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Martin Sojka |
Hello |
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Max |
Good Day |
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DAN WALTERS |
hello |
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Martin Sojka |
so you managed to get here on time, Dan ;) |
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Don |
Good morning from OZ! It’s Friday morning, 7:30am. |
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DAN WALTERS |
yep… drove up from Kentucky |
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Martin Sojka |
lol.. it’s 11:30pm here Don. so really global chat |
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Martin Sojka |
I’m going to post quick comment to the blog announcement |
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Martin Sojka |
feel free to start discussing anything related to eBay |
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DAN WALTERS |
any questions ? |
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Don |
Dan, how long have you been using eBay to sell your art? |
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DAN WALTERS |
been selling nearly 7 years |
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Don |
Did you have success from the beginning? |
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DAN WALTERS |
Yes, but I started as a buyer |
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Max |
Dan, I have been selling also on eBay for about 4 years now and have found that most people are looking for bargins. Not all by any means but it seems like most. I think it really depends on what you are trying to sell. |
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Don |
Well, I guess it’s easy to have success as a buyer, you just pay the money. LOL ::tongue |
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Max |
Or I guess what you are willing to take for your craft. |
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MsDebbieP |
I know that you sell to galleries etc.. .. do you use other online sales strategies? |
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DAN WALTERS |
online no, I do sell via comissions, via email etc. ebay gave me the exposure and helped find the buyers |
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MsDebbieP |
and have you had any bad experiences with the ebay experience?? Disgruntled buyers? lost $$ ? |
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DAN WALTERS |
I have had couple bad experiences. two didn’t pay. one person was upset because the tile came loose in shipping. i gave them their money back and resold the item |
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Don |
Dan, from your blog, I’d say you use an “in your face” approach to marketing. Do you have a marketing background. It’s rather unusuall to be so ‘over the top” in the wording and to show so many pictures of the object you are trying to sell – sometimes you reapeat the same picture over and over. ::bi |
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MsDebbieP |
the paying part is what I’d worry about … buyers giving money without something in their hands.. and sellers sending products without $$ in their hands |
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DAN WALTERS |
my auctions ads have evolved over the years. the lenght has grown. the pictures keep the buyers attention and hopefully interest |
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Peggy joined. |
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Peggy |
Hello! |
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MsDebbieP |
your ad definitely catches one’s attention … I don’t always read things through to the end.. I kept scrolling through yours! |
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MsDebbieP |
Hi Peggy |
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DAN WALTERS |
market reaserch is what is needed to sell on ebay |
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Don |
So, how do you do market research? |
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Max |
Dan… What type of market research are you talking about and how do you go about it on eBAy? |
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dennis mitchell |
Dan, you have a great product. Very appealing. Have you tried other products, boxs, shelves, ect. and with any luck? |
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MsDebbieP |
I notice that you slip selling information (single lines) inbetween descriptions…. .. no real question there I guess….. just find that interesting. |
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DAN WALTERS |
advanced search on ebay, look for closed auctions to see what has sold, ie, coleector cabinets etc |
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DAN WALTERS |
the lines are a html command <hr> |
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DAN WALTERS |
i’ve sold other items on ebay, tables, cutting boards etc … but frame tiles have caught my interest |
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DAN WALTERS |
peggy is my wife … we are dualing laptops in the living room |
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MsDebbieP |
is there an optimal number of items to have listed at one time? |
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MsDebbieP |
I wondered who Peggy was :) |
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Peggy |
I’m the quiet one! |
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Don |
Hi, Peggy, you must be proud of your artist husband – has he exhibited artistic tendancies in other areas? |
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MsDebbieP |
quiet but mighty, I am assuming ;) |
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DAN WALTERS |
the more the better. the most i have ever run at once was 16 items. more items listed the more action |
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Max |
Why don’t you have an eBay store? |
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MsDebbieP |
We’ve talked (in LJ) about the importance of creating an image… I guess that the same would go with the items that you would have listed on ebay—everything adding to the image |
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Peggy |
We were married about 7 or 8 years before I knew He did any woodworking! then he started making the furniture in our home which I’m very proud of! |
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DAN WALTERS |
id di, but I slowed my selling a bit. we resently relocated and I’m not selling as much now. probably around $1000 a month right now. best months 4 to 5000 |
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Don |
Show us the furniture, Dan! ::smoke |
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MsDebbieP |
lol Don wants to see it all—especially if it is a small box :) |
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DAN WALTERS |
::wub peggy will pick some …. |
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MsDebbieP |
when someone doesn’t pay… I guess you are just out the money, .. nothing you can do about it. |
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Don |
Small box – did someone say “small box”? I just love small wooden boxes! ::lips |
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Max |
