Goodwill | ResaleQueen

Good Advice on Finding American Girl Dolls for Cheap Online

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:47:58 -0400

I have some advice for you guys if you are hunting online for American Girl items on the cheap. My daughter has 7 of the dolls and I also buy them all the time to sell. The most I have ever paid for a doll is $30, but that was for Lindsey the first girl of the year which I sold for $250. The last one I bought was Elizabeth for $1, the lady didn't care because her overindulgent mother-in-law had bought it as a gift for her daughter. People always ask me how do you find American Girl stuff at garage sales?

Well, this is how:

1. Craigslist, if you just go onto Craigslist for your local area and click the link for "for sale" type "American Girl" into the search box at the top of the page. You will find American Girl dolls not only for sale in the "items for sale" section but also the garage sale section. Since Craigslist is free and newspapers charge per word some people go into great detail in their listings and by typing "American Girl" into that top search box you will pull up all the listings that have American Girl stuff. Another bonus of finding it at a garage sale, no shipping cost!

People also are selling American Girl stuff in the classified and while some is kinda high Ebay priced, I found a woman selling 6 dolls and an Armoire for $125 for everything, she was a mom who thought played with dolls werent worth much and didnt want to mess with Ebay. Check this frequently because there are frequent posts and the stuff goes fast!

2. Ebay, I know everyone says Ebay is so expensive. Well, I have to tell you when I need $40 for groceries I put up American Girl dolls for buy it now $40. So when you are searching on Ebay, modify your search by checking the "Buy It Now" listings box on the left side of the page and "Just Listed" as well- if someone puts up Jess for $45 it will be gone fast.

Also for some reason people call American Girl stuff AG on Ebay, as though the Ebay search bot magically knows that this is American Girl, so if you type AG doll into the search box you are going to get a lot of homemade clothes a gramma made that "fit AG dolls" but you will also find dolls listed without American Girl in the title which are going to have way fewer people finding them and thus have a lower sales price.

Some sellers list dolls as Pleasant Company, some sellers think Pleasant is spelled Pleasent, a frequent mistake so check that too. Sellers also sometimes only list the dolls name like their whole title will be "Kit doll" no AG/American Girl/Pleasant Company. So keep an eye out for that.

3. Did you know that Goodwill ( as in the thrift store/charity) has their own auction site? When people bring in great stuff sometimes they pull it to the side and put it up on their auction site. If you go to shopgoodwill.com there is a round search icon on the top right of the page, click that then type in American Girl or Pleasant Company and there are always dolls on this site. You do have to register for to use the site, but it is a pretty easy Ebay-esque type of deal.

One of the most frequent stores selling their American Girl stuff this way: the Madison, WI store where the annual outlet sale used to be held and just down the road from Middleton, WI where the company began and where the outlet store is and the current annual sale is held.

Tags: American Girl Pleasant Company American Girl Doll Doll of the Year

Season 1 Ep 5: The Resale Queen asnwers your questions, email and comments

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:22:29 -0500

Resale Queen - 2008-02-16.mp3
Show: #005
Length: 22:36
Size: 15.6mb
Format: mp3

This Week's Show: Your Questions and Email.

The Resale Queen asnwers your questions, email and comments

1. And what in the world do you want with two old couch cushions with no covers that got moldy because I couldn't get them dry after my wife spilled breast milk on them?
2. How many days a week would you say you need to go to Goodwill to find the best amount of good stuff?
3. Many more!

Next week: Auction Followup and Resale Etiquette.

Most of you will know us from our podcast Croncast (every M-W-F)

Tags: Land of Nod cushion pickers scrappers resale queen

Authenticity Cannot Be Guaranteed.

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:52:00 -0500

I made the Goodwill circuit today, 3 Goodwills in 2 hours.

My last stop was in South Elgin, Il - it's a bit of a hike and considering my cart was empty walking out, don't think I will be walking in again soon. Something caught my eye, a sign taped to the inside of the locked 'good shit' glass case which stated in all capped Sharpie "Authenticity of Designer Purses Cannot Be Guaranteed NO REFUNDS".

Inside the case was the typical Coach resale line up: Beekman briefcase, City bag, Station bag and the unsellable Court bag. The crazy thing was that the prices were way higher than my local Goodwill for similar items, they wanted $54.99 for a City Bag that looked like it had been dragged across the Jewel parking lot on a hot day.

I wonder if Goodwill considers themselves to be an outlet store in direct competition with the Coach outlet which is about 5 miles away and where you can walk out the door with a new purse for $65 and you don't have to pick asphalt out of the seams?

Though I would be lying if I didn't cop to being rescued by a small package hidden deep within an unused pocket of my resale Coach Hamptons tote, a new Maxi pad left there by the girl scout who bought it new.

Coach outlet should take note, Goodwill does have you beat on the pre-stocked purse tip.

