Newbie to the Club- Todays Garage Sale Finds Using Your Tips

[Bergheimhunter]

Newbie to the Club- Today's Garage Sale Finds Using Your Tips

I have always loved garage sales. I go often and generally just go with the intent to buy things I just think are beautiful. Today I went with the purpose of using some of the tips I have read here to see what I could pick up and potentially sell. Here are a few of the items I got:

Brando New Women's Chaco Sandals (My daughter loves these so I know their worth. There are currently bids on ebay for around $45)- $6.00

Sterling Silver (marked .925 "Italy"- .5oz Women's Bracelet- $2.00

Various old spoons (including one or two that appear to be silver/ one with Masonic theme. It is marked "Williams A-1" ; a large serving spoon marked "1847 Rogers Bros. XS Triple" and another large one marked ""WM Rogers IS")- <$1.00

Lot of pewter dragons with crystal prisms (dragon on top of amethyst rock, dragon sitting in nest with prism eggs, earrings, sun catcher, etc.)- $5.00

New trailer tail lights (for my husband)- $6.00

New Outdoor Power Post (also to keep)- $4.00

Beautiful jewelry container (this is mine to keep- no idea if it is valuable to anyone else )- $3.00

Old Chevy hubcap (will probably keep this too) - $1.00

Solar electric dog fence controller (I think this was a bad purchase. It is used and heavy. I went back for it after doing a quick google search and thought I saw it selling for $80. I was actually looking at something else. I'm not sure. I do see it listed as a "discontinued item" on Amazon for $129) -$5.00

So how did I do? I have never shopped for jewelry before. Is the silver bracelet worth anything? What about those crazy dragon figurines? The spoons? If any of these items are worth anything, what would be the best way to list them? I figured the dragons would sell better in a lot on Ebay.

Thanks!

 

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[2ndisbest]

IS, A-1, XS Triple means plated. Doesn't mean they don't have value just means they are not silver. I do well selling ordinary stainless flatware, all depends on the maker and pattern. Replacements.ltd is a great resource for flatware. Replacements, Ltd. I think the dog fence would be your best score. You need to look up the make and model to be sure and of course test it before selling it. Just a heads up a lot of stuff marked .925 Italy is fake. I got burned when I was just starting out myself, now I carry a small but powerful magnet with me. Even this is not 100% foolproof but better than nothing. As for the rest of the stuff that is not my field. But that is the great thing about this hobby, you learn something new everyday, and if you don't you aren't trying.

 

[Bergheimhunter]

Thank you, 2ndisbest!

 

[Tallone]

Welcome to Tnet, Bergheimhunter. I'm afraid I don't know much about the things you bought but your didn't spend a lot of money so your risk is low and you got several keepers for cheap. That is always good. I look forward to seeing what else you come up with!

 

[dumpsterdiver]

Welcome, jewelry container looks like what is usually referred to as a powder box. I would guess its Fenton. I would consider it a safe bet. Nice finds. Don't know much about the rest of the stuff.

 

[Rodbuster209]

I personally have never seen Rogers or IS flatware that is Sterling, but that doesn't mean they don't make it, it will most of the time say it. Also learn what some of the common European hallmarks like the Lion passant look like, it can be very helpful. I would have bought that bracelet if it passed my magnet test, as for the other stuff I am not sure. Good luck!.......Scott.

 

[2Minnesota]

The Chaco sandals are great! You will do well on those I would think.

 

[vpnavy]

Nice buys Hunter. Thanks for sharing...

 

[housemom6]

I love the dragons and Crystal. Id have been on it in a second. Idk if they're worth that much but they are beautiful

 

[jerseyben]

As already stated the spoons are plated.

The hub cap is not worth much but for $1 it will look nice on the wall.

As far as I can tell, the best buy was the Zareba sp3b controller. Should go for $50-60.

 

[JustinNH]

Nice finds!
Pewter dragon things seem to do well. One of my first ''big'' thrift store resales came from a lot of two small ones like those. Paid 99 cents, sold for a little under $20. I know, not huge, but a good profit margin and sold on the first listing and I was happy

 

[desertmoons]

Some silverplated patterns are in demand. The big time consumer is figuring out the pattern. If you collect a lot of them just box them up as a lot for crafts and specify condition is worn there may be plate loss etc. That way you do not need to examine each one with a magnifying glass.
Wait till you get enough to fill up a small flat rate box (20 to 30 pieces). Search for silverplate lot craft to see what i mean.

Be aware though that certain patterns are rare and in demand. So some people decide to become specialists and learn those thousands of patterns. A short cut is to just look at sold listings and see what is selling for a good price. Check to see if you have any of those patterns.

I usually use simichrome to polish..but had a few of extremely heavily tarnished and water damaged spoons. An hour of polishing and the first spoon still was tarnished. I used the tin foil/baking soda/hot water/salt method to clean them. so much easier..drop in the water for a few days and the tarnish was gone.