ZOJIRUSHI

Okay... you've been reading my blog from time to time, and now you're starting to keep your eyes open when you go out. Here's something else you may want to consider buying if you see it. However, you probably won't pay a dime or dollar like I've done with some of my other stuff.

Zojirushi is a japanese company that started back in 1918. They make small appliances for the kitchen (i.e. coffee makers, bread machines, rice cookers, etc.). A good friend of mine, who is also an Ebay nut, told me about this brand name. Since people who shop on Ebay like to search by brand name this information was helpful. I'm not sure how long this company has been in the US market, but if you type in "Zojirushi Bread Machine" in Ebay, then check "completed listings" you will see green, green, green. This proves there is a demand for this product. Zojirushi brand-new is pricey, so finding one on Ebay is a great deal for a shopper.

I found one at a garage sale that had barely been used. It was an older model, but looked great! I paid $15 for it and sold it for $50. The newer the model, the more money you can make. People that get rid of their bread machines usually do for two reasons. One, they just never used it, and two, they're tired of it taking up space in their kitchen. The one I bought was a gift, and the people just never used it because they really never wanted a bread machine. Perfect! They were anxious to get rid of it and it had barely been used.

If you find one and decide to sell it on Ebay you'll need to do a few things in order to make buyers feel comfortable buying a "used" machine.

(1) Test it out at home and make sure it works.
(2) If it doesn't come with a manual, print one out from the Zojirushi website and include it in the auction
(3) Make sure you get a strong box to ship it in and pack it well. Don't forget to charge around $25 - $30 to ship it. It's heavy. (I would also insure it if the bidding goes over $50)

If you search Ebay by the words "bread machine", you will see all sorts of brands. However, Zojurishi seems to be the most popular.

So, keep your eyes open. I have even seen them at thrift stores.