April Garage Sale Finds - Sold!

My daughter and I have been hitting garage sales hard for the last 3 weeks and I wanted to share some of our finds and sales with readers out there who may want to improve their "radar" at garage sales, yard sales, church rummage sales, and thrift stores. We do not usually find these items at thrift stores - books are usually priced much higher and are in pretty bad condition. Board games are usually taped up by thrift store employees so it is hard to see exactly what is inside - the condition and number of pieces. Other items don't even make it to the sales floor. I wanted to show you these items specifically because they are sourced at garage sales, and the choices are different than in thrift stores. Pricing is also different - you never know what you will find and how it will be priced. So, good finds are actually a "cocktail" of all the right ingredients including condition and the price you as the buyer must pay for the item.

Let me add this disclaimer that I don't know everything, and there are items I choose not to sell because either they are a pain to ship, have a high return rate, or are frequently counterfeited. Everyone in this business has different items on their radar and we can all learn from each other by sharing our successes.

This Donna Karan lotion was $25 at a garage sale held by a DKNY rep. It sold for $154.97. This size bottle of lotion is only sold at select department stores once a year on a DKNY promotion. I found 2 of them. The irony: this was shipped to a buyer 30 miles from me, 6.5 miles from the store that sells this item once a year.

Found this men's cologne set at a church rummage sale for $3. It sold on eBay for $44.97 in less than a week. I've never found fragrances new in the package in a thrift store - garage sales are great for finding things like this.

This Scrabble Onyx Limited Edition Game was $5 at a church rummage sale. It sold on auction on eBay for $34.97 in a week.

My daughter found this used iPhone rubber case cover for $2.50 at a garage sale, it sold for $12.50 on eBay within 2 weeks. Cell phone accessories are great sellers, even if used. Look for adapters, cords, cases, and belt clips. This is an area where someone else's trash is profitable treasure.

Found this book at a garage sale for $1 on April 5. It sold on Amazon (FBA) for $49.97 in about 3 weeks.I usually source text books at garage or church sales because, in my experience, they are cheaper and in better condition than in thrift stores or at library sales. I find a lot of brand new books at garage sales for 25 cents - $1.

This Abroad Travel Journal was $4, new in the package at a yard sale. Sold it for $25 on Amazon (FBA) in less than a week.

This Burt Bacharach sheet music was $1 at an estate sale. It sold for $12.50 on Amazon (FBA) in less than a week.

This book was 50 cents at a garage sale. Sold for $12.50 within a week on Amazon (FBA).


If you are not a member of my Facebook Group, I encourage you to join and read the following weekly threads, which can be very educational:


Money Making Mondays - members share their sales, posting links to items that actually sold so others can see the listings and selling prices.

Fabulous Finds Fridays - members post their weekly finds. Also a great way to learn about items that other sellers look for that have value.

After selling online since 2003, I still love this business! Every day is an adventure and I am always learning something new. If you want to take your eBay or Amazon business to the next level, here are some resources I have put together to help you enjoy the world of online selling, and enjoy the freedom of working at home on your own schedule:

Amazon 90 Day Experiment - Build an Amazon Book Business in 3 Months (free download)

Hot Brands to Sell on eBay - comprehensive list of brands that sell well on eBay (free download)

Specialty Monopoly Games and Pieces Hot Sellers on eBay

Thanks to the members of my Facebook Group, now 4,400 members strong, I have learned a lot about selling used board games on eBay. I always assumed the games had to be complete sets and in mint condition, but this is definitely not the case. I have been finding games at garage sales and thrift stores for less than $5, so hopefully you can find them at those prices, too.

The games themselves are good sellers, and the pieces and boards can be sold on their own either as replacement parts or as craft or decorative items. So if the game is cheap enough, but doesn't have all the parts, go ahead and buy it and start stockpiling the pieces to sell in a lot when you accumulate enough pieces. (Crafters buy the game tokens to make jewelry, clocks, and other cool items.) The game tokens sell on their own, but prices range from $2 - $5, so it may not be worth your time to list them individually, unless it is a rare or discontinued piece.

When it comes to board games, think special edition, collector's edition, or anniversary edition. The fewer there is of something, the more it will be worth in the eBay marketplace.

Here are a few examples of some completed listings of different Monopoly games to give you an idea of what to look for when you are out shopping at thrift stores, garage sales, or church rummage sales:

Garfield 25th Anniversary Monopoly game sold for $34.99 on April 29.

Pokemon Collector's Edition Monopoly sold for $34.95 on April 23.

Simpson's Monopoly game sold for $28.99 on March 14.

47 Monopoly game tokens sold for $41.00 on February 6.

Lord of the Rings Monopoly game board only sold for $12.99 on April 24.

So don't walk away from a special or collector's edition Monopoly game just because it isn't in pristine condition with all the parts. You can dissect it and sell the components if necessary. Make sure you are shipping these internationally! Collectible are wanted all around the world. (Not sure how to ship internationally? Check out my eBay International Shipping Tutorial.)

