Shipping

What Shipping Option Do I Use?

Shipping Options through USPS (Cost Effective)

There are so many choices – what do I do??

If you’re new to eBay shipping if can be overwhelming.  There are many things probably floating through your head such as “Am I picking the right service?”, or “Am I paying too much??”  If you’re not careful shipping can quickly eat away your profits from reselling.  As you are listing items make a mental note of how heavy the item feels, or weigh it.  This will give you an idea of how much you’ll be willing to sell it for as well as if you’ll offer free shipping or not.  These are a few items to consider in which I dive into below.  Keep in mind these options of efficient for COST and NOT SPEED.

  • Weight – If you’re getting into the reselling business its almost imperative you have a scale.  When you are beginning, I would recommend you weigh every item you list.  If you are going to be sticking to the same type of items you’ll get a grasp how the weight of each item and your expected shipping costs.
  • Buyer vs. Seller Burdened Costs – What is the best option for WHO pays for the shipping.  Personally it always feels better when I buy things when shipping is free.  I always offer free shipping on my auctions and “buy it nows”, but I try to account for the shipping within the listing sell price if I can.  If you’re looking for a set amount and are willing to potentially sit on an item for awhile, then build the cost into you auction.  DO WHAT FITS BEST IN YOUR PROFIT MODEL!  Don’t list a listing with Free Shipping and lose money!
  • Priority vs. First Class – eBay gives me the ability to ship items using the First Class service offering for weights up to and including 16 ounces.  ALWAYS ROUND UP.  If the item weighs 16.5 ounces then I would not ship first class.  When you ship priority the price of shipping jumps a lot.  My recommendation is if you jump into the Priority bucket then always price out a flat rate box option (if the item fits) to validate that you have the most cost effective option.  I found this image floating around online.

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#Secret Tip – You can order flat rate boxes and envelopes online at USPS for FREE!  But its important that you use the supplies as intended and not as packing materials in a random box.  I will dive into this in another post, but Regional Flat rate boxes will save you a ton of money if used correctly.

I hope my tips can help you save some money on your shipping costs!

-Chris

LiquidationOH@gmail.com

eBay

eBay Partial Refunds Verses Full Refunds

Full Refunds Vs. Partial Refunds

What is the process on when and how to offer partial verses full refunds??

I see a lot of noise online about what is the process for refunds when selling on eBay.  I wanted to give you some insight onto how I look at and handle returns.  There are instances where I will offer a partial refund or I will offer a full refund.  The main point is to offer the best customer service possible.  I always offer a return policy as not only does it offer comfort to the buyer, but more than likely the buyer will find a way to return the item if they want too.  Keep in mind if the sale is within 45 days and buyer claims there is an issue, most of the time eBay will require you to take the refund.  When in doubt, call eBay and explain your case.

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Partial Refunds

I offer partial refunds as a first option when I more than likely do not want to take a return (if item is working), and based on what the buyer says they more than likely want the item anyways.  I will not offer a partial refund if the item is defective, item is under a certain price point, or the buyer thinks its not as described (even though it is).  Here are the instances where I start with a partial refund,

  • Item is heavy as I don’t want to eat the shipping costs of returning it
  • Item is still functional
  • Buyer hasn’t completely stated they don’t want the item.  There is still some inkling in their voice they want it
  • Item is expensive and I can handle a partial profit loss while still keeping the customer happy

If a partial refund is rejected or not offered based on how I feel they are requesting a return then I will offer full refunds.

FullRefund

Full Refunds

I offer full refunds in most all cases.  Usually I can take the item back and resell it, so most of the time I’m out the shipping cost for both ways on the original sale.  Refunds are part of the game of selling, but its how you handle them to minimize their impact.  Here are the instances where I offer full refunds,

  • Buyer clearly states they don’t want it
  • Buyer opens an Item Not As Described (INAD) case for a return
  • Item can be sold as soon as I get it on return
  • Appears buyer isn’t using the item correctly even after coaching
  • If I feel the buyer is fishing for a partial refund.  This forces the buyer to return the item prior to full refund.

