AuctionBytes-Update Number 51 - October 21, 2001 - ISSN 1528-6703

Tell a friend about AuctionBytes-Update, a free newsletter for online auction buyers and sellers. Forward this entire newsletter or go to: <http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/Recommend/recommend. html>

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IN THIS ISSUE:
1) From the Editor
2) From the Field: September/October Book Sales
3) "How to Make a Fortune from Home in Your Spare Time" Part 3
4) This & That
5) Collector's Corner
6) Letters to the Editor
7) NewsFlash Highlights
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1) FROM THE EDITOR

Calling all collectors: we need writers!! If you have a passion for collecting, please consider writing a Collector's Corner article. You do not need to be a professional writer, and we pay $20 for these kinds of stories. (Compensation for other kinds of articles is negotiated in advance.) Please let me know if you are interested.

I received some email yesterday from several readers who forwarded a news announcement from a vendor. What was particularly useful was a note attached from one reader telling us that she has been using the service for a long time and likes it! While we try to test all the services we can, an endorsement from a reader really gets our attention. In fact, this particular reader has given us some excellent scoops, and we have come to rely on her news tips and opinions.

The idea of sharing opinions and news about products was exactly our idea behind the Yellow Pages <http://161.58.152.123/cgi-bin/bizdirectory/biz-dir-index.pl>. It's a place you can go and leave a rating and review, and in addition, an email is automatically sent to the vendor so THEY know what readers think of their products. The Discussion Forums are another place to praise a vendor, or to vent your frustrations. <http://161.58.152.123/forum/phpBB/index.php>.

Please feel free to drop us a note any time. You are on the front lines, and we value your opinions. And by the way, if I publish a letter to the editor, I only use first names or initials to protect your privacy.

Many of us sell books online, and I've got calls into some vendors to see where we can get B-flute, etc. I would love to establish a long-term relationship with a shipping supply company; if you are interested in advertising your wares in AuctionBytes, give us a call. (Speaking of advertising, please support our sponsors - they have great products and services! You can find a complete list at the end of this newsletter.)

This is a great issue, and in the next issue, we've got "down and dirty tips for taking great photos" from David, the digital-camera guru!

Ina Steiner, Editor
email: ina@auctionbytes.com

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2) From the Field: September/October Book Sales
by Edith Reynolds

The terror inflicted on 9/11 stood the economy on end, and selling books online was no exception. Before this date, selling venues were going great guns. On September 12th, however, sales, like stocks, took a plunge.

"I expect to see an increase in book sales by the end of the month (October)," optimistic bookseller Michael Daum prophesied at the Greenwich, CT, antiquarian bookfair held Oct. 5. "After all, Christmas is coming."

Daum, along with other dealers at the show, reported book sales dropped considerably after the attack, both on eBay and non-auction sales sites. "Except for books about Islam," he added.

Ron Weston from Ron's Reading Room also reported that his book sales dropped following the 11th. "I didn't sell anything anywhere for two weeks following the 11th, not in stores or on the Internet." Upon reflection, he remembers getting one or two orders from overseas during that time, and the only book about religion that was requested was one he sold two weeks earlier, a Franklin Mint copy of AMONG THE GODS.

This week, eBay listed 244 books with Islam in the heading, 24 that used the word Moslem, and 259 about the Middle East. Abe.com had substantially higher numbers: 15,439 about Islam, 1,342 using Moslem, and 60,224 about the Middle East. By comparison, the word anthrax appeared 443 times on eBay.

Additionally, there is an upturn in the number of anthrax-related items for sale these days, things like gas masks, biohazard suits, water filtration systems that "removes anthrax," and an anthraxvaccine.com domain name and Web site.

Charles Agvent, who specializes in rarities, concurs up to a point. "My sales slowed, certainly, as I'm sure they did for most people, but it has not been terrible. I think having good books is a boon in times like these."

While most sellers are reluctant to talk numbers, bookshows display how hard the industry was hit. This year's New York shows traditionally held at the armories are cancelled because these facilities are being used for their intended purpose. The most recent booksale held was in Greenwich, CT, and despite its lucrative population and easy drive from New York, there were as many as 25 fewer dealers this year. For those whose booths were up and running, Korans and books about Moslem life and Middle Eastern politics were prominently displayed.

