Treasure Hunting

Discussion in 'Shopping & Sales' started by Pat Baker, Feb 9, 2015.

  1. Pat Baker

    Pat Baker Supreme Member
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    In my area there is a 2nd hand store that has 50% on everything in the store on holiday Mondays. Presidents day is a Monday Holiday and I plan to be in the 2nd hand store hunting for treasures. I have found some of the most amazing things in 2nd hand stores.

    This store is an old grocery store so it has some size to it. People will be lined up for at least an hour before the doors open, they actually give out numbers while you are in line to go into the store.

    Mostly I look for antiques and older clothes that I can deconstructe and refashion.

    Anyone here like to go treasure hunting in 2nd hand stores?
     
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  2. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    When I lived in Southern California, I loved visiting used book stores, some of which were remarkable. One, in particular, carried a bunch of review copies and, while some of its books were actually on shelves, arranged in some sort of order, most were packed away in boxes and crates. I could spend hours in there. These days, there aren't very many new, let alone used, bookstores. There is one in Bangor, Maine that carries a lot of local stuff, which I like, but it's not nearly as remarkable as the ones I remember from Orange County.
     
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  3. Pat Baker

    Pat Baker Supreme Member
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    When I was growing up in Cleveland a second hand store moved into our neighborhood with all sorts of treasures, one of the items I fell in love with was the little hand painted tea cups from all over the world at that time I was not aware of the value of the cups and other antiques.
     
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  4. Von Jones

    Von Jones Supreme Member
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    I'm a third generation treasure hunter. Second hand, thrift stores, yard sales, auctions, whatever, wherever I'll probably be there.

    The quality of goods amazes me and even though I can't afford some of the prices on things that I see I know that they are worth so much more.

    It's good to educate yourself too before you go on your hunt. Learning the differences between gold plated and electroplated gold for example or what pewter is. Also I read that costume jewelry has become very popular some of which you can find for a couple of bucks.

    My hunt this year is to find a couple of wooden dining chairs with no arms, high backs and lots of details. I hoping to find them at the Largest Garage Sale this year.
     
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  5. Adam Fields

    Adam Fields Veteran Member
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    Some of the most interesting places to browse are yard sales and second hand type shops. I also like Goodwill stores. I have found some pretty interesting little trinkets on some trips out looking. I especially like looking at some of the funky clothing that these types of places have sometimes. They are usually in good shape so I have no shame in buying from these places.
     
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  6. Richard Paradon

    Richard Paradon Supreme Member
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    I was never much for yard sales or thrift shops but I could spend hours in the Swap Meets. Even here in Pattaya we have a night bizarre once a week that you can find all sorts of junk for a good price. But of course you have to be on your toes or you may find a real piece of junk. Last year I was at the market and saw what looked like an old RCA Victrola. And there was a big "ORIGINAL" sign attached to it. Upon closer inspection, I saw that it was built in China. When I asked the vendor about the sign, he just looked at me, and said, Original Copy!"
     
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  7. John Donovan

    John Donovan Veteran Member
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    There's a charity second hand store organised by a church near where I live. I usually go there and buy some stuff, which turns out to be worth about 50$ more on ebay and other sites like that. I've made a lot of cash with this method, and even the money I 'invest' goes to charity, so it's a win-win!
     
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  8. Jenn Windey

    Jenn Windey Supreme Member
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    Yes hahaha.... you have to be careful with those types of purchases. Here we have these shops called antique malls, many of the things in these cases may not be antique, in fact chances are some of it is probably just a knock off. You have to take your time and know what it is your looking at. I went to one that this lady was running and there was this opal ring that had been for a ridiculously low price of like $3. It was made up of small opal stones that were like thin ovals and one was missing. In between there were what looked like diamonds. I looked at the piece and bought that and a rice pearl necklace that was also not to expensive. Now I buy beads and pieces of gemstone because I make jewelry. I can tell real from fake. That opal ring was real, those were diamonds and the gold was 14K. I bought a replacement stone and re-sold that ring for $850. The replacement stone was $35 and to have it set was about $17. I kept the necklace, it is really pearls. I had it accessed and the value is in the range of $400. The clasp had been bent, but I was able to fix that.

    Another really cool item I found was an old commercial gum ball machine. This one was cast iron, I paid $10. I wanted to put a collection of marbles I have in it. My son found a knock off gumball machine figuring we could use them like book ends, his was $30 and not near as solid. In the realm of cool found stuff, we went to a Chinese auction for a haunted asylum. Ended up with this stuffed sturgeon that used to hang over the mantle in the day room. It is as creepy as the place was. It has giant scary teeth and I swear it looks right at you.
     
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  9. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    I am not certain whether Sears still has this deal with its Craftsman line of tools but they used to replace worn or broken tools without question, and without a receipt, so I have often found old Craftsman tools for 25 cents apiece at yard sales and turned them in for new ones at Sears. I haven't done that in about fifteen years but I know they have had this policy for a long time.
     
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  10. Richard Paradon

    Richard Paradon Supreme Member
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    It is still around but slowing evaporating! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craftsman_(tools)
     
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  11. Allie Seay

    Allie Seay Veteran Member
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    I made a pretty good find in a local second hand store yesterday. I found a nice, unopened artist's set with a selection of oil, acrylic and watercolor paints along with watercolor, charcoal and drawing pencils. It has oil pastels, brushes, a tray for the watercolors and two types of erasers--the kneaded eraser and another kind.
    I'm sure it's not the best quality stuff, but the whole set only cost me five dollars and I'm very pleased with it. I painted a lot in my twenties and thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't know why I haven't gotten back into it before now, other than that time has not allowed. Which is still something of a problem, but I think I can find time to fit in a little experimentation this summer.
    I hope so, anyway.

    Yay for second hand stores. I often find, as with the artist's set, that I will have something on my mind kind of steady for just a little while and, by gosh, there it will be sitting in a shelf somewhere at a really good price. People might think I'm nuts, but when that happens I just know it's a little gift from God, as he knows our heart's desires.:)
     
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  12. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    Allie, it sounds like you made a good find at the thrift store ! I used to draw and even paint some when I was younger; but I haven't done that for years now.
    When the kids were young; I had a set of those Artex ball point paint sets, and i used to enjoy drawing and painting their names, and little pictures on their jeans and western shirts. Those Artex paints were great when they were working right; but they would easily get clogged up, and then sometimes the little ball-point cameout when i was trying to clean them and get it working right, and when it did that then I had a blob of paint squirting out.
    They had new points that you would exchange, and that usually worked better than trying to clean the ballpoints; but when I did get them working right again, then I didn't have to spend money for new tips.
    They have the little acrylic paints in tubes now, and I like those much better. They do not clog up like the old ball-point ones did, and you can regulate how much paint you get better.
     
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