NEVER FULLY REFUND THE BUYER UNTIL YOU GET THE ITEM IN YOUR POSSESSION!

Secret Return Tip: I will offer full refunds on items if they’re not functional, but I won’t offer them to return the item if they are below $9.  For me, if the item is broken, I more than likely will lose money on the return shipping.  Its easier for me to eat the loss than pay for return shipping.

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No Refunds

Here are the only times I will not offer refunds,

  • Buyer tries to return an item after 45 days
  • Buyer breaks the item or uses it in correctly per their messages.  In these instances I will call eBay and explain the situation.  In most all cases where this has happened eBay as stated they would back me and refute any negative feedback should any issues arise.

Buyer Pays Return Shipping

In all cases, I will make the buyer pay for return shipping in the following scenarios,

  • Buyer states they don’t want the item
  • If buyer is outside the return window and item is still functioning
  • They threaten negative feedback
  • Buyer claims item isn’t described, but description clearly states what buyer is refuting.  An example of this is when I state item is “For Parts or Not Working”, and buyer states he wants to return as the item isn’t functioning.

In all cases, I treat the buyer with respect and hear them out.  It works out better for all parties if you treat everyone with respect and understand what they are saying!

When in doubt, call eBay support, explain your case and understand your options!

-Chris
LiquidationOH@gmail.com

Liquidation

How I Buy Auctions from Liquidation.com

Why buy auctions from Liquidation.com?

LiqTitle

www.Liquidation.com is a great website to source products from

I use liquidation.com to source all of my products currently for selling online.  I go to their website daily to look for auctions on two categories that I love.   You do not need a business license or special privileges to bid on their auctions.  Depending on the state, you might need to submit sales tax, but their website will explain which states. I keep track of the auctions through their watchlist feature.  I want to walk you through how their website works.

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  • eBay – Their auctions function a little like eBay’s auctions work.  You find the auctions you want and click into them.  You then submit a price that you’re willing to pay for the auction in the bid field.  Keep in mind this is for product cost only.

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  • Auction Costs – The other costs include shipping and buyers premium.  Buyers premium for any auction i’ve seen is 8%.  BEFORE you bid make sure to get a shipping quote.  You can click on shipping options below and click “get a quote”.  All you have to do is put in your address and if its a residential or business address.

COSTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING

Bid price + Buyers Premium + Shipping Cost.  In some states you’ll have tax added on.

  • Multiple Auction Shipping Costs – If you win multiple auctions you will have the ability to consolidate shipping costs.  I will call them and ask what my options are for lowered shipping costs.  Only if my auction shipping costs are higher than the minimums will I call and get consolidated shipping.  For me the minimums currently are $40 from Indiana and $86 from Vegas (I’m currently in Ohio).
  • Auction Sniping – Sniping auctions does not exist with liquidation.com auctions.  If you bid within the last 5 minutes of the auction ending then the auction will extend out 5 minutes.  There are some tips I use here.  I will wait until the auction is close to closing until I bid on items as if I bid too early then I just drive the price of the auction up.
  • Why? – I have tremendous success with auctions from Liquidation.com.  They are a great company to work with and supply great products.  Their manifests have matched against everything Ive purchased from them.  I know exactly what I’m bidding on and the quality I expect. ALWAYS check the manifests to validate what you’re getting.  Keep in mind there is some risk with purchasing “returns” as there will be some items that don’t work.  I have always been able to recoup my costs.

Secret Tip: Make sure their MSRP values match against the market value at the time.  Take the first few high priced items in your manifest and validate them in eBay.  There have been some times where their value doesn’t match against what they’re actually worth.

What are some concerns you may have in purchasing liquidation items?

My next blog will go through how I search for items and what I do to sell them.

-Chris

LiquidationOH@gmail.com

Shipping

Shipping Secrets: Regional Boxes

USPS Regional Boxes

What are they, how do I get them and save money?