Tags: Coach Outlet Coach Bag Coach Aurora Goodwill Elgin

Goodwill as Economic Barometer

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 14:55:35 -0500

Goodwill is practically empty.
Gulp.
It is one thing to hear on NPR that spending is down this Christmas, that foreclosures are "on the rise", that people are buying fewer "durable goods" this year. That sounds like a dip on a bar graph, nothing to be concerned to deeply about.
However, for the first time in all the years I have been selling other people's junk on Ebay I am scrambling to make money.
Goodwill is just empty.
As a result, the mood is tense, even competitive.
In years past the regulars and an ever-changing cast of hopefuls engaged in good natured "I had my finger on it before you did" fun.
The weeks before Christmas are typically the time when the wealthy are purging the presents of the past to make way for this year's gluttony in the name of charity and tax exemptions. This year was the first time I saw parents fight over a toy.
They actually got in a pulling match over an air hockey table, complete with crying children looking on.
I emptied my cart back onto the shelf and went home and pulled up some toys my kids don't play with anymore.
While there are a lot of Ebayers and weird women who sleep on beds of old newspaper there are also families that depend on Goodwill for Santa toys.
I quit buying toys for resale a few weeks ago, there just isn't enough stock to go around.

Tags: Loving Family Dollhouse Fisher Price Loving Family Build a Bear How to Sell on Ebay

Garage Sale Season Ends and the Holidays Begin

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 09:01:15 -0400

This is my favorite time of year. After the Dirty Nurse costume is packed away for another year and before Aunt Trudy, the original Dirty Nurse shows up for Thanksgiving, it's clean out the house time.

The time of year when people call Empire carpet to freshen up for the Aunt Trudy. And how can sweet Aunt Trudy squeal with jealousy over the new Berber if she can't see it?

Time to take everything to Goodwill.

For the Ebay seller it is when we kick it into high gear, clear our calendars and hang out all day at the local thrift shop. It does seem strange that people would wait until the frost hits to clean out their house, but with holiday fast approaching Goodwill will fill with large toys, TVs, stuffed animals and clothing as people make room for the new.

Any mom looking at the Toys R Us Wish Book becomes increasingly clausterphobic at the idea of being surrounded with additional hunks of purple, pink and blue plastic.

Your job as a Suburban Recycling Professional is to turn those forgotten 2006 Little Tikes kitchens, American Girl dolls and Fisher Price Loving Family Dollhouses and market yesterday's trash as Christmas morning treasure. Good luck people.

Tags: American Girl Doll Fisher Price Loving Family Dollhouse Little Tikes Kitchen Goodwill Empire Carpet

Route 34 Garage Sale next week

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 10:24:00 -0400

Get out your map, hop in your pick-up with the homemade bed and get ready to haul your treasure home.

At least 50 pristine miles of my fellows from the circuit, the Goodwill cicuit, will be looking for gold along the Route 34 Garage Sales next weekend. I'm not expecting much except used Barbies with bad hair cuts and kool-aid dye jobs, but to be among my people I'll do it.

Tags: Barbie Coach Purse Route 34 Garage Sale Goodwill circuit

Karma As Co-pilot

Thu, 31 May 2007 13:29:56 -0400

Yesterday's post about the universe using Goodwill and garage sales to offer it's wares came true yet again.

I have been collecting baby crap for a woman who is broke and didn't even have the cash for a car seat. She works at a retirement home full time for seven dollars an hour and has a 2 month old girl.

Two weeks ago a friend of my mothers-Pat-who works at the same retirement home called and asked me to collect stuff for her, she had gone in with her coworkers and raised $20.

All they wanted was a car seat to keep the baby safe and free up mom to go to the grocery store alone with the baby. I took this as a challenge.

My 2 year old had a 1 year old highly rated car seat she was to big for, so I cheated a little and passed that along. I asked did she have a bouncer, swing ya know all that junk the rest of America takes for granted.

No, Pat said she has nothing. She works all the time and her mother watches her daughter. She financially supports her mom, herself and her daughter on 7 bucks an hour.

So Karma and I went shopping.

Saturday in mid- May is prime sale season. On this particular day there were 29 subdivision garage sales, each sale having 11-110 sale houses.

I started at 7:30. Now one of the problems with starting early is that people are reluctant to negotiate prices with the first person on their blacktop, they figure someone else will stop and happily pay $35 for their exersaucer complete with last month's rice cereal splatterings.

By 8 I had not had much luck, so I started telling this chick's story. I told mommy after mommy "can you imagine having no network of relatives and friends to help you get the basic things you need- is there any way you can come down on prices?"

The mommies invariably looked around and thought about all the requirements to mommydom on their driveway and recalled how they really hadn't bought a lot of it. Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie HooHoo binged at Babies R Us in their honor.

