Wow now you have gone and bought that beautiful Tiger Oak Dresser and Chest for a wonderful price and it hits you, how in the heck am I going to get it down the stairs and to my truck to take it home? Or maybe you have a Nissan Sentra and there is no way to put that piece on the top and carry it home!
Be prepared to get your purchases home before you go to the sale! Call and ask if they have extra workers there that can help you load big pieces if you are interested in them. If not, ask if you can purchase and have it picked up later. Most companies will allow you to do this as long as it is during sale hours. Some will allow you to get them later if there is a lot of traffic in the home during the sale.
Know what their rules are about this. It will help you make your buying experience more pleasant and also keep the poor company from having stress ulcers! Some companies do have helpers but most do not!!! So do not assume someone will be able to help you tote that 100 pound piece of furniture around.
I have had some real adventures getting pieces out of homes and into my truck. My truck has looked like something from the Beverly Hillbillies going down the road at times.
Some things you will need in order to take home things such as this are blankets to protect the furniture piece or mirror. There are some drop dead gorgeous mirrors at Estate Sales but if you can't get them home in one piece, it is not a pretty site.
Another thing that is essential are some ropes or bungee cords to tie down the pieces so they do not shift in transit. A third piece that is great to have but not absolutely essential is a dolly to help you cart around pieces.
Learn how to pack things tightly into the back of your truck or SUV if you have one. There is an art to packing. My husband is the best at packing and can get twice as much in the bed of our truck than I can. I am slowly learning but he is the expert at it. Things that cannot shift around are much less likely to suffer damage on the way home.
A rainproof tarp is another thing that is great to have to cover your purchases for the ride home. Wood can warp and swell if it gets enough moisture exposure. Having it covered keeps it safe and dry.
Once you get home make sure you have enough help to unload your goodies without hurting yourself or them.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Estate Sale Tools Part 3 Negotiations
The best part of a sale is when you get a good deal! In order to stay in business, I must buy merchandise at a price that I can turn around and make a profit on. There are many ways that you can get better deals at Estate Sales or even Garage sales.
One way to get a better price is to bundle things. Sellers are much more likely to give you a better deal if they know you are purchasing multiple items. However there is a bit of a trick to getting even a better price here. I always ask if the pricing is firm first. Usually the seller will say well depending on what you get, ,I will make you a deal. If they don't budge at all on pricing, or even hint at it, then I have a hard time dealing with that seller. I usually only buy what I absolutely have to have and go to the next sale.
With Estate Sales there is usually a multitude of merchandise. Their goal (the company) is to make the most money for the family or seller. They know if you buy a lot of pieces, they are going to make more money so they are usually amenable to giving you a better deal to move that merchandise along.
What I do in a lot of cases is ask what is the best price on this? I let them know I am buying in bulk if applicable and they give me a price. I then put it in my pile I have started. I do this for most pieces. Then we get to the huge pile. They come up with a price, I will then ask well would you take $$$$ which is less than what they quoted. They look at the pile and know they are going to have to put it back up for one and lose the sale for another if we don't agree. Most will either accept the price or shoot me a price between what they quoted and what I asked for. I then have gotten 2 discounts on the listed price rather than one.
I will do this even on half price days. The only time I will not incorporate this is if I know the price is really low already. I do not want to insult a seller or company. I want to do business with them again and hope they want my business again. I also let new companies know that I am frequently at sales and that I will be a repeat customer. This can go a long way to getting a bit better pricing.
I am always friendly, courteous and professional in my dealings with these companies. This goes a long way as well. It is in poor form to badmouth pricing or the company about anything at the sale where it can be heard by others. A little kindness goes a long way. If you find something with a flaw or with damage, bring it to their attention but in a nice way. They will usually work with you. They are human and there is no way they can inspect every single piece at a sale.
I like to talk to the workers a bit if they are not too busy and get info on their sales and the company if possible. This way a lot of them remember me the next time I go to a sale. They want repeat customers and those who buy several items at each sale. That is their bread and butter.
One way to get a better price is to bundle things. Sellers are much more likely to give you a better deal if they know you are purchasing multiple items. However there is a bit of a trick to getting even a better price here. I always ask if the pricing is firm first. Usually the seller will say well depending on what you get, ,I will make you a deal. If they don't budge at all on pricing, or even hint at it, then I have a hard time dealing with that seller. I usually only buy what I absolutely have to have and go to the next sale.
With Estate Sales there is usually a multitude of merchandise. Their goal (the company) is to make the most money for the family or seller. They know if you buy a lot of pieces, they are going to make more money so they are usually amenable to giving you a better deal to move that merchandise along.
What I do in a lot of cases is ask what is the best price on this? I let them know I am buying in bulk if applicable and they give me a price. I then put it in my pile I have started. I do this for most pieces. Then we get to the huge pile. They come up with a price, I will then ask well would you take $$$$ which is less than what they quoted. They look at the pile and know they are going to have to put it back up for one and lose the sale for another if we don't agree. Most will either accept the price or shoot me a price between what they quoted and what I asked for. I then have gotten 2 discounts on the listed price rather than one.
I will do this even on half price days. The only time I will not incorporate this is if I know the price is really low already. I do not want to insult a seller or company. I want to do business with them again and hope they want my business again. I also let new companies know that I am frequently at sales and that I will be a repeat customer. This can go a long way to getting a bit better pricing.
I am always friendly, courteous and professional in my dealings with these companies. This goes a long way as well. It is in poor form to badmouth pricing or the company about anything at the sale where it can be heard by others. A little kindness goes a long way. If you find something with a flaw or with damage, bring it to their attention but in a nice way. They will usually work with you. They are human and there is no way they can inspect every single piece at a sale.
