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ISSUE 76: Yard Salers Issue 76: Mar. 2012: Be an Art Dealer, Fabulous Flips "Treasure Inside" Contest

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Hello, all!

 
Well we're already into the third month of 2012. This has been one of the weirder winters here in the Washington, D.C. weather, with mild days requiring only light jackets, or serious layering strategies. Still, the yard sales by now have gone the way of the Dodo bird until Spring, so we die-hard yard and estate salers are forced to rely on the latter.

I've been to estate sales nearly every weekend, and I've been buying more vintage and new perfume bottles, inspired by Yard Saler Amy Kagey, who as you may remember found a rare Benoit figural stopper bottle for about $2 in a box lot at an offline auction, and sold it for over $2600 on eBay. You can read the Q & A I did with her at AuctionBytes Blog.

As my eBay sales have been lackluster these days, I am increasingly experimenting more and getting into new niches. One niche I've been experimenting in, which I believe can pay off handsomely if done right, is art. I am working with a wonderful artist friend of mine, Priscilla Treacy, who has a blog at: http://priscillatreacyartwork.blogspot.com/ and an eBay Store at: http://stores.ebay.com/P-Treacy-Fine-Art-and-Collectibles. More about that in the feature article.

We also have a great new flips contest - the results of a fun contest we held on the Facebook site, suggested by member Robin: Stories about a purchase made at an auction, thrift store or yard sale etc., and you found a treasure inside your purchase! We got some great responses; look for them and the winner later in this issue.

The Lazy Estate Saler and String...er, Line Theory

Do you ever look around you when you're standing in line for an estate sale and think, "Well here are the usual suspects?" Just some wacky characters. (I include myself with them, by the way). There's the French guy who always looks for art, and has an earthy, disheveled look about him; the tall lady who buys stuff for her own thrift shop, the coin guy who in my personal opinion can be, well, rude; the Scrap dude who buys up tons of gold rings, weighs them on his little hand scale/calculator, and if they make the right weight at the right price, he drops coin for a whole mess of them; and so on.

I include myself in that list of wacky characters. And though I've had some interesting conversations with some of the nice folks waiting in lines, I hate to wait in line myself. I also hate to get up early, in general..and if you're going to be really cutthroat in this business, it does help to show up early. My latest strategy, however, has been paying off pretty well, and saving me a lot of time from those early morning campers.

I show up from between 20 minutes to 10 minutes before the sale opens. If there are any numbers left, I grab one, to be on the safe side. (Sometimes, people who drop out put their numbers back). This generally means I am not the very first group to get in, but usually by the 2nd or third group that gets in, I'm in. I notice that many of the things I buy at that point are not the things other people buy, so I don't think I am missing out on too much this way, especially since many of the finer items are marked almost at retail the first day, and no one buys them til the 2nd or 3rd day of the sale, when they are discounted.

An exception to this is probably the finer books, if there are other books people at the sale. But I have been to many sales where there just don't seem to be other serious books folks. The other thing is, if there are multiple DC area sales in one weekend, all the book dealers or paperweight dealers or whatchamajiggit dealers may be starting off at another sale, so I don't have to "deal" with them myself as competition.

(However, if it sounds to be a particularly good sale, I have been known to show up early and suffer through the wait, coffee and newspaper in tow..sometimes I wait some of it out in my car).

Tip: while you're waiting in line, however long it is, keep your ears open for what people are talking about. You can often learn about other good sales in the area, and whether they're worth going to or not.

Another tip, for once you're in...try to get to the kitchen and the bathrooms early on. The kitchen for Betty Crocker and other valuable cookbooks (Julia Child, etc.), and the bathrooms for great old (or new) perfume bottles or other resellable toiletries.

