A: If Fred Sanford were alive today, Alex, I’m sure he’d be earning his ripple money by selling quality junk on eBay. While it’s also true that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure (I have a garage full of treasure to prove this point), your chances of building a profitable business selling “junk” on eBay (or anywhere else, for that matter) are slim to none.

While there is a lot of junk/treasure for sale on eBay, it is typically sold by individuals who have “I break for yardsales!” bumper stickers on their cars and not serious business people.

For serious entrepreneurs, however, selling on eBay can be a good way to start a new business if you are willing to put in the time and energy required to make the business a success. eBay is also a good option for existing businesses to expand their reach by selling online.

Everyone from small used car dealers to giant companies like Dell Computers have discovered that eBay is an excellent place to hawk their wares simply due to the huge number of folks who visit the eBay site on a daily basis. Nowhere else on earth will you find such a large pool of potential customers.

Consider these numbers: • There are nearly 69 million eBay users who spend $59 million every day. • Most eBay sellers are home-based businesses that sell every- thing from porcelain dolls to locks of Elvis’ hair to $100,000 Mercedes convertibles to $5 million dollar vacation homes.

• Every minute of every day more than 150 new items are listed for sale, more than 500 bids are placed, and seven new people register to shop on eBay.

• At any given moment, eBay is conducting some 12 million auctions, divided into about 18,000 different categories.

• About two million new items are offered for sale every day, and 62 million registered users scour the site to find them. • One company is grossing more than $5 million dollars a year selling brand new pool tables on eBay. Their eBay store is so profitable that they have closed their retail location and now sell solely online.

That’s right, $5 million dollars from the sale of pool tables: proof that you can sell just about anything on eBay if you know how to do it.

Be aware, however, that eBay is no magic bullet. As any eBay Power Seller (a seller who sells a minimum of $1,000 in goods per month) will tell you, building a profitable eBay business takes hard work and requires long hours, and often the financial rewards do not make it worth the effort spent.

When it comes down to the mechanics of it all, running an eBay business is no different than running a brick and mortar business. You still have the same considerations regarding product selection, inventory purchasing, product pricing, inventory management, order processing, fulfillment, customer service, etc.

You must also consider the legal and accounting aspects of the business. Just because you’re selling online does not mean that Uncle Sam won’t expect his piece of the pie. Revenue generated by an eBay business is just as reportable and taxable as revenue generated from a brick and mortar store. And if you sell to customers within your state you may also be responsible for collecting city, county or state sales tax.

One of the biggest obstacles to building a successful eBay business may be the stiffness of the competition. Many sellers sell identical items and the price wars often get ugly, but that’s to be expected in a free market place, which is exactly what eBay is.

You may be the only store in town that’s selling that one of a kind, custom made just for you, broke the mold after they made it, Dale Earnhart Memorial Bobble Head Action Figure (Earnhart fans would string me up if I called it a Doll), but do a quick search on eBay and you’ll probably find a hundred others just like it.

So, can you build a profitable business selling on eBay?

Certainly, thousands of people have done it and so can you.

Here are a few tips to help get you started.

Sell Quality Products Don’t sell junk! Leave the knick-knacks and fake leather jackets to the less informed. You should offer only quality products at a fair price.

Research The Competition Once you have your product in mind, don’t invest a dime on inventory until you have spent some time on eBay to see what the competition is doing. If you want to sell motorcycle helmets, for example, you should look at current auctions to see how many others are selling similar helmets and what prices they are charging. This step is vital since you may discover that you can’t compete with current sellers on price or there is simply no market for what you have to offer.

Start Slowly Many people believe that the more items they have for sale on eBay the better. They will invest thousands in inventory and spent hundreds on listing fees (yes, eBay charges you to list items for sale and collects a final fee if the item sells). Those are the folks that usually end up with ten thousand Ginsu knives forever in their garage.

Test, Test, Test A fair portion of eBay auctions result in no sales, so it’s best to test the waters before jumping in with both feet.