On a side note, I am always interested in hearing from guest bloggers. If you would like to contribute a guest post, just drop me an email at ebaycoach @ yahoo and share your idea. If published, your post will include a back link to your site or eBay store.

More Resources:

What to Buy at Thrift Stores to Sell on eBay (Kindle Book)

eBay Coach Podcasts - free on iTunes

Free eBook for Moms Starting to Sell on eBay

eBay Consignment Selling Can Really Pay Off!

Lydia, one of my former coaching clients, sent in her amazing sale. She sold this item on consignment for one of her clients, who was a DJ and received several music sales awards during previous years. Lydia arranged to do a 50/50 split after expenses for this client. The item sold for $960, and total time invested in listing and shipping the item was 1 hour. So Lydia's commission on this sale was a whopping $480 for 1 hour worth of work!

Selling on consignment has several advantages. You get to learn about items that you never would have found on your own, such as the example above. As long as you choose carefully and focus on high dollar items, your hourly earning rate can be significant. Inventory comes to you, so you save time with your sourcing efforts. Also, selling items for others can help build your eBay feedback and sales numbers to help you reach Top Rated Seller.

There are a few downsides to consignment selling. The most frustrating is that people usually think their items are worth more than the market will bear. It can often be awkward to have to explain to a family member or friend that just because they bought that purple widget in 1970 for $400, it is only worth $25 on eBay today. Also, you can end up doing the work of listing the item and it doesn't sell.

After many years of selling on eBay, I will only sell items on consignment if their value is over $500 and I feel sure they will sell. Otherwise, I try to buy the item outright from the person and take full responsibility for reselling it on my own. This can eliminate a lot of drama and hurt feelings.

Get consignment clients by being listed in my eBay Seller's Consignment Directory.

Related articles:

How Local Attorneys Can Help You Make Money on eBay

How to Promote Your eBay Trading Assistant Business

Make Money Selling Golf Shirts on eBay

One of my readers has gone the extra mile with his eBay business selling golf shirts. Chip let me know of his success after getting a head start with my ebook, The Golf Shirt Bible, which explains how to find and sell golf shirts on eBay. Golf shirts were the core of my eBay business from 2003- 2009 - I sold approximately 10,000 golf shirts on eBay all found at local thrift stores and most in used condition. (Hence the name of my eBay store, Atlanta Golf Shop.)

Chip, who is quite knowledgeable about the golf shirt category, has been industrious enough to create two very helpful videos explaining details on how to select and sell golf shirts on eBay. Golf Shirts 101 explains how to scrutinize the shirts for condition, really focusing on collar condition, buttons, plackets, fabric content, etc. Golf Shirts 102 goes into more detail about brands, his condition grading system, and his storage system. Check out Chip's videos here:





Now is the time to learn this niche as golf season is in full swing. (Pun intended.) A few comments from members of my Facebook Group after taking Chip's advice:

Lindsay said, "Have to share this because if it weren't for your videos, I would not have just scored! I ran into Goodwill 10 minutes before closing and found a Burberry golf shirt for $6.99. I got it. I looked it up on eBay completed listings and found the exact same shirt and it sold for $61!"

Anne said, "Listed 2 Scotty Camerons (2XL) and 2 hours later they sold. $92.50 each to the same guy!"

Thanks for helping to educate us, Chip. The key to making money on eBay is knowing what to look for - knowing what sells. Chip has made that a little bit easier with his videos. I hope this information helps you make some money with your golf shirt finds!

Money Magazine Survey - Amazon Ranked Highest Overall by Online Sellers

In the May 2013 May issue of Money Magazine, there is an article titled "Getting the Best Price for Your Castoffs" that explains the differences between different online marketplaces. Choosing the right venue is the key to getting the best price for your item. Based on the 2013 Sellers Choice Survey provided by Ecommerce Bytes, Amazon scored the highest overall, and the highest for profitability and communication.

Many eBay sellers understand that eBay is limited in its capacity to help them sell items online. eBay is definitely the best venue to sell collectibles, one of a kind items, and items truly limited in number such as event tickets or autographed items. Also, since Amazon restricts some categories, and most sellers are not approved in those categories, items like clothing, shoes, jewelry, automotive items, and electronics will have to go on eBay. Amazon is best for used and new media (with the exception of rare, collectible, or very high priced items), retail items including health and beauty items, toys, groceries, office supplies, and other consumer goods new in the box or new in the package. Most sellers who sell on both sites will agree that Amazon's payment system has a lower "hassle factor," and the explosive growth of both the Amazon FBA System and the number of Prime Buyers are fueling their Amazon businesses nicely.