Where? – I get my regional boxes for free from USPS.com.  If you go to their website you can order them and get them shipping to your door at no cost.  Make sure you order both the regional A and regional B boxes.  Keep in mind they take awhile so make sure you order in advance is you’re running out.

Get boxes here: https://store.usps.com/store/browse/category.jsp?categoryId=shipping-supplies

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When? – I’ve found they are comparable if not better than shipping Priority.  They basically combine the low price of zone shipping while using the speed of Priority.  Here are some other benefits of using regional boxes.

  • Up to $50 in insurance included (for mail pieces with barcodes)
  • Tracking included in rate
  • 1, 2, or 3-day delivery based on package origination and destination
  • Free package pickup for many locations
  • Saturday and residential delivery at no extra charge for many locations

Tip:  They are the lowest cost option when the weight is between 2 and 15 pounds.

How? – Purchasing the label is just as easy as purchasing a first class label or priority label.  There are options within eBay to select the regional A or B options and the price will populate.  Then you simply place the item in the box and ship it.  There are different box options as show in the table below.

RegionalSizes

How do you know when to use this option?

  • First, I always see if my item will fit in the regional box if I think the item will be over 16 ounces.
  • I then weigh the item and plug the weight into eBays shipping screen
  • I price out both priority and regional options (A and B).
  • Choose the cheapest!

I hope this helps you pick the most cost effective solution!

-Chris

LiquidationOH@gmail.com

Liquidation

How I Find the Items I want on Liquidation.com

How do I find the items I want on Liquidation.com?

Some tips on how to find items that you can sell

I wanted to give everyone some insight on how to not only search for auctions but how to search for specific items within auctions.

Search Options:

Category Browsing

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  • As you can see in the snip above you can select general categories to look at all the auctions for each grouping.  This is how I started out searching for the auctions to target within the electronics and tools categories.  Doing it this way allows you to see all the sellers and different types of items in each category.  Once you dig into it at a high level there are options for you to narrow down your targets by auction type, warehouse, and auction price to name a few.

Specific Item Search

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  • If you use the box at the top of the website you can actually search for specific items.  When you click search you will see all the auctions with that specific word in them.  So for example if you search the word “Nest”, you might see auctions for Baby items having a blanket with the word nest in it, or tool auctions with the Nest Thermostat.  Once you search for the item I would suggest you go into each auction and READ the manifests.

Secret Tip: If you search for multi-word items encased in double quotes then it will return auctions with that specific word combination in them not just bits and pieces.  For example if I search “Nest Thermostat”, I most likely will only see tool auctions while excluding the baby ones that might appear should I not have used double quotes.

  • Make it a Habit – I make a habit of checking Liquidation.com daily to search for auctions.  As I search for auctions, I add the ones I like to my watchlist (see below photo where it says “Add to My Watchlist”. Once they are in my watch list I monitor them from they “My Account” screen.

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  • Create an Item List – No matter the category, as I become familiar with the products I’m selling I notate the ones that consistently sell and sell for a high price on a piece of paper or electronically.  These items are going to be the ones that allow you to recoup your expenses for the lot.  Usually I make my money back from only selling the top 10% of items from each auction.  These items are then what I search for when I’m searching for item specific auctions.
  • Stick with a Seller – I tend to stick with one seller as I then get to know what to expect from them.  This may bode well for beginners as they know what to expect.  If I’m continuing to see good items and my expectations are met, then I will only look for auctions with those that match my previous experience.  Only when I’m looking to grow my business or when I want to seek products that only other sellers offer will I then venture to a new seller.
  • Boundaries – I always keep track of auction cost verses value of the auction.  Just because the auction has an item I really really want, I will NOT continue to bid.  If the auction price surpasses what my return will be I leave it alone.  There will be plenty of other auctions with that same item in them.

I’d love to hear your tips on winning auctions and finding items that you love to sell from Liquidation.com

-Chris

LiquidationOH@gmail.com

Items

What are some of my Top 3 items to sell on eBay from Liquidation.com?