I like to talk to the workers a bit if they are not too busy and get info on their sales and the company if possible. This way a lot of them remember me the next time I go to a sale. They want repeat customers and those who buy several items at each sale. That is their bread and butter.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Tools Needed For Shopping Estate Sales Part 2
It is really important to go to the estate sale prepared to take care of your purchases. Most places do not have enough boxes or paper or bubble wrap to protect fragile purchases. I always take a couple of boxes or Rubbermaid Totes and enough paper and bubble wrap to pack up anything that I may want to purchase so that it makes the rounds with me safely for the day and of course makes it home in one piece.
It is so disappointing to find that gorgeous figurine or piece of depression glass got bumped up against something else when you hit that last bump in the road and got a nice little chip or crack! If things are important enough to pay for, then they should be protected for the ride home!
I have a travel pack that goes with me to most Estate Sales. It fits into a tote bag and I can carry it with me while I am shopping. I have even had to stuff things in the bag in order to carry it all to the lady who is accepting money for sales. Sometimes I feel like I need 4 arms instead of 2!
It is important to really look over pieces prior to purchasing them. A few things that will help in that matter are a magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe. A quick look at small pieces or for identifying marks will help you immensely. A small portable black light is great as well if you can carry one to pick up really small cracks in figurines or to check out Vaseline glass for example. I try to carry a tiny flashlight as well. A lot of the homes don't have great lighting. The flashlight will save you the time of carrying a piece out into the daylight or to another room for inspection.
Your two hands are very important when examining items. Taking the time to run your fingers over rims and edges of glass or porcelain will quickly tell you if a small chip or flea bite as they are called are present. You can also feel any type of roughness or difference in seams on glass as well.
Remember to pace yourself when going to a huge sale. You can become junk drunk (overwhelmed) quickly if not careful in these situations. I try to go to the areas that I want first then work my way from there. This way I am not tired when I am looking at the best pieces in the place or the ones that I came for.
I keep some reference books (travel sized) in my car or truck too. If I run into a pattern or piece I am not real sure of, I can run out to the car and see if I can find it in my books. It gives me a better idea if I want to purchase it or not. A smart phone with Internet access and Google can help here too in a lot of cases but my handy books have come through much quicker than anything on most days.
Now that you have found what you want how do you get the pieces at a good price? We will discuss some negotiating tricks in Part 3!
It is so disappointing to find that gorgeous figurine or piece of depression glass got bumped up against something else when you hit that last bump in the road and got a nice little chip or crack! If things are important enough to pay for, then they should be protected for the ride home!
I have a travel pack that goes with me to most Estate Sales. It fits into a tote bag and I can carry it with me while I am shopping. I have even had to stuff things in the bag in order to carry it all to the lady who is accepting money for sales. Sometimes I feel like I need 4 arms instead of 2!
It is important to really look over pieces prior to purchasing them. A few things that will help in that matter are a magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe. A quick look at small pieces or for identifying marks will help you immensely. A small portable black light is great as well if you can carry one to pick up really small cracks in figurines or to check out Vaseline glass for example. I try to carry a tiny flashlight as well. A lot of the homes don't have great lighting. The flashlight will save you the time of carrying a piece out into the daylight or to another room for inspection.
Your two hands are very important when examining items. Taking the time to run your fingers over rims and edges of glass or porcelain will quickly tell you if a small chip or flea bite as they are called are present. You can also feel any type of roughness or difference in seams on glass as well.
Remember to pace yourself when going to a huge sale. You can become junk drunk (overwhelmed) quickly if not careful in these situations. I try to go to the areas that I want first then work my way from there. This way I am not tired when I am looking at the best pieces in the place or the ones that I came for.
I keep some reference books (travel sized) in my car or truck too. If I run into a pattern or piece I am not real sure of, I can run out to the car and see if I can find it in my books. It gives me a better idea if I want to purchase it or not. A smart phone with Internet access and Google can help here too in a lot of cases but my handy books have come through much quicker than anything on most days.
Now that you have found what you want how do you get the pieces at a good price? We will discuss some negotiating tricks in Part 3!
DO Not Recycle USPS Priority Boxes!!!!! See what happens!
The United States Post Office offers sellers and other consumers free Priority Boxes for using the Priority Mail Service. They do not want these boxes used for any other purpose. According to what I have read they consider these boxes as still being owned by the Post Office even after they have been used!
A seller in Tampa, Florida just found out the hard way about this interesting detail when he tried using recycled boxes for international First Class shipments. Here is a link to the news story that was published on this seller's dilemma.
The moral of the story is only use the free materials for what they were intended. Do not try to disguise them, cover them, paint them, or use them for any other purpose. It will cost you or your customers who will not be happy!
Another thing to point out is if these boxes are misused, the Post Office can stop giving them out to sellers for free usage. This has already happened in the case of the Priority Mail Tape that the Post Office once gave freely to use.
It was used for everything under the sun which was NOT what it was intended. The Post Office started losing money on this product and stopped giving it to anyone.
I know some people think that this is OK if they use the USPS for their mail no matter how it is done. However let's think about this in the long run. You are doing yourself a disservice and a lot of other people as well by trying to save a few pennies now.
Let's make it fair and easy for everyone. Do what is right!
A seller in Tampa, Florida just found out the hard way about this interesting detail when he tried using recycled boxes for international First Class shipments. Here is a link to the news story that was published on this seller's dilemma.
The moral of the story is only use the free materials for what they were intended. Do not try to disguise them, cover them, paint them, or use them for any other purpose. It will cost you or your customers who will not be happy!
Another thing to point out is if these boxes are misused, the Post Office can stop giving them out to sellers for free usage. This has already happened in the case of the Priority Mail Tape that the Post Office once gave freely to use.
It was used for everything under the sun which was NOT what it was intended. The Post Office started losing money on this product and stopped giving it to anyone.
I know some people think that this is OK if they use the USPS for their mail no matter how it is done. However let's think about this in the long run. You are doing yourself a disservice and a lot of other people as well by trying to save a few pennies now.
