I'm really enjoying Bonanza! One of the things I like best is the ease of communication. It's easy to find people on Bonanza, easy to leave a message, easy to promote yourself. There is no fear of getting silenced by the administration as long as I keep my talk reasonable and friendly.
I recently discovered that Bonanza allows sellers to attach a YouTube video to their booth. It's a great way to tell people who you are and what kind of things you sell. It's also a great way to make that personal connection with your customers that you don't get to make on eBay.
I probably spent too much time on my Bonz Booth Video. But it was so much fun to make! I threw in some old pics of me as a kid; some I didn't even know existed until I started looking =) .
Have a look:
If you feel inspired to build your own video, let me make these reccomendations:
Download NCH videopad. I love the NCH software line. They have the best "free" trial photo, audio, and video programs out there. There is a 14 day fully operational trial.
Make sure your images are not licensed by someone else. This is the tricky part of on-line media. It's really too easy to steal content from other people AND too easy to get caught. I suggest using family photos or images that have been marked by Creative Commons for use in promotional videos. The same goes for music and any sound bytes you might end up using. I was able to find some great music at http://www.incompetech.com/ that is free to use with a $5 donation, as long as you give credit at the end of your video.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Hola! FB Fan Page, Twitter
Opening my shop on Bonanza has opened my eyes to a whole new method of selling on-line. The sellers on Bonanza are extremely aggressive with social networking. I didn't realize how much they like to Tweet, Blog, and Chat with each other and their fans. I have quickly grown to like the social atmosphere. Everyone on Bonanza has been friendly and helpful. It lessens the boredom of listing items when you have someone to chat with while your working.
Bonanza makes selling FUN. They use Live Chat, Forums, Hand Picked Collections, Selling Games, and Rush Events to knit a community. Selling on Bonanza is engaging and interactive. Where eBay is just a place to simply sell your stuff; Bonanza is a place to make friends AND sell your stuff.
I feel like I have been living in the dark ages with eBay. While they didn't completely discourage social networking, they didn't entirely support it either. Looking at the rapidly growing popularity of Twitter, and FaceBook, I think this was a mistake.
Unfortunately, eBay gets more traffic than Bonanza does. I will continue to keep my eBay shop open, but I will have duplicate listings in my Bonanza shop. A lot of Bonanza sellers are doing the same thing. So please, if you find something you like on eBay - check Bonanza before you buy. Many sellers new to Bonanza are passing the selling fee discounts they get from Bonanza on to their customers. You may just get a better deal.
In an effort not to be left behind, I'm setting up FaceBook and Twitter accounts related to my eBay and Bonanza shops. Please feel free to stop by and "Like" me or just browse the community on Bonanza. You might like what you find.
Bonanza makes selling FUN. They use Live Chat, Forums, Hand Picked Collections, Selling Games, and Rush Events to knit a community. Selling on Bonanza is engaging and interactive. Where eBay is just a place to simply sell your stuff; Bonanza is a place to make friends AND sell your stuff.
I feel like I have been living in the dark ages with eBay. While they didn't completely discourage social networking, they didn't entirely support it either. Looking at the rapidly growing popularity of Twitter, and FaceBook, I think this was a mistake.
Unfortunately, eBay gets more traffic than Bonanza does. I will continue to keep my eBay shop open, but I will have duplicate listings in my Bonanza shop. A lot of Bonanza sellers are doing the same thing. So please, if you find something you like on eBay - check Bonanza before you buy. Many sellers new to Bonanza are passing the selling fee discounts they get from Bonanza on to their customers. You may just get a better deal.
In an effort not to be left behind, I'm setting up FaceBook and Twitter accounts related to my eBay and Bonanza shops. Please feel free to stop by and "Like" me or just browse the community on Bonanza. You might like what you find.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
eBay v Bonanza
I recently had a dispute with eBay and a particularly nasty buyer. Long story short, the buyer got her refund - which I strongly feel was undeserved because the problem was really with the postal service - not me.
