I thought it might be a good idea to share some advice about how to judge the value of the merchandise you have purchased.  It is tempting sometimes to buy up every old thing you see, but you've got to think about your bottom line, and you also have to consider how much space you have to store things.  You don't hear about that too much, but let me tell you, it is darn easy to get yourself buried in WAY too much old stuff when you enter the eBay selling game.  You can end up with way more stuff than you could ever reasonably expect to list and sell.

My Love of Vintage Ephemera

One of my favorite things to buy and sell is ephemera.  That is old stuff, usually paper, that was never really meant to be collectible.  It could be anything from old gum wrappers (for collectors of advertising) to love letters written by soldiers to their wives during one of the World Wars.  There is a market for some of this stuff, but not all of it.  I wrote about a couple of such items.  You might want to check out my posts on vintage Valentines and matchbook covers.   My problem was, I tried to buy all of it.  Who could blame me?  I would find boxes full of the stuff and get it at outrageously cheap prices (sometimes).  At one point, I probably had 15 or 20 boxes of old ephemera stacked up in the garage and game room.  That is way too much.  I was listing many of these things as individual items.  Think of how many auctions that is.  How many pieces of paper can fit into a moving box?  Right.  A lot!  I ended up throwing away a lot of it during one particularly severe purge.  I had reached my snapping point as I moved boxes for the 20th time looking for one of my kids' toys.  I sort of regret throwing everything away like I did, and I don't recommend that approach.  There is a better way to handle your inventory.  Deal with it as you buy it and don't get attached to it!

Trash or Treasure?

The best way to learn what sells and what doesn't is to study the closed listings.  Items that are related to some famous event from the past have a good chance of selling.  That old high school musical program?  Not so much.  I listed several of them and rarely made any money.  Now, when I get a box full of ephemera, I go through it that very day.  Similar items get bundled together.  Sometimes a LOT of old high school programs (or similar items) might get a little bit of interest.  Old bank statements, pay stubs, etc. also get put together.  You should look at each of these individually as you sort though.  If there is something "special" about an item it could be valuable.  This could include things like a connection to a famous person or event.  If something about an item catches your eye, do a little bit of research online and see what turns up.  It is sort of a pain in the neck to do this, but it can pay off if you find a winner.  I once followed a hunch like this with a postcard I found.  It turned out that it was sent by a man who got on the Titanic and died a week later.  It ended up selling for a few hundred dollars!  I think it had cost me about a nickel.

My new approach is to offer my "common" ephemera items as a lot.  I'll show plenty of images in my listings and give lots of details to attract people.  If it doesn't sell, I get rid of it.  If you have an eBay store, you may want to list them individually, but I'm just not up for that anymore.  I can't take the clutter.  This same advice also applies to things other than ephemera.  If you are buying up a bunch of merchandise dirt cheap, realize that some of it just won't sell.  You try to buy with the idea of making a profit.  If you can sell most of what you are buying, you are doing pretty good.  Try to buy at prices that won't hurt too bad if you take the occasional loss.  Also, don't let yourself get attached to the idea that something has value if it is becoming obvious that no one is interested in buying it.  If the stuff you have bought still has some real, practical value, you can have a garage sale or donate it to the Salvation Army, otherwise, sometimes it is best to realize that some things are ready to head to the trash bin.

I think a key to staying sane in the eBay selling business is knowing when to get rid of things.  I used to convince myself that someone probably would want every piece of paper I had.  The result was making my garage look like something from an episode of Hoarders.  You've got to know when to cut your losses or you will end up buried in trash.

I didn’t truly realize that this could be a problem until I had been selling vintage and antique items for a while.  The stream of old merchandise was pretty consistent as I visited garage sales, estate sales, flea markets, and the like week after week.  When the weather turned cold though, my supply started to dwindle a bit.  You see, I live in an area where these informal selling venues pretty much shut down over the winter.  Even estate sale sellers in my area tend to schedule less events because people don’t like to travel in cruddy weather.

Finding Good eBay Inventory

Because I bought a ton of stuff when I first started out, I always had something to put up for sale, but the quality wasn’t always there.  In other words, I was selling, but I was dealing with a lot more low profit sales.  I was basically in seller survival mode and I didn’t like it.  Here are some ideas I came up with and put into action that might help you out too.

The first thing I did was to place an ad in my local Pennysaver classifieds.  I think the cost was about $20 and the ad basically said that I was looking to buy vintage items.  I think I may have specifically mentioned vintage clothes in that first ad.  If you have something that you enjoy selling, you might want to mention it specifically in your ad.  I would also recommend looking for a way to mention that you are interested in buying bulk.  Maybe something along the lines of “Buried under the clothes you wore in college?  I’m looking to buy vintage clothes in bulk!”.  It doesn’t have to be anything to fancy.  You just want to mention “bulk” or something like it because otherwise you could have people calling you, trying to sell you individual sweaters and such for more than they would sell for online.  That is just a waste of your time.  I had a bit of success with this approach.  People like being able to get rid of what they see as clutter without having to bother with having a yard sale.  Some people might even be willing to give you outrageously low prices.  You’ll have to figure out what you are able to spend and still be profitable before you start using this approach.  If someone wants more than you can afford, just thank them for calling and explain that you can’t spend that much.  There is a good chance that they’ll call back after they stare at their old stuff again for a while.  Something motivated them to call in the first place and it will likely keep tickling at the back of their mind.   For that reason, you should be very polite and leave the door open for them to call again if they decide they can take less for what they have.

Using this method also opened my eyes to another approach to getting stuff to sell on eBay.  I actually received a call from a woman who has an estate sale business.  She basically wanted to know if I would serve as a middle man for her.  She provided old, deadstock clothing (unsold, old stock) that she had warehoused, and I sold it without having to actually having to lay out any cash.  She just wanted to be sure that she received a certain amount per piece.  This helped her to clear her old inventory and it gave me a huge supply of things to list.  As long as you set prices that can make you both money, this can be a very sweet arrangement, especially if you can get access to all of the leftovers from estate sales that come in during the busy seasons of spring and summer.  It could even make it worth your while to set up a store on eBay or a similar site.  One caveat to keep in mind though is that you should check out what your “supplier” will have for you to sell.  If it is something that people buy regularly, GREAT!  If however, it is something that just doesn’t seem to move, you should be honest an tell the owner of the estate sale business that you are only interested in selling things with an interested audience.

