Hesitations when buying lately.

[AndyE89]

So, I have this rule. "If I pick it up twice, its mine the third time". Meaning, if I am undecided about an item and I look at it 3 different times, then I know that I should get it just out of curiosity . Lately however, I have been having really bad hesitations with buying anything. I saw a gorgeous glass piece the other day, at a thrift shop and knew it was either carnival glass, or depression glass, it was even the dual shade, dark orange to light orange on top. I just could not buy it. The reason being is, in the back of my mind I think about the resale value, and all the fees. I never used to be like this, I used to love buying on a whim and scoring every now and again.

Has anyone gone through one of these phases? I feel like this is causing me to pass up on some great pieces, that if they dont sell I would enjoy.

Oh and here are a few decanters I picked up recently. I really love the "logo" centered one. Also, I was shocked that the glass tops were still in tact on the large ones.

 

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[batcap]

"He who hesitates, looks before he leaps." or something like that. What are you thinking during your hesitation? I think "Is the profit I make worth the effort to sell?" and "Where am I going to put this?"
I think us garage sale/estate sale/thrift shop hunters focus too closely on whether we can turn over something quickly for a few bucks. Thus we put ourselves to work instead of searching for treasure. I started to feel more like a coal miner than a '49er, so now I reject anything that doesn't feel like Treasure to me.

 

[AndyE89]

Thats exactly how I feel. I look at it in a profit type way now. I really never used to. I want to buy pieces because I think they are attractive or interesting, and hopefully others will appreciate them. I think it is a rut right now. I may just not be finding those pieces that get my attention.

 

[inspectorgadget]

Thats exactly how I feel. I look at it in a profit type way now. I really never used to. I want to buy pieces because I think they are attractive or interesting, and hopefully others will appreciate them. I think it is a rut right now. I may just not be finding those pieces that get my attention.

You should only buy pieces you personally like if you are not sure if it's a money maker or not! That way if you sell it then you make a little (or a lot) of cash but if you don't or can't sell it at least you're stuck with something you like!

I think you also need to study up on the things you buy before hand. You saying "and knew it was either carnival glass, or depression glass" is telling me you shouldn't really be buying that stuff to make $ on if you don't know the difference! Let alone knowing the difference between early 1900's carnival glass pieces & late 60's or early 70's carnival glass pieces. Or glass that looks like depression glass yet isn't depression glass at all. I like you would also be scared to pull the trigger on glass if I were confused about what is depression glass & what is carnival glass. Some depression glass patterns are quite expensive to collect & others are almost worthless so not only should you know the differences in the types of glass you should know the different patterns & colors they came in too. This also holds true for carnival glass as some of it is very expensive & some is almost worthless. This knowledge is king when it comes to buying glass to sell for profit!

You don't wanna walk right by those Tea Room or Parrot pattern pieces nor waste time looking at spiral or block optic pieces. And you don't wanna walk by that old Peacock at the urn, peacocks on a fence or good luck bowl but you pretty much might as well walk on by the 70's harvest grape stuff. A little time spent learning what is what & what it's worth now is a bunch of time saved when you're looking for this stuff.

 

[clovis97]

So, I have this rule. "If I pick it up twice, its mine the third time". Meaning, if I am undecided about an item and I look at it 3 different times, then I know that I should get it just out.

Lately however, I have been having really bad hesitations with buying anything. The reason being is, in the back of my mind I think about the resale value, and all the fees. I never used to be like this, I used to love buying on a whim and scoring every now and again.

Has anyone gone through one of these phases? I feel like this is causing me to pass up on some great pieces, that if they dont sell I would enjoy.

I know exactly what you mean, Andy. I've been at this game for about 10 years, but I have times of hesitation too.

The first 6 months of 2013 were really hard for us. Nothing was really selling on ebay, and our sales at flea market booths and antique malls had fallen off of a cliff. I was very hesitant to buy anything new, unless it was a real winner.

Aside from that, one of the biggest hurdles I've faced is the changing market. For instance, at one time, any rusty farm wrench was worth $10. Can you even give them away these days? The bottom fell out of mechanics tools too. A $15 S-K wrench wasn't even selling for $3 on ebay. Drill chucks once worth $40 weren't even bringing $5.

I tell ya, when everything you used to know the values of changes into worthless information, it will make you think pretty hard about your life. I'm not sure there is anything more depressing than spending $200 at a sale thinking you can flip it all for $1,200...and then get home to find that the bottom has fallen out of all of those markets.

