Something that irks my bubble.. maybe yours too?

[TreasureHunters]

Anyone notice all the "newbies"? goodwill, thrift stores, auctions, garage sales, estate sales? I mean I am all for someone trying to get in the game but when you been doing this for years and to see how the market has changed just bugs me. I go to goodwill now and see lots and lots of new people checking everything I would, with cell phones out all on ebay or amazon and just throwing stuff around. I went to a rummage sale yesterday that had hundreds and hundreds of people, security, and lines to get in... people on smart phones looking up prices all around me.. I think everyone seen that thrift hunters show and thinks they can make a quick buck not realizing for most of us here it is a full time job or at least a full time hobby. I guess its just because I see how thrift stores and goodwills raise the prices and the people go through it and I dunno..I went to a storage auction today, out of 6 units 4 went for over $300 and one for $500 and one for $650 for a unit that had some mattresses and a microwave and a few boxes,... one paid $45 for a unit with just a dresser... One check in came from a state away, they think they will be the next hester or something.. anyways Im just rambling but does anyone get what Im saying? Thanks.

 

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[Hillbilly Joe]

I get what your saying, and when a lot of them cant make ends meet, they will find a new job. I say make the best deal you can, refine and hone your skills while the others go for easy kills. Those who find a way to make it happen will still be doing it in five years. Hang in there man!

 

[TreasureHunters]

I get what your saying, and when a lot of them cant make ends meet, they will find a new job. I say make the best deal you can, refine and hone your skills while the others go for easy kills. Those who find a way to make it happen will still be doing it in five years. Hang in there man!

I agree, thank you for confirming my instincts

 

[xrunndonex]

I went into a couple flea markets I looked up prices on my phone sorry! I had no idea about the coke bottles and certain pieces or even unopened Lionel train cars or unopened hot wheels. I had a jist of the price before I looked it up on the bay. Sorry to be a newbie I'll learn though I'm not to savvy with the collectibles an stuff. I do however have the cell phone, computer (basically anything electronic) prices down. Like knowing what I should buy it for and what I'll make.

 

[Grundestoun]

There is a husband wife team on you tube that have been in the eBay business for several years now. They endorse the use of looking up things. They say there is no way anyone can know everything about prices and if you don't look it up you don't know what you are missing especially if it is something different that could be a surprise profit. They always look things up and are doing really well. They gross $12,000 a month so it is working for them. They have the drive that most people don't have though. I think a lot of the newbie people will give up after a while because they just don't have what it takes to make the income they want.

 

[diggummup]

I would think it's probably more noticeable in less populated areas of the country versus down here. I can't say I've noticed anything around here. With a tri county population of over 5 million people and growing, the competition is always fierce. The storage locker thing is nothing new as far as tv shows. The thrift hunter show is mediocre at best and in a hard time slot. As a matter of fact I missed it again last night. Most newbies won't last long, those that do, will deserve to.

 

[Gold Maven]

"Irks my bubble" ? never heard that one before.

 

[Rodbuster209]

The only newbies I've been noticing are the ones that my competition are bringing along ie: spouses, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and close friends, I can hear them schooling these people. I will be glad when the shows fade away!...........Scott.

 

[trdhrdr007]

In the relatively small town I live in competition has always been stiff. I had just started learning the storage auction game when those shows came out. Prices almost immediately doubled & stayed that way until recently. They are about back to what they were before so either people gave up or wised up. I am starting to see new people at the thrifts & estate/garage sales. Most use smart phones. Eventually they will learn not to overpay or they will get out of the business. It kind of chaps my a%$ but that's what happens when there is no "barrier of entry" into the biz. Anyone with a few bucks & some free time can get into it.

