POULSBO — Most already know ‘It’ can be bought with a simple point-and-click on eBay.
But unloading ‘It’ once the luster has lacked isn’t always so easy.
An online auction shop full of listings from the every day to the unusual, eBay just happens to be where Internet Auction Company owner Russell Pickering has a high stock of expertise.
And the unloading of unwanted, unneeded or just plain unused items is where he and his company come in.
To lay it out in basics, Pickering helps his clients find new owners for items they no longer can or care to own. In many cases, estate liquidations and inherited pieces that simply won’t fit in a household or aren’t someone’s style find their way through his Front Street doors.
For smaller, shippable items, Pickering uses his eBay account — with its eight years of 100 percent positive feedback — and other online collector and aficionado connections to get the best buck for whatever bang is up for sale. Pickering researches the for-sale piece, creates and lists the auction, responds to potential buyer inquiries during the auction, handles the financial transaction and ships the item out.
Larger, higher-scale articles can be sold in the company’s newly opened antique store, where locals and tourists alike are sure to find a host of well-kept pieces from the past.
On both avenues, Pickering’s networking and experience add to the value of the sale, allowing sellers a straight and easy shot at handing over their belongings in exchange for what, in many cases, can be a hearty return.
“The biggest advantage is it just alleviates the whole process,” Pickering said of his item-selling services. “EBay isn’t just a piece of cake. We save you all the complication and get you top dollar.”
Selling items online isn’t always a sure thing when it comes to compensating for an original purchase price. Pickering said if the site is flooded with a certain piece or ware, the asking price could be a bit of a disappointment. But knowing the difference, and how to best list an item for sale, is one of the biggest keys, and a base he assures customers he’s got covered.
His arsenal of services also includes his professional photography skills, which result in smart looking photos of objects on their eBay listing. Pickering also offers up to 30 minutes of free research, during which he works to make the company’s slogan — “discover your value” — a reality. A master at the art of reselling, he boasts the know-how to find at what price an item will successfully sell.
Pickering said his notable track record usually earns a seller 15-25 percent more on the value of a sale because buyers are confident in his follow-through, and his pricing and commission system contains no hidden costs.
For those holding on to pieces of furniture or other large non-shippables, Pickering said storing them away can often be more costly than the item itself.
“They get to the point where they’re paying as much for storage as their item is really worth,” he said.
The Internet Auction Company’s antique shop sets high-end items up with informational cards in an uncluttered, well-stocked Front Street venue for the buyer. Pickering said he hopes to help establish Poulsbo as an antiquing hotspot.
For residents, too, the place is always one where sales pressure won’t be boiling, and the curious are welcome.
“Ninety-five percent of people who come in here are browsers and we appreciate that,” he said.