List a few items and see how they sell. If an item doesn’t sell, list it at least twice more. Some items might not sell the first time, but may the second or third, then sell steadily from then on.

If an item gets no bids the first time, consider adjusting your price or your terms. If an item sells well, keep it in stock and then experiment with another item.

Do Your Homework eBay is too broad a subject to be covered fully here, but there are a multitude of books available that can help you start an eBay business. In fact, I bet you’ll find most of them for sale at this very moment at eBay.

Secrets to Start a Successful Ebay Business is from collectibledollstore.net

We did not really have that much of action toys selection. There were tons of other stuff, but specifically action toys – like figures from Halo, Aliens or even hockey players – no one actually thought it would be a good idea to produce. Of course, there were no Halo, neither Gears of War, nor even a single action figure of a hockey or soccer player. And forget about Elvis, that guy was outright banned while he was still alive.

So what kids did was made action toys themselves. There was a scrapyard nearby my school with all kinds of telephone wire cuts and pieces scattered around. We collected the wires and weave action figures from those wires as we saw fit. We had built armies of foot swordsmen, squadrons of horse raiders, platoons of riflemen, machine gunners and sub-machine gunners. Battles that raged on our floors were rival only to those of ancient China and its terracotta armies. The best part of all of this (at least our parents appreciated this the most) the whole enterprise was absolutely free. There was, however, an incentive, since all died soldiers (or rather materials they were made of) would be divided by the winner and the looser of the battle. Called that spoils of war.

These days, obviously, are not the days of toy soldier conscription. The action toys, to paraphrase a well-known motto, are few, are proud and are very expensive – at least to be bought in similar quantities. Oh, and the fun part of scouting a scrap yard for wires of necessary colors and actually building your action figure are long gone. Instead, the action figures – whether produced by McFarlane or Neca – are almost photo realistic representations of the original, no matter be it military action figures, NFL football player or a Halo 3 Master Chief. Even more so, manufactured action figures have more accessories, more movements, look better and overall, probably more fun to play with.

In all honesty, sometimes I miss the childhood with self-made action toys, armies of wire soldiers and all the fun associated with it. On the other hand, when I see how toddlers, teenagers, and sometimes very much grown-ups are happy when they get their hands on one of the latest action figures - or an old one they’ve been dreaming about for so long, I think it’s a small price to pay.

Action Toys in Two Cultures is from collectibledollstore.net

A: If Fred Sanford were alive today, Alex, I’m sure he’d be earning his ripple money by selling quality junk on eBay. While it’s also true that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure (I have a garage full of treasure to prove this point), your chances of building a profitable business selling “junk” on eBay (or anywhere else, for that matter) are slim to none.

While there is a lot of junk/treasure for sale on eBay, it is typically sold by individuals who have “I break for yardsales!” bumper stickers on their cars and not serious business people.

For serious entrepreneurs, however, selling on eBay can be a good way to start a new business if you are willing to put in the time and energy required to make the business a success. eBay is also a good option for existing businesses to expand their reach by selling online.

Everyone from small used car dealers to giant companies like Dell Computers have discovered that eBay is an excellent place to hawk their wares simply due to the huge number of folks who visit the eBay site on a daily basis. Nowhere else on earth will you find such a large pool of potential customers.

Consider these numbers: • There are nearly 69 million eBay users who spend $59 million every day. • Most eBay sellers are home-based businesses that sell every- thing from porcelain dolls to locks of Elvis’ hair to $100,000 Mercedes convertibles to $5 million dollar vacation homes.

• Every minute of every day more than 150 new items are listed for sale, more than 500 bids are placed, and seven new people register to shop on eBay.

• At any given moment, eBay is conducting some 12 million auctions, divided into about 18,000 different categories.

• About two million new items are offered for sale every day, and 62 million registered users scour the site to find them. • One company is grossing more than $5 million dollars a year selling brand new pool tables on eBay. Their eBay store is so profitable that they have closed their retail location and now sell solely online.