This reminded me how dissatisfied I am with eBay's methods for handling disputes. In a depressed mood, I began reading the eBay community forums. I was hoping to find an inspiring story about how eBay defended a seller in a similar situation. Unfortunately, I didn't find what I was looking for. Instead I found several posts about how eBay is doing away with the small seller. It's true, eBay's fees have recently gone up (enough gain itself the nick-name "FeeBay"). The obvious way to overcome those fees is to be a large volume seller - one big enough to take advantage of offering Free Shipping discounts and mass mark downs. But that's just not an option for Little'ol Me. I'm doing this because I enjoy it and to supplement my income. I don't want it to be a full-time job.
I would like to look at the bright side of the coin, however. Had I not had a dispute, I would not have visited the forums and discovered Bonanza. Bonanza is a new selling site that operates on fixed price items. It brings back that Resale Boutique / Flea Market appeal that eBay once had. My first impression is that it's a little bit like Etsy (a selling sight for the homemade and crafty). The home page has "Showcase" features much like Etsy's "Handpicked Items" features. It's that gallery feel that I enjoy on Etsy except in the form of a cool animated slide show. It had a look and feel that I have longed for on eBay. After some fun browsing, I decided to hit the "Sell" button and find out what Bonanza could to for me.
To my astonishment and joy, I found out that Bonanza would import my eBay auctions for FREE! In addition, I could immediately start listing on Bonanza without paying any fees. Like Half.com (eBay's selling site for books and media), Bonanza does not charge any fees until an item sells. I promptly smiled and pinched myself, because someone had finally realized my dream of combining the best of eBay, Etsy, and Half.com into one site geared for small sellers. In addition, Bonanza has added their own unique twist to selling - live chat. Buyers are encouraged to chat up sellers; asking questions and advice. Sellers are also encouraged to chat live with each other. All this is Bonanza's attempt to bridge the communication gap that is so evident amongst buyers, sellers, and administration in eBay.
I won't say that I am completely sold on the concept of Bonanza. It all really depends on the bottom line. If Bonanza becomes popular enough to unseat the eBay giant, I will happily jump ship. Thus far, Bonanza has my vote. As long as they cater to the small seller and our eclectic tastes they can keep it.
I have to insert a word of warning to eBay sellers who have more than 50-60 fixed price items to import into Bonanza. Bonanza's import is not discriminatory. If you have 204 fixed price eBay items, they will import ALL 204. Bonanza will import your photos, item specifics and descriptions (HTML or otherwise). However, your item specifics may not match up with Bonanza's. Therefore, you may have up to 204 auctions to edit in Bonanza before they will allow you to list them. Also your pictures may not fit Bonanza's format. I will have to crop most of my photos to make them look right on Bonanza. I will also have to check the shipping charges for all my items on Bonanza to make sure they are correct. Although Bonanza has made it easier for me by importing my items for me, there is still work to do. And don't forget, Bonanza is a different interface than eBay's so I'm learning to use that at the same time. It helps to be an experienced seller, and a web savvy one as well.
This reminded me how dissatisfied I am with eBay's methods for handling disputes. In a depressed mood, I began reading the eBay community forums. I was hoping to find an inspiring story about how eBay defended a seller in a similar situation. Unfortunately, I didn't find what I was looking for. Instead I found several posts about how eBay is doing away with the small seller. It's true, eBay's fees have recently gone up (enough gain itself the nick-name "FeeBay"). The obvious way to overcome those fees is to be a large volume seller - one big enough to take advantage of offering Free Shipping discounts and mass mark downs. But that's just not an option for Little'ol Me. I'm doing this because I enjoy it and to supplement my income. I don't want it to be a full-time job.