At the time, the sting was pretty bad. I was looking to give up my ebay and flea market business and started looking for full time employment.

I still hesitate sometimes. It is hard to spend $125 on a tool box full of tools these days...who knows what the market will be when I get them home?

 

[mkulltra]

"He who hesitates, looks before he leaps." or something like that. What are you thinking during your hesitation? I think "Is the profit I make worth the effort to sell?" and "Where am I going to put this?"
I think us garage sale/estate sale/thrift shop hunters focus too closely on whether we can turn over something quickly for a few bucks. Thus we put ourselves to work instead of searching for treasure. I started to feel more like a coal miner than a '49er, so now I reject anything that doesn't feel like Treasure to me.

This is exactly how i have felt for the last couple of months. I feel like i've been only buying the same things over and over again that I know I can make decent money on fast. What happened to the good ole days of buying something the COULD be worth good money. That used to be the fun of it. Now it totally feels like a business. Anyone else feel like this? Is this a "bad" thing to be pigeon-holed?

 

[vwayne1]

If it is your business, it should feel like one. If it's for fun, make it fun again. If you are pigeon holed, do the research required to broaden your hunting horizens. It's is worth it. And I have said this before, don't listen to anyone spewing the dribble about sales are down, no treasures to be found at the second hand shops, eBay fees are too high. These are all excuses for people that don't want to put in the extra effort.

 

[diggummup]

You should only buy pieces you personally like if you are not sure if it's a money maker or not! That way if you sell it then you make a little (or a lot) of cash but if you don't or can't sell it at least you're stuck with something you like!

This is the best advice on here. Besides what vwayne1 said too.

 

[AndyE89]

I completely agree with everything above.

The carnival glass thing was just an example. I am aware that I need to do more research on the subject. It is not my forte. As for other things I have always been fairly in tune with the market, such as stamps, cards and coins. As of lately however it seems the market is just so touch and go. I am starting to buy just because I like it again, which is much more stress free. I agree with the "Ebay fees being high and nothing at the shops today" being a lazy attitude, but it is not a false statement. If I can sell something for a profit, even a small margin, I will do so. If the item does not sell at all, then I am paying even more over head on that item.

With that in mind, I have ordered a few books on different areas of antiques. Glass being one, and collectible figures being the other. Around these country small town areas I have noticed much more figurines on shelves.

Thanks to all for advise and feedback.

 

[inspectorgadget]

I completely agree with everything above.

The carnival glass thing was just an example. I am aware that I need to do more research on the subject. It is not my forte. As for other things I have always been fairly in tune with the market, such as stamps, cards and coins. As of lately however it seems the market is just so touch and go. I am starting to buy just because I like it again, which is much more stress free. I agree with the "Ebay fees being high and nothing at the shops today" being a lazy attitude, but it is not a false statement. If I can sell something for a profit, even a small margin, I will do so. If the item does not sell at all, then I am paying even more over head on that item.

With that in mind, I have ordered a few books on different areas of antiques. Glass being one, and collectible figures being the other. Around these country small town areas I have noticed much more figurines on shelves.

Thanks to all for advise and feedback.

Here is a good tip... look on eBay at carnival glass, depression glass, mid century art glass or any type of valuable glass you choose. Preferable search by either it's type, pattern, era (age) or maker. Then choose the sold listings for each of those individual glass types or manufacturers & then choose to list by price highest first. Look at what sold & for what it sold for, this will show you the things that do well & their approximate value on the open market. Books are good for learning patterns but no so much as an accurate price guide.

Another hint.. if you search say depression glass you're gonna get a lot of hits, a whole lot. So break it down to a color or else a particular piece like plates, vases, salt & pepper, shakers, canisters/jars, cups/tumblers/goblets & so on. Or especially by pattern if you know pattern names. The most expensive pieces in the depression glass area are mostly gonna be the more ornate large decorative pieces & some of the rare thus sought after dinnerware patterns. Same with carnival glass run searches different ways, by maker, by shape (such as bowl or vase) & see for your self what sells! If you search for "pink depression plates" & you see that a certain pattern sold for a lot then search for that pattern in all colors as some colors are more valuable than the others.