Once I'm in the sale, I notice something else about lines: there seems to be a point of "critical mass" where, after there being little to no line early on, first a small line starts forming, and then a chain reaction of people panicking as they see how long the line is getting, start getting in line as well. You want to get in line either just before it starts mushrooming, or settle in for the duration and wait for the whole nightmare to end. Poke your way through every shelf, nook, cranny, and even in drawers and closets. (Sometimes the best surprises lurk in there. I once found a mother lode of Clinique cosmetics under the unopened bathroom cabinets of one sale...this was a clearout sale where everything was fair game).

Another thing I've noticed latecomers to sales can find: skinny ephemera and booklets tucked in between the regular books. Some of these are rare little pieces that may be collectible brochures, special interest books, art catalogs, and the like, which can be listed on amazon easily.

(If you're interested in finding out more about making money selling catalogs and which ones sell for the most, do check out my ebook in the Yard Salers bookstore at http://www.yardsalers.net/bookstore.asp.)
 
***********************************
Catch my EcommerceBytes interview with one of the eBay gurus and Internet Marketers I most admire, Jim Cockrum: http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y212/m02/abu0305/s03. His book is "FREE Marketing: 101 Low and No-Cost Ways to Grow Your Business Online and Off":
 
 
 
If you for some reason cannot see that link, go here:
 
But even if you don't buy his book, I urge you to sign up for his FREE newsletter, at http://www.jimcockrum.com/blog/pages/free-newsletter/
 
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The latest Flips contest is in this issue. We'll be doing another cash prize of $50 for the next contest, plus a free subscription service -- details to follow -- and runnerups winning free copies of my new ebook, which I really think is my best: "Flip It Again," http://www.yardsalers.net/frequent_flips_sales.asp. Also, the updated version of "Big Bucks Flips" will be out any day now. :)
 
As a reminder, the Yard Salers' Facebook group is at  http://www.facebook.com/groups/27871336031. Non-facebookers, still working on adding a non-facebook message board to the YardSalers.net site soon.

Also, don't forget to share those Flops. The really ugly pig cookie jar missing its lid yearns to leave my backyard. Post them on the Facebook group and I'll be sure to include them in the next issue, or email them directly to me at juliawilk@aol.com.
 
*****
Can you really find Masters Augusta National green golf shirts to sell? You can! I have already found two. For more insider info on which golf shirts sell the best and the best places to find them, I recommend Suzanne Arant Wells's  ebook, The Golf Shirt Bible. Only $19.95:
If  link does not work, try copying this into your browser:
https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=880449&c=cart&aff=156311&ejc=2&cl=34579
******
 
This is now our sixth issue in the new email system, AWeber. If you have any problems or questions about links in the newsletter, or other issues, feel free to email me at juliawilk@aol.com.
 
OK, now without further ado, let's get to the rest of this issue! 
*********************************************************************
Contents:
1) Feature Article: Be An Art Dealer
2) Flips Contest: Surprise Inside! Results of the "Treasures Inside the Find" Facebook Contest
3) Reader Mail
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Flip it for big bucks:  http://bigbucksflips.com/
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Feature Article: Be An Art Dealer
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Art. It's a crazy business, in many ways. It's also a fun business that can be particularly lucrative if you know how to do it right. 
 
And as an investment, and a tangible one such as gold or silver, if you buy quality art it can be a great hedge in your portfolio. 
 
It helps to know a little something about art, but even if you know bupkus, the magic of the Internet and looking up artists' signatures and sold prices await you. There are also other specific references you can use; more about that later. But my latest strategy involves working with someone with professional knowledge.
 
I've been looking to sell more art because I am always searching for items that I can turn for higher profits than I have been making.
 
Lately my aforementioned very talented artist friend, Priscilla, and I have embarked upon a "joint venture": we go to estate sales together, look at art, and buy up items we think are underpriced and can be resold for a good profit. We look for under-the-radar items, and usually go the 2nd or 3rd day of the sale when everything has generally been marked down. I make the initial down payment on the art, and we split the profit.