With the immediate fallout from the World Trade Center collapse, sales in my own shop declined marginally, whereas the Internet numbers fell by half. In the first week following the tragedy, we attributed that to interrupted communications and postal delays.

What salvaged our Internet trade was having bought a religious library last spring that contained many Islamic titles. Our drop in ABE.com, Alibris, Barnes & Noble, etc., sales resulted in a more determined use of eBay, with good results. We took time to clean house, listing more than books, things that accumulated over the summer from estate sales and private collections. Of these lots, sales seem to be fine, and international buyers have been as eager as Americans.

One message by Paperbackexchange on eBay's book board proclaimed that the writer quit watching the news weeks ago. "It seems though my customers have not, as business in the store has slowed down. So I am crossing my fingers this does not keep up most of the fall. Of course there is always ebay thank goodness."

Will Michael Daum be right? Will the approaching Christmas season add a little oomph to Internet book sales?

After all, it's hard to keep Americans down, and holidays aren't just a time to party; it's a time to celebrate the blessings that we possess and share our bounty with those we love. This year we have a lot to be thankful for. In the midst of great suffering, Americans learned an important lesson. When faced with a national crisis, ethnic and racial divisions are replaced by a unified people of only three colors: red, white, and blue.
---
Edith Reynolds is a former newspaper and magazine writer. She and her husband Dan own an antiquarian bookstore, The John Bale Book Company in Waterbury, CT. For the past nine years, they have specialized in early Americana and rare bindings. They are members of the ABAA - Antiquarian Booksellers of America Association, ILAB - International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, IOBA - International Online Booksellers Association, and OAUA - Online Auction Users Association. Edith manages online sales. In addition to their bookstore, they sell on eBay and at book fairs. Visit Edith's Web sites, http://www.taxter.com and http://www.usiana.com. eBay IDs: TAXTER, TAXTER2 , TAXTER3 , USIANA , BALEBOOKS

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3) "How to Make a Fortune from Home in Your Spare Time" Part 3
Get Exposure!
by Yisroel Goodman

I covered the first two rules of online selling in my previous articles. To recap, Rule # 1 is "Choose Your Niche" <http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/47/48/48.html#izzy>, and Rule # 2 is "Get a Web Site" < http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/49/49.html#izzy>.

Rule #3 is "Get Exposure." Build it and they will come does not work on the Internet. With millions of sites in existence and many more being added daily, having a Web site is not enough. People have to be able to find it. Here are some key ways to accomplish this.

1. Blow your horn. This doesn't mean that you should spam people. But when you email someone that you have reason to email, make sure your signature line contains a link to your web site and a short description of what you sell.

2. List on popular auction sites such as eBay (which does allow you to include an email link). Your goal is not just to sell one item at a time. You should also have an About Me page where you can link to your own Web site.

3. Build up a customer list. Often, someone will correspond with you but not make a purchase immediately. Answer every email and be patient with people, even if you feel their questions are silly. Create a contact list of every person who has emailed you. This list will come in handy when you are ready to contact them later. I have made many sales to buyers months after they initially emailed me. Sales are your ultimate goal.

Incidentally, I am NOT advocating using eBay to attract buyers and then encouraging them to buy off eBay. This is a violation of eBay policy and grounds for getting permanently suspended. When I sell on eBay, I start the item off well below the selling price on my site. I also set the BIN (buy it now) price to the selling price on my site. There is no incentive for a bidder to want to make a deal with me off eBay.

4. Visit discussion sites, such as ones on AuctionBytes, eBay, AuctionWatch and OTWA. Begin contributing to the posts, particularly those in your area of expertise. Make sure your signature line contains a link to your Web site.

5. Attract folks to your Web site. People will only visit if there is something in it for them. Start creating pages that provide valuable information to your visitors. Offer to answer questions. As folks begin to see you as an expert in your field, they will turn to you for advice. Often the person they trust for information is also the person they trust to handle the deal. I get hundreds of hits each day from people who found my site looking for information on payment services. When I first posted this information, getting hits was not my intended result. Now, having seen how well it worked, I have expanded my site to cover many other topics.

