Bargain Avenues: Buying & selling at auctions, flea markets, yard sales, eBay & more!

Harley motorcycle stolen in RI found after 34 years, sold on eBay

2008-07-24T15:50:00.002-04:00

A 1971 Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycle that was stolen nearly 34 years ago in Rhode Island has just resurfaced in central New Jersey. It was discovered when a buyer on eBay inadvertently purchased the stolen bike for $2,400.

After contacting Harley-Davidson for information, the prosecutor’s office learned that the motorcycle was stolen on Halloween way back in 1974 in Providence, R.I.

Apparently, the motorcycle had been bought and sold a few times throughout the years, and the eBay seller was unaware that the bike was stolen property.

The unsuspecting auction winner will be reimburses under eBay's policy protecting those who inadvertently buy stolen vehicles.

read more | digg story

August 23rd is the day for appraisals in Connecticut

2008-07-24T12:25:00.005-04:00

On Saturday, August 23, 2008, the Pomfret Proprietors association will sponsor the 2nd Annual “What’s It Worth?" event where you can ask an expert about the value of your antique/collectible.

The appraisals will be held at the Pomfret School's Strong Field House from 9:00AM to 1:00 PM.

Grogan & Company: Fine Art Auctioneers & Appraisers of Boston will provide verbal appraisals. As one of the country's premier regional auction houses, they have held over 100 auctions and sold over 100 million dollars in fine art, antiques, Oriental rugs, silver and jewelry.

Avoid driving to Hartford (where PBS's Antiques Road Show is scheduled on the same date... plus the deadline for ticket applications for that event has passed.). Save time, gas money and avoid long lines by staying closer to home and getting the same quality appraisal -- Michael Grogan has appeared on the Antiques Road Show several times!

The cost is $5 per item with a limit of two. Please bring items that can be easily carried in by hand.

Refreshments will be available, and local businesses and organizations will have booths to acquaint people with Pomfret's numerous assets -- including services, shops and community groups.

Profits will benefit the Pomfret Proprietors Scholarship Fund. Check online at www.VisitPomfret.com for more information. The event is scheduled to run from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Businesses or Organizations interested in setting up during this event can rent a booth for $25. For more information and to register, contact Louisa Jones (email lgjones@pomfretschool.org) at 860-963-6156.

What to do when your eBay buyer backs out of the deal

2008-07-23T12:29:00.009-04:00

Has this happened to you yet? Have you received an email from an eBay buyer like this?

“I bought this by mistake. I don’t want the item. You need to void the transaction.”

This scenario is rather absurd because the buyer has to complete several checkout screens before the purchase is complete. What happened is that he changed his mind. You will still be charged the final value fees unless you take action to recover them.

Read more on the steps you should take to recover your fees.

read more | digg story

Back to school savings... A little early!

2008-07-22T14:51:00.004-04:00

I stopped at only one yard sale over the weekend. I happened to drive by the large sign at the end of the street while I was out doing other errands. I was glad I took the detour!

My 14-year-old son is a fast-growing teen. Turns out, lucky for him that I decided to stop at that yard sale because it had a lot of clothing in his size, also appropriate for his age.

In fact, of the nine pieces I picked up, four were brand new with tags! A pair of denim jeans, a Nike muscle jersey, a navy blue Husky tee, and a plaid flannel button front shirt from Cuffy's on the Cape (still in the package) were the best of the lot -- and never worn! Other items included wind pants and various other t-shirts. Well worth $6 for the lot, don't you think?

The cost was of no concern to my son. He was thrilled with the clothes... And I was too!

Get ready for the 4th Annual Mammoth Moosup Neighborhood Yard Sale

2008-07-18T11:49:00.005-04:00

It doesn’t happen until September 13th, but on Belair Drive in Moosup, Carol Lavigne is well into preparations for this year’s Mammoth Moosup Neighborhood Yard Sale. Carol’s helpers were out and about yesterday, spreading the word to neighbors. Fliers were distributed to each home in the area -- generally those running off or connected to High Street in Moosup.

Each home interested in participating is asked to contribute $5 towards printing and advertising. This is the fourth annual neighborhood yard sale, and Carol is praying for sunshine! It has grown larger every year and people come from far and wide to search out bargains.

Regardless of the weather, this sale goes on, with many sellers set up inside garages and on porches, etc — just in case! Many (but not all) of the participants selling on that Saturday will do it again on Sunday as well.

