Making money off eBay or Craigslist can be both fun and profitable as you could get some extra pocket money for the weekend by selling things laying around the house you no longer need. The secret is that you could be making more than just pocket money if you know what you are doing. You can make a lot of money selling many different things, but nothing yields more money than collectibles, be it sports memorabilia, coins, antique instruments, duck carvings, or comic books.
First off, if you plan on selling and making money, you need to find something to sell! It's key to try to sell something that you know; maybe something that's been a hobby for years or even something you never thought of selling that could make a decent profit. I myself have been collecting comic books for over 5 years and it was actually my uncle's collection I first saw when I was young that really made me want to get into collecting. Selling what you know can give you a leg up when trying to research prices for items, especially if you're an expert in the field you wish to sell. If not, then you should try to find an expert that you can trust with your merchandise to help teach you the history of the items, the conditions they are found in, and how much they are worth. Try a pawn shop if it's an item you're not too familiar with, or if it's comics go to a comic book shop for some advice.
Although finding an expert is key, especially if you are trying to get an opinion for merchandise you already physically have, but what if you are starting from scratch and don't know where to begin looking for possible collectibles to sell? There are many places you can try to start searching, but some good examples are:
- yard or estate sales
- local auctions
- thrift stores
- pawn shops
- local classified websites (eBay, Craigslist, etc.)
- hobby shops (comics)
Condition is key when looking for merchandise to purchase and resell later on. Of course, original condition is always the best and will always be better than refinished or refurbished items. This doesn't necessarily mean used and damaged items are terrible. Depending on the item, the condition might not be as key if the items are rare or from a limited production run. If someone finds an old, beat up copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 (Spider-Man's first appearance), it's still worth bringing to an expert to assess the condition, poor as it may be, as there are not more than a 1,000 or so copies left in existence. You may be looking at a profit in the thousands, maybe millions!
Another pro tip for an auction or yard sale is to buy large amounts of similar items as fellow collectors could be interested in bulk merchandise, for example anything Star Wars or baseball related. Negotiation is your best friend! When you go to these places where the seller has a lot of merchandise, you can try to negotiate price if you are buying all the merchandise, as you are essentially closing the seller down, making his job easier and letting him go home too. When going to yard sales it is also recommended to go later in the day, when the seller has grown tired of standing around all day and just wants to be done. It could be a cheap ploy, but it's also a smart ploy; if you’re able to negotiate the seller to a lower price, he gets to go home, and you have more merchandise to sell!
When selling, you should keep several things in mind. First off, try to sell your collectibles offline in a physical store or auction so the potential buyer can physically see the items and their condition. This could put the buyer at ease and make them want to pony up the few extra dollars once they see what pristine condition you have kept your items in. Pictures can be misleading, so if you do choose to sell online, take the pictures of your merchandise yourself; don’t use Google images or other stock photos. It lets them see the actual condition without them being able to physically hold or look at the item. Also, as depressing as it may be, when selling to other collectors or collectible shops, keep in mind they will plan on selling the merchandise you just sold them. This is important to remember if selling to a store or shop, they will need to sell it for sometimes double of what they paid you for it just to keep profits coming in on their end. Try to negotiate to keep both parties happy, but don't get angry when you go in the store the following week and see they want an arm and a leg for your Batman statue; you know, the one that they only paid you a hand and a few fingers for? Business is great, isnt it?
One day many years from now, if you're lucky, your collection will still be going strong, but eventually your collectibles will outlast you. If you also had kids, or younger relatives, you'll want to leave your collectibles with someone you trust that will be around to take care of them for the foreseeable future. To make their jobs easier, keep records they can refer to if a potential sale comes up. Certificates of authenticity and original receipts are all good to hang on to. Recording what you think they are worth and why you bought them could be helpful to your heir(s). Lastly, if the heir doesn't know too much about your collectibles, then try to leave a name of an expert you trust that could guide them in your absence.
I hope to be collecting comic books or some type of collectible the rest of my life. They become a part of you, and memories will stir when looking or holding certain ones important to you. I've considered selling certain items I deem as collectibles, but I know that the longer I have them, hopefully the more they will be worth, and demand will outweigh supply. When you are ready to sell, seek out the proper help; make sure you aren't getting shortchanged out of something you really care about. Take care of your precious collectibles so hopefully one day they can take care of you!
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