That’s right, $5 million dollars from the sale of pool tables: proof that you can sell just about anything on eBay if you know how to do it.

Be aware, however, that eBay is no magic bullet. As any eBay Power Seller (a seller who sells a minimum of $1,000 in goods per month) will tell you, building a profitable eBay business takes hard work and requires long hours, and often the financial rewards do not make it worth the effort spent.

When it comes down to the mechanics of it all, running an eBay business is no different than running a brick and mortar business. You still have the same considerations regarding product selection, inventory purchasing, product pricing, inventory management, order processing, fulfillment, customer service, etc.

You must also consider the legal and accounting aspects of the business. Just because you’re selling online does not mean that Uncle Sam won’t expect his piece of the pie. Revenue generated by an eBay business is just as reportable and taxable as revenue generated from a brick and mortar store. And if you sell to customers within your state you may also be responsible for collecting city, county or state sales tax.

One of the biggest obstacles to building a successful eBay business may be the stiffness of the competition. Many sellers sell identical items and the price wars often get ugly, but that’s to be expected in a free market place, which is exactly what eBay is.

You may be the only store in town that’s selling that one of a kind, custom made just for you, broke the mold after they made it, Dale Earnhart Memorial Bobble Head Action Figure (Earnhart fans would string me up if I called it a Doll), but do a quick search on eBay and you’ll probably find a hundred others just like it.

So, can you build a profitable business selling on eBay?

Certainly, thousands of people have done it and so can you.

Here are a few tips to help get you started.

Sell Quality Products Don’t sell junk! Leave the knick-knacks and fake leather jackets to the less informed. You should offer only quality products at a fair price.

Research The Competition Once you have your product in mind, don’t invest a dime on inventory until you have spent some time on eBay to see what the competition is doing. If you want to sell motorcycle helmets, for example, you should look at current auctions to see how many others are selling similar helmets and what prices they are charging. This step is vital since you may discover that you can’t compete with current sellers on price or there is simply no market for what you have to offer.

Start Slowly Many people believe that the more items they have for sale on eBay the better. They will invest thousands in inventory and spent hundreds on listing fees (yes, eBay charges you to list items for sale and collects a final fee if the item sells). Those are the folks that usually end up with ten thousand Ginsu knives forever in their garage.

Test, Test, Test A fair portion of eBay auctions result in no sales, so it’s best to test the waters before jumping in with both feet.

List a few items and see how they sell. If an item doesn’t sell, list it at least twice more. Some items might not sell the first time, but may the second or third, then sell steadily from then on.

If an item gets no bids the first time, consider adjusting your price or your terms. If an item sells well, keep it in stock and then experiment with another item.

Do Your Homework eBay is too broad a subject to be covered fully here, but there are a multitude of books available that can help you start an eBay business. In fact, I bet you’ll find most of them for sale at this very moment at eBay.

Ebay Business in new year is from collectibledollstore.net

The big two names I’m talking about here are Gears of War and Halo. While the Halo range has grown with another two sets of articulated figures this year, the makers have also branched out into statues, large format figures, headknockers, posters, calendars and various apparel fir the discerning fan. The success of the Halo range has been dwarfed slightly by the sheer demand for merchandise based on the Gears of War franchise.

With a huge sequel to the first game now doing the rounds, the demand for Gears Of War items has been steadily growing throughout the year. Thankfully NECA have created some incredible items to keep the fans at boiling point, with some of the best action figures that have been on the market in years. The Gears of war figures are a larger format to most games figures and feature a much higher level of detail as well as better accessories and packaging. The box sets have been hot sellers as well, each of the three released so far featuring four separate figures.

Other games that have featured on the action figure hooks in 2008 include Call of Duty, Final Fantasy, Street Fighter, Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario Brothers and more, proving that older ttiles still carry some clout with the fans.

