<div class="bbWrapper">I have bought and sold stuff from CL. Also have bought stuff from local auctions and resold on CL. Or I get stuff from one auction and resell at another auction. Not always a good idea since none of the local auctions allow a reserve.<br />
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When I first got started 3-4 years ago, one of my first items was a credit card processor at an auction of a restaurant that had folded. Paid $35 and sold for $220 on eBay.<br />
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Bought a commercial 2 door freezer for $1,800. Intended purpose was for the shave ice business but I ended up going another route. Sold it to a local sandwich shop. He traded me 5 firearms and a non working 2 door freezer. The guns alone were worth what I wanted out of it, the freezer was basically in his way and he wanted it hauled away. Took that freezer and had it repaired for $200, then resold it for $1,500. <br />
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I have bought more stainless equipment than I can recall. Triple sinks, prep tables and freezers/refrigerators do well. Have sold several 3 bay sinks for double what I paid. <br />
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Bought an under counter fridge off CL for $15. After dealing with jokers/no shows on CL, I sent it to auction. Ended up getting $100 for it.<br />
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Bought a propane food warmer from an auction for $27. Sold on CL for $300.<br />
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I do scrap metal. Had a guy that was going to take a riding mower to the dump. I offered to take it off his hands. I listed it on CL, best offer I got was $300. Was asking $500. Sent it to auction and it sold for $575. My take was $460.<br />
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Bought quite a bit of stuff from another restaurant auction. Ice maker, prep tables, refrigerated prep tables, etc <br />
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Ice maker was $150. Asked $900. Sold for $750 on CL. Had various pieces of SS that I made money on as well.<br />
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Bought a rust bucket sand/salt spreader from the government for $75. Sold it to a farmer for $425.<br />
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Bought a gooseneck Companion hitch for $60 from an online auction. It was something that was added onto the tail end of a party store auction. Probably why it sold for so cheap. Flipped it a week later on CL for $600. Was asking $700.<br />
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Picked up a basket case Kawasaki dirt bike off the free section of CL. Flipped it for $100.<br />
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Bought a Chevy Astro at a government auction for $205. After a new battery and fresh oil change I sold it for $1,200. Was asking $1,400.<br />
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I sell some on eBay but not often. Last summer I had a speciality piece of restaurant equipment. Several offers came in for $1,200. Being that I paid $310 for the item, I would have made an okay profit. Gut feeling told me I could get more, since it retailed for $7,000. Did some research and found a site that sells industrial/restaurant equipment and sold it for $3,300. Put $2,600 in my pocket after deducting commission fees, packing, cost of item, etc.<br />
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Bought some "scrap" from the government. 5 pieces. After factoring in cost of items, fuel to go get items, food, hotel stay, etc I sold 4 at a loss/broke even. Saving grace was the 5th piece, a core drill I sold for $6,000.<br />
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Bought a Pepsi vending machine for $150. Asked $900. Sold for $600.<br />
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I have bought/sold 11 of the Frito Lay step van/delivery trucks. Pay between $500 to $1,200 and flip for $1,500 to $3,200.<br />
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Bought a pile of copper wire from an IRS auction for $300. Stripped it and sold it for $1,903. I regret selling because if I would have held onto it for awhile when copper jumped, I would have gotten around $4,000.<br />
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Bought all kinds of stuff from Hewlett Packard. One being a row of employee lockers for $250. Resold all of them for $1,200.<br />
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Bought a '94 F150 off CL for $800. Fixed a few things on it. Drove it for a month or so, then a guy traded me his '97 Camry, which I drove for a bit then sold for $1,500.<br />
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Bought a pipe thawing machine from a local auction for $40 and sold on eBay for $225.<br />
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Bought a commercial counter top soft serv machine for $800 off CL. Used it for family gatherings/birthday parties for a few years, then sold for $1,500.<br />
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Bought a '99 GMC Sonoma for $500. Drivers door needs replaced. Undecided if I am going to fix and drive or flip as is.<br />
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Bought a commercial heated pressure washer system at auction for $96. Called the company to get some information and a manual. I find it retails for $11,200. Time will tell what I flip that one for. Kinda cold out and not motivated to do anything.<br />
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Currently liquidating 240 office chairs. Don't think I want to do that ever again.<br />
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Not every acquisition has been rosy. I've lost a lot of money along the way.<br />
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I might be a bit unconventional in some of the items I deal with, but it makes decent money.<br />
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A side note. I bought an 8,000 watt generator from Lowes for $500 that was a return. Nothing wrong with it, customer for whatever reason decided against it. Retailed for $1,300. If I wanted, I could probably get $700 to 800 for it. I personally use it, but that's another option for people, be on look out for discounted returns. Or if you have the capital, make an offer to buy up all of the stores end of season widgets, and hold them till the season returns. Obviously that works if you have the space and money to hold it.<br />
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These postings I see where people say it can't be done really baffle me.<br />
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For those that think people are asking too much. 1 of 2 things is happening. They are delusional and really think it's worth that, or they're like me where I might price something a lil high, knowing and fully expecting to haggle on price. Then we both walk away feeling like we got a deal.<br />
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Don't be scared to make offers!<br />
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Believe it or not I am shy and I get it done.</div>