MsDebbieP, normally you wouldn’t ship your product until you recieve payment. |
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DAN WALTERS |
on ebay nothing ships until payment is in hand. never out money as a seller |
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dennis mitchell |
Dan what sparked your interest in the tiles? |
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MsDebbieP |
I guess PayPal keeps it pretty safe for the seller. |
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DAN WALTERS |
tiles was started by a friend in memphis who had handmade tiles in their office |
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Peggy |
We haven’t had much problem with dishonesty |
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Martin Sojka |
Dan, do you also have international buyers on eBay.. or just US ? |
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DAN WALTERS |
international buyers… yes … 10 sales to england … one to austrialia … one to afganistaan … several to canada |
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MsDebbieP |
it seems so simple to do, really, the process, I mean… hard part is getting a buyer. |
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Martin Sojka |
interesting |
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Martin Sojka |
are you preparing the listings yourself ? |
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DAN WALTERS |
I have bought many items from overseas ... www.paypal.com alows this to happen with little apin |
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Max |
What is your pricing strategy on your product? |
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DAN WALTERS |
I make the listings myself, i use a 3rd party site www.vendio.com they have templates and picture handling |
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DAN WALTERS |
always list for 10 day auctions … |
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DAN WALTERS |
how many hours i spend working items …sort of drives the price … |
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Martin Sojka |
vflyer – www.vflyer.com looks very interesting too – for preparing virtual product flyers that can be then listed on eBay as well as other sites |
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DAN WALTERS |
will look into that site later … |
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dennis mitchell |
Do you have any tips on shipping? |
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Peggy |
[’; |
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Don |
Dan, I’ve always wondered if sellers have associates push up the activity level on ebay by having them place bids. |
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Peggy |
My cat Lucy sent that last message!!!!! ::blush |
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Martin Sojka |
Hey Lucy, Rob and Dick ;) |
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DAN WALTERS |
shilling or cheating is not allowed and is illeagal, i’m sure it happens but not by me |
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Don |
G’day, Dick! |
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Max |
Why do you say always list your auctions for 10 day’s? |
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MsDebbieP |
Hi Lucy :D |
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DAN WALTERS |
10 days is the max time for a auction listing. lets people look at it the longest |
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DAN WALTERS |
::angry bad kitty cat |
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Dick Cain |
Hi, I’m trying to figure this out. I just got back from the grocers |
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dennis mitchell |
Hope you brought some cookies,Dick. |
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Peggy |
Lucy has left the conversation ::tongue |
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Dick Cain |
Ice cream |
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dennis mitchell |
lol |
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Don |
Dick, you ought to try it whilst eating a bowl of hot breakfast cereal. LOL |
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Dick Cain |
But I ate it. What does ebay charge for selling. |
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DAN WALTERS |
i have made many boxes … i have a box design that is sure seller if anyone is inerested to try it |
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DAN WALTERS |
ebay charges can vary .. i have listed 3 auctions this week … better explained in blog |
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Martin Sojka |
there are some PayPal fees as well, right ? |
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Dick Cain |
Are you starting a blog about Ebay? |
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DAN WALTERS |
yes … ebay blog is started |
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DAN WALTERS |
www.paypal.com charges about 3 percent |
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Dick Cain |
I’ll have to check it out |
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DAN WALTERS |
3 percent, but it is worth it, easy way to send money .. i even send it to my kids that way |
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Don |
I interested in the box, Dan. |
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Martin Sojka |
so how computer savvy one needs to be to prepare listings on eBay.. I guess you need to know basics of HTML without the help of Vendio mentioned above |
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Peggy |
It can get really eexiting when it gets down to the last minute, we have seen bids change dramatically in the last few seconds! |
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Martin Sojka |
and we’re back to Vegas lol |
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DAN WALTERS |
i will post photos. it is antique castle box from england that sold for $1200 .. I saved all the photos .. really cool one |
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MsDebbieP |
Martin’s on a Vegas kick today :D |
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Don |
There’s software out there that will place a last second bid for buyers to make sure that they don’t get pipped at the post. |
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DAN WALTERS |
i know html a little bit, but the sites make it easier now |
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Dick Cain |
I got a good deal on a Dewalt, 4 piece battery powered assortment, less tan half of what they have in my town. |
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Don |
$1200 – man you’ve got me drooling! |
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MsDebbieP |
I was checking out your page.. and I see the 100% satisfied… now I see why you do “buying” first.. so you can have 100% satisfied before switching to selling… people would feel good about seeing that 100% there |
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DAN WALTERS |
awesome, awesome box |
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Peggy |
The potential is there ::biggrin |
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DAN WALTERS |
will post a photo of the box in the project area |
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dennis mitchell |