Star Wars has been present again this year thanks to tie-in merchandise from the new Clone Wars movie and TV series. One surprising thing in this year’s run of film and TV related merchandise has been the demand for the ‘Classics’ range of Doctor Who action figures, which surpassed all expectations and have been snapped up by fans and collectors left, right and centre.

Movie merchandise has seen something of a resurgence too, and a particularly popular item of late has been the 12 inch SAW puppet on Tricycle box set, depicting the infamous Billy doll from the horror franchise, which, of course, had its fifth instalment released in the latter part of the year. Other official horror based items have included a superb 12 inch version of Jason Voorhees and more, just going to show that the fans still want blood. Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and The Dark Knight have all had their parts to play this year too, and some fantastic merchandise has been available.

Music fans were treated to new figures of Joey Ramone, Lemmy from Motorhead, two new Elvis Presley figures and two new Elvis headknockers. While the number of new items in the music ranges has been pretty thin on the ground, the demand is certainly there for more.

The market for licensed memorabilia from all corners of popular culture has seen a definite upturn in 2008 despite the economic troubles the world is facing, and these collectibles make perfect Christmas gifts. The merchandise industry is now even more a part of popular culture and the media it is based on that ever, even going so far as being integral to the continued life of the entertainment industry itself to a certain extent. While DVD sales are keeping cinema alive and box office takings slowly raising, the future is looking rather solid for the action figure world, and there are many, many more to be collected in 2009. The winners this year must be the video games ranges, and in particular Gears of War, which does appear to have won the battle of 2008.

The Hottest Action Figures of 2008 is from collectibledollstore.net

[MusicDish] When did you begin creating music, and when did you begin to seriously pursue a music career?

[Tim Young] I was a junior at Mansfield State University in Mansfield, PA. Actually, I had accordion lessons when I was a kid from eleven years to fifteen. But at Mansfield I began to write my own songs. Then I was nineteen. Peter, Paul and Mary were the easy ones to pick up then and everybody loved them.

Once I put my first band together, which was the early 80′s, I became serious about my music. My first band, just for the record, was named Signals. Unfortunately there are no recordings of this music. Or maybe that’s a good thing. I did always think I’ve got a bunch of hits in me.

[MusicDish] What were your earliest musical influences?

[Tim Young] Probably Elvis and Elvis clones like Fabian and Bobby Rydell. There was also this guy Buddy Knox who had this record, ‘Party Doll’, which I loved. The Beatles hit when I was fourteen and that was the heyday of great AM radio which was always on the instant I stepped foot into the family car. After I earned my driver’s license and could drive on my own, I would drive as fast as the music would take me and turn it way up. I remember Tommy James’s ‘Hanky Panky’ and Arthur Connolly’s ‘Sweet Soul Music’ being particularly great to drive fast to.

[MusicDish] Do you find that songwriting or lyric writing comes most naturally to you?

[Tim Young] I think they both come naturally to me but both are difficult to get right. I began writing some poetry in high school but I didn’t play guitar then. However, I was encouraged by a few fellow students to go on with my writing. I guess melodies did come kind of easy for me once I had mastered a few chords. It was and still is so fascinating to see and hear the words take on a new life in the context of the music. Plus I had memorized every lyric and melody nuance to every Beatles song that was released. I poured that stuff into my head. I know that helped me in many ways.

The late 60′s and early 70′s brought the counterculture to a head. I mean there was a lot in the air then that one could take to support the habit of writing music and putting words to it. It seemed there was always something that needed to be said. And for me the longer I kept writing the better I became.

[MusicDish] What music do you currently listen to?

[Tim Young] Mostly my own stuff. When I’ve completed a new project I get so much satisfaction in hearing it. It’s like food. I need it to sustain myself. I also listen to artists I find on MySpace and other places I stumble onto on the web. I should probably branch out more with my listening but mostly I’m just disappointed. However, right now I am also pretty hot on Patti Smith after just seeing the brand new doc on her life, which was an excellent film.