At most estate sales, art will be hung on the walls and usually priced pretty high, at least on the first day of the sale. You can still buy those items at a discount and make a profit if you do your research after the first day of the sale and come back armed with knowledge, and go on the discount day.
 
But you should also look for art in out-of-the way places in a house: this includes loose works on paper that have not been framed. In one of the last estate sales my friend and I attended, in a side bedroom upstairs, which seemed a kind of office with a desk, we found two unframed etchings, and two framed. We did a quick search of the artist's name and found he was a known artist. We picked up the two framed pieces for 1/2 off their original price of approx. $32 each, so we paid only $32 for both.
 
Upon getting  home, we did more research online, and my friend found that this artist had works exhibited in the Smithsonian. She carefully took photos and close-ups of the pieces, and we listed them with as much information as we had.
 
Results: so far, we have sold one of the loose prints on paper for $89.95, one of the framed pieces for $79.95, and are awaiting results on the second loose print.
 
Here is one of the unframed etchings (they were both of bees):
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/ eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&ite m=290676751388
www.ebay.com
MICHAEL JACQUES Etching Print Signed 11/75 Drone Bee in Art , Art from Dealers Resellers , Prints | eBay
 
 
But, you can find art in places other than yard and estate sales. My friend recently found an etching by a renowned artist in a thrift store at a low price.
 
So, don't you have to know a lot about art? Not necessarily, but it does help to know a few things about the different media and how to tell them apart:
 
Etching: - There is a good description of this at the blog http://blog.chasenantiques.com/2009/07/29/how-can-you-tell-an-etching-is-authentic/,
but here is a summary: 
 
#1. A real etching has a plate impression. This is because the artist does his work on a copper or zinc plate plate, so the "original" is a copper plate and that's rarely ever for sale. To produce the image, first the plate is hand-inked. Then the paper is laid down on top and the two pass together through the etching press, under tremendous pressure. The pressure transfers the image to the paper. Since the copper plate has thickness, it "dents" the paper around the edge of the image.
 
Note from Julia: This "dent" is usually called a "plate mark," according to my artist friend. So look for that dent or impression as a sign of a real etching print.
 
#2. There are not dots if you look at the image under a magnifying glass (as I like to call them, "the dots of death.": "Since the process is not photographic and there is no printing press, there are no dots in the image. If you use a magnifying glass to look at a photograph in a newspaper, you can see the entire image is made up of dots. Use a magnifying glass with an original etching and there are no dots. So #2. An authentic etching does not have any dots in the image."
 
Engraving: This is similar to an etching; from this eBay Guide: http://reviews.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-PRINT-FORGERIES-FAKES-and-REPRINTS?ugid=10000000005844856

"You can tell a real intaglio (copper plate etching or steel plate engraving) from a fake intaglio fairly easily, providing you have got halfway decent eye sight. For steel engravings and copper plate etchings, the linework is always 'raised' - sometimes slightly, and other times dramatically -- and by this, I mean the if you take a magnifying lens (8x photo loupe works best) and view the artwork, you shall see there's an aspect of 3D to the actual line, which is higher than the surface of the paper. In photomechanically reproduced prints, the linework is not raised. It is flush with the surface of the paper."
 
Watercolor: 
According to my artist friend, who has a master's degree and a lot of art knowledge, you should look at the work with a very strong magnifying glass. The paper will usually be rough. Obviously, if it is a computerized reproduction, you will be able to see those "dots of death" through a magnifying glass. "Hot-pressed" is a type of paper, that is very smooth (they roll hot rollers over the paper; this is called "calendaring."), and most watercolorists actually prefer to work on "cold-pressed" (no hot rollers) which has a distinctive texture, and would be one of the things to look for in identifying a print of a watercolor, besides the little dots.
 
Giclee:
On these, you can see more brush strokes. Here is more, excerpted from eHow:
"With a giclee, the image will appear to be seeped into the canvas. If you are looking at a high quality print on a prepared canvas surface (gesso) or fabric, there's a good chance it is giclee.
(More at http://www.ehow.com/how_6012938_identify-giclee.html#ixzz1okC3OLrj).
 
