What Sells On eBay: Clock radios, Red Wing boots, Fairytale book, Vintage City Cafe Menu

[Ryanne]

 Post your What Sold video in the forum>>[See the full post at: What Sells On eBay: Clock radios, Red Wing boots, Fairytale book, Vintage City Cafe Menu]

[aperture]

Steve, I really admire that you taught yourself enough electronics to repair those clock radios. You have really developed a very productive niche with electronics and components. Congratulations on all the great sales.

I was travelling for 3 1/2 weeks in January and February. I had about $3,500 in sales while I was away which paid for the planes, trains, hostels, AirBnBs and bus. Most of my high dollar sales were vintage slides and photos (as detailed in past What Sells forum comments). Bread and butter items from the past week include:

I found a mint 1954 Scrabble Deluxe but it was missing two tiles and the shipping on the complete game would have been over the top. Thus I took a page from Steve and parted out the game. This sale was for the four tile racks which sold for $14.50: https://www.ebay.com/itm/192774513326

This was the last of my Xerox solid ink cartridges that I found for $1 each. This one sold for $24.50: https://www.ebay.com/itm/192775080788 Interestingly, different colors sell for different amounts. I think it was the yellow that sold for north of $50.

I picked up these Ikea light fixtures new in the bag for $3 each and sold them for $14.50 each. The shipping ended up being messed up, so I still have to learn how to list multiples of something so that shipping is charged appropriately. https://www.ebay.com/itm/192765441094

Chicago Cutlery knives with the brass rivets always sell, but I have noticed prices coming down on them. I pick these up for $1 and this one sold for only $10. I will continue to get these I think, but I am trying to move away from small dollar items like this.

Here is one of my favorite posters from Berlin:
https://imgur.com/Ydor6Al

[Steven S]

Old Fleas!
Love it.

[Itemsfromthesouth]

Hey Steve:
Great job on the electronics job!
I love the end of the video where you show summer then winter seasons in the same areas. I live in Florida where there is very little change in the landscape between summer and winter so I thought that was really neat to see!
I never post but I watch every Wednesday. Thank you for making these videos!
Molly

[Sharyn]

Steve – Where did you find instructions on how to repair radios? Do you get that information online or in a book?

Another question: Is there anything wrong with this listing for a NOS Johnny Mathus reel-to-reel tape? I was thinking about it because I happened to hear on a store’s overhead radio today that he will be in concert in my area. It was listed in July last year. Maybe it will just take the right buyer?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/183318560601

I happened to have an interesting week. Sorry if this goes a bit long :).

I paid a little less than $27 for this antique steer horn trimmer. I almost sold it for $130 in the holiday season period, but he asked to cancel. I sold it this time for $100 (which is what I thought it would go for). According to my research when listing it, the practice of cutting back horns for safety was controversial at that time (and I hope they don’t do it now either). Nevertheless, a very interesting item:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/183318242178

I get all this stuff from friends of my parents who are downsizing in retirement. Their friend Eddy must have bought out the store when CFLs were on sale not knowing that LEDs were taking over and that CFLs don’t need to be replaced as often. I’ve sold a few packages of 60W equivalents before, but one guy bought out all I had left for a total of $97.50. They were in two different listings, but here is one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/183317318209

That sale cleared out a full shelf! However, my 100W equivalents just sit there.
https://imgur.com/a/HKGLXEt

A few weeks ago, a guy from Illinois bought one of my IBM Lexmark office typewriters. He didn’t realize that it was local pickup, so he arranged for UPS to ship it and I brought it over to the store. He bought a second one, a Wheelwriter 1000, for $50, and I again brought it over to the store.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/183653510735

Just a note, he actually bought another Wheelwriter 1500 for $60 last night, and it was the only one I listed with shipping because I only had one box that size. I have my last Wheelwriter in unpaid item assistant mode right now, but maybe he’ll buy that one when it comes up. I won’t keep posting them here, though.

I bought two child’s new Passover pop-up Haggadas last summer for $0.50 each. The holiday is coming up in the mid-April timeframe, and the first one sold for $24.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/183236676361

No one wanted this sculpture at an auction last month, so it got lotted up with some other stuff that I bought for $10. I found a UK website that sells Austin Productions sculptures from either the remainder of the company’s stockpile or ones that they buy and resell. They did not have this one in stock, but they would sell it for $250 if it was available. I listed it for that price or best offer and took an offer of $125. The other solds in eBay were around the $80 or so price range, but the sculptures were smaller in size.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/183687349793

At that same auction, I bought a box lot of vintage perfumes for $10. I didn’t look close enough to see that some were empty, but this Fendi one was near full and apparently somewhat desirable. Sold for $34.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/183684998071

Another Passover item sold. I paid less than $1 for this plate from an online auction in December, and it sold for $28.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/183596868174

[Steven S]

Repairing the radios is mostly just an accumulation of knowledge and d citing to do it, youtube videos have been great for rehabbing record players.

