Garage Sales – The Off Season
Living in a colder part of the United States, this is definitely the off season for garage sales, yard sales, estate sales, flea markets...all of the good sources for products to sell. Personally, I've still got so much stuff piled up from previous estate purchases that I can't begin to get it all listed. If you are hurting for inventory though, you might want to take ride to some local thrift stores. Just don't expect to find a bonanza waiting for you in most cases.
Last year, I wasn't quite so bogged down with leftovers from summer and I was making weekly rounds to the Salvation Army and Goodwill Stores. It can be a challenge because the competition might be heavy, but if you get there early, you still have a chance to grab some quality items for resale. I usually concentrate on unusual or vintage shirts when I go there, but you can sometimes find some old toys that have slipped through the cracks. Another area to check is books. Look for specialty areas texts.
While I'm thinking of it, if you are in a situation like I am, surrounded by "collectibles" that you know you will eventually get listed, you might want to start considering garage storage systems. I know that I have been lately. Actually, these are great for storing the stuff that you would have even if you don't buy for eBay reselling. Definitely something to consider if you don't like clutter!
If you are still looking for stuff to sell though, places like thrift stores have wised up and if they don't grab the good old vintage items themselves to list on their own websites, there is a good chance that employees might be snagging items. I was told (completely off the record) by a former employee of a thrift store that some of her fellow employees picked over the goods long before they had a chance to hit the sales floor. Of course, the official line is that this doesn't happen, but pickings seem pretty darn slim for it not to be true in at least some stores I've been to over the past year. Not making accusations here, just passing along what I was told and making the observation that there is a lot of junk on the shelves nowadays. Often there will be a case of "good stuff" at the front of the store. It usually is filled with what is perceived to be collectibles that are priced around what top sellers get on eBay. Like I said, you can find some items at these stores, but it is getting tough and you have to go looking for oddball items that don't get picked out right away by other people looking to sell them on eBay. You can also look right on eBay for items being sold in bulk. Check here to read about Guitar Stuff for Sale. Happy hunting!
