Be aware that I resell many of my vintage finds, so these 11 things I avoid at thrift stores, yard and estate sales may not apply at all to you. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule…but I primarily avoid these items. They either don’t fit my niche or I know they are slow sellers.
Items I Avoid Buying for Resale~
- DESIGNER PURSES OR OTHER DESIGNER ITEMS…anything claiming to be Gucci, Coach, Ralph Lauren, Vera Bradley, Michael Kors, and others I steer clear of. Knock-offs abound, and I can’t guarantee it’s the real thing. I tried selling a bunch of watches on Ebay once, including a fake Rolex. And I said it was fake. To “fix” the problem, I took the word “Rolex” out of the title, but had it in the description. I had to take it completely out of the title & description to get Ebay off my back. So be careful buying designer items & selling online unless you can authenticate them.
- GLASSWARE…clear glassware is dead in the water & almost impossible to sell. Even some Waterford pieces!
- CLOTHES unless Christmas sweaters. Some people probably do well with clothes. Not my niche.
- JEWELRY…not to say it’s not a good thing to sell because it can be. Not my niche, although I do have a very small vintage estate jewelry section in my Etsy shop. Those were the good deals I couldn’t pass up!
- BOOKS…are slow sellers for me. I love them, and sometimes a book or two will sell quickly. A couple of years ago I found 11 volumes of a collectible children’s series called “My Book House.” Can you believe I bought all 11 volumes for 66¢? THAT was a good deal I couldn’t pass up! I’ve sold 3 volumes, but the rest are languishing. Do kids even read books anymore? My granddaughter used to like to read…now she’s glued to her phone.
I’ve read that autographed books can do well, and cookbooks can. But I don’t have the time to look through every book searching for one autographed. I found a signed June Carter Cash cookbook, but it took forever to sell.
**My rule of thumb for books…if it’s still there by the time I arrive, don’t buy it. BUT….this is not always true.
- HOLIDAY BARBIES, even if untouched in the box. I see them sitting at yard sales all the time. Also toddler toys, baby stuff, board games except Scrabble, Bingo, and others with small playing pieces. Crafters repurpose the playing pieces in various ways, and same goes for Bingo cards.
- VINTAGE THERMOSES…I found one at a thrift store a couple of years ago and it took FOREVER to sell. No more.
- VINTAGE WHISKEY BOTTLES
- BEADS or other craft items unless unopened
- CHINA….Nothing made in China & nothing with a bar code
- LADIES VINTAGE ACCESSORIES….HATS, GLOVES, SCARVES….Ladies’ vintage hats were the first thing I started selling, and at that time, dealers grabbed them left and right, no matter what condition they were in. Then prices went up and sales stalled. I see them sitting at estate sales. Gloves and scarves are also dead.
So there you have it….my list of 11 things I avoid at thrift stores, yard, and estate sales. I would be interested in knowing what you think! Do you have any to add to the list?
Need some ideas about what to look for if you resell? Check out my list of Top Ten Things I Look for at Yard Sales.
Another post you might find interesting…Don’t Be Burned by These Picker Fails~
Florence
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I don’t sell many of these items in my booth except for the glassware. I had the glasses given to my and I had to make a package to include a tray. I had enough glasses to make 2 sets so that worked but other items have sat and sat so unless I can come up with a new idea I may have to accept a loss. Now I met one lady who had a booth and she said she did very well selling designer purses on Ebay. I just don’t know. Pinned.
That’s interesting Debra. So you’re saying the glasses sold for you? I have had other dealers tell me the same…that clear glassware is dead. I have found it to be so. The only glassware I have sometimes had sell are glass pitchers. Amazing about the purses too!
Hmmm… I wonder if it would be different in your area if you sold in an antique mall because jewelry, vintage hats, and books (especially children’s) are some of our best sellers at the mall!
