Garage Sale Fodder

eBay Seller Makes Thousands On Rare Garage Sale Nintendo Games

Well going to a garage sale has REALLY paid off for one eBay seller this year!  Apparently he stopped at  a garage sale while vacationing in the Hamptons and hit the Nintendo video game motherload!  He bought a large lot of rare and never heard of before games from the garage sale for $40.  The person holding the garage sale had been an employee of Nintendo and had no idea what he had was worth thousands!  Have a look at the lucky garage saler's eBay auctions, one game alone went for $2,200!

Selling Burley Bike Trailers on eBay

It seems that once I find an item at a garage sale, there are always several more of the same item to be found throughout the summer at garage sales.  Murphy's Law at work, I guess.  An example of this would be the Burley Bike Trailer.  Very costly at retail prices (about $450) but a bargain on eBay ($200-300) and an even better deal at most garage sales for about $15-$35!  If you keep your eye out, these will be easy to spot at garage sales and you can turn a nice profit of over $150 on eBay generally.

Burley's come in two sizes, a double (holds 2 kids) and a single size for one child.  The main thing you need to look for is whether or not they have the plastic rain cover as well as the bug screen cover, (both snap on).  Burleys are obviously more valuable to eBayers if these are present and in good shape.  If the optional jogging stroller (handle) attachment is included, you can sell the bike trailer on eBay for an even higher price!

Check the completed listings for Burleys and you'll know what to be watching for at garage sales!

Selling Toys on eBay

I've been so busy with the onset of garage sale season, that I haven't had much time to post on this blog lately.  However, I have found some really good eBay money makers already and I want to share a few of them with you, so you will know what to hunt for at garage sales to sell on eBay.  For some reason I seem to be finding and making money selling toys on eBay this year with little effort!  Have a look at my completed auctions. A few examples are below:

LEGOS: Paid $8, Sold for $142.50

More LEGOS: Paid $2, Sold for $22.50

Still More LEGOS: Paid $5, Sold for $51.51

Planet of the Apes Catapult and Wagon: Paid $1, Sold for $55

Little Tikes Jeep and Horse Trailer: Paid $2, Sold for $16

Fisher Price Loving Family Dollhouse: Paid $8, Sold for $43.88

Rokenbok Toys: Paid $20, Sold for $75.52

Do A Little Spring Cleaning

Garage sale season is upon us and I've been doing a little Spring Cleaning.  As I look through my basement, and even in my garage, a few things from last year's garage sales that I bought intending to sell on eBay or maybe just intending to keep for myself have piled up.  It's easy to accumulate too much for yourself when you go to 100 garage sales a weekend looking for things to sell on eBay!

Anyhow, I put these leftover garage sale finds on eBay over the last few weeks and they have brought in over $1000 in sales!  Not a bad way to start the eBay selling season and clean out my house as well!  I've got another 12 auctions or so running right now as a result of more spring cleaning and expect to clear about $500 or so in sales on these items.

If you are short on cash for the garage sales coming up, do a little spring cleaning.  If you're anything like me, you'll come up with at least few hundred dollars so you can buy those new garage sale finds to make a profit on eBay with!

Top Five Best eBay Sales This Winter

Top 5 Best eBay Sales This Winter:

VINTAGE 50's Chrome Table Formica Black White Retro Paid $20, Sold for $290

VINTAGE PLAYMOBIL CASTLE & ACCESSORIES 1977  Paid $6, Sold for $49.51

Large Lot DICKENS Collectables Christmas Village Houses  Paid $25, Sold for $179.49

Large Lot 132 Sheet Music 1920's Piano Vintage  Received FREE at an estate sale, Sold for $80

Vintage Fisher Price Little People Tudor House Lot  Paid $2, Sold for $40

Sell Those Unwanted Christmas Gifts on eBay

If you don't know what to do with that ugly religious plaque Grandma gave you for Christmas with the $2.99 price sticker still on it, just sell it on eBay!

According to one news report, it seems that there is quite a spike in auction listings after the holidays each year because many people have more eBay fodder when the holidays are over:

In late December, eBay put out survey results that claimed more than half of Americans admitted to giving away unwanted gifts and suggesting that selling the items on eBay might be a polite alternative without the risk of getting caught.

The idea of being discovered making money off presents holds no fear for some. A search of eBay listings this week turned up 40 items that claimed to be unwanted Christmas gifts. 

This is a nice alternative to hitting garage sales to find things to sell on eBay during the off season.

Antique Oak Furniture Still Hot on eBay

I am a collector of antique turn of the century oak furniture.  Lately as I look around my house, I notice that I really have more pieces than I know what to do with. For instance, I have 4 dining tables and only two dining areas. 

Anyhow, I have been hesitant to sell any of the extra tables because I've noticed a downturn in the market for antique oak furniture.  People seem to be paying top dollar for 1970's furniture nowadays instead.

Being that it is a new year, I decided to 'clean house' so to speak and put an eBay auction up for one of the extra dining tables.  I was hoping to at least meet my reserve, although I didn't think I'd have much interest in the auction being that it is antique turn of the century furniture and the market has seemed relatively stale for some time.  Much to my surprise, I got a $100 bid almost immediately and today, less than 3 days into the auction we stand at 22 watchers, and over 222 hits!

The lesson here is, don't pass up the turn of the century antique oak furniture at the garage sales this spring, there is still clearly an eBay market for it!

Treasures at Goodwill Bring Cash on eBay

The Auction Rebel has further proof that you can make good money selling on eBay with items you find at Goodwill.  I have posted previously about going to thrift stores such as Goodwill to look for items to sell on eBay.  I personally have had success with this as well.  A few months ago, I found a Heywood Wakefield dining table at Goodwill for $49 that I sold on eBay for $630. 

Since garage sales are scarce in many parts of the country this time of year, why not head over to your local Goodwill store to see what you can find to sell on eBay for a profit?

Vintage Condom Case Brings $438 on eBay

Gary, over at  The Auction Rebel blog brought a collector's item to my attention that I had not really ever considered before.  Apparently, these aren't listed in any price guides and therefore could be bought cheaply, if you ever see one at a garage sale or antique shop, so keep your eye out for them!

The Auction Rebel

What's Hot On eBay~Antiques Top Ten

Top 10 Hot Categories for Antiques:

-Lace & Crochet Trim
-Fishing Floats
-Metal Picture Frames
-Samplers
-Medical Antiques
-Linen Sheets, Pillowcases
-Cotton Fabric
-Quilts, Bedspreads
-Wood Picture Frames
-Silver Salt Cellars, Salt/Pepper Shakers

Top 10 Buyer Searches for Antiques:

-French
-Victorian
-Chandelier
-Clock
-Misson
-Art Deco
-Mirror
-Furniture
-Sterling Silver
-Chairs

Via About.com