I would like to look at the bright side of the coin, however. Had I not had a dispute, I would not have visited the forums and discovered Bonanza. Bonanza is a new selling site that operates on fixed price items. It brings back that Resale Boutique / Flea Market appeal that eBay once had. My first impression is that it's a little bit like Etsy (a selling sight for the homemade and crafty). The home page has "Showcase" features much like Etsy's "Handpicked Items" features. It's that gallery feel that I enjoy on Etsy except in the form of a cool animated slide show. It had a look and feel that I have longed for on eBay. After some fun browsing, I decided to hit the "Sell" button and find out what Bonanza could to for me.
 |
| My eBay Shop :( |
 |
| My Bonanza Booth :) |
I won't say that I am completely sold on the concept of Bonanza. It all really depends on the bottom line. If Bonanza becomes popular enough to unseat the eBay giant, I will happily jump ship. Thus far, Bonanza has my vote. As long as they cater to the small seller and our eclectic tastes they can keep it.
I have to insert a word of warning to eBay sellers who have more than 50-60 fixed price items to import into Bonanza. Bonanza's import is not discriminatory. If you have 204 fixed price eBay items, they will import ALL 204. Bonanza will import your photos, item specifics and descriptions (HTML or otherwise). However, your item specifics may not match up with Bonanza's. Therefore, you may have up to 204 auctions to edit in Bonanza before they will allow you to list them. Also your pictures may not fit Bonanza's format. I will have to crop most of my photos to make them look right on Bonanza. I will also have to check the shipping charges for all my items on Bonanza to make sure they are correct. Although Bonanza has made it easier for me by importing my items for me, there is still work to do. And don't forget, Bonanza is a different interface than eBay's so I'm learning to use that at the same time. It helps to be an experienced seller, and a web savvy one as well.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
eBay Neatness Tool: The Fabric Steamer (or To Steam or Not To Steam?)
My mother recently recommended that I buy a steamer. She suggested it would save time when preparing clothing for eBay. I had never used one before and I didn't want to invest in something I might not use very often. I purchased a simple Conair Steamer with a telescopic pole to hang clothes on while I work. I chose it partly because it was on sale and partly because it's a brand I trust. It's a great mid priced model (I paid about $60); and it does exactly what it's designed to do.
While learning to use my new steamer, I discovered that there seemed to be cases in which ironing worked better. I learned that deciding weather or not to steam (vs ironing) depends upon 3 factors:
1. Type of Fabric - The type of fabric makes a difference in how rapidly you can steam away wrinkles and creases. Lightweight fabrics are easier to steam than heavier fabrics. This has everything to do with the thickness of the material and the time it takes steam to penetrate it. Heavier fabrics may require repeated steamings or ironing to correct wrinkles. Also, I have found that most synthetic fabrics seem to steam more easily and quickly than natural fibers. This may have something to do with the fact that most man-made clothing fibers are designed to resist wrinkles. They are more elastic, thus they heat up quickly and relax rapidly when steamed.
2. Manufacturer Guidelines - Steaming is not ideal for all fabrics. Some types of silk, velour and vinyl can be damaged by steaming. You should refer to the manufacturer's cleaning guidelines before steaming them or perform a test on a small piece of material if possible.
3. Garment Construction - Take a good look at the construction of the clothing when deciding weather or not to steam it. Does it have beads, ruffles, ribbons, or other embellishments that would not withstand a hot iron? Is there a collar, or cuffs, hems or pleats that would benefit from ironing? Occasionally, the answer is a combination of both steaming and ironing.
I love my steamer. I honestly do not know how I have lived without it. However, it's important to remember that ironing still has it's place. Also, steaming takes practice. Just like learning to iron, you will have to learn to "feel" how slowly to apply steam and when to apply extra steam. Fortunately, it doesn't take long to learn.
Steaming vs Ironing (or Why steam at all?)
