I may have made a BIG boo-boo.....

Went to two auctions yesterday.  First had 16 units. Bid on one unit that ended up going for $200 more than what I wanted to spend.  Little did I know that that trend would continue all day.  Big crowds with deep pockets.  Yikes!

Caravaned to the next facility, where we lost maybe one or two.  Long story short~I overbid on the second to last unit.  I had set a limit of $500, which my husband didn't agree with (he was thinkin' more like $400 MAX).

It was only a 5X5, but very full.  What put me over the top was an old sewing cabinet and a trunk.  Yes the dreaded trunk.....I ended up in a bidding war with one guy and when it hit $500 I debated.  We needed a unit and I wanted this one.  I ended up winning it at $600.  Funny thing is, had the other guy bid one more time, I wouldn't have gone on.......Damn my luck, he didn't.

My husband was grumbling as we started to clean it out.  It was an interesting unit as every box, tub and bin we opened had unusual items, which I'll list below.  There was a decent washing machine, dresser missing a drawer, nice small dining set (only 3 chairs), small coffee table and end table.  Oh yes~the porn and drug paraphernalia (seems crack was the drug of choice this time).

funny thing is~I don't have a clue what I've got.  We found lots of jewelry, no gold but lots of silver.  Figure we've got over 10 oz of it, so that has some value.  The gal seemed to be a gem show junkie as we found numerous minerals.  Crystals, meteorites and the like.  I've got a guy coming out tomorrow (a friend recommended him) who specializes in meteorites and minerals, so I'll hopefully know more then.

In a nutshell I found:
a 4' clay (made in Mexico) rosary.  This is actually one of the coolest items in the lot.  It is so awesome!  Not worth a lot however.
a beaded necklace with what appears to be an intricately carved jade (?) Buddha
a gorgeous beaded bag, with no markings for identification.  I think it looks Native American, my husband thinks more middle-eastern
a woven Peruvian bag
lots of costume jewelry
two pearl necklaces.  One is very long and beautiful, the other small pearls with 5 strands and a 14K clasp.

I should never have bid that much on that unit, as the value wasn't apparent.  I really at this time have no idea how we're going to do on it, as I don't know jewelry (not your typical girl) and I don't know 'rocks'.  I don't think we're going to lose $$ and we may just turn a profit, but dang......I just don't know.

So wish me luck that the pearls are priceless and the minerals out of this world!  If I knock it outta the park, New Years celebratory drinks are on me......If I lose my butt, Can I come stay with you?  I don't think my husband will let me live it down......especially after I still kid him about the 'icky' unit.

And I know.....I know.....I know.....bid with your brain and avoid your women's intuition.

Oh anybody need a 4" amber crystal ball?  
Wow!  What a wacky unit~

Edit to add~this was my first time finding cash (well more than the customary pennies and nickles) as I found a 1957 Silver Certificate=value $1.25 and a two dollar bill.  Cold hard cash baby!!!

We all make Boo-Boo's. sounds like you may have some things there, But I am with you on the jewellery and rocks. 

I do know that good pearl necklaces have individual nots between each pearl. But that is all I know. Sorry not much.  LOL

Let us know what you find out. And have our fingers crossed that the drinks are on you. 

If not you might need a vacation to Fla. 

Oh my.

Well I don't want to get your hopes TOO up,

but by the sound of finding "numerous crystals, minerals, meteorites and the like"

you may just be in for a VERY pleasant surprise.

Anybody know the Storage Wars episode where Dave Hester found a minerals collection; he made several thousand dollars on it.

Meteorites can be valuable too!

rub the pearls against your teeth.  If it feels gritty, sandpaperish, it is probably real.  But if it is smooth, they are probably fake.

Oh my.

Well I don't want to get your hopes TOO up,

but by the sound of finding "numerous crystals, minerals, meteorites and the like"

you may just be in for a VERY pleasant surprise.

Anybody know the Storage Wars episode where Dave Hester found a minerals collection; he made several thousand dollars on it.

Meteorites can be valuable too!

Oh believe me I remember that episode, but I seriously doubt that we're looking at those kinds of minerals/rocks.  I'll be happy if I can squeeze a couple hundred out of them.  There are some really neat specimens, but this is Tucson.....one of the biggest spots for gems & minerals.  Time will tell.

And as for the pearls, we know they're real, but really don't know the quality or value.  Still searching for somebody to check them out and a few other 'valuable' gems/jewels.

Thanks for the replies.  I'll update when I learn more....hopefully tomorrow~***fingers crossed***

It happens.You may have done better than you thought.

