posted on July 10, 2001 07:48:49 PM new
Okay,heres the scenario.
You take the last swig of coffee,shut of the car,and begin the walk up the driveway.Your eyes scan the potential "ebait" that awaits you...
What items have you found (or look for) that most people wouldn't give a second thought to?
One that comes to mind for me is the Vita mixer.An industrial strength chrome mixer that spins at around 275 mph and can both cook and make ice cream with pure friction.
Many people used them like an exercise bike.Once the novelty wore off,they were relegated to the basement,and finally,stuck out on the garage sale table for 10 or 20.00.
I found my first one by chance.Most everything else was picked over,but this shining 2 ft tall mixing contraption really stood out to me.It was in the days of "throw it on ebay and watch it climb"
Surely this was worth 10.00.I took the gamble,and was rewarded 25 times over!
Check out the ended auctions,memorize what it looks like,and then make sure it works before you buy it.
posted on July 10, 2001 08:10:12 PM new
I've seen one Vita mixer and the asking price was a hundred dollars. However, I've bought three Galloping Gourmet perfectionaire ovens for a total of thirty eight dollars, two of which were almost new. I've bought a total of five working Kirby vacuum cleaners with a stack of attachments ten feet high for a total of nineteen dollars.
posted on July 10, 2001 08:18:34 PM new
Yep! Mine too! A vita mixer. Bought it last year at a sale for $5 in the orginal packaging. I might add I was on my way out too when this box caught my eye and originally bought it for myself until I researched it a little and practically flipped backwards out of my chair. Needless to say that baby was listed the same day and it his gone down in history with my friends and family.
So much so that recently while garage saleing with an ebay friend spotted and bought one before me only having known what it was because me. Oh well, she sold it for $250 not so long ago...
Lesson: Shut my big mouth!
posted on July 10, 2001 08:34:20 PM new
I really ugly Naugahyde/vinyl character doll that had horns that made it look like an owl and a great big mouth with teeth that took up most of the facial area. It was one of those things that was SOOOOO ugly that you just knew it would sell on eBay.
Boy did I watch it climb! It sold for slightly over $150.
Come to find out it was an advertising character that was used in ads and posters and was never sold to the public. This was the third one I had seen at a garage sale, so I took a chance and bought it for $1. Thought if it didn't sell, I'd let my Yorkie tear it up.
The little critter is called Nauga Monster and was used in the 1960s to advertise Naugahyde fabric/material.
posted on July 10, 2001 09:10:13 PM new
Most of what I sell is from garage sales. I recently sold a record for over $50 I paid 25¢ for. My best find so far yet this year.
posted on July 10, 2001 09:28:06 PM new
Four years ago, I bought one of those handheld Mattel Electronics Football II games from the 70s. Paid $1.00 for in and then put it away and forgot about it.
I bought it for me.
Was skimming eBay a few months ago and saw someone was selling one and they were hitting about $40 or so.
Dug mine out, popped in a battery -- what do you know! It worked!
Even had the box, instructions, and original bubble wrap!
When the smoke cleared, my $1 investment was $175 -- I even included the battery
posted on July 10, 2001 10:16:57 PM new
My sleeper(s) this summer were both found the same weekend, both at sales within 10 minutes of my house:
First was a circa 1920 magic card tricks cardboard tube, turned out it was a mailing tube & was exceptionally rare, cost me $4 and sold for $358.
The other was a neat book on origami published in Occupied Japan, which got all the Occupied Japan collectors excited of course, it cost just $1 & sold for $152.
posted on July 11, 2001 01:37:17 AM new
I have had a couple, 2 Rubik cube puzzles that cost a quarter and sold for $52.00, a globe on a stand that lit up cost $3.00 sold for $265.00 at a live auction, pair of cufflinks cost $1.00 sold for $271.00.
posted on July 11, 2001 01:55:36 AM new
How about a pocket watch that I had about $2 in, since bought a whole box of jewelry for $25 and it was in there with at least another 11 good pieces. Sold the pocket watch for $1200, 600 x my investment, GOTTA LOVE IT!
