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.

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.

US AuctionsAustralian AuctionsAustrian AuctionsBelgian AuctionsCanadian AuctionsFrench AuctionsGerman AuctionsIndian AuctionsIrish AuctionsItalian AuctionsDutch AuctionsPolish AuctionsSpanish AuctionsSwiss AuctionsUK Auctions

Best MatchTime: ending soonestTime: newly listedPrice: lowest firstPrice: highest firstPrice + Shipping: lowest firstPrice + Shipping: highest first

LOT 4 MENS ABERCROMBIE HOLLISTER AMERICAN EAGLE SMALL S MEDIUM M AEROPOSTALE    US $34.99

LOT 3 MENS ABERCROMBIE HOLLISTER POLO TEE S L LARGE SHIRT AEROPOSTALE THERMAL    US $34.99

1 CENT CD Force One Network The M M E Program 1 PA    US $.01

1 CENT CD 2AM Club What Did You Think new 2010    US $.01

View Page:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25

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.

US AuctionsAustralian AuctionsAustrian AuctionsBelgian AuctionsCanadian AuctionsFrench AuctionsGerman AuctionsIndian AuctionsIrish AuctionsItalian AuctionsDutch AuctionsPolish AuctionsSpanish AuctionsSwiss AuctionsUK Auctions

Best MatchTime: ending soonestTime: newly listedPrice: lowest firstPrice: highest firstPrice + Shipping: lowest firstPrice + Shipping: highest first

1 cent cd LED ZEPPELIN 4 CD BOX SET ALL 4 DISCS IN CASES NO OUTER BOX    US $.06

Step By Step Outdoor Projects 1998 Paperback    US $3.99

Building Backyard Structures Sheds Barns Bins Gazebos Other Outdoor Const    US $.99

Large Vintage Little People lot including Camper from 1972 and house from 1969    US $.99

View Page:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23

Second Hand

photo credit: ffrade

For most people, the idea of owning a Lamborghini is just a bit outside of their budgetary retraints. I did a quick search and the cheapest one I found was in the ballpark of $220,000. That is a pretty nice ballpark. Let's face it, that costs more than the average person's house. Some people have found a way to enjoy the beautiful styling of these machines without going broke however. I'm talking about collectors of those wonderful scale model die-cast cars that many of us had when we were growing up. It seems that the Hot Wheels Lamborghini is a big seller. In particular, collectors like the 1:18 scale Lamborghini.

When I was a kid, I loved collecting Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars. The thought of "seriously" collecting them never really entered my mind though. I did not realize at the time that some of them would eventually be worth so much money. For anyone who might now know, these are die-cast cars, most commonly found in 1:64 scale that commonly could be bought for around a dollar. Anyone who grew up during the 70s probably had exposure to some of the coolest models ever made and never even realized it. Like I said, I loved collecting these things. There were larger scales introduced, but I always liked the 1:64 scale because that is what fit on the yellow Hot Wheels track I owned. I'd set up sloping runs and do time trials with a stopwatch to see which of my cars was the fastest. When my friends or young relatives got the idea in their heads that it might be fun to blow up cars with firecrackers, I immediately got my cars out of the mix. I took care of them and I actually still have a bunch of them, but I'm not selling. I must admit though, when I started doing research on how much people are willing to pay for some of these, especially the redline models, the thought of selling them did cross my mind since I've got some of those too.

So anyway, back to the Hot Wheels Lamborghini. If you are looking to buy these, you certainly must know that eBay should be on your short list of places to check. I'll show some listings below for you. (I'll also include Amazon listings beneath them for comparison).
Hot Wheels Lamborghini on eBay

US AuctionsAustralian AuctionsAustrian AuctionsBelgian AuctionsCanadian AuctionsFrench AuctionsGerman AuctionsIndian AuctionsIrish AuctionsItalian AuctionsDutch AuctionsPolish AuctionsSpanish AuctionsSwiss AuctionsUK Auctions

Best MatchTime: ending soonestTime: newly listedPrice: lowest firstPrice: highest firstPrice + Shipping: lowest firstPrice + Shipping: highest first

hotwheels lamborghini estoque    US $.01

hotwheels lamborghini gallardo lp 570 4 superleggera    US $.01

BREAD BOX NEW MOD 2010 HOT WHEELS    US $.01

LAMBORGHINI MURCIELAGO 2009 HOT WHEELS    US $.10

View Page:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23

Second Hand

One thing I've noticed lately, that I never realized before, is that you also find some of these harder to find items on Amazon. I really never expected that. You can find newer models if you want to buy with an eye to the future, or even the older, more valuable ones.
Hot Wheels Lamborghini on Amazon

Hot Wheels 2003 Lamborghini Diablo Final Run 9/12 #203 RED 1:64 Scale

Hot Wheels Speed Machines Lamborghini Reventon 1:64 Hot Wheels Speed Machines Lamborghini Reventon 1:64 by Mattel 2009.

