Bad Deals (And One Good One)

Today let's talk about thrifted auctions that can be bad deals, like this Gütermann thread lot. I'm always on the lookout for Gütermann thread, as it's strong, never frays, and I think it's the best you can buy. I did bid on this used lot, which started out at $9.99, but quickly surged out of control as other bidders swarmed it. I dropped out at my maximum, which was $15.00. The lot ended up selling for $128.23 plus shipping, which was a bad deal.

Why? These are about a hundred spools, so it looks good, only they're used, so you don't really know how much thread you're getting. You can buy brand-new Gütermann thread in bulk pretty cheaply if you catch it on sale; right now JoAnn is selling 26 spool collections for $19.99, and a 42 spool basic colors notebook collection for $49.99.

Then there is condition, and how it is described in the auction listing. For this crocheted blanket the condition was said to be "used but good with spots." A close up picture showed one small dark spot that looked like soiling or rust transfer.

Here's the problem: see those big circular patches of pink in the center white panel? My eye tells me those are not photo shadows. They look to me like bloodstains someone tried to wash out and failed to remove, which if I'm right is probably why the blanket was donated. If you see large discolorations on an item and they're not mentioned in the listing, that's a red flag (no pun intended) and a bad deal no matter what you pay for it.

Here's a good deal: a lot of new and like-new themed journals, which run anywhere from $9.99 to 14.99 each. I bid $9.99 for the entire lot, which is about .99 each, and I'll probably win it* because there are very few bidders for journals.

*Nope, actually someone outbid me at the last second. :)

Comments

Better than Fried

I cut some chives from the kitchen garden to make garlic-chive baked fries for dinner. This is a great side dish for veggie burgers. Click here for the recipe from Taste of Home.com.

Make It Yourself

As we head into December, here are ten ideas for easy handmade gifts: Cookie Exchange: If you live close to your friends invite them over for a cookie exchange. Basically everyone bakes a set amount of their favorite cookies, and these are exchanged at the gathering by lottery, sharing a little from each batch with everyone, or however you want to do it. You can also exchange recipes, too. My neighbor did this once and it was wonderful. Favorite Recipe Cookbook : For my favorite person I found a copy of my favorite cookbook from a vintage bookseller (yes, I am that old) and went through it making notes on all the recipes I used, how I tweaked them, etc. Ornament: There are probably a million free tutorials on how to make your own holiday ornaments, so do some research online. I like to make hanging pomanders , which smell heavenly and are biodegradable after the holidays. Mug Rugs: If you sew, making up a set of mug rugs is simple and easy; I add these every year to my ...

Journal Find

This is a page from my 2010 poetry journal. My handwriting isn't the best, so I'll transcribe it: If my heart survives to tell all the secrets kept inside it will be an abalone shell in which the beauty did reside. But I think I will always be lost to the tides that rage in me . . . humbling and polishing . . . I don't write many self-portrait poems, but this one isn't too embarrassing. A bit overly dramatic, but the girl I was eleven years ago went through some tough times. I'm in a much more peaceful place today.

Rayen

Search This Blog