This was an auction find not a garage sale find, but still a nice find. I don't do many garage sales since I find my time valuable and can find much more at auctions, then spending a morning at garage sales and find only one or two items, if I am lucky.
Guess, I did get a book for $1 at garage sale that sold for $153.50 (Titanic book). Isn't the treasure hunting, the funnest part of the world of antiques and collectibles? I love the natural high I get when I find a treasure! Good luck to ya' all, hope you find many treasures.
posted on July 11, 2001 04:30:23 AM new
I bought a shoe box full of individual boxes of pen nibs. I spent $5.00 on the whole box, and sold them for $750.00.
posted on July 11, 2001 05:09:29 AM new
Found three old camera lenses in like new condition at a thrift store while I was on vacation last week. They were being sold for $1.00 apiece. They were Zeiss and Rodenstock optics, so I knew I wouldn't loose anything on my investment. Did a quick search on the completed items in eBay and found that each lens sells between $100 - $200. Guess I did pretty good!
posted on July 11, 2001 05:22:39 AM new
I really want to shop where you guys shop! Good job! My best so far is purchasing a 25 cent plate at a garage sale and selling it for $92.
posted on July 11, 2001 05:24:11 AM new
mrshoosier............
Way to go, isn't it thrilling to make such a nice investment. Better than money in the bank, at the current next to nothing interest rates, ain't it.
My friend just found two Georg Jensen pins that she got with a bunch of junk at an auction and has nothing in them. One of them is on current auction and already at over $500 and five days to go, she is thrilled, to say the least.
Wish I could find a pocket watch like the one I had... once every couple weeks, would sure help the bank account out.
I did find an RS Prussia Tea Set, that I haven't sold yet, but did send it to a professional auction service in New York to sell since didn't think Ebay could get me as much as they could for it. I got it last year at a garage sale for $50, a steal. Can't wait to see what it brings! Time will tell.
posted on July 11, 2001 05:27:09 AM new
I bought a 1972 decorating book at a garage sale for 50 cents, and it sold for $66.
Let's see....what else? I bought a mismatched set of silver knife rests (3 dachunds, 3 lions) - didn't even know WHAT they were when I bought them for $1 at an estate sale. They sold for somewhere in the $40's.
Bought a 1968 Jumbo Old Maid card game for $5 from an estate sale....sold last week for $36.50.
A Ravensburger board game I bought at a thrift store for 50 cents sold for $18.
A locally-made board game from 1980 that I bought at a second-hand store for 25 cents sold for the low-$20's I believe.
Bought a crystal Mikasa bowl on clearance at Kohls for $6, and it sold for mid-$30s last winter. Original price at the store was $20.
All of these items with pieces/parts, were all COMPLETE - I made sure before I bought them.
I just went to Kohls last week and snatched up some cool stuff in their Clearance section - a couple of cat cookie jars, and some dinnerware - can't wait to list them! Didn't pay over $5 for any one piece!
[ edited by mar30 on Jul 11, 2001 05:38 AM ]
posted on July 11, 2001 05:35:52 AM new
Murphy Bird.........
I find more of my great buys at auctions than I do at garage sales, but I must admit I don't go to many garage sales anymore, since I want to find several items in one day not just a couple.
Just wait, you will find them someday. I have another friend that sold an item two weeks ago on EBay that he paid $17 for and he bought it in an antique store and sold it for......are you ready for this...................$1076.00. I won't tell you what it was, cause I am wanting to keep that private, if you know what I mean. But this is the second great deal this guy has had in the last couple months, the other he paid $6 for and sold it for over $1000.00. So there is deals to be found out there if you are in the right place at the right time.