6. Take the pages that you create and write them as articles. Submit them to E-zines that cover related topics. Many E-zines do not pay for articles, but the "hits" they generate are well worth it.

7. Create an E-zine of your own. You should send it only when you have something to say, maybe once a month - you don't want to overwhelm or annoy your readers. Invite them to visit your site and email you with questions. Sponsor a contest and offer prizes. Specific items that you are selling should only appear sporadically in the body of the letter and compose no more than 10% of your material so that customers don't feel they are getting just another Spam sales letter. Invite your readers to encourage their friends to subscribe. Remember to state that anyone who wishes to be removed from your list can simply reply with REMOVE.

8. Get listed in the search engines. How do you go about getting listed in the top ten results on search engines? There are services that can do this for you. I am not talking about the phony services that spam you with their offers and claim to know tricks. Yes, there are tricks to improve your position, but these change constantly. The search engines realized long ago that folks were using tricks and began changing their algorithms to keep the ratings more honest. Some search engines will permanently bar a site that they catch using a trick. So it is very important that the service you use is managed by someone honest and knowledgeable. I use Searchenginesmarts. Within two months of using the service, I saw a significant increase in traffic, and now well over 50% of my new orders are coming in from folks who found me through search engines. You can reach Irving Weiss at searchenginesmarts@hotmail.com. He wrote a series of articles for my newsletter, which you can read at <http://www.ygoodman.com/writing.html>.

By actively marketing your Web site, you will attract customers and build a reputation. Next time, I will talk more about becoming an expert in your field.
---
Yisroel (Izzy) Goodman owns Complete Computer Services Inc. and sells electronics online <http://www.ygoodman.com>. He also writes about online payment services and moderates the AuctionBytes forum on online auction services
< http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewforum.php?forum=7&2 5>

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4) THIS & THAT

ReliableMerchants.com Introduces Fees
ReliableMerchants.com will institute fees beginning in January. The company offers a service to give "reliable" eBay members a "seal of approval." The company said it recently purchased new servers and maintains a strict no-advertising policy on its Web site. The $4/month fee will go into effect on January 21, 2002. There will be no listing fees or final value fees, and the monthly fee will grants users access to all of the services on the ReliableMerchants.com site. Any current members who don't register with the new plan will be inactivated.
<http://www.reliablemerchants.com/6.html>

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eBay Updates Links Policy
eBay has updated its Links policy, which defines ways in which eBay members can market their business from the View Item and About Me pages. It has also "clarified" several sections of the Policy that were confusing to members.
*You may now link your terms and conditions details from the View Item page.
*You may now link to an email web form from the View Item page
*eBay has added an exception for third party acknowledgements, such as payment services, dispute resolution services or verification services, to allow for both text and a logo.
*You may now link to listings under a secondary User ID from the View Item page.
< http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/png-links.html>

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BidBay Announces Television Commercials
BidBay said it will begin airing a television commercial in Los Angeles, to be expanded eastward. There are two versions of the commercial, one for sellers and one for bidders. BidBay also said its BidBay Search feature is growing rapidly with hundreds of sites already listed.
<http://www.bidbay.com>

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OAUA Special Elections
The Online Auction Users Association (OAUA) has announced it is holding a Special Election to fill the vacancies left by resigning members of the Board Of Directors. There are 7 director seats available, with staggered term limits. Nominations are being accepted now through October 26, 2001.
<http://www.auctionusers.org/announce/special-election.shtml>


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Stamp History in the Making
In 2002, twelve countries in the European Union (EU) will make the final transition to the single "Euro" currency. In Germany, the post office began making postage stamps in dual denominations: pfennigs and Euros. In January 2002, all German postage stamps will be denominated in Euros only, but there will be a grace period for older stamps- in pfennigs only - until On June 30, 2002.

That means that during the first half of 2002, three kinds of stamps will be valid in Germany: pfennig only, pfennig and Euro, and Euro only. By sticking all three on one letter, a so-called "mixed franking" is possible, creating a unique record of this significant moment in German and European history.

