Selling as a Mom

I have no real interest in being a store operation or in getting rich on okay. I thoroughly enjoy selling items, however,and watching bidding, particularly on my items. I began selling on okay in 1999 and have learned a few things along the way. My first sale was a new nightgown I'd never worn. I sold it without a picture by description only. I then scanned photos and used for future items. Of course, now I use a digital and laugh at my early efforts. Below are a few other things I will regemend to sellers.
1. gemunication is everything. Carefully describe your product. Research it and be every accurate. Include measurements, what is said on labels. I even email manufacturers if I don't understand sizing or what something does. Create an image. "Dress would be perfect for evening wedding." "Picture your little girl in this flouncy pink lace dress." Answer emails. Not only invoice a buyer, email, too, telling them what a nice item they've purchased. Sure, this takes a little time, but your buyers will be happy buyers.
2. Carefully select what you sell. I love little girl dresses, the lacier the better. I buy them new off season and from church and garage sales. They must be perfect and perfectly adorable. I also purchase other items to sell, if the items are unusual and seem to have a market. I avoid heavy items because of shipping costs. Watch for label items; they sell best.
3. Stay away from what you don't know. My husband collects diecast little cars. Thank God he's not into big cars - he can have all the little ones he wants! Typical sizes are 1/43, 1/24, and 1/18 scale. Constantly, he's questioning sellers about missing parts such as emblems, antennas, mirrors, boots on convertibles, and original boxes and paperwork. Too many sellers "forget" flaws or just don't know the difference. This is a recipe for trouble. I learned the hard way to stay away from jewelry and dolls. A Ken doll I sold had 1968 stamped on the doll. He looked pretty new, but I listed him as an old doll. A collector emailed me that 1968 was the mold, not the doll. I offered to void the winning bidder's offer, but she just wanted a Ken doll. I guess he's being retired. I retired my selling of dolls.
4. Wrap it and ship it well. If it's valuable, insure it yourself or send it with an insured shipper - to protect yourself. One reason I like little girl dresses is I can send them first class. Items up to 13 oz. go first class. I charge a flat rate shipping because buyers want to know without searching what shipping will cost. I usually charge more than it costs to ship and list the item for less. Unless it's outrageous, people don't mind. If an item is bid up, of course it goes priority and insured.
5. Recalled items. Particularly with children's items - check them out. I listed a child's bike helmet and had two dueling bidders. One question asked me if the item had ever been recalled. I panicked and quickly logged onto the manufacturer's site to check. Sure enough, some of the models had been recalled. I cancelled the auction and my profit. I researched more and learned one of the helmets I had was recalled, and one was not. I gave the good one away. I was done with helmets.
6. Enjoy the joy of selling. It's fun to watch items getting bids. It's glorious to have a bidding war going on. One of my best items was an old beer tap. I researched other taps on okay and saw they were selling, probably for home bars. I also noticed that mine was different from the rest. Ah! I also learned what a musket loader is and that they are collector items. I had no idea. What I do know now is what makes a happy buyer, and that happy buyer is your job if you wish to successfully sell on okay.