Hey Torrey,
Great question! Here are some thoughts on it:
1. If it looks old and valuable then with some pics and the right ad it should do well. The key here is the ad with some really clear photos. Things that look old and collectable are extremely popular on eBay.
2. If it's selling for $5.00 or less it's not that big of a gamble and is probably worth the risk.
3. If you do your homework before and go out literally searching for certain items you can't go wrong. For example recently I went out looking for old cameras. They seem to sell well on eBay and I actually found three for $5.00 each. One sold for $49, one sold for $25, and I actually kept the last one.
4. If you find something that you KNOW there is a demand for. For example something collectable that you recognize as an item that is selling already, so long as you know you are getting it for less than it's selling for, go for it. This one can take a lot of luck. I knew that there was this game selling like mad a couple of years ago. It was selling on eBay for about $300. I found out that a local department store was selling them for $199.00 with a limit of 5. I bought 5 and sold them all in one week for an awesome profit.
Now, regarding buying at the flea market. Unfortunately lots of people at the flea markets near me are onto the eBay thing and have raised their prices or are selling themselves on eBay for less than they will sell to me. But there are, on occassion, those sellers who are still selling incredible bargains. It never hurts to at least go and take a look.
One final thought. For those into hunting if you ask them "What's more exciting to you...the hunt or the actual kill?", they will, more often then not, reply, "It's the hunt!" Treat your shopping this same way. Make it fun and exciting. Nothing can be more exciting than pulling up to a garage sale and seeing something right away that you know will sell. Then it's just a matter of negotiating your price.
Some good things to look for:
1. Collectables
2. Cameras
3. Old toys that still work
4. Paintings in frames so long as they are a bargain
5. Software, especially older software that is no longer made
6. Old pcs. The original Apples are worth HUGE money!!! (don't count on finding them)
7. Trading cards
8. Sporting goods, especially golf clubs. But once again you need to know what you are doing.
There you have it. Some of the secrets I use when I am out bargain hunting. It's not all that hard, it is a lot of fun, and there are some REAL bargains out there. It's just a matter of finding them.
Take care all as usual. And by the way if you want to see my newest affiliate site check out the link below!
Jim Wilson
AuctionHints.com
