Someone bought THAT?

June 26, 2009 4:39 PM

Help me find some hidden treasures.

With an eye to both decluttering and raising some much-needed cash, I've been looking around my home for things that might be resaleable on Craigslist, eBay, etc. It occurs to me that there are probably things that would be sellable that simply haven't occurred to me. What are some unusual, obscure, or downright off-the-wall things you've bought or sold or heard that someone else has?

posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit to work & money (7 comments total)

People will buy anything. If you bought it at some point, someone else is gonna be willing to buy it now. What about just dragging it all outside and having a yard sale?
posted by orme at 4:51 PM on June 26

I bought an old, rusty, tiny, miniature cast iron fireplace from an auction for $5. It sat in my backyard where everyone told me how cute it was. And it was cute, but it was just taking up space. I had a garage sale not to long ago to de-clutter and had it not been a cool, somewhat rainy day, I probably would have sold it for a lot more than the $10 I sold it at.
posted by HeyAllie at 4:59 PM on June 26

Of interest may be this recent post in the blue featuring a web site called "Item Not As Described" that lists some completely ridiculous junk that people have tried to sell on Craigslist. So since people are even trying to get away with selling that caliber of merchandise I think it's pretty safe to agree with orme that people will buy anything.
posted by XMLicious at 5:30 PM on June 26

Geeks tend earn a lots of money, which we^D^D they then spend on fulfilling (or re-fulfilling) their childhood. Got any old toys or memorabilia? Hell, got any boxes that old toys came in? (When the first transformers movie came out, the ebay price of just the cardboard box that Optimus Prime came in, was higher than it cost to buy the toy back in the day (and back in the day, it was an expensive toy!))
posted by -harlequin- at 5:51 PM on June 26

Don't forget that whatever you can't sell, Freecycle. You'll get rid of the junk, and some people will take ANYTHING if it's free.
posted by kidsleepy at 7:45 PM on June 26

Seconding orme: People will buy anything! I've always been surprised when people get excited about my old knick knacks, old housewares, old clothes, etc., at garage sales I've had. Keep in mind the old adage: One man's trash is another man's treasure. Go ahead and try to sell anything that you don't use or need anymore, and good luck!
posted by amyms at 8:19 PM on June 26

On Ebay, I sold a sandwich baggie full of rocks (for 50 cents) and a handful of unused hotel freebie showercaps (for $1).
posted by oceanmorning at 9:13 PM on June 26