[MusicDish] As I listen to ‘The Cost,’ I am clearly reminded of the twangy blues of Elvis, combined with the overwhelming vibe of heartbreak, mastered by Johnny Cash. Would you consider your music to be modeled after them?

[Tim Young] Not consciously. But Johnny Cash is someone I look up to because he was more of a writer than Elvis, and in the past few years before his death, Cash was really reborn again. It’s no secret. Just listen to those last few albums. Stellar performances, in my opinion. And even though he did cover a lot of songs, if you didn’t know you would probably think that Johnny wrote them. That’s the kind of artist I can aspire to. It seems to me that his music was not a part of his life but was his life and in that respect I guess you could say I have modeled myself after Johnny Cash. I also dig the wearing of the black.

[MusicDish] What do you feel is the overall message of your album? Do the themes of pain and loss correspond with personal experiences, and do you feel that the album can serve as therapy for those who also experience similar situations?

[Tim Young] I don’t know if there is a message, but it seems to me as the good stuff and bad stuff comes along it’s better to deal with it somehow rather than sweeping it under the rug. If you lose someone dear to you then howl about it. When things get ugly, move away from them. The individual is responsible for him(her)self. It’s too easy to blame somebody else. When things are great, celebrate. It’s so much more wise, I think, to roll with the punches. Have fun. Not having fun? Get drunk.

I’d have to say that almost all my songs are pretty personal. They all trigger a personal response in me that no one else would know about. I think that happens to everyone – an individual response that lives in the mind. On the other hand, there can be a more shared response between people and that’s what makes a song resonate and become popular. The sharing of the emotions the music allows to come through. There is real power in those kinds of emotional reactions.

I’m certainly no therapist, but I know from experience that the right song at the right moment is capable of lifting spirits and/or putting you in a mood that may somehow alleviate or bring into focus whatever situation one might be going through. I can say without any hesitation or trepidation that this record, ‘The Cost’, makes me feel great, and a big part of that reason is I think it touches on a lot of shared inner emotions.

[MusicDish] Which track is the most meaningful to you? And which do you think will be your biggest hit?

[Tim Young] I go back and forth on this but today I’d have to say the title track, ‘The Cost’, is the most meaningful. I could not have written this song without the amazing relationship I share with my girlfriend. ‘The Cost’ is the worst case scenario. What if things all fell apart? Disaster. I would never want to face that, but what if? Nobody knows.

If ‘The Cost’ was to be the biggest hit… Wow. I could see that. (I think the sleeper hit could be ‘Wishing.’)

[MusicDish] On ‘Drifting Cowboy,’ can you offer some insight as to whether the cowboy is a fictional character, or if he is autobiographical at all?

[Tim Young] I suppose a combination. That word ‘cowboy’ pops up in my songs sometimes. I dig that word because it represents freedom to me. Someone with no ties; whose only possessions are a horse and whatever is in the saddle bags – the ability to just split without notice. Maybe because I’m a city dweller part of me yearns for the openness of what the West used to be – what it meant to head West.

I took the title from the name of Hank Williams’ band, The Drifting Cowboys. By the way, the details listed in the song are facts about Hank: born in Alabama, quit school in Montgomery, played in bars and on the radio, made it big in Nashville.

[MusicDish] How do you feel about the current state of the music industry? Do today’s artists compare with the legends of the past, like Elvis or Johnny? Do you have hope for the future generations of American music?

[Tim Young] I think generally the industry is healthy because there are more artists than ever working and creating new music. I believe the consensus is that the internet has leveled the playing field some. The major labels no longer have the stranglehold on the business they used to.

I still think it’s very difficult to have people pay attention to new artists and part of this is because there are more artists than ever and it’s very difficult to get through most of the muck to find something of value. This has probably always been true, but with the internet it has become so much more obvious.

Great artists are rare. I know there are some out there but I don’t want to be told who they are. Supposedly greatness rises to the surface and if that’s true then I’ll see them when they appear. Today it’s too much of what I call the ‘toothpaste effect’: one brand today, a different brand tomorrow. The music doesn’t stick; it just washes down the drain. Spit out.

