Wednesday, March 23, 2011

How to Sell Vintage Cookbooks


While they are not technically considered to be antique, vintage cookbooks are still valuable, and are sometimes worth large amounts of money. The key is to find the right market. Determining where to sell an antique cookbook will require some effort, but it’s doable and certainly worth the time investment.

Start by researching the cookbook you’re selling. Different books have different values. Obscure cookbooks will obviously not be worth as much money as those by well known authors (such as Julia Child). The price is also affected by the condition of the book, as well as by the age.

Leaf through the cookbook and look for unique features. Special editions and signed copies are worth more than standard editions. If the book is in pristine condition it will also have a greater value.

Determine which online selling site is the best fit for your cookbook. Vintage cookbooks can be listed on Amazon, Abe Books, Etsy, Amazon, and of course eBay. There are many other used book sites as well. One of the best sites to sell vintage cookbooks on is eBay because they have so much traffic – plus many people think of eBay first when they’re looking for vintage and used items. Here are a few listings for vintage cookbooks that closed recently. Note the high prices:

While they are not technically considered to be antique, vintage cookbooks are still valuable, and are sometimes worth large amounts of money. The key is to find the right market. Determining where to sell an antique cookbook will require some effort, but it’s doable and certainly worth the time investment.

Start by researching the cookbook you’re selling. Different books have different values. Obscure cookbooks will obviously not be worth as much money as those by well known authors (such as Julia Child). The price is also affected by the condition of the book, as well as by the age.

Leaf through the cookbook and look for unique features. Special editions and signed copies are worth more than standard editions. If the book is in pristine condition it will also have a greater value.

Determine which online selling site is the best fit for your cookbook. Vintage cookbooks can be listed on Amazon, Abe Books, Etsy, Amazon, and of course eBay. There are many other used book sites as well. One of the best sites to sell vintage cookbooks on is eBay because they have so much traffic – plus many people think of eBay first when they’re looking for vintage and used items. Here are a few listings for vintage cookbooks that closed recently. Note the high prices:

Another option is to try to sell your vintage cookbooks to an antique store. They are always looking for more inventory, so this can be a great option. While you won’t be able to sell the book for as much as you could on your own, it is an easier option. For more ideas on what to sell on eBay, visit Online Selling Coach.

Related articles:

Julia Child Cookbooks

Weight Watchers Slow Good Cookbook


Monday, March 21, 2011

Barbie Makes a Case for International Shipping



Photos courtesy of eBay.com

A few weeks ago, my thrift store consignment client presented me with about 50 collectible Barbie dolls to sell on eBay. The Barbies were obviously donated by a collector because they were all still on the original boxes, wrapped in another layer of cellophane, and could be sold as NRFB (never removed from box). The dates on the dolls ranged from 1980 until 1995. This was a huge lot of vintage Barbie dolls.

I have never been into the collectible Barbie scene and didn’t realize how many different Barbies exist. Let’s face it, these types of collectibles are for adults, not children. I was shocked to see that some of these Barbies retailed for up to $200. One in particular, the Bob Mackie Goddess of the Sun Barbie, had the original price tag of $198 on the box.

I got busy listing, listing, listing. (After 2 full days sitting at my desk listing, I was ready for a visit from Chiropractic Barbie!) As always, I offered international shipping on every Barbie. I am a diehard believer that international shipping will increase your sales exponentially and someone, somewhere in the world is willing to pay top dollar for an item if you will just take the time to ship it to them. In my opinion, the rewards of international shipping far outweigh the risks.


When the Barbies started selling, I was pleasantly surprised to see how many of them went to international buyers. I found this very interesting. I wasn’t necessarily the lowest price seller for these dolls, but I did offer international shipping which many other sellers did not. Global shipping gave me the competitive edge. Here is a short list of the Barbies I sold and where they went:

Circus Star Barbie – Canada

Disney 101 Dalmatians Cruella DeVil Barbie – Germany

Disney Alice in Wonderland Doll - France

Disney Pocahontas Braided Beauty – Norway

Disney Pocahontas John Smith Doll –Spain

Elizabethan Queen Barbie – Canada

Happy Holidays 1993 Barbie – Canada

Happy Holidays Barbie 1990 – Canada

Happy Holidays Barbie 1996 – United Kingdom

Island Fun Barbie – Germany

Island Fun Barbie – Sweden

Peppermint Princess Barbie – Canada

Skating Star Barbie – Canada

Spring Bouquet Enchanted Seasons Barbie - Canada

Super Hair Barbie – 2 sold to 2 different buyers in France

Victorian Lady Barbie – Australia

If you are not offering international shipping, now is the time. We live in a global economy and people just don’t see distance as a barrier any more. Now with eBay offering First Class International shipping labels via your selling manager, there is no reason not to offer international shipping on items weighing under 4 lbs.

Resources:

How to Print First Class International Shipping from eBay

10 Reasons Why all eBay Sellers Should Offer International Shipping

Ultimate eBay Shipping Guide – Free Download

Talk to Other eBay Sellers About International Shipping on my Facebook Group