Garage Sale Hunting! Tips, Hints and Advice

[ajcorleone]

Are cameras on the rise again? I was buying and selling camera stuff about 10 years ago but then it dies out. Now I know it depends on brands but I notice you seem to have a good bit of cameras selling. Just checking because I see good camera stuff always at church rummage sales but always afraid to take a gamble.

I hit a neighborhood sale/flea market that sets up in a small historical neighborhood this weekend. There are quite a few vendors set up but also quite a few garage sales. I picked up a lot of stuff. Old shipping crate, cool vintage chair, a spoiler for a 70's camaro, a like new miniature board game, and a huge nikon camera lot... plus a lot of other odds and ends. Only spent $65.

The camera lot was odd. The lady had $50 on it and we couldn't get the shutter button to click. Messed around with it for a bit but never figured it out. She had a ton of extras. 3 lenses, some filters, some lens converters and other accessories. She ended up giving me the lot since we couldn't get the camera to work. I got it home and I think I just need batteries for it to work. Will find out when I get some batteries. Two of the lenses are pretty high end, but had no way of knowing when I was talking to her. I feel kind of bad that she gave them to me knowing the value of the lenses now. Lenses are tricky though so without knowing their value I wouldn't have given her much since we couldn't get the camera to work. If the camera works the lot should fetch about $200-$250.

[Star_Cards]

Are cameras on the rise again? I was buying and selling camera stuff about 10 years ago but then it dies out. Now I know it depends on brands but I notice you seem to have a good bit of cameras selling. Just checking because I see good camera stuff always at church rummage sales but always afraid to take a gamble.

Camera stuff does sell but like you said it depends. The 35 mm stuff I pick up I just get if I can get it for cheap. I'm more likely to get a bundle if the camera has lenses and such with it. I usually stick with Canon and Nikon as far as brands. If it's plastic I stay away.

If it's vintage stuff, I pick up the older cameras. Leica is a high end brand but I have only picked up one of those. Vintage argus cameras look cool but don't typically sell for a lot. Usually most of the cameras I find are over priced.

I also have a guy that takes large lots of the newer style polaroid cameras that were big in the 70s and 80s and 90s. I grab all of those I can but won't pay more than a $2-$4 each. The film for those, mostly 600 film, sells really well if you get sealed film. They stopped making film in 2009 or so. If you can get sealed boxes of film from around 2005 to 2009 they sell for around $2 a shot. They usually come in double packs of ten. I've sold even older film, but they have the battery that powers the camera in the film cartridge and those can die out. If you list it you just have to list it AS IS and note the expiration date.

The older polaroids, that accordion out with bellows, really aren't worth buying to sell on line. There are a few models that you can get $50 for, but you just have to research each model. I think the polaroid 250 is one of those that sells for around $50. There are also small accessory lenses that go for about $50. They fit these cameras with the bellows. They come in small plastic boxes. I think one is a polaroid close up and one is a polaroid portrait set.

There are also some other older polaroids that sell pretty well. I think they are some of the early ones.

Also, some point and shoot digital cameras still sell okay. I'm not sure really why with smart phones but they are worth grabbing cheap if they work.

[ajcorleone]

Yes I ran mu course with cameras. Picked up bundles at auctions in the late 90's and they sold great. But then I noticed the Bay got flooded and I almost NEVER sell any at my fleas or yard sales so I usually pass. But I saw a box this past weekend for like $10 did not get a good look but it appeared to be 3 35mm cameras and maybe 4 or 5 lens.Probably should have at least looked.

[Star_Cards]

there's worth a look for sure.

[Wickabee]

Not a whole lot the last few days, did manage a triple signed Harlem globetrotters ball and a copy of the Canadian Bill of Rights which normally goes to Members of Parliament. For $10 & $6 respectively.

[ajcorleone]

Awesome Weekend as I scored a box of about 50 albums for $10. WHat caught my eye was a sealed Blondie Autoamerican vinyl and I had a guy looking over my shoulder so I asked how much for the box she said $10 I said sold. Got them home a good bit of 80's but I found 10 still sealed in plastic albums including a Guns n Roses appetite for destruction picture disc.AC/DC back in black,fast times at ridgemont high soundtrack double album,kiss alive 1 and 2 and for a total thrown loop a sealed the magic of abba. Vinyl is always popular and for $10 I am hoping to get about $150 or so for all when it is said and done.

[Star_Cards]

Awesome Weekend as I scored a box of about 50 albums for $10. WHat caught my eye was a sealed Blondie Autoamerican vinyl and I had a guy looking over my shoulder so I asked how much for the box she said $10 I said sold. Got them home a good bit of 80's but I found 10 still sealed in plastic albums including a Guns n Roses appetite for destruction picture disc.AC/DC back in black,fast times at ridgemont high soundtrack double album,kiss alive 1 and 2 and for a total thrown loop a sealed the magic of abba. Vinyl is always popular and for $10 I am hoping to get about $150 or so for all when it is said and done.

nice. I usually don't do much with vinyl but that cheap you can't pass them up. I picked up some a few weekends ago. I got two boxes that totaled about 200 for $20 (mostly rock) and then had a guy give me about 300+ (mostly gospel) for free. His mother wasn't that happy what I got for what I paid as I had bought quite a few other items in a bundle for $25. I have yet to have a garage sale with these but hoping they sell well. I haven't decided what to price them at. I have no interest in sorting through and looking them all up. I've found a few that go online for $5-$10 but those were in much better shape. I think I'm going to price the rock ones at $2 each and gospel at $1 each or less.

[Star_Cards]

I had some decent finds over the weekend. I got two vintage typewriters for $2.50 each. One if a royal from the 40's and I think I can get $150 or so for it. The other one is newer from the 60's that's worth $40 to $60 maybe. I also picked up a car door to a 1973 mercedes benz. No idea what I will do with it but I got it with a bunch of scrap metal and some other items for $15. I also got this interesting clay head sculpture and a bunch of GI Joe figures that need new rubber bands.

Photo Jun 13, 3 05 14 PM.jpg

Photo Jun 13, 8 55 48 AM.jpg

Photo Jun 13, 6 17 49 PM.jpg

[Star_Cards]

I need some opinions. I had a high end video camera listed and it sold for $455 to an account that was started May 9th 2015 with zero feedback from Brazil. I'm not really sure what to do. I'm a bit apprehensive in shipping this to them.

[andrewconnors9]

signature confirmation and youre covered