 

[NJcigarman]

Anyone notice all the "newbies"? goodwill, thrift stores, auctions, garage sales, estate sales? I mean I am all for someone trying to get in the game but when you been doing this for years and to see how the market has changed just bugs me. I go to goodwill now and see lots and lots of new people checking everything I would, with cell phones out all on ebay or amazon and just throwing stuff around. I went to a rummage sale yesterday that had hundreds and hundreds of people, security, and lines to get in... people on smart phones looking up prices all around me.. I think everyone seen that thrift hunters show and thinks they can make a quick buck not realizing for most of us here it is a full time job or at least a full time hobby. I guess its just because I see how thrift stores and goodwills raise the prices and the people go through it and I dunno..I went to a storage auction today, out of 6 units 4 went for over $300 and one for $500 and one for $650 for a unit that had some mattresses and a microwave and a few boxes,... one paid $45 for a unit with just a dresser... One check in came from a state away, they think they will be the next hester or something.. anyways Im just rambling but does anyone get what Im saying? Thanks.

I was doing storage auctions from 1999 on and after storage wars came on TV. It became a total circus with auctions where there would be 10 or 12 of us to 80 or 90 people. Little kids running around and the parents thinking they were going to get rich. At least Hester let everyone know they were seeding those lockers on TV. Anyway it got so bad I have stepped back and not bought a locker going on 2 years. Bidding a 150.00 locker up to 4or5 hundred.

 

[pkb]

this is another reason LOL

 

[danloop]

The other side of the coin are sellers taking advantage. I found an "antique" Aladdin mantle lamp for 190.00 which had a dirty new chimney and a cheap aluminum burner which didn't work. Looked old but just a collection of dirty parts from different models.

 

[clovis97]

As for the iPhones, they are here to stay, so we better get used to it.

My #1 reason for buying an iPhone was to be able to look up values on ebay. The very first month that I had it, it saved me from buying a pedal car for $120 that was basically worthless on ebay.

I rarely use the ebay app any more, and just go with my knowledge and gut, but sometimes it is nice to have. It is nice to triple check values, and to make sure that the bottom hasn't fallen out of items like Coleman 3 burner stoves.

I don't get mad at those using an iPhone. We all had to start somewhere. I started out buying $2 box lots at auctions, and then looking up everything when I got home, and listing anything with value.

Life is too short, and the picking is too easy, to get upset with newbies that are looking at an app. By the time they are done looking up a Stanley #4 plane, I've already picked the Stanley 45, 55, #1, #2 and #3 planes.

 

[trdhrdr007]

The other side of the coin are sellers taking advantage. I found an "antique" Aladdin mantle lamp for 190.00 which had a dirty new chimney and a cheap aluminum burner which didn't work. Looked old but just a collection of dirty parts from different models.

Fakes & frankensteins have been around as long as antiques have been sold. I'm not saying that's a good thing, but part of the business is knowing enough to sort the good from the bad.

 

[jerseyben]

The other side of the coin are sellers taking advantage. I found an "antique" Aladdin mantle lamp for 190.00 which had a dirty new chimney and a cheap aluminum burner which didn't work. Looked old but just a collection of dirty parts from different models.

How is that dealer trying to take advantage? If someone has a piece of junk that is overpriced, then that is the dealer's problem because the item will simply never sell.

 

[JustinNH]

Everyone has to start somewhere. At some point you were new too. Phone apps are now tools of the trade and can help pros and newbies.

I'm relatively new to it all and putting in hours and hours of research. You can bet I will succeed. If there are 'pro' pickers in my area, too bad for them. They are not any more special or entitled than I am. Even if it is their full time job, who are they to say I enjoy my full time job and can't eventually move into this as a part time or full time operation.

As for newbies who are disrespectful, well that happens in all areas, and I can agree with you that not everyone sees the big picture and easily ruins it for many in their quick instinct to 'get rich'. How many people here detect have seen poorly dug or filled holes for new detectorists?

As said above, those who can't dedicate the time and effort will quickly go away, probably in the red. When Diggers first aired, AT Pros were on national back order. Now I've seen many for sale on craigslist. Not as easy as it seems

 

[FloridaHunter]

I actually find the newbies nice for the most part. The ones I usually have trouble with are the people I have seen around for years and feel entitled to anything of value. Many of the veterans are downright rude and very aggressive. I have learned to be aggressive as well, but not rude. I will not be outdone by them. I like it when I see people researching items on Ebay. While they are doing that I am usually going around scooping up the profitable items. Even with that, there is still a lot to go around. No one gets it all. I see 5 to 20 dollar items all the time that people pass up because it won't bring enough profit for them.

