Whether you’re buying or selling, eBay is a great way to go. That’s because there are always “hot” items – which can fetch you a lot of money if you have them to sell. and “not” items – things you can get a great deal on if you’re buying. So, here’s what’s hot and what’s not, courtesy of the Bottom Line Personal.

• Books. The HOTTEST items right now are classic first-edition children’s books. Julia Wilkinson wrote a book called The eBay Price Guide. And she says initial printings of well-loved children’s books can sell for many times the original price – as long as they’re in decent condition. Top seller’s include Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh. NOT hot are recent best-sellers and mass market paperbacks. They rarely go for more than a few bucks on eBay. So if you want to buy one, you can get a good deal.  
• Electronics. iPods are the HOT item. If you have one that’s current and still in the package, it can bring in up to 90% of the original selling price. And if you have one that’s used, but still in good working order and under 3 years old, you can get back half of what you paid for it. Any electronic that’s more than a few years old is a NOT item. Once technology passes its 3rd or 4th birthday, it’s usually too outdated to attract many bidders. So if you’re in the market for a 2003 laptop, you’re likely to find a good bargain.
• Vintage toys. Model trains are HOT. They’re collector’s items and often command high prices. So if you have any you want to unload, eBay is the way to go. Other hot items include vintage board games from the 1960’s and earlier. When it comes to the “NOT HOT” toys – beanie babies. The average sale price of a beanie baby – which used to be on the HOT list – has fallen below $14 dollars. Wanna learn more? Check out the book The eBay Price Guide.