Make the First Move

You don’t have to wait for these people to call you either.  You can get in touch with the owners of estate sale businesses by phone, or try to talk to them at the end of one of their weekly sales.  I wouldn’t recommend approaching them during the middle of a sale.  It is unlikely that you would get their full attention at that point.  This won’t work with all of the sellers.  Some of them buy up the leftovers from the sale and sell them themselves.  Some of them might have more than they can keep up with though.  These are the ones who can sometimes help you out.

As you put these two methods of finding merchandise into action, you may find that you don’t even have to go out to sales anymore looking for things to sell.  I happen to enjoy that part of the process, so I just look at this as a way to get through the winter and supplement things a bit.  Remember that you are dealing with people who are basically just like you.  They want to make some money with as little hassle as possible.  Get them to see how the deal could benefit THEM as well as you and you might be surprised at the ideas they come up with that could help you both out.  Don't ever try to cheat them.  Honestly, you probably need them more than they need you.  If you are willing to give a bit as you start out your relationship, they could potentially provide you with a virtually unlimited supply of things to sell since it is there business to find new sources of estate sale items constantly.  You will have to decide whether you want to keep up with the middle man status or not.  If you have a tough time finding things to sell on your own though, it might be something to consider.

When the weather gets cold where I live, I often find myself visiting one second hand shop or another looking for unusual collectibles.  I started doing this out of necessity after the garage sales and yard sales shut down for the winter.  I was mostly looking for things that I could sell on eBay for a profit.  I found out a couple of things.  First of all, I quickly learned that I'm not the only one searching for vintage items.  Next, I spent some time figuring out what was worth buying, and what I should pass on.  You can find some great, gently used merchandise at these places, but there is also some overpriced junk (just like a garage sale).  What follows is my experience shopping at some of the local second hand shops in my area.  You're mileage may vary.  I have visited many different sites since I started this, but I thought that for now, I'd focus on two big names that are likely to show up in most larger towns.  I haven't hit these stores too much recently because I've had enough other things to work with, but I'll share my experiences below.   I'll look at some smaller shops and specialty stores in a future post.

Salvation Army Thrift Store

The first stop on my tour of second hand stores was the West Mifflin Salvation Army Thrift Store.  I started visiting this site first simply because it was the closest to my house.  This is a relatively large site.  It sits near Century III Mall about seven miles south of Pittsburgh.  When I was younger, this mall was the place to be.  Sadly, it seems to have seriously slipped over the past decade or so.  I think the thrift store is probably in better shape.  I only mention this to point out that this store seems committed to upping its image.  Right or wrong, thrift stores sometimes have a certain stigma attached to them.  With all of the very well documented economic issues in the United States though, shopping for gently used items suddenly looks like a more attractive option for a lot of people.  This particular store is looking for ways to make itself more attractive.  It is kept neat and clean and the items for sale are very nicely displayed.  This was the only Salvation Army store within an hour of my house, so I don't know how the others stack up.  I liked this store though.

Goodwill Stores

Although I don't live very close to a Goodwill Store, there were several within driving distance.  I actually visited three different locations, but they all were very similar.  I guess that makes sense.  There was some difference in the general atmosphere of each store though.  As might be expected, the stores that were located near more "upscale" areas, seemed more interested in presenting themselves well.  I don't mean that to be offensive, just honest.  The merchandise in the "better" areas of town also seemed to be more toward the designer end of things.  I didn't do any real analysis of this though.

Even though there were some differences between the Salvation Army store and the Goodwill stores, they were generally a lot alike.  Both sites were very heavy on clothing.  If you are looking to outfit yourself in some half decent clothes for a price that isn't too bad, either of these sites would do fine.  If you are looking for vintage clothing, well... there is a really good chance that an eBay picker will have been there before you.  There were a couple of times when I visited the Salvation Army thrift store that I actually saw people come in and move through the store as a team.  They zipped up and down the clothing aisles looking for vintage and/or designer  items.  As they found them, they tossed them into their carts and kept moving.  They went through the place like a buzz saw and were at the checkout counter within about 15 minutes.  It was actually sort of fascinating to watch, but it made it clear to me that I'd have to time things just right if I ever wanted to stay ahead of them.  I would imagine that these folks also hit Goodwill thrift stores, but I never personally witnessed it there.  So... I'd say that if you want serviceable clothing that is still in pretty good condition (sometimes excellent), these second hand shops are a pretty good place to check out.

Second Hand Toys and Games

To be honest with you, I found that most of the toys and games looked pretty beat up in both places.  One thing I really didn't like was that many of the items were wrapped in plastic bags and you couldn't really tell what kind of condition they were in (this was at the SA store).  Any vintage toys that were recognized by the staff were tucked away behind the counter and priced like a top seller on eBay.  In other words, way too much for me to consider as a re-seller.  Even as a collector, I'd think that their prices were too high.  I've seen much better deals on eBay, garage sales and estate sales.

I did find a couple of old puzzles that were worth a few bucks, but they weren't really anything to get excited about.  Every once in a while an obscure vintage toy might slip by the initial inspection point (see below), but not too often.  I suppose these places were OK for finding old board games at a reasonable price (and some of them are actually quite collectible), but be sure to check to see if all of the pieces are still there.

Finding Used Books for Sale

This is actually one of my favorite things to look for at these places.  When the pickings were slim during the winter months, I'd often get by by looking for old collectible books.  Instruction manuals are pretty good when you can find them, and sometimes I'd even come across a Foxfire book or two.  Those are old survival/living off the land type books that do very well on eBay.  They are just pretty neat to read too.  If you haven't made the switch to using an e-reader yet, these second hand shops are a pretty good place to find books at a great price.

Second Hand Electronics

Ummm...  What can I say?  It seemed like everything electronic was tagged with a disclaimer saying that you were buying it at your own risk.  I just skipped that.  If I came across some extremely rare collectible that had value regardless of whether it worked or not, I might buy, but that never happened during my visits.

