Reddit

Just  quick post to link to some of my favourite junk collecting related subreddits.

Thift Store Hauls - I've been following this one for awhile and it's gotten really popular. It's a good way to feel jealous but also helps feed the picking itch when I can't actually go out. Lots of good appreciators of junk!

Flipping - This one has loads of great info on flipping and stuff like selling on ebay and amazon. I think amazon is starting an Australian site, so it will be interesting if they let people sell on there in the same way as they do in he US.

Vinyl - What else needs to be said? a subreddit about all things vinyl!

Analog - This one is all about Film photography. A nice getaway when you are tired of all the digital bias in most photography communities.

Cassette Culture. - I'm convinced cassette collecting is destined for bigger things. They are everywhere and are hitting the time to be a nostalgic sweet spot. Probably won't ever be as amazing as the vinyl revival, but they're a niche I'm interested in. I like that bands bring out small runs of tapes with unique art, too. Reminds me of zine culture.

Game Collecting - All about collecting video games. Lots of awesome pics of huge vintage game collections!

I might do a post about my favourite Facebook groups at some stage, but I feel like it might give away too many secrets!

Market Flipping and Psychology.

Long time no post (yet again!)

I have been super busy lately, it feels like I never have any time to blog. I've been doing some flipping and lots and lots of op shopping - but it does feel like salvos is falling further into its trend of overpricing things and selling a lot of crap. My fav op shop now would be BSL, with vinnies second. But I still do most of my shopping at the salvos because there are more of those than anything else in Geelong, and they are closest to me.

I had a stall at the belmont market this weekend. I have been there 6-7 times now with stalls, with varying degrees of success. As anyone who goes to these sunday "car boot sale" type markets will know, people don't want to pay for anything. You really have to learn what to sell, and corner the market on things people will pay more for. I tend to focus on things I myself like (as its easier to flip what you know), instruments, camera gear, shoes, video games etc. I also do a good trade selling off nba gear. I can flip a $5 jersey into $20-30 easily at the market, cause kids walk past and badger their parents into buying it for them.

I round it out with dvds and cds, which dont sell all that well anymore. I'd like to get more into selling vinyl, but I think I would stick to dedicated vinyl swap meets for that.

I did some pretty good flips yesterday - sold a $6 pair or nike SBs for $30. Sold them to this tall guy in an iron maiden tee, listening to metal so loud on his ipad that I could hear it across the table. He seriously looked like he'd walked out of an 80s movie. Had the hair and everything.

I also sold a ukelele I bought for $3 for $10. Its all money. And it was one of those items a bunch of people came over and played with before someone finally bought it. Its good to have items like that out, even if no one buys them, they will be attracted to the stall, and may then buy something else.

I do something similar with toys. I have a bowl of random happy meal style toys and matchbox cars at the front, placed low where kids will see them. Kids come over and look and  call their parents over. This works in a similar way to how lollies are sold in checkouts. You can't beat age old business ideas.

I usually stand my ground with prices when I know the product and price is right. You can have 3 people say no and even make up bullshit reasons why they think something is priced too high. But then  someone will walk along and pay that price. People will also lowball you, and when you say no they will walk off,only to come back later and pay the higher price. You have to be good at reading just how much someone wants something. for example, I had a camera out for $20 (cost me $5) a dude who knew cameras was trying to get me down to $10 cause there was no battery in it to check the meter. I knew the camera worked and didn't budge. Later, while I was getting something to eat, my sister sold him the camera for $15. Its $5. But thats the difference between a 200% and 300% sale.

I have had people grumble, scoff and make up shit to try to get me to go lower. these people are dealers. And I deliberately dont barter with dealers. Because I know if they are buying, they are planning on making a profit. And my prices are low enough that they will make a profit even if they don't barter down.

Overall I made about $200. Enough to buy a 4 colour screen printing carousel from my friend. Which should be a source of some more money. Good times.

Have Op Shops dried up?

I have been hearing and reading lately that op shops have "dried up" over the last few months. with higher prices and not as much quality around.

Has anyone else noticed this? I feel like Salvos has been really overpriced lately, and I went to Dandenong savers on the weekend and it had a really "picked over" feel compared to usual. I almost always come out of there with heaps of stuff.

Maybe I am just getting pickier? Or maybe i was spoiled by last spring (spring always seems to be the best season for vintage loads of good vintage gear).