They also remarked- no car seat? How is that possible?

To most people around here, putting your child in anything less than a Britax car seat is a breach of the parental contract.

Soon my car was full, I got a nearly new stroller, cool swing with the mobil attached, bath seat, exersaucer and a vibrating bouncy.

The mother who received it all was so thrilled so didn't even speak- then she hugged me. I told her it wasn't me I told her about all the women I had met that day who had dug through their stuff and given me things for her. I told her everybody has been there- being broke is hard being broke with children is living in a constant state of panic that lots of women know.

Giving someone else the baby junk that you loved is one of the ways women show their love and care for one another.

I told Pat the only other thing I could think of that wasn't really a requirement was a Bumbo seat- which is a very cool invention and the newest mommy must have, though I said it's kind of new and I have never seen one at Goodwill before.

I walked into Goodwill this morning and there she was perfectly pink and $1.99- a Bumbo seat.

I am still on the lookout for a high chair and baby girl clothes, but tomorrow is Saturday and Karma is my co-pilot.

Tags: Bumbo Seat Peg Perego Britax Karma Goodwill Naperville garage sales

Resurrect Your Cashed Out Coach

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 09:41:40 -0500

So, it's been a while.

Worry not, I have been out there hitting it hard and gathering intelligence for the benefit of the people, and I had a number of fantastic discoveries.

After years of selling Coach bags, I am well versed in the degradation of Coach leather. For some reason they don't put feet on their bags.

My theory is that by not putting feet on their bags- the bags look crappy within a few months and you have to go get a new one.

The bottoms of used Coach bags look like Aunt Edna's elbows- all dry and gray- itchy spots is what they really look like but I of course can't put that in my ebay listings.

So for years in my listings I have included the following phrase "The bottom-a typical wear spot for Coach bags- is in good used condition with only light rubbing" or "excellent rarely carried condition".

You can always tell how much a leather Coach was carried by the condition of the bottom.

A few weeks ago I found a black Coach Court bag on the Goodwill purse rack for 2.99- most likely because it had a lot of surface wear. The leather was not worn through just had the finish rubbed off from use.

So I figured what the hell and I did something I have wanted to do to Aunt Edna's elbows for a very long time.

I Kiwi'd the hell out of it.

If you have never heard of Kiwing let me clue you in.

Go to Target buy a bottle of black Kiwi shoe polish and do like Mr. Miyagi said- Wax On Wax Off.

Just smear it on, wait a sec and buff it with a washcloth.

It ruins the washcloth but resurrects the Coach from worn out Goodwill garbage to Ebay cash.

You can get Kiwi in a rainbow of colors at leather/shoe repair joints but Target only carries black, brown, neutral and some weird red color.

I bought the neutral and tried it on a green station bag but it really didn't do much.

The black is best- I will try to get some pics up but you should totally try this at home.

Coach sells a leather conditioner and cleaner but in my experience they don't do much and they are like $10 a bottle.

Tags: Coach Bag Coach Wallet Coach Leather Coach Outlet Coach Repair

The CoachDooney Connection

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 15:50:09 -0500

This is a somewhat slower time of year on Ebay for me since toys are my mainstay. I am going to venture forth into a new realm, one quite popular with the Ebay mommy who think Goodwill is gross: the outlet mall.

I have been advised this time of year is great for reselling outlet stuff - the inventory is high since unsold Christmas items are shipped in and prices are low since the holidays are over.

My source also tells me ladies are on the prowl for the gifts they wanted and didn't get - like a $250 wallet for $120.

See you at the outlets!

Tags: Coach Bag Coach Wallet Dooney Bag Coach Outlet Dooney Outlet

Selling Clothes on Ebay Sucks

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 10:38:11 -0500

The first thing I ever sold on Ebay was a lot of Baby Gap things my son was given when he was born and never wore. I thought it was great- and it is a great way to buy clothes especially high end stuff for cheap.

I think selling clothes on Ebay sucks though.

Don't get me wrong I totally do.

See what I haven't told you guys is that I have a little problem...ok so you figured but this is a different little problem.

I love baby clothes. I spend so much time looking for stuff to sell that I naturally trip over beautiful baby clothes- who can resist Hanna Andersson for $2.12 or a Baby Lulu ensem for $3.13.

I sure as hell can't so I end up with a crazy glut of designer baby duds.

They are hard to display correctly, people always say don't put them on the floor- but what else are you supposed to do?

Seamstress dummy dealies cost a lot of money and clothes look weird on a hanger on the back of a door.

There is a very smart resale suit seller who has a beautifully landscaped pool with a wrought iron fence and she hangs the used suit so you get a beautiful view of her lovely yard...and the Goodwill suit sells for triple the similar listings.

I don't have a cement pond in the back yard.