You still made darn good money on your plate. You did very well and can't complain!!!! I know it is more fun to make a hugh profit but they don't come around every day. Good luck Treasure hunting!
posted on July 11, 2001 05:43:54 AM new
Kaysapphire,
I've gone to auctions, but in my area it is hard to find any deals at live auctions. Not impossible but hard - there must be just to many dealers in the area. I will go back to auctions come fall - plus I am still learning all I can about our antique and collectible field, because of course - the more you know, the better able you will be to get that "find"!
At yard sales I am lucky to buy things for $1 or under and sell them for $20, so it takes a bit to add up. Right now with my AC broken, Murphy having to go to the vet today - it sure would be nice to have a couple of sleepers!
posted on July 11, 2001 08:34:27 AM new
I got a fat worthless looking book on Sat at our local library $2 bag day sale. Listed it immediately 'cause it would take too much room in a box as I was sorting my sweet haul into boxes. It sold on Wed for $68.00 wheeeeeee! Some kinda library referance book, sells new for $79.
tip for the day: don't pass up the boring tables at book sales!
posted on July 11, 2001 08:59:37 AM new
One of my first was a set of flatware (NOT silverware). Paid 14.50 for it - sold for $435. Vintage Hawaiian wiggler (the copies won't sell for much) - paid a quarter; sold for $43 - and I listed it in a bad category. Had I done my research, it would have gone higher.
Most recently two Elvis cd's that I bought more to help "buy the HS kids band uniforms" than any thing else. Fifty cents each; I listed them as a "lot," - sold for $81.
And rarriffle, thank you for the heads-up on the Rubik cubes - I have two sitting in a box of "junk" - didn't think they were worth listing!
posted on July 11, 2001 09:07:46 AM new
I would sell my mother-in-law's rubiks cube - actually the ball one but I have been trying to beat that doggone thing for over 20 years and there is no way I will die without beating it
WONDERFUL FINDS, EVERYONE!
My best one yet is a book I paid 1/2 a penny for and sold for $100. It was a rare copy.
posted on July 11, 2001 09:21:09 AM new
My best sleeper was about 8 years ago before ebay and when I barely knew anything about antiques and collectibles. It's probably what got me hooked into the biz. I was at a moving sale that had been going on for a while and saw this western looking set of dishes with no price on it. I asked the lady how much she wanted and she said $10.00. I hesitated a little bit and thought to myself I bet I can get $50.00 for this easy in my dads antique shop. I bought it and put it in the back of my station wagon and didn't show it to my dad until two weeks later. He about flipped when he saw it. This china was worth over $3,000! I sold it a year later to a dealer in California for $2,200. This was pre ebay days. Just think what I get if I would find this set now!
Love that word ebait. I'll be thinking of it everytime I find an ebuy!
posted on July 11, 2001 11:26:41 AM new
Not at a garage sale but out of the local buy sell paper a got an old vintage tv game system with a bunch of games for 130.00...
Sold it all for 800.00..
I often get good deals in the local buy sell.
I look at the collectible, Electronics, Musical, Computer Games, Pot Luck, Freebie sections..then check past sales on Ebay for certain items...often find good deals this way...Also I put in Wanted ads..do very well with this.
Best Garage sale find...lets see...
Set of NWT License Plates 1.00 sold for 75.00
Tin toy car..60.00 sold for 550.00
posted on July 11, 2001 11:32:34 AM new
MURPHY BIRD>>>>>>>>
I find most sleepers at auctions in my area........You don't have to always know your antique and collectibles to get sleepers.....Some I have found, I had no idea til I after I bought them and looked them up or sold them..........I have had many and I mean many table lots I have bought at auctions that have made me $200 to $400 with most lots bought for $5 and under. Sounds like your area doesn't have good auctions, I live in a rural area and small towns so less competition at auctions here. Big towns are not a place to go to auctions at, too many dealers drives the price up.
posted on July 11, 2001 11:49:15 AM new
Great Thread!
I'll have to keep my eyes open for Rubiks Cubes & Vitamixers this weekend, you never know...