A friend of mine suggested it will get better when the uni kids go back to school, I think school holidays have definitely left the op shops looking a bit bare. Or maybe everyone has gotten so poor that they op shop. The op shopping trend is reaching critical mass. There are just too many people picking through the stores and leaving no goodies for me!

Or maybe its just time to look for some different stuff? I have found a few good things the last couple of weeks but nothing like the finds back in the day. Been quite awhile since ive picked up a good camera, too. Though I did find a ps2 with cords for $8 today, so maybe I'm just being a bit of a sook.

I miss the days of finding boxed nintendos and 64s bundled with zelda for $10 and an om2n with a 1.4 zuiko lens for $5!

Sneaky Sneaky

Today I decided to head out to some op shops I don't get to check out during the week. There is one little one in belmont that I think most people don't know is there. It's old school and the prices are really cheap. they usually have some cool clothes for low prices, and the prices are set instead of jumping up and down for how "valuable" the people working there think something is. Plus all the paperbacks are around 50c each, which is getting rarer now. I had a look around and found these Nikes in pretty much new condition. They look like they have been worn about once. I don't usually buy shoes if they look too worn in.

They didn't have a tag on them so I went and asked one of the women in the store. She looked at them and said "for those? $5." This is why little op shops can be good! These would have been $15-20 at least at a big salvos store. Yet another pair of shoes. The way I'm going, I wont have to buy shoes new at full price for a loooong time.

RUBBISH!

I was having a read of this article about op shops and people leaving rubbish. I notice it a lot at the op shops I go to, and i think the reason people do it might be because they have the mindset the op shop just sells rubbish anyway. People who don't go to op shops always seem to have this view! Or it might be they just think their crappy pine furniture is actually nice!

There was an op shop bin near the train station where I used to live. I used to look at what people had left there from time to time and sometimes steal things (gasp!) like stray cards and bits of rubbish to use in collages.

One night I was heading off to a party when I saw a some open suitcases with paperwork in them. I knew this wouldn't be stuff the op shop would take, so I had a look. There were old letter, birthday cards and photo albums. I don't know why someone would throw this stuff away? It was all very 80s. There were also some random mix tapes, I took a few to the party and we danced around to them. I think I took a few photos and things too, I don't know if I still have them. In a way I wish the op shop would sell that type of stuff, even old photos. It would be awesome to use for art projects!

Buy Nothing New!!

I am participating in Buy Nothing New Month. I already love op shopping and all things second hand, so it shouldn't be too much of a stretch. but I do still buy new things quite often, especially online! So I will have to watch what I buy.

I should use it as an excuse to post to this blog more, shouldn't I? I am currently cleaning my place up at home, so here is a pic of my lounge.The only "bought new" things in this picture are the vacuum, the laptop, the bookcase and the xbox (oh, and the set top box!). The couch is second hand, the tv is second hand (ex store tv, those ones you see in clothing shops playing music videos) the cameras the books, the cushions, the coffee table and shag rug. The speakers under the tv were free. even the coasters on the coffee table. I would guess at least 80% of the stuff in my house has been found at op shops or given to me. This blog was meant to be to show everything I find. But as you can see, its a big job!

Yesterday I bought one of those little hooks that can fit over the top of doors, so I decided to put some of my bag collection on it so they arent just hanging off door handles or lying on the ground!

I realised after I took the photo that everything in the pic is from the op shop. I love the op shop for finding bags. I love all things aztec/tribal and I like real leather, too. I know leather is dead cows and that's bad, but vintage leather to me is ok, because if a cow ided to make something nice then we should try to get as much use out of it as possible! PU bags feel so throw away and cheap to me. The leather satchel in the photo is really thick and sturdy, i think I'll be able to keep it for life. The shirt is a levis shirt I found for $5.

The other interesting thing about this pic is all this stuff came from the same few shops in the same area (Geelong) just over the last few years. You don't have to go nuts and travel across the state or country to be a good op shopper (but you can if you want!). I think its just about going out every week. I'm probably lucky in that I can see a trend coming, because I need to know what's in fashion for my job. So I know what stuff to look out for. But this is really my taste anyway. I don't buy to sell (though I do want to one day) but I think even if you do, it makes sense to buy what you like and what interests you. Its harder to know if something's a dud if its something you aren't passionate about already.

If you're jealous of my stuff, go out there and get shopping! I'm going to try to post my finds more during this month, so stay tuned.