Second Hand Furniture

A lot of people seem to like to buy second hand furniture from these shops.  I suppose you can do OK, but I'd suggest checking out garage sales, estate sales, and especially estate auctions first if there are any in your area.  I especially love to check out estate auctions for antique furniture getting sold at rock bottom prices.  Those sellers are motivated.  They don't want to move the stuff.  These stores had some deals that weren't too bad, but I'd personally even check Craigslist before I spent what they were asking.  Also the selection was very limited.  That makes sense though.  Why would they want to eat up valuable retail floor space with cheap furniture?

Small Collectibles

These get hit by eBay pickers just as hard, if not harder, than the clothing.  I think the only thing I ever really found of value was a set of Fireking mugs.  If you just want some simple little decorative items for your own home, the selection and prices are OK, but you could do better at a rummage sale or yard sale.  I wasn't really too impressed.

Where is All of the Good Stuff?

Something to keep in mind is the fact that these stores are also running their own online sites now.  I'm sure that they are well aware that some valuable stuff is getting brought in when people drop off their old belongings.  They'd be fools not to do their best to sell off the more valuable collectibles on their own, and I suspect that they do just that.  Just look at what is in the showcase at the front counter.  These places are a good last resort for eBay pickers stranded by winter weather, but they're not reliable as a good source for collectible merchandise.  For your every day shopping though, there are some really good deals that can help you to save money.  I especially recommend checking out the clothing.

 What Sells on eBay?

Beginning eBay sellers are probably wondering what I actually bought and then sold for a profit during the lean winter months.  Here is a short list of second hand thrift store items that I did manage to find somewhat regularly, that did make it worth my driving time to these stores:

• Vintage concert shirts.  I would occasionally time things just right and manage to find concert shirts dating back to the 80s and 90s.  These usually didn't cost more than three or four dollars and I usually managed to sell them for at least ten dollars each.
• Local band t-shirts.  Along the same lines, I'd sometimes find shirts from local musical groups.  On their own, they weren't worth too much, but surprisingly, there were at least a few times when I'd find them signed by the entire band.  If the group is semi-popular, this can sometimes bring a decent return at auction.
• Vintage books.  Old Firefox books and other books that are considered collectible show up once in a while.  As I mentioned, old manuals for cars or even tools and appliances show up at times too.  These can be hit or miss, but for a small investment, it was a risk I didn't mind taking.  Another idea is to keep your eyes open for popular paperback books.  Individually, these are pretty much worthless, but if you can put together a complete series of books, you can do OK.
• Gently used designer clothing.  These clothes can pay off nicely if you can build up a decent sized lot of either one particularly popular brand or a number of designer items all in one size.  People will pay for larger lots of clothing when the new items cost $30 or more each.  (Think Aeropostale or American Eagle).  Other designer names should be checked out individually in the completed listings on eBay before you invest too much money.
• Small vintage toys.  Although the bagged toys were a bit annoying, from time to time I'd see some old toy figures from the 60s or 70s peeking through the plastic.  I'd always buy those up and usually do alright with it.
• Football jerseys.  Sometimes I'd find a decent team jersey for sale (the heavy, "official" ones).  Those sometimes sold well.  The stores seemed to catch on to the value of these shirts though and I quit buying them when they raised the prices on them.  Depending on where you live, you might still be able to do OK with these.  One thing to remember is that they will probably have jerseys from other cities marked down.  If they do, you might want to buy them.  eBay offers a worldwide audience and that can mean a profit for you.

The weather around here is starting to get cold again, so I'll probably be headed back to these stores soon to check things out.  Whether you like them or not, these stores do provide a great way to save some money on gently used merchandise.  If you are looking to buy for re-selling purposes, try to get to know the managers or employees of these stores.  Sometimes  they are willing to give you a heads up as to when new merchandise is put out on display.  If you can get that information, you can sometimes beat the pickers in your area and find some super good second hand deals.

I had been doing a lot of selling on eBay and without really paying attention to what I was doing, I purchased a large amount of estate merchandise that ended up all but taking over my house. I've since cleared a lot of things out, but in the process, I realized that I might have something else useful to share. As I sold items and started making some money, it occurred to me that there was a huge second hand marketplace surrounding us that a lot of people never pay any attention to at all.

They say you should write about something you know. I've sold thousands of unusual and hard to find items on eBay over the years. I've also scoured the store shelves looking for sale items to resell on eBay. I've also explored options for buying wholesale, but didn't particularly like that option for myself. It was too hard for me to find a decent product at a price that would work for me. That is also the point at which I learned that there was an awful lot of the same low quality stuff being pushed by a few dropshippers. I think you get the picture. I've learned quite a bit about what kinds of items sell and what ends up turning into clutter that you wish you had never bought.

Back when I was just starting to sell, I bought a lot of "clutter" items. My wife showed tremendous patience with me as I learned about the fine art of selling on eBay. I felt quite stupid as I threw away junk that I had paid hundreds of dollars buying at garage sales. I also did tons of research and ending up buying a lot of junk eBooks that said they would help me to figure out what sells. I have no intention of selling that information. I'd rather just share what I've learned. If I help someone find something they couldn't locate, that's great. If I help someone who is trying to learn how to make money by selling on eBay, that is great too. I'm not going to try to sell anyone a $47 ebook. My information is free. It comes with no promises (read that part again) but it might help you to find some good things to look for if you don't know what to sell. I'm not a pro blogger, so I hope you'll bear with me as I work out the kinks and figure some things out. I think there are a lot of people who can use this information whether they are searching for something to buy or to sell. I end up doing a lot of research when I sell things and I learn a lot. I thought I'd make this site sort of a mix of information and a blog about what I've found.

I'll also try to point you toward what look like hot items to me. I usually do this by following my instincts, checking out what has been getting bids and then looking at what actually ends up selling.

There are many items on eBay that just slip on by without even a single bid.
I hope you like it and find something you can't live without! Once again, I can't predict the future and I make no promises about what will actually sell. You have to be responsible for what you actually go off and do. I'll just be pointing out what looks good to me at the moment. From time to time I may do some posts featuring things I've got sitting here from my massive estate sale purchases over the past few years but I'll also be writing about some of the more interesting and unusual items I've sold on eBay over the years.

