Thirsty has spent the last three years raiding walmarts, cleaning out Targets, skulking around TRU and dutifully hitting the local Lego store as often as possible but not often enough to arouse all kinds of suspicions...

So here I sit with all kinds of Lego, Orc Forges, Deadpools NIB, Fire Brigades, Haunted Houses, 7964's, 7965's, 9515's, etc, etc....  All kinds of stuff, multiples in almost all cases.  Work slowed up (I'm in Alberta) so I am looking at holes in my schedule I can fill with getting my newly minted biz off the ground (GST # and everything).  Going to get a new address ( a suite at the nearest UPS store), credit card is on the way.  Pay Pal registration up next....

Where am I headed?  Amazon or Ebay?  Not interested in Kijiji.  Calgary isn't big enough for 18 Orc Forges, 8 Fire Brigades, 9 Wolverine Chopper's, etc, etc.  If I updated my Brickfolio I'd probably be north of $70 k.  Gotta a lot of Brickmania stuff too!

I like the prices on ebay (recent sold listings).  But it seems like the stuff on Amazon is listed higher and may even attract a larger audience???   Does stuff on there actually sell?  Like does Town Hall listed on Amazon for $880 and change actually get bought?  Why are there so few Canadian dealers on there?  All Japan, UK and US.  Or do the Canadians get cleaned out early?  Or maybe Canadians are too busy drilling for Maple Syrup and chopping down trees to bother with it?  The way I look at it I can easily be the lowest price in a lot of instances on Amazon and easily make 200-300 % profit.   I'd still do good on ebay, its a little more user friendly I think, but Amazon really intrigues me.  Heck Amazon US would be even better getting paid in Yankee dollars with the exchange rate where it is.

Wondering what you guys think???

 

Edited April 27, 201510 yr by thirsty
Cant speel worth schit

I'm French Canadian and am fluent in French so that's one of the reasons we chose France.

I only have my personal 10212 and one used one that I haven't gotten around to cleaning and selling. [emoji4]

Could you please clarify something for me: Are you fluent in French or Quebecois... (I can't make a large enough smiley face)

Top rated PowerSeller as of today.  120 problem free sales minus Jessica Scam (lol!) in ten months flat. 

I'm a contractor in real life and am no stranger to business, have to say this has really opened my eyes to a world of opportunity (not just Lego) in online retail.

Thanks for all your help Brickpickers!!!

On 9/19/2015 at 7:42 AM, redghostx said:

 

Could you please clarify something for me: Are you fluent in French or Quebecois... (I can't make a large enough smiley face)

I totally missed that post... well, as it turns out French in France is quite different than what I learned in school which is not Quebecois. It has been an interesting three months so far... my 8 year old has learned so much French that he has occasionally corrected me on some words and has definitely learned some words I never knew. The biggest challenge (and I'd bet for any language) is the way they blend words at high speed. When people speak more slowly, I pick up 99% of what they say. At regular speed, it's more like 80% which can be frustrating.

10 hours ago, thirsty said:

Top rated PowerSeller as of today.  120 problem free sales minus Jessica Scam (lol!) in ten months flat. 

I'm a contractor in real life and am no stranger to business, have to say this has really opened my eyes to a world of opportunity (not just Lego) in online retail.

Thanks for all your help Brickpickers!!!

Great to hear... How much of your inventory have you moved? Are you still buying? Have you sold more to Canadians our outside of Canada (with the weaker dollar)? Come on, details! We want some details!

Seriously though, good on you.

Sold about a quarter of my total collection.... replaced most of it with new inventory.  Getting better at picking short term winners, picked up 16 75054's right before Xmas (saw that coming a mile away).  Still have a mix of dud's to sell.  A lot winners too though.  Nice thing is that you usually get your all of your money out of the duds, try that in the stock market!

I would say sales are split between Canada and the US.  Alberta bought a lot of Lego right before Xmas and then right after but has completely disappeared since.  Lot of stuff goes to Ontario, some to Quebec some to BC. 

Starting to diversify, stocking up on things that are undervalued, or do well due to currency arbitrage across a border.  Getting into near classic cars.  The auctions on Catawiki of Modern Classics has really peaked my interest.  Picked up two low km 1991 BMW's in the last month.  Want a dozen.