< http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/postal/general/index.htm>

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USPS to Mail Postcards This Week
The United States Postal Service is mailing postcards to every household in America this week containing information about safety and mail handling. <http://www.usps.com/news/2001/press/pr01_1019postcard.htm>

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"United We Stand" Postage Stamps to Be Released Early
The USPS will make the "United We Stand" postage stamp available starting Oct. 24 at post offices in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, in the states of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and by online and telephone orders. The United We Stand stamp will be available at post offices nationwide beginning Nov. 5. However, preorders of coils of 100 stamps are now being taken online through the Postal Store at <http://www.usps.com>.

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Correction: Search Alerts
In last week's story on Search Alert Services < http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/49/50/50.html#search>, I said you can set up 15 alerts using eBay's "Favorite Searches" service, and eBay will notify you by email when items come up for auction. Well, an alert reader pointed out that while you can set up 15 alerts, eBay will only EMAIL you for up to 3 of your search alerts! You must visit "My eBay" to keep posted on ALL of your alerts.

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AUCTION CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Want to take a break from listing auctions? Grab a cup of coffee and relax with an online crossword puzzle!

We have another challenging crossword puzzle for you this week! Sharon Devine has concocted a crossword made up entirely of Beaded Jewelry terms. This one is challenging, so don't say you weren't warned! You can find the puzzle at < http://www.auctionbytes.com/crossword/cwbeads1.html>

You can find all the previous puzzles we've published at:
<http://www.auctionbytes.com/crossword/crossword.html>

If you'd like to submit a crossword puzzle, email dsteiner@auctionbytes.com for details. If we use your puzzle, we'll send you $20 for the first one published.

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them, or go to
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5) COLLECTOR'S CORNER:
Decorating your dinner table this season...on a budget
by Reyne Haines

The crisp air in the early morning along with the light dusting of leaves in the front yard can only mean one thing. Fall has arrived. Before you know it, Thanksgiving will be here, then Christmas.

This year Thanksgiving dinner will be at your house. What will you serve your Thanksgiving feast on? As you search for that perfect dinnerware - something you bring out only for the holidays - your mind ponders over endless china and glass patterns at your favorite department store. Then you focus in on the price tag. EEEK! You scream in horror.

The china with the gold trim will not work in the microwave, and the thought of Corelle...sigh.

Then just as you are about to give up, you have an idea. The Internet! I will shop ONLINE! There are always bargains to be had there. But where do I start? And better yet, what should I buy? I want to get the most for the least amount of money. What is the answer?

Depression glass - dime store glass made during the 1920s and 30s. Relatively inexpensive glass made for people with lesser means, and distributed as premiums of other products. Yes, this is really dinnerware made from glass - and it is meant to be used. I eat off of mine each day.

On today's market, Depression glass has a strong following, and there is something for everyone. Hundreds of patterns, colors and pieces to choose from, and each has a history and a story to tell. One can only imagine the stories told around the different families who have eaten off these very plates.

With this being fall, you consider your color choices.... No pink, no blue, no ruby, no forest green. Maybe crystal, perhaps amber and even yes topaz. You find you are in luck. The colors best suited for this time of year, happen to be the easiest and least expensive to come by. The patterns these colors are available in are numerous.

Some of your choices:

Crystal: Columbia, Diana, Florentine #2, Heritage, Homespun, Iris & Herringbone, Lincoln Inn, Manhattan, Miss America, Queen Mary, Banded Rings, Rock Crystal, S-Pattern, Waffle, Windsor Diamond

Amber: Crows Foot, Diana, Madrid, Mayfair, Normandie, Patrician, Rosemary, Twisted Optic, Victory, and Sharon

Yellow/Topaz: Cameo, Florentine #1, Jubilee, Lorain, Primo, and Princess

Now you've found your pattern, chosen your color...the hunt is on. Your shopping possibilities are endless. The great thing about shopping online means you can shop morning, noon and night and never leave the house (or put on your makeup!). Several online sites even offer personal shopper services that will notify you once they have your pattern in stock or listed for sale/bid. You should start your shopping on eBay <http://www.ebay.com>, Just Glass <http://www.justglass.com> and Sparkle Plenty <http://www.spglass.com >.