My posts may also be about other items that I find interesting as I come across them. I'll be doing that because I need a break from seeing this same stuff over and over. Honestly, I'm updating this because one of the things I really like about eBay is browsing around and looking on in amazement at some of the things people buy. I don't mean that in a bad way at all. My wife makes fun of me because when we were younger, I used to go out all the time to do one thing or another. Now I'm a little bit more prone to staying close to home. I could go weeks without a phone call and not really worry about it. (I'm not anti-social, it is just that my "real job" requires that I talk to people all day and I like some down time when I'm at home.) When I see some of the things for sale, I realize that maybe I do need to get out more. My wife gets tired of my pointing out the "interesting" things I find, so I will most likely end up blogging a bit about them here. I hope you don't mind. You can just shake your head and wonder why I'm so amused like my wife does.

If you happen upon this site and find what you are looking for, I'll be thrilled because it means I wrote about something people are actually looking for on the Internet. If you have been thinking of selling stuff on eBay, this blog might give you an idea of what things sell (and sometimes don't). If you can use that to your advantage, more power to you!
There are a lot of really interesting things trading hands every day. Sometimes you can find them close to home. Other times, it makes more sense to look for them online.
Second hand sales are a great way to save some money and get your hands on gently used merchandise for big savings. I like hitting estate sales and yard sales a lot as a way to find things I need around the house. These can also be a great source for finding items to sell if you are looking to make a few extra bucks. If you like this site or if it helps you, I hope you will mark it as a favorite and come back to visit often. If you really like it, throw me a link or share it with someone! If nothing else, please leave a comment if you find something useful. I'd love to hear that someone benefited from my experience. I hope you enjoy your visit!
Mike

I went out today visiting some local estate sales.  There weren’t many sales this weekend, and the pickings were kind of slim.   All that I came away with was an urge to write a short post for my website.  I was “inspired” to write after watching the behavior of a few people who were also at the estate sale.

When I arrived at the sale, there were already quite a few people lined up outside, waiting to get in.  This was to be expected.  The weather was also a bit chillier than we’ve been experiencing lately, so some of these folks seemed to be extra grumpy.  They stood in line complaining and generally made a point of letting everyone else know how miserable they were.  Ugh.  As if the rest of us weren’t also standing there!  Besides, the listing said that the sale started at 8 a.m. and they did open the doors by 7:50.

Anyway, the listing for this particular estate sale didn’t have any company name associated with it, so I suspected that it might be a private sale, run by the family of the person who owned the house.  It turned out that I was right.  You could tell right away upon entering the home, just by listening to the sellers talking about items they were setting out.  The sale was not professionally set up, and that annoyed some of these already agitated people.  They walked around complaining, and I even heard a couple of folks talking loudly about how they had wasted their time because there wasn’t anything “good” for sale.  The looks on the sellers’ faces me cringe.  I couldn’t believe that some people could be so rude, selfish and heartless in another person’s home.
photo credit: eerkmans

Get a Grip and Some Perspective!

Please folks, if you go to visit estate sales, hold your tongue until after you leave.  You are not browsing through WalMart.  Even in a sale being run by a liquidation company, there is a very good chance that a family member of the deceased person might be hanging around.  What you see as junk, was obviously part of someone’s life.  An estate sale is not the same as a garage sale or a yard sale.  That isn’t to say that you should be rude at any of these events, but seriously…try to muster up a bit of compassion for another human being, and keep things in perspective.  YOU just spent twenty or thirty minutes looking for something and came away disappointed.  THEY are selling a lifetime’s worth of stuff that belonged to someone they loved.  If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Hi everyone.  Most people who deal with collectibles realize that the Disney brand is huge.  People from all over the world have deep, nostalgic bonds with all things Disney.  Many childhood memories are tied to Disney characters as well as the Disney theme parks.  A Disney vacation is a very special event for some people.  It's understandable that guests buy up Disney theme park merchandise as a way to commemorate their trip.  If you pay much attention to eBay, you probably also know that trading pins are a very popular collectible.

When you bring those two things together, you're going to find some very interested folks who love to buy, sell, and trade together.  Disney Pins and Disney Pin trading are without a doubt, a hot topic with collectors today.  I hope that you will find this post to be a good Disney pin trading guide to get you started, or to help you build up your collection.  At the very least, I hope you will enjoy this peek at Disney pin values.

I'm  excited to say that I've got an amazing interview to share with you.  I thought that it would be nice to get some input from people who are experts in one particular area of collecting or another.  My guest today, Mark Gerner, certainly qualifies when it comes to collecting Disney Trading Pins.  He is a top rated seller on eBay, with an amazing 100% feedback rating with over 6,600 transactions.  That is a LOT of satisfied customers.   If you can't wait to see his auctions, his eBay name is Chip_and_Dale! (with the exclamation point).

Mickey is always a Disney favorite.

I really want to thank Mark for taking the time to answer these questions about Disney collectible pins.  I found him as I was looking through some of the eBay guides (he's written 27 of them), and he replied to my email almost immediately.  He has a true passion for what is important in his life, and I've got to say that he is one of those people that impress you from the start as a good guy.  So, enough of my babbling.  Thanks again Mark.  It's time to learn about the world of Disney collector pins and Disney Pin traders!

All About Disney Pin Trading

Q: Could you please share some information about how you started collecting and dealing in Disney Pins?

A: Collecting Disney pins started innocently enough with my wife purchasing me a Chip 'n' Dale pin while attending Mickey's Backyard BBQ back in 2001. I've always been a Chip 'n' Dale fan, and our "alter egos" seem to be these crazy chipmunks. After that, we started seeing other cute C&D pins and soon, I was collecting. At the height of my collecting, I had over 450 Chip 'n' Dale pins.

Dealing in Disney pins came, honestly, from my over-indulgence in buying. When I found myself spending WAY too much for a certain pin, I realized I no longer had pins...pins had me. As a Christian, I believe that God's still small voice speaks to us...and this was one area where I knew I had to make some changes. Though I loved collecting, I believed I needed to sell my collection (which I did, with the exception of the original Mickey's Backyard BBQ pin). When I was obedient in doing that, I realized that doing so became an answer to prayer for a "witty invention" on how to supplement my income as a youth pastor.

