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I had a much better week last week after a horrible start to November. But that’s usually how it goes. The sky is not always falling.
The first book from my Chicago haul finally sold — an Easton Press book about the Constitution. $37 gross/$17 net. Paid $5 so this doesn’t add much to my overall profit from the trip. But sometimes it’s about that little confidence boost you get when you buy something you kind of know but not completely, mostly on a hunch, and it sells for somewhere close to what you thought it would.
I had better margins on a book from a local sale — a 100 year old numbered copy of Progress and Poverty by Henry George. Paid $5, gross $68, net $49.
One of the more unusual sports-adjacent items I’ve sold recently — a 1980s animation cel featuring Olympics mascot Sam the Eagle. This was a fun one to research. Paid $25, Gross $65, Net $40. I think I have one more floating around somewhere.
Another World War 2 related autographed photo — this one with multiple signatures from Flying Tigers members. Paid $10, Gross $47, Net $33.
What did you sell this week?
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I had a few interesting sales last week. The best sale of the week was another of the Lord of the Rings volumes that I purchased at auction back in August: 1st edition, 12th printing of The Fellowship of the Ring for $299.95. I paid $235 for a lot of about 100 books because it had 4 LOTR early editions, however, I only saw the spines and had no idea how early. I took a gamble and got lucky. So far I’ve sold 8 books for a total $865.
I also got a lesson in pricing as I had 3 long tail items sell after reducing their price significantly and finally accepting best offers. All three items were antiques that I originally shot high on price. A pewter tankard from 1820, original price $249 – final price $100, 3 almanacks from the early 1800s, original price $200 – final price $80, and an early reproduction of a Currier & Ives print (probably from about 1910), original price $150 – final price $74.95. These items had been in my store for 2 – 4 years and I had sent offers to watchers for as much as 40% off with no bites. Earlier this month I lowered the prices on all 3 significantly to see if that was what was holding the watchers from buying. Sometimes I have to accept that my original prices may have been overexuberant.
In the past I would have just left their price alone and moved on, but it feels like some fundamental change is taking place on eBay, at least temporarily, and I need to modify my strategies.
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/335099112701
Estate sale find. I was not on time but still found some vintage Christmas. Someone had been through it before me, must have been just knowing about ornaments? This was a quick sale at less than the prior solds, running $60ish.
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/266319474059
Coogi Classic Sweater Linen Blend Collared Brown Size L
This was the item that started the whole premium hoarder deal in motion. Almost didn’t go to this sale and when I saw where it was, almost didn’t go once arrived. It was at the end of our yard sales trek for the day. I wasn’t really interested just glancing around, and then my wife handed me this shirt. I about crapped myself! New with tag Coogi sweater?!? Then there were more and more high end clothes??? Most new with tags???? Prices $10 or less!!!??????
I was there for about 2 hours. My wife walked home as she was done. LOL! Good times! I just crossed $20k in gross sales from this haul.
Always be scavenging, even if you aren’t buying much due to higher thresholds for what to buy to minimize death piles. You never know when a deal like this will come up.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266438115575
HASBRO TONKA RC REMOTE CONTROL MIGHTY DUMP TRUCK Rare Vintage Wireless 2003
Paid $2 YEARS ago at goodwill. So long ago that it was pre-barcode at goodwill. I’ve tried to mix in a death pile tub here and there in the last couple months to clear up storage space. This was one of those items. Sold for $50.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266471222134
Guitar Hero Live XBOX ONE Bundle Complete w/ Controller Dongle Game Strap
I bought this at a really cool estate sale of the entire inventory of a 50+ year antique shop in my home town. Paid $35. Took an offer of $110 just to get stuff moving. I was hoping for $180 when I listed it. I just pulled down my stash of guitar hero/rock band stuff from a storage loft this weekend to list. It paid off to procrastinate/death pile this stuff as rock band gear has just kept going up in price. Some of the guitars I have sell for $100+ each!! I have like 20 guitars and 5 drum sets! Here’s to having many more $100+ guitar hero sales in 4Q.
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