Understanding the different marketplaces and choosing the right one for your item will help you make more money and save time in the long run. In fact, Money Magazine quoted me on this (page 32):

Many of you reading this are striving to make online selling a significant income stream, or maybe your only source of income so that you can enjoy more freedom and flexibility in your own life. Knowing how to sell on both eBay and Amazon will help you reach that goal. Once you are proficient in selling on both sites, the world will open up to you and you will have more opportunities to sell items no matter where you find inventory. For example, I source items from just about everywhere including garage sales, thrift stores, retail stores, closeout stores, Craigslist, online retailers, eBay to sell on Amazon, Amazon to sell on eBay, etc. Selling online is a skill that you must develop and practice, and the more you know about how to sell online, the more successful you will be, and the more money you will make.

If you are an eBay seller and haven't tested the Amazon waters yet, here are a few FREE resources to get you started:

Podcast - Getting Started on Amazon

Free eBook - 90 Day Amazon Experiment

Amazon Help - How to List an Item on Amazon

If you are dabbling with Amazon and want to get more serious and take your business to the next level, you may want to enlist the help of an experienced seller to help you. Hiring an expert can save you time, money, frustration, and help you succeed faster than if you had to figure out the business on your own. I have been selling on Amazon since 2009, have sold over 25,000 items, and have learned a lot about this business by trial and error, experimentation, and spending time doing things that didn't work. I offer the following services to help you learn the Amazon business:

Amazon FBA Recipe for Success (downloadable course)


The opportunities provided by ecommerce will only continue to grow as technology continues to advance and consumers continue to consume. Be prepared so you can seize this opportunity to make money from the comfort of home.

eBay Seller Success Story - Affliction T Shirt

Aaron sent in his success story:

"I recently discovered your site and it inspired me to start selling on eBay again. I used to sell stuff around the house and dabbled in garage sales. Now I started frequenting the thrift stores and picked up this Affliction t-shirt for $3.99 and sold it for $55. It was up to $42 on the first day it was listed!"

Here is a closer look at the shirt Aaron sold:

Impressive sale, Aaron! There is good money in t-shirts. Also look for Hard Rock Cafe, Life is Good, Lucky Tees, Mutts Organic T-shirts, and Harley Davidson. T-shirts can be overlooked gold. You don't have to know everything about t-shirts to find good sellers - just learn a few brands and as you are shopping look up those you are not familiar with. It takes time to learn but if you are ready, willing, and able, the money will come!

Do you have an eBay success story to share? If so, email me at ebaycoach @ yahoo dot com or come share your sale on our Money Making Mondays thread on my online sellers' Facebook Group. Also, check out my podcasts here or on iTunes for my episodes titled, "You Sold WHAT on eBay?" where we share other overlooked items you can sell for nice profits on eBay.

Related articles:

Thrift Store Haul for eBay

Hard Rock Hurricane Glass Success Story

Learn to Sell Golf  Shirts on eBay

How I Got $500 from Amazon Over the Weekend

If you sell with Amazon's FBA program, do you ever feel like something is missing? Maybe you should be seeing bigger payouts based on the amount of inventory you are sending in? Me, too. I decided to do some snooping around last weekend and discovered quite a bit of inventory was either lost, damaged, or had been destroyed without my knowledge.

On April 5, I opened about 20 support tickets with Amazon for further investigation. Many of these items had been sent in as long as 3 months ago but fell through the cracks for various reasons. Here is a screen shot of some of my support requests:

In just a few hours, the reimbursements started coming in! As of today, April 10 , I have received $545.61 in reimbursements on items that Amazon would not have reimbursed me for if I hadn't brought it to their attention. Take a look at what I have received so far:

 

This process only took about 2 hours and I have received over $500 in reimbursements so far (some tickets are still outstanding). Not a bad hourly rate to put some extra cash in my account - cash that I was due but probably wouldn't have ever seen if I hadn't researched it myself.

Sometimes, we get so focused on scouting for inventory, sending in shipments, and keeping up with replenishments, we lose track of what has already been sent into Amazon warehouses. If you are not keeping a close eye on your Amazon business, it can get away from you in a hurry.

I have taken the time to share this process with you. If you aren't familiar with how to keep tabs on your FBA inventory, I have created a Lesson on Demand to show you the exact process for researching lost, damaged, or destroyed inventory that you could be getting reimbursed for. Remember, when Amazon is at fault and loses or damages inventory, you are reimbursed the same as if your item sold, not just the price you paid for the item.

This lesson includes a 20 minute video showing:

How to determine if inventory is missing.

How to use different reports to discover lost, damaged, or destroyed inventory.

How to navigate the Amazon Seller Dashboard to find information needed for support requests.

How to file Amazon FBA support requests for lost, damaged, or destroyed inventory.

8 step process I use to get money back from Amazon.

Also includes PDF file with reimbursement request process outlined.

The cost of this lesson is $39 and an instant download. Learn how to research your own Amazon FBA inventory and start filing for reimbursements today!