If you buy used items for resale, you've probably heard someone say, "The time to buy cool things is when you see them." I saw this "cool thing" at an estate sale and had no idea what it was, but it was too unusual to pass up.

Cindy and I bought some other stuff, including a valuable chair, and we truly did not have enough money to pay for everything we wanted. After turning our pockets inside out and bargaining hard, we still came up about $10.00 short. The family member, who was running the till, laughed and said "Close enough."

So we got the creel for well under $1.00.

I had no idea what it was - I was guessing fishing something or other - but it looked unique and maybe collectible. The original asking price was under $5.00, so we took the chance. After all, the time to buy something cool is when you see it - you may not get a second chance.

Cindy put the creel (which she says is a bait box) up for auction on eBay, where it sold for $32.00. (See the auction here.)

$32.00 on a ten cent purchase may not go down in the annals of thrifting as the greatest score ever - but I'll take that sort of mark up any time I can get it. And the truth is - you can get it every day with vintage collectibles.

Are you selling used stuff on eBay? What's the amount of money you'll risk on an unknown item? What's your favorite score?

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