Hot Wheels Lamborghini Diablo #781 (1998)

If you frequent garage sales and the like, keep an eye out for anything Lamborghini related. The brand has a bit of a cult following of people who just love the idea of so much power and beauty being rolled into one fabulous package. If you can find these at a decent price, you might want to snag them.

I really enjoy watching the economics of garage sales, estate sales, and what sells on eBay. It is such a great look at supply and demand. Trust me, I am not all that interested in economics. I took the class in college because I had to, and that's about it. But I do go to a lot of estate sales and yard sales. I also spend a decent bit of time looking at what sells on eBay. Here is what I've noticed....

When I go to local sales, I do my best to head out early. Because of that, I often get there with those first folks who rudely rush the door and blast through the rooms like a wrecking ball. If you haven't seen this in action, you probably don't want to. There are many people who show up looking for just one specific type of item. One of the categories that gets people going pretty good is jewelry.

Usually, at estate sales, the jewelry will be on a table right next to the people handling the money. Of course this is to prevent theft. This is also usually the first area you run into when you enter the sale. Most times, this jewelry is pretty inexpensive. Boxes filled with cheap brooches, rings, necklaces and the like. Sometimes designer jewelry is mixed in, and many times there are some true vintage baubles just waiting to get plucked.

Let me tell you, it isn't unusual to have ten people rush that little table as soon as the door opens. Five minutes later, that table looks like a cow that wandered into a school of piranha fish. That bunch of people is then off to hit the next likely sale the same way. I imagine they are either some hard core jewelry collectors, or they are off to list their treasures on eBay.

So how does this affect someone who just wants a nice brooch at a good price? Well, it means that it can be tough to find anything at the estate sales unless you are there in the first half hour or so. I mentioned brooches specifically in the title of this post, because those, along with rings seem to really get grabbed up quickly in my area. It also means that there is a ton of this stuff getting listed on eBay regularly. That also means that you have a pretty darn good chance of finding cheap jewelry for sale just about any time you visit eBay. By cheap, I mean inexpensive, not junk. The competition among sellers with all of that estate sale jewelry forces them to list things at competitive prices. The massive flood of items ensures that demand won't get too crazy and drive up prices (unless it is some very special piece).

If you are looking to start buying and selling jewelry, well, you better do your homework. There is a lot that goes into determining what exactly qualifies as a "special" piece that will attract attention. For now, here are some nice "cheap brooches" that are currently available for sale on eBay.

US AuctionsAustralian AuctionsAustrian AuctionsBelgian AuctionsCanadian AuctionsFrench AuctionsGerman AuctionsIndian AuctionsIrish AuctionsItalian AuctionsDutch AuctionsPolish AuctionsSpanish AuctionsSwiss AuctionsUK Auctions

Best MatchTime: ending soonestTime: newly listedPrice: lowest firstPrice: highest firstPrice + Shipping: lowest firstPrice + Shipping: highest first

Vintage Gold Plated Cutout Circle Pin Brooch Simple    US $.01

Vintage Brooch Pin    US $.01

Vintage Brooch Pin pearls    US $.01

Vintage Brooch Pin rhinestone    US $.01

View Page:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24

Second Hand

I realize that sounds a little bit silly, but seriously, do you have one somewhere in your house? I once knew a girl whose mother was a pretty serious seamstress. They had two or three retired vintage mannequins in one of their upstairs rooms that they used as models. I seem to recall that they actually had given them names.

Antique Mannequins for Sale

US AuctionsAustralian AuctionsAustrian AuctionsBelgian AuctionsCanadian AuctionsFrench AuctionsGerman AuctionsIndian AuctionsIrish AuctionsItalian AuctionsDutch AuctionsPolish AuctionsSpanish AuctionsSwiss AuctionsUK Auctions

Best MatchTime: ending soonestTime: newly listedPrice: lowest firstPrice: highest firstPrice + Shipping: lowest firstPrice + Shipping: highest first

Antique Wicker Store Mannequin    US $39.00

TUSH UNDERWEAR VINTAGE LINGERIE mannequin DRESS FORM retail store display    US $44.00

Antique Female Greneker Mannequin Torso Vintage Store Display    US $49.99

Atq VICTORIAN MALE YOUNG MAN MANNEQUIN HEAD ADVERTISING STORE DISPLAY CREEPY    US $49.99

View Page:   1  2  3  4  5  6

Second Hand

I don't know what the former owner did for a living or in their spare time, but whatever it was obviously involved these old human forms. They were in very nice condition, but I've got to admit that it was a little bit strange walking through the room with them staring at me. It was later in the day, so there were not a lot of people crowding through the place. One other lady came down the steps and seemed a little bit creeped out. She quickly turned around and retreated to the land of the living waiting at the top of the steps.