Oil: 
The texture will often be thick, though sometimes smooth; very opaque. Can also be transparent.  These are usually painted on a canvas; can also be on a smooth surface. (I have one very small oil painting on wood).
 
If it has "impasto" (texture) and is painted on a canvas, it is probably oil. But if it is painted on a panel, and is smooth, it could still be an oil painting. It will have a sheen, or even a fairly shiny varnish over a coat of smooth, blended paint. 
 
Other reference works I have found immensely helpful include:

- Davenport's Art Reference & Price Guide (Davenport's Art Reference and Price Guide) 
(This is put out every year, and the latest version is quite expensive; around $219 on amazon.com). But...you can buy a copy that is several years old or so, for a lot less, and it will still have most of the artists referenced, and recent prices for their sold works.
 
Here's a link to the most recent one on amazon; I do not think the 2011/2012 one is out yet:
 
 
Among the other books and reference resources I consult include Kovel's guides, eBay specialist forums, and other specialty collectors' sites.
 
And don't forget contemporary news sources, such as:
 
- The Wall Street Journal. They have very good art world coverage regularly. Granted, it is more high-end, and out of a lot of our leagues, but it doesn't hurt to add to our knowledge base and be aware of the trends out there.
 
- Artprice.net: Large database of artist info - bios, sales prices. It's a subscription model, but you can get a one-day access for $20 and research one or more artists at a time.

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2) Flips Contest: Surprise Inside! Results of the "Treasures Inside the Find" Facebook Contest
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Since we did not get much in the way of email-submitted flips this time (don't worry, if you submitted one you feel got missed, just email me at juliawilk@aol.com and I will put it in next month's contest), I am going with a fun twist on the Flips contest concept which Yard Saler reader -  and member of the YS Facebook group - Robin came up with recently:
"OK Julia Lee Wilkinson I have your next contest idea. All right you really don't have to use it but I would like to know if anyone has any stories about a purchase they made at an auction, thrift store or yard sale etc and found a treasure inside their purchase?"
So I said, let's go for it! Read on for these fun "Surprise Inside" stories and the winner of the $50 PayPal dough. ;)
 
"Presidential" Photos
 
Annmarie said: "Not really a 'treasure' but they sold on eBay: behind a framed photo of President Bush (the 1st) signing something, there were about 5 other "presidential" photos. They all sold."
 
This reminds me of those times on"Storage Wars" where the winner of the unit finds a framed picture, takes off the back of the frame, and finds some treasure, like the time Daryl found all that cash. Lesson? I guess we should be peeking behind these frames! ;)
 
Auction Lot Box with Wallets - and Cash!
 
Robin (the one who started the contest idea) says: "Here's my story. I went to an auction, the owner had died. They had tons of box lots and I bought a lot of them. I left some stuff and didn't realize it until I got home and started going through everything. It was a flat-bed cart with wheels on it and I really wanted it for my son to use when he takes the garbage out. I called the auctioneer the next day and they told me I had left several boxes and they were in the shed and told me where the key was.

"I went in and there were several boxes, some I remembered being in the lot and others I didn't. I took everything and again called the auctioneer and told him I took everything and left my number in case someone called because I took their items too. He said that was fine and probably it was stuff left behind because it wasn't wanted by the buyer.
 
"After several days no one called to claim it so I started going through it. One box had wallets including brand new ones. I looked in one of them and found $135.00 in it. Cha ching. I had paid $105.00 at the auction, so my items were actually free and I still made $30.00. I've sold some of the items for a nice profit and still have more of them to sell."
 
Pottery Jar Yields Legal Tender
 
Cathy says: "I bought a pottery jar imprinted with 'Frustrations' at a 100-Mile Rummage Sale along the Mississippi River. A few days later when I was finally able to dig out the old cork stopper...I found eight twenty dollar bills rolled up inside! It paid for our gas, motel room and our meals for the weekend!"
 