I started doing research, buying hard-to-find and rare Disney pins, and selling them on eBay. Over the past 10 years, we have paid off our house and supplemented our income through this fun business! AND as a bonus, I have come in contact with more rare Chip 'n' Dale pins than I ever would have been able to see had I just been collecting. Today, instead of my hobby being collecting Chip 'n' Dale pins, it's finding new and previously unlisted Disney pins for inclusion on Pinpics.com. I get the pins, photograph them, try to find their histories, list them and then sell them so I have more cash to find other obscure pins!

I do keep a few choice pins in my collection, including the first Chip 'n' Dale pin, including my Who Wants to Be a Millionaire pins I won while in the Hot Seat of the Disney-MGM Studios show (made it to the 1,000,000 question and then missed it, losing the grand prize Disney cruise!).

Q: I know that Disneyana, in general, is a very popular area of collecting.  There is no shortage of Walt Disney collectibles.   What is the history of Disney Pin trading? How and where does trading take place?

A: Pins have always been associated with Walt Disney. Back when The Disney Brothers Studio existed in 1930, the first pin was released (a Mickey Mouse Club pin). And when Disneyland opened its doors July 18, 1955, you could find a few jewelry-style pins. But pin trading was never thought of as a big event until the Summer Olympics came to Los Angeles in 1984. The Olympics had long been known for pin trading, as both athletes from different countries and spectators would trade pins representing various sports or countries. Disney saw this as an opportunity to make money, and they started producing more pins for the parks (especially in Disneyland in coordination with their 30th anniversary in 1985).

The Disney pin trading enthusiasm waned after four or five years - partly because Disney never really heavily promoted the concept of pin trading, but people continued to do so behind the scenes and Disney continued to produce pins for the general public.

Oddly enough, it appears that eBay's success fueled Disney's resurgence of major pin production AND the heavily-marketed concept of pin trading. People were selling pins on eBay, and I believe Disney saw this as a huge marketing opportunity for themselves. With the millennium quickly approaching, Disney started marketing the Countdown to the Millennium 101-pin set of pins, released at Disney Stores every few weeks in 1999. It turned out that Disney grossly over-produced these pins, leaving a huge inventory of unsold pins; Disney execs turned the "lemon" into lemonade by selling the pins in the Disney parks, and placing them on lanyards which Cast Members wore, giving Guests the opportunity to trade for Disney pins they didn't have in their collections. After seeing the great success of this endeavor, Disney Corp. ramped up the concept of pin trading, adding 1000s of pins, holding annual pin celebrations in the parks, creating official Disney pin trading zones in the park, and strongly encouraging Cast Members to wear pin trading lanyards.

Disney pin trading takes place in several ways: Most trading is done with Disney park Guests trading with Cast Members (Cast Members are required to trade, as long as the Guest isn't trading a pin that's already on the Cast Member's Disney lanyard). Guest to Guest trading is also done, but some Guests are too intimidated to approach other Guests, while other Guests prefer to not trade with other Guests. (Personally, I find it a great way to meet other Disney pin enthusiasts, and I even have shirts with info on the back "loudly proclaiming" that I will trade with others. Pin trading zones (normally outside of pin stores) are meeting places for traders, but are sometimes overrun by Pin Sharks (professionals who seek to scam unsuspecting Guests out of their valuable pins by trading cheap, common pins back to them).

One of the best places for Disney pin trading is online: Pinpics.com is an international online community of pin traders. On this site, you can research histories of Disney pins, keep track of your collection (including pins you want and pins you'd be willing to trade) and more. They have an automated pin trading feature that sends email requests to other traders, giving them the opportunity to trade Disney pins with you. If both parties are agreed, pins are mailed on the same day. Positive pin referrals are given when the trade is successful, so traders can build up a reputation for being honest and timely in their mailings.

Rapunzel's movie debut exploded her popularity.

Although Scrapper sellers (bootleggers) have put a damper on pin collecting, it still continues to be a huge practice both in the Disney parks with pin trading and in the secondary market through online auctions.

Q: About how many Disney trading pins are there out there, and are there different types or styles of trading pins?

A: ANY Disney pin can be traded, but not every Disney pin can be traded within a Disney park. The main criteria to judge whether a pin is able to be traded or not is that it must be a metal pin that represents a Disney event, location, character or icon. Some pins from Disney's operating participants are also able to be traded, but must represent the operating participant in a way that has a specific Disneyland® Resort or Walt Disney World® Resort affiliation. I don't have a complete count (and new pins are being listed daily), but there are easily well over 51,000 pins that would be considered legitimate traders in the Disney parks.

Pins not able to be traded within the parks are still highly sought-after, and they come in a variety of materials, sizes and pin backs. There are metal, plastic, enamel, Bakelite and even wooden pins that date back into the early 1930s. The definition of what's a pin has been challenged, as Disney has released pins as small as 1/8" to up to 7"x7" pins have been found.

Q: I've seen some auctions for eBay Disney Pins ending with bids around a thousand dollars. What make some pins more valuable than others?

A: The vast majority of Disney pins are common, but certain pins command more attention and thus a higher bid price. Several factors can bring about such bidding:

LIMITED EDITION PINS - For a time, Disney released some pins sets with a limited edition size of as low as 10. The pins in these sets are valuable because of their rarity, and the pin sets now command an even higher prices as some of these rare sets have been broken apart so that individual character collectors can get their favorite character without having to purchase an entire rare framed or boxed set.

LIMITED ACCESS PINS - Some pins are awarded to Cast Members or others for excellent service. Excellent teaching, nationally, was rewarded with a rare Disney Teacherrific Award; Disney engineers who worked on projects leading up to the Disneyland 50th anniversary were given a pin (which is now highly sought-after). Multi-year Cast service awards (40- or higher years of service) are very highly collectible due to their rarity.

CHARACTER OR ATTRACTION - Certain attractions have wild fan appeal: The Haunted Mansion is one such example, with the most devoted fans willing to pay upwards toward $1,000 or more for certain low-edition size pins. Other times, a popular movie can cause normally common pins to sell for higher prices: currently, Rapunzel is a good example of such a pin character.