Let's make it fair and easy for everyone. Do what is right!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Don't Go To An Estate Sale Without Me! Tools for Success At Estate Sales!
Estate sales are being held all year long. If you are picking for reselling purposes and not taking advantage of estate sales, then you are really going to miss out on some super deals you may not find otherwise. Estate sales can range from someone moving to finding years of wealth from the accumulation of a life long existence.
Estate sales are not all equal. It is very important to do your homework prior to attending any sale. Most sales will list some if not the majority of the items that are going to be offered for sale. Having that knowledge allows you to decide which sales are worth attending. This also gives you an idea as to which sales are the most important to attend first.
The early bird gets the worm is an old adage and is very appropriate when attending estate sales. Some sales have people lined up around the block waiting to get in. In cases such as these, numbers may be given out to those who get there first, allowing them first choice of all the goodies. Resellers and dealers frequently like to be the first at a good sale. Make a schedule as to what sales you want to get to that day and then decide your route before going out.
Most large sales will span more than one day. Even though it is important to be there before all the "good stuff is gone through", there is something to be said for attending sales on the second or third day. Some sales I will go on the first day to see what is available. I will purchase anything I think is going to have the likely hood of being snatched up quickly and that is a great price. I also like to write down things that I feel are worthy of purchase but may be more than my budget allows at the time. Always ask what hours the sale will be held. I also ask if they tend to close up sales early on the last day. One company here is notorious for that and it is very frustrating to get there and they already have things boxed back up!
For those items I wrote down, I may go home and research them to make sure they are what I want and get a better idea exactly what I can pay for them. I will go back to the sale on the second or third day. A lot of times these pieces are still there but marked down due to the length of the sale. Most professional companies mark prices down the second or the last day. It is a good practice to ask the company or worker if they have mark downs on the last day. You may think that there will be nothing of value left on the last day however I have gotten some really good bargains on the half price day of the sale.
Another thing of value is to get to know the companies or persons holding the sales. Most companies will have a notebook or sign in sheet at the register or at the door. Sign up for future sales by that company if you like what you see at the sale. They will then notify you of upcoming sales so you can be aware and ready for future sales.
Always ask what types of payments the company takes as well. You can email or call ahead of the sale if you are not sure. Some will want cash only, others will be able to take credit or debit cards. Some companies here still take checks with proper ID if they are on a local bank. Nothing is worse than to find a piece that you have been wanting for awhile and not have the funds needed to purchase it.
Wow this is getting long! I am going to make this two parts. Stay tuned for all the things you need to take with you to the sale in order to make it easy on yourself and your purchases!
Estate sales are not all equal. It is very important to do your homework prior to attending any sale. Most sales will list some if not the majority of the items that are going to be offered for sale. Having that knowledge allows you to decide which sales are worth attending. This also gives you an idea as to which sales are the most important to attend first.
The early bird gets the worm is an old adage and is very appropriate when attending estate sales. Some sales have people lined up around the block waiting to get in. In cases such as these, numbers may be given out to those who get there first, allowing them first choice of all the goodies. Resellers and dealers frequently like to be the first at a good sale. Make a schedule as to what sales you want to get to that day and then decide your route before going out.
Most large sales will span more than one day. Even though it is important to be there before all the "good stuff is gone through", there is something to be said for attending sales on the second or third day. Some sales I will go on the first day to see what is available. I will purchase anything I think is going to have the likely hood of being snatched up quickly and that is a great price. I also like to write down things that I feel are worthy of purchase but may be more than my budget allows at the time. Always ask what hours the sale will be held. I also ask if they tend to close up sales early on the last day. One company here is notorious for that and it is very frustrating to get there and they already have things boxed back up!
For those items I wrote down, I may go home and research them to make sure they are what I want and get a better idea exactly what I can pay for them. I will go back to the sale on the second or third day. A lot of times these pieces are still there but marked down due to the length of the sale. Most professional companies mark prices down the second or the last day. It is a good practice to ask the company or worker if they have mark downs on the last day. You may think that there will be nothing of value left on the last day however I have gotten some really good bargains on the half price day of the sale.
Another thing of value is to get to know the companies or persons holding the sales. Most companies will have a notebook or sign in sheet at the register or at the door. Sign up for future sales by that company if you like what you see at the sale. They will then notify you of upcoming sales so you can be aware and ready for future sales.
Always ask what types of payments the company takes as well. You can email or call ahead of the sale if you are not sure. Some will want cash only, others will be able to take credit or debit cards. Some companies here still take checks with proper ID if they are on a local bank. Nothing is worse than to find a piece that you have been wanting for awhile and not have the funds needed to purchase it.
Wow this is getting long! I am going to make this two parts. Stay tuned for all the things you need to take with you to the sale in order to make it easy on yourself and your purchases!
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Hallowwen is HOT!!! Eerie Sppoky Halloween Ideas!
Merchants say that Christmas shopping does not even compare to Halloween shopping anymore. More people are doing elaborate decorations to celebrate the holiday. You can find some of the greatest things to spook, scare and entertain your guests if you have parties during that time.
We have some great items both for Halloween and Christmas in my store right now. We have Screeching Sonic Witches whose eyes glow, rocks in her chair, has an eerie laugh and is above all really ugly! We also have a Dancing Frankenstein that is sure to bring a smile to the eyes of your loved ones or those kids who come to see all the cool decor you spend hours on! Another is our Sonic Dracula who you hang up and he screeches and his eyes glow when he hears noise. What fun!
If you want to see any of this please take a look at my store Kim's Kreations & Rare Finds! We have lots of awesome Vintage Christmas decor and gift ideas as well!
We have some great items both for Halloween and Christmas in my store right now. We have Screeching Sonic Witches whose eyes glow, rocks in her chair, has an eerie laugh and is above all really ugly! We also have a Dancing Frankenstein that is sure to bring a smile to the eyes of your loved ones or those kids who come to see all the cool decor you spend hours on! Another is our Sonic Dracula who you hang up and he screeches and his eyes glow when he hears noise. What fun!
