I'm the hoarder. The guy who beat me out is a reseller, like 95% of the hawks at Estate Sales. I resell too though.
The guy who beat me out on Mego Dracula, you can tell has no interest in toys other than the profit factor. I wanted that for my own collection. Anyway, he listed it on eBay and it didn't sell, so there.
Museum Trouble Maker
Yeah it's tough. There are a bunch in this area that buy and sell stuff regularly. Doesn't bother me. They have the same ability to get stuff I have. Last week was the first break in the weather around here and one guy hit an RC Batman at his first stop. It happens. Though I usually get John Boy or Ponch. Never a Thor or Isis. That kinda sucks butt. I did have one nice score last year that netted me three pieces for my collection and a 3 digit profit so I can't complain.
GFY!!!
Museum Trouble Maker
What you should have done was traded names with him. I have an email I set up just for handing to people in the "flipping" business. Networks are great things. I now buy things I would not have given a second look in the past.
I have familiarized myself with things others specialize in and will pop them off to them for a minimal profit. $5 - $10 or so, or point them in the direction of it if it's a piece I'm not familiar with. In turn they will many times drop me a line or text while I'm out hunting directing me to something they saw. One nice hit last year netted me a shopping bag full of vintage 80's accessories for $10. It turned out over $300 when I was done with it on ebay. It's not unusual for me to send 10-12 texts or calls out in one day of yard sales.
I truly believe that at any decent sized yard sale there is at least $5-$20 to be made if you're educated enough on what's valuable. I'm not talking the guy with a card table by the side of the road but a 8-12 table sale. There is something that they're selling that someone wants to buy. The job is getting it from point A to point B, and making some spending money on it.
Instead of thinking of them as the enemy think of them as an ally that may get you what you want. That guy that got the Dracula may think he reamed himself after it not selling and been willing to let it go to you for a couple of bucks more than he paid rather than risk getting "stuck" with it. You probably would be happy to get it for what he may be willing to sell it for, if he knew you. That same guy may never know the difference between a Large S and small s superman, a RM Robin, or a vinyl cape Thor. So he dumps them to you for $20 or $30 bucks rather than deal with ebay, and you giggle with delight as they sit on the seat in the car beside you as you drive home.
It's just like business, create a network and everyone benefits in the long run. Just because they're buying stuff you want, it doesn't mean they know the stuff you want. In poker we call an unknowing player a fish. There's a saying "If you're sitting at the table and you can't find the fish, it's probably you. Go find another table." Just make sure you're the fisherman and not the fish. It never works out good for the fish.
Originally Posted by Den82
GFY!!!
I'm done with exchanging numbers and cards with local people. I did do it with the guy that beat me out and I of course never heard from him. People are always taking my number, email, etc. and all it is, if a bunch of bull.
Out in the wild, it's so different from the online world. Everyone is full of it out near me and it's every man for himself.
My dream is to eventually open a high-end, yet reasonable priced vintage toy shop out here and just bury and destroy all these shady auction house creeps, shady estate sale creeps, bitter junk shop curmudgeons and cut-throat vulture pickers. Just put them out of business and make them starve to death.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote