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be classified as vintage (defined as 20 years or older). It also has a stronger focus on good photography, and overall artistic sensibili- ties as exemplified by high selling shops like: Hindsvik, Jerseyicecreamco, and Lacklusterco. Recently a Brown Button fan told us how he sold two pairs of identical vintage 1950s eyeglasses online. He posted one pair on eBay with a starting bid of $14 and posted the other on Etsy with an asking price of $22. The pair on eBay sold that week with one bid for $14. The pair on Etsy sold within a month for $22. Add to that the difference in each site’s commission, and the proof is in the pudding. If you have the right items, skill in presenting them well, and a little patience, Etsy is worth the effort. Craigslist On the other side of the artistic spectrum from Etsy we find Craigslist.org. With zero commissions or usage fees, it is one of the only options to resell and keep all the prof- its. Craigslist can be the best route to take when dealing with large objects, furniture, anything extremely fragile, and other less- than-ideal items to package and ship. Just as Craigslist’s zero commissions is unique, so is its zero accountability. There is no system in place for people to be honest, describe items correctly, etc. It is always a good idea to take a friend with you when Craigslist shopping. But, despite its issues, it can be one of the most powerful tools for connect- ing you to the local market. The world of reselling has changed dra- matically in the last 10 years. The technology explosion has resulted in a national and even international market, many more options on how to sell, and additional tools in the reseller’s belt (Craigslist posting from iPhone anyone?). Whether you sell from a booth or from one of the many online options, tech- nology will continue to play a significant role in shaping and directing the antique and col- lectable market in the years to come. Choose well where you sell. We wish you the best of luck turning your treasure hunting habit into a profitable pursuit. ^ Michael and James Fry are brothers and the owners of Brown Button Estate Sales. Find them at brownbutton.com and Facebook.com/ brownbutton.
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What advice do you have for those new to estate sales?
eBay eBay is one of the most popular ways to sell on the Internet, with more than $1,839 in goods sold every second. That popularity is one of the top reasons it’s such an at- tractive venue. With 233 million registered users around the world, your chances of the right bidder finding your specific item goes up considerably. With more users comes greater interest, and with greater interest comes higher sales. Unfortunately, eBay leverages its high popularity by charging a steep 9-13 percent commission for every item sold on its site. A great tutorial on hours before open on the first day. Depending on how much you want an item, plan to show up early. Be sure to bring a unique item such as a pen, or funny rock to mark your place so you can go sleep in your car until the doors open. Another way to get a great deal is just plain ole good manners. I am constantly amazed at the people who use rudeness as a means of negotia- tion. As the saying goes, “You catch more vintage goodness with honey than with vinegar!” Getting the best deal at an estate sale is all about planning. Most estate sales take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday each week. Set aside an hour on Wednesday to look at the different sales and plan your route based on the sales that have items of interest. Some buyers show up to stand in line several
For most estate sales there is a percent- age discount each progressing day. The best time to find great deals is generally Saturday morning. Often everything is half off, and if you get there right when the doors open you’ll have a wide selection still available. Saturday evening 30 minutes before close is another good time. The sale will likely be picked over, but if you do find something good it shouldn’t be too difficult to negotiate them down. In my opinion, the most underused tool of the estate sale voyager is the bid. Almost every estate sale company has a system in which you can leave a bid at any time for any substantial item. If your bid is the highest and more than the next day’s discount, you’ll get a phone call offering you the item at your price. We’ve sold dozens of items at in- credible deals just because someone took the time to put in a bid. eBay selling can be found at squidoo.com/ free-ebay-seller-tutorials. These instruc- tions help you set up a PayPal account, give advice on the best items to sell and which keywords to use, as well as offer marketing tips, teach you how to package items for shipping, and so much more. Etsy This leads us to Etsy. With an attractive commission of just 3 percent, Etsy makes for a good eBay alternative. The site is much more specialized than its larger competitor, only al- lowing items that are either handmade or can
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