Carol is always interested in buying vintage jewelry, toys, including old dolls, miliary items, and depression glass. If you have any of these items to sell, or for anyone with questions about the yard sale, Carol can be reached at (860) 564-3547.

Last year’s story:
Buyers find bargains throughout Moosup at townwide yard sale

High-tech, self-cleaning toilets yet to attract bids on eBay

2008-07-17T11:43:00.005-04:00

High-tech, self-cleaning toilets have yet to attract bids on eBay. Not your average bathroom fixture, these are pricey toilets, with starting bids of $89,000 each.

The single-stall stainless steel units have sensors for hand-washing and flushing. They are designed to seal their pneumatic doors to clean the floor and toilet after every flush, and also to prevent anyone from entering while in use.

The city of Seattle decided to remove the German-made Hering-Bau toilets because of maintenance costs and problems with drug use and prostitution.

Here's the eBay listing.

Read more...
City hopes eBay auction will shut the lid on toilet debacle

Home auctions surge nearly 47 percent since 2003

2008-07-16T17:00:00.003-04:00

Auctions are no longer just for banks seeking to unload a foreclosure. In a sign of just how broad the real estate downturn has become, auctioneers say much of their current business is being driven by home builders reducing inventory, and individuals who can’t afford to wait out the real estate doldrums.

read more | digg story

Ever wonder about those art auctions they offer on cruise ships?

2008-07-16T14:01:00.006-04:00

Having been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to vacation on a cruise ship in recent years, I was curious about the art auctions they offer as a form of entertainment.

An interesting article came out today about a buyer who discovered after making two sizable purchases at a cruise ship art auction, that the prices he paid there were far above prices online for similar works. Buyer beware. Shill bidding is not an uncommon practice designed to drive the price up. All sales at these events are final.

Here’s a tip: Most cruise lines offer online access in their Internet cafes. The art auctions offer a preview before actual bidding begins to allow potential buyers a look ahead of time. If you have your eye on a particular piece, you may want to conduct a little research first.

Here’s the article from the New York Times.
Art Auctions on Cruise Ships Lead to Anger, Accusations and Lawsuits

Cruise ship Art Auctions - Scams, Frauds or bargains?

When Your Cruise Ship Art Romance Goes Sour

For detailed advice, visit
Cruise ship art auction tips

Repo men chasing more boats; For buyers, bargains can be found at auctions

2008-07-15T17:21:00.000-04:00

Watching the repossession television shows can be a form of entertainment for some. But for others, the big squeeze on the economy is hitting close to home.

Repossessions on boats are on the rise. For those who may have benefited in recent years from the real estate boom, in today's downturn, many who could previously afford the toys, now cannot. It’s the mortgage and car payments that get paid first.

Rising gas prices have also made it harder for boat owners to make room in their budgets for trips. Marine diesel fuel costs more than $5 a gallon in some places, which means a five-hour jaunt on the water can easily cost $250 for some gas-guzzling yachts. Last year’s marine diesel cost about $3.40 a gallon.

On the up side, prices for used boats are falling. Repossessed boats under 60 feet may go for as low as 40 percent of what the boat would cost new, and many of them end up at auctions.

Read the story.

And a related one...
Gas prices keep boats at dock

Vinyl revival: Music lovers search out old records

2008-07-11T17:22:00.004-04:00

Is there a vinyl revival happening?

The sound is described as “intriguing, not so perfect,” and new generations as well as the old are searching out old records. They hunt for them at yard sales, record stores and thrift stores... Many are looking for albums they owned in their youth and let slip away.

In Idaho, there’s a group that regularly gathers to spin music on vinyl, and its popularity is growing. Could this be a sign of a nostalgic trend that might make those old records collectible again?

Music lovers rediscover the timbre of turntable

Benefit yard sale held today and all weekend; Your support will help a baby with medical needs

2008-07-11T10:53:00.005-04:00

Benefit Yard Sale for Kiley Elizabeth Griggs —

Kiley is 14 months old and has Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome and Hepatoblastoma (Liver Cancer). On April 14, she had both kidneys and her liver transplanted. Now her organs are not functioning properly, and she may need new organs. Her family is in dire need of help to defray to the costs of caring for a sick child.

The yard sale is happening today through Sunday, from 8 am To 7 pm at 705 Providence Pike, Danielson (Rt. 6). It's near the South Killingly Fire Station, in the vicinity of Snake Meadow and Cook Hill Roads, and just over the Rhode Island line.

Some of the items offered for sale include baby furniture, antiques, bureaus and tables, a recliner, and children's clothing. Further donations of merchandise for the sale are being accepted.