I could dress my Golden Retriever up in a Hanna Andersson dress- he would be very cute but people are weirdly allergic and I don't want to make people swell.

Tags: Hanna Andersson Baby Lulu Baby Gap Golden Retriever Ebay

Plushies to Prowl For #1

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:27:42 -0500

This week I will be taking you on a tour of my favorite spot in Goodwill- the stuffed animal bin. It can be dusty, mothbally or staleish smokey or it can be gloriously rewarding.

There are a lot of random things to look out for in the toy world that are worth buying that most people think are trash and so are often left on the shelf for the Ebayers.

1.My First Bear by Eden, well initially it was made by Kids Gifts then that company became Eden. It is an 11 inch bear with a thermal pastel body and a tan plush head. It has "My First Bear" embroidered on it's chest.

This is what I am thinking, Eden made about a billion of these 6 or 8 years ago. People gave them as baby shower gifts. Kids got attached to them, parents had fond memories of it in the crib.... Then Eden stopped production.

So when Jr. leaves it on the train or big brother stuffs it in the garbage disposal to make bear juice, mom and dad aren't left with many options.

So keep your eye out for My First, he sells for an easy 29-39 and you can often pick him up for a quarter in a baby toy garage sale or stuffed animal box.

But hey! Don't pass up the identical bear without the embroidery- that was the Eden replacement in their line and he is worth about 15-19. There is also a primary color version which sells for about the same.

Always put My First Bear in the title, to give parents a little variety in their search.

Tags: Eden Bear My First Bear Kid's Gifts How to Sell on Ebay Ebay Selling

Manners and Hygiene Aren't Part of the Job

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:09:40 -0500

Can you believe I have been standing in the APC line at the post office for 2 weeks now.

I know other sellers hate this time of year at the post office.

Unless you are shipping a boa constrictor that has recently dined on heroin filled condoms, there is no reason it should take 25 minutes to ship one package at the automatic booth.

The post office was tired of dealing with crank pot know it all Ebay people that's why the booth is there in the first place.

Because people like me nearly go postal when they are asked "Is there anything liquid, fragile or potentially hazardous in this box". I hate that question. It's even worse when the same clerk you saw 2 hours ago asks you the same question. I know it's their job but still...

The APC (automated postal clerk thingy) was put there for impatient know it all Ebayers like myself. We are a large part of their business and after years of us grinding our teeth through their dull questions and shipping options they finally gave us the opportunity to be the clerk . Now everyone mailing a Kohl's Christmas cardigan thinks they can be the teller too.

Heed my advice- Ebayers are don't give a crap about social graces.

In fact the longer one Ebays the more socially inept one becomes. Take for instance hygiene and manners. Why should I brush my hair and dress in a coordinated fashion if I am going to spend the day at Goodwill. Why should I hold the door for the elderly going into Goodwill? Saggy Sally may have 2600 feedback and be on a Groovy Girl quest. Everyone is competition.

So back to the APC. If you don't know what you are doing get the hell out of our way.

Tags: Groovy Girls Little Tikes Wii PS3 Selling on Ebay

Naked Guy and the Booby Beast

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 10:16:55 -0500

Yesterday while nearly freezing to death in the 24 degree weather waiting for Goodwill to open, I observed a man pull into a handicap space- no sticker or plates.

The man stepped out of the car wearing only boxer shorts.

He then proceeded to use the big yellow stripey area as his dressing room.

Then a woman big as Super Walmart got out of her car and swung around to reveal....

The longest breasts I have ever seen.

Of course one was much longer than the other, the right side was higher.

I think it's because she writes with that side so her muscles are tighter.

So righty was saved from a drag on the pavement, but lefty must have had a serious case of road rash.

Snow day today, so I have to wait until they plow the cul de sac to hit Goodwill- will have full report from the trenches.

Tags: Little Tikes Kitchen Little Tikes Coupe Handicap Parking Sticker Super Walmart Boxer Shorts

Sweet Day At Goodwill

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 10:13:35 -0500

I hope all resellers are out there in the streets hitting the resale shops hard this week, from mid-November through the end of the year is the best time to pick up stuff at Goodwills & Salvation Armys.

Mommies look at play rooms and think- Santa is bringing more must purge.... and out go last year's toys.

The holiday spirit of giving stuff also lends itself to the influx of cool stuff.

And of course you have to donate by December 31st to get a tax deduction for the '06 tax year.

So saddle up little buckeroos and get out there!

Tags: Goodwill Tax Deduction Salvation Army Donation Resale Queen Betsy Smith

Mother Of the Year

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 15:55:43 -0500

Next time I get a call from a newspaper I need to take a deep breath and try to remember my new mantra . . . WWTD (What Would Tyra Do).

I have invested enough hours of my life watching Top Model you think I would have learned a thing or two.

I need a little Miss Banks on my shoulder to remind me to maintain poise and dignity when speaking with the press.

