My Biggest Mistakes Buying Vintage Things

I’m coming up on my 4-year anniversary of opening my first Etsy store (which turned out to be rather life changing!) and it got me thinking…I’ve had a lot of fun, scored some great finds and made new friends along the way, but it’s also been a lot of work and I’ve made a host of mistakes. These I share with you now for your edification and amusement!

Mistake #1: Buying things because they were a “deal”

I’ll admit I have bought some things merely because they were a “deal,” like this vintage set of made-in-Japan sheep salt and pepper shakers. They were marked down to $2.50 at the antique mall, and well, that barely buys a cup of coffee these days, so I couldn’t resist. They are in good condition, but really just a bit of kitsch. Maybe I can sell them for $10. Not worth the effort to list them right now.

Mistake #2: Becoming enamored with objects that have little value

I have no idea why I was so enamored with the little Peruvian wood flute, but I was. I HAD to buy it even though I knew it had little value…and on top of that, I compounded this purchase with mistake #4, paying too much!!!

Mistake #3: Neglecting to thoroughly examine items

No one wants clothes with holes, crazed china, chipped crystal or musty books. They don’t!!! There have been a few too many times I’ve gotten home with an item and found flaws that made it unsellable or greatly reduced it’s value.

Here was one of my book buys that was a bit of a heartbreak. I paid $5 at a yard sale for this 1992 textile design book. It was a fabulous book and I didn’t even try to negotiate because I knew it had value. I got home, did the research and figured I could list it for $45+. Sweet! Then I noticed that one page had been hacked into and partly removed. %#&*^!  Why would you do that to this book and how did I miss it?

In one fell swoop my potential profit on this book dropped by over half. In the end I carefully razored out the remaining bit of page, mentioned its loss in the listing and sold the book for $22. Still a profit, but I wish I would have noticed before I bought it.

Mistake #4: Paying too much

Sometimes overpaying is due to ignorance on my part and other times because of mistake #2 (I have become enamored with the item). In the case below, it was a bit of both!!

A year ago, whilst thrifting in New York City, I found a huge, green agate stone necklace. The stones were quite stunning, but the piece was just strung with simple green cord and showed little artistry. It was priced at $45 and I asked if there was any wiggle room and the woman sadly shook her head. I felt knew that $45 was too much, but I still bought it! (Who does this?!!)

Later I discovered that what I had was actually a string of stones someone bought from a jewelry supply store. These stones are sold this way as the raw materials for making jewelry. They aren’t intended to be left on the green string. Similar strands sell for $18-35 on Etsy. So trying to sell this as a necklace wasn’t going to fly!

I stewed for a while about this purchase. One option–I could sell it as jewelry supply and take a loss. Then I had an idea. I took all the stones off the green string, bought some nice leather cord and have started listing the stones separately as simple necklaces for $12 each. I sold my first one recently. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll recoup my money and even make a little profit.

Mistake #5: Buying things that are out of style

Sometimes I buy things that are hopelessly out of style. I know this. My husband looked at me the other day and said of a recent purchase, “another piece of brown ’70s pottery?!” Why do I buy them? Usually it’s because I am attracted to their craftsmanship and/or uniqueness and I think, naively, that someone else will be attracted to them too. Maybe this brown pig covered cheese plate is just a bit too “unique” and too brown!!

Generic crystal dishes are also out of style. This little crystal dish (which I believe is a nappy or berry dish) was one of my early flubs and rather encapsulates many of my mistakes: I become enamored with it, didn’t check it thoroughly (it has chips), paid too much ($12) and it’s out of style. Estate sales usually have tons of this stuff and you don’t see many people clamoring for it.

I keep it around as a reminder of what not to do!

Summary

Truth be told, every person who buys stuff to resell, makes blunders. They do. But I am getting better at minimizing my mistakes…which is all I can hope for.

How about you? Any buying mistakes you’re willing to share??