay for no trouble at all- I got a set for $19.

I havent gotten my check yet to find out what I made from what I sold but as soon as I do I will type it up.

Tags: American Girl Little Tikes Hot Wheels Mountain Step 2 Kitchen Today's Kids Gate

Scuba DPVs, Bitty Babies, and Ebay Fees

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 12:24:59 -0400

Buenos Dias from the resale queen, Betsy Smith- you may know me from my long run as star of Croncast, a podcast my husband forces me to do 3 times a week. Kris- thats the other half of Croncast and my man of la mancha had the brilliant idea of building this nifty site for me.

I have been selling on Ebay for 6 years. That's 6 years of dumpster diving, Goodwill hunting and garage saleing.

Everybody thinks its nifty to buy something for 50 cents and sell it for 50 bucks, and Ebay has become the stay at home mommy home biz of the new millenium- kind of like catering and real estate was back in the 80s. While selling on Ebay is fairly straightforward, the difficult part is knowing what sells and for how much. This is where the hard work comes in. If you like to stay up until 1am bleary eyed reading completed Care Bear auctions in order of highest to lowest price- then join me compadre as we venture forth on the journey to turn garbage into gold.

As an added bonus Ebay has set up a system to allow click throughs to related auctions as well as links to become a member if there is anyone left on the planet who does not have an Ebay user ID. I will be adding keywords from my topic du jour which will bring links of Ebay merchandise auctions to this site, so please click through and check out the auctions. And don't forget to check out my auctions, Ebay used ID thesmithmall.

Tags: Scuba Diving DPV American Girl Doll American Girl Bitty Baby Resale Queen