My interview with the Christian Science Monitor went out today.
"10 years later, a new ticklish Elmo tops the 'hot toy' list"

Yet another thing for my children to bring up in therapy.

Yes, I do buy them Goodwill junk for Christmas; Little Tikes stuff will be around after the cockroaches have all died out. It will be a barren world filled with Cozy Coupes and Cube Climbers.

I don't really see anything wrong with giving the kids used things, especially when it is something they wanted new anyway. The box and the 67,000 anti-theft wires that trap the toy in the box are cause for tears and tantrums- out of the box stuff is ready to go.

As far as paying $100 for a kids toy, I would for some things. For instance my son is getting a Vtech learning game system - he will love it and play with it for a long time.

If I gave my toddler the TMX she would press his hand watch him fall on the floor . . . and then she would move on. Mr TMX would then be tossed on top of the other 24 jiggling, giggling stuffed animals she has.

I explained to the reporter that I don't think any 2 year old had Elmo TMX on their list- Elmo is available in many forms Aloha, traditional Tickle Me, interactive - all at far more reasonable prices.

All of these must have toys are parent driven, I don't think my 20 month old will wonder why there isn't one under the tree.

Tags: Elmo TMX Tickle Me Elmo Tyra Banks Christian Science Monitor Cristian Lupsa

Selling Cabbage Patch Kids - Ebay Value

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 14:41:55 -0500

Every child of the 80s has fond memories of Christmas morning 1984 when under the tree was a Cabbage Patch for every boy and girl. Mom watched us with tears welling in her one good eye- the other blackened from the beat down she took unable to defend herself both arms wrapped tightly around your "Angela Marie" at the bottom of a pile of mommies in the Kmart toy aisle.

Ahhhhh memories.

Today mommy wouldn't have had to take the beat down.

She could have just spent 850 dollars on Ebay and bought one with your first name and eye color to boot.

So 20 years later, what is a Cabbage Patch really worth.

Well that depends.

Back in the 70's Mr. Roberts took a fascintation with used women's undergarments and built an empire.

His initial dolls were sold at craft shows and were 100% pantyhose nylon.

These early dolls were produced from 1978-1983. I was lucky to find a pair of these early uglies. I thought I had struck Goodwill gold.

How much do you think they sold for?

After listing them 3 times they at last sold for around 80 each. A good return on 59 cents, but not retire to a beach in Boca good.

Babyland General (yes it is a real joint you can visit on your next white trash road trip right after graceland) still makes these soft-sculptured dolls and sell them for $180-upwards of $400. On Ebay these resale for around $200.

Sometimes the old soft sculptures sell for around $400 but again I think its one of those things people think is worth more than it is.

When Coleco bought the rights, they exploded. Coleco had them produced overseas and domestically but a the peak of the craze they couldnt keep up. They outsourced to 2 factories overseas and those produced 2 of the rarest dolls of this CPK phase.

The Jesmar doll was make at a Spanish factory and the Tri-Ang doll was made at an African factory.

Both are labeled on their side tag and head as where they were produced. The tri-and side tag has a strange papery feel. Both dolls also have a slightly different look than the others, like the head mold they shipped overseas melted slightly on route.

Tri-Angs sell for $30-$70 and Jesmars from $30 to $150 depending on condition, pacifier faces with paci are worth the most it seems.

Moving on Hasbro bought the rights when Coleco went under. Hasbro didnt have much success with the doll and that is reflected on the Ebay market, you will be lucky to get 5 bucks for your Hasbro doll.

The only exception is a doll that was recalled. It was designed to simulate eating with an opening and closing mouth. Unfortunately once the little thing latched on it didnt let go- whether that be a child's finger or hair. The macabre always adds to Ebay value.

Later Mattel bought the rights and now Play Along has them.
The doll has been made the doll larger, since Hasbro sized it down to market to little kids. The most successful from an Ebay point of view are the Toys R Us First Edition dolls, which sell from 30-200 depending on the doll's features, conditions, papers etc.

These dolls are labeled Toys R Us First Edition on the back of their head.

So what to do with a run of the mill 1984 China produced lemon (that is the CPK term for blonde) haired doll.

What I do is buy them for 60 cents at Goodwill and put them in a lot- or group. My most recent lot of 20 sold for 53 dollars- not a fortune but ok. I'm going to put a lot up this week which should sell a little better since many of the dolls have complete outfits, original diapers and shoes.

Tags: Cabbage Patch Cabbage Patch TRU Cabbage Patch Lot Resale Queen Betsy Smith

Hunting Good Will

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 09:52:00 -0400

If the Olympics should come to Chicago as Mayor Daley is hoping, I will contact the city's Olympic committee because I have the perfect idea for a new competitive sport. If the Olympic Committee gets a better gift bag from Tulsa and we are out of the running, I may contact NBC because my idea would also be a divine reality show.

