That Was the Week That Was

I had an extremely great week. My best so far in the reselling endeavor. I netted around 1200$ give or take. I have not factored in the exact E=bay charges yet, but it's going to be a phenomenal week.

Where to begin? I went to the Auction House on Tuesday and this time it was a pleasure. Big Mart was not there so the auction went a little slower than usual. His absence meant a lot more lots for the rest of us not having to compete against him. I did miss out on a Fiesta lot that I was misinformed that it has already been auctioned off. Made me mad! I began to take items out to my car (to avoid having to turn down Keith and his charges for the service!) and upon returning I had left my number in the car. Holy Smokes there was the lot! Not only did I miss out on it once, I missed out on it TWICE. Grrrrrr.

But I scored at least 28 Barbie's and some other things, porcelain cups etc. 

So, I spent 190$ and one of the Barbie's has sold for 185? another for 45 so I'm in the black.

I sold my Costume Jewelry 303 book for 350$ It's out of print and very scarce. One was listed for 750$ on another site, but geez....for real. 350 with receiving 304$ after fees is great.

I also sold a perfect Fiesta Marmalade jar for $290. I paid 5.99$ for it. It was very old. 1930-1956ish. Good lucky score.

Those were the biggies that pushed me over the edge into the Woo-Hoo stage!

I may be in the gross amount of 2000 this month. Fingers crossed. 

What Happened?????!!!!!

 I just got back from the Honey Hole and it was different. Some rearranging was apparent. Shelving was elongated and some areas were vacant. The enormous rack of Vera Bradley was down to only 4 or 5 bags. The display case had ZERO jars of costume jewelry. The toy section was almost bare.

I was about to walk out when I did a double take at the shelves in the window that generally have a theme such as Easter, Valentines, Christmas etc. I spied a Barbie Doll in the corner. I was reluctant to look up her comps inside the store so I went outside to do the deed.

The comps on a Barbie in the 1920 get up for Coca Cola #3 in a series was listed anywhere from 20 to 75. I went back and after a mental debate I grabbed her because she was new in box, though the box is covered with 19.99 tags. 

Oh My! There is a second one in the other corner. Oh well, I'm in this deep may as well get both of them.

So I'm approximately 42 bucks in and need to double my money. I need to clear 80 or 120 to double my money?

Gonna list at 60 each. What can happen?

I am suppose to not be sourcing this week after blowing about 450$ last week. I need to come up with 940 by next Wednesday and I have to stop spending. Been a good month so far with profit, around 750, but with my spending out of control, and an Auction scheduled for Tuesday!!! 

And here I sit, not listing but blogging.

Ain't life grand?

Honey Hole Pay Off

 Last week end, maybe two week ends ago, I went to the GW in C-Wood where I have found some of the most profitable GW items in C-wood! The first time I went in I located a shopping cart of items not yet placed on the shelves. I found about 15 pairs of seamed stockings all marked 59 cents. I grabbed them all and sold most of them for an extremely good profit.

The next time I went I found a Marlborough Coffee Mug that was a promotional item. Sold in about a week. paid 59 cents for it too. Same with the Starbucks Mug.

Then I found the lot of 5 Monster High Dolls. I believe I paid 10 bucks for them and sold for 85$

I go there about once every two weeks. Sometimes I strike out, but most the time I find items that are an easy flip. Like the Fiesta Ware. I have run into another reseller in there several times. She is either a reseller of hangs out at GW. I'm not certain which one I like better. When I picked up the Fiesta Ware she asked if I had found anything. I replied, "Fiesta Ware" she made a face and shook her head, "Too high" she finally exclaimed.

This is the saucer. I paid 22$ for four pieces. I ahve sold 2 for 95$ I'm giddy with this. And can't wait to go back....next month.

I have put the brakes on sourcing. I have a garage full  of things to list and look at me, typing up a blog post!

And my Auction house is having another show next Tuesday.

Am I a Hoarder?

 Wow! Yesterday I was on the road for over 4 hours traveling to 3 separate Auction Sites to pick up my winning. The first in Milton was a wonderful flash back to my road warrior Highway Star days. Going on the two lane highways in the country side was such a pleasant way to spend the morning. The Auction house was in a Nowhere Area. Not even a gas station nor a Main Street. Just a Dollar General and a Fire Department and the Auction House. There had to be more but those were the only signs of civilization I recognized.  

I loved the place though and I suppose once I get over the realization that I have way too much stuff and need to stop buying, they will most definitely be on my Auction stand by list. 

