US Postage Stamp Collection

I found a good one. It was on the bottom shelf of a picked-over rack at one of the thrift stores I visit. I noticed a three-ring binder with pictures of postage stamps on it. I took a look inside and it contained several pocket pages with unused US postage stamps. The binder was marked for $1.50 and I knew just from glancing inside that there was much more than $1.50 in stamps. So I bought it. Here's what I got.

I counted 457 unused stamps with a total face value of $26.31. They are are older stamps, 4¢, 5¢, 6¢, 8¢,10¢, and 15¢. I thought at first that I could easily get at least face value if not more. I found by doing a quick search on eBay that similar auctions were getting slightly under face value. So, I started my auction off at $19.00 with free shipping and I threw in an old 20 Kroner bank note from Denmark, worth about $4.00. I could have asked for $30.00 and expected to get it but the whole point with selling on eBay is to give the next guy a good deal while at the same time turning a quick profit for yourself. I think this auction accomplishes both.

Olive Wood Cover Red Letter New Testament

I found this pocket size Red Letter New Testament with an engraved Olive Wood Cover. It cost a buck.

I really didn't know if was worth anything, but I thought it was kind of cool.  I got it home and did some searching and found several on eBay with a few with bids. Now, I don't know for sure what kind of wood the cover is, but most of the ones listed on eBay claim an olive wood cover. I listed it as olive wood, but added the disclaimer that I wasn't sure. I listed it for $9.00 with free shipping.  Intial listings fees were 17 cents.

Update:  The Boy Scouts Merit Badge Sash +26 Badges I listed and blogged about on Sept 23rd has received 59 pages views, has 7 watchers, and has received two bids up to $9.50.

Colgate's Peter Pan Newest Beauty Soap with Chlorophyll!

I just listed four old bar's of soap on eBay. Could appeal to soap collectors or Disney collectors.

I got these from a small thrift shop for 50 cents each. I listed all four for $9.00 with free shipping any where in the US.
I couldn't find much information of these, only this 1953 magazine ad, announcing the possible introduction of this soap by Colgate. Anybody got more info you can share?
Thanks

Two Misses

Here's a couple of items I ran across today at a thrift shop:

An unopened 1996 Starting Lineup Reggie Miller figure and trading card.

An Einstein Bros. Bagels Metal Lunch Box, new still in the plastic wrap.

I thought maybe these might be something a collector would want. Both were selling for a couple of bucks. I decided not to buy them and I'm glad I didn't. When I got home, I found several of each of these for sale on eBay for less than 10 dollars and none were selling. Had I bought them, I wouldn't have been able to sell them.

How Can I Find My eBay Niche?

Like you, I've searched high and low, all over the internet to find a niche product to sell on eBay for some extra money. There are millions of websites that tell you to find a niche and corner the market. I will tell you how I found my small niche and give the best advice I can think of to find yours.
If you're like me, you've racked your brains trying to come up with that one great idea. I found mine by asking myself two questions:

1. What am I interested in and how do I like to spend my free time?
2. What do I have easier access to that the majority of other people don't and what is unique about the area I live in?

I had a million answers to question 1. But one thing I kind of enjoy is browsing through books on used book racks, at thrift stores, new book stores, and even the library. I don't do a whole lot of reading but I just enjoy browsing through books. It's something I do when I don't have to do anything else and it's relaxing to me.
The answer to question 2 was easier. The state I live in is known for it's high concentration of members of one faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS.
I put these two things together, the enjoyment I get out of browsing through used book stores and the fact that I have access to a large number of used LDS books. I found that there are enough people out there who want LDS books that I can make a little money while doing something I kind of liked to do anyway, thumbing through old books.
The biggest "secret" about a part time eBay business is this; chances are you're not going to make a lot of money unless you stumble on a goldmine and work very hard. I make a few hundred dollars a month part time, which is great, but I have to put in a lot of time. If I didn't enjoy searching for used books, it would have become a drag and I would have quit doing this a long time ago. The secret is this, if you don't enjoy your eBay niche, the time and effort it takes to run an eBay business will kill your motivation and you'll want out.
To find the right eBay niche for you, find something you would be involved in even if you didn't get paid.

Boy Scout Merit Badge Sash with 26 Badges

Today I listed this boy scout merit badge sash and patches I picked up at a thrift shop for $2.00. I don't know how much the badges are new, but I figured someone would want them for a few bucks (or more). After a little research, I found that the old Boy Scout merit badges can sell for hundreds of dollars. I think these are the newer ones.

I started the bidding at $9.00 with free shipping anywhere in the US. It'll end in seven days, then we'll how I did.