What are some of my Top 3 items to sell on eBay from Liquidation.com?

Here some of my top items

There are some items that I specifically search for on liquidation.com for many reasons.  These reasons are that they sell well, and if working they usually make up at least 30% to 50% of my auction fee recouping.  The other reason is that these items sell when damaged as well.  They usually sell for 50% off retail if they’re broken.  If you’re not sure if something will sell broken then research it and list it as a test!  It can’t hurt to list!

Secret Listing Tip:  Some people might disagree with me, but I list my high end electronics in an auction format.  I use an auction format because sometimes these items sell for higher prices than I can guess, so I will take the chance for it to go higher in an auction format.  If I listed these as a buy it now, then I’m locked into that price. But the secret is to START your price at the lowest price you would be happy with.  DO NOT START THE AUCTION AT $0.99 as you will probably lose money if your item isn’t that popular.

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  • 3M WorkTunes Wireless Hearing Protector with Bluetooth Technology and AM/FM Digital Radio (90542-3DC)

This bluetooth unit is found in two categories that I can see currently which is Tools and Electronics.  These sell between $70-$100 in used totally functional or new condition.  I will start these on auction at $69.99 and hopefully they sell at or higher than my starting price.  These also sell well not functioning such as not powering up, or powering on and not staying on.  I’ve sold some not 100% functional for $30.  Some might say its not worth it, but selling for something is better than throwing it away!

Working: $70-$100

Not working: $30-$40

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  • Nest Protect Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm​

This unit sells in a battery and wired unit, and it sells very well.  These sell with and without the retail packaging and all the pieces.  They come in multiple generations. I find these units mainly in Tools auctions.  I’ve sold these with just the unit, not working and full functional.  With just the unit alone, I’ve sold it between $65-$75 dollars.  With full packaging and pieces I’ve sold them up to $95 dollars.  Not working has sold for $45.

Full Packaging working: $75 – $95

Working unit only or missing pieces: $70

Not working: $45

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  • Microsoft Surface Dock (Compatible with Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, and Surface Pro 3)

This play is a little more risky, as I’ve come across various ways this item has come to me (you know if you’ve seen my videos: www.youtube.com/c/LiquidationOH).  I’ve seen it completely missing from the box, missing pieces, not functioning and completely brand new.  But when you get many of the pieces or a brand new unit, it instantly makes your money back.  This item will see in ANY condition as long as you’re clear in your listing.

Full Packaging working: $90 – $110

Working unit only or missing pieces: $70-80

Not working: $45-$70

I hope some of these items help you win auctions that make money!  Don’t forget to include your fees and shippings costs to evaluate your total profit as the prices above are strictly item value.

-Chris

LiquidationOH@gmail.com

www.youtube.com/c/LiquidationOH

Liquidation

Making money on low profit liquidated items

Selling lower priced items for a profit
Here’s how I sell lower priced items

Have you ever open a liquidated box full of items and think you have a bunch of winners? But then as you go through the items they appear to not be high quality or are knockoff brands?  Or they are name brand but you search for comps online and they aren’t selling for a lot of money.  If you’re able to sell them on eBay or somewhere online most likely your profit will be eroded by fees and shipping.  Here is what I’ve learned so far about these items and how I can sell them for a profit.

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Someone wants them – Believe it or not anyone will practically buy anything for the right price.  Someone might want a good pair of headphones that aren’t full price or that are not name brand.  I recently sold a very well performing dash cam for $30.  If I sold it on eBay I would’ve only netted about $10 after shipping and fees.  Not only have you made some cash, but you’ve made someone else happy!

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Local Stores – Think outside the box and look for consignment stores in the area that might sell similar items.  This might work well for larger items or items that could single units at a store.  If you have multiples of a certain type of product (i.e. cell phone cases for example) these might also be a good option.  If you offer pennies on the dollar for multiples then you might have a buyer. You might also have a buyer for new items down the road!

