Saturday, December 8, 2012

Do Thrift Stores Have The Best Things To Sell On eBay?


People are always asking about the best things to sell on eBay. That is certainly understandable considering how many buyers and sellers there are on eBay these days, and how quickly the market changes for online sales.

Let's get one thing out of the way right off the bat. Yes, you CAN buy at thrift stores and resell the goods you purchase on eBay. Or, you can resell them on Craigslist. Or, you can resell them at your own yard sale.

The point is, you can resell things that you purchase at a thrift store. Just like you can resell something you buy at a department store when you're done with it.

The question, of course, is, "But how do I actually make money by reselling something that has already been relegated to the thrift store?"

The answer is, "By being a careful shopper and knowing what to look for."

The bad news is this: Not everything you buy will be a winner.

The good new is this: Even if you buy a "dud" you won't have lost a lot of money. That's because you bought the item at a thrift store, and it didn't cost you much!

So, with that said, what, exactly are some of the best things to sell on eBay from a thrift store?

First, examine your interests and passions. I say this because there is a funny little quirky trick that our minds play on us when we are out shopping.

Consider this little exercise: If you happen to be interested in buying a certain car, for example, a Honda Accord, and you're travelling down the highway, what cars do you think you will be noticing? Probably all the Honda Accords that are driving by!

So, now let's say you are passionate about vintage or muscle cars. And now you find yourself in a thrift store. As you browse around this store, with clothes and books and household items piled to the rafters, and you are glancing around the store, if there happened to be a stack of vintage or muscle car magazines, do you think you would notice them?

I would be willing to bet that you would notice them indeed!

Now, however, it is time to put on your "buyer's antennae" and start looking more carefully, past your own obvious interests and see what else is in that store!

If your eye notices an old Army jacket; that is, one from the 1970's and not something made by some brand name to LOOK like an Army jacket, have a look. People love Army and other military surplus! And many people, once they are back home or no longer in the Service, may discard some of their used military items.

A basic rule of thumb is to look for items that don't "fit" in with some of the other items on the rack.

For example, let's say you are browsing through the ladies' shirt section. You'll undoubtedly see many "Faded Glory" or "Wrangler" or "Old Navy" brands, among others. But, you just might happen upon an old, "hippie" print shirt with belled sleeves. Do you suppose someone might like to have that particular item? Chances are good that if it is a very unusual shirt with definite age, someone will want it.

Please keep one very important thing in mind. Even though a thrift store might sometimes have the best things to sell on eBay, you must be vigilant about the item's condition. With clothing, for example, if it has lots of "pulls" or "pilling" of the fabric, you may want to pass.

If you are looking at an old piece of Fire King or Pyrex ware, does it have any chips or cracks? If so, the value is minimal. Think about it this way: If you had the interest in this type of item, would YOU buy it in the condition that you are finding it? If the answer is "No," then you may want to pass it by.

Don't worry! Due to the nature of thrift stores, there are always going to be plenty of other items to choose from!

eBay - Understanding the "Buy It Now" Function   Saving Money With Penny Auctions   Things to Think About Before You Start Selling on eBay   Should You Import And Sell On eBay?   Where To Find Storage Unit Auctions   



0 comments:

Post a Comment


Twitter Facebook Flickr RSS



Français Deutsch Italiano Português
Español 日本語 한국의 中国简体。