My all time best find was a plush stuffed pig I paid $1.50 for - it sold for $565.50, I just about fell off my chair!
So far this summer I've bought a nutcracker for $15. - sold for over $200, a video for $1 - sold for $60, and a glass doo-dad for $3 - sold for over $50. Those were my best finds. Lots of $1-2 items that sell for $20-25, still a nice profit, but nothing fabulous.
I do have a Chanel suit I paid $5 for that I'm waiting 'till fall to list, with school tuition coming up I'll need a sleeper then!
posted on July 11, 2001 01:28:18 PM new
On the Rubik Cubes, make sure your picture shows the Rubik tag, the knocks offs don't sell for anything.
I bought 35 Louis Lamour books with leatherette bindings, still in the original shipping boxes, for $15.00. They sold as a group for $155.00 because I didn't know what I had.
That was before I found auction watch and learned to do research.
A bowl of 50's beaded fruit at thrift shop for $2.99. It sold to a dealer in New York for $173.00.
posted on July 11, 2001 02:02:59 PM new
About a year ago a friend of mine was cleaning out his closet and had an entire box full of hardcover Dungeons and Dragons books. Paid him $5.00 for the box because he just wanted it out of his house. So...I got the box home and looked carefully through the books. All were in perfect condition (even some of them that were over 20 years old). I had a total of something like 40 books in that box. I listed them all on ebay the next day. After all was said and done they went for close to $1000.00. I just about freaked when I saw the total. My friend needed oxygen (although I did buy him dinner).
posted on July 11, 2001 02:44:37 PM new
deck of wonderwoman cards in shrink wrap, 50 cents ended up 66.00...a poole pottery mouse for 10 cents. Wizard of Oz hankies pd 10.00 ended up1,200 had the new sticker on. Irish linen table clothes. Usually 20.00 will go to over 100.00 Hint of the Day. Don't pass up the toy boxes. Happy Hunting...
posted on July 11, 2001 02:51:35 PM new
Not a garage sale sleeper but my hubby got an old Star wars display tie fighters from the store he worked in. They were just gonna throw it away so he asked for it.We listed it &
it closed at $250!
Thats right NEVER pass up the toy bins got a few old gilligan figures & muppet figures in a freebie box & they sold for $26 & $30 each!
I just spent $44 on a library sale & so far I havent even listed half of what I bought & I've already sold about $150 worth of those books!
Book sales are great if you know what you are looking for...
this is a great thread..love to hear everyone's treasure finds!!!!
Isn't this what makes ebay so addicting??It sometimes really beats buying stocks..
posted on July 11, 2001 08:48:08 PM new
WELL I GET ALOT AT GARAGE SALES, EVERY SAT. I AM UP AT THE CRACK OF DAWN, DRAGGING KIDS OUT OF BED TO GO TREASURE HUNTING". WE HAVE 6 KIDS AND EVEN IF I DON'T FIND A TREASUR TO RE-SELL I STILL FIND LOTS OF NICE NAME BRAND CLOTHES FOR THEM. WE HAVE FOUND CLOCKS FOR 25.00 AND SELL THEM FOR 500.00. ALSO I HAVE FOUND THINGS I HAD NO CLUE ABOUT , AND PUT IT ON EBAY AND MAKE HUGE PROFIT. LAST WEEK WE FOUND TOMMY HILFIGER JEANS $1.00 PR. MY DAUGHTER CAN WEAR BACK TO SCHOOL, THEY WERE STILL NEW. ONCE I FOUND A MIRROR FOR 5.00 AND IT BROUGHT 450.00. ALSO HEADVASE FOR 2.00 THAT BROUGHT 90.00.
WE HAVEN'T GOT RICH YET, BUT SINCE I GAVE UP A NURSING CAREER TO BE A STAY -AT- HOME MOM THE MONEY I MAKE COMES IN HANDY.
I REALLY ENJOY IT, I HOPE TO FIND SOME GOOD "TREASURES" THIS WEEKEND...