POPULAR SERIES - Sometimes, a series just catches on and people go "nuts" over it: The first year of the Piece of History series (where a very small piece of a Disney attraction is placed within a bubble area of a pin) commands high prices. A pin set that features reproductions of Disney's shampoo, soap and toothpaste usually brings prices well over $100 each.

Ultimately, I base rarity on the number of pins produced, who had access to the pins, and how many people are out there wanting the pins vs. how many are out there willing to part with their pins. A website like Pinpics.com is perfect for determining this information.

Q: If you were to find some Disney Pin sets or individual pins for sale at a yard sale, what would you look at to determine how much you were willing to pay?  What determines a Disney Pin's value?

A: Over the years, I have literally invested 100s of hours researching pins. Although I don't know the value of every Disney pin, I have a pretty good idea of what's common and what's valuable. The nice thing is that at garage sales, pins are going to be selling for pennies on the dollar, so the chance of losing money on a pin is pretty slim. Obviously, you would have a better chance of finding pins in the Orlando or L.A. areas than in the middle of, say, South Dakota. But the neat thing is, you never know what you'll find in a collection... I purchased a collection of 450 pins for about 12 cents each; they were from the 1980s. It turned out that about a third of those pins were extremely valuable, selling on eBay for $20-$60 each.

Q: Sadly, when something sells well, there are often people who try to scam others. I've heard of bootleg and scrapper pins. Could you please tell us what these are and how to avoid them?

A: The No. 1 pin crusade I have is to expose Scrapper pin sellers and the practice of scrapping pins. Essentially, Scrapper pins are pins that have been made by unscrupulous Chinese pin factories who, instead of destroying pin molds after orders are made from Disney, sell the molds or continue to produce pins to sell at a greatly reduced price to bulk sellers. Normally, the overrun pins are of a lesser quality. They are sometimes thinner, sometimes off center slightly, sometimes off-color. Regardless, they are no better to buy, ethically, than a bootleg DVD or CD. They are fakes and are sold as "authentic" Disney pins when they are not. I regard Scrapper sellers as frauds who deserve prison.

When I see someone selling the same Disney pins in bulk over and over and over again, I greatly suspect their source of pins. On eBay, I encourage people to search "Disney pin" and then refine that search in a sort from highest price to lowest. From there, buyers can see dozens (sometimes 100s) of such clone auctions by the same seller. Personally, I'd avoid such sellers like the plague!

That said, I'm not suggesting EVERY bulk seller is a Scrapper seller, but I would encourage potential buyers to do their homework. Get on Dizpins.com and look at their photo list of known Scrapper pins; compare this list with the pictures they see of bulk pins sold. If many of the pins being sold and resold are on the Scrapper list, I'd avoid them. Secondly, I'd demand of bulk sellers an answer WHERE they have purchased their pins...if they don't give a straight answer, drop them. Third, if you suspect a Scrapper seller on eBay, you can turn them into Disney's VeRO site (Verified Rights Owner Program). You can email them at tips@disneyantipiracy.com or by phone at (818) 560-3300. All calls can be anonymous.

Q: Do you have any other tips, advice or general information for people looking to start or grow a collection of Disney Pins?

A: The main thing I tell people is to HAVE FUN. This is to be a hobby, not an investment. It's to be something you can enjoy, not something you obsess over. Pick a favorite Disney character, subject or attraction and just start! You can find pins for fairly reasonable prices on eBay, and using pin trading sites like Pinpics.com is a great way to meet fellow pin enthusiasts and Disney collectors. Realize that you are ultimately collecting pieces of metal with pretty pictures on them...they are not solutions to world peace or hunger. Keep collecting in its place and you'll enjoy it.

Lastly, use pin collecting as a way to bring happiness to others. We routinely bring extra pins to the parks to simply give away to kids (with parental approval of course!) or others. It's amazing how a little Disney collectible pin can brighten the countenance of someone. I've had a Japanese women who spoke very little English squeal with glee upon receiving a free Chip 'n' Dale pin from me. I saw a grown man tear-up and transform from a 40-something-year-old man into a little boy again, as he held a small Orange Bird pin from the 1970s I gave him. I've seen parents cry over the kindness of a total stranger to their children. The reward is in seeing the happy faces! To me, THAT is what pin "trading" is all about...

I want to thank Mark again for taking the time to share his knowledge of Disney Pins.  Below, you will find many Disney Pins for sale.  If you're a collector, you'd have to look long and hard to find a more honest dealer than Mark.  Why not check out what he has to offer by looking him up?

If you enjoyed this interview, please take a second to use one of the social buttons below to "like" or otherwise share it with people you know.  Also, if YOU are a collector or eBay seller who really knows his or her "stuff" and would be willing to share what you know, please use the Contact Form to get in touch with me.  I'd love to interview you or share a guest post from you.  Thanks!  Mike

Disney Pins for Sale

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BEAUTY BELLE THE BEAST DANCING Disney DLRP Pin    US $5.00

DISNEYS 2004 SOUTHEASTERN FLOWER SHOW PIN NEW IN PLASTIC BAG    US $5.00

Micky Mouse Thumb Pendant    US $5.00

DISNEYS DONALD DUCK TINKERBELL PIN NEW IN PLASTIC BAG    US $5.00

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Second Hand

Note:  I am an eBayPartner affiliate, so if you follow these links to auctions, and then make a purchase, I'll make a commission.  It won't affect your price at all, and I'll appreciate it!  If you would rather just look things up yourself, Mark's eBay seller name is Chip_and_Dale! (with the exclamation point).

Recently, I started thinking about what types of quality second hand items I find on a consistent basis.  These are things that I know I can find with a fair amount of certainty.  They are also the things that I won’t pay full price for until I’ve spent at least one weekend looking for them in acceptable used condition.  Most times I can find these things at a fraction of what the original retail cost was.

Gently Used Designer Clothing

If you like to wear designer brand clothing, or you have kids who want it, a yard sale can be your best friend.  I learned years ago that teenage girls tend to outgrow this expensive clothing long before it looks worn out.  If you shop around (especially in more expensive neighborhoods) you can often find moms clearing out the clothes that no longer fit their kids anymore at great discounts.  Resellers should look for brands like Aeropostale, American Eagle, Hollister and others of that ilk.  eBay buyers LOVE to buy these items in bulk and will occasionally bid it up to some pretty hefty sums of money.  If you are just buying for yourself or the kids, it isn’t unusual to find this clothing selling for about a dollar per piece.  Compare that to what it sells for in the store.  This works for guys clothing too, but I mostly come across a lot of girls’ clothing.  When the size is right and the condition is good, I’ll grab it up by the armload for my own daughters.

