Recently I blogged on my frustrations with Ebay on this post, but also admitted that it has the most traffic of any selling site other than Amazon. I all but said I was going to quit selling on Ebay because of their new fee schedule, but changed my mind as I picked up some yard sale and flea market collectible bargains over the last couple of months. And it's also helped that Ebay has been a little more generous about listing fees hoping to pull back some of their old sellers and gain some new ones for holiday sales.
I showed you some of the items I purchased and told you I would follow up on what it sold for. I'm happy to report that I made enough off my Ebay selling to buy all my Christmas presents this year for my children and grandchildren. Here's a quick recap.
June McKenna collectible Santas that I mentioned in this highlighted post brought me in a profit of $300 and I haven't finished selling all of them. Department 56 villages in this post netted a profit of $175 plus I got to keep a lot of pieces to add to my collection as I showed you in this post.
Some jewelry that I showed you here did well also. The Hattie Carnegie brooch that I bought for $10 sold for $55. A pretty Corocraft brooch that I bought for $3 sold for $94 and a couple more pair of earrings netted a profit of $20. I was so happy to have come out so well. And there were a lot of little odds and ends that I picked up bringing my total profits to well over $600.
I know this sounds like it's easy money, but it's not. I've spent years pouring over books on antiques and collectibles. I've browsed hundreds of antique shops and malls paying attention to what is selling well and what carries a big price tag. I've spent many, many hours researching on the internet what's hot and what's not, and it constantly changes as new generations become adults and want to collect things that remind them of their childhood. Things that we Baby Boomers were willing to pay so much for twenty years ago are no longer hot because we're aging out and living on fixed incomes. It's the Gen Xer's now who have the expendable income to buy memorabilia from their youth. It's a very fickle market with it's ups and downs. My advice to you if you're holding on to a hot collectible hoping it will get hotter - sell it now for it may be worthless if you continue to hold on to it. Ten years back, my daughter could have padded her pockets with about $1000 with her Holiday Barbie collection. Just a few short months later, the bottom fell out of the Barbie market and now she would be lucky to get $300 for them.
I kid about it and say that I have an "eye" for spotting a bargain, and I suppose I do, but the "eye" had to be trained and has used many magnifiers and corrective lenses over the years. Some people go at it full force but to me it's just a hobby - but it's a productive hobby that turns into a little nest egg if I'm lucky.
You know where you'll find me on Saturday mornings - along with my eagle eye and magnifying glass. If I pass you by and don't speak to you, it's because I'm focused - very focused - much like an eagle honing in on his prey.
I showed you some of the items I purchased and told you I would follow up on what it sold for. I'm happy to report that I made enough off my Ebay selling to buy all my Christmas presents this year for my children and grandchildren. Here's a quick recap.
June McKenna collectible Santas that I mentioned in this highlighted post brought me in a profit of $300 and I haven't finished selling all of them. Department 56 villages in this post netted a profit of $175 plus I got to keep a lot of pieces to add to my collection as I showed you in this post.
Some jewelry that I showed you here did well also. The Hattie Carnegie brooch that I bought for $10 sold for $55. A pretty Corocraft brooch that I bought for $3 sold for $94 and a couple more pair of earrings netted a profit of $20. I was so happy to have come out so well. And there were a lot of little odds and ends that I picked up bringing my total profits to well over $600.
I know this sounds like it's easy money, but it's not. I've spent years pouring over books on antiques and collectibles. I've browsed hundreds of antique shops and malls paying attention to what is selling well and what carries a big price tag. I've spent many, many hours researching on the internet what's hot and what's not, and it constantly changes as new generations become adults and want to collect things that remind them of their childhood. Things that we Baby Boomers were willing to pay so much for twenty years ago are no longer hot because we're aging out and living on fixed incomes. It's the Gen Xer's now who have the expendable income to buy memorabilia from their youth. It's a very fickle market with it's ups and downs. My advice to you if you're holding on to a hot collectible hoping it will get hotter - sell it now for it may be worthless if you continue to hold on to it. Ten years back, my daughter could have padded her pockets with about $1000 with her Holiday Barbie collection. Just a few short months later, the bottom fell out of the Barbie market and now she would be lucky to get $300 for them.
I kid about it and say that I have an "eye" for spotting a bargain, and I suppose I do, but the "eye" had to be trained and has used many magnifiers and corrective lenses over the years. Some people go at it full force but to me it's just a hobby - but it's a productive hobby that turns into a little nest egg if I'm lucky.
You know where you'll find me on Saturday mornings - along with my eagle eye and magnifying glass. If I pass you by and don't speak to you, it's because I'm focused - very focused - much like an eagle honing in on his prey.
Dearest Glenda,
ReplyDeleteOh, I respect your efforts!!!
As I said before, I don't have much knowledge about Ebay. But wishing you good luck☆☆☆
And hope you are getting ready for the Christmas like other bloggers, my friend,
Blessing to you, xoxo Orchid*
There are markets for all sorts of things - but it takes time acquiring the knowledge, everyone thinks e-Bay is the place for a fast buck, but I'm sure it isn't. Years of knowledge is what your buyers are purchasing!
ReplyDeleteHats off to you!
I think that is so great, congratulations! It is a gift to be able to have "an eye" like that and the patience for keeping your finger on the heartbeat of what people want. I have so much admiration for you.
ReplyDeleteMy in-laws make a hobby out of going to estate sales in the Dakota area. They often find some pretty amazing treasures in amongst the boxes they purchase.
God bless you and your family in all you do this week.
Well done to you my friend, what a marvellous result. As you say, people reading this would think that it WAS easy money, but you do have to have a good eye, and to know what's hot, and what's not!! You must have been highly delighted I would think. Take care.
ReplyDelete