Missouri vs. Illinois 1969 football program
Where to Find Collectibles: Yard Sales, Flea Markets, Auctions, Goodwill, Salvation Army
Collectibles are everywhere, just waiting for the knowledgeable person to come along and snap them up, either for free or for pennies on the dollar. Here are a few time-tested locales:
Your own home. Always a good start, as abandoned toys, records, CDs, tapes, old video games, magazines, etc. can be rediscovered, inventoried and turned into cash.
Garage/yard sales. Many a collectible treasure has been found at these venerable institutions. The key is to actually get out of your car (scoping out the sale from a passing vehicle won’t work) and examining the wares up close. Pay particular attention to the vintage material – from the 1970s and earlier – where the “good stuff” can often be sold for huge profits. Also, don’t be afraid to haggle over the price, as the seller’s principal goal is to get rid of the darned thing.
Rummage sales. Churches and other organizations routinely hold these gatherings. The big attraction is the diversity of items, as they generally come from a wide array of households. If a preview is offered, be sure to attend in order to get a leg up on other buyers.
Goodwill, Salvation Army Stores. Yes, great deals can still be found at these and other secondhand stores. In fact, several valuable paintings worth five figures or more have surfaced in Goodwill stores.
Auctions. Local estate and household auctions almost invariably hold collectible treasures. If a group of items interest you, ask the auctioneer to offer them as a lot in order to save money. Also, be curious and dig through the material being offered, as boxes of undetermined items are routinely offered “as is” by the auctioneer.
Flea markets. Both large and small flea markets remain valuable sources for inexpensive collectibles. Many of the prices are already geared for resale, but don’t be shy about negotiating a lower price. The sellers expect it.
Guitar World April 2008 with Eddie and Wolf Van Halen
Where to Sell Collectibles: eBay Alternatives and More
Although eBay remains a dominant marketplace for collectibles, it’s hardly the only game in town. Fed up with rising fees and evolving rule changes, many eBay sellers have fled the “Big Dog” and branched out to other sites, including Amazon.com Auctions and Overstock.com Auctions. Here are several more outlets:
eCrater.com. There are no auctions here, just set sales. Establish your own store (or stores, there is no limit), stock it with merchandise and open for business. The site features user friendly tools, a crack technical team, an expanding marketplace and best of all – no fees! That’s right, eCrater charges absolutely nothing to use its site.
Collect.com. Free classified ads for collectibles? Yes, that’s what this site from venerable F+W Media offers. Simply register, select a category (Antiques, Sports, Movies & Music, Comics, Military), choose a classification, write your 3,000 or less character ad and include up to five photos. Price: zero.
eBid.com. Over 2.4 million auctions are featured on eBid in 9,500 categories. There are no listing fees but a small final value fee is levied when an item is sold.
Etsy.com. This site specializes in handmade items and vintage clothing. There is a $ .20 listing fee per item and a 3.5% fee on the final price.
Silkfair.com. This site features free store setup and free, unlimited listings. A 3% fee is levied on the final sale price per item.
Blujay.com. Billed as the “100% free online marketplace,” this site is free to both buyers and sellers, the latter of whom can establish their own Internet stores. An unlimited number of items can be listed, with a maximum of four photos per item. Blujay even features a Wanted section to match buyers and sellers.
Overnight Auctions.com. This site features various store account types: Free Store, Premium Store, Silver Store, Gold Store. A sliding final fee is applied, including a 2% charge for items sold from to ,000.
iOffer.com. Billed as “A Place to Buy, Sell and Trade,” iOffer features a free store and free listings. At present, over 35 million items are up for grabs.
Huge Profits in Collectibles
Buying low and selling high (or merely for a good profit) is the key in the collectibles business. General and specialized price guides, including those found at many libraries, are a good starting point in assessing current values. Sports and entertainment memorabilia are always big, but if someone wants a certain item and is willing to pay for it, then that collectible is “hot” as well.
Here are some actual prices paid for selected collectibles, along with location bought and final selling price online:
Dick Butkus Stop-Action hardcover book: $ .50, secondhand store,
World War II Anti-Hitler cardboard banner: free, library giveaway,
Guitar World April 2008 Eddie and Wolf Van Halen cover: free, yard sale, .50
A New Star Shines in Heaven 1938 Jean Harlow sheet music: $ .15, estate sale,
King of Kings 1961 hardcover movie souvenir book: $ .20, library sale, .50
Sports Illustrated for Kids December 1996, Tiger Woods rookie card intact: $ .20, yard sale, ,250
Harmony Kingdom Last Laugh figurine in box: $ .20, yard sale,
1960s Sawyer’s home viewer with slides: , flea market, .50
1960s Gentle Ben TV lunchbox: , Salvation Army Store,
My First Christmas 2005 Carlton ornament in box: $ .25, rummage sale, .50
Carnival glass bowl and plate: , yard sale, 5
First issue of Playboy December 1953 Marilyn Monroe cover: , yard sale, ,800
King of Kings (1961) hardcover movie souvenir book
And what collectible treasures and potential profits await you? Get started today!