Since it’s publication two years ago, Buying Stampin’ Up Sets At Garage Sales has produced more email from readers than any other post on The Auction Rebel. Because of this continued interest, and because much of the original information is no longer up-to-date, I thought I would revisit the subject and put together some more current prices and information.

The popularity of rubber stamping and scrap booking has grown over the last two years, resulting in increased interest by both sellers and buyers in these sets on eBay. This increased popularity has also resulted in a growth in the number of Stampin’ Up sets showing up at garage sales.

The increase in sets available at garage sale provides the savvy seller with the chance to garner some nice profits selling sets on eBay. However, this increase also means you can get stung if you aren’t careful.
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If you use the standard mileage calculation for deducting your automobile expenses for your eBay business on your tax return the IRS has some good news for you. Due to higher gas prices, the IRS has announced an increase from $.505 a mile to $.585 a mile for all non-remibursed business mileage driven after July 1, 2008.

The old rate of $.505 will still apply to mileage driven during the first half of 2008.

Photograph by Michael R. Johnson.

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The auctions for the remainder of the items items purchased during the fifth week of the 2008 Garage Sale Challenged ended on Sunday evening.

I had just nine qualifying auctions running this last week. These were items I’d purchased before leaving for Canada but hadn’t had time to list before I left. Of the nine items, eight sold for a total of $215.92. The sell-through rate was 89%. Amazon accounted for another $241.08 in sales during the last week.

The highlight of the week was the Getzen trumpet that I paid $10 for that sold for $102.50.

Here’s how things look after last Sunday’s auctions ended:

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When I was a kid Hopalong Cassidy was my hero. I had the complete Hopalong outfit - shirt, pants, cowboy boots, the double holsters with matching six shooters, bandanna, and the trademark hat. If memory serves me correctly, I even had several pair of Hopalong underwear. The only thing I was lacking was a white horse. Even though we lived on five acres on the very edge of town, no amount of begging could get my parents to agree to my own version of Topper.

I insisted my parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and siblings all call me Hoppy. I spent three or four months making sure mom and dad knew I had to have an official Hopalong Cassidy bicycle for my sixth birthday. There likely wasn’t a more excited kid on the planet when one mysteriously appeared on our garage the morning of my birthday.

I ate, slept, and breathed Hopalong Cassidy. My goal in life was to become Hopalong Cassidy.
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The auctions for items purchased during the fifth week of the 2008 Garage Sale Challenged ended on Sunday evening after I returned from Canada.

I had a total of thirty-three qualifying auctions running while I was gone. Of the thirty-three, twenty two sold for a total of $518.38. The sell-through rate was 67%. Not the greatest, but still well above eBay’s average. My Amazon store was placed on “Vacation” status while I was gone, but before leaving, Amazon did account for an additional $57.34 in sales.

The highlights of the week were two Creative Memories sticker binders with protectors I paid $5 each for. They sold for $76.25 and $73.00 respectively.

Here’s how things look after the seventh week of the Challenge:

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Saturday morning I’m leaving for a week long fishing trip in Ontario, Canada. We will be returning the weekend of June 14/15 so there will be no new posts here until after I get back.

During last summer’s trip I caught the 30″ walleye pictured above. If tied for the largest walleye caught out of the resort we go to last summer.

It appears our trip this year will be wet. If the weatherman is to be believed, highs will be in the 60s and it will likely rain every day we are there. Last year, it was sunny and in the 80s and 90s every day except for one.

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The auctions for items purchased during the fourth week of the 2008 Garage Sale Challenged ended on Sunday evening.

Of the eighteen qualifying items listed last week, fourteen sold for a total of $348.10 with a sell-through rate of 78%. Included in the $348.10 of the duplicate of History Of Olga ND & Sacred Heart Church which was sold to the under bidder via a second chance offer. In addition, seven books sold on Amazon for a total of $174.30.

The highlight of this weeks sales was a Twin City typewriter ribbon tin that I paid $13.50 for at a small antique mall that sold for $331.62. While it doesn’t qualify for the Challenge because I’m only using items purchased at garage sales, thrift shops, and auctions, it does show there is still a market for hard to find tins in nice condition.

Here’s how things look after the fifth week of the Challenge:

As the table shows, I don’t have any auctions running this week. I’m leaving on Saturday for a week of walleye fishing in Canada so won’t be home next weekend when they would normally end.

I did purchase several Challenge items last week. These items, along with anything I buy between now and Friday will be scheduled to launch on June 8 and end on June 15 after I get back from Canada.

Photograph by emdot.

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The first month of the 2008 Garage Sale Challenge is complete and sales have been respectable considering the garage sale season doesn’t pick up a full head of steam until June.

Here’s a list of the top 10 best selling items from the Challenge. Hopefully the list will give readers some idea of the kind of things that can be found at garage sales and thrift stores that sell well on eBay.

1. A University Of North Dakota School Of Mines Vase by Julia Mattson - $202.50 - 380026946104

2. A University Of North Dakota School Of Mines Vase by Flora Huckfield - $177.50 - 280226328140

3. A battery operated Polaris Mustang snowmobile in it’s original box - $108.15 - 280228701737

4. Lenci Clothes Book - $94.87 - 280228702064

5. A University Of North Dakota School Of Mines vase by Julia Mattson - $69.95 - 280226328046
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