Thrift Shop Pickups

[btimm]

Originally Posted by Packer4Rob

question for the veterans out there. I've noticed that lately there seems to be fewer quality things at the goodwills in my area, and seems I see the same things on the rack each week, especially clothing. I'm finding myself walking out empty handed or maybe with 1 item. Do they get less in and less quality items in now that fall/winter is here? Seems like in summer they got much more in and rotated their inventory faster. Just wondering what to expect over the winter, as I just started doing this in May.

I am interested in the response to this question as well, since I just started in late July.

For me, timing is important. If I go on the weekends, I will maaaaybe get 1 item. If I go in the evenings during the week, I might get 2 or 3. But if I go in the weekday morning, Tuesday-Thursday, I can walk out with 7-8 items almost every time. Do you always go at the same time? Maybe you are getting less due to going at bad times? Just speculating here, I am new like yourself.

[btimm]

Some recent sales for me:

Wonder if I left money on the table with this one as it sold within a day. I think the combination of brand and size, maybe I should have put a higher BIN.
Lacoste Big Alligator Crocodile Logo Polo Shirt Size 9 3XL | eBay

Texas Rangers Nike Dry Fit Shirt Size Medium M | eBay

Ralph Lauren Vintage Polo American Flag Sweatshirt Size Extra Large XL | eBay

Lacoste Vintage Washed Long Sleeve Black Polo Size 6 Large L | eBay

Nike Pro Combat Dri Fit Form Fitted Shirt Size Large L | eBay

[btimm]

Question: Do you find putting EUC in the description helps with sales?

[Packer4Rob]

Originally Posted by btimm

I am interested in the response to this question as well, since I just started in late July.

For me, timing is important. If I go on the weekends, I will maaaaybe get 1 item. If I go in the evenings during the week, I might get 2 or 3. But if I go in the weekday morning, Tuesday-Thursday, I can walk out with 7-8 items almost every time. Do you always go at the same time? Maybe you are getting less due to going at bad times? Just speculating here, I am new like yourself.

Since this is a hobby/2nd income for me, I tend to go on my lunch hour if I go during the week, and weekends I go in the afternoons. Weekends are always crazy, there is one GW I go to where literally there are always 3 or 4 people waiting near the double doors to the back room waiting for a cart to be rolled out, and they run to it. They actually sit and chat until another cart comes out. I rarely find anything there other than clothes as the rest gets snatched up by the "vultures". Funny to watch though.

[Addison]

Originally Posted by btimm

Question: Do you find putting EUC in the description helps with sales?

I include it if I have space in my title for it...Figure it can't hurt.

[corndog]

Originally Posted by Packer4Rob

question for the veterans out there. I've noticed that lately there seems to be fewer quality things at the Goodwills in my area, and seems I see the same things on the rack each week, especially clothing. I'm finding myself walking out empty handed or maybe with 1 item. Do they get less in and less quality items in now that fall/winter is here? Seems like in summer they got much more in and rotated their inventory faster. Just wondering what to expect over the winter, as I just started doing this in May.

Where I live, there are a lot of people who are trying to do the same thing. The good stuff goes fast - so you have to be there just after they put things out which is randomly throughout the day. The men's shirt rack at the GW closest to me is maxed out and over stuffed. They really need to lower their prices or have a clothing sale. Too much of it shows visible wear.

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by corndog

Where I live, there are a lot of people who are trying to do the same thing. The good stuff goes fast - so you have to be there just after they put things out which is randomly throughout the day. The men's shirt rack at the GW closest to me is maxed out and over stuffed. They really need to lower their prices or have a clothing sale. Too much of it shows visible wear.

Lately I have seen racks here so stuffed you cannot even move them to see th labels without a struggle

[Addison]

Some sales today! Very pleased!


Vintage Beatles Tie by Apple Corps We Can Work It Out Music 100 Silk USA RARE | eBay

Bought: 2.55
Sold: 17.50
Profit: 10.95

Men's Greg Norman Cadillac Invitational Blue Polo Shirt Large Play Dry Golf EUC | eBay


Bought: 4.26
Sold: 20.00
Profit: 10.31


Men's Designer Ralph Lauren Golf Polo Shirt Crossing Golf Club Insignia 2XL EUC | eBay


Bought: 4.26
Sold: 26.00
Profit: 13.87


Vintage ll Bean Men's Wool Northwoods Shirt Jacket Herringbone XL Long USA Warm | eBay


(Got this at my first trip at a Goodwill Outlet where everything is sold by the pound. Paid 8 bucks for several items and each worked out to .84 a piece like the Starbucks cup I recently sold).


