I love eBay and have been very lucky at finding valuable items to sell on ebay at garage sales. My latest "coup", a Getzen trumpet that I paid $25 for, and sold on eBay for $750. I invested $120 in having the trumpet professionally cleaned and checked out. I offered free next-day delivery with buy-it-now, and sold the trumpet in four days. Including the high cost of the shipping, and the ebay/paypal fees, I still netted almost $500!
That isn't the best part, though. My wife and I happen to live in an area that most yard and garage sales feature a lot of decorative brass items - candlesticks, animals, planters, and such - and most people are anxious to get rid of their brass items. Maybe it is because of the time spent keeping the brass polished, but for whatever reason, we are able to pick up a lot of brass each weekend for pennies on the dollar. We then cash in our brass at a recycling center. Lately, brass has paid as little as $1.75/lb. up to $2.10/lb. Our best weekend ever was just over $120 for brass that we had invested less than $30 in. We use the brass money to cover our gasoline expense on our garage sale days and usually have enough surplus to treat ourselves to a nice dinner out or to simply add to our "stash".
When people have yard sales, they WANT to sell their stuff even if it's really cheap. They're trying to get rid of it and I think it's smart that you find it and resell it or recycle it. I'm going to consider doing that myself. I have also been selling stuff on Ebay to get rid of clutter around my house and I've been successful at it too. Not enough to pay my mortgage or anything, but enough to have a little extra for bills. Thank you.
Hey the early bird gets the worm. Thanks for the brass idea, I didn't know you could recycle that. Any ideas how I find out about that in my area? I've made an entire business out of being at the first sale at 7 am and finding the bargains to resell, although I do sell on ebay, I also have a booth at the antique mall. I've always had a knack for finding the best sales and don't feel sorry for those of you who don't. It's how I can afford to work and stay home with my babies.
Very resourceful, Virgil! You should be proud of yourself for the time you take to find items that most likely would go unnoticed (and possibly in to a landfill) otherwise! You deserve the profit for your effort and time!
You are providing a service worldwide for many who purchase on eBay because they are home bound, on a very tight schedule, the item is simply not available in their area at the time when they need/want it the most and also for those who simply don't want to make the extra effort to go searching these places diligently for the items they are seeking.
I also like the idea that you recycle the brass items that most likely would not sell. It's good to recycle and, like recycled soda cans, it's nice to have some extra change. :-)
Isn't it interesting that almost all of the negative posts left on any given subject here at TF never have a 'contact' button?
Keep up the good work on your entrepreneur business venture!
I think in this day and age we have to do what we have to. This idea sounds perfect for those who may not be able to work traditional jobs or who are disabled and need the money to survive.
I tend to think that there's enough used stuff to go around for everyone. I am also an eBay seller and every day I see wonderful items (often brand new) at the thrift store that I don't buy because I know that they wouldn't sell at all on eBay or wouldn't bring more than a couple bucks.
I really don't like that idea as a way to make money. It's no wonder that those of us who go looking for things like that to use for ourselves and our families, cannot find them for a reasonable price at yard sales or thrift stores.
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