Lucked Up on Some Extra Money

**freedeal** · 05-24-2007, 10:37 PM

I was on eBay a week and a half ago looking for a certain book. The book was $20 and I didn't want to pay that so I decided I would check out the thrift stores in my area before I bought on eBay.

I went into one store and found the book - it was marked $2 and I was ready to buy it when the clerk said I could get a bag of books for $5. I thought the bag was like a grocery bag but she handed me this huge lawn bag - it held more than 300 books ( I counted when I got home) all for $5.

Best thing was there were several of the books that I was looking for so I went a head and got all of those plus MANY MANY more.

Well, I listed 18 auctions last week and after fees made $227. That was only with a total of 24 books.

A couple of the books that I got were first editions and are selling right now on eBay for a little over $50 each. I am going to put mine on this week.

Although I know all of them won't sell I have gone through and looked most up on eBay and I have only found about 20 or so that definately won't sell. Otherwise, I think many will. I am going to try and list about 20 auctions a week until they are gone. I know I didn't need to bring all these books home but I just couldn't resist.

I think I will keep a running total of the $$$ made from this one bag of books.

I'll be busy eBaying this summer. If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

**Neeley** · 05-24-2007, 11:24 PM

That is great!!! Hope you continue to make lots of $$$ off of those books.

**Lady Jennelle** · 05-24-2007, 11:37 PM

No suggestions but am happy that you run onto this deal.

Good luck with your auctions!

Love,

Jennelle

**Ceashels** · 05-25-2007, 07:30 AM

WOW! That is an impressive deal. Will you be visiting the thrift store again to restock?

**nuisance26** · 05-25-2007, 09:01 AM

~That's amazing! WTG!~

**Mom23boys** · 05-25-2007, 09:02 AM

WOW! That is awesome that you were able to pick up that many books for only $5 and make a HUGE profit on resale!! Good luck with ebay!

**FrugalMomof3** · 05-25-2007, 09:33 AM

WTG that's great!

**baxjul** · 05-25-2007, 09:47 AM

WTG, don't you just love found money!

**Darlene** · 05-25-2007, 09:55 AM

Zowie! have fun!!

**bumplett** · 05-25-2007, 09:57 AM

wow! that is wonderful!!

I've never had good luck on ebay with books

what type of books do you have? (nosy people want to know!)

have fun & good luck!! I hope you make much, much more $$ !

**Edelweiss** · 05-25-2007, 10:10 AM

Fantastic! The only suggestion I can offer is that you might want to check out Amazon as well as Ebay. I've found I have better luck selling books there (but nothing else) than on Ebay. Plus, if a book doesn't sell on Amazon within a certain amount of time (it's 30 days, or maybe 60, I think), you don't have to pay any listing fees. Amazon's fees are a little higher than Ebay's, I think, though, if a book does sell.

**3pups** · 05-25-2007, 10:45 AM

I'm impressed! Way to go on your find!

**Katybird** · 05-25-2007, 11:20 AM

That is great! WTG!!!

**freedeal** · 05-25-2007, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by bumplett

wow! that is wonderful!!

I've never had good luck on ebay with books

what type of books do you have? (nosy people want to know!)

have fun & good luck!! I hope you make much, much more $$ !

Bumplett - there are all kinds of books that I picked up. I tried to get books that I had heard of. Many of them are school specific - like Auburn, Alabama, etc. - those are selling for around $20 a piece. Also there are a lot of different religious books. I got the 1st edition / 1st printing of the Harry Potter books. The first book is on eBay right now for $100.

The book I went to find was The Official Preppy Handbook - from the 80's. We were all talking about that book one day so I tried to find it on eBay. Now I have 4 copies that I got so I will put those on eBay also.

I got a total of about 50 of the Dave Ramsey - Chick-Fil-A Life Lessons books. I didn't count those in the total books because I thought they were freebies. But when I look on eBay for them they are really selling. So I will be putting mine on there soon.

Also, there were lots of homeschool type books - Abeka, Bob Jones, that sort of thing and lots of music books for piano and band instruments. I also got quite a few books that are used in the Sonlight curriculum.

One big PLUS of all of this is that my 12 yo decided that he would do the listing and help with the packing etc. if I would pay him. We agreed on 10% of the total sales - after expenses. He is a happy camper right now.

**JanieD** · 05-26-2007, 11:35 AM

Have you thought about "listing" some here on Freebies & Bargains under For Sale or Trade? If you have a local second hand bookstore, maybe trade duplicates or ones not selling for others you want or that would sell better. Also, there is an online book trading site you may be interested in www.paperbackswap.com I have not used this site since I only have a few books to trade most of the time.

I'm so excited for you & hope you have lots more luck selling!

If I may ask... Had you sold regularly on ebay before this? I've read articles on others that buy items to resell through ebay or other online sites. Sounds like something I would enjoy trying. Can't wait to see your updates... you did say you would update us, right?