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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;verybrad, post: 9741425, member: 37&quot;]Great thread!&nbsp; We may all have a sickness.... won&#039;t call it a disease, as I don&#039;t think it needs to be cured.&nbsp; There is definitely a rush in finding a great item, either that fits your collecting interest at any price or something priced so low you can&#039;t not buy it.&nbsp; I call the latter, finding hundred dollar bills.&nbsp; Who wouldn&#039;t trade a 100 dollar bill for a 10% expenditure (or less)?&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>I have worked this business so many ways over the past 40 years.&nbsp; I used to think hunting the big ticket items was the way to go. I would scour the region looking at shows and in shops for items I could double or triple in my high-end Chicago store space.&nbsp; I would spend hundreds on individual items and had some great inventory.&nbsp; Sadly, the model was not sustainable.&nbsp; The market crash took care of that.</p><p><br /></p><p>Around the same time, ebay became a great picking source.&nbsp; A lot of people were putting up items they knew little about without reserve.&nbsp; The items were often bargains and I bought some great things.&nbsp; I often bought something and turned it right back on ebay for good profit.&nbsp; I also added to my collection with items I might never have found otherwise.&nbsp; As time went on, people became more savvy, there were more tools to help them determine what they had, and fees and shipping took a bigger bite.&nbsp; Now days, there may be some good buys on ebay but they are much harder to find.</p><p><br /></p><p>After closing my shop in Chicago, and diminishing returns from ebay, I turned to local selling of run-of-the-mill vintage stuff.&nbsp; Profit margins were good, as I was paying very little for anything.&nbsp; I certainly understand the idea that the tail begins wagging the dog.&nbsp; It was a constant effort to keep the shop stocked and items rotated.&nbsp; I often sold things I cared little about.&nbsp; I also accumulated&nbsp; alot of <i>dead</i> inventory as things did not sell.&nbsp; This was a means to an end, as I approaced retirement.&nbsp; The alternative was getting a real job and I knew that was not going to happen.&nbsp; I managed to make a decent living doing this for several years and even put off my retirement a bit.</p><p><br /></p><p>Covid became the catalyst for finally retiring.&nbsp; I was able to get relief payments through the end of my lease, as I always claimed my income and could document loss due to the pandemic.&nbsp; I was buying very little at this time since sales were pretty poor.&nbsp; I was able to get through quite well.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Since retiring, I have continued to buy when I find things for pennies on the dollar.&nbsp; I am mostly just hoarding.&nbsp; I kind of see it like putting money in the bank.&nbsp; I just recently partnered with my former shop space to take part in a one month art and pottery sale.&nbsp; We are close to half way through and I am encouraged by the sales.&nbsp; I have been able to create some income from items that were just in storage. I think I will do more of this moving forward if the store owner wants to do it.</p><p><br /></p><p>I think the market has improved greatly since the first couple years of the pandemic.&nbsp; I think there are opportunities in the business once again.&nbsp; I kind of like the idea of scouring lesser auction houses for sleeper items.&nbsp; Most houses now have on-line bidding and items can be shipped.&nbsp; Really opens up the possibilities.&nbsp; I still like to get out and beat the bushes but can see how, as I age, shopping via computer could be quite rewarding.</p><p><br /></p><p>Having <i>the bug</i> has certainly made life interesting.&nbsp; I am enriched by the things I surround myself with.&nbsp; I know it is not for everyone but to deny the urge to collect was never an option.&nbsp; I collected from a very early age and hope to be doing so until the time I leave this Earth. I hope it will not be too big of a burden on those I leave behind and that there will be some good value in the things that are left.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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