Your listing looks fine, I’d be cautious about stating it as not played as I’ve seen those sticky tabs reused to keep the tape from unspooling.
Sticky tape shed is the downfall of poorly stored tape, only way to find out is to either play it or unspool it to visually check.
Storage near a strong magnetic source will also render the tape blank or distorted, hopefully it wasn’t stored near a big speaker.

[Sharyn]

I removed the “never played” part, but kept “Like New” as the condition. I have no way to test it, but I will inspect the tape closer when I can.

This was another item from one of my parents’ down-sizing friends. Actually, it might be from the CFL guy.

[Inglewood]

Sharyn – like the Fendi perfume sale – I just listed the 100ml version 50% Full and trying to get $75 for it – glad to see that they sell!

[Sharyn]

I did some research on the Fendi perfume, and there is a vintage formula, which appears to be preferred, and a newer one. I couldn’t figure out whether the one I had was vintage or not, so I just listed it with no age estimated. Hopefully, the buyer knew.

[Terri]

Add me to the list of fans, Steve. The winter/summer editing was great. You can add Cinematographer to your resume. Thanks for the entertainment week after week.

[totommyto]

What a soul soothing video! My dogs have never seen snow! Great sales all!
Here are 2 eBay and 1 Etsy sale that are interesting:

I bought this Little Mule Grip Cable Puller as part of a big table lot of old tools and hardware for $40. The sales have been good, with this tool selling at the best price so far at $65.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Little-Mule-Grip-wire-cable-puller-5000-cap-Japan-0-18-0-6-4-5-15mm-Tool/254098078057?hash=item3b296cf969:g:et0AAOSwprtcTemX

At a local church sale, this Pottery Barn Kids Advent Calendar Snowman plush was found for $5. It weighs almost 10 pounds and is 25 inches tall. It sold for a best offer of $150, and $65 FedEx shipping. By the way, USPS was close to $200 to ship!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pottery-Barn-SNOWMAN-ADVENT-CALENDAR-Merry-Bright-Kids-Exclusive-2017-big-plush/372603578347?hash=item56c0e767eb:g:p-UAAOSwBBRcaa09

Old beat up boat props are becoming a bread and butter Etsy item for me. I turned this from $5 to $40 relatively quickly. They pop up more than seldom down here in SW Fl.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/617408064/old-boat-prop-chipped-paint-shabby-black?show_sold_out_detail=1

[Sharyn]

@totommyto – My dad had given me his CPAP machine to sell, but it had high hours and I was concerned about the eBay restrictions. I ended throwing it out. So, what do you do with the actual machinery? My dad’s electronics had two parts. If they were new, would I be able to list each part separately even though those are the parts that need the prescription?

[Temudgin]

Hey Sharyn, that was me about the CPAP equipment. Yes, in my experience and understanding eBay rules allow the person-to-person sale of parts separately, even parts of the machine. (FYI, even the power supplies are solid $20 items by themselves.) Complete setups are permitted to be sold with caveats of how they are listed and that they are only sold in Business & Industrial to authorized purchasers.

This is one of those prohibitions that cannot be ascertained by looking at what’s being sold on eBay because there are many complete CPAPs being sold, both used and new, without the required restrictions. But we all know that is not an indicator that it is safe to do it.

[resellrescue]

Hats have been my “specialty” for the last few years now. A few weeks ago I bought a lot of around 300 or so hats for $60. I sold these two from that buy yesterday, well into profit…

[newvintageny]

Here are some random sales you can scroll through.

https://imgur.com/a/gdEQD7N

https://imgur.com/a/vDqo2pk

[Temudgin]

@totommyto: “Soul soothing” indeed – well said. (I also had to laugh reading your listing for that old prop. A great sale even without bent tips! LOL Maybe it’ll show up in Architectural Digest.)

Loved the doggie extended play, Steve! They have zero concern about snow. It looks like you could use a good pair of Gore-Tex gaiters so you don’t have to hang your frozen-leg jeans up to dry when you get home.