Crown Royal Bag Leads to Treasure Fit for a King
 
Sandy says: "DH and I went to an estate/farm auction where they had everything from farm equipment to antiques to household. Mark bought a pallet load of misc. stuff straight out of the house that morning, including the berry bucket I wanted for $2.50. We bought a pickup truck and small trailer load throughout the day. When we went to load up we debated taking the rest of the pallet-load, including the 6 or so cardboard covered bins with food items like sugar and noodles. It is not normal at auctions but we had permission to leave behind anything we didn't want and they would throw it in their pit.
 
"When we got home Mark was taking stuff out of the bins to see if their was anything we wanted to use. All of a sudden he grabbed a Crown Royal bag from the bin and headed for the house, with me right behind. In the bag were several rolls of silver dollars, some uncirculated, and some other coins. Turned out to be over $1500 dollars worth that we sold to the appraiser! That more than paid for our auction purchases. Now we never leave anything behind without checking it thoroughly first."
 
Yeah, I won't either, Sandy! Wow!

Sandy added, "I felt guilty for a minute or 2 until I realized that they had hauled this stuff straight out of the house and piled it on a pallet to sell. To the sellers it was basically garbage and they were going to throw it away if it didn't sell. Oh, and they did have a lot of coins that they sold as part of the same estate."
 
Yeah, sounds like a "finders keepers" (or "buyers keepers," more accurately), situation!
 
Country Auction Property Leads to Trailer "Frozen in Time"
 
Tracey says, "About 12 years ago, before I was married, I was with my ex-bf at a county auction for property. He was new at 'buying auction properties,' and most of these were properties of which taxes hadn't been paid, property was abandoned, etc.
 
"So he bid on a lot that was in a certain area that he was familiar with (well, not really, but knew where the town was), and won it. I honestly don't remember what he paid for it, but am thinking it was for maybe $1500. Needless to say, he bought it sight unseen.
 
"When we went to check out his new property, lo and behold, there sat a trailer house on it! We were shocked as could be, thinking how irresponsible to buy something not even knowing there was a house on the lot! (Guess we missed that part in the auction) I can't say we got $1500 back out of it, but we went in and found that whoever lived there had left everything as if he had walked out the door that day.
 
"We went to the neighbors and asked and they said he had died about 6 yrs prior, and that someone had come to get pictures, and left everything else there. No kidding, there was still food in the kitchen (believe it or not), foil on the table, new package of underwear in the living room on couch.
 
"What I did get out of it was a ton of record albums, some pretty notable albums (lots of Beatles), from 60s and 70s, and some back to the 40s & 50s. The guy also had an amazing collection of Popular Science Magazines, and I have all of those still today, some dating back to the 20s.
 
Just wanted to share this. I will never forget finding that trailer, and ever since, it always makes me wonder about old abandoned homes and what may be in them! "
 
Tracey, that is my dream too! In fact when we drive past an old, abandoned house on the side of the road when we are driving in the country, my husband has to all but stop me from making him stop the car so I can sneak in! LOL. What an interesting story..I bet those Beatles etc. albums were worth a lot!
 
Diamond in the Rough of a Junk Jewelry Bunch
 
Lois says, "Great stories......we once found a platinum and diamond ring in a bunch of junk jewelry we sold for $2900, that is my favorite.....we find gold jewelry a lot that others don't realize is gold because they don't know the marks for here and Europe."
 
Great point, Lois! I have several hallmarks books...I recommend everyone get one or more as reference. You can also look up a lot of marks on the Internet, but it can be quicker to just flip through a book.
 
One I like for Pottery and Porcelain is "Kovels' New Dictionary of Marks," by Ralph and Terry Kovel. It sorts the marks both by type of symbol/figure (e.g. a crown, etc) and also alphabetically.
 