Bought: .84
Sold: 70.00
Profit: 56.28

Solid margin

[LoveItCards]

Originally Posted by Addison

Some sales today! Very pleased!


Vintage Beatles Tie by Apple Corps We Can Work It Out Music 100 Silk USA RARE | eBay

Bought: 2.55
Sold: 17.50
Profit: 10.95

Men's Greg Norman Cadillac Invitational Blue Polo Shirt Large Play Dry Golf EUC | eBay


Bought: 4.26
Sold: 20.00
Profit: 10.31


Men's Designer Ralph Lauren Golf Polo Shirt Crossing Golf Club Insignia 2XL EUC | eBay


Bought: 4.26
Sold: 26.00
Profit: 13.87


Vintage ll Bean Men's Wool Northwoods Shirt Jacket Herringbone XL Long USA Warm | eBay


(Got this at my first trip at a Goodwill Outlet where everything is sold by the pound. Paid 8 bucks for several items and each worked out to .84 a piece like the Starbucks cup I recently sold).


Bought: .84
Sold: 70.00
Profit: 56.28

Solid margin

How long have you been thrift sale buying & selling? Did you talk about this in a previous response? Can you point me there or copy/paste any info you've already shared to spare me having to sift through the whole thread? Seems like you may know a little of what to look for maybe in regards to clothing or do you just take small risk and come out ahead unexpectantly?

By the way an employee at Goodwill said a working like new Samsung Galaxy Tablet 3 sold for $85 recently.

Brian

[gatordeve86]

I keep finding oddball Penn State shirts where I live... first it was a burnt orange Penn State Intramural Champion Nike tee then a Penn Stat Basketball camp Nike shirt and today I found a blaze orange shirt with a big a$$ Penn State logo on it

[Addison]

Originally Posted by LoveItCards

How long have you been thrift sale buying & selling? Did you talk about this in a previous response? Can you point me there or copy/paste any info you've already shared to spare me having to sift through the whole thread? Seems like you may know a little of what to look for maybe in regards to clothing or do you just take small risk and come out ahead unexpectantly?

By the way an employee at Goodwill said a working like new Samsung Galaxy Tablet 3 sold for $85 recently.

Brian

I really started thrifting/reselling in June for the fun of it largely due to this thread.

Basically it's researching brands that work and picking up stuff you know people will like. What I like to do is search completed listings of brands on eBay and sort ones that sold for $20+ for example. I started off in sports stuff like jerseys but they seem to be hard to find for me.

I had to learn that the thousands of Merona and St Johns Bay and Gap shirts that you see are worthless. I learned that Higher end brands like Burberry and Robert Graham are where the money is at and so I essentially know what to look for.

Then there's the middle end brands that are the easy 10-30 dollar profits like Brooks Brothers, some Ralph Lauren, Orvis, Patagonia, and so on.

It's basically a guess and check. When I first started reading this thread, I had never sold anything on ebay and now I am a top rated powerseller with over 300 active listings.

You can't know everything because there's infinite things to find and sell so find your niche and earn that money!

[Patsfan]

I am so pissed right now. So last month I sold a bobblehead that my brother gave me. A day or two after the buyer received it he messages me and says there is damage and wants to return it. So I said fine send it back and I'll issue a refund because I offer the returns and ebay would make me anyways. I get the bobblehead today and it is not the one I sent him. It's the same bobblehead but a different one. This one has the right arm broken off and the box crushed and the Styrofoam inside torn all to hell. I know this isn't the one I shipped because the one I shipped had a small black mark on the players left arm and this one has no such mark. So now I'm out the bobblehead plus the $69.

[timfsu2k]

I would get ebay involved. The buyer has to send you the same item back. Especially if there is a distinguishing Mark you may be able to win.

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by timfsu2k

I would get ebay involved. The buyer has to send you the same item back. Especially if there is a distinguishing Mark you may be able to win.

That is an age old scam on Ebay that Ebay rarely sides with the seller on, at best they will give the seller a courtesy refund just to shut him up.

[Patsfan]

They already refunded the buyer out of my paypal account but I sent ebay a lengthy message explaining exactly what happened and the fact that I was extremely unsatisfied. Not that it will help, I'm actually thinking about calling them but I know it won't do any good. Guess I'll just bend over and take it up the old ahole.