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DAVE HOLLISTER One Woman man REMIX feat REDMAN 2001 promo cd    US $25.00

Huge Hollister Lot Junior Clothes S M Abercrombie Charlotte Russe etc    US $.01

Juniors hollister abercrombie shirt lot size M    US $.01

Lot of 4 HOLLISTER CO Mens Graphic Tees LARGE NWOT 100 Authentic    US $70.00

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Second Hand

These are usually found at estate sales.  People having yard sales are still using all of those hammers, screw drivers, and countless examples of gardening equipment.  At estate sales, these items get treated like leftovers and are usually relegated to a far corner of the garage.  I love to snag cool looking tools when I find them because they are usually on a dollar or two a piece.  If you don’t mind that the tools might need cleaned up a bit, this is another place where you can save a pretty penny compared to buying new.  Check for damage to the tools, but usually these are a pretty good find.  Just as an “FYI”, do a little research before you head out.  Some old hand tools like Stanley Planes and some older hand saws can be extremely valuable to collectors.  How valuable?  Think in the neighborhood of hundreds of dollars each.  Most of the time though, I just consider the second hand tools a great way to keep my own garage and shed well stocked on the cheap.

Kids Toys

This works along the same lines as the designer clothing.  Kids outgrow things.  They don’t just outgrow things though.  They want new “stuff” to replace it.  For most people, buying a new home to fit an endless supply of toys is not a practical option.  That means that something has to go most of the time.  If you’re a mom (or if you know one), you have probably noticed that when they say to get things cleared out, they usually mean it.  That means that toys that have been outgrown get sold dirt cheap.  This can include relatively expensive items like play gyms, outdoor playhouses and even wagons.  The often get sold for far less than retail.  The only catch is, you have to give them a thorough once over before buying and you have to have a way to transport larger items that very day.

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a box of barbies and outdoor playset Unknown pieces 99cents start bid    US $.99

Peninsula Players Play House Old Postcard Fish Creek Wisconsin 1958 L L Cook Old    US $.99

HUGE KIDS TV Shows VHS Dutch Lot 99 cents ea Stock up Save Children Preschool    US $.99

ONE BEDROOM New Hampshire NORTH CONWAY Springtime TIMESHARE Resale    US $1.00

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Second Hand

People who are aware of their history tread on the path of life with certainty and preparedness for the future. We have reverence for the past and the culture and tradition that prevailed within its limits. The artistic creations produced by these classical cultures are highly regarded by many because of their beauty and characteristics.

They have surpassed ephemeral trends and production limitations and they have emerged in today’s time as unrivaled and timeless art pieces.  Some of them provide utilitarian functions while others are appreciated for their decorative purposes. There are also a few of these art forms that serve both functions and one of them is grouped into furniture designs. Furniture pieces have been around to provide convenience for people as early as the Egyptian period and their decorative appeal continue to be developed and enhanced until today. One evident example of this phenomenon is the welcome presence of antique coffee tables in our contemporary living rooms. Their outstanding features and superb craftsmanship make them successful representations of the historical periods from when they were first created.

Coffee tables are an indispensable fixture in the homes of many people. There are coffee tables that have storage spaces integrated in their designs, as well as several layered parts for the display of ornamental home objects such as figurines, magazines, vases, etc. They also serve as an integral part of the design of the living room because of its central location in the interior. Most people are drawn to the eye-catching design of the coffee table and it often becomes a subject of conversation when entertaining guests. It is wonderful if you find the perfect coffee table for your living room set or lounge furniture set especially if it has an interesting appeal. Antique coffee tables possess both the functional and aesthetic characteristics that you need for such a significant piece of furniture. Most of the pieces are beautifully made with elaborate carvings and incredible overall style. They were made decades or centuries ago, and over time may have adorned some of the most grand and elegant salons, boudoir and parlors of beautiful, classical homes. Time and history have made them exquisite and valued works of art of today.

Antique wood coffee tables
Wood was indeed the primary material used for furniture making centuries ago and that is why there is an abundance of antique coffee tables made of all kinds of wood. The rich and durable solid woods that were often used were mahogany, oak, rosewood, pine and walnut. Some of them were finished using solid paint but the majority of these coffee tables showed off the natural grains of the wood material because the makers considered the raw and beautiful characteristics of the wood. The French coffee table designs that dated as early the 14th century have very elaborate and intricate detailing. For the rectangular-shaped tables, stretchers were employed for stability and also as an added detail to the legs of the tables. The rounded ones had circular bases for some while others made use of three separate legs with carved ball and claw feet. The legs were treated with carvings, turnings, flutings, inlays and other complicated designs that made them appear well-crafted and carefully designed. The skilled furniture makers and designers of that time where commissioned by royals to design the furniture pieces for their palaces and religious churches and basilicas, so the designs had to be grand and auspicious.

Antique metal coffee tables
Combinations of materials in the manufacture of antique coffee tables are quite remarkable. Metal coffee tables, with a hint of wood detail, and natural stone tops are very interesting designs. A brass coffee table with an expensive white marble top is an outstanding piece of furniture. It exudes elegance and sophistication that is well-suited for equally exquisite armchairs and sofas. For a contemporary living room, this coffee table design will also adapt well because metal and marble are timeless materials. Even with thin, curved feminine legs, they will be a great choice for a chic and classy living room set. Another metallic material that was used for antique coffee tables is wrought iron. The thin and malleable wrought iron makes it an excellent candidate for twisting and bending, thus coffee table designs that were produced using this particular material tended to be detailed with swirling curves that showed the S-form as often as possible.

Chinese antique coffee tables
The oriental styles in furniture pieces have always been unique and distinguishable with their own trademark designs. It is no different with their coffee tables. The antique coffee tables designed centuries ago are identifiable because of the exquisite inlays and lacquer work designs on them. They are finished in the most vivid hues of red and orange. Black coffee tables are also quite common but the details in them are far from being ordinary. These coffee tables are usually low in height compared to their western counterparts. Some of the simpler designs had a distinct monkey’s paw motif on their legs and they were made with fretwork and repetitive geometrical carvings that are somewhat busy details, but are characteristically oriental or Chinese.

