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Hi everyone! I’ve been collecting and selling memorabilia of all kinds since I was a kid. Worked in a coin & stamp store as a teen ager in the small town I grew up in and learned the buy/sell/trade lessons. Later started selling records by mail when I was 20; I’ve had the same PO Box for the past 37 years! That morphed into selling at a large flea market, which then transitioned into opening a used record store. After several years I then hit the road and drove all over the country setting up tables at record conventions and selling collectibles. 47 states and six years later I got off the road, rented a small warehouse, hired 8 college kids, and sold memorabilia by mail all over the world for 10 years. My next adventure downsized me to just one helper (a scanner and shipper), and I’ve been selling on eBay since 1998.
Around 10 years ago I decided I wanted to focus on selling items I really like, and which also can fit in small mailers…reducing the need for a lot of space, shipping supplies, etc. My focus and fairly unique niche is selling old concert ticket stubs, national acts from any city, any country. Right now I’ve got around 6,000 in my eBay Store with a total of 7,000 items. My other interests (and easy to ship items!) are stamps & stamped “covers” (envelopes), postcards, trading cards, and coins. Easy to scan, easy to store, easy to ship…plus I enjoy them too!
A close friend who does scavenging and picking as much as possible and who sells on eBay, turned me on to the scavenger life web site. I’ve enjoyed listening to several podcasts and hearing about various approaches and eBay experiences. If I can ever be of any help with any questions regarding music memorabilia, I’d be happy to help. Plus I’m always looking to buy batches of old concert ticket stubs if anyone comes across any in their travels. Happy holidays!
Rick
eBay = ricksauctions
Facebook = Rick Barrett Collectibles
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Hi Jay…listened to 5 hours of podcasts while working late last night; thanks for the fun perspectives and ideas!
We live in Montrose…I moved to Houston in 1975 to go to the U of H and never left, other than for my record show travels over six years…three weekends a month; there’s only 3 states left to visit! (Alaska, Vermont, and North Dakota). I enjoy Houston…and it’s grown so much; the old days in the neighborhood with hippies and interesting folks and businesses of all kinds have been replaced by townhomes and CVS stores.
As far as the covers go, I usually buy batches for anywhere from a quarter to a buck apiece (not U.S. First Day covers though, which can be bought for a few cents apiece in bulk), scan each one, and then put them on eBay for $9.99 apiece and see what happens. First time or two as auctions, then Buy It Now. After a couple months I start the markdown process from $9.99 to $7.99 to $5.99 to $4.99 and usually sell half to two thirds of them. The rest eventually sell for anywhere from $1.99 to $4.99 depending on how long I leave them in my eBay Store.
I will say that if your covers are from the 30’s or earlier or if they are WWII era with any patriotic leaning of any sort, then I’d start them at $29.99 the first time out. I’ve had good luck with things like that; a 40’s “Censored” cover sent from South Africa to Louisville, KY sold last week for $29.99, probably because of its originating country.
Good luck, happy holidays, and hollar again if I can be of any assistance. I hope to stay in touch,
Rick -
Yeah, Montrose was always the cool, arty part of Houston when I was growing up. Went to clubs and record stores there as a teenager in the area. It was also a safe place for the gay community in Houston. I haven’t been back in 20 years and have heard of the huge growth.
Would you mind emailing us at TheScavengerLife@gmail.com?
If you dont mind, I’d love to send you a couple photos of the some of the covers we have. Most are from India, but older.
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