If you watched the Atlanta Olympics you will remember the cheesy back stories about starving Eastern block mommies who sent their buxom baby off to shot put boarding school so she could have a shot at the good life.

Picture Chicago 2008, the cheesy camera fog parts and reveals the doors of Goodwill. It's 8:50 and the athletes are taking their positions, climbing out of all manner of hoopty and limping to the starting gate.

There's the Pall Mall Paul who talks through a hole in his throat but can jog like a pro when he spies anything that plugs in and was mad after 1989.

There's Grandma Jean who pretends to be checking everything over with her bifocals, but is actually switching price tags.

There are the religous chicks who always come in a herd and can never seem to satitate their thirst for ankle length denim skirts.

And then there is me. And just like them something happens to me once I get inside those doors.

I feel a rush of adrenaline and once my hands hit the handle of the cart I am off like Jacki Joyner's press ons.

This adrenaline has some unfortunate side effects. I get a little violent. People can see this and it works for me because when they see me coming they do seem to step aside.

It's not my fault that some people can't pick up on that and if they are standing in my path they are risking their lives.

Take yesterday, I was checking out after a disapointing run through the store, then I saw the Russian mobster stock man putting a bunch of Cabbage Patches up on the toy shelf. (Goodwill hires a lot of reformed types, including those whose reform was state mandated and done in an institution. This guy speaks no English, is about 63 and has a posse of friends that come in and walk with him around the store as he does his job. They surround him when he is approached by a customer and they all wear their pants so high their belt doubles as support for their sagging old man boobies.)

Anyway, I gotta get there and grab the dolls, the baby needs a new Britax you see.

It's not my fault she was standing in my way. Perhaps my cart did burst her bubble of personal space, but personal space bubbles are burst as soon as you roll into Goodwill. You have to leave manners at the door. This chick didn't realize that and was truly offended that I rolled past her quickly.

She had the nerve to do that exasperated exhale and eye roll thing.

I can deal with a lot. I'm actually a very laid back person. But I can't stand the huff and roll.

I turned around, baby Maggie under one arm old Cabbies under the other. And screamed- I didn't mean to scream- but the store went quiet and the store is never quiet. Even the old mobster stopped to watch.

"Chill the fuck out,"

That's what I said.

Then she said the other thing that mad me instantly want to stomp on her head.

"Why don't you."

So I said what any responsible suburban Naperville mommy
would say,

"Shut the fuck up bitch."

As the adrenaline flowed to my limbs I realized. If I hadn't been raised better I would probably be in jail.

So I had to leave, not right away of course I can't look like I am running out- what if today I see her again- I can't let her think I am weak.

Blogging is good therapy I am realizing. Once your issues are out there in black and white, it's hard to deny you are a nut case.

So see the drama NBC is missing, screw Big Brother how about Hunting Good Will.

Tags: Vintage Cabbage Patch Lot Cabbage Patch

No one Bought the AuthenticDooney

Sat, 07 Oct 2006 10:41:50 -0400

Well we are on our way to the Pumpkin farm today.

The whole posse is going. Which includes my greedy sister-assistant. Needless to say, the Dooney did not sell and for the rest of my life I have to stare at that bag hanging off her target t-shirt shoulder and think about the one that got away.

Going to Goodwill later will give update.

Tags: Dooney Bourke Tote Dooney Bag Dooney Bourke

Someone better buy this bag

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 10:34:59 -0400

There it was all aglow in the Goodwill good stuff locked case.

The most lovely Dooney tote I have ever seen. Perfect condition. Perfect price $29.99- and authentic.

I take it to the register thinking, "Great I listed some stuff Buy it Now I have got to have this much Paypal cash."

Denied. Thankfully, credit cards get declined right and left at Goodwill so it's not too embarrassing.

But I can't let this one go. This is the most perfect Dooney I have ever seen used.

Unfortunately, I had brought my sister along for training. Being immediately behind me in line she swooped it up.

"You may not buy that," that's what I told her.

"I am and I am going to keep it."

"You can't keep nice things, if you do that how are you ever going to make money on Ebay."-I'm telling you people she may not have this in her blood.-You have to list it.

"Fine I will and if it doesn't sell. I am keeping it."

People if she keeps this purse and wears it every day. I will have to stare in the face one of the saddest moments in my professional career.

So she lists it.

No one has bid on it she says, hopefully they won't and I can keep it.

I check the auction. SHE CHEATED- she listed it as AuthenticDooney & Bourke Signature Shopper Tote|- authentic and Dooney as one word. No one will ever see this on Ebay.

So please if you are in the market. I have linked to the auction. PLEASE SOMEONE BUY THIS PURSE.