You can search eBay & compare what sells & what does not sell (or sells very cheap when it does sell). eBay can teach ya which patterns & colors to watch out for & which ones to avoid. You might see 2 same designed pieces of old Northwood carnival glass that look almost identical as in the design, shape + iridescence colors BUT the base glass color could be the difference between a $500 piece & a $35 piece. eBay is so perfect for finding out these things & the things people want vs. what they don't want + what is rare & what is common. I've gained more knowledge studying eBay sold & completed auctions than I have gained anywhere else.

You are on the right track but no need to wait on books to start furthering your knowledge, hop on the bay & start studying there! ** NOTE** Be cautious of the patterns that were reproduced later on by companies like Tierra that often can hurt or drive down the prices of the old original pieces.

 

[clovis97]

And I have said this before, don't listen to anyone spewing the dribble about sales are down, no treasures to be found at the second hand shops, eBay fees are too high. These are all excuses for people that don't want to put in the extra effort.

If you are referring to me, you don't know what you are talking about. You haven't walked in my shoes, friend.

 

[NHBandit]

I know exactly what you mean, Andy. I've been at this game for about 10 years, but I have times of hesitation too.

The first 6 months of 2013 were really hard for us. Nothing was really selling on ebay, and our sales at flea market booths and antique malls had fallen off of a cliff. I was very hesitant to buy anything new, unless it was a real winner.

Aside from that, one of the biggest hurdles I've faced is the changing market. For instance, at one time, any rusty farm wrench was worth $10. Can you even give them away these days? The bottom fell out of mechanics tools too. A $15 S-K wrench wasn't even selling for $3 on ebay. Drill chucks once worth $40 weren't even bringing $5.

I tell ya, when everything you used to know the values of changes into worthless information, it will make you think pretty hard about your life. I'm not sure there is anything more depressing than spending $200 at a sale thinking you can flip it all for $1,200...and then get home to find that the bottom has fallen out of all of those markets.

At the time, the sting was pretty bad. I was looking to give up my ebay and flea market business and started looking for full time employment.

I still hesitate sometimes. It is hard to spend $125 on a tool box full of tools these days...who knows what the market will be when I get them home?

Greedy people helped to kill it too. I collect tools. Been doing it for probably close to 40 years. If I walked by your table and saw an SK wrench priced at $15 bucks I would immediately stop looking at your stuff, take the wife by the hand, and move to the next table. I'm not alone.. Example.. we go to the Bristol TN flea market alot. In fact as soon as I finish this cup of coffee we're going. There's a guy with an indoor booth that sells gas & oil collectibles. One of my passions. So I used to spend half an hour or more poking around his double wide vendor booths. One time 5-6 months ago he's got a Kendall oil sign, not porcelain or old, just a large tin sign. He's asking $1200 but "might cut me a deal". It's EXACTLY the same sign I passed on a couple weeks earlier at an antique mall in Pigeon Forge TN for $150 because I felt that was high for a sign from the 70s. And to be clear I don't mean it's a similar sign, it is the same sign. Same dents, same spots where the paint is worn, etc. The following week I decide maybe I'll take a look at his new stuff. He's got a tin Quaker State quart oil can on the shelf. $15 bucks "for me" he says. It's got a bar code on it so it's NOT an old can. It's worth 3 bucks on a good day. So I have never set foot in his booth again. It's shrunk from 2 booths side by side down to one and half the time he's not there and the booth is closed so clearly I'm not the only one who feels this way about this guy. Sadly the folks selling the Chinese "Goochie" pocketbooks for $20 seem to always be busy.. I don't go to flea markets to get fleeced, I go to look for bargains. My apologies if that offends you.

 

[clovis97]

Greedy people helped to kill it too. I collect tools. Been doing it for probably close to 40 years. If I walked by your table and saw an SK wrench priced at $15 bucks I would immediately stop looking at your stuff, take the wife by the hand, and move to the next table. I'm not alone.. Example.. we go to the Bristol TN flea market alot. In fact as soon as I finish this cup of coffee we're going. There's a guy with an indoor booth that sells gas & oil collectibles. One of my passions. So I used to spend half an hour or more poking around his double wide vendor booths. One time 5-6 months ago he's got a Kendall oil sign, not porcelain or old, just a large tin sign. He's asking $1200 but "might cut me a deal". It's EXACTLY the same sign I passed on a couple weeks earlier at an antique mall in Pigeon Forge TN for $150 because I felt that was high for a sign from the 70s. The following week I decide maybe I'll take a look at his new stuff. He's got a tin Quaker State quart oil can on the shelf. $15 bucks "for me" he says. It's got a bar code on it so it's NOT an old can. It's worth 3 bucks on a good day. So I have never set foot in his booth again. It's shrunk from 2 booths side by side down to one and half the time he's not there and the booth is closed so clearly I'm not the only one who feels this way about this guy. Sadly the folks selling the Chinese "Goochie" pocketbooks for $20 seem to always be busy.. I don't go to flea markets to get fleeced, I go to look for bargains. My apologies if that offends you.