$2 Farm Auction Lot Yields "Antiques Road Show" Treasure

Patricia says, "I bought a box lot at a farm auction years ago for two dollars. Don't remember why or what for, but inside I found a beautiful Thistle-shaped silver object. Took it home and hit the library to try and find out more info. It turned out to be a pomander, holds potpourri.
 
"The hall marks gave the rest of the info that it was made in Edinburgh Scotland in 1880. I took to the Antiques Road Show two years ago and they said it was worth $500 or so. Also Scottish silver is harder to find because they reuse it fairly often so old things get melted down a lot. Not this one, the intricate detail and graceful beauty is wonderful to see. I would not part with this find for anything."
 
Anyone Remember Cracker Jacks?
 
Around this point in the contest thread I reminisced about Cracker Jacks, and it led to another story, so here is the exchange:
 
Julia: "...Have yet to score that kind of "surprise inside" (anyone remember when those from Crackerjacks were actually cool? Hmm..gonna have to look those up on eBay. ;)
 
Robin said, "Oh I loved crackerjacks and the surprise inside."

And Patricia had another story: "Julia, as a kid I once wrote the Cracker Jack company to complain that a few boxes of Cracker Jacks came with out a toy, and to ask the company to be more careful about that. They sent me a small box full of toys to make up for it. Sure wish I still had that box. LOL."
 
Whew, me too! Wish I had saved all my Crackerjack toys. Wonder what those old "surprise insides" sell for? Here are a few:
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ Rare-1930s-Cracker-Jack-IND IAN-MOTORCYCLE-Tin-Penny-T oy-/270913774841
www.ebay.com
Rare 1930s Cracker Jack INDIAN MOTORCYCLE Tin Penny Toy in Collectibles , Advertising , Food Beverage , Candy Nuts , Cracker Jack | eBay
about a minute ago  E   E 
 
and:
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ Antique-Glass-Dogs-mostly-p ugs-Cracker-Jack-Prizes-19 40s-/280832669560
www.ebay.com
Antique Glass Dogs (mostly pugs) - Cracker Jack Prizes 1940s? in Collectibles , Advertising , Food Beverage , Candy Nuts , Cracker Jack | eBay
2 seconds ago  E   E 
 
Free Money in Pants
 
Susan said, "Mine's not at all exciting like some of yours are, but one time I was getting a pair of girl's jeans ready to list, and found $7.00 in the back pocket. Exciting, huh? ;)"
 
Susan, a treasure's a treasure! (As Robin said, "Very exciting. Money is money. ;) )."
 
Box Lot of Lamp Shades Leads to Something to Party About
 
Beth wrote, "In the summer of 2005, I bought a box lot to get the lampshades (to use!) and inside was a milk glass shoe, large (7"), 2 pieces (had a lid!) and I put it on the flea market table for months for $15 ...didn't sell at all. Everyone 'had one.'
 
"In November 2005..needed money to pay the mortgage..put it and a bunch of other stuff on eBay. Day before Thanksgiving, the auction was at $50 with 11 min left and I was dying cause I was sure they wouldn't pay. And would say it was a mistake.
 
"BUT...it ended at $800. They didn't pay for 3 days (it was Thanksgiving...they were away). Paid on Sunday - shipped on Monday and asked "what did I just send you?" Turns out, the shoe was a very rare version..listing in a 1980 book for $800, and they were thrilled with it. Scary part is how many times it "almost" got broken while sitting on the flea market table."
 
And the Winner Is...
 
OK, now it's time for our $50 cash winner and our almost-winners, who really are winners too! All right, this time it's "about the money": Sandy's story about finding several rolls of silver dollars, some uncirculated, and other coins worth $1500 dollars, wins. Sandy, you win the $50 PayPal! Please email me at juliawilk@aol.com so I can send you the money (OK so it's not $1500 but....)
 
