Jam-packed weekend ahead: First-of-its-kind food auction, town-wide tag sales & book sale, and the launch of a brand new flea market in Putnam

Spend the upcoming weekend in and around our treasured Quiet Corner. From Friday to Sunday -- all happening within 20 minutes of Putnam -- you’ll find unique bargain buying opportunities.

On Friday, Danny’s Auction Barn in Foster, Rhode Island will hold their first-of-its-kind Food Auction. If you’re tired of high prices in grocery stores, it should be worth checking it out. You’ll find an assortment of non-perishable food items and dry goods like paper towels and kitchen linens. Danny’s Auction is located on Route 6, just 5 minutes from the RI/CT state line. The auction starts at 6 pm. See http://www.DannysAuction.com for more information.

On Saturday, the lovely town of Pomfret, Connecticut will hold it’s 2nd Annual Townwide Tag Sale. There will be yard sales all over at individual homes and businesses. Also, the Pomfret Community School will be hosting a used book sale from 7 am until noon, benefiting Friends of the Pomfret Public Library. Proceeds will support library programs. Current fiction, non-fiction, children's books, biographies, and older books will be available for sale. Most books will be priced at just $1 for hardcover, and fifty cents for paperbacks. There will also be a $2 a bag sale (bags provided) from 11 a.m. to noon. Also at the school on Saturday morning, area Girl Scouts will be holding a fundraiser tag sale.

A handy guide map is available at the Pomfret Community School for just $1 (with drive-thru convenience if you prefer not to exit your vehicle) making it super easy to find tag sale locations.

More details are available at http://www.VisitPomfret.com

Another unique buying opportunity is happening in Ashford on Saturday. There will be a Quilt Show from 10 am to 4 pm at Knowlton Hall, 25 Pompey Hollow Road. Proceeds will benefit Friends of the Babcock Library and Heart and Hand Quilt Club. Vendors, quilt drawing, and silent auctions as well as a display of antique and modern quilts will round out the show. For information or to schedule an appointment to have your quilt appraised, call 429-7995.



Then, on Sunday, Putnam is launching a brand new flea market. Organized by Greg Renshaw, the flea market will be open from 8 am To 3 pm.

Greg is a collector and antiques enthusiast, having been in business for 25 plus years. He recognized the need for a good show venue in the northeast corner of the state. The new venture is called, "Putnam Flea Market & Show Place".

Located at the historic Cargill Falls Mill in downtown Putnam, the grand opening is slated for Sunday, May 18th. Hours are 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Beyond your typical flea market experience, the Putnam Flea Market & Show Place is stated to be the only flea market in the USA with a "Classic Motorcar Division". Anyone with an old car or anything that could be categorized as “petroliana”, “automobilia” -- even a boat, etc. -- is invited to come to Putnam on Sunday morning to set up to show and/or sell.

Vendor spots are available for $20.00 for those interested in setting up to display, sell, and show their wares.

To register as a vendor or for more info: click here
http://putnamfleamarket.com

To register by phone, contact Greg Renshaw at 860-428-3439.

PUTNAM FLEA MARKET
58 Pomfret St.
Putnam CT, 06260

AND, just in case you haven’t had enough by then...
Don't forget that Danny’s Auction in Foster, RI also has a flea market running on Sundays too! Check it out.

Surprisingly, quality can be found at auction

I have a 17 year old daughter. Kayla has a sophisticated palette when it comes to deciding which products are worth using and which are not. She has great taste and strong opinions — especially when it comes to clothing and shoes, cosmetics, and health and beauty aids. Generic or store brands just don’t cut it.

So when I gave her a gift pack of Nexxus hair care products (among other things) for Christmas last year, I thought she would at least try them. I know this brand is sold at better hair salons. But for months, the gift pack sat unopened.

Until this week.

It took Kayla 5 months to get to it, but she finally broke down and tried the conditioner. Apparently, she ran out of whatever she was using previously.

The first thing she asked me was, “Did you get that at the auction?”

"Yup."

At $4, it was a bargain I couldn’t pass up. In fact, there were two packages available, and I bid on and won both. I kept one for myself.

I am well-aware of Kayla’s aversion to auction goods. But you know, I think she realized something when she saw the very same conditioner I got for cheap at the auction (in a gift pack with other hair products too!) priced at $17 alone at her favorite hair salon.

“You know, Mom...”, she continued... “that conditioner is really nice. It doesn’t feel like it sticks onto your hair like some other brands I’ve tried. My hair feels really clean, and soft.”

Many people make assumptions that merchandise at auction is flawed, out-of-date, or somehow of lower quality than what can be bought at the stores. While that’s sometimes true, more often than not, what you’ll find at most merchandise auctions is fine. Sometimes products are sold with damaged packaging, or it’s a slow-seller that stores want moved off the shelves. There are varied reasons why stuff winds up at auction.

