* A Little Background...

You may remember from my first post how I started selling on eBay to find a way to maximize the potential of the china and glassware that I had inherited? That is only part of the story.

Way back when I had a career, I did very well! Because of a big companywide downsizing, I lost that job in 1994, after 15 years. I moved to Maryland on my severance and bought a farm. I really didn't know what I was going to do for a living but I had an idea about opening a dog kennel.

Well, that didn't work, this was a horse boarding farm with barns and stalls and pastures and even an indoor riding arena. It was falling apart and needed lots of TLC. In less than 6 months I had the place all cleaned up and every one of the 22 stalls filled with paying boarders. After about 5 years, I realized that this was hard work! I was not getting any younger and the work was not getting any easier so I sold the farm in 1999. I moved to the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland because one of the things I learned to love about farm living was being in the country. I bought a beautiful little property in Easton MD with enough room to build a little barn for two of my old school horses.

My auntie who was in the final months of her fight with lung cancer came to live with me shortly after I moved here. After she died I was at loose ends until my sister and I convinced my father that it was time for him to live near family and to relocate here from Florida. The next few years were spent taking him to the doctor, groceries, lunch, etc. He moved in with me in October of 2003 and died unexpectedly in March of 2004.

Again, I was at loose ends. My sister and I toyed with several business ideas. The timing wasn't right and I don't think either of us was ready for the commitment of a partnership but we brainstormed until we went our separate ways. She is an artist and has quite successfully pursued her craft. Check out her website, janetmatthewsstudio.com.

I am a salesman and in 2007 began my journey with eBay.

my sister and me
(I'm in the red dress)

* "Dancing with the Stars"

Since the new season of "Dancing with the Stars" has recently started, I thought I would share a garage sale memory.

As I was chit-chatting with a lady who held an "in house" garage sale I went to last year, she told me that the set of Sakura Tango dinnerware that I was purchasing had been a gift to her daughter who was a ballroom dance teacher.

The daughter was there and I commented on how she must be enjoying the show "Dancing with the Stars". She told me that she knew most of the professional dancers on the show! We talked about it for a long time but unfortunately I forgot to see if she had any backstage gossip about those dancers. Darn, maybe next time!

One of the fun things about Saturday morning garage sales is the friendly and interesting people you can meet!

Be sure to visit my eBay store, Sales by Trudy, to see all the great dinnerware patterns I have for sale! I probably have a story for each one!

* Newbies

There are a lot of eBay sellers who are frustrated by new buyers, "newbies". The message boards are ripe with posts and complaints. And those are the threads with the most activity!

You will also find posts with heartwarming stories. They don't seem to arouse the myriad of responses that the complaining inspire, but they should. Here is one of my recent sales to a "newbie".

I found this little Royal Doulton teapot at a yard sale. Surprisingly, it was in a box with lots of random breakable items. I knew immediately that it was something special, you can "feel" quality, and when I turned it over and saw the Royal Doulton mark, I did a little happy dance in my head! Unfortunately, it was badly beaten up. Chips and cracks, the handle was hanging on by a thread, but... the tag said $1.00!

When I got home, I was able to identify the pattern and age "Dutch A - Harlem" series ware by Royal Doulton, produced from 1904 - 1944.

It sat in my store for only $17.99 (because of the damage) for three months until the other day when I got an email from a brand new buyer in Australia asking for a shipping quote. That buyer purchased the teapot a few days later and after paying, sent me the following email:

Dear salesbytrudy

Hi, I just bought the teapot. The story is, my grandmother who

owned the same teapot, passed away leaving it to me. My aunty

broke the lid about 50 years ago playing "tea parties" and it has

never been replaced. I am going to have the lid of yours repaired

and give it to my aunt as a special gift. Thank you for helping us

get "closure" on a long running saga. We can stop scouring the

antique shops now. Regards, xxx

Doesn't that make you want to sell something? Have a great day! T

http://stores.ebay.com/Sales-by-Trudy?refid=store

* The best (and worst) part of working at home is... being at home!

I have a bunch of animals, including 2 horses, a barn cat and 3 dogs so it is really nice to be able to be home with my animals every day. It is really nice to not have to get dressed for work... to able to shower in the middle of the afternoon... to be able to watch TV in the middle of the day... and to not have to answer to anyone but myself!

What is not so nice is that I can be very hard on myself... and tripping over all of the stuff, everywhere, can become stressful... and it is sometimes hard to do anything but work, when you work at home!

But really, there is so much I appreciate about being home every day!

Visit my store, Sales by Trudy!

* Welcome!

Hello, I am Trudy and welcome to my blog! The purpose of this blog is to share my life as an eBay seller, both on eBay and off.

I started selling on eBay about 2 years ago with the intention of selling the large amount of china and glassware that my sister and I inherited. I opened my eBay store (Sales by Trudy) in September of 2007 and have been building my business ever since. I have sold very little of the inheritance, I am having too much fun selling the stuff I find treasure hunting at flea markets, garage sales and thrift stores!

Check out my eBay store Sales by Trudy to see what I have been up to.