Fabric steaming is gentler on clothing than normal ironing. It's also faster than ironing (with practice), it deodorizes fabric, and kills dust mites, germs, and bed bugs (Yuck!). Steam does not burn or scorch clothing like a conventional iron, therefore, dry-clean items can be "cleaned" with a steamer. It's important to know that steaming will NOT remove stains. If you have a stain on a dry-clean garment, you will have to spot treat it first. Meaning, you will have to gently remove the stain with a damp cloth and a dab of cleaning solution (I use Woolite or Resolve Spray 'n Wash).
A badly wrinkled rayon shirt before and after a few minutes with my steamer.
While learning to use my new steamer, I discovered that there seemed to be cases in which ironing worked better. I learned that deciding weather or not to steam (vs ironing) depends upon 3 factors:
1. Type of Fabric 2. Manufacturers Guidelines 3. Garment Construction
2. Manufacturer Guidelines - Steaming is not ideal for all fabrics. Some types of silk, velour and vinyl can be damaged by steaming. You should refer to the manufacturer's cleaning guidelines before steaming them or perform a test on a small piece of material if possible.
3. Garment Construction - Take a good look at the construction of the clothing when deciding weather or not to steam it. Does it have beads, ruffles, ribbons, or other embellishments that would not withstand a hot iron? Is there a collar, or cuffs, hems or pleats that would benefit from ironing? Occasionally, the answer is a combination of both steaming and ironing.
I love my steamer. I honestly do not know how I have lived without it. However, it's important to remember that ironing still has it's place. Also, steaming takes practice. Just like learning to iron, you will have to learn to "feel" how slowly to apply steam and when to apply extra steam. Fortunately, it doesn't take long to learn.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Ebay Neatness Tool: DIY Professional Garment Folder
First impressions are just as important for eBay sellers as for other retailers. What your item looks like when it arrives can make or break a repeat customer. I am careful to wash, and iron before photographing (neatness counts in photos). Once the description is typed, items are neatly folded and stored in clear plastic bags. The clear bag protects from pet hair, dust, and odors - but allows me to see what's inside so I can quickly grab what's needed when it's time to ship.
In my efforts to impress, I ran across this neat tool - the FlipFold clothing folder. So simple a 3 year old can use it -it gives a professional looking fold with NO effort. Of course, $18 to $25 seems a little high for such a simple device. This sounded like the perfect project for the DIY diva within me. I started with Dan Pereda's tutorial for a large 25.5 X 30 inch folder. It worked well on large items like towels and plus sized clothing. I also made these two folders for smaller sized items:
The 18 X 24 inch board works great for most Small to Medium adult size clothing and for Medium to Large size children's clothing. The 12 X 18 folder is fantastic for baby clothes or small children's items.
I made my folders from corrugated plastic signs rescued from the dumpster (from a Relay for Life event that my son's Boy Scout troop helped with). Duct tape works best for the hinges since it's flexible and durable. I found that it's best to create your hinge by holding your pieces together sandwich style - as it would look if the hinge was shut - then place your tape on one side and smooth it over the joint and then down on the other side. This will leave plenty of room inside the tape for the hinge to work without bending or rubbing your boards together.
In my efforts to impress, I ran across this neat tool - the FlipFold clothing folder. So simple a 3 year old can use it -it gives a professional looking fold with NO effort. Of course, $18 to $25 seems a little high for such a simple device. This sounded like the perfect project for the DIY diva within me. I started with Dan Pereda's tutorial for a large 25.5 X 30 inch folder. It worked well on large items like towels and plus sized clothing. I also made these two folders for smaller sized items:
I made my folders from corrugated plastic signs rescued from the dumpster (from a Relay for Life event that my son's Boy Scout troop helped with). Duct tape works best for the hinges since it's flexible and durable. I found that it's best to create your hinge by holding your pieces together sandwich style - as it would look if the hinge was shut - then place your tape on one side and smooth it over the joint and then down on the other side. This will leave plenty of room inside the tape for the hinge to work without bending or rubbing your boards together.
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