If you want to see any of this please take a look at my store Kim's Kreations & Rare Finds! We have lots of awesome Vintage Christmas decor and gift ideas as well!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
End of Year Revised Picking
Wow fall is definitely in the air here and it is the time that a lot of picking starts slowing down as many garage and yard sales are coming to the end for the year. A good picker knows that he or she has to make some changes to their routine in order to survive the coming winter.
All is not lost as many venues such as estate auctions, church and community sales will go on year round. Other auctions for vintage and collectible merchandise are held year round as well. Many good items can be gleaned at these places. You just have to do your homework to see where you can get good merchandise for prices that you can live with.
Here is an example of a piece that I got at the last auction I attended. There was a huge variety of stuff as it was labeled an estate auction. It was more of a moving sale for the family. There were great items there for very low prices and then there were things that were better left alone. Any time you hit a place like this you are going to see a lot of different items.
This is true of many of the sales that I attend. One thing that really helps me is to get there early and investigate the things to be auctioned. I handle a lot of the items to get a feel for them. Glass and pottery needs to be examined before the auction. Other items need to be looked over to see if parts are missing or damage is present.
I got a whole truck load of stuff for a bit over $100. I was a very happy camper! A lot of the items were more run of the mill items but there were some good finds. One was a nice huge vintage cast iron skillet for $1.00. I also got a vintage Schwinn Searcher bike for $15.
Here is one of the items that I got at that auction that was a sleeper. I thought it was iron until I got up close and personal. Turned out it was a very nice figoral bronze sculpture. It just sold for a very nice price! Here is the listing for it in my store at Kim's Kreations & Rare Finds Here is a picture of the sculpture below.
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These sold very quickly and they will be shipped out on Monday! I have many more items from that auction I am still in the process of listing. I got some great box lots there that I am going through now. I found a lot of vintage fabric, linens and some vintage Sci Fi books that I think I may put on Amazon for sale.
You just never know what you are going to find unless you actually go there and take a look! It is definitely treasure hunting as you are digging through boxes and bags and other things. What fun!
So what are your plans for picking for the fall and winter months??? I would love to hear from you and see what you are doing to keep your inventory levels up there. Christmas is coming and it is usually my busiest selling time. I want to make sure I have more than enough stock for my buyers.
All is not lost as many venues such as estate auctions, church and community sales will go on year round. Other auctions for vintage and collectible merchandise are held year round as well. Many good items can be gleaned at these places. You just have to do your homework to see where you can get good merchandise for prices that you can live with.
Here is an example of a piece that I got at the last auction I attended. There was a huge variety of stuff as it was labeled an estate auction. It was more of a moving sale for the family. There were great items there for very low prices and then there were things that were better left alone. Any time you hit a place like this you are going to see a lot of different items.
This is true of many of the sales that I attend. One thing that really helps me is to get there early and investigate the things to be auctioned. I handle a lot of the items to get a feel for them. Glass and pottery needs to be examined before the auction. Other items need to be looked over to see if parts are missing or damage is present.
I got a whole truck load of stuff for a bit over $100. I was a very happy camper! A lot of the items were more run of the mill items but there were some good finds. One was a nice huge vintage cast iron skillet for $1.00. I also got a vintage Schwinn Searcher bike for $15.
Here is one of the items that I got at that auction that was a sleeper. I thought it was iron until I got up close and personal. Turned out it was a very nice figoral bronze sculpture. It just sold for a very nice price! Here is the listing for it in my store at Kim's Kreations & Rare Finds Here is a picture of the sculpture below.
These sold very quickly and they will be shipped out on Monday! I have many more items from that auction I am still in the process of listing. I got some great box lots there that I am going through now. I found a lot of vintage fabric, linens and some vintage Sci Fi books that I think I may put on Amazon for sale.
You just never know what you are going to find unless you actually go there and take a look! It is definitely treasure hunting as you are digging through boxes and bags and other things. What fun!
So what are your plans for picking for the fall and winter months??? I would love to hear from you and see what you are doing to keep your inventory levels up there. Christmas is coming and it is usually my busiest selling time. I want to make sure I have more than enough stock for my buyers.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Flatware Fun Facts! Links To Help You Identify Your Silver
A person can spend hours upon hours trying to find the exact pattern that they have as Rogers produced hundreds of different patterns of flatware themselves. As an avid collector of mid-century flatware, I have found some websites that have helped me to figure out what my patterns are without having to spend hours on end!
Here are some of the webpages that have helped me in the past to identify my patterns. I hope that they are of help to you.
The Antique Cupboard has an alphabetical listing of patterns
Patterns in Silverplate is another great site that I use a lot to find patterns in
The Silverqueen has a great pictorial site that helps with some quirkier patterns that cannot be found on other sites.
Silvercollect.http://www.silvercollect.com/com is another site that can be searched for silver patterns
If you are lucky enough to find Sterling flatware here is a site that has sterling patterns..
Here are some of the webpages that have helped me in the past to identify my patterns. I hope that they are of help to you.
The Antique Cupboard has an alphabetical listing of patterns
Patterns in Silverplate is another great site that I use a lot to find patterns in
The Silverqueen has a great pictorial site that helps with some quirkier patterns that cannot be found on other sites.
Silvercollect.http://www.silvercollect.com/com is another site that can be searched for silver patterns
If you are lucky enough to find Sterling flatware here is a site that has sterling patterns..
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Picking Fun With Flatware Know Your History!
One of the most fascinating things that I find about my career as a "picker" is the history that I pick up when I have to research different pieces that I find in the field. I am a history buff anyway and always was keen to soak up quirky facts and figures about different things, so this is right up my alley! I have learned many fun facts about flatware or silverware as most of us call it.