This plastic Alfa Romeo emblem is specific to 1964 – 1971 cars. Lacking the usual factory numbering on the back, it is probably a later aftermarket copy, but originals (also plastic) are hens’ teeth and copies are now getting harder to find so not much price difference between them. This was an eBay snipe at $4 and sold for $40 plus shipping after a couple months, going to a forwarder in Florida.
https://imgur.com/6SRVGBM
CPAP supplies and equipment are a bread and butter staple for me. It’s a racket for the medical equipment suppliers because it seems that insurance allows frequent automatic resupplies, more so than many patients really need if they’re good at cleaning their gear, so new-in-package equipment turns up often at yard sales. On the other hand there must be many people in the US who don’t have insurance to cover it or it’s under their deductible or something, and apparently Canadians and Australians also need to buy it, because it’s a consistent seller for me in those three markets. There are some eBay restrictions on medical equipment in general and CPAP therapy is only available by prescription. So to avoid having your listing taken down, only sell sealed supplies, and never list a complete CPAP setup in a single listing. Pieces and parts are fine. This CPAP mask “headgear” (head straps only) was a couple bucks at a garage sale and a quick sale at $17 plus shipping.
https://imgur.com/Y2uSe1D
Vintage leather is a great seller, even if there are condition issues. This hippie belt (found in my dad’s estate) was not constructed of a single length of leather, but two pieces stuck together, and they were starting to come apart. There was plenty of interest in it at $38 plus shipping and a couple low ball offers citing its condition, to which my answer was “that’s why it’s cheap already”. It sold quickly for full price, going to California.
https://imgur.com/51nmHM2
Finding this XXL shirt at an indy thrift’s bag sale (so I only have pennies in it) I tossed it in the bag without a close examination, thinking it was a real motocross jersey. Going to list it I realized that there was no padding where there should have been and found that Enyce is a hip hop streetwear brand. It’s all good! It sold quickly for $30 plus shipping.
https://imgur.com/8Z0M65v
Even when there are signs in the thrift shop that items without tags will not be sold but returned to intake for pricing, sometimes it pays to just ask. This incomplete Vemco Detailer 3500 drafting machine was missing a price tag but the indy thrift I found it at is very large and busy so I figured what the heck and brought it up when I checked out and stuck it at the end of my pile. With a line waiting behind me the harried clerk said “this is $4.99”, I said “yup” and he rang it up. It paid off – I turned it into $126 plus shipping within a week or so of listing.
https://imgur.com/DqK1kwO

[SpartyQ]

Solid week – here are a few tings that sold.

Westclock Alarm clock – listed this a Mid Modern and it worked fine. Got it as part of a box lot and sold for $25 w/in a day.
https://imgur.com/n7ZZ2IH

Pipe holder with glass humidor and a few pipes – picked this up at an estate sale for cheap and sold for $60. Took a few months though.
https://imgur.com/UP4wEfA

5-Disc Jazz CD set in Box. CDs were in mint condition. Got this at an estate sale for a buck and sold for $30 in two weeks.
https://imgur.com/SFSFdFp

I picked up a dozen various racing hats two months ago for $10 and this is the second one I’ve sold for $25. Have a few from this lot that are Ferrari listed at $40 with some interest so hoping those move soon.
https://imgur.com/bqNGbqo

This Panasonic Cassette Recorder was part of a box lot and sold withing 24 hours for $60. Based on what else was in the box, I probably paid $1 for it.
https://imgur.com/uHh6v9c

Lunch at the Ritz Friut Cocktail earrings – actually sold these for my mom as she picked up at an estate sale for cheap. They are as hideous in real life as they look in this picture. Sold for $65
https://imgur.com/ZFnx3Tr

Sylvan Projection Bulg was part of a box lot. Second one I’ve sold within a week- this one for $45. Other was different but went for $30
https://imgur.com/iR1ChBG

This was a Goodwill find for $5 – Birch bark Lampshade. I knew I had something special when a lady at GW stopped me and asked if she could see it. She picked it up and looked it over and said “Great find!” Sold for $125 within a month.
https://imgur.com/53U3t3E

[So Cal Joe]

Hi Steven,

There are so many Mustang 2 parts and toys on your solds. I’m assuming this is all from the same source.

I’m wondering did you find this lot through Facebook or Craigslist or how.

Car stuff is so cool and a great niche for the right stuff.

Thanks

[Steven S]

A couple years ago I obtained a huge collection of model cars, trains, ham radios and Mustang II parts through a friend.
I had to make 4 trips to Lake Minnetonka outside of Minneapolis with my Caravan (4 hours one way), it somewhat overwhelmed me as it took up so much space, I’m still finding treasures in the dark corners of my shop.

[The Speckled Goat]

The summer/winter contrast in your last video was fantastic! Soul soothing for sure! We had another snowfall here in Kansas City last night and we are all so winter WEARY. The video was a hopeful reminder that spring is coming! I’m sure all you folks in the north are even more eager. Stay warm and safe.

[So Cal Joe]

Wow that’s a lot of driving, but it looks like you scored pretty well.

Good deal..

Thanks

[Author]

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