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Garage Sales – as a last option you can sell these types of items at garage sales.  I save all items that I can’t sell online or that I can’t sell in general.  In the summer, I will have a couple garage sales to get rid of my items.  I try to price my items so that they will sell that first day.  Usually these items are from auctions where I’ve already profited, so getting any money for these items is gravy for me.

What avenues do you use to make money on items that aren’t easy to sell or make a profit?

-Chris

LiquidationOH@gmail.com

eBay

How Do I Take Listing Pictures of Clean Items for eBay?

Making pictures less time consuming

I see tons of posts lately about what people do to take pictures for their eBay listings.  There are multiple ways people take photos and some ways work better for some than others.  I try to make my pictures as clear and concise as I can, but I also want to get them taken as quickly as possible.  Besides having a great and accurate description, pictures are probably the one thing that’ll get your item to stick out and sell.  If you have great pictures, especially a great initial thumbnail, then that will entice the buyer to click on your listing before anyone else’s.  Too many times I see people not putting forth even minimal effort to try and make their products look good.

The item is the focus! – Think about what people will see when they look at your photos.  Will they see your feet in the background, or maybe your leftover dinner?  Will the box look crusty and disorganized?  Will your cords and cables be a mess?  Take a minute to organize your item and try and make it look as new as possible.  No one will want to buy your item, if you don’t put the effort to make it look presentable.

Stickers and Goo – If you’re selling liquidated items or items purchased from a thrift store for example, then maybe there might be some residue or stickers on it.  Take the time to peel off the extra labels and goo.  If its stuff on there, use some heat and/or goo-gone to clean it up.  Again, a little effort goes a long way to make your item presentable and sold.

Efficiency – Not only should my pictures be clear and my items clean, what are some ways I can quickly take pictures?

  • Phone – finish your listing on your phone by quickly pulling up your draft saved from a computer and snap pictures with your phone.  Once the pictures are added you can finalize your listing.  This is the method I use to quickly list on eBay
  • Camera – some people take all their pictures at once of all their items their listing with a camera.  In-between each item as their shooting photos, they take a picture of a random item, so they know where each picture grouping ends for that listing.

Evidence – Not only do clear pictures help your buyers understand what they’re getting, but they also help provide evidence of the item should a buyer open a case on you.  Should I buyer open a case as item not as described (INAD), pictures provide stronger evidence that everything you described was accurate.  Did you take enough pictures to show all angles or all items that were included?  Did your pictures show the chips in the paint, or that it was a black scarf verses a red one?  All these details help you in every aspect.

Hopefully these quick tips help you not only become efficient and fast in your listings, but also help you create cleaner, crisper photos so that your items sell before everyone else!

-Chris

LiquidationOH@gmail.com

Buy my auctions and like items from www.liquidation.com

How to Take Presentable Pictures of Items for eBay

eBay

At What Price Should I Start My eBay Auction/BIN?

What Price Do I Start My eBay Auction/BIN?

The never ending debate at auction starting price.

There is a never ending debate at which is the right price to start their auction or buy it now (BIN) listing.  Many will say $0.99 with a reserve and others will say start it at a price you’re willing to sell it for.  Ultimately you want to start it at a price that will make you happy.  If you’re in a spot where you just want to get rid of an item then you will start the price differently than if its a high priced item and you cannot lose money on it.  There are many factors that I use to determine which price I will use to start my auction.  The name of my game is SPEED!

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List at $0.99 (Auction) – I will only start my auctions at this price if i’m willing to let it go for that price or if I absolutely don’t care what it sells for.  Also if I know for a shadow of a doubt there will be a bidding war I’ll start it at this price.  You can also set a reserve price but that will cost more money.  This option is rare for me as usually electronics and tools will sell for a higher price.  I used to solely do auctions and list at this price but it was not profitable for me at all.

List $0.99 with Reserve (Auction) – RARELY will I list items with a reserve just because it costs extra money to use that feature.  Plus I feel that reserve auctions turn off buyers.  Buyers want their item and want it now, or they want to know definitely that they’ll potentially get the item after the listing ends.  If the reserve price isn’t met then the auction doesn’t sell.  This should only be used if you are willing to sit on the item potentially for a little bit and spend a few extra dollars on listing fees.

