garage sales

Originally Posted by more freedom

Has anyone done this before... You shop at the garage sales, you buy something.. and sell the items on ebay with a margin..

It could be profitable.

What do you think?

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It can be profitable, but do some research before you list .
Before you list something, check and see if the same thing is listed on ebay and if it is getting any bids.
I got a Tiffany and Co baby item today in perfect condition in a Tiffany box. The seller wanted $5.00 . I asked if she would take $4.00. She agreed.
I checked ebay and two of these are listed. One has a high bid of over $20., the other is up to $41.
Both are ending soon. Then I will list mine. I think I will do alright.
I'm sure to get my $4 back plus some!

Good luck!

[Countrygal]

Also be careful and take into consideration,Ebay listing fees,final value fees..etc

[happyslob]

I looooooooooove garage sales! I like going to posher areas where they have some pretty impressive decorating stuff for my apartment - I once found this gorgeous blue & green mosaic tiled mirror. It's a work of art - and for $5. I swear, it would've cost easily $100 or more new.

Christina

[LuxLiving]

Best garage sale buy of my lifetime...LARGE antique oak framed oval beveled mirror for 50 cents. Sold it in my junqu'e booth for $65.00.

Finding items at garage sales, thrifts, etc. that have an intrinsic value and reselling at a higher price....YEAH, count me in...do it all the time. Used to do it with ebay until their fees went greedy-wonkers!

[happyslob]

That's amazing Lux!
I know - eBay is making it very hard for people to make any sort of profit...it's too bad, really.

Christina

[happyslob]

Another thing to remember with ebay: take into consideration the time and effort involved in packing and shipping items. Years ago I used to sell jewelry on eBay, and it got to be so that I really wasn't making much of a profit - and yet I was spending so much time and energy on listings, packing and shipping.

Sometimes selling locally is just plain old easier.

Christina

[twinsmommy]

I like selling at consignment sales better. I make more money (even with the percentage that I have to give up).

I think that garage sales are a hassle to prepare for...I really don't like going either.

[mountainmist]

I don't ever run across anyone who likes selling stuff on Ebay, they always say it takes too much time for way too small a profit, and that the listing process became so difficult & time consuming over the years that it's really only convenient for big corporate retailers to use.

Some of the garage sales I attend are filled with 100s of items initially purchased on Ebay - I never meet the buyer of the stuff, it's always been family members doing the sale trying to get rid of MOUNTAINS of stuff bought by the Compulsive Shopper.

I've been to about half a dozen such garage sales in the past couple years, and it appalls me, I feel sorry for the family - they know they have to nickel & dime all the junk that their relative paid good bucks for, plus all that shipping down the drain.

I have a friend who tells me that in her area the only time the word 'ebay' is ever used in public is in derision, with noticable sounding contempt in the tone of voice.

I think lots of people have decided to only buy locally anymore.

I'd rather give $3.50 to a local used bookstore than pay an online bookseller a penny for a book and $3.49 for shipping & handling.

Why should I support the U.S. postal service instead of a local business?

[mountainmist]

I don't ever run across anyone who likes selling stuff on Ebay, they always say it takes too much time for way too small a profit, and that the listing process became so difficult & time consuming over the years that it's really only convenient for big corporate retailers to use.

Some of the garage sales I attend are filled with 100s of items initially purchased on Ebay - I never meet the buyer of the stuff, it's always been family members doing the sale trying to get rid of MOUNTAINS of stuff bought by the Compulsive Shopper.

I've been to about half a dozen such garage sales in the past couple years, and it appalls me, I feel sorry for the family - they know they have to nickel & dime all the junk that their relative paid good bucks for, plus all that shipping down the drain.

I have a friend who tells me that in her area the only time the word 'ebay' is ever used in public is in derision, with noticable sounding contempt in the tone of voice.

I think lots of people have decided to only buy locally anymore.

I'd rather give $3.50 to a local used bookstore than pay an online bookseller a penny for a book and $3.49 for shipping & handling.

Why should I support the U.S. postal service instead of a local business?