The Thrift Fishing Trip — Waiting, Watching, and the Moment You Strike

We arrived at opening and spent the first half hour scanning the store.

On my way out, I spotted them — Denby Azure dishes sitting quietly on a cart in the back. Not yet released. Certainly not yet available and they were there waiting, teasing me.

I recognized the glaze immediately and stepped to the side to confirm what I already suspected. But there was nothing to do except wait.

For the next hour, more people entered the store, including dealers I knew. Anyone could have brought them out. Anyone could have reached them first.

This episode explores the psychological side of thrifting — the waiting, the observation, and the moment when preparation finally meets opportunity.

Most people only see the item afterward. They don’t see the waiting that came before it.

Field Notes from the Secondhand Market Report.

Estate sales are often viewed from the outside as organized shopping events — but behind the scenes, the work is far more complex.

In this episode, we’re talking about the challenges that rarely get discussed in the estate liquidation industry. From navigating emotional family dynamics and working within compressed real estate timelines to managing unexpected obstacles inside the home, professional liquidators are constantly balancing logistics, sensitivity, and business decisions.

You’ll also hear about the physical and mental demands of the job, why strong contracts matter, and how maintaining control of the workspace protects both the process and the outcome.

Estate liquidation isn’t simply about pricing and selling items — it’s about guiding a property through a major transition with professionalism and steadiness.

If you’ve ever wondered what truly happens behind the scenes, this episode offers a candid look at the realities of the work.

Pricing an estate sale is never about gambling and hoping items sell. Professional liquidators are hired to do two things — raise funds for the family and empty the home. Achieving both requires intentional pricing from the very beginning.

Holding out for eBay-level pricing often misunderstands the estate sale environment. Online marketplaces have millions of buyers. An estate sale has a limited window and a localized audience, and the most serious buyers typically walk through the door on the first morning.

In this episode, we discuss why strong results are rarely accidental, how strategic pricing drives momentum, and why meeting the market matters more than chasing theoretical value.

For the written companion article, visit: https://www.secondhandmarketreport.com/articles/strategic-estate-pricing

In this episode of The Secondhand Market Report, we talk about catch and release — the practice of recognizing value without feeling obligated to bring everything home.

Using a recent thrift store find as a starting point, I share why even good buys aren’t always the right buys, how capacity and inventory models shape our decisions, and why leaving something behind can be just as intentional as purchasing it. We also look at how brand recognition, demand, and resale velocity play into these choices, and why the best buyer for an item isn’t always you.

This episode is for resellers, estate professionals, and secondhand shoppers who are learning how to balance opportunity, experience, and sustainability in their work.

In this episode of The Secondhand Market Report, we break down the buyout model in estate sales and resale — what it is, how pricing actually works, and why it exists in the first place.

Buyouts are often misunderstood, especially by people who have never had to clear a house on a deadline. This conversation looks at the realities behind them: labor, time pressure, donation and dump costs, access issues, and the emotional weight that often comes with these situations.

We talk about:

• What a buyout actually is (and what it isn’t)
• Why some homes are not suited for public estate sales
• How pricing is determined behind the scenes
• Why speed and logistics matter more than “top dollar”
• How free days sometimes fit into the process
• The human side of clearing a lifetime of belongings

This episode is based on our written article exploring estate buyouts from the inside — shaped by real-world experience, not theory.

You can read the full article and explore more reporting on resale, estate work, and sourcing at: https://www.secondhandmarketreport.com

Today we explore an article that was written by Consumer Affairs titled "Secondhand is quickly becoming the new way to shop and save". But is it new?

I was an early blogger back in 2006 and built a small following discussing anything and everything about thrifting. I evolved from thrifter to online seller, to antique dealer and eventually became an estate liquidator. I work too much and lack a creative outlet, aside from staging and photographing inanimate objects. Speaking, instead of writing, will be my (with hope) creative outlet. I'm just testing the waters here and in this initial and short podcast, I am discussing the dark side of the business: too much inventory and never enough time. What looks to be an exciting business, is actually all consuming at times. The last section was added because of a needed edit so forgive the awkward, amateur first attempt. Thanks for listening.