07/25/2018
When I looked into graduate school my income before retirement was still being counted so I decided to treat this flea market adventure like a class. So while I'm not bringing in much cash beyond my stall rent, I'm learning a lot and having a pretty good time. But the costs, and therefore the risk, are acceptable despite the reality of little to no financial gain
I've generally chose to take a paycheck in life over entrepreneurship but now retired with a small pension and a 403B (like a 401K for teachers and such) I can access, with thousands of dollars in value of collectibles (mostly comics and other printed materials) and time I jumped in to this pursuit.
Part of any good learning experience includes writing up what one's learned so here goes.
1. Comic books - are delicate and value is highly dependent on quality. Sell slowly at flea markets. I've returned most comics home. $1 and $3 boxes are still at Water Street. I talked to a dealer at The Antique Depot who pays 30% of value (my experience has been that for most comics, most dealers won't pay more than 10% of value). I could also get a table at Nittany Con in October for around $200 for the weekend and offer them at 50%. Either is possible but both will require some organization. Some may be worth getting CGC graded and then selling them on ebay.
2. Collectibles - Have many comic/pop culture/late mid-century pieces and these are available at many places at close to the dime to a dollar point which makes them worth buying/cleaning/repairing and then selling. For example, last weekend I got a 1973 Fisher Price little people jet for $1. Searching ebay sold listing, I determined it was worth $15. I spent an hour, maybe a bit more, researching and cleaning (it was very grungy). I picked up a 90's Batman bank at the State College Goodwill for $1.29. the contacts in the battery compartment needed cleaned up but that was pretty simple and while the value is about $30, I'm thinking I'll mark it at $60 'cause it's very cool and I think it would be a draw in my little corner at the flea market.
I've also noticed mid-century made in Japan items tend to have some value though I'm thinking ebay may be the best place to sell these. I still need to work more on these things but when I find a piece in decent shape at $1 or less, I've been picking them up, cleaning them up and stashing them
3. Books - very little value. People who make money off of selling books need to sell a lot. Collectible books may be an exception. I still need more experience/info in this area.
4. Positives - I have a lot of, IMO, cool stuff like my quickly expanding ashtray collection or the ceramic "End of the Trail" statue (none sold on ebay but one for sale with the seller asking $99, I'll follow it and see what it actually sells for).
I did OK at an auction last weekend. Got a new Everlast heavy bag kit in the box for $7.50 (value $65) Black and Decker electric chainsaw for $27.50 ($80 value and the farthest from the dime on a dollar metric) Rockville musician's throne for $10 ($55 value). I'll keep and use these, at least for now. Also some vintage cigarette snuffers ($16 for 4 cases of 24 each, kept a few and pricing the rest at $2 each) and 4 Star Wars/Hot Wheels toys for $11 (value $40).
5. The Future - I'll be posting items in the Huntington County Yard Sale pages. Putting together inventory to take to Belleville on Wednesday. I also plan going to more auctions and finding new vectors for inventory. My winter project will be getting an ebay account set up as that may very well be where this all ends up.