After that wonderful drive I headed back to L-ville to get to my 3rd site of the day in a small city outside of L-ville. I missed my turn and ended up adding about an hour to the drive as I decided to get some lunch and that added time. But I made it before they closed and picked up my JUNK. I have to be better when bidding. The stoneware was chipped, only one salvable bowl. The small box of trinkets was absolute crap, only five decanter plugs worth noteworthy and they are probable crap too. A pair of Nunn Bush shoes are fantastic. Hopefully I will make my money back on those and the depression glass and a set of glass ware that look fine.

The DeGrazia  Prints I picked up at the first place were a fabulous find at $12. They are worth a small fortune if I am able to find the right buyer. Maybe in the 450 range. Big numbers scare me.

Earlier in the week I drove another hour to a auction pick up in my home town. The items are ok. A box of Willow Trees and a box of Holsters. And a set of dishes for 8. Haven't sold a thing from it yet. 

Of course my favorite auction house loaded me up. I have posted several things I won but no bites yet. I'm not worried because their stop is top shelf, quality and just waiting for the correct buyer. One the flip side, I have not posted but one or two things and I got several high dollar things, a Lenox 24 jar spice cabinet, and a Dooney & Bourke bag. I just need to get off my butt and list them.

Last but not least was the other Auction in God Knows Where I am Indiana. Chump change but a 45 minute drive to the bowels of corn country. For 26 bucks, I have already recouped my money and am in the black.

The problem is, I bought a shit load of stuff this week. 450 dollars worth and only sold (net) 160. A very bad week. I think being on double blind probation at Merc did not help.

Mercari has Tanked

Merc was my main platform. I began on Merc and did so well that it gave me the confidance to move on to Ebay. Mercari was much more active for me.

Now its dead. I have had one order since last Monday...the 3rd. I am at a loss for what is wrong. I am listing some more expensive stuff that I am picking up at auctions and setting my prices according to Ebay. They are not mainstream stuff, Lund Silver-plate, glamour dolls, Detroit Piston Monopoly game, some signed artesian pottery, depression glass...stuff like that.

I have moved some things on Ebay as well as FBMKT but Mercari is just DEAD.

I received a notice from them last night regarding a Native American Coral Sterling Silver necklace I purchases at SSTC and it was sold to be as Authentic Navaho. Merc is questioning it and asking for verification of authentication or they are going to limit my account. Hmmmm. I took it down and told them the truth, that I bought it at auction and the invoice was buried in my email.

If it weren't for Facebook and Ebay I'd be at a total loss.

So, I'm going to not lean on Merc any longer. I'll begin focusing on Ebay and see what I can do! 

Off Topic A Little

 I am one of six kids. We are all adults now, fairly old adults at that! Youngest is going on 53. We got together for the first time in over a year due to Covid. Now that we all have our shots we were able to get together and have a meal and good conversation and  just love and be happy in each others company.

Kit brought out a box of china and a sterling silver tea pot she got from Mom. The tea pot is spectacular and so interesting. A chain man om top with one of those long pony tails. What do they call them ? Cues?

Pat talked about the plethora of stamps he still has from Mom's collection. I suggested FBM and was shot down by Omega. She knew a guy who would travel to Lex and examine the cache and put a value on it and then offer what he would pay for  it. Of course for a price and she offered to pay for it.

I think that it is easy to just hire someone to do the leg work rather than look up and do the research yourself. But she is in  Corporate America and has a position that allows her to delegate so that is what she does. I like to do the research. 

So lets say it cost $1500 to have the guy come, you pay that upfront. He values the stamps at 3000$ offers you 1000 or 750. You take it, and you've made 250$ I would research what stamps are in demand first....then look over Mom's stash and see if she has anything that falls into that category. I read an article in the NYT that stamp collecting is going the way of the dinosaur, so the market is shrinking and I would go out on a ledge and say its a buyers market.  

And we come to the Kentucky Derby Secretariat tote ticket from 1973....again. Omega says its now worth 5 grand to a guy she knows. Where oh where is that ticket? I have to go through all the stuff I have from Mom's (no silver teapots with China men for me!!) and see if possibly I have it tucked in something.

It's a ticket that combined/coupled Secretariat with Angle Light. tote ticket 1-A.

I knew it was worth something years ago. I have a nose for that stuff. Wish I had tucked it away somewhere safe.

Stuff I sold last month

 I needed a post with pictures so I thought I's just put up a few pics of stuff that went out the door. These plastic cups came from A goodwill way out in No Mans Land Indiana. I think I was picking up some fishing lures I won in an auction and thought I'd check out this GW. They sold pretty quick.

