Thrift Shop Pickups

[TimBuckTwo]

I hate to see it on the second page too.

But my thrifting like I think many has dried up due to GW selling items at retail in the B&M or syphoning all the good stuff off to their auction website.

Best finds lately was an out of town thrift shop run by locals where I found a few good items.

[bigdog2003]

Originally Posted by TimBuckTwo

I hate to see it on the second page too.

But my thrifting like I think many has dried up due to GW selling items at retail in the B&M or syphoning all the good stuff off to their auction website.

Best finds lately was an out of town thrift shop run by locals where I found a few good items.

I stopped going to GW. I only go to mom and pop places now.

[Hess687]

Yeah I haven't been to Goodwill in over two years if not more. I saw a sign that said "Now Lower Prices" because I live in an area where our Goodwill's have everything priced to at least $8.99 to $14.99 and pull every name brand item, video game, etc and put it on their website.

I stopped in once when I saw this and the prices were the same and there were still a bunch of non-brand name garbage.

That was after Bill Gates wife specifically gave the Goodwill's of our area......not the entire company, but specifically the Goodwill's in our area....a $10 million dollar donation.

They use to ask me to round up my change and I kept telling them that Melinda Gates donation should cover any round up needed.

[trask7]

Hit an estate sale today and scored some great 80/90 toys and War Hammer 40,000.

I spent $80 on WarHammer.


I think it is complete and the last few sales at in $400 range


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[Hess687]

Two returns this week, which is the first in who knows how long, but geez.....one I just refunded their money and blocked them and the other there was enough skin on the bones to sell it again and had them return it.

Followed that up with a neutral from a guy who stated, "Thought it was something else, but it got here fast at least". What? A neutral is what it is and it's better than a return, but how is that my fault?

[Hess687]

I think I may be done chasing the eBay carrot and start having people pay for return shipping and forgo the 10% discount of a Top Rated Seller Plus.

I've had more returns this year than any other year doing this (10 years) and more neutral and negative feedback for the most assinine reasons. 3 negatives and 4 neutrals. Still at a 99.3% positive feedback and my returns are only 1.5% of my transactions, but it's getting ridiculous.

I provide measurements for clothes and still get returns for "Does not fit". Blows my mind.

[shanks25]

Originally Posted by Hess687

I think I may be done chasing the eBay carrot and start having people pay for return shipping and forgo the 10% discount of a Top Rated Seller Plus.

I've had more returns this year than any other year doing this (10 years) and more neutral and negative feedback for the most assinine reasons. 3 negatives and 4 neutrals. Still at a 99.3% positive feedback and my returns are only 1.5% of my transactions, but it's getting ridiculous.

I provide measurements for clothes and still get returns for "Does not fit". Blows my mind.

I completely understand your frustration. I'm right there with you. It seems that anyone can return anything at any time for absolutely no apparent reason. It's beyond ridiculous.

I just got my favorite return last week. For the reason for return? "I changed my mind."

[dd316]

Originally Posted by Hess687

I provide measurements for clothes and still get returns for "Does not fit". Blows my mind.

Forgive my ignorance, but can't you list items with no returns accepted?

[jkampis]

Originally Posted by dd316

Forgive my ignorance, but can't you list items with no returns accepted?

Even if you do that, eBay buyers can always file as “item not as described” and return it anyway.

[sthoemke]

Originally Posted by Hess687

Yeah I haven't been to Goodwill in over two years if not more. I saw a sign that said "Now Lower Prices" because I live in an area where our Goodwill's have everything priced to at least $8.99 to $14.99 and pull every name brand item, video game, etc and put it on their website.

I stopped in once when I saw this and the prices were the same and there were still a bunch of non-brand name garbage.

That was after Bill Gates wife specifically gave the Goodwill's of our area......not the entire company, but specifically the Goodwill's in our area....a $10 million dollar donation.

They use to ask me to round up my change and I kept telling them that Melinda Gates donation should cover any round up needed.

I stopped going to Goodwill because I got tired of seeing a bunch of items priced for $3 (new and used) that you can buy at the Dollar Store for $1.25. Anything good that get donated will probably get sold online. There are plenty of other good thift stores to go to instead.