[gatordeve86]

Womens UK Kentucky Wildcats Shirt Ladies XL Extra Large Scoop Neck | eBay

Bought: $0.99
Sold: $13.50
Profit: $8.35

Call of Duty Advanced Warfare Sentinel Task Force Patch Xbox 360 One PS3 PS4 | eBay

Bought: Free (when i picked up COD preorder)
Sold: $7.32
Profit: $4.16

[btimm]

Originally Posted by Patsfan

They already refunded the buyer out of my paypal account but I sent ebay a lengthy message explaining exactly what happened and the fact that I was extremely unsatisfied. Not that it will help, I'm actually thinking about calling them but I know it won't do any good. Guess I'll just bend over and take it up the old ahole.

I wouldn't accept it. I would continue to email and call. Be polite, as that generally gets the best results (and is the right way to do things anways), but be persistent. As shreve said, they might just refund you as well and eat the loss themselves. I wouldn't give in though dude.

[TOMBB25]

Originally Posted by Patsfan

They already refunded the buyer out of my paypal account but I sent ebay a lengthy message explaining exactly what happened and the fact that I was extremely unsatisfied. Not that it will help, I'm actually thinking about calling them but I know it won't do any good. Guess I'll just bend over and take it up the old ahole.

Can we have a name please, really need to block any scam artist.

[LoveItCards]

Goodwill has a $1 rack & at some stores around here that can be 4 + long rows of clothes.

Then Sunday all the $1 clothes are $0.50.

I'm sure there are a few articles of clothing that can bring $10 + delivered on the dollar rack.

It's all about finding 'em!

I will be by there likely at least one time next week to gain more experience as I'm on my way to the gym.

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by LoveItCards

Goodwill has a $1 rack & at some stores around here that can be 4 + long rows of clothes.

Then Sunday all the $1 clothes are $0.50.

I'm sure there are a few articles of clothing that can bring $10 + delivered on the dollar rack.

It's all about finding 'em!

I will be by there likely at least one time next week to gain more experience as I'm on my way to the gym.

This goes back to what I was talking about earlier though is it worth it to sell items that will make 3 to 5.00 per item but will sell quicker or do you want the slower selling items that make 8.00 or more per item. I think the best answer is a good mix of both but the low end items need to be things that are easy to list, easy to pack and not space hogs. Ties and t-shirts are good for this as are things like coffee mugs and VHS tapes(although they can start to take up space. Caps are another good item that can easily tur a few buck with little effort.

[gatordeve86]

Found some sweet stuff today at SA... found a brand new Red Sox pullover for $5 it had Red Sox Team Store tags on it still... also a Banjo Kazooie Nintendo Power VHS that will pair up nicely with the game I still havent listed lol

Also i saw a guy scanning book barcodes with this attatchment on his phone.. i was nosey and eyeballed him to see if i could see the logo on the scanner and it said Socket on it.. any idea what it is? Havent had time to look it up yet

Also i found a Stephen King book on tape "Desperation" rwad by Kathy Bates (great book btw) along with a brand new in wrapper copy of "The Regulators" its sister book.. i might keep those for myself

[gatordeve86]

can anyone help a brother out on this one????
I cant find anything anywhere... trying to figure out what it is made out of mainly... it has a Switzerland stamp on the back of it



i thought maybe silver or silver plated (yes my hopes are high lol)

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by gatordeve86

can anyone help a brother out on this one????
I cant find anything anywhere... trying to figure out what it is made out of mainly... it has a Switzerland stamp on the back of it



i thought maybe silver or silver plated (yes my hopes are high lol)

looks like Pewter....

[Astroburn]

Phew! Im tired. Had a very busy morning hitting the four local goodwills.

The group of goodwills in my area put out a calendar, with certain items being on sale certain days. Today was dollar t shirt day. Im off work today, and so is my wife. So she watched the little one, and after i dropped off the older to school, i started my adventure.

Now im home, with 110 shirts to start processing! And i have really tamed my buying recently, by really looking over the shirts in the store before purchasing. I put back around twenty shirts today due to holes, stains, odd sized after washing, etc.

Add these to my already listed items, and after i get these listed, ill be at 770 items. Made a few sales recently when i put my store on sale, so adding some fresh inventory should produce more results.

[Astroburn]

For those who havent seen, this is what 110 shirts looks like stacked in front of a fridge...



And now heres the same shirts, laid out so you can see what i got.