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How to sell hobby items by mail

You can, if you are ambitious, start a Mail Order Business selling collectibles to hobbyists by mail. To begin, you must first find a hobby that appeals to you. Next, you must spend several weeks researching that hobby. You must learn what collectors want and how much they are willing to pay for it. You should also know what other dealers are willing to pay for the merchandise which they sell. And you must be willing to pay the same amounts.

Perhaps you already know exactly what you want to sell. If you have been collecting old Valentines, then start a Mail Order business buying and selling old Valentines. Or stamps. Or comic books.

The first rule of Mail Order Selling is to sell what you yourself would buy. To give you an idea of what collectors buy and sell by mail, here is a partial list of today's collectibles!

Phonograph Records
Street Car Tokens
Boat Photographs
Cigar Labels
Fruit Jar Labels
Advertising Cards
License Plates
Old Magazines
Dog Pictures
Beer Labels
Gun Catalogs
Movie Magazines
Circus Posters
Paper Currency
Autographs
Music Boxes
Cartoon Books
Dolls
Salt/Pepper Shakers
Theater Programs
Hunting Licenses
Greeting Cards
Political Buttons
Valentines
Old Pencils
Baseball Cards
Cookbooks
Atlases
Children's Books
Beatles Items
Military Medals
Stock Certificates
Stamps
Sheet Music
Indian Relics
Old Toys
Doll Clothes
Railroad Books
Menus
Gems
Minerals
Fishing Licenses
Maps
Belt Buckles
Cigar Boxes
Thimbles
Airplane Photos
Comic Books
Train Photos
FBI Posters
Old Calendars
Newspapers
Automobile Manuals
Postcards
Diaries
Antique Barbed Wire Arrowheads
Coins
Old Jewelry Railroad Passes
Buttons

I would like to suggest that you send for sample copies of two magazines. They are read avidly by hobby dealers and hobby collectors alike:
THE COLLECTORS NEWS
THE ANTIQUE TRADER WEEKLY
Box 156 Box 1050 Grundy Center, IA 50638 Dubuque, IA 52001

Each of these publications contain around 70 or 80 pages of ads from dealers and collectors.

Almost every hobby publication, large or small, if listed within its pages. Once you have selected your field, start a file. Keep copies of all the ads selling your kind of merchandise. Also keep ads showing the dealers buying prices. If price lists are offered in ads, send for them and STUDY them. MAKE YOURSELF AN EXPERT IN YOUR FIELD. Try to locate any publication that deals with your field. Often, you can locate small mimeographed publications and newsletters which will give you all kinds of useful information.

Your next step is to look for merchandise in your own community. Here are some suggestions:

1. Start by attending flea markets and antique shows. Don't be afraid to make inquiries of dealers. They often have what they consider "junk" stashed away, assuming that it isn't of much value to anyone. I once discovered a fabulous stamp collection that way!

2. Browse around through Thrift Shops.

3. Study the garage sale ads in your local newspaper. Visit any that sound promising. (Sometimes, it pays to telephone, they may be able to direct you to others who have exactly what you need!)

4. Place "Wanted to Buy" ads in your local Swapper's News, or your local newspaper. Be sure to list your phone number. It is amazing what you can find in your local community if you work at it.

However, if you can't find enough merchandise locally, run ads in the Collector's Magazines listed above. Their rates are very, very low. And you will soon discover that they are widely read! Once you have accumulated a decent stock of merchandise, you are ready to begin selling it. If there are publications specializing in your field, by all means advertise there. You have a ready-made audience! Also run ads in the big hobby magazines. Type up a list of what you have and have an Instant Printer make a hundred or so copies for you. Hobbyists don't mind typewritten, laser printer, or xerox copies - it's half the fun of collecting. Then run your ad. Your ad can merely offer your list to interested collectors free (or for a SASE, to weed out coupon clippers). Or you can offer to make a sale straight from the ad. If you do the latter, stick in your price list with the merchandise. It will be read...eagerly!

Here are a few sample ads run by hobby dealers for your consideration: * "Railroad Timetables, 1940's Four Different - $4.00 postpaid." * "Old Children's Books and Texts. #10 SASE for List." * "85,000 Comic Books, Movie Magazines, Funnies, etc., 1900-1957. Catalog $1.00 (Refundable)." * "Original Movie Posters, Pressbooks, Stills, 1919-1975. Catalog - $.50 * "Sleigh Bells! SASE for list." Just in case you are not familiar with the phrase, "SASE" means "Self-addressed, stamped envelope".

As you progress, you will learn continually. Most hobby dealers will tell you that they learn more from the collectors who buy from them than they could ever learn from any other source. Below are some other hobby publications that may interest you. (At the time this article was written, these publications were available. However, we can not guarantee that they are still in publication. There are several things you can do before sending a letter or money to them. You can check your local library in the Index of Periodicals or a local book store may be able to verify current addresses for them. Good luck). You can write to these publications and request a sample copy. However, it would be a good idea to include postage when requesting copies from the publisher.

HOBBIES LYNN'S WEEKLY STAMP NEWS 1006 S. MICHIGAN AVE. BOX 29 CHICAGO, IL 60605 SIDNEY, OH 45365
THE AUTOGRAPH NEWS DOLL CASTLE NEWS 7540 S. MEMORIAL PARKWAY BRASS CASTLE HUNTSVILLE, AL 35802 WASHINGTON, NJ 07882
WESTERN STAMP COLLECTOR JESSIE'S HOMEMAKER BOX 10 731 BLUE BELL STREET ALBANY, OR 97321 FT. COLLINS, CO 80521
COIN & STAMP TRADING NEWS CANADIAN HOBBY SHOPPER BOX 11101 BOX 3382 - HALIFAX SOUTH, NS SANTA ROSA, CA 95406 CANADA B3J 3J1
STAMPS MAGAZINE 153 WAVERLY PLACE NEW YORK, NY 10014

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