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List at Lowest of Sold Listings (BIN) – I will search eBay’s Sold Listings on their filter tool when I search for comps. This option is under the filter link in the upper right hand corner of your phone or in the lefthand side of your screen on a computer browser (see bottom of snip above).  I will take an average of the sold listings and then I will look at current active listings and determine what the lowest price is.  I check both types because I want to make sure the sold listings match the items that are listed.  Sometimes people will inflate the listings for some reason.  If the lowest prices match what I’m willing to let it go for then usually I’ll beat the lowest price by $1 or $0.50.  I want to get rid of my items as quickly as possible so I can buy new auctions.

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List Below Lowest of Listed Prices (Auction) – For my higher priced electronic or tool items I will start it at a price a little lower than the lowest buy it now price.  The reason for this is I want to excite people to bid on the items and drive the price up.  For example I sold an iPhone 6 for $304, but I started that auction at $275.  If I lost the item for that first price I would’ve still been happy.  Starting auctions at $0.99 seems to be the myth that everyone wants to do.  Its ok to start auctions at a higher price.

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List Above Lowest Price Item (BIN) – I will start items a little higher than the lowest priced items if I’m willing to sit on the item.  For example if the lowest listing is $10, then I might list my BIN listing at $11 or $13.  Usually I will take a chance and hope to make a few dollars more.  If after a few listing turnovers if that item doesn’t sell then I will mark it down in my store’s markdown manager to try and move it.

The name of the game for me is moving my items as quick as possible.  I’d rather sacrifice a few dollars to get rid of the item verses sit on it for months.  If I get rid of product fast I can invest in new boxes as quick as possible.

-Chris

LiquidationOH@gmail.com

eBay

When do you accept Returns?

I know, returns are a headache.  We all hate dealing with returns but they are a part of the business.  Offering returns make all buyers feel better.  That they have the ability to get their money back if they don’t like the item.  I always offer returns on working items, but the way I handle them is different in any scenario.  How you handle your returns may determine your next sale!

Please return my item!
I will only ask the buyer to return the item in the following cases:

High Priced Item – If the item is high priced I will always pay for the item to come back.  My items are usually shipped for between $2 and $10.  If my item has a shelf value of $30 or above I will always get it back.  My items will always sell either functioning or nonfunctioning, so if the item was broken to begin with I will always make my money back.  Most of the time I will give the benefit of the doubt to my buyer that the item may have been defective if I missed something as all my items are returned items.  Always resell a high priced returned item.  You more than likely will get your money back.

User error: Even after I explain how to use the item the buyer might not understand how to work it.  I will always ask the buyer to return the item because I know I will be able to resell it.  Usually it is not worth my effort to argue with the buyer to pay for shipping to get it back.  I will eat the $2 shipping cost and resell it.  It is more important to retain my 100% feedback rating on eBay.

Just Because:  Sometimes I will ask the buyer to return a cheap item, or a broken item (even if I explained it was broken) for the sheer fact that I feel the buyer wasn’t being genuine.  I will eat the $2 if they return it, but 99% of the time I will offer a return and the buyer will NEVER return it.  Usually I will ever hear back from the buyer in these cases.  Eventually the case will close and I will get my money back.

Keep the item!
Here are some instances where the buyer gets to keep the item:

Buyer Vibe: Sometimes I will receive messages from the buyer that they are annoyed or are unhappy in general because of how the item functions or doesn’t function.  99% of its value is below $20 or so dollars, I will just tell the buyer the can keep the item.

Only if the item is a certain value or I feel the buyer won’t return the item, then I will ask the buyer to open a return case and I will send them a label.  Just as the above cases the buyer usually never returns the item.

It is more worth it to offer the return and keep your 100% feedback!

When and in what instances do you offer returns?

-Chris
LiquidationOH@gmail.com