Hope doesn’t cost a dime.

[MusicDish] What is the next step in your music career going to be? What can fans expect?

[Tim Young] More music! I’ve never done any kind of major touring and I would like to do that. I want to put out one album a year. Right now I’m in the middle of writing songs for the next record. I want ‘The Cost’ to make a difference in my career so that I can accomplish some of these goals more easily.

My fans can always expect the kind of emotional no holds barred shows that I always deliver, and new songs and ideas are always a part of that. Performing is a high priority.

[MusicDish] Can you speak a bit about your current performance schedule? Where can fans see you live?

[Tim Young] This is an area I need to improve. I don’t have a satisfactory performance line up. Right now I have a solo gig at the Vintage Bar, which is located on the corner of 51st Street and 9th Avenue. I perform there once a month, in about the middle of the month. The dates always change but I always post them on my site and on MySpace. Vintage is a great intimate setting and I love playing there.

My band, which is a duo, with Sand Edwards on drums, is on the lookout for gigs. I wear a lot of hats running this project and sometimes the booking agent hat has a tendency to fall off, but like all the others I pick it right up again.

http://www.timrocksweb.com
http://www.myspace.com/timnycyoung

Tim Young, Bringing New York Rock’n'roll Back to Its Roots is from collectibledollstore.net

Elvis Presley collectibles and memorabilia items are among the hottest retro or vintage novelties around today. Elvis collectibles trace back to the 1950′s when he was hitting the music charts with several number one singles. A certain Colonel Parker is said to be the one responsible for starting Elvis Presley Enterprises Incorporated, a company that has made a bonanza out of Elvis’ tremendous popularity.

Maintaining High Market Value

Well, cashing in on Elvis Presley’s celebrity status by putting his name and image on every conceivable object from mugs, clothing, board games, to dolls started a frenzy that to this day has kept on growing. Elvis collectibles are estimated to command a market that can easily be in excess of a billion dollars. And this market doesn’t even include Elvis’ albums.

As a general rule, the items that were originally produced in the 1950′s command the best prices on the collectibles market; and are considered to be profitable investments as their value increases over the passage of time. But apart from the age of the item, other aspects of the items are also considered in determining the market price. The following are the other factors taken into account in determining prices.

Condition

The condition of the Elvis collectible will play a crucial role in determining the item’s price. An item in mint condition, meaning the Elvis collectible is still in its original packaging and hasn’t been taken out, will generally command the highest price. While collectible items that are worn out will have a smaller market value and might even be worthless.

Authenticity

In a world where intellectual property is constantly being duplicated and pirated, only authentic Elvis collectibles, the ones made by licensed manufacturers, are even given consideration on the market, imitation articles are worthless.

Rarity

The rarity of an Elvis collectible greatly enhances its price. A rare item means it is hard to find and exotic. Avid collectors and investors usually clamor for such items depending on the quality, of course.

Origin

The origin of an Elvis collectible also plays a key role in dictating the price. For instance, as the market is continuously flooded with items made in China, items made in the US are considered more valuable and command much higher prices; after all, Elvis Presley was an American.

If you are just starting to buy Elvis collectibles, always remember the factors listed above to ensure that the value of your collection will appreciate over time.

All Shook Up With Elvis Collectibles? Know How Items are Valued is from collectibledollstore.net

Answers below in Comments Section

Does any one know how to find prices on Elvis collectibles other than ebay. What i have isnt on there? is from collectibledollstore.net

• 21″ vinyl
• head moves from right to left
• Ring and microphone
• Certificate of Authenticity
• Uncirculated MINT in original box

Product Description
21″ vinyl; head moves from right to left; includes: ring, microphone and certificate of authenticity; Uncirculated MINT in original box… More >>

Burning Love – Elvis Collectible Doll

Burning Love – Elvis Collectible Doll is from collectibledollstore.net