Careful Don too much drooling and you will need a new computer…or at least a fresh key board. |
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Don |
Stop it Dan – you are giving me heart failure! ::wacko |
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Martin Sojka |
and from your experience – is the interest in woodworking pieces increasing on eBay ? |
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DAN WALTERS |
send me an email to dan_walters@charter.net and I’ll send you all the photos of the box |
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DAN WALTERS |
yes ebay interst in increasing .. i’d sell more items if i could |
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DAN WALTERS |
need to pick the right items |
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Max |
What do you feel are the right items? |
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DAN WALTERS |
market research has told me … mission clocks, mission lamps with mica shades.. fishing lures, flutes, collector cabinets |
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Peggy |
You never know exactly what people are looking for but Dan has some frames that appeal to everyone! |
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DAN WALTERS |
if someone collects it they need a place to display it |
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Dick Cain |
Dennis has some interesting items. He could touch a broader market on Ebay |
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Don |
Dan, how about listing the box in the LJ projects? |
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DAN WALTERS |
also if sellers used nice hardwoods etc it would appeal more |
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dennis mitchell |
Take care folks…thanks Martin and a special thanks to Dan! See you all soon! |
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DAN WALTERS |
will try the LJ … |
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DAN WALTERS |
never looked in LJ yet |
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Peggy |
There have been times they dont sell one week but sell for a great price the next week ::unsure |
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Dick Cain |
Dan,You can put all of your images on one project entry. |
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Don |
Dan, LJ = LumberJocks ::beer |
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Martin Sojka |
can you estimate your average margin on eBay? |
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DAN WALTERS |
will post them later this evening. they on my office pc upstairs |
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DAN WALTERS |
whoops |
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Dick Cain |
Sounds kind of mean |
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DAN WALTERS |
this is my first chat … still learning at 53 |
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Peggy |
He’s kind of ilke that ::punk |
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DAN WALTERS |
my wife having too much funning laughing at herself |
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Dick Cain |
Dan, your just a kid yet. My sons’ are older than you. |
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Don |
Ladies & Gent’s, it’s been nice chatting with you all – I’m off to see a man about some wood for a small box. |
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Max |
Dan on your shipping do you charge for shipping supplies or do you just figure that into your price for your product? |
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MsDebbieP |
ll have fun Don :) |
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DAN WALTERS |
max – i figure it in, but fudge the price a bit |
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Dick Cain |
I notice some items, are cheaper than the shipping. |
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DAN WALTERS |
peggy … cut that out !! |
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MsDebbieP |
yah.. the shipping can be a killer… drawback to shopping online |
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DAN WALTERS |
shipping is tough … there is golden number … I call it the size-value-postage ratio |
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Dick Cain |
I recently shipped something to my son in AR. I found that DHL was almost half the price of UPS. |
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DAN WALTERS |
i use ups because of the free boxes |
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Max |
Dan if on your one auction you have your buy in now price at $1,000.00 and you said you set your reserve at about half of that. Do you find the the lower you set your starting auction price the better. Or would you be better off setting it closer to your reserve price? |
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DAN WALTERS |
setting price is hard .. not a mastered everything yet, |
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DAN WALTERS |
i try everything … last resort I list it with low starting bid with no reserve and let it rip. |
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Max |
Have you been bitten by that as yet? Selling something below what it cost you to make and for the tile? |
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DAN WALTERS |
max – i have sold about a dozen items with the buy-it-now |
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Peggy |
It all evens out in the long run |
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DAN WALTERS |
sometimes i get bit, but it drives the activity and hopefully make it up the next time. |
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Dick Cain |
I guess you have to catch the right person,at the right time |
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Max |
I know that I haven’t found the magic pricing solution as yet!!!!!!! ::wacko |
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Peggy |
Thats how I think it works! |
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Dick Cain |
Dan, do you get many return customers? |
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DAN WALTERS |
the $1000 item on ebay now, i made 3 of them, one i sold as a comission for $640 plus postage. If I sell then last two for only $300 I will have done real well, because I batched 12 frames together at once. Because it is a hobby it still fun money. sometimes 10 bucks an hour sometimes 100 |
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DAN WALTERS |
i have over 200 return customers |
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Dick Cain |
WOW |
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DAN WALTERS |
one man in lexington has bought 30 of my pieces, another in england has bought 10 frames |
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Peggy |
As far as I know he has alot of repeat customers some many times over |
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DAN WALTERS |
i sold 25 items to man in chicago for his wedding party presents … peggy helped me with that run .. made 25 frames in a weekend |
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Peggy |
I remember that one ::wink |
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Dick Cain |
