Yard Sale Serendipity & the Wacky World of Selling on EBay

The old adage, "One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure" rings oh so true. Many people, however, think they have junk lying around the house, and what they really have can be quite a find - for me! And, as a result, for my eBay customers. Just last week, for example, I purchased some neatly compiled notebooks full of about 100 DC & Marvel comic books from the '60s and '70s for $200. The lady was asking $300. I look like a nice person (hope that I am!), so people always want to deal with me. Besides, I don't try to gouge them, just strike a fair price.

Note: One complaint I hear often at yard sales is that "dealers" are often mean and nasty, trying to get everything for nothing. People who are selling their stuff appreciate fairness and respect. I like to leave them feeling happy about the transaction, while still getting a bargain myself.

Back to the comic books: When I list them on eBay for the ubiquitous $9.99, some will probably go for a lot more, as most are in very nice condition.

Note: Do you know why so many items are listed at $9.99 on eBay? It's because the fee scale for sellers is the lowest for listings that start at $9.99 or less.

Not only did I find a great comic book collection at that moving sale, but a big bin of vintage doll clothes, as well, with most still in their original packages. Wow, what a find - and I wasn't even planning to hit any yard sales last weekend. That's the serendipity part that I love.

Here's a hint. If you are considering starting the old garage sale routine on early weekend mornings, instead of circling ads in the newspaper, access your paper online and print out the pages for your section of the city. Note the ones you will visit, and use a map search for the addresses you're not familiar with. Print those, too. After visiting a sale, make a note on these pages of how much you spent, for your records. If you're like me, you'll come home with a car full of stuff, and won't remember an iota of what you spent where. Another hint: take with you a specific amount of cash to be used for the day; then it will be easy to see how much you have spent.

Along the route, you'll probably encounter more sales announced by handmade florescent signs on street corners. Do stop! You never know what you might find. Once I acquired a shoebox top full of tiny Wee Forest Folk mice that I bargained $15 for the lot. I sold them on eBay for over $2400!!! Hint: Don't ever hesitate to bargain; just be fair, and most of the time you will do very well. Another Hint: buy collections whenever possible. Use common sense, though. Make sure you'll get your investment back and make a profit. A little research helps - but don't spend too much time, as surfing the net can take over your life. You need that time to list the stuff and ship it out when it sells!

Anyhoo, I will be sharing more tips and interesting stories about yard sale and eBay experiences. So stay tuned...