Who does not remember going to Grandma's house when they were young for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner and having the good silver brought out as well as the china? My grandmother had a wonderful set of Rogers Adoration 1847 International plated silverware that she got in the 1940's that was kept in a chest in the dining room except for special occasions.
For years, we thought as many people do that the silverware was "sterling" due to the fact that it was made by Rogers. Many people make this mistake today. However research will tell you that most of the flatware that was produced after the turn of the century was silver plated. If a piece does not state sterling or is not marked .925 on the piece, chances are it is not sterling. The only exception to this rule is pieces that were produced in Great Britain that contain British sterling hallmarks. To find out more about these, google sterling or sterling silver hallmarks. You can find which marks have been used and can identify pieces through these pages easily. Don't discount flatware pieces due to the fact that they are not sterling. They still have value! It definitely does not detract from the beauty or durability of these pieces and many are still being used in dining rooms and kitchens today.
Rogers is one of the most popular flatware companies that is coveted by collectors today. They made hundreds of different patterns over the years. One thing that is common with all the pieces is that they are all heavy duty and they are all of great quality. I believe those are two great reasons that they have withstood the test of time and are still desired so highly today.
In order to be able to "pick" flatware, you have to know a bit about the history of the Rogers company or companies as it may be. William Rogers started as a silversmith in the mid 1800's. He produced awesome sterling pieces that are still around today. Later he was joined by some relatives and the name of the company has changed over the years. To muddy the waters even more, two other companies have actually bought very similar names Wm Rogers and Sons (purchased by International Silver in the late 1800's) and Wm A Rogers which was purchased by Oneida who produced silver plated flatware in the same time period that Wm Rogers flatware was being produced.
1847 Rogers IS flatware is made by the original Wm Rogers company. Flatware made by Wm Rogers and Sons or Wm A Rogers are made by other companies as stated above. It is good to know which company makes the pieces that you collect or sell. As stated above, you have to know your history.
The next fun step in picking flatware is to know how to find what pattern your flatware is. Some patterns sell well while others are more obscure and may sit for awhile and be harder to market. Finding patterns can be a chore as stated above Rogers made hundreds of patterns alone. This does not even account for patterns made by Oneida, International Silver, or any other company out there.
Stay tuned for my next post. I will tell you more about how to identify individual patterns in flatware. Want to see the vintage flatware I have for sale right now? Check out my store!
Who does not remember going to Grandma's house when they were young for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner and having the good silver brought out as well as the china? My grandmother had a wonderful set of Rogers Adoration 1847 International plated silverware that she got in the 1940's that was kept in a chest in the dining room except for special occasions.
For years, we thought as many people do that the silverware was "sterling" due to the fact that it was made by Rogers. Many people make this mistake today. However research will tell you that most of the flatware that was produced after the turn of the century was silver plated. If a piece does not state sterling or is not marked .925 on the piece, chances are it is not sterling. The only exception to this rule is pieces that were produced in Great Britain that contain British sterling hallmarks. To find out more about these, google sterling or sterling silver hallmarks. You can find which marks have been used and can identify pieces through these pages easily. Don't discount flatware pieces due to the fact that they are not sterling. They still have value! It definitely does not detract from the beauty or durability of these pieces and many are still being used in dining rooms and kitchens today.
Rogers is one of the most popular flatware companies that is coveted by collectors today. They made hundreds of different patterns over the years. One thing that is common with all the pieces is that they are all heavy duty and they are all of great quality. I believe those are two great reasons that they have withstood the test of time and are still desired so highly today.
In order to be able to "pick" flatware, you have to know a bit about the history of the Rogers company or companies as it may be. William Rogers started as a silversmith in the mid 1800's. He produced awesome sterling pieces that are still around today. Later he was joined by some relatives and the name of the company has changed over the years. To muddy the waters even more, two other companies have actually bought very similar names Wm Rogers and Sons (purchased by International Silver in the late 1800's) and Wm A Rogers which was purchased by Oneida who produced silver plated flatware in the same time period that Wm Rogers flatware was being produced.
1847 Rogers IS flatware is made by the original Wm Rogers company. Flatware made by Wm Rogers and Sons or Wm A Rogers are made by other companies as stated above. It is good to know which company makes the pieces that you collect or sell. As stated above, you have to know your history.
The next fun step in picking flatware is to know how to find what pattern your flatware is. Some patterns sell well while others are more obscure and may sit for awhile and be harder to market. Finding patterns can be a chore as stated above Rogers made hundreds of patterns alone. This does not even account for patterns made by Oneida, International Silver, or any other company out there.
Stay tuned for my next post. I will tell you more about how to identify individual patterns in flatware. Want to see the vintage flatware I have for sale right now? Check out my store!
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Ebay Home Runs What Keeps Me Running!
We all need those special scores in order to keep the adrenaline pumping and keep the thrill of the hunt alive. It also makes it exciting to hear about what has been a "home run" for someone else. What we call a home run in the business, is something that we have found in the field and purchased then resold for a good price!
Needless to say, home runs don't come along everyday. It would be wonderful if they did! However, if that was the case then hunting new things would become routine after a while. This way "home runs" or "scores" are still what makes a treasure hunter get out of bed every morning and hunt!
So I am going to share a few of my home runs with you as I know how much fun these are! I am going to try to do a home run posting at least once a week and would love to hear others home runs as well. I will put information on how to get your home runs published below.
One of my recent home runs is when I researched I found to be very highly sought after by collectors. Harley Davidson merchandise, especially vintage Harley Davidson merchandise is usually sought out by collectors. There are a lot of Harley Davidson collectors out there as well! Harley items will bring in good money if you find it in good condition. This even includes the tee shirts!
I found a vintage 1988 Harley Davidson pewter belt buckle in excellent condition at an auction a while back and placed it for sale on Ebay. I have included a picture of it above. It sold very quickly for $100.00. I was thrilled! I definitely call this one a home run! If you want to see more treasures like this, come visit my store, Kim's Kreations & Rare Finds!