It’s always a good idea to check over what’s being sold at preview time before an auction begins — and you can even ask a question once something is put up on the block. When bidding, there’s always an element of chance. That’s true. But if the price is right, more times than not, it’s worth the chance because the product is fine.

Now, there’s only one problem. Whatever comes through an auction isn’t likely to come through again and again. Now that Kayla has a new favorite hair conditioner, the only way to replenish her supply is to go to the salon and pick up a new bottle at $17.


-------
The photo above is Kayla posing for a photo before her Junior Prom last month.

A new approach: Wholesaler gives away gas to build blog readership

I generally shy away from doing business with marketers who use blaring ‘in-your-face’ selling tactics, but I have to admit, with today’s economy, this is a great approach. Joe Richey of Wholesaler Wholesaler sells products to eBay sellers to resell. With his newest marketing approach, he is offering free gas as a reward in an online contest to build readership of his blog.

Joe is asking for tips on optimizing his blog. He’ll be giving away a tank of gasoline every day for a month for the best suggestions.

Here are my suggestions for Joe:


-- It does look like you could use a writer. Proof-read your copy.

-- Consider the viewer’s perspective when filming a video.

-- Avoid being ‘too casual’ in your appearance in videos.

-- Make use of social media sites like MySpace and Facebook. Regularly post bits of valuable information and special offers on those sites, linking to your regular blog and product pages.

-- Use widgets (small photo slideshows) on your sidebar to highlight strong performing products.

-- Write more from your own knowledge and personal experience in what sells best and why.

-- Use visuals in the blog to break up long stretches of text.

-- Your Web site could use better navigation and less ‘in-your-face’ urgency.

-- Your email address should be in-sync with your primary Web site.

-- A professional appearance lends a lot to credibility.

-- Offer lots of valuable information and less hype.


For full details on how to participate, proceed to
http://myblogwholesale.com/blog/may-12-free-gas-launch-has-started

Selling on eBay? Postage increase adds to the burden

Along with increases we’re forced to face on the costs everyday essentials -- like gas and food — we are slapped with yet another. Postage is going up AGAIN as of May 12.

Pay your bills online and send your friends notes and birthday greetings through email. But for eBay sellers, it’s something we have no choice but to deal with.

For sellers who have been quoting flat rate shipping numbers in your listings, will you continue doing business as usual? Or will you now use the shipping calculator? From what I understand, items listed with calculated shipping, won't rank in a price search.

Flat rate had always worked out okay for me in the past. You make out on some and lose a little on others.

Looking at the USPS rate chart, living in zone 1, it will cost $4.80 to ship a priority item under 1 pound 13 ounces to a buyer in this area. However, the same package will cost $8.25 to ship out to the west coast. Not wanting to risk negative feedback or be penalized in eBay searches for excessive shipping and handling charges, sellers have much to consider in stating s&h for each item posted.

You may not want to overcharge, but can you afford to eat $2.50 to $3.45 on a good percentage of your sales?

Other factors come into play as well. A handling fee is fair to apply, but how much is reasonable? Packing supplies such as bubble wrap and tape are expensive. Gas — obviously! And the occasional unscrupulous buyer who will hold the seller hostage (by threatening negative feedback) for a refund. There has to be a way to absorb the costs.

Low starting bids generate interest and encourage bidding in the online auction format, but the risk is obvious. Sellers will have to charge more — but where should it apply?

It's commonly understood that postage costs are passed onto buyers, but with the economy tightening at a quickening pace, I wonder how much more customers will be willing to pay to get an item mailed to them that’s more likely a want and not a need. It seems reasonable to assume that the pool of buyers with money to spend on “extras” like collectibles and one-of-a-kind gifts is shrinking.

I’m betting that second-hand shopping locally will pick-up big time. Thrift stores like Salvation Army and Goodwill have already reported a big increase in sales. New flea markets have popped up this year here in Connecticut — in Moosup and Putnam and in nearby Foster, Rhode Island.

While we love shopping online too, how many can afford to pay even more than the cost of an item to have it delivered?

Some may. A lot more buyers overseas are keeping US eBay sellers busier than ever. If you’ve been hesitant to offer shipping to other countries because of the headaches in filling out customs forms — don’t be. With the shrinking US dollar, overseas buyers are finding bargains in buying US items on eBay.

It's amazed me to see that one of my buyers paid $74 to have an old record player sent to their country — when the cost of the item was just $24. The fact is, $74 in US dollars isn’t so much to them because their money has more buying power.

Market conditions will always be ever-changing. Like it or not, changing with the tides is something we’ll always have to do.

Read more about the new postage rate increase:
http://www.usps.com/prices/welcome.htm

From The Norwich Bulletin:
Postage rates rising Monday. Stock up on those 41-cent Forever Stamps today if you can.

eBay mulls PayPal only payments

eBay is exploring whether to require customers to use only its online payment service PayPal, a move that has angered users and prompted antitrust scrutiny in Australia, where a PayPal-only rule takes effect next month.