Shop Goodwill. Posted this Belt Buckle and it sold within 24 hours. This is one of the belt buckles I messed up and send the fellow in Texas two buckles. The second one intended for a fellow in Maine. He was so gracious and I sent him another one from my stash and an I'm Sorry extra one. 

This cook book sold very quickly! I've had it awhile and thought it looked interesting. The Bohemian-American Cookbook first printed in the 1940s. Great recipes. The original Hard back is very pricey. Mine went for around 18$

PeeWee went quick too! From the Auction, I was hell bent on getting him and I did! Along with a box of other less collectible dolls. A Shirley Temple with wacky eyes, and a 28 inch Porcelain doll with curly ginger hair, and a Butterfly Doll from the 1980s that is very collectible but so far, no bites.

This beautiful Barbie doll without the Box from the Bins. Perfect Condition!! I was so lucky! I have no idea why it was by-passed, over looked or ignored. I am blessed that a kid with Mom didn't see the doll just sitting there. Just Lucky i guess. Naturally I couldn't get her Collector price, but from the Bins it was a windfall. Managed to stuff it into a Large Priority Box!

These beautiful .925 Sterling Silver signed Dreamcatcher Earrings with a Sleeping Beauty turquoise stone I sold for 20$ A steal. But she is returning them to me saying that they are tarnished and the hook is crooked because someone wore them! I was infuriated. I had two offers and took the one made first. Odd because I have had them up for several months and suddenly two people interested. I cooled down in about 48 hours. She is in the Bronx. Don't understand. They are tarnished from storage? Wipe them off. You can see in this photo the bent hook. 

This was a mistake. I was hungry to go sourcing and picked this item up in No Mans Land Indiana. The comps were pathetic and I should have looked before buying. I loved it though so I went with my gut. I think I made 2$ 

These buttons sold really really fast. Within 24 hours of posting. I got them in the Button Bin at the Auction House in S-ville. I got a tote full of buttons and this one was on top in a bag. Purchased from Ebay in 2006 for 2.95 its bakelite and other composites. They were very cool. I love buttons. I did not know this before. The OCD in me has fun sorting them into color combos. I personally really like this picture. Needless to say, in 2021 they went for a whole lot more than 3$ More like 30ish.

Another Glorious find at the online auction in S-ville. I saw them in the picture as the lot became up for bidding. OMG, two Fairy Lamps!! So I got the lot for 15$ There were about five, maybe six pieces including two Fairy Lamps. I sold both of them within 24 hours. 30 for one 40 for the other. I realized I had them priced too low.

Derby Day

 Living in Louisville one looked forward to Derby Week, which unceremoniously morphed into a two week Derby week sometime in the early 1990's. It's spring, it's contagious with the Chow Wagon, the Parade, Thunder over Louisville, the Great Steamboat Race and a host of other  events that make the First Saturday in May so very special.

Last year that all changed due to covid and Derby was postponed to September which made it very odd. This year the Derby is back on with a limited capacity and the events are meager and spread out in a way that makes you feel the pain of missing prior years and looking forward to when things become normal. Will they ever? 

So this year, as soon as B arrived at the house to spend time with J, I was out the door to make my Derby Day a day of thrifting. First I hit up a local yard sale in the neighborhood and scored a couple of things that I think I will be able to flip easily since I spent only 5$ for a Tiger Woods cereal box commemorate his achievements somewhere,  not sure how old it is but given the circumstances that he may never play again, it may make me something on my $2 investment. Just like I am bidding on some Pete Rose memorabilia. God forgive me, but he can't live forever.

I then hit up an estate sale way out in the county. Everything was half off and I scored several tea pots, some Italian potters, a stoneware bowl set, 2 fabulous Audrey Hepburn style ballet flats, a Williams-Sonoma French cook book, a Zennyatta DVD, and a box FULL of little trinkets. All for 14$ I felt I had hit the jack pot.

Then I go to Baxter for a street sale I had heard about last week end. And scored BIG again. I think I spent maybe 16$ for a huge lot of Chef statues and S&P etc. I love those things, and I'm hoping someothers love it too. Everything for either 1$ or 2$ Mainly 1 buck.

So, I'm like officially a hoarder now. I may take this loot to the storage shed and list what I got from the Auction house before tackling this load. April was not as profitable as March but I still eased over the 1000$ in profits. Selling the Speakers on FBMKT this week was a big lift.

My goal is to list 150 items in May. That's only 5 a day and I have 4 under my belt already. I have #5 ready to go as soon as I figure out if its Fenton.

I'm on my way next to pick up a Fairy Lamp that I won in an auction for.......50 CENTS! You live for days like this. But, I have to motivate myself to not slack off on listing and on description optimization and photography. 

I hat packing and shipping. Lordy.