Monetary donations can also be made directly to a fund set up for Kiley Elizabeth Griggs at New Alliance Bank, in care of Michael A. Sollitro, Admin.

If you're out and about this weekend, plan a stop at this sale. You'll be helping a family in need and you may pick up a few bargains as well!

With a tightening economy, thefts of catalytic converters still a concern

2008-07-10T15:59:00.005-04:00

Back in February, I posted news concerning local talk at area auctions among used car dealers. It was about an increase in thefts of catalytic converters from underneath vehicles. With the rising value of precious metals, payouts for these parts (which often contain such metals) are worth the risk for thieves, who will grab the parts quickly by slipping underneath a vehicle with a battery powered hand-saw.

With the tightening economy, such thefts continue to be problematic.

I don't know what the policies are with our local recyclers when it comes to handing over payment for such parts, but this news story reports that in Kentucky, recyclers must copy the driver’s license of anyone trying to sell them metal. They must also hold recently purchased materials for a month to allow stolen items to be reclaimed. Those requirements are not unreasonable.

East Hartford man caught selling illegal copies of TV shows and movies on eBay

2008-07-10T08:25:00.004-04:00

Never mind the man I blogged about yesterday who sold “borrowed” library materials on Craigslist, today’s news tells of an East Hartford man who illegally copied movies and TV shows and sold them on eBay. The 53-year-old man used blank DVD discs, video cassettes and other equipment to illegally record at least 55 copyrighted shows. He made more than $100,000, but now he’s facing up to five years in prison.

It all comes down to this: If you don’t own it, you can’t sell it.

Reselling "borrowed" library books turns out to be a bad idea

2008-07-09T14:06:00.004-04:00

It's interesting to see how creative people can be when it comes to finding sources of product to sell online.

In a recent blog posting, I shared the story of a young couple who regularly scan through Craigslist's free category and search out curbside freebies to later re-sell for profit.

Well how about this one? A Colorado library patron thought it would be a "novel" idea to re-sell books and DVDs he "borrowed" from the library! A woman who recently purchased books on Craigslist from the man noticed the library identification stamps and called police.

Denver prosecutors report that 34-year-old Thomas Pilaar was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered Tuesday to pay $53,549 in restitution. He pleaded guilty in May.

Read the article.

Of course, reselling books old library books you might buy at your local
library's book sale fundraiser is a perfectly acceptable practice!

Many eBay sellers are closing stores; Others report what IS selling now

2008-07-08T11:20:00.001-04:00

Many local eBay sellers have reported to me that their sales on the site have declined drastically in recent months. And more than a handful have closed down their eBay stores completely. Declining online sales are not unusual for the summer months. Many people are on vacation or just spending more time outdoors rather than sitting at home in front of a computer.

Normally, sales will come up again in mid-August when back-to-school buying starts up. Items like books and anything related to fashion will start to move quickly, but with the increased time spent online, a general upswing across all selling categories is usually reflected.

I have to say, it does look like other conditions are affecting online sales as well these days. First, the economy in general is of great concern. People are worried now in anticipation of how they’ll make ends meet for necessities such as food, gas and heating oil as the cooler months approach. They won't be buying anything extra now.

Then add to the mix the changes eBay has implemented this year which make it somewhat of an unfriendly environment for small time sellers in general. The buyer definitely has the advantage and a lot of sellers are hesitant to risk much in an uncertain market where people simply aren’t spending much.

However -- if you are up for the challenge, I came across an interesting article on what IS selling on eBay these days... If you’re brave enough to give it a try, this article claims that designer handbags, model trains, and used musical instruments are currently doing quite well. Also on the list are digital and 35 millimeter cameras, and scrap gold.

Here's the article in full:
What’s hot on eBay right now

More flea markets just beyond the Quiet Corner

2008-07-06T07:06:00.004-04:00

I looked up one of my all time favorite 4th of July events online today, and I discovered a flea market I didn’t know about!

Take a Sunday drive and see the flea market at Seekonk Speedway. Mapquest address is 1710 Fall River Avenue Seekonk, Massachusetts. Many different dealers, so you never know what you’ll find.

Vendor space is $20 for a 20x20 spot. Free parking. No Pets Allowed.

Seekonk Speedway is also hosting monthly Automotive Swap Meets. Check out their Web site for more information.
http://www.seekonkspeedway.com/flea_market/index.php

For more information, call 508-336-9959.

Stop by, walk around and check them out — They boast a lot of new stuff every week.

