Some estate sales are so crowded with one theme that you can feel the owner’s passion from the driveway. The couple behind @FloridaPickers said this Florida sale had the most cat stuff they had ever seen. Stacy and Travis sell on eBay, and they went in hunting for a black cat lamp with glowing green eyes and for Laurel Burch items. They came out with something neither of them expected, and they shared the trip from the first price check to a tiny piece of jewelry that turned out to be the real find.
The lamp that cost too much
Their first target was the lamp. They say it usually sells for $100 to $200, and they had agreed beforehand that $50 was the most they would pay. Inside, the tag said $100. Travis saw the price and passed. As they later explained, the lamp was at the front of the house, so he got there first, and the decision was quick.
Cats, cats and more cats
Stacy moved on to the figurines. One clear cat figure at $15 looked to her like it might be Lalique, but there was no mark except a note that said Taiwan, so it was not. A porcelain Greek mythology tea set at $175 was rare. By their numbers, a teapot from the set last sold for $75, a demitasse cup and saucer for $105 and a sugar and creamer for $45. They also saw Culver cat glasses, a set of four, at $5, and a cat jacket made of 100 percent silk.
A Fenton iridescent cat was priced at $35. Listings ran as high as $95, but a sold comparison for the roses and hearts sitting cat was $35, so they passed. A catalog cat sweater had sold for anywhere from $23 to $85, which is too wide a range to trust. They also passed on a cat tape dispenser at $13 and a small corner cabinet at $50. Their method is to check comparable sales before paying, and as they put it, “you always got to check the comps.”
Laurel Burch and the fabric
Laurel Burch earrings were their other target. Travis found about ten pairs, maybe eight, priced at $4 a pair, and they say they resell for $20 to $30 and have sold quite a few over the past year. One pair came with a matching brooch pin. Stacy kept the moon earrings for herself. Laurel Burch fabric was also on sale, a large piece for $5, a medium for $3 and a small for $2, including a rare rainbow pattern. They noted that 17 yards once sold for $125, though they did not have anywhere near that much.
The find
Then came the piece that gave the trip its title. They found a small black cat set priced at $15: a pin with a hook so it can be worn as a pendant, and matching earrings with yellow eyes. Tiny print on the back says “Sterling,” and Travis spotted it with a loop. “It says sterling on the back.” They say they do not think the estate sale staff saw it either, noting that another necklace at the sale was priced at $1,600.
To check the value, they searched sold listings. According to them, the same set of earrings and pin sold on Etsy for $350, and similar pendants on eBay and Terapeak run $100 to $200. Those are their numbers, and a set like this can vary widely depending on the maker and condition. They did not identify the designer with any confidence, so it is best not to guess at one.
The rest of the cart
The checkout was a long one. Their tally included ten pairs of earrings at $4, pens at $6, necklaces at $6, nightgowns at $2, shirts at $2 and sweaters, including a cat sweater for $8. A first count came to $71.69 with tax, and the final total landed at about $128 after more clothes were added. Two blankets at $8 each, a cat quilt and a cat tapestry, are ones she thinks could bring $50 to $60.
On the clothing side, a Blair fleece cat sweater cost $5 and last sold for $50. A Storybook Knits sweater with a black hat, beads and sequins last sold for $30 to $40. Three cat shirts at $2 each could bring $20 each, or $50 to $60 as a lot, and she kept the one that reminded her of a Hocus Pocus character. The most exciting clothing find was an Eileen West white nightgown and robe set with blue ribbon. It has stains, but at $2 a piece she says it can resell for $50 to $75, and other nightgowns sell for about $25.
Half off, and a decision
At checkout, Stacy asked about discounts and was told half price would start the next day, even though the ad said Friday to Sunday. They say half off is usually on the last day, “99 percent of the time.” That left them deciding whether to split up, with one returning for the lamp and the other going to a different sale.
They closed with some recent sales: a Lilly Pulitzer bundle bought for $40 total, with three pieces sold, and Disney Princess plush listed at $80 and fairies at $55, both of which sold.
What to take from it
Set a limit in advance. They agreed $50 was the most for the lamp, and when the tag said $100, they stuck to it.
Carry a loupe or loop. Tiny stamps like “Sterling” can be missed by sellers and shoppers alike, and a magnifier is cheap.
Divide and conquer. They split the house, with Travis going left and Stacy going right, which helps you reach the target before someone else does.
Compare the right data. Listings can be wildly different from sold prices, and one high Etsy sale does not make a market.
Ask about discounts. Many sales reduce prices on the last day. Asking politely costs nothing, though the answer may not match the advertisement.
In the end, a lamp