Yard Sale Profits

In my last entry I mentioned how I make lots of money using the price advantage of classifieds, auctions, and Amazon over yard sales. The price differential can be huge. I typically get a $5 to $10 return for every dollar invested.

When you go yard sale shopping you will discover that there two types of yard sales - those where they are trying to get rid of stuff (good), and those where they are trying to make money (bad). You will quickly learn to identify which is which and move on quickly when necessary.

When you find a good sale you want to scan quickly but carefully. There are many good finds hiding at many sales and you will learn what to look for as you go. It is helpful, if not necessary, to have internet access on your cell phone so that you can check current street prices on items of interest. It has saved me a few times. If you are looking at something that uses consumables, like printers, make sure that supplies are still readily available or the item will be worthless. Also keep in mind recalls and outright bans on items. For example drop-side cribs are now banned for sale, resale or even donation.

Here are some examples of my recent buy/sell prices.

• Laser printers: $5/$25-$50
• Inkjet printers: $1-$3/$10-$25
• China pieces: $.75-$2/$20-$50
• Family Radio Walkie-Talkie: $1/$20
• Weather Alert Radio (new in sealed package): $8/$45.

As you can see, it doesn't take much of an investment to make some money. I usually shop Friday and Saturday, then post my items on Sunday. The average time to sell is less than a week. To put things into perspective, it would take a $3500 Certificate of Deposit 1 year to make what I make off of a typical $5 investment in a week. Of course, you need to invest your time as well. Time spent shopping the sales. Time spent cleaning up what you buy. For electronics I always test the item carefully to make sure I'm offering a good product for the money.

It is vital that you buy things that you know well enough to make a smart buying decision. I do well with electronics. I stumbled upon china when trying to find a replacement piece for my mother's china. That one little piece was quite expensive, but if you have a full set of quality china it is a small price to keep the set complete. I learned the quality brands and now do quite well with these items. They may take longer to sell, but the profits are high enough that it is worth it.

Well, there you have it. It's not complicated. It's a fun "job" that anyone can do. One important final note though. Poker face. When you do make a find, don't make it obvious or you will have no bargaining power. Remember, it's a yard sale. Don't be afraid to bargain for a lower price. That said, there are times I do find it hard not to smile when I know how much money I am about to make.

Good luck!

Classifieds vs. Yard Sale

I am often asked what advantages listing in the classifieds has over a yard sale. The primary and most important difference for all of us is price.  The classifieds always get a better price than a yard sale. Always! How much better? Often up to 5 times more. In fact, I use that advantage to make lots of money, but that's a different.article to come. First, I will tell you some items that you never want to sell through the classifieds or a yard sale.

1. Collectibles: Collectibles should always be sold through an auction site like ebay. The value of a collectible is limited only by the desire of the collector to have what you are selling. If two or more collectors compete for the item it can be very good for you. It is important to decide what is the absolute minimum you will accept for the item (don't forget commissions to the auction site) and set a reserve at that price.
2. New items: Sometimes we receive a gift that we never get around to exchanging, or buy extra of something and never use it. If you have something new and unopened that will ship easily your best option is Amazon.com. Even some used but like new items will fetch a premium price there.

Now, lets talk about why the classifieds are a better option for most items. Yard sales were usually associated with moving. When people cleared out the house and saw the volume of stuff they had accumulated over the years, they realized it was probably cheaper to sell the items at a yard sale than pay to have them packed and shipped. Any reasonable price they could get was better than paying to move items that they hadn't used in years. Of course there are other reasons for yard sales, but yard sales have traditionally been a source of bargain buys and that is what yard sale shoppers are looking for. Most yard sale shoppers don't have any specific item to shop for, they are just looking for the bargain.

In contrast, classified shoppers know exactly what they want and are looking for a quality used item at a fair price. They are more interested in getting a good value than a cheap price. They are prepared to pay much more for what they want. They also want to spend as little time as possible shopping, often buying the first item they look at. This means your items are likely to sell much quicker and for more money in the classifieds than a yard sale. If you think about it, there are few items that cannot be sold more effectively through the classifieds.

All that said, there are still some items that are destined for the yard sale. Home decor items top the list. These are usually impulse buys and do well at a yard sale, but don't expect to get a premium price. Clothing is still a yard sale favorite, but clothing can also do well in the classifieds if you bundle like items together.

Each sales channel has certain advantages for certain items. Smart sellers will take the time to do a little research a select the best channel for each item. The rewards for doing so can be great.

Happy selling!

Welcome

Welcome to ZippyTrader classifieds. ZippyTrader was designed from the ground up to be just a little different than most online classifieds. The first thing you will notice is that you don't have to share any personal information. A valid email address is all you need to place an ad in most categories. Some high-risk categories may require a phone number. All ads are free, so there is no need for credit card information. Another thing you will notice is there are no forums, chat rooms, or adult categories. We strive to be family-friendly.

You will also notice that ZippyTrader gives every town its own classifieds based on ZIP code.We don't send you  to the nearest big city. You can shop right in your own town or hundreds of miles around. It's up to you.

To post an ad simply fill out the ad form. Click the verification link in the email that will be sent to you and your ad will online in a matter of minutes in most cases. If your ad doesn't appear right away it may have been sent to be reviewed one of our security specialists. Don't take it personally. Our anti-spam and anti-scam filters are very sensitive for maximum security. Ads are normally reviewed and released within an hour.