So tell me about your home runs! Send me your information with your closed listing and I will include them in my next home run blog post! I want to hear all about them. Lets share the wealth!
Needless to say, home runs don't come along everyday. It would be wonderful if they did! However, if that was the case then hunting new things would become routine after a while. This way "home runs" or "scores" are still what makes a treasure hunter get out of bed every morning and hunt!
So I am going to share a few of my home runs with you as I know how much fun these are! I am going to try to do a home run posting at least once a week and would love to hear others home runs as well. I will put information on how to get your home runs published below.
One of my recent home runs is when I researched I found to be very highly sought after by collectors. Harley Davidson merchandise, especially vintage Harley Davidson merchandise is usually sought out by collectors. There are a lot of Harley Davidson collectors out there as well! Harley items will bring in good money if you find it in good condition. This even includes the tee shirts!
So tell me about your home runs! Send me your information with your closed listing and I will include them in my next home run blog post! I want to hear all about them. Lets share the wealth!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Packing Shipping Fun Facts
Probably one of the least favorite parts of my business is shipping. I don't mind sending packages to people at all. It is just the mundane actual act of putting things in boxes and having to do all the packing work that I don't like. There is a lot more to shipping packages than most people think about. If you don't know the basics of shipping, you cannot run an online business.You have to know a lot about how the US Postal Service and UPS work if you use both those services. I tend to use the postal service exclusively so I try to keep up with their rules and regulations.
Here are some things that will help start anyone on their way in basic shipping etiquette and knowledge.
USPS has a great website USPS.com that will give you all the information that you need about shipping or tracking packages. The site will also tell you about shipping both domestic and internationally. You can track all your packages that are shipped on the site itself. You can order supplies from the site, schedule a pick up of packages, figure costs of shipments as well as do lots of other cool things there. I use the site a lot!
I will admit that I was very hesitant about shipping internationally when I first started selling merchandise on Ebay. I started selling to US buyers only. I belong to a great message board called Ebug which stands for Ebay Underground. The group there is great to help out sellers learn how to do new things. My friend Jessica did a tutorial on the We Sell On Ebay Blog about how to sell internationally. Once I found out how easy it was to do, I opened my selling channels up to international buyers. In the meantime, I found how valuable the USPS site was for individual country restrictions as to what is allowed and not allowed to be shipped into that country. I use the site often as there is no way to remember all the restrictions for every country around the globe!
UPS has their own site at ups.com that will allow you to track packages from the site. You do have to set up an account with UPS in order to ship with them. UPS tends to be more cost effective for larger and heavier shipments so I don't use them very often.
Shipping can be a chore but it has to be done. In addition to knowledge there are a few must haves for a seller in order to ship packages. I am including what I consider these below:
1. Postal Scales-I suggest a digital set that will go up to at least 35 pounds. These can be purchased easily and inexpensively.
2. Packing Tape- I use this continuously!
3. Bubble Wrap-For fragile Items
4. Boxes- The Post Office will provide free boxes for Priority Shipments and for Regional Priority but you will need boxes for non-priority and for merchandise that does not fit
5. Paper- For filler
6.-Shipping Labels- I use the half sheet self adhesive ones. These are not absolutely necessary but do save a lot of time!
7 Scissors
8 Sharpie
9 Printer- I use a wireless Canon that allows me to print from any laptop in my business.
10 Poly Bags- I use these for clothing and other items that are not fragile. They are much lighter than boxes and save a lot on shipping.
With these supplies and the know how you are in business to ship just about anything for your online business. The rest is patience and a lot of hard work! Until next time!
Here are some things that will help start anyone on their way in basic shipping etiquette and knowledge.
USPS has a great website USPS.com that will give you all the information that you need about shipping or tracking packages. The site will also tell you about shipping both domestic and internationally. You can track all your packages that are shipped on the site itself. You can order supplies from the site, schedule a pick up of packages, figure costs of shipments as well as do lots of other cool things there. I use the site a lot!
I will admit that I was very hesitant about shipping internationally when I first started selling merchandise on Ebay. I started selling to US buyers only. I belong to a great message board called Ebug which stands for Ebay Underground. The group there is great to help out sellers learn how to do new things. My friend Jessica did a tutorial on the We Sell On Ebay Blog about how to sell internationally. Once I found out how easy it was to do, I opened my selling channels up to international buyers. In the meantime, I found how valuable the USPS site was for individual country restrictions as to what is allowed and not allowed to be shipped into that country. I use the site often as there is no way to remember all the restrictions for every country around the globe!
UPS has their own site at ups.com that will allow you to track packages from the site. You do have to set up an account with UPS in order to ship with them. UPS tends to be more cost effective for larger and heavier shipments so I don't use them very often.
Shipping can be a chore but it has to be done. In addition to knowledge there are a few must haves for a seller in order to ship packages. I am including what I consider these below:
1. Postal Scales-I suggest a digital set that will go up to at least 35 pounds. These can be purchased easily and inexpensively.
2. Packing Tape- I use this continuously!
3. Bubble Wrap-For fragile Items
4. Boxes- The Post Office will provide free boxes for Priority Shipments and for Regional Priority but you will need boxes for non-priority and for merchandise that does not fit
5. Paper- For filler
6.-Shipping Labels- I use the half sheet self adhesive ones. These are not absolutely necessary but do save a lot of time!
7 Scissors
8 Sharpie
9 Printer- I use a wireless Canon that allows me to print from any laptop in my business.
10 Poly Bags- I use these for clothing and other items that are not fragile. They are much lighter than boxes and save a lot on shipping.
With these supplies and the know how you are in business to ship just about anything for your online business. The rest is patience and a lot of hard work! Until next time!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
The Thrill Of the Hunt The Doldrums of The Mundane A Day in the Life
A Day in the Life of a Treasure Hunter!