I am not fleecing anyone. I never have, and never will.

I used the S-K wrench as a real world example. Some of those used to easily fetch $15 on ebay, any day of the week. Heck, in the past week, I've sold two S-K wrenches for $10-$12 each on ebay. How is that fleecing someone??

But, I tell you, the market dropped in the early part of the year. I bought a tool box with contents for $85, thinking I could easily triple my investment. I got it home, and the wrenches that sold for $15 weren't even selling for $3 on ebay, with page after page in the completed sales of nothing but red.

I never take top end wrenches or tools to a flea market anyway. There are too many people that think they should be able to buy a $80 Snap-on socket for 50 cents, and think that you were being 'greedy' for asking that much. And why should I spend my time/gas/knowledge/expertise standing at an auction all day long, buy a shovel for $2, and sell it for $2.50...just so someone doesn't think I'm greedy? 90% of the tools that I take to a FM are long handled tools, construction tools, saws, power tools and odds and ends.

I'm not sure how you morphed my post into being a 'greedy' seller.

It is funny that everyone else can make a living, earn a weekly paycheck, but if I buy a $35 pitch fork for $3 at auction, and mark it $18, I should be considered greedy.

My apologies if that offends you.

 

[NHBandit]

I am not fleecing anyone. I never have, and never will.

I used the S-K wrench as a real world example. Some of those used to easily fetch $15 on ebay, any day of the week. Heck, in the past week, I've sold two S-K wrenches for $10-$12 each on ebay. How is that fleecing someone??

But, I tell you, the market dropped in the early part of the year. I bought a tool box with contents for $85, thinking I could easily triple my investment. I got it home, and the wrenches that sold for $15 weren't even selling for $3 on ebay, with page after page in the completed sales of nothing but red.

I never take top end wrenches or tools to a flea market anyway. There are too many people that think they should be able to buy a $80 Snap-on socket for 50 cents, and think that you were being 'greedy' for asking that much. And why should I spend my time/gas/knowledge/expertise standing at an auction all day long, buy a shovel for $2, and sell it for $2.50...just so someone doesn't think I'm greedy? 90% of the tools that I take to a FM are long handled tools, construction tools, saws, power tools and odds and ends.

I'm not sure how you morphed my post into being a 'greedy' seller.

It is funny that everyone else can make a living, earn a weekly paycheck, but if I buy a $35 pitch fork for $3 at auction, and mark it $18, I should be considered greedy.

My apologies if that offends you.

It appears that it's me who owes you an apology due to a misunderstanding. I never said you were out to fleece anyone. My point was that people don't go to flea market expecting to pay Ebay prices. They go looking for a bargain. I do stand by my comment that if I saw that your prices were, for the most part, unusually high (for a flea market) I would keep walking. I sell on Ebay as well and that's where you will get top dollar because you're dealing with the whole world. Buttt.. the 7 day set of German straight razors my wife just sold on Ebay for $225 would like sit on the table all day at the flea market if we priced them at 50 bucks.. Have a good day. I'm off to the flea market.

 

[clovis97]

It appears that it's me who owes you an apology due to a misunderstanding. I never said you were out to fleece anyone. My point was that people don't go to flea market expecting to pay Ebay prices. They go looking for a bargain. I do stand by my comment that if I saw that your prices were, for the most part, unusually high (for a flea market) I would keep walking. I sell on Ebay as well and that's where you will get top dollar because you're dealing with the whole world. Buttt.. the 7 day set of German straight razors my wife just sold on Ebay for $225 would like sit on the table all day at the flea market if we priced them at 50 bucks.. Have a good day. I'm off to the flea market.

We have a regular client base built up, and I find it often hard to keep our tool booths full. The FM management tells us that we make the top 10 list month after month, and have been doing that since the place opened. We are competing against the furniture and mattress sellers too, in terms of monthly sales totals.

I think we are doing something right.