I'd of been excited to find a silver cert and $2 bills.  Some of those can be of value -- check your serial #s.

If you do this more then 3 months you are going to make a mistake or two....if not in your first few purchases.  You still will do better then myself.  Here is my Bigger boo-boo....

I made a $875 mistake on a double locker with tools, furniture, etc.  Looked really really good from the door.  Was a silent auction and I didn't listen to my gut (BAD MISTAKE).  I have recovered only $75 (100 once get paid) from the locker.  Here were some of the contents that had me bidding:

1) nice oak looking trunk
2) Bamboo 8 drawer chest of drawers w/ double mirror
3) dark color 8 drawer chest w/ large mirror
4) MAC tools bag saw behind the bamboo
5) Large air compressor on wheels
6) Large craftsman toolbox
7) Table saw and miter saw
saw horses, various sheetrock and plywood lumber, door frame, etc.
9) stuff all hanging up on walls

So I look at this unit and it reminds me of my barns when we first purchased our land (was a forclosure).  Guy had passed away but was a carpenter / handyman.  So I was thinking ok cool - a nice tool unit.  See the MAC and Craftsman toolbox and bag.  Was going to bid $500 but wrote $875.  Next highest bid I found out was $600 so already I had paid too much.  Here was what found after got in

1) nice oak looking trunk -- turned out to be newer type trunk and someone painted the front green - wth
2) Bamboo 8 drawer chest of drawers w/ double mirror -- side broken, mirror back need re-tack, leg broke
3) dark color 8 drawer chest w/ large mirror -- gash in wood, is particle board and heavy as heck.
4) MAC tools bag saw behind the bamboo -- busted MAC tools folding chair
5) Large air compressor on wheels -- motor busted - cost more to buy new so going to scrap
6) Large craftsman toolbox -- various odds and ends, one of few things I kept -- some value
7) Table saw and miter saw -- busted and cords cut.  Going to try and repair table saw.

Did pull a Harrington 1.5 ton lever hoist with a 12 or 14' chain on it.  Those go for $700+ new so trying to sell it on craigs for $400.  Also pulled out a few odds and ends worth of chains, including 1 to tie-down cars.  Kids want to keep the punching bag I found.

Also found a chase lounge chair.  Those are my bad luck.  Next unit I see with one of those in there I'm running for the hills.  My only other worst unit was a $100 unit at this same facility with one of those chairs.  So no matter what is in a unit if it's at this facility, in the D building, with a chase lounge I'm not bidding a cent

So buck up - we all make mistakes and just have to learn from them.

I can say from you two , craiglstauction and now rockin when I see a trunk I walk away... LOL  JK

Mainly because the price is going to be to much with our auction buyers...

It happens. Husband bought one I had no idea he was bidding on. He missed the chair with no legs and the skirt coming off... We are in the green on it not by much, One item left to sell , will put us at $75 over cost of unit.

Anything over $500 we are real careful. Or cheap.. LOL Have only seen a few worth more than that.

Also found a chase lounge chair.  Those are my bad luck.  Next unit I see with one of those in there I'm running for the hills.  My only other worst unit was a $100 unit at this same facility with one of those chairs.  So no matter what is in a unit if it's at this facility, in the D building, with a chase lounge I'm not bidding a cent

So buck up - we all make mistakes and just have to learn from them.

LOL~my most hated items in lockers are knife blocks (can't sell those things, they are never complete, don't fit nicely into crates/totes and weigh a ton!) and vacuum cleaners.  Unfortunately you can't (usually) see those from the door.  I do believe this is the first unit without a knife block.

When we found another bag of jewelry (mostly costume) I called my husband over and said "Remember what I told you the other day?"  He replied "you wanted a jewelry unit.....you got it."

I think we'll recoup, but dang.....I've never been more confused/concerned with a unit before.  not even the 'icky' one.  At least this one was a quick, clean cleanout!

I can say from you two , craiglstauction and now rockin when I see a trunk I walk away... LOL  JK

OK Barry.....step away from the trunk!!  

Lol money - all I can say is I'm addicted to them.  Me and another auction guy that have become sort of buddies love them.  Him and I started to bid against each other months back on a unit.  I stopped at my max and he won the unit.  Made a comment I wanted to see what was in the trunk.  Is how found out he did also.  From there we've sort of collaborated on units as for spotting for each other.  Most of the time now we don't get in a bidding war.  Though last month three of us that sort of try and help out each other got into one.  Didn't notice it at first due to the large crowd.  I backed off when did as didn't want the unit that much.  All laughed our butts off when found out.