Should you decide you want to know more about Depression glass, there are several books that will help you with pricing, history of the pattern (when it was made, where, for how long) and what pieces are available in that pattern. Recommended reading for collectors is:

The Collectors Encyclopedia of Depression Glass, by Gene Florence.
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/157432246X/auctionbytescom > Gene Florence has been writing books on collection all types of depression era glass for quite some time. His books have become the bible for dealers and collectors alike.

Another highly recommended book would be Mauzy's Depression Glass by Barbara and Jim Mauzy.
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/076430934X/auctionbytescom > A wonderfully illustrated and complete reference guide for the beginning or advanced collector.

No matter what you serve this holiday season, your guests will be awed by the beauty of your table. And Grandma's twice-baked casserole will have never looked so good.
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Reyne Haines is founder of auction site Just Glass <http://www.justglass.com> and owner of Haines Galleries <http://www.tias.com/RHA>. She is author of The Auction Book, Guide to Online Auctions Vol I and II, both of which sold out! Reyne is also a regular appraiser for the Antiques Roadshow television program on PBS.

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6) Letters to the Editor

Dear Ina,
As a full time ebayer I have been curious about how relisting and
even a 3rd or 4th relist does. Or have you already done research in that area?
Frances C.

Hi Frances,
The only thing we've covered about relisting is in this article by Craig Stark:
<http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/45/45.html#books>
He says that relisting works for him, but you should read the entire article.

Many people have come to the forums to talk more about Craig's series on book selling, and Craig participates quite a bit.
<http://161.58.152.123/forum/phpBB/viewforum.php?forum=5&217 >

I think the lesson is that it pays to experiment. Why not try relisting and see if it works for you. Think of it as market research.
-Ina

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Hi,
I have been using [ReliableMerchants.com] on my listings for a long time and like it...they are expanding and I am really glad...

I encourage people who have great feedback to go and get rated and put this on their auctions.
Best,
F-

Dear F-,
Thanks! I've included information about ReliableMerchants.com in "This & That" (above). We first wrote about this service in February in Issue #31. < http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/31/32/32.html#reliable>
-Ina

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7) NEWSFLASH HIGHLIGHTS

These are just some of the headlines from our daily Newsflash feature - if you aren't reading Newsflash, you are only getting part of the story!

eBay Releases Positive 3rd Quarter Results
Spicology Set to Acquire LeftBid
AuctionBytes Releases Advice on How to Shop Online for the Holidays
Sales OnLine Direct Introduces Auction Management Service
Charity Auction of the Week: Acting Lessons
Rolls Royce for $16,100? It's Criminal!
Yahoo Announces "Yahoo Warehouse," Integrated Shopping
Chat with the Kovels
First "Superman" Comic Hits the Auction Block
PayPal Eliminates Free P2P Credit Card Payments
eBay Makes More Category Changes

< http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/newsflash/newsflash.html >

RECEIVE NEWSFLASH VIA EMAIL!
Send a blank email to: auctionflash-subscribe@topica.com

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Please use the AuctionBytes Yellow Pages when you are shopping for supplies and services for online auctions and collectibles!
<http://www.online-auction-directory.com>
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AuctionBytes-Update ISSN 1528-6703
AUCTIONBYTES.COM CONTACT INFORMATION
Editorial: ina@auctionbytes.com
Advertising: advert@auctionbytes.com or 508-655-5697
Letters, Comments, Suggestions: feedback@auctionbytes.com
Want to Write for AuctionBytes-Update? Go to http://www.auctionbytes.com and click on "write for us" to view author guidelines. If you are interested, send email to ina@auctionbytes.com.

Ina Steiner, Editor, Publisher and Co-founder: ina@auctionbytes.com
David Steiner, Webmaster, Technical Editor, President and Co-founder:
dsteiner@auctionbytes.com
Michele Alice, Contributing Editor
AuctionBytes.com
c/o Steiner Associates
PO Box 668
Natick, MA 01760
508-655-5697
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