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Saturday Shopping

6/18/2016

1 Comment

 
 a We usually shop Tuesday through Saturday, although on occasion a Sunday or Monday trip happens. We find that the best days for shopping are Wed-Fri. Much less competition in the stores, and new things have made it out to the shelves by then. Saturday shopping involves more auto and human traffic and less things being put out on the shelves, so it can be more hit or miss than usual. Today was a pretty good day.
STORE#1 (local charity store benefitting women's shelter).
This store was recently remodeled and has mostly clothing. I have gotten a few really nice items out of this store at a very good price, including a Temperley dress for $6 and a blumarine shirt for $4. They have a boutique section, which I avoid because everything is priced beyond what would be a reasonable resale profit margin, and they focus on the better known brands that don't actually sell as well on eBay (Talbots, Laundry, etc.). I didn't get anything there today.
STORE #2 - Goodwill
This store pays off big once in a while. Today's purchases:
  • medical self-test meter that sells anywhere from $170 to over $400. ($5),
  • a small Fendi Zucca purse (I did not realize until I got home they didn't ring this up - $0; note that I have been double charged for items a few times when I wasn't keeping track of my expected total) that should sell between $40-100.  I rarely buy the high-end designer purses because of lots of fakes, but if they look right and are the standard $5, I will get them and investigate fully before posting.
  • Ryan Michael silk western shirt ($5) worth $40-50. This brand always sells quickly for me. 
  • Asics Gel Nimbus ($8) - should sell $40-50. There are some Asics sneakers worth a bunch, and some not worth trying to sell. Look under the tongue for the style number, usually a combination of five letters and numbers. If you do a little research, you can see which ones are best.
  • Mara Hoffman swim maxi cover up ($6) - not entirely sure about this one - maybe $40; I didn't investigate long as the style looks really nice
STORE #3 - local chain thrift - this chain varies by location. This particular location I almost never buy anything. Today I spent $5 total on a vintage Garfield special plush that may or may not sell for $20-30, but my son will love it if not, and an incomplete Jimmy Neutron toy that may sell anywhere from $20-50.
STORE #4 - another Goodwill
  • Cuisinart DGB-300 ($5) should sell $40-50. This coffee maker looks and feels "cheap" but is very popular. Coffee makers with built-in grinders (of the right brands) are good to check out for resale.
STORE #5 - local thrift
  • Chanel belt ($2) - value unknown at this time. It's Chanel and appears authentic...
  • Hanging shelf bag ($6) to store my inventory
STORE #6 - another Goodwill...
  • ​Landscape lighting set - new in box. Haven't checked for completeness yet ($9) - should sell $50+ 
  • West Bend Just for Dinner bread maker - this is a very popular item. ($9) that sells from $25-70 - I expect to sell mine for $40-50. Always check for the paddle in any bread maker!
This is usually my last store on this route, but I had a little extra time today, so I went to...
STORE #7 - yet another Goodwill - I usually don't visit this one as the prices are higher than others and the selection is slim. But today I got a brand new in box Villaware Pizzelle maker for $11. Should sell around $70 more or less.
STORE #8&9
These are in the same shopping strip, one is a new resale store I've never been in. Very nice stuff, but prices more than I like to pay for resale. But I may have found a place to consign some of my vintage couture. The other is a YWCA resale I rarely go in because the prices are higher than the other resale shop. I did happen to find a three-pieces Misook outfit I took a chance on for $12. Could be $100+
​
1 Comment

The Jewelry and Beauty Counter

6/15/2016

0 Comments

 
I always make a quick stop by the jewelry counter area at the stores, but I almost never buy jewelry (too hard to investigate quickly). Along with jewelry, this area is usually a hodgepodge of watches, perfumes, lotions, makeup, and miscellaneous small electronics or packaged items.

Discontinued perfumes (including old formulas of perfumes still being manufactured) and other scented products can easily bring $50 and up, even if only partially full. I find that perfume is often marked up beyond my target profit margin, but occasionally I have paid up to $20 after looking it up. Make sure to include size when reviewing listings. Bath & Body Works is extremely popular, and certain discontinued scents are very desirable. Also, L'Occitane products are a good bet. A couple sales listed on this page that might surprise you include a half full bottle of bath perfume purchased for $2-3 and sold for $43, and Lush Silky underwear powder. I purchased all eight cans of powder that were in the case at $2 each and sold in sets of four for $30/31. In this case, I happened to find this product in a discontinued packaging that people preferred (the newer packaging of the product is not nearly as desirable). At the top of the linked page above, there is a link to used, sold fragrances $39 and up (check those out here; note that many of the pages have preformatted research links included to help you up your game.)

This is also a great place to find expensive anti-aging products. One of the most popular brands I find fairly regularly is Arbonne. They have multiple skin care products such as cleansers, which can be profitable if obtained for a couple dollars. However, the big money is in the anti-wrinkle stuff. Other brands can bring even more money, but I don't find them as often. There are also facial toning products worth quite a bit of money. Members can view more specifics/photos regarding these products here.


Other miscellaneous finds in this area include a digital stopwatch worth about $100, a new in box Cadillac owner's medallion, and oils for a reed diffuser or other aromatherapy products. As always, look up by brand and model/style/scent/size.  
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  • Home
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