Antique trunk coffee tables
The designs of antique trunk tables are very interesting. They are fascinating as coffee tables because they have the appearance of a valuable treasure chest and when situated in the middle of living room, that can be quite a captivating design. You would be drawn to the mystery of what’s within the old rustic container or simply be enthralled by the history of its survival though the centuries. They are functional pieces of furniture because you can store anything within them from magazines, books, toys and other little ornaments and trinkets that are just scattered around the living room. They can be the convenient temporary trash bin for all the mess in the home if you happen to have an unexpected visitor. Some of the antique trunk tables are made of unpolished wood with exposed hardware that consists of bolts, nuts and hinges. They are carved with simple, utilitarian horizontal and vertical lines but others have a more feminine treatment with curved and floral designs. The rare ones made of leather and wood with exposed nail heads as their decorative touch is very quaint and resemble a traveling suitcase that were fashionable during the 19th century and even until today. There are also designs which have real drawers which make them easier to manage as a storage space since you wouldn’t have to take the lid off in order to get the things inside.

Art Deco Antique Coffee Tables
It is wonderful to own a unique coffee table with a distinct eclectic design that can stand out as an accent piece in your living room. Antique Art Deco coffee tables have an identifiable look that can be compared to no other. Their most distinguishable feature is the glossy finished wood marquetry detail. The clear finish shows the exquisite patterns and the natural shade of the solid wood material. The shapes of the Art Deco coffee tables are as diverse as their styles. They have their unique design of round and rectangular shapes but they also have polygonal ones that challenge the artistry of superb and one-of-a-kind designs.

In one corner of my game room I've got a box filled with someone's memories.  Vintage Valentines Cards, heart felt greetings signed with love from someone long since gone to their reward.  Bundled up in that plain old box are hundreds of long kept tender messages and well wishes dating back to the 1930's or so. Every time I move that box of old Valentines from one corner of the room to another, I can't help but think that they must have really meant a lot to their original owner during their life.

I came to own these vintage Valentines greeting cards by making one of my estate sale purchases that included box upon box of mixed up merchandise. I found them, carefully tied together with an old, worn out ribbon, in the bottom of one of the boxes. I couldn't help but feel a little bit melancholy as I flipped through them, and read Valentines Day messages sent by lovers separated by miles during a war I've only experienced through books and movies.  Now it is time for them to move on to someone else.  Perhaps they will become part of a new mother's scrapbook because she likes how the old fashioned images bring out the eyes of her little one on the "My First Valentine" page.  These creative people give a second life to these forgotten treasures.

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Valentines Day Card Very old Acceptable to Fine Condition Great Color Vintage    US $.25

Valentines Day Greeting Card Very Old Vintage Great Color Beautiful Condition    US $.25

VINTAGE ITS A LOVE DUET VALENTINE GREETING CARD    US $.99

VINTAGE Embossed Pull Out VALENTINE DAY CARD    US $.99

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Second Hand

Why Collect Vintage Valentines?

People collect vintage Valentines for a variety different reasons. Scrapbookers love the old graphics. The style is much different than what you find today filed on shelves in the supermarket. The messages are simple and sweet. They are perfect for giving a scrapbook a special added touch. Other people collect vintage ephemera like this because, like me, they feel like they are catching a glimpse into the past when they hold these old cards and read the messages written inside of them.  Sometimes it is just a nice change of pace to find vintage Valentine decorations and cards that have nothing to do with today's trends.  A Valentine text message just doesn't have the same personal touch.

For people who might want to look for these old Valentine cards on their own, I have a little bit of advice. First of all, the place to find them (maybe) is at estate sales. Don't expect them to be sitting out as a featured item however. Many times, family members either decide to save them for themselves, or they do not really think that anyone would be interested in owning old greeting cards that were already written on years ago. I see them from time to time, now that I look for them, but they are usually thrown into a box of assorted items that are one step away from the dumpster. If you don't see anything like that out for sale, consider asking the person in charge of the estate sale if there are any old greeting cards among what is being sold. Sometimes, they will help you to locate a hidden stash of them that they saw as things were being set up. It certainly never hurts to ask.

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part of the German M 35 helmet from Stalingrad to the tank    US $1.00

ANTIQUE GERMANY ARMY MEDALS 1914 IRON CROSS 2ND CLASS WW1 FOR BRAVERY    US $1.03

Helmet City Inc Helmet Size Small    US $1.04

VINTAGE WW2 SILVER NAZI GERMANY 5 REICHSMARK COIN RARE    US $1.08

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Second Hand

People sometimes have very different interests and perspectives when it comes to collecting. Many people who enjoy military collectibles clearly demonstrate this. People focus on many different things. Some people enjoy collecting Airborne militaria. Others, like to collect items from something they or a loved one was part of.

I've noticed that German militaria is especially popular, with a particular focus on the helmets. If you are a seller, it might be wise to note that many helmets were listed for very high starting prices and did not sell. These seem to be a good candidate for spawning bidding wars among collectors. Many of the highest winning bids were over $1000 and most had at least 20 bids on the item.

If you are going to consider buying one of these, either for a collection or to resell, you should be particularly attentive to what you are bidding on. First off of course, be sure that it is authentic. If you are going to spend a considerable amount of money, you should see some type of certificate of authenticity while you are dealing. Ask questions about the condition of the helmet. Things like the amount of rust, if any, and markings that may be on the helmet could make a significant difference in an item's ending price. You should also ask (or check in person) if there is a liner inside the helmet. Find out what information is included on the liner. You also find original drawstrings or even stickers to take into consideration if you are looking at this as an investment.

Some helmets may have come from other collections. It is not unusual for entire collections to be sold off, sometimes by the piece, when a collector passes on. Try to ask the seller as many questions about what you are interested in as you can possibly think of. Even though eBay has a buyer protection plan, you probably do not want to have to use it. Finally, check out the seller's feedback score on eBay to see if they have been selling similar items. If they have, read what previous buyers had to say about their buying experience with that individual.