Monday, June 2, 2014

My Best Sales This Week

Pokemon Backpack. Paid $1. Sold for $29.99 plus shipping. 


Lot of children's books. Sold these before but the sale fell through. Paid ?. Sold for $55.99 plus shipping. The picture below does not show all the books. This was a lot of 74 books. 


Wood Pelican Statue. Paid $3. Sold for $29.99 plus shipping.


Leather vest. Paid $3. Sold for $24.99 plus shipping. 


I was particularly happy about the wood pelican sale. Here is why. As I've said before I'm trying to learn to buy higher value items. I realize that that means maybe spending more per item as well. I purchased this pelican this week. He was marked $3. Now $3 for one item to me is a little high. I like to spend less than $2. So I waffled a little. Even though I could tell it was well made and the sticker on the bottom indicated it was vintage. I still waffled. It's not something I've sold before so that comfort level wasn't there. Finally I had a little talk with myself. Self, you can definitely sell this item for at least $3 and make your money back so buy it! So I did :) It sold within a few days. Now I just have to do that every time. 

This week I'm going to be traveling to visit family and have a chance to visit some thrift stores that I haven't been to for about a year. I can't wait. The prices are much better and I'm pretty sure there aren't as many pickers around.

How were your sales this week? Did you hit some good garage or estate sales this weekend? 


22 comments:

  1. I like the Pokeman backpack I sold a Thomas the Train overnight bag, and the buyer loved it. I don't have a store, and the new changes to listing has really become a problem for me...so I have a decision to make!

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    1. If you sell regularly get a store. My 2 cents :)

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  2. That pelican is awesome! Looks like he was carved of ironwood. I too dither over spending above my comfort level. I've learned to compare it to something I might spend on without a second thought, perhaps a soda from the drive through. If I'm comfortable with that, I assure myself I can be comfortable with spending a little more. I think three bucks was a great deal for your bird!

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    1. It did look similar to other items selling that were described as ironwood. Unfortunately I have no knowledge of wood so I just called it dark wood LOL. I'm always afraid to incorrectly identify something and get called on it. I love your idea of comparing prices to a trip through the drive through. My usual dollar menu meal costs a little over $3 so it's perfect!

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    2. You can tell ironwood by how very heavy it is. It is dark and surprisingly heavy.

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  3. You made me laugh, Nancy. I'm glad you had that talk with your self :) Seriously, that's a great sale, and it's one of those items that i would've waffled about, too.

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    1. I'm glad to know someone else would have waffled on him too. I have this misconception that all the good stuff has already been picked by the 'pros'. So if I see something that looks great, I think well if it was great then why didn't a pro pick it up? Geez. I think I need some thrift therapy.

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  4. I probably would have kept the wooden pelican! He's a beauty! I have a brass one that I tried to sell, but there were so many on ebay, it just never sold and I didn't want to sell it for almost nothing, so I kept it. And it amazes me that Pokemon is still so desirable. Go figure!

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    1. Luckily when I listed mine, although there were a lot of Pokemon backpacks, mine was the only one like that. It pays to do your research. That pelican would fit right in where you live. Not so much here in Wisconsin. I imagine the previous owner bought it on a vacation to the coast.

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  5. I think the pelican is beautiful and I would have paid the $3. I always pick up these wood carved birds, etc. when I see them. They are usually good sellers. I've sold maybe 2 or 3 over the years. Don't run into them very often, or if I do, they are way more than $3. I, too, am trying to sell higher priced items, and have to really talk to myself about paying more. I'll be posting about a Food Saver I paid $7.99 at the thrift store.

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    1. Can't wait to hear about your Food Saver Ms G. I hope it was a success :)

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  6. I have a little box of pokemon goodies (probably more in my mom's attic) I've been hoarding away...definitely need to get that stuff on eBay, damn! :D

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    1. Especially if it's vintage Van. I've sold Pokemon sheets and pillowcases, plush and now this backpack.

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  7. I love the pelican too!! 2 of my boys that are 12 and almost 8 still love pokemon. They are always renting the old movies from the library. Not sure if it's still on TV as we don't have cable. But they've got all the book and video games. They even scored a cool rolling backpack at a garage sale for 50 cents! :)

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  8. I have that same conversation with myself from time to time - if I am confident I can at least sell it for what I paid for it, sometimes its worth it to buy in the hopes of a bigger score.

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    1. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I had the conversation today over a vintage mens $10 red plaid wool coat. Didn't buy it. Stood and touched it a lot. Looked it up and couldn't find any others. Walked away. Decided after getting home I should have bought it...Grrr. Maybe I'll go back tomorrow.

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  9. We always do a quick mental calculation. If we can make 10x what we pay, then we'll buy it. (Of course it's got to be something that excites us).

    So you're $30 sale on a $3 investment makes total sense. The more random cool objects you buy and sell, the more confident you'll be. It also helps to be patient when listing an item like this. These unique items need to find the right buyer.

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  10. Pokemon Backpack. Paid $1. Sold for $29.99 plus shipping. Lot of children's books. Sold these before but the sale fell through. Paid ?. Sold for ... pokemonbackpack.blogspot.com

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