Ambitious !!! |
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DAN WALTERS |
hardwork |
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Dick Cain |
That’s why I never sell anything, it’s too much like work!! |
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DAN WALTERS |
its fun money |
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Dick Cain |
I’ll never be rich, but I’m having fun. |
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DAN WALTERS |
peggy is lot of fun |
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Dick Cain |
I take it, that Peggy is you spouse. |
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MsDebbieP |
I’ll never be rich either… lol… my woodworking skills aren’t very good—yet lol |
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DAN WALTERS |
yes … peggy is sitting next to me, we are on dualing laptops |
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Martin Sojka |
would you recommend selling even bigger items (e.g. furniture) on eBay? |
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DAN WALTERS |
i wouldn’t recommend large items unless you have a good source for shipping discounts |
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DAN WALTERS |
it is hard to recover all the materials and labor |
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DAN WALTERS |
i aim for about 50 to 100 dollars a sq ft |
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Dick Cain |
Frieght charges are pretty high, with the fuel costs now. |
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Max |
50 to 100 dollars a sq ft??? |
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DAN WALTERS |
many people do have luck selling large items … morris chairs come to mind |
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Martin Sojka |
I see.. and what about the style.. “too much art” can be a problem.. it should appeal to a broader audience to drive the bids higher |
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DAN WALTERS |
i stick to the arts-and-crafts-style , but that is my interest |
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Martin Sojka |
but when you build your image and reputation this could not be a problem anymore |
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MsDebbieP |
hmm explain your calculation of shipping fees, again… I got lost |
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DAN WALTERS |
size-value-postage |
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DAN WALTERS |
size-value-postage means what people will buy for what price without making it too big so as to amke the postage too high |
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Martin Sojka |
how are you building your reputation on eBay.. there are customer reviews/feedback.. anything else ? |
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DAN WALTERS |
repeat customers with only positive feedback … |
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Peggy |
They come back for more ::up |
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Martin Sojka |
more wedding gufts.. I got it ;) |
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Martin Sojka |
gifts |
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Dick Cain |
We have a very good rating on ebay with our buying. Does that help when you start selling. |
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DAN WALTERS |
gips |
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Peggy |
Yes it does |
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MsDebbieP |
what if your item doesn’t sell… is there still a fee? |
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DAN WALTERS |
I would never start selling without a positive rating of at least 20 |
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Martin Sojka |
there you go, Dick! |
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DAN WALTERS |
i also have another account on ebay now that i use strickly for buying …space$bar is the handle |
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Dick Cain |
I have to look at my rating number |
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Dick Cain |
my handle is Chipncut |
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Martin Sojka |
as Debbie is asking.. is there some fee when your item doesn’t sell ? |
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DAN WALTERS |
yes there is fee if item doesn’t sell. you do recover that fee if it sells the 2nd time around |
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DAN WALTERS |
thats why might change my selling style then 2nd time… sort of a fire sale … trying to get a bidding war going |
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MsDebbieP |
so then what is that fee? |
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Martin Sojka |
how can you encourage the bidding war ? |
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DAN WALTERS |
bidding wars start my selling the item far below what it is worth … like starting at $14.65 for a 200 dollar item etc |
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Dick Cain |
I’m back, I got lost |
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DAN WALTERS |
there are fee schedules on ebay. they are complicated and depend on theoptions used etc |
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Peggy |
You dont. really encourage the bidding wars because they can happen at any time under any circumstance, it all just depends on who’s watching and bidding |
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Martin Sojka |
so the bidding war results in more interest.. and what are drawbacks of it ? |
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Dick Cain |
nothing is showing on the page |
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Martin Sojka |
good point |
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Peggy |
no drawbacks for the seller in bidding wars! |
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Martin Sojka |
in the chat window Dick ? |
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Martin Sojka |
I mean if the starting price is too low |
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DAN WALTERS |
sometimes the item doesn’t make the price you want any it can be nerve racking |
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MsDebbieP |
working yet, Dick?? |
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Dick Cain |
It showing now, but I lost all the previous chatting |
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Martin Sojka |
Dick, just click on Action -> Recent Room History |
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DAN WALTERS |
where is that comannd ? |
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MsDebbieP |
above the list of people in the room |
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Martin Sojka |
you should see a toolbar at the top of the chat window |
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Dick Cain |
I got it but you don’t get the chat window with it |
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DAN WALTERS |
i do not have the tool bar … probably this old laptop |
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Max |
Probably don’t have the newest version of Java… |
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DAN WALTERS |