By the way, my favorite event there at this time of year is the 4th of July demolition derby extravaganza ~ with fireworks to top it all off! That’s tonight.

For listings of other area flea markets — just beyond OUR area — check out this recent article.

But do make note that Rocky Hill Flea Market in East Greenwich, RI is listed there, it is no longer operating. That's an error.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!!

Teen charged with offering his Presidential election vote on eBay

2008-07-03T17:21:00.003-04:00

It's a felony to offer to sell your vote in the presidential election on eBay. A young man found that out the hard way!

The listing posted by the Minneapolis young man said he was 19 and couldn't decide whom to vote for, so he offered to let the highest eBay bidder decide for him.

Investigators sent a subpoena to eBay and they were given information that led them to Max P. Sanders. He was charged today. Needless to say, his eBay listing was removed as well.

read more | digg story

Here's a sampling of prices: What I bought at Friday's food auction

2008-07-02T06:53:00.004-04:00

Danny’s Auction Barn in Foster, RI has been offering Friday night food auctions for a short time now. For those who haven’t had the chance to check out one of these buying events, I’ve posted a list of a few items I purchased and the cost of each:

Gold Medal Flour 5 lb. bag: $2.00
Archway Oatmeal Cookies: $3.00 ea. (individual bags of oatmeal cookies, bulk size)
Lg. can 24 oz. Hartford House Beef Stew: $1.25 ea.
Archway Peanut Butter Crème Cookies: $2.50
(bulk size with individually packaged units inside)
Ghirardeli 12 oz. Chocolate Chips: $1.00 per package
Kelloggs Stuffing Mix: $1.00 ea.
16 oz. box of Cheez-its Snack Crackers: $1.25
Delmonte Fruit: $2.00 (kid size individual snack units)
Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner & Carbona Carpet Cleaner: $2.50 ea. (your choice)
Assorted canned goods 50¢ ea. (tuna, soups, baby clams, chunk pineapple, etc.)

The next food auction at Danny’s will be held on Friday, August 1st at 6:00 pm.

Should You Report eBay Deadbeats?

2008-06-30T10:59:00.001-04:00

I've heard that ever since buyers figured out sellers can't leave them negative feedback ratings due to eBay's May 12th policy changes, there's been an increase in non-paying buyers (NPBs) and late-payers. However, sellers are fearful of what filing UPIs (unpaid item reports) might do to their DSR ratings, which have a powerful impact on their bottom line.

read more | digg story

Seller’s Story : Why we’re quitting eBay

2008-06-27T15:38:00.003-04:00

"It is with much regret we are leaving the site. It has been a decision made over a period of time but when we did some number crunching again this month it became much easier to bring down the final hammer. With the lower turnover we were now doing it means the that the latest changes to feedback have put our business at the mercy of what could be a few vindictive buyers or competitors. We are not prepared to keep going any longer under these conditions."

read more | digg story

Flea markets everywhere and on the air! Too many now?

2008-06-27T11:11:00.013-04:00

There have been a bunch of new flea markets opening in our area recently, and none of them (so far) are big attractions. Let's see... In the last few months, we’ve had new ones crop up in Moosup, Central Village, Foster, RI, Dayville, and most recently in Putnam.

I do think Putnam has potential. Allen’s on Rt. 101 in Dayville seems to have a chance and my guess is that he’ll be there with a few good dealers through this summer at least...

No official announcement has come out of Danny’s Auction Barn in Foster, RI, but it’s not looking too promising over there on Sunday mornings. Their new flea market launched back in April. People were stopping by, but with fewer than 10 dealers each week, it’s not turning out to be a destination for a day trip.

With the economy in the dumps, it would seem reasonable that more people would be shopping secondhand. But are there too many new endeavors within a few miles of each other?

Without enough dealers participating, it can be difficult for new flea markets establish a regular stream of customers. Without a regular stream of customers, dealers are hesitant to invest the time and money required to set up on a weekly basis.

Or, how about a different approach?

If you like country music, you may have caught WCTY’s Sunday Morning Radio Flea Market on the radio Sunday mornings from 7-10 am. The show can be heard the dial at 97.7. Listeners can hear callers seeking buyers for anything from campers to used cars to old wood stoves! If you get tired of driving around, you might want to tune in. It’s free to announce your wares on the air if you have something to sell, and it’s interesting to listen to while you’re driving around from Plainfield to Dayville, to Putnam, to Foster!

On the other hand...

Looks like it will be a great weekend for yard sales!

