Garage Sale Hunting! Tips, Hints and Advice

[Star_Cards]

I've done well with Teddy Ruxpins that work. I think Grubby may be more valuable than Teddy but not sure.


I grabbed a few decent things over the weekend. I got two TI graphing calculators, a few stereo receivers, and a typewriter.

My best two picks would have to be a lego set from 1995 for $3 and a lot of 70 Skylander video game figures for $70.

The lego set is missing a few pieces and the box has some wear, but seems like I can get about $40 for it.


This is the Skylanders lot.

Photo May 17, 10 18 54 AM.jpg

The cheap ones sell for around $5 each with their cards. I have one that goes for $25 and a few that go for $15 or so. There were two sets that go for $45-$65 each and I have maybe 20 that sell in the $7-$10 range. I figure once I sell the whole lot I should recoup around $400.

[cowboysrgr8]

wow thats a awesome pickup on the skylander lot...good luck with the sales

[Star_Cards]

wow thats a awesome pickup on the skylander lot...good luck with the sales

thanks! I was happy about finding them.

It seems that you just pick mainly video game stuff at garage sales. Do you pick up any other stuff besides that and cards? Also, do you hit specific sales that advertise video games or are you pick ups just random finds? My video game pick ups are completely random for the most part. Most of the stuff I run across is priced way too high for me to flip. Was just curious since you seem to grab stuff most weekends.

[cowboysrgr8]

thanks! I was happy about finding them.

It seems that you just pick mainly video game stuff at garage sales. Do you pick up any other stuff besides that and cards? Also, do you hit specific sales that advertise video games or are you pick ups just random finds? My video game pick ups are completely random for the most part. Most of the stuff I run across is priced way too high for me to flip. Was just curious since you seem to grab stuff most weekends.

normally I buy items that I want to keep for my store that I plan on opening when I retire ...I do a lot of flips on things that I have a few of and keep the rest
I post on all sites possible like craigslist and the local facebook pages....also I know a lot of people at the flea market and got to know them and they look out for things that I may like
took awhile to get to know everyone but well worth the time and effort

[polamalu43favre04]

normally I buy items that I want to keep for my store that I plan on opening when I retire ...I do a lot of flips on things that I have a few of and keep the rest
I post on all sites possible like craigslist and the local facebook pages....also I know a lot of people at the flea market and got to know them and they look out for things that I may like
took awhile to get to know everyone but well worth the time and effort

Nice.. I bet you already have a crapload of good video games for your future store seeing all these great weekends you have been having!

[cowboysrgr8]

yeah i have about 1000 extra video games combined for all systems.
to me its alot considering i have started about a year ago
i still have 2 years left in the military before i retire and plan on getting another goverment job in ohio before i open my store as i know i have alot of extra research to consider ie best place and how opening a store actually works
i just really only want to work for myself and enjoy doing this with my son

[ajcorleone]

Not sure how these will sell but I hit Salvation Army this morning and came away with these at $1 each.

[andrewconnors9]

Yesterday was GARBAGE, up until my last stop of the day:

Picked up a HUGE box of pokemon/yugioh cards. Talked em down to 10$ as he was moving and they were his kids that didnt want em anymore.

Stacked them all up, total about 3500 yugioh 1996 cards and about 1500 pokemon cards. Even as just two big lots on ebay will be around a 200$ turn around. Pretty happy with it !

Also for a couple extra bucks, picked up a bunch of accessories from a 1950s original six table hockey game, some other odds and ends like oilers patches, and about 200+ oilers ticket stubs.

Not a bad 20$ day

[ajcorleone]

Had my community yard sale Saturday and had a great day.Nice 75 sunny and I was able to clear out half of my basement.5 boxes of kids clothes,a ton of stuff I could not sell on Ebay and Craigslist and by the end of the day I was making people deals they could not walk away from.All in all made about $350 and made a ton of space.Next is the clearing out of these tubs of cards they have been sitting and tired of diggin thru time to move them on for new stock

[Star_Cards]

Was in michigan on a mushroom hunting trip and stopped at some sales up there. Nothing to huge, but we did get some Gus Macker trophies. I've sold one at $25 on ebay a few months ago. I we got 5-6 of the same type and 4-5 that are other versions.

I also picked up some vintage models of Japanese war ships that have opened bags but seem to be mostly complete.

My neighborhood sale is this weekend so I'm getting ready for that. While I was prepping a neighbor walked by and asked about an old Trek bike that I picked out the garbage a few years ago. Got $40 out of it. I think it would have been worth more but it had kind of been frankensteined together.