I'm Done With Toy Hunting

[Den82]

It's over. Thanks to eBay and the countless TV shows, the days of find stuff for cheap are done with.

I spent the entire weekend at garage sales and thrift stores and I did not buy one thing.

Garage Sale #1: Case of vintage Barbie stuff

Asked the woman if it was for sale, she said "online only".

Garage Sale #2: Two beat up Nintendo consoles w/ some games

Asked how much, woman said she didn't know and called for her son to "look them up" and right away he gets his cell out and stars searching eBay.

The local thrift store has raised the price on their Nintendo games and has 1980s Barbie and Ken dolls for $39.99 each!

Then another thrift store had some really nice NES games, but the guy didn't want to sell them until he "looked them up" and a buddy of his told him at least one game was "worth $50". What NES game is worth $50? None that I know of. He told me he's sell them to be for 75% of what they're on eBay for.

I am so sick to my stomach of hearing "ebay", "look it up", etc. whenever I want to buy something.

I forgot to mention last weeks MOTU lot I bought. The guy NEXT DOOR had to bring out a "price guide" and then gave the guy selling them a price of $150! (I paid $75, which in retrospect was a stupid move).

Maybe I am a hypocrite, as I am looking to sell most stuff on eBay, but all of this has me wanting to bang my head against the wall.

[Den82]

I don't blame people wanting good money for their stuff, but it always seems there is some third part *** wipe giving the seller misinformation. It seems modern man just likes to talk to hear himself.

[Hector]

Unfortunately...it's the age of the internet...it has influenced everything...look at the current poor state of print media for example...and it also has hit the postal service like a brick wall as well.

My advice on people searching online for a price check before selling it to you in person? Just don't buy their stuff...simple as that...let their junk rot in the garage or basement.

[Den82]

Well, that's what I am doing now. As soon as they start with that, I'm automatically not interested anymore and just let them eat it. 9 times out of 10, their eyes only see the highest BIN price. They don't even KNOW what a "completed listings" search it.

It's a pain to list and sell on eBay and I am tired of these lazy people who want the top dollar eBay price but not willing to do anything but drag it out of their musty basement.

I can't wait till that day I have most of what I want. So I am awe stuck by what people drag out...

[Den82]

I've also been to 2 yard sales where the people had print outs of eBay auctions for the items they well selling taped or put underneath the item!

[toys2cool]

lol join the club bro the thrift shops here are ridiculous...they price stuff 3 times more expensive then ebay...I do find nintendo games for $2

I use to buy to re-sell on ebay but I gave up on that...if I happen to find a good deal on ebay then I'll buy it and relist it but that's about it

[Adam West]

I was at a local Goodwill a while back and they definitely pick the "good stuff" print out Ebay ads, etc. I saw some Mitchell and Ness Jerseys for $350-$400. I actually know quite a bit about the jerseys and inquired why the price was so high. The person told me they looked them up on Ebay and this was the going rate. I pointed out the stained condition on some of the jerseys and then the HUGE problem....they were all fakes. I told them they should reconsider the pricing considering they are selling counterfeit items.

[MIB41]

I don't blame people wanting good money for their stuff, but it always seems there is some third part *** wipe giving the seller misinformation. It seems modern man just likes to talk to hear himself.

I would just take a nice little break from it for now. Sometimes when your looking too hard for things, that's when everything seems impossible to get. And as cliche' as it sounds, it's often true that you make your best finds when you least expect them. I have found some impossibly cheap collectible figures, when, for whatever reason, no one was looking. When you start feeling frustrated in the hunt, it's time to step back and take a deep breath. Because for me, the chase is part of the fun. Once that becomes a chore, I realize I'm trying too hard and I've lost focus on why I do this. If I was able to get everything I wanted when I wanted it, I would be fairly bored. Discovery is what makes it fun for me. And that makes those items that much more special.

[Riffster]

thankfully i have yet to hit a yard/garage sale where they whip out price guides

[Mikey]

I remember back a few years going to a garage sale and the guy had a lot of 90's Playmates Star Trek figures.

This was like in 2006-ish ......... But, everytime I asked him for a price he would look it up in his late 90's price guide

The guy couldn't believe his price guide was worthless because this stuff is worth a lot LESS than what it was in the 90's

I just walked away and left him in fantasy land

[Figuremod73]

the invention of ebay has been both good and bad. i do think its saved many toys from being thrown away so they can find a good home. on the other side people are beginning to want unreasonable prices on some things that are driving prices way up. King Randor for $80? An original Heman for $50? I know i can now longer afford them when they get in that price range

[Marvelmania]

Yard sales and Fleas are always hit and miss. Mostly being miss but that's part of the fun. You never know what you'll come across at the next one you go to. I've had more luck at yard sales than fleas and yes, I've been told many a time that such and such item goes for $$$$ on Ebay. My response is then why not put it on Ebay. You'll always run into those people and a seller has every right to ask what they want for an item. I'll go weeks without finding 1 thing then I'll get on a run of good luck. The thing is to keep on trying. This past weekend I picked up a Super Nintendo w/ 2 controllers (no games) for $2, a boxed Simone game for $1 some ROTJ glasses for .50 each and a bunch of other things not worth mentioning. I have found Megos and GI Joes from time to time. Keep your eyes out and broaden your search and knowledge. I've picked up several items that I don't collect only to sell for good money to put towards my toy collecting

[MIB41]

Some of this pseudo-market pricing could be symptomatic of the economy. In the past, where people may have been less interested in price as much as just finding space in their home, now they need the money and so there is more of a concerted effort to make as much as possible. The middle class is dwindling and it's desperate times for a lot of people right now. My heart goes out to a number of folks just here alone that are taking a big hit from this downturn.

[Adam West]

Yard sales can be a pain the rump for both the buyer and seller at times. My wife has had a few yard sales and always ends up amazed at what some people will do. I remember she sold a lot of our kids baby clothes years ago and a lot of it was gently used brand name type stuff (Baby Gap, Gymboree, etc.). She had the stuff priced to move and there would always be a few people who would walk up with an entire outfit that was priced at $1 and ask if she would take $.25 for it. I also know one of our neighbors was selling their Longerberger baskets at a yard sale. The big problem was she wanted top end of the market dollar for everything. Needless to say, she didn't sell much that day.

[MIB41]

Yard sales can be a pain the rump for both the buyer and seller at times. My wife has had a few yard sales and always ends up amazed at what some people will do. I remember she sold a lot of our kids baby clothes years ago and a lot of it was gently used brand name type stuff (Baby Gap, Gymboree, etc.). She had the stuff priced to move and there would always be a few people who would walk up with an entire outfit that was priced at $1 and ask if she would take $.25 for it. I also know one of our neighbors was selling their Longerberger baskets at a yard sale. The big problem was she wanted top end of the market dollar for everything. Needless to say, she didn't sell much that day.

Your example is so very true. We recently had a similar experience when we held a yard sale. I find it embarrassing when someone wants to negotiate a $1.00 item. I'm thinking to myself, "Really? Have some pride in yourself."