[quackhead]

Not sure if they are in all major cities, but we have Goodwill Outlet stores which I have found some nice items for cheap. One time I saw a guy walk out with a signed baseball bat, looked game used too. Not sure who the player was, but I'm sure he got a good deal on it.

[r0yals2012]

Alright I got a crazy story for y’all. I was out garage saling with my mom today as it is the last city wide of the season. I picked up a Hank Williams cd collection (one of those nice sets), scanned it and saw it was going for about 45 bucks. I went to go look through it and in the back was 2 envelopes full of hundred dollar bills. One envelope said 5,000 and the other said 7,000. I thought it was fake money at first and then saw it was real. I quickly turned it into the lady running the sale. It was an older lady probably late 70s early 80s. She said her husband died 3 years ago and she had been looking for it.She offered my 3 items free but I said it was ok. I’m just glad I found it because not everyone is honest in this world

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by r0yals2012

Alright I got a crazy story for y’all. I was out garage saling with my mom today as it is the last city wide of the season. I picked up a Hank Williams cd collection (one of those nice sets), scanned it and saw it was going for about 45 bucks. I went to go look through it and in the back was 2 envelopes full of hundred dollar bills. One envelope said 5,000 and the other said 7,000. I thought it was fake money at first and then saw it was real. I quickly turned it into the lady running the sale. It was an older lady probably late 70s early 80s. She said her husband died 3 years ago and she had been looking for it.She offered my 3 items free but I said it was ok. I’m just glad I found it because not everyone is honest in this world

Ain't that the truth. Hopefully something good comes your way.

[Hess687]

Originally Posted by r0yals2012

Alright I got a crazy story for y’all. I was out garage saling with my mom today as it is the last city wide of the season. I picked up a Hank Williams cd collection (one of those nice sets), scanned it and saw it was going for about 45 bucks. I went to go look through it and in the back was 2 envelopes full of hundred dollar bills. One envelope said 5,000 and the other said 7,000. I thought it was fake money at first and then saw it was real. I quickly turned it into the lady running the sale. It was an older lady probably late 70s early 80s. She said her husband died 3 years ago and she had been looking for it.She offered my 3 items free but I said it was ok. I’m just glad I found it because not everyone is honest in this world

Good on you....and that you found it at the sale as well. If I would've went home and found it, I would be second guessing where I got it from or forgot how to get there because I delete sales after going to them off my phone.

[Hess687]

So I was unable to go to this annual garage sale right when it opened this year and I saw in the pictures they had a $100 item priced for $2. I was able to go later in the afternoon when my wife got home and of course it was gone along with most everything else. Win some lose some.

BUT! For $1.00 I found a sealed 1998 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Living Legends basketball pack. Now, a single pack goes for around $45 on eBay, but this is still in the plastic case it was originally bought in (think of a package scissors come in that you inevitably have to have another pair of scissors just to open the darn thing).

It's only one pack, but there is a chance at an MJ auto. I think, wishfully, I would probably get 80-100 out of it.......OR do I just bust it open and see what I can find.

EDIT: Busted open the pack.....No Jordan auto.

[Tones]

Hey, all, was hoping someone could give me a little information on this shirt. I found it while thrift today. With having this pattern, it immediately caught my eye definitely something unique for a officially licensed NBA shirt. Been searching high and low trying to find a similar one, but can’t seem to have any luck.

[Hess687]

Man, the fourth quarter sales aren't hitting like they use to. The fourth quarter with the holidays is usually my highest selling months and so far it's been rather dead. Anyone else have any slow sale issues?

[r0yals2012]

Originally Posted by Hess687

Man, the fourth quarter sales aren't hitting like they use to. The fourth quarter with the holidays is usually my highest selling months and so far it's been rather dead. Anyone else have any slow sale issues?

Absolutely. Hoping it will pickup after thanksgiving. I am wondering if the shutdown really hurt things

[shanks25]

Originally Posted by Hess687

Man, the fourth quarter sales aren't hitting like they use to. The fourth quarter with the holidays is usually my highest selling months and so far it's been rather dead. Anyone else have any slow sale issues?

My fourth quarter has been absolutely incredible. Probably the best in sales I've ever experienced in 5 years. However, just prior to this massive pickup, it was horribly slow for me. This was roughly 2 months ago. For a period of 4-6 weeks, it was the absolute slowest I've ever seen. Nothing had changed either. I was listing the same number of items and the same type / quality of items.

To summarize, I went from the absolute worst I've ever seen to the absolute best in sales overnight. This upswing won't last though. I just put my account on 'Time Away' as I will be out of town for a week and a half over the holiday. Sales always slow down when I'm on Time Away. I think the message scares buyer from pulling the trigger.

[Hess687]

Originally Posted by shanks25

My fourth quarter has been absolutely incredible. Probably the best in sales I've ever experienced in 5 years. However, just prior to this massive pickup, it was horribly slow for me. This was roughly 2 months ago. For a period of 4-6 weeks, it was the absolute slowest I've ever seen. Nothing had changed either. I was listing the same number of items and the same type / quality of items.

To summarize, I went from the absolute worst I've ever seen to the absolute best in sales overnight. This upswing won't last though. I just put my account on 'Time Away' as I will be out of town for a week and a half over the holiday. Sales always slow down when I'm on Time Away. I think the message scares buyer from pulling the trigger.

Nice!! Glad it's not affecting all of us. Keep up the good work.

Funny you mentioned the "Time Away" thing and slow sales. I'm about to leave for the holidays as well and mine usually goes the other way. I won't sell anything and then I put that "Time Away" on and I come home to a boat load of stuff to ship. It's so weird.

[shanks25]

Originally Posted by Hess687

Nice!! Glad it's not affecting all of us. Keep up the good work.

Funny you mentioned the "Time Away" thing and slow sales. I'm about to leave for the holidays as well and mine usually goes the other way. I won't sell anything and then I put that "Time Away" on and I come home to a boat load of stuff to ship. It's so weird.

I'll never figure out how things work but, to me, it's so strange how there can be such wild fluctuations in sales when I'm listing the same number of items each day and it's all good stuff that normally sells. When I'm high, others are slow and vice versa.

I'll wait a few week and then do a quick year-end summary. I'm pretty sure this will be my best year to date.

[Hess687]

Originally Posted by shanks25

I'll never figure out how things work but, to me, it's so strange how there can be such wild fluctuations in sales when I'm listing the same number of items each day and it's all good stuff that normally sells. When I'm high, others are slow and vice versa.

I'll wait a few week and then do a quick year-end summary. I'm pretty sure this will be my best year to date.

That's awesome! My best year by far and it's not even close were the Covid years....everyone was getting cash and they were spending like crazy. I think I matched my salary at my job that year of Covid, it was fantastic. I'm happy in the 35-40k range a year in gross sales.

I only do garage sales and try to hold stuff back during the winter months, but come near the end of winter I take down all my stuff and re-list to get fresh eyes and adjust pricing before garage sale season starts again.

[shanks25]

I haven’t bought a thing at a thrift store in over a year now. I do garage sales and estate sales exclusively. Garage sales have already slowed way down. Luckily, there are a decent number of estate sales through the winter. Prices are higher but I can usually find things the estate people overlook.

Like you, I’ve learned to keep stuff back for the winter months. I have 40-50 Coleman lanterns that I bought from a local picker friend that I will slowly clean up and list. I also have a pretty big backlog of stuff I bought at the 50-Mile garage sale I went to in Montana this past summer.

I’ve only heard stories of how good sales were during COVID. That’s just when I was getting into this whole game. If I’m lucky, I might hit $60k in gross sales this year. If not, I’ll be pretty close.


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[Cracktoast]

Thrift stores are a complete waste now days. Last time I was at one it was Value Village and they had a used/stained polo shirt priced at $15. I laughed all the way to Walmart and picked up 2 for the same price brand new. And I get it, nobody donates anything halfway valuable anymore because they can just sell it themselves online. And what few items do come in that have some value are backdoored or in the case of Goodwill thrown on their own website. So they have to find ways to make what they can.

I don't generally do the Estate Sale scene because huge crowds of people fighting over a dead persons stuff seems wrong to me. Yard Sales at least in my area seem less and less again because they can sell anything of value themselves then take all the crap to a thrift store and get a nice receipt they can write off on their taxes.

[r0yals2012]

I hardly ever find anything at the "Gucci"-Will maybe 2 out of 10 times I find something. Don't like estate sales either. Garage sale season is over so it is the Amazon Bin Stores that get me through until the season starts again. I do have probably 150 things listed so that is plenty inventory for me