Anyone buy thrift items and re-sell on ebay?

[Amy752]

I tried to do this for a living when I was unemployed but it just didn't work out. Now I would just like to do it a little bit on the side. What I want to know is, what sells? My best sales were name brand clothing and those poofy crinoline liners that go under wedding dresses (found 3 for $2 each and made over $100). What else? I don't want to buy junk and get stuck with it.

[frugalfarmwife]

I actually used to go to a local auction and buy boxes for a dollar and make pretty good money on all kinds of things but also got stuck with a lot of junk, just ran that stuff back through the auction every so often

The best sales I had though were fabric, I bought out a friends fabric when she sold out her quilt store, those fabric ladies were the best buyers I ever had!

Recently we've sold some of hubbies railroad collectables and done very well, these were all full sized things, signals, lamps, etc.

kj

[sweeps]

In my experience, electronics, sports memorabilia and baby items do well.

You might be able to find some other ideas here.

[Lostsoul33]

Brand name baby clothing does well. I've noticed that digital cameras sell very well if you can find them cheap enough in the first place.
Antiques do well. Brand name perfume does well.
I'm still looking for that big ticket item that everyone wants but as of yet, I haven't been able to find it. I have found that I can make a few bucks from ebay but definetely not enough to survive on. Good luck with it and I hope you make lots.

[jmjj215]

The trick is to find something you can sell again and again and again so you don't have to go through the whole listing process each time.

[contrary1]

I have give up buying individual items to re sell. My tenant gets storage units that go up for auction & sells weekly at a swap meet. She likes to re sell the power tools & stereo equipment stuff............and gladly gives me the items that "fit" in our little booth at a local antique mall.
I also acquire items through our local freecycle group to do the same with.
(I did participate in our freecycle discussion re; if this was going to be OK with the group & ours voted that the recipients could do whatever they wanted to with the items. I usually fix, paint or otherwise alter the items before they go to the booth.)
I've never mastered E-bay, so this is my version of getting something for nothing ..........putting in some work...........and selling at a profit.

[Lostsoul33]

That's a great idea too Contrary.

[katwoman]

Originally Posted by Sweepsplayer

In my experience, electronics, sports memorabilia and baby items do well.

You might be able to find some other ideas here.

Thank YOU for that link! Had no idea something like that was available.

[Amy752]

Great ideas all - thanks! I only plan to invest around $25 per month so obviously I'm keeping this on a very small scale. But it sure would be cool to turn that $25 into $100 or more each time! When I used to live in the Cleveland, Ohio area they had one day a week where everything at Goodwill was $1 (and there were several stores in the area). I would make a killing then. Now it seems like thrift items are getting more and more expensive.

[Fern]

I don't think this is ethical, because you're taking lower priced items intended for purchased by people of modest means and selling them elsewhere, strictly for profit. It hurts the poor people these were intended for.

[CouponsGalore]

I buy things from thrift stores, goodwill, hospice, safety shelter stores for women, garage sales, clearance for regular stores. I figure I am paying the price for what the store wants for their products and I am helping someone else out who will use these items. Otherwise these items would be taken, if they couldn't sell them, to some unknown place.

Most of the time I don't get much for my items. Maybe just the cost of what I bought them for.

I have fun shopping with my daughter. She buy things for ebay and works full-time. Her member name is: emypreinc. She has auctions and a store. She said to let ya'll know if you mention my name and the place you saw her ad she would give ya'll a 10% discount. Or use this link: empyreinc's eBay store. Or just enter her name in the member section: empyreinc.

Have a nice day
CouponsGalore

[CJsoccerchic]

I've always wondered about the "hot list" now I know

I've listed some items on ebay just to get rid of the unwanted stuff around my house that someone else may like. I haven't gone out to BUY these items for the purpose of reselling.. Maybe one day.
I'll tell you something now. if you want to have a NICE, professional listing, it's going to take a good chunk of your time getting it to look that way. So if you are doing it as a side thing, not a problem, but if you have a different item everyday, the listing process becomes a serious hassle.
Just my words of advice
CJ

[nanamom]

I haven't bought to sell but I have sold a bit on ebay. Not up to a store yet but have toyed with the idea. I know someone who makes his living by selling on ebay. He doesn't own a car or CC. I'm not sure how he does it. When I look up his listings he has dishes and stuff like that on. My ebay ID is jirahsdaughter, I have 14 items on now.

[Kirby]

Thirft stores, yard sales, and if you have an opportunity to buy in bulk you'll do well.

[laceshawl]

Fern, i don't do it myself, but I wouldn't call it unethical. In our area, if peopel are really hard up, like having to use foodbanks, the charities will let them have clothing for free.

[34saving]

It's funny that the culture in some areas says that thirft stores are for people without much money. The charity of the thirft stores in our area is in: 1) The people they employ (giving people jobs is great charity) 2) The money they make. The thirft stores around here are happy to market to middle class suburbanites.

[misskelliecmu]

I used to. The largest money maker I've had so far was a fountain syringe and I paid .25 cents for it at a closing antique store (I had no clue what it was) and it sold for $275. Then I found some old nylons and sold them for $175. This was a couple of years ago though. I still find some stuff at the 50cent goodwill sale and will put them on but ebay is not what it was about 5 years ago.

[Lostsoul33]

Coupons Galore.....I get a message that the ebay store does not exist.

[Lady J]

This is on my list of thing to try. I've done books so far. I want to experiment with other items. I am looking at what types of things would sell.

[stngymama]

We "recycle" books from library sales, but sometimes prefer to list on Amazon (despite commissions, it's less hassle and, I think, higher exposure). Have [very] occasionally found stuff at thrift stores, yard sales worth the effort.
Don't forget to factor in the cost of commissions, and the hassle/expense of shipping!