Everyone else who entered wins the free ebook of their choice, including the *hot off the press* *updated* version of "Big Bucks Flips." Or you can choose "Flip It Again," (available at http://www.yardsalers.net/frequent_flips_sales.asp.) -- or any of my other ebooks listed at http://www.yardsalers.net/bookstore.asp, or at the bottom of this newsletter in list form. Just email me at juliawilk@aol.com and let me know which one you would want.
 
No flops in this issue, though I need to mine the Facebook site. Remember to send in those duds too...they're good for a laugh, and the worst one wins a prize, too! Actually, wait, I myself had this one dud, which I posted to the Facebook group:
 
FLOP ALERT: OK so I'm thinkin' I'm on fire with all these vintage perfume listings (inspired by Amy), and I come across this interesting head cologne last weekend and it goes for a....whopping $4.95! ;)  http://www.ebay.com/itm/ Avon-Pony-Express-Rider-Pipe-Wi ld-Country-Cologne-Perfume-Bot tle-/250989404813
www.ebay.com
Avon Pony Express Rider Pipe Wild Country Cologne Perfume Bottle in Collectibles , Decorative Collectibles , Decorative Collectible Brands , Avon , Bottles |eBay

 
Sigh..now I am even more leery of Avon. ;)
 
Enter Next Month's Flips Contest!
 
Next month for the Flips contest, we have a special free service as a prize, and also the $50 PayPal prize, so for "best results," please email me your Flips stories at juliawilk@aol.com!
 
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Reader Mail
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If you remember, last issue we can a piece about a Winnie the Pooh Pattern than sold. [Deb found a McCall's pattern from 1965 showing patterns for the original Pooh, Tigger, Roo etc.; bought it for 25 cents and got $51 for it.]
 
That sparked a great, helpful email from faithful reader Audrey (aka Havamom in Lake Havasu...home of the original London Bridge!). Here it is:
 
Hi Julia,
 
As usual, a very interesting and informative newsletter.  
 
I read the piece about the Pooh pattern with a lot of interest.  I've found that doll clothes patterns sell very well, especially the ones not from the big brand names (although they sell well too) that look like they were printed at home and usually have typewritten directions and hand drawn patterns. 
 
I ran into an estate sale some time ago, where the mother and daughter were really into making dolls and doll clothes and had a LOT of these old type patterns with Victorian dresses and night clothes, etc.  Picked them up very cheap and as I recall none of them sold for less than $8.00 and some went into the $20's.  Original Barbie doll patterns from the 50's and 60's have sold well for me, and even other size doll clothing, too.  Other kinds of hand-sewn toy patterns don't sell so well, but will sell eventually if you are patient! 
 
And speaking of patterns, I've also had pretty good luck with them; the trick is to get them REALLY cheap.  Most of the ones I've sold, I've bought as a LOT, for pennies or less per pattern.  And some of them were new, they obviously sold the best, but have sold used ones too. Costumes go well, and some babies and small children.  New patterns in a retail store can run up to $8-$10, is probably why they sell on eBay.

You gave me an idea about comics, have not had a great amount of success on eBay, so will try Amazon.  Have not listed much there, I seem to keep busy enough on eBay.
 
As far as a Christmas season, lots of people give cash as presents, which is why you see purchases after Christmas.  I recommend keeping items all year round, as you never know when someone is going to want something that is 'out of season'.
 
I also recommend hitting the estate and garage sales late in the day.  Sellers are more willing to listen to offers and will often sell really, really cheap.  Bunch a lot of things together and make an offer OR ask what's the lowest they'll go.  If it's a lot of stuff, they may just see that it's ALL going to be GONE and they won't have to deal with it anymore. 
 
 At one of the estate sales we ran, there were 15 drawers full of cassette tapes (42 in a drawer), we were selling them $.25 each or 5 for $1.00 and one man was looking through them and picking out a bunch.  When I asked if he would take them all at $5.00 a drawer, he jumped at it.  We were happy because they were GONE!  and we didn't have to donate them to the local thrift store.  He was happy, too!  Maybe a loss of $2.00 a drawer IF they had sold, but better that they were gone, gone, gone!!
 