Here is to you finding an early mint in box Stanley 55 with a full set of blades for $10!

 

[clovis97]

It appears that it's me who owes you an apology due to a misunderstanding. I never said you were out to fleece anyone. My point was that people don't go to flea market expecting to pay Ebay prices. They go looking for a bargain. I do stand by my comment that if I saw that your prices were, for the most part, unusually high (for a flea market) I would keep walking. I sell on Ebay as well and that's where you will get top dollar because you're dealing with the whole world. Buttt.. the 7 day set of German straight razors my wife just sold on Ebay for $225 would like sit on the table all day at the flea market if we priced them at 50 bucks.. Have a good day. I'm off to the flea market.

You are right...most people are looking for value or a bargain, and I don't blame them a bit.

Generally speaking, I don't take ebayable stuff to a flea market. I'd be mighty lucky to get $5 for that clean $15 wrench. If the S-K wrench was well used, beat or rusty, I'd take it to the FM, and mark it $2-$3. But a super clean one goes on ebay.

Then again, you might be surprised what will sell at a FM for ebay prices. I am not a price gouge type of seller, but I see stuff sell all the time for ebay prices, and often more.

 

[inspectorgadget]

Then again, you might be surprised what will sell at a FM for ebay prices. I am not a price gouge type of seller, but I see stuff sell all the time for ebay prices, and often more.

This holds true for auctions as well.. Often things sell for MORE than eBay prices & it's a freaking auction so to think this doesn't go on at the FM's is crazy. I kid you not some things at local auctions bring double what you could buy it on eBay for! And then some things sell for less than 10% of it's resale value. Tho 99% of the ones who over pay by a lot are older (70-80 year old) non internet using people so to say. And some of them are still stuck with the mindset of the prices from 10-15 years ago which with most items was a lot higher than what it is now.

A sucker is born minute.. -PT Barnum

 

[deserdog]

Know what you mean! Saw some faux bamboo cups at a thrift store, picked them up and looked at them em. They had the continental airline emblem on them. There were 8 of them. So I looked at them again the next week. Put them back down. Finally I bought one , it was $.59, there was six still. Took it home and looked it up. They sell for between $12.00 and $18.00! Went back and they were all gone! He who hesitates!

 

[AndyE89]

Ebay is the market place. Whether you like Ebay or not. Inspector, I do do thorough research and Ebay is my first stop, otherwise I use the High end auctions sites. Heritages, Friedmanns, etc. For valuing and pricing ANYTHING Ebay is the best choice. Ebay sets the market standard nowadays. If you can buy it on Ebay for less, why even attempt to make a deal outside of that channel.

As for Localized auctions, I dont even attend them anymore. I used to go in with a list of what I wanted (Mostly Coins) and put a cap at about 80% market value for my highest bid. The bids however would go for 1-200% mark up over what the Market value was. This same thing was occuring with almost EVERY item available. The reason I believe this is happening, is there are many that do what we do which is "flip" but they are not educated about market values, and they find something they know is hot, and pay way over what the current value is.

Again, good advice and discussion here.

Clovis, with Tools I would have to agree that prices have fallen. I had a close friend that used to deal in them in his shop. He even had original Indian Motorcycle sets, and he would be low balled all day. He finally had to sell them at a discount just to open up space and clear his overhead. THIS is what is killing markets. The flippers buying from flippers and collectors not ever seeing these items that they may want in their collections.

 

[NHBandit]

Just got home from the flea market. Pretty dead most likely because people are elbow to elbow in Walmart instead buying cheap Chinese crap for Christmas. Not to mention the Bristol TN flea is indoor and outdoor and it's damned cold outside today. Scored 3 Cornwell 1/2 drive metric impact sockets for $1.50 each from my favorite tool guy. Not for resale as I needed them to fill holes in a set. The wife got a bunch of crap that I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to.. and so it goes... AndyE89 I will agree that Ebay is THE marketplace but only for people who either want something that's hard to find, are too lazy to get off the computer and go look for it, or are impatient and want it NOW. Example http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cornwell-Im...639?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3385a4c6df http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cornwell-Im...786?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item338641597a & http://www.ebay.com/itm/CORNWELL-PM..._Automotive_Tools&hash=item19e6137315&vxp=mtr Total including shipping for the exact same 3 used sockets I just bought if I bought them on Ebay comes to $29.14... I paid $4.50 at the flea market. No difference whatsoever. The ones on Ebay are used as well.