But ya - trunks and safes/lockboxes are my addiction.  90% of the time it's empty or paperwork, but we love them.  One of my best units so far has been a $26 silent bid I put the token bid on just for the 2 trunks I saw in a corner.

OK Barry.....step away from the trunk!!   

LOL

When we found another bag of jewelry (mostly costume) I called my husband over and said "Remember what I told you the other day?"  He replied "you wanted a jewelry unit.....you got it."

I just want a tote or box unit.... 

Lol money - all I can say is I'm addicted to them. 

Think every bidder in our area is too... LOL

Had a meteorite guy come out yesterday (I didn't have any of those....bummer) and basically tell me I had a nice rock collection.  He suggested I bring some of the better items to the gem & mineral show and see what I can get for them.  I explained that I really couldn't wait that long (a month and a half) and told him I'd just piece it out at the swap meet and hope to make a couple hundred.

We shook hands and he left.  I was feeling dejected.  5 minutes later he returned and said "for $200 I can't go wrong." handed me 2 hundred dollar bills and loaded the rocks.  He picked out a couple pieces to give to my daughters and begged us to come see him at his booth in February. 

All in all, I'm happy.  I hated the thought of trying to sell something I know nothing about.  Recouped a third of our investment and now know I will make $$ on the unit.

Will update as some of the 'unknown commodities' move~

What a relief~

We shook hands and he left.  I was feeling dejected.  5 minutes later he returned and said "for $200 I can't go wrong." handed me 2 hundred dollar bills and loaded the rocks.  He picked out a couple pieces to give to my daughters and begged us to come see him at his booth in February.  

Yep, rock/minerals .... you have to know what you've got.  I sell customer friendly amethyst, citrine and geodes at the flea spring through summer. I have bought at Quartzite and enjoy that whole atmosphere and the desert. I collect geodes in the ground at Hauser Geode Beds near Blythe, CA.

One of my big sellers are open geodes from Morroco, North Africa. Do a search on eBay and you will see some examples.

Edit: saving readers the trouble of searching eBay. Here's a link. Though I would get $25 for a two-half set at the flea.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quartz-Crystal-Fluor-Fluorescent-Geode-Druzy-Specimen-Morocco-10-5cm-538-gm-/250898800624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6abbdff0

You did well at $200 I think (don't know quantity or types) but if he gave you that you can bet he will double or triple on his sales.

You did well at $200 I think (don't know quantity or types) but if he gave you that you can bet he will double or triple o his sales.

Yep.  My mother was soooo sure we had a fortune, but my theory is if I make what I want and somebody can make more on top of that......good for them.  And I absolutely hate selling anything I am not knowledgeable about.  I did learn quite a bit, but dang......finding out just what you have in minerals via the internet can drive ya batty!

RE: if they can make money too...fine with me.

Yes, that theory works fine and I do that ONCE IN A WHILE, but at the flea I am in the business of selling to the end user for the most part.

In other words I pretty much know the value of what I have for sale and want to make the most I can. If I have an item I know would go for $30 on eBay I will try to sell it for $20 to $30 at the flea also.  The biggest eBay seller I know (15,000 plus feedback) doesn't even shop my booth as he knows I too buy cheap from unknowing sellers looking for a 2 to 10 times return on my investment.

I have a set (7 DVDS) boxed of Japanese animation and when I told a fellow $30 the other day his comment was "You know what you've got...a lot of people don't".  Ordinary DVDs go for $3.  When one fellow said "Is that the price for all of them?" He had a thick box of 6 dvds (a series set) in his hand. CLOWN. Give me a break...even the dumbest minority group seller at my flea is smarter than that.

On DVDs: several years ago I bought 600 or so DVDs from a mom and pop store that went out of biz. I think I paid $1k for them.  At that time I was getting $6 a DVD...of course the best ones went first. By the time I was down to about 200 discs I was selling them at $4 and still getting it. Now when I get 50 or so good ones in a lkr I go through and get the ones I want first and then everything goes at $3 for singles and $10 to $12 for sets of 4 or more. Some people when they hear $3 just walk off...I know times are tough, but if you want a virtually new DVD in the box for less than $3, you have some looking to do. You can't even RENT a dvd for $3 (in a brick and mortar store) let alone OWN it, and if you go to Blockbuster or Red Box Kiosk you have made two trips to the store.

Also, when someone tries to get me down on $3 for a kids DVD I have to educate them (not that they don't already know) that a child will play a DVD so many times that the cost per viewing would be about 25 cents per viewing...that's cheap babysitting.