Tags: AuthenticDooney and Bourke Signature Shopper Tote Gucci

Santa's Sleigh of Discontinued Toys

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 15:49:24 -0400

The childlike joy of Christmas has returned to my soul. For beginning in late September, a certain sanity flies south for the winter and insane parents world wide begin their search.

They are on a quest to find the one perfect toy that will turn their grumpy overstilmulated goldfish poppin munchkin into an appreciative, faithful youngster.

Some toys you can just run down to Toys R Us and buy off the shelf no problemo, but what if you want the Little Tikes Activity Garden Mason is so in love with at day care or the vintage Little People Airplane at Grandma's house your kid has a fit over when it's time to leave.

That's where people like me come in. You may think people who live for garage sales, church bazaars and going out of business sales are freaks, but keep in mind I am lining up at 5 in the morning outside St. Margaret Mary so your little girl can have the Eden My First Bear she lost replaced or so you can satitate your secret Cabbage Patch obsession.

Yes to the legions of Goodwill Dr. Feelgoods this is the best time of the year.

If you are buying some things to look out for. Toys toys toys, books are slowing down as school is into full swing and parental attention is shifting to all things big and plastic. Little Tikes is a great investment this time of year.

Anything that will make Babykins light up when she comes down the stairs Christmas morning- so you see you are on the lookout for things with the WOW factor. Sell a Step 2 Toddler kitchen set with tons of food, a Little Tikes Washer Dryer set so your little one can be just like mommy or daddy if you are lucky like that, and of course anything American Girl or Groovy Girl.

Stay away from anything outdoorsy- Spring is the time to sell your Tikes house or Cozy Coupe.

Tags: Step 2 Kitchen Eden My First Bear Little Tikes Activity Garden

The Castle is Getting Crowded and Smelly

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 10:36:04 -0400

So the Elmo investment didn't pan out.

It was entirely the fault of my assistant, however since she is both unpaid and related to me I have to ignore that fact and move on.

So this is when being a seller gets speculative. I could return the TMXs at Toys R Us, relist them and chance paying Ebay fees on another item that did not sell, or I can sit on them hoping that the little third world toy making elves will develop carpal tunnel and be unable to fufill the desires of spoiled preschoolers who need a $100 giggle box- which by December 18th could be worth $225.

These are the issues that keep the Queen awake at night.

Seriously though the Elmos are depreciating somewhat, what was last week's $100 sure thing is now a $70 sale.

So I think I am going to sit on them.

This is the problem. I am also sitting on American Girl dolls, Groovy Girls, bins full of Legos, Lego Dacta Table, Tons of books, Build a Bears, Step 2 Kitchen pieces, Today's Kids Baby Gates and misc stuffed animals.

My castle is becoming a crowded place that smells like a resale shop.

Thank goodness all the Prada at Goodwill was fake today- because who needs the clutter.

Keep an eye on thesmithmall's crap this week I am in the mood to purge.

Like anyone with a psychological disorder my urges come and go. Sometimes I do nothing but buy for weeks, then one morning I wake up and look at the messy storage locker I am living in-get fed up-and make a thousand in a day. Other disorders dont pay this well.

Tags: Elmo TMX Groovy Girls American Girl Bitty Baby

BREEDER SALE SPECTACULAR!

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 20:19:16 -0400

This weekend was the GREATEST GARAGE SALE OF ALL TIME. Alright, so I say that every weekend, but this weekend was a special one. TMOTTC (tri cities mothers of twins and triplets club) threw their annual fall clothing and toy resale event. These chicks may have weak pelvic floors, but they throw a serious sale. Their organizational techniques are unmatched. Dont mess with a chick who has developed a flow chart to get her laundry done.

So this is how a big sale works. A club like the good old TCMOTTC rents a space, these guys rent a stadium which is brilliant you already know by the location in the newspaper ad that this sale is going to be huge. Lesser local clubs for the explosively fertile actually get together and rent livestock and specialty county fair barns to house their sales. Nothing says quality, clean merchandise like ducking through 4H banners on your way to the breastpumps.

The idea behind these sales is to raise money for cash strapped mommies as well as the organization. In order to sell at the sale, you have to be a member. Unless you put your name on a waiting list, pass a phone interview and submit to an inperson interview and information session. I know this sounds like hell a work but I completed all 3 rounds and was granted the golden password to resale nirvana. My seller id, number 432.

I had a brilliant idea, starting last spring when everyone else was looking for summer clothes, I started my search for near to free fall and winter designer kid clothes. I emptied my daughters closet and started hoarding all the boutique brand and gap crap I could hustle. It actually worked out really well since the problem with kids clothes in the first place is that kids grow out of them, especially toddlers and little kids.