Keep up the great newsletter, I look forward to it
 
Havamom
Audrey Steffan
 *****
I asked Audrey if I could use her letter in the next issue and she replied:

Hi Julia,
 
Use any parts you want, always happy to share information.  After I listed the patterns individuallly and they were through selling, I listed them as a LOT.  For some reason they did NOT sell well that way.  Maybe because I didn't put like sizes together, but thought I'd add that piece of info. You need to keep the prices fairly low on patterns, but if you check at the store, they sell anywheres from $3.00 to $10.00, so that must be why they sell on eBay.  Also some of the high end patterns, such as Vogue and other unusual ones, sell better than Simplicity, McCall's, etc.
   
Looking forward to the next newsletter and will let you know if I have great success on Amazon.
Audrey
******
I replied:
Hey Audrey!

Thanks so much! I think your letter will help a lot of readers. :)  Interesting...a lot vs. individual. I've given some thought to that too..sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  Those are great tips re: high end patterns. Oh, re: Vogue...if you ever see an old Vogue magazine at a sale, grab it..they sell pretty well! Or  usually. You cansell them on amazon; I think that's even better than eBay because people tend to be in a hurry and willing to pay more. [Note here from Julia I'm adding in later: I've sold several old women's magazines..one of them that Cosmo with the..er, Burt Reynolds spread inside. And one an old Glamour. But Vogue, imo, has the biggest fan base).

Well thanks again for the great info..it's great to keep in touch!

Take care,
Julia

********************************************************
 
OK, everyone, that's it for this issue. Enjoy the coming yard sale season and nice weather! See you all next issue, and remember to email those flips and flops to me at juliawilk@aol.com!
****************************************
I recommend the ebooks by Steve Lindhorst..he has done a lot w/ fba (Fulfillment by Amazon).
His ebook about selling on amazon is at: http://juliawilk.lindhorst.hop.clickbank.net?x=21
 
There is also a comprehensive course about selling on amazon/FBA at: http://paydotcom.net/r/109654/juliawilk/26850135/
 
(Both those links are my affiliate links to these products, but you can certainly purchase them via a different link as well..the price is the same).
---------------------------------

That's it for this issue! We had a light mailbag. Any questions, comments, compliments, rants or raves, send to juliawilk@aol.com. On second thought, send the rants to my gmail account, juliawgal@gmail.com...I don't check it as often. ;)
---------------------------------
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Nonfiction Books that Sell for $50-$250 on eBay (eBooks) - $4.50 (This is already half-price)
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Over 500 Books that Sell for $50-$5000 on eBay - $8.95
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How to Spot Fakes: a Special Report - $4.50
(email me at juliawilk@aol.com)

New Special Report: "A Book that Looks Like Nothing" - $4.50
16 - plus pages about "sleeper" books that look like nothing, but sell for "something" -- some up to 
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(email me at juliawilk@aol.com)
 
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eBay: Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks, 3rd Edition - 45 new from $3.50 44 used from $1.24
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EBOOKS I SELL AS AN AFFILIATE

How to Make Big Bucks with Garage & Yard Sales - $8.95 (only available by email; PayPal 
me $8.95 or email me at juliawilk@aol.com; this one not available at hald price)

Garage sale and wholesaler expert Pat Bateman has put together a fabulous ebook about making regular income with yard sales, finding wholesale goods to sell, using drop shippers, and more. Right now I'm offering it at a special preview price for $8.95. PayPal me at juliawilk@aol.com and you will receive the ebook via email, usually within hours.
 
----

Books by Julia L. Wilkinson:
 
 

----------------------
Copyright 2012 J.L. Wilkinson LLC 
----------------------

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Publisher, Julia Wilkinson, author of the award-winning "eBay Price Guide." and "What Sells on eBay for What"

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