I had a feeling that second hand mannequins might be valuable, but honestly, I was not equipped that day to stock up on anything so large. It turns out that they probably would have been a pretty good purchase if they were available as a large lot. I checked eBay the next day and found that antique mannequins (and even those that are not actually antiques) are indeed, some pretty good sellers. Some were selling for hundreds of dollars each.

It turns out that these old mannequins are considered by many to be of higher quality than newer models. They are better crafted and made to last (obviously). Some folks just enjoy the older "vintage" look of them.

If you do happen to be one of those people who someone acquired a mannequin at some point during your life, it very well might be worth your time to list it on eBay. Even though a very well kept mannequin will bring top dollar, even portions of the old mannequin forms can draw bids. You may also be interested to know that people look for specific traits in their mannequins. Specialized forms include maternity, child size, baby size, hosiery legs (just the legs alone) and torso forms. Of course there are also mannequin heads that can be found selling on their own.

Older mannequins should be expected to show some signs of wear. They also should have a different look to them. Their features are not quite as detailed as more modern models. A quick test to test for age can be just checking what materials were used in the construction of the mannequin. Authentic forms are more likely to be constructed of plaster or even wood.

So anyway, unless you intend to open a store or museum, you might want to browse the listings to see what is for sale. If you are a collector, don't forget to try your luck at estate sales. Oh, also, if you ARE a collector, please leave a comment. I'd love to hear what these get used for when they get purchased (I think)!

Please take a second to use the social buttons below to share this post with friends if you enjoyed it.

Good luck on their quest for second hand windows!

I've got a bunch of neat old second hand vintage coasters that I recently put up for sale.  They're an interesting lot, but like so much of what I have stored all over the place, they just have to go.  I suppose the person who originally owned these was a bit of a collector, but it isn't really a huge collection.

The first item that caught my eye when I found these were the old United States Congress Coasters.  I don't know the story of their origin, but I do know that there are some people who enjoy collecting memorabilia related to politics.  I did a little research and also found that some people focus just on a particular area of government, and look for items

Stanley Home Products Coasters

like vintage U.S. Congress pieces.  Others look for presidential material.  I suppose it depends on the individual.  What struck me about these U.S. Congress coasters was the fact that they are quite heavy.  The four of them together weigh around 1 pound, 5 ounces.  I think they would make an interesting addition to someone's collection.

The next two items are vintage coasters promoting beer.  I can remember returning home from Pirates games when I was young and seeing the DUKE Beer sign on the hillside next to the Mongahela River.  It is long gone now, as is the Duquesne brewery.  Both

Stoney's /Esquire Beer Coasters

a victim of some tough economic times that hit the city of Pittsburgh when the steel industry imploded.  The Stoney's / Esquire coasters would also make an interesting find for someone I imagine.

Finally, there are  two different coasters from Stanley Home Products.  The company has been around since 1931 and I honestly didn't realize that they were still in existence.  Anyway, I believe the coasters I found are on the vintage side.  Hopefully, someone has a home for them.

Well, these coasters sold folks.  Here are some others that look interesting until I get my next lot listed:

US AuctionsAustralian AuctionsAustrian AuctionsBelgian AuctionsCanadian AuctionsFrench AuctionsGerman AuctionsIndian AuctionsIrish AuctionsItalian AuctionsDutch AuctionsPolish AuctionsSpanish AuctionsSwiss AuctionsUK Auctions

Best MatchTime: ending soonestTime: newly listedPrice: lowest firstPrice: highest firstPrice + Shipping: lowest firstPrice + Shipping: highest first

Vintage Miniature Kansas Highway Shiled Sign 56 Coaster Highway Commission KS    US $1.04

ANTIQUE vintage SILVER REPOUSSE NUT cup CANDY PIN TRINKET BOWL BON BON DISH    US $1.34

Junk Drawer Budweiser Schrade zippo nude lighter sailor jerryknife vintage    US $1.55

4 Vintage Deco Silver Plated Glass Coasters Italian    US $1.64

View Page:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21

Second Hand