All mommies know that you can't predict growth spurts or standstills in growth-kids don't really progress through sizes they stall out in some, skip others- so most moms aren't buying several seasons ahead. I started going to church sales and yard sales on the last day. The leftover summer clothes were torn Garanimals gear, however you would be amazed at the Hanna Andersson, Oilily, Gap and other expensive junk I found lying there like last weeks Ramen.

So now you can understand why I was so psyched about this garage sale this week- I had 19 winter coats alone. Nonmembers got 65% of the sale price, not exactly awesome but I figured if I just sold a huge volume I would be making mad cash. They don't release the member percentage. A woman there-member I should say- said the last sale was around $30k total sales, $12k went to the club.

Friday morning is drop off day, I thought I would be in and out of there- but these ladies don't trust those who eject eggs one by one. They went through each piece of clothing I had checking for stains or tears it took nearly an hour for them to check me in I had so much crap.

The first sale day is actually Friday night the day before it opens to the public. This is the VIP members only sweet sale preview when most of the good stuff at cheap prices goes. The sale committee works out a schedule. Of course they go first, then the members of the club who volunteer at the sale, then the members who don't volunteer and then us freakish wannabe nonmembers.

The sale started at 4:45 but we couldnt get in until 7pm. If I could figure a way to get onto the committee I would. Maybe if I lie- I could just rub some blue eyeshadow under my eyes and dust myself with baby formula- "sorry I'm late guys- the quads are just so needy...". I think I could pass.

So finally I got to go in along with my sister who is my apprentice, she had to work a shift in order to gain entry I asked if I could just bring someone to the sale and I was told they would have to stand in the hall- I am tellin' you these multiples madres are serious. So this is what we got:
JJ Cole Bundle Me paid 2.50 ebay value $30; Groovy Girl w/sleeping bag $4 will be added to lot of collected Groovy Girls which will ebay for $75-90;Todays Kids gate $10 Ebay for $80, Todays Kids gate for $20 will also Ebay for $80, Scooby Doo Mystery Machine and set of action figures $6 Ebays for $65-$70, Pottery Barn blue gingham crib skirt and sheet set times 2 of course from someones twin boys paid $6 per set Ebay $25 per set; American Girl clothes and karaoke machine paid $4.

I have to do more research in the 'completed's to find out the outfits title, year of release, character intended for and whether or not it is retired- depending on these factors will sell for $10-$70 or I may keep for a lot since I find American Girl dolls from time to time for 50 cents at Goodwill; Little Tikes Hot Wheels Mountain which we will be stripping for parts and piecing off on Ebay paid $10 pieces are worth $60-$80; Step 2 kitchen pieces these are HOT HOT HOT -they are small toddler size play kitchens that are no longer produced and 'Buy It Now' for $110 on Ebay for no trouble at all- I got a set for $19.

I havent gotten my check yet to find out what I made from what I sold but as soon as I do I will type it up.

Tags: American Girl Little Tikes Hot Wheels Mountain Step 2 Kitchen Today's Kids Gate

Scuba DPVs, Bitty Babies, and Ebay Fees

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 12:24:59 -0400

Buenos Dias from the resale queen, Betsy Smith- you may know me from my long run as star of Croncast, a podcast my husband forces me to do 3 times a week. Kris- thats the other half of Croncast and my man of la mancha had the brilliant idea of building this nifty site for me.

I have been selling on Ebay for 6 years. That's 6 years of dumpster diving, Goodwill hunting and garage saleing.

Everybody thinks its nifty to buy something for 50 cents and sell it for 50 bucks, and Ebay has become the stay at home mommy home biz of the new millenium- kind of like catering and real estate was back in the 80s. While selling on Ebay is fairly straightforward, the difficult part is knowing what sells and for how much. This is where the hard work comes in. If you like to stay up until 1am bleary eyed reading completed Care Bear auctions in order of highest to lowest price- then join me compadre as we venture forth on the journey to turn garbage into gold.

As an added bonus Ebay has set up a system to allow click throughs to related auctions as well as links to become a member if there is anyone left on the planet who does not have an Ebay user ID. I will be adding keywords from my topic du jour which will bring links of Ebay merchandise auctions to this site, so please click through and check out the auctions. And don't forget to check out my auctions, Ebay used ID thesmithmall.

Tags: Scuba Diving DPV American Girl Doll American Girl Bitty Baby Resale Queen

About me

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 12:08:02 -0400

Everybody thinks its nifty to buy something for 50 cents and sell it for $50 bucks, and Ebay has become the stay at home mommy home biz of the new millenium- kind of like catering and real estate was back in the 80s.

While selling on Ebay is fairly straightforward, the difficult part is knowing what sells and for how much. This is where the hard work comes in. If you like to stay up until 1 a.m. bleary eyed reading completed Care Bear auctions in order of highest to lowest price- then join me compadre as we venture forth on the journey to turn garbage into gold.

Tags: Resale Queen Betsy Smith Kris Smith Goodwill eBay garage sale