Check it out:
I just added these links to my sidebar (on the right) so you can easily reference up-to-date yard and garage sale listings each week!

Eastern CT:
http://norwichbulletin.marketplace.totallylocal.com

http://newlondon.craigslist.org/gms/

Rhode Island:
http://www.projo.com/cgi-bin/classified/

http://providence.craigslist.org/gms/

Bidding for a bridesmaid? What a creative way to pay for a wedding!

2008-06-26T11:09:00.001-04:00

Kelly Gray, a Virginia Beach bride came up with a creative idea to help defray the cost of her upcoming wedding. She posted an eBay auction for a bridesmaid. Her auction pulled in 23 bids, topping at $5,700.

Turns out, the winning bidder was a guy! But he was a representative of Dr Pepper Snapple Group. He told Kelly the beverage company wouldn’t be honoring their $5,700 bid. Instead, they wanted to make a donation of $10,000 for her wedding and supply all of the beverages.

Before the auction idea came about, Kelly, a hairdresser with a 1-year-old daughter, planned with her roofer finance to spend $7,000 on the event. They would make ends meet by baking their own cake, and using an iPod instead of a D J.

Kelly’s story has since received media attention from MSNBC and The New York Times. She gets a wonderful celebration for her marriage, and the beverage company gets lots of publicity!

Click here to view the eBay listing.

NY Times Story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/26/us/26bridesmaid.html?ref=us

Painting left at Maryland Goodwill auctions for $40,000

2008-06-25T14:54:00.003-04:00

An old painting dropped off at a rural Maryland Goodwill store turned out to be a work by a French Impressionist. And now, thanks to the sharp eye of a store employee, the charitable organization is $40,000 richer.

The Parisian street scene, left at the store in March along with daily donations of pots, pans, old clock radios and other items, turned out to be a work by Edouard-Leon Cortes, probably from the early 20th century.

If the owner of the painting wants the money, he or she may be out of luck. Goodwill says it doesn’t keep track of donors. Donations, meanwhile, are gifts that are considered legal and final transactions.

read more | digg story

The bargain that wasn't... My new microwave won’t shut off!

2008-06-25T11:09:00.002-04:00

I thought I had found a bargain earlier this week at Home Depot. There were two items I needed that the store offered at great prices. One was a backyard gas grill. At $49, it serves my purposes, brand new in the box too. (Just need a tank now!)

The other thing I needed was a microwave. The store had a small one on sale, also priced at $49. Not bad. But then I noticed a bigger model with more features up on a top shelf. It had a sticker on it, “Damaged”.

If you read my haggling story from last month, you know that Home Depot will routinely discount damaged or flawed items. (And sometimes perfect items as well -- if you ask!)

Okay... So I looked over the microwave. On the back corner, the casing was dented. Otherwise, it appeared to be fine. Hmmm... I thought it was good enough. Larger, with more features... I can live with the dent in the back. It was loaded into my cart and lugged home.

My son, Ryan, 19, was visiting later that evening. He’s a great kid, and always willing to give me a hand with whatever needs to be done around the house. I gave him my handyman list of to-dos, which included assembling my new grill and helping me to find the best spot in the kitchen for the new microwave. As I looked over the paperwork that came with it, Ryan plugged it in. As soon as it was fed electricity, it was running at full power — without having been turned on. We hit the ‘clear’ button and another we thought might stop it, but to no avail. I went through the manual, again and again. The only way to stop it was to open the door and/or unplug the thing.

One might think if the store is selling a damaged item, that it would still be in good working order as far as function is concerned. Today my own to-do list includes trying to return my new “damaged” microwave. It wasn’t such a great bargain after all.

Putnam Flea Market off to quiet start

2008-06-24T06:46:00.005-04:00

On Sunday I decided to check out Putnam’s new flea market. There was a steady stream of traffic going in and out despite the impending rain. The setting is gorgeous! Dealers were set up in a lot with shady trees and the water just beyond that. On the other side is an old mill.

There weren’t a lot of dealers though... Maybe a dozen or so. However, their displays included an interesting assortment of unusual items, a pretty eclectic mix of merchandise -- mostly antiques. Nicely done. I just wish there was more of it!

My stop was brief for another reason as well. My 4-year-old daughter spotted a vintage toy that I was not going to buy for her amusement, and she put up a fuss... That always means time to go.

Shortly afterwards, the sky opened and rain poured! I hope everyone was able to pack up quickly enough.

http://www.putnamfleamarket.com