Any treasure hunter will tell you that their palms get itchy when they start thinking about getting out and finding new treasures. It gets the adrenaline flowing when you start looking at new sales every week or you are planning your route to your favorite thrift stores or yard sale to see what new goodies have been stocked on the shelf that very morning! Or you might be a storage auction hunter planning your route for the day.
You rush to get ready, grab a cup of Joe and run out the door. After what is hopefully a very fruitful day you arrive back home hot, tired, hungry, and with a vehicle full of merchandise to fill your inventory shelves with! After driving, walking, searching and digging through countless amounts of new goodies, you hopefully have found some great new things to stock your store. You grab all those bags and boxes and pack up your truck and start the long drive home. Once you get back home and lug those bags or boxes into the door, that lovely adrenaline starts to fall through the floor!
Now it is time for the real fun to begin! It is time now for the inspection, cleaning and photographing process to take place. You grab a quick bite to eat and stare at the mountain of boxes and ask yourself where do I start first? Do I start scrubbing the ten years of dirt off those pottery pieces or do I start an inventory of the set of dishes and wash them first?
The thrill of the hunt wears off quickly and the mundane starts to set in. It is time to roll up your sleeves, grab some gloves and get to work! A picker or treasure hunter's job is never an easy one! OK, you decide to start soaking the pottery because you know underneath all that grime there is a gorgeous piece! It will be worth the wait and the work! Tell that to my hands later please!
Once clean up is complete, time to get those lovely photos done so they can be put up for sale. We all know that photos are the best part of an Ebay listing. 30 minutes later photos are complete. The dishes are washed and now time to get some listings completed. Wow now you can sit down now finally! Oh no, you forgot to measure all the merchandise. Time to go back and do that! Oh my, the life of a picker is so much fun!
Two hours later the listings are done. Time for a nap!!!! Then time to start it all over again and get ready to pack up some things ready to ship that have sold. It is also time to answer those 10 questions that have come in about the items that you have up for sale. Ahhh, the life of a treasure hunter! I would not have it any other way.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Treasure Hunters or Pickers Going Green Rescue, Recycle, & Reinvent!
I just found out that Anderson Cooper recently dedicated a show to Treasure Hunting (yard sale and flea market shopping). He had Lara Spencer from the Antiques Roadshow who has authored a book called "I Brake for Yard Sales" on his show. He also had a segment set up showing a flea market on stage. Dan who is one of the storage auction buyer's that I follow was on the show as well. His part of the segment was cut unfortunately! Paul Brown from Auction Kings which airs on The History Channel had a segment and was his usual entertaining self. Lara talked about her philosophy on shopping at yard sales and flea markets and it struck a cord with me. Here is a link to Dan's You Tube video about attending Anderson's TV show.
One of the highlights of the whole show was an audience member who had found a Picasso print worth over $10,000 at a local thrift store! We all know this is not something that happens every day but it keeps all of our adrenaline pumping and hopes alive for our own treasures and "home runs" as we pickers or treasure hunters like to call our scores of the day.
One thing that Lara brought out was how old vintage items can be reinvented or repurposed. This really resonates with me. I really dislike the fact that we have become such as disposable society. I was brought up with the principle that you looked at things with the eye of recycling or repurposing them after use if possible. My grandparents lived during the depression during some very lean years. They learned to live with very little. They taught us to be frugal and to use everything that we had wisely. That is one reason I really hate to see beautiful things from the past going into a landfill somewhere.
Lara really seems to think along the same lines. She goes to sales with the mentality that she is rescuing items from another person's trash. Other items she takes and recycles them or reinvents them as she calls it. This is something else that we have in common. She is really creative and takes things that others would just toss aside and makes them a decorator's dream. For years, I have been reinventing vintage or antique items and giving them new life as handcrafted projects or decorative arrangements for the home.
I feel that this is one way that we can keep things green. Less things go into the landfill and our history is preserved and not forgotten. How can we teach our children about our past if we have thrown it all away? Some days I wonder what we will have to hand to the next generation? Will it be a remote to a television or a video game? I hope that we have much more to offer them!
Here is a link to a segment of the Anderson show with Lara! Take a look! Lara also gives viewers some great tips on how to reinvent their yard sale finds into new projects that can be used to decorate the home. Take a look.
One of the highlights of the whole show was an audience member who had found a Picasso print worth over $10,000 at a local thrift store! We all know this is not something that happens every day but it keeps all of our adrenaline pumping and hopes alive for our own treasures and "home runs" as we pickers or treasure hunters like to call our scores of the day.
One thing that Lara brought out was how old vintage items can be reinvented or repurposed. This really resonates with me. I really dislike the fact that we have become such as disposable society. I was brought up with the principle that you looked at things with the eye of recycling or repurposing them after use if possible. My grandparents lived during the depression during some very lean years. They learned to live with very little. They taught us to be frugal and to use everything that we had wisely. That is one reason I really hate to see beautiful things from the past going into a landfill somewhere.
Lara really seems to think along the same lines. She goes to sales with the mentality that she is rescuing items from another person's trash. Other items she takes and recycles them or reinvents them as she calls it. This is something else that we have in common. She is really creative and takes things that others would just toss aside and makes them a decorator's dream. For years, I have been reinventing vintage or antique items and giving them new life as handcrafted projects or decorative arrangements for the home.
I feel that this is one way that we can keep things green. Less things go into the landfill and our history is preserved and not forgotten. How can we teach our children about our past if we have thrown it all away? Some days I wonder what we will have to hand to the next generation? Will it be a remote to a television or a video game? I hope that we have much more to offer them!
Here is a link to a segment of the Anderson show with Lara! Take a look! Lara also gives viewers some great tips on how to reinvent their yard sale finds into new projects that can be used to decorate the home. Take a look.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Vintage Anchor Hocking and Indiana Glass Midcentury at its Finest!
