Thrift Stores = 21st Century Ebay Goldmine

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My favorite way to sell on Ebay is to visit the local thrift stores, find good antiques and vintage items, fix them up and sell them.

Now, I understand that for many people, Ebay has become too big for the small business-owner. I believe that Ebay can still be a good option to make a little money for a small operation. You just have to keep your overhead low and your profit margin high.

I enjoy my Ebay strategy because I make money selling something that I love on Ebay.

I also provide income for the thrift store (run by a charity).

Theoretically, the thrift store could sell their thrift items directly to consumers, but the volume of sales would be too much for staff. There are a few items that I typically chase after specifically, because they do fetch a higher-price on Ebay.

Here is what I look for when cruising the Thriftstore:
Interesting bags and backpacks – there is a high demand for purses and satchels that are interesting. What may seem like a garish-looking bag may in fact be a treasure. Some Valentino-brand satchels will fetch upwards of a hundred dollars on Ebay, even used.

Also, vintage LesportSac bags are generally good items.

Brand-name handbags – You can sometimes find brand-name handbags at the thriftstore, such as Valentino, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vitton, and even Marc Jacobs. These are rare finds, if you can get your hands on one in good condition, you can earn a tidy profit.

Pants – I usually skip the pants section; unless there is a high-end brand, there’s
not much demand for pants. It would be rare, but if you can find a pair of vintage early 1900’s Levis, they might fetch a good bid.

T-shirts – There are a few opportunities to make money with T-shirts. If you can find an interesting vintage t-shirt with a funny slogan, you may be able to earn a small profit. The reason why these items sell is because they are typically cheap (less than a dollar) and the price of a laugh is, well, priceless.
For example: “Welcome to the Gun show”, “Minnesota’s Last Hooker”, “5 cent moustache rides”.

Dress-shirts and blouses – These are often not worthwhile, seek the higher-end brands.

Shoes – Again, it is rare, but you may find a rare gem. Not much opportunity, but stay aware.

Books – This is probably the best area to check. Books are typically cheap and can be sold for a profit. Every once in a while, you may encounter a rare used book. I found a first-edition copy of Ozma of Oz at the thrift-store. I haven’t sold it yet, but I purchased it for less than a dollar, and it may fetch fifty dollars or more.

Antiques – You may find some rare items here; look for the vintage items that seem a bit older, or use an iphone to check the prices of the items.
You may want to learn your basics on Antiques before investing too much capital on these items; these items tend to be more accurately priced in the thrift-store, and it’s usually first-come first-served.

Some of the best sellers, and the cost vs. profit made:
1. Fisher-price Record Players (bought $2.50, sold $25.00)
2. Old 70's dishes (bought $1.00, sold $10.00)
3. Whacky SUPERDAD mugs (bought $0.50, sold $15.00)
4. Good-condition books (bought 50 books at $.25 cents each, sold for $160)
5. Brooks Brothers 3-piece suit (bought $10.00, drycleaned, sold $40.00)
6. 60" x 75" Classic Picture Frames (bought $5.00, sold $29.00)
7. Wooden Shoes (bought $1.00, sold $5.00)

It's possible to make a hefty profit with a little work! All it takes is some creative marketing, a good digital camera, and time.