Thrift-store Dealer: Can You Spot a Saleable Bargain?

Most of us have at least tried out a spot of selling here or there on auction sites such as Ebay now and then. For some it becomes an addiction that rules their life and maybe even brings them in a viable income. For others, it's a hobby that may at least bring in a few pounds or dollars here and there.

But, once you've finished up selling off all the odd bits and bats that are littering up your home and would be better off contributing to your total household income, then where do you go to get yourself more stock?

For many, who don't wish to move directly into sourcing lines of box-fresh wholesale new product, the answer is second-hand.

More specifically, most of us in this situation start looking to the likes of thrift stores, charity shops, jumble sales, yard sales and junk shops in order to quench your desire for more! Stock! Now!

The trouble is, if you're not a seasoned and experienced dealer, not an expert in the subject, then how do you know what the heck you're looking for? If, say, it's vintage jewelry that you're looking to trade in, then just how do you tell the difference between expensive, highly prized bakelite, and regular old plastic?

Or perhaps you have a yen for old-fashioned hardback children's books, more obscure versions of Enid Blyton or E. Nesbit, school stories and adventures, fantasy and sports. But how much does a torn dustjacket affect the asking price for an old kids' book? Is it important that the copy you've picked up isn't anything like a first edition? And just how do you begin to recognise a first edition anyways?

Oh, but when you start to ask yourself these things, is just when you've begun to embark on what could be a fascinating, and maybe lucrative, adventure. Because the resources are out there for you to learn: all you need is the application and the dedication!