Some of the best, most beautiful and fun finds that I see on a frequent basis are Anchor Hocking and Indiana Glass. Anchor Hocking has been in business in the US since 1905. They still produce wonderful glass products today. Some of the most gorgeous midcentury glass sets in my humble opinion were produced by Anchor Hocking.
I love the quality and color of the kitchen ware that was produced by Anchor Hocking in the 1960's and the 1970's. The fabulous emerald greens and deep blues are colors that can still be displayed proudly in kitchens and dining areas today and never look dated. I absolutely love the deep greens that they produced and picked up these Manhattan Tartan drinking and juice glasses recently that I think are just divine!
Take a look at them here!
I also love Indiana Glass and the cube design of their Whitehall line that they produced in the 60's. I have found and sold several sets of these. They are a gorgeous dark green color and some people mistake this line for American Fostoria. The designs are similar but Indiana only made the dark green line. They still have a following and are hard to find for the average consumer so if I am lucky enough to find a set I always pick them up!
Check the out here!
Both of these sets are for sale in my Ebay Store Kim's Kreations & Rare Finds!
I love the quality and color of the kitchen ware that was produced by Anchor Hocking in the 1960's and the 1970's. The fabulous emerald greens and deep blues are colors that can still be displayed proudly in kitchens and dining areas today and never look dated. I absolutely love the deep greens that they produced and picked up these Manhattan Tartan drinking and juice glasses recently that I think are just divine!
I also love Indiana Glass and the cube design of their Whitehall line that they produced in the 60's. I have found and sold several sets of these. They are a gorgeous dark green color and some people mistake this line for American Fostoria. The designs are similar but Indiana only made the dark green line. They still have a following and are hard to find for the average consumer so if I am lucky enough to find a set I always pick them up!
Check the out here!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Paying My Dues-Research, Research, Research Guardian Cookware
I love doing research and learning about new things. In this business, there is no way any person can know everything there is to know about every item that they come across! I belong to a wonderful group called Ebug which stands for Ebay Underground. We are a group of moms, dads, and singles who buy and sell on Ebay and other venues.
When one of us comes up with an item that we don't know the history about, we put the item up on the board to get information from others. It is a wonderful giving group who are very special! They are more than willing to share their time, knowledge, love, laughter, and a bit of everything else with anyone who needs it!
This week a good friend of mine, Jess from Ellie's Alcove on Ebay had an item that she needed help with. She had a wonderful set of glassware that was a hostess gift from the Guardian Cookware Party Era. I took the time to research this line as it was one that I was not familiar with.
If you don't know about Guardian Cookware, it was a waterless aluminum set of cookware that was produced from the 1930's to the 1950's in California. The cookware was sold at in home parties such as Tupperware, Home Interior, and Party Lite items are. The great thing was in those days, the hostess gifts were awesome sets of exquisite silver ombre and clear glasses with the matching silver rimmed coasters. These came in an awesome chrome holder. Here is a picture of the set that Jessica has for sale in her Ebay store right now. She got one of the rare sets and I am sure you will agree it is timeless! I am sure it will have a new home in a retro or modern kitchen very soon!
Here is a link to Jessica's Ebay store if you want to take a look!
Not only does research give me more knowledge, I get to look at beautiful things that I would not normally get to drool over!
When one of us comes up with an item that we don't know the history about, we put the item up on the board to get information from others. It is a wonderful giving group who are very special! They are more than willing to share their time, knowledge, love, laughter, and a bit of everything else with anyone who needs it!
This week a good friend of mine, Jess from Ellie's Alcove on Ebay had an item that she needed help with. She had a wonderful set of glassware that was a hostess gift from the Guardian Cookware Party Era. I took the time to research this line as it was one that I was not familiar with.
If you don't know about Guardian Cookware, it was a waterless aluminum set of cookware that was produced from the 1930's to the 1950's in California. The cookware was sold at in home parties such as Tupperware, Home Interior, and Party Lite items are. The great thing was in those days, the hostess gifts were awesome sets of exquisite silver ombre and clear glasses with the matching silver rimmed coasters. These came in an awesome chrome holder. Here is a picture of the set that Jessica has for sale in her Ebay store right now. She got one of the rare sets and I am sure you will agree it is timeless! I am sure it will have a new home in a retro or modern kitchen very soon!
Not only does research give me more knowledge, I get to look at beautiful things that I would not normally get to drool over!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
MidCentury Modern Is Sizzling Hot Right Now A Pickers Paradise!
Knowing what to pick is half the battle for a modern day treasure hunter on the prowl. Learning which themes and styles are desired are a must for anyone who wants to be a "picker" is a must! Midcentury modern style is a big seller today. If you don't know what midcentury modern is, google it!
In a nutshell, the sleek styles from the 50's and 60's that have that different look are being picked up by collectors today at fabulous prices. Things that really tend to sell well are Danish items especially those made of wood.
Lamps from that era are another good seller. Things that are made of chrome and brass with nice lines never tend to go out of style. People tend to always like shiny things and most well made metal lamps tend to hold up well.
Here is an example of a midcentury modern banker's style brass table lamp that I picked up recently. As you can see it has the vintage green glass shade with the chain pull that collectors are looking for. It is up for sale in my Ebay store right now. Give it a look!
Another type of lamp that is hot with collectors now are the antique and vintage phone lamps. Most of these are actual working phones that were repurposed and made into table lamps. Who doesn't love those old phones that we grew up with? They make us reminiscent of childhood and of a simpler, sometimes happier time! I distinctly remember being a teenager telling my friends all my secrets while listening on the phone for the little old ladies who lived next door making sure they didn't pick up on the line. We had a party line back in the day and I didn't want the whole neighborhood knowing my business!
Take a look at the great phone lamp that I found recently. It is definitely a one of a kind! I have it in my Ebay store now and I am sure that it will be making it to its new home soon! These are just examples of the fantastic treasures you can find if you are a picker in the know and keep a good eye out there for those finds!
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