Tania
Isn’t that amazing Tania! Whenever I have sold hats in the past, they always go to California, but here they are dead. No one wears them. Gloves & scarves also are dead. I had a friend in the same junk shop/antique store I was in who dealt in children’s books. They did not do well for her from what I understood. Jewelry can be good & I have sold a few pieces, but not many.
found this very interesting. I don’t buy to resell, but have wondered what sells and what doesn’t. thanks. I’m your newest follower/subscriber.
Thank you so much! And I’m happy you subscribed! Hope you enjoy the blog!
When I bought for resale my list was similar to yours. If I buy jewelry it is because I want it for myself same with thermoses even though I did have some success selling them in my booth.
I admire your thermos collection Sharon, & I think they are so interesting looking all together in a group. I don’t know why it didn’t sell well for me, but I don’t buy them anymore.
Thank you for sharing at Vintage Charm this week.
Thank you Sharon…always enjoy being a part.
I’m not a seller, so I just buy what I like, but I totally agree with your list. I see a lot of what you described sitting around at the thrift stores, especially glassware.
Thanks for your insight & comment Kim!
Florence this was an interesting read. I know I buy tons of books when I am visiting in the States. They are so cheap how can you pass them up? I also find it very interesting that the glassware does not go. Why is that? I know I’m always breaking my glasses and need new ones constantly.
I made the mistake of buying a knock off of a purse a few years back. I think I probably got taken!
I don’t know why glassware doesn’t go….it’s just hasn’t been selling for a few years now. It’ll come back around to popularity again, I feel sure. I love books too. We always buy a stack at estate sales, or at least, my husband does, and I’m cringing b/c I’m thinking of all the books that are piling up…LOL. I think it’s OK to buy a knock-off purse if YOU want it, but not OK if you are trying to resell it…then the problem comes in of authentication. On the occasional times I’ve sold designer items, I always say I can’t authenticate it, but people still ask about it anyway. I don’t want to have a problem with Ebay or someone else not happy down the road. Buyers on Ebay can buy things thinking they’re real and not read the description, then they aren’t happy.
Totally agree! I don’t like jewelery unless its something from the turn of the century and its gold. its almost impossible to find anything vintage chanel or gucci any more for reasonable prices. The prices are even higher than brand new. I did find vintage Chanel earring once in Florence Italy and I grab them for a great buy.
Thanks for your insight & comments Maria! I would love to find anything you mention, but rarely find vintage jewelry & certainly not vintage Gucci anything. I can imagine prices are higher, but I don’t bite.
I am so glad you wrote this post. I need to know all the tips for what not to buy. I have found during my first month of running a booth; dishes don’t sell, no matter where they’re from.
Great post.
No dishes don’t sell. Definitely would stay away from those. Glad you found some tips! Thanks for dropping in!
Thank you for all the great tips! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Thank you for dropping by Marci!
So happy to see you over at Snickerdoodle too. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Sharon! Always enjoy Snickerdoodle too!
I am featuring you tomorrow at Snickerdoodle.
Wow, thanks Sharon! I had no clue! I appreciate it greatly!
This was very interesting, Florence! A real eye-opener for sure.
Thanks Carol! Appreciate you dropping by.
Florence, I always enjoy reading your posts and comments, your subjects always evokes interesting conversations, love it! Anyway, I’m not surprised by the list. Well a little by the books but I guess unless you’re a collector, they probably are something that people don’t really buy quickly huh? I’m glad that you’ve found a formula and system that works for your shop.
Thanks for your kind comments Keri! So sweet of you to appreciate anything I have to say! Well, the books…I like them, but they are slow sellers usually.
This is a great list. I find I agree with most although where I live, any and all vintage glassware still sells as well as vintage linens. I think something else that the ‘market’ is saturated with is vintage postcards, greeting cards and paper ephemera in general. Vintage jewelry is still very hot here as are really any vintage clothing item/accessory. I think you definitely have to know YOUR market.
That’s a great point Lauren! You do have to know your market. So surprised to hear glassware sells where you are. It is totally dead here, and I have heard others from around the country say the same. Also surprised about the vintage postcards to some extent. Maybe it’s because I still like that stuff! Not too surprised about the jewelry. It does sell here. It’s just not MY niche so much.