Because eBay sellers are commonly independent merchants who don't accept credit cards, PayPal acts as a go-between. Buyers use their credit cards and bank account information to make payments, and PayPal relays the funds to sellers' PayPal accounts, charging them 30 cents plus a commission -- up to 4.4 percent in Australia. The second-most common method of payment on eBay Australia, bank transfers, cost 20 cents each.

read more | digg story

Ebay incorporates further changes with feedback system to take effect May 19

More details regarding eBay’s upcoming feedback changes were released on Wednesday.

We’ve known for a while now that sellers will no longer be able to give buyers negative or neutral feedback. Yesterday’s announcement brought on even more changes sellers won’t like too much.

The mutual feedback withdrawal process is going to be eliminated. It allowed a buyer and seller to retract their feedback ratings with mutual agreement. Added to that, Square Trade’s dispute resolution service will no longer be an option. Poor feedback given to sellers will stay.

Not surprisingly, sellers are in strong opposition to the new changes. The new rules deny them any opportunity to report on transactions with unscrupulous buyers on the site.

Read more:
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/cab/abn/y08/m05/i08/s01

ALSO: A clarification about eBay Bucks

Check out what eBay’s own in-house blogger, Richard Brewer-Hay (ebayink.com), has to say about the workings of their 'invitation-only' seller rewards program.

http://ebayinkblog.com/2008/05/07/the-buck-starts-here

Pomfret offers tag sale deals, baked goods and books on May 17

Back by popular demand, Pomfret will hold its Second Annual TOWN-WIDE TAG SALE on May 17th from 8 a.m. to the afternoon. Sales are at homes and businesses around the community, and this event is held rain or shine. Visitors will flock to Pomfret from all over Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, to partake in the concentration of fabulous tag sales that will happen that day

All Pomfret residents, businesses and organizations may participate. A map will be available the morning of the sale for $1, identifying all participating locations. Maps can be purchased at Pomfret Community School (20 Pomfret Street, intersection of Routes 169 & 101) starting at 7:00 AM on May 17th.


Sponsored by the Pomfret Proprietors Association, the Town Wide Tag Sale was a great success last year and improved this year by moving map sales to a more convenient and accessible "drive-through" location. All profits from Tag Sale registrations will benefit a Pomfret Proprietors Scholarship. For more information go to www.VisitPomfret.com.

In conjunction with the Town Wide Tag Sale, the Friends of the Pomfret Public Library will hold a USED BOOK SALE from 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Pomfret Community School cafeteria. Current fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, biographies, and some older books (attic discoveries removed from circulation some time ago) will be available. Most books are priced at $1.00 for a hardcover and 50 cents for paperbacks. There will be a $2.00 a Bag Sale (bags provided) from 11:00 to 12:00 (excluding individually priced books).

To donate books for this sale, drop them off at the Pomfret Community School cafeteria from 3:00 – 5:00 on Thursday, May 15 and from 1:30 – 5:30 on Friday, May 16. No encyclopedias, condensed books or textbooks, please!!

The Friends of the Pomfret Public Library is a volunteer group established in 2007 dedicated to enhancing the relationship between the library and the community it serves. All monies generated from this sale will be used by the Friends to support Pomfret Public Library programs. For more information visit http://www.pomfretlibrary.org or call 860-928-3475.

And if you need a snack & a cup of coffee or hot chocolate to fuel your shopping, the Pomfret and Thompson Girl Scout Cadet Troops will have a bake sale and flea market, also at Pomfret Community School starting at 7AM. Funds raised will help send the girls to the Girl Scout Program Center in Savannah, GA.

While you're there, stay for lunch, check out local shops & galleries and enjoy a drive on scenic roads or a walk on nature trails! Go to www.VisitPomfret.com for ideas on what to see & do while you’re in town.

The Vanilla Bean Restaurant offers outside seating.

Location: Located in the Northeastern corner of Connecticut, Pomfret is a 50-minute drive from the state capitol of Hartford; 40 minutes from Providence, Rhode Island; 45 minutes from Worcester, Massachusetts; 90 minutes from Boston Massachusetts; and approximately one hour from the shoreline. Pomfret is accessible from Routes 395, 44, 101, 97 and National Scenic Byway Route 169.

DATE: Saturday, May 17th

TIME: 8:00 a.m. – afternoon

MAP DISTRIBUTION: Early birds take note: Maps of the various locations can be purchased for $1 at the Pomfret Community School parking lot (corner of RT 169 & RT 101) starting at 7:00 AM on Saturday, MAY 17th.

The maps will be printed in the large 11 x 17 format and will list all tag sales in town on private property, business, churches, etc – a great way to plan your tag sale route. The ads will direct you to sales of particular interest to you.

HOW TO BE LISTED ON THE TAG SALE MAP: Send $10.00 payable to The Pomfret Proprietors with the executed form to Ann Bedard, 286 Deerfield Road, Pomfret Center CT 06259. A PDF form is downloadable here or on the home page (scroll to bottom) of www.VisitPomfret.com.