These newbies quickly learn that this is not easy money. Sure you will get lucky from time to time, but you can go to dozens and dozens of yardsales before you hit something really worthwile. People are not usually not posting the 10 sales they went to with total crap before they went to a sale and found $60.00 worth of sterling. Minus out your gas and food, and you are not getting rich. It is a lot of work, and I think most give up quickly when they dont find a lost Piccasso after their second sale.

 

[Tallone]

There is a husband wife team on you tube that have been in the eBay business for several years now. They endorse the use of looking up things. They say there is no way anyone can know everything about prices and if you don't look it up you don't know what you are missing especially if it is something different that could be a surprise profit. They always look things up and are doing really well. They gross $12,000 a month so it is working for them. They have the drive that most people don't have though. I think a lot of the newbie people will give up after a while because they just don't have what it takes to make the income they want.

Grossing $12K per month has nothing to say about how "well" they are doing. The only thing that stat demonstrates is that they sell a lot of stuff. They could be losing their asses. If they sell $12K per month but they spend $15K, their NET is -$3,000 per month and they will soon be out of business. Even if they aren't losing money, they may not be "doing really well". Maybe they sold $12K but spent $11.8K so their NET is $200 per month. That ain't much for full time work.

I'm making a point of this because I hear this sort of thing all the time. Even major manufacturers and retailers brag in their commercials about being the "biggest seller" or "largest volume dealer", etc., etc. That means nothing in terms of profitability. I suspect most people don't even know if they are making money or not because most people (and many businesses) can't be bothered to keep decent records.

But back to the OP's point, I haven't really seen any change but I don't think it matters much anyway. My experience has been that you really don't have time to do much research when out yard sale pickin'. The people who really know what they are doing are out early and the best stuff gets snapped up quickly. To score well consistently you need a good store of knowledge in your head and a good eye for quality and value. I suspect many noobs that have been inspired by all the TV shows will quickly find out it is much more difficult to be successful than they think. They will be easily discouraged and quickly move on to the next "big opportunity". In any event, I'm not worried about it because I'm having fun and making some money. I'm not getting rich but then I didn't expect to so it's all good!

 

[xrunndonex]

Grossing $12K per month has nothing to say about how "well" they are doing. They only thing that stat demonstrates is that they sell a lot of stuff. They could be losing their asses. If they sell $12K per month but they spend $15K, their NET is -$3,000 per month and they will soon be out of business. Even if they aren't losing money, they may not be "doing really well". Maybe they sold $12K but spent $11.8K so their NET is $200 per month. That ain't much for full time work.

I'm making a point of this because I hear this sort of thing all the time. Even major manufacturers and retailers brag in their commercials about being the "biggest seller" or "largest volume dealer", etc., etc. That means nothing in terms of profitability. I suspect most people don't even know if they are making money or not because most people (and many businesses) can't be bothered to keep decent records.

But back to the OP's point, I haven't really seen any change but I don't think it matters much anyway. My experience has been that you really don't have time to do much research when out yard sale pickin'. The people who really know what they are doing are out early and the best stuff gets snapped up quickly. To score well consistently you need a good store of knowledge in your head and a good eye for quality and value. I suspect many noobs that have been inspired by all the TV shows will quickly find out it is much more difficult to be successful than they think. They will be easily discouraged and quickly move on to the next "big opportunity". In any event, I'm not worried about it because I'm having fun and making some money. I'm not getting rich but then I didn't expect to so it's all good!

Lol I love when businesses say they grossed a certain amount. I gross is a figure to make them look powerful Samsung could of grosses 50billion last year but only profited 5billion

 

[Tallone]

People who brag about how much they gross are the same people who always claim they come back from Las Vegas with more money than when they left. Nearly always BS I would wager.

One other point about noobs in the pickin' business. I run into folks running yard sales and flea market booths who are asking full retail for their stuff. Many times when I ask how much they want for something, they will respond that the same item would sell on ebay for X dollars. That is my cue to run screaming in the other direction because that value the quoted is nearly always wildly inflated to justify asking full retail value. In other words, if someone invokes ebay, the item is no bargain.