no i don’t and this is my company’s laptop and i do not have administrator rights |
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Dick Cain |
I just installed it when I came on, so I must have the newest |
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Max |
You had said that you used to put your work in a craft store. Do you find you get more money on eBay than you did in the store? |
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DAN WALTERS |
yes … sales in the store was very slow at best … alot more work too |
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DAN WALTERS |
much much bigger audience on ebay |
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Dick Cain |
I think the craft stores take a higher commision also |
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Martin Sojka |
ebay is monster |
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Max |
I have heard people say that they feel the site is too big and hard to find what you are looking for. Have you heard that? |
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DAN WALTERS |
the craft store charged a 10 percent fee plus 90 bucks amoth booth fee |
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Peggy |
The craft store charges moore an the customers are looking for a better deal usually |
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Max |
I sell to a local Arts and Crafts Furniture store here and they double what I charge them for the product and sell it…. |
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DAN WALTERS |
ebay is big, yes it is hard to find stuff, sometimes thats why no one bids , i use key words so people can find my stuff |
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Dick Cain |
That’s how furniture is sold. they get 200% |
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DAN WALTERS |
ebay eliminates a middleman |
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Dick Cain |
I’ve never had trouble searching on ebay. |
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Max |
That is true. |
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Max |
I guess I am going to have to revisit how I price my stuff on eBay… Maybe have it to high… |
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DAN WALTERS |
I have never noticed your stuff on ebay … what is your handle ? |
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Dick Cain |
Fed them some crumbs for bate. |
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Dick Cain |
I meant feed |
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DAN WALTERS |
::wub peggy sighhhhh !! |
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Max |
I have a store on eBay and do auctions http://stores.ebay.com/Crafty-Relations-Woodcrafts |
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DAN WALTERS |
i’ve seen that … what is your handle .. i might rememeber |
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Max |
I am going to be changing the name of the store though…... My sisters used this name when they were selling toll painting also. It is craftyr4 |
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Dick Cain |
It was nice chatting with you people, I’l have to say Good Bye ::rolleyes |
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DAN WALTERS |
goodbye |
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Martin Sojka |
bye Dick.. |
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Peggy |
goodbye |
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Martin Sojka |
by the way… we have last 10mins |
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Dick Cain |
I’ll be checking the Blog |
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MsDebbieP |
bye Dick |
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DAN WALTERS |
martin – how did you get this site started ? are hooked into amazon’s software ? |
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DAN WALTERS |
i see the blog as easier to answer questions then a chat |
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Martin Sojka |
I had some few sites listing Amazon’s stuff but then I wanted to build something better and hopefully bigger.. with a community spirit |
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DAN WALTERS |
this one will work out. best i’ve seen yet |
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Martin Sojka |
thanks! it seems like we’re on the right track |
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Peggy |
This is a great place for people with like interests to hang out and show their projects and ideas ::biggrin |
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DAN WALTERS |
where do you make the money? |
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Martin Sojka |
just advertising and some commissions (Amazon and Apparel stores) |
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DAN WALTERS |
not getting rich yet ? |
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Martin Sojka |
lol.. nope |
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Martin Sojka |
we must be patient |
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DAN WALTERS |
you have started something here. i bet in a years time you will be happy |
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Martin Sojka |
lots of new features and events are being planned.. and Debbie is very helpful in the recent weeks so it’s lots of fun to just brainstorm new ideas and execute them |
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DAN WALTERS |
who is the programmer ? |
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Martin Sojka |
Martin |
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Max |
Thank you Dan for the chat on eBAy |
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Max |
And thank you Martin for making this happen…... |
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DAN WALTERS |
thanks to alll … bye |
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Martin Sojka |
and thanks Max for joining us |
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MsDebbieP |
oh.. thanks lol |
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MsDebbieP |
I’m too late |
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Max |
Thank you too Debbie for the mag. |
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MsDebbieP |
:) thanks. |
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Martin Sojka |
hope this will help you on eBay! |
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Peggy |
Bye ::smile |
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MsDebbieP |
It’s coming along.. |
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MsDebbieP |
Bye Peggy :) |
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Martin Sojka |
bye Peggy&Lucy |
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MsDebbieP |
lol and Lucy |
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MsDebbieP |
Bye everyone. |
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Peggy |
Lucy says thank you! |
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Max |
See ya all on LJ…. |
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MsDebbieP left. |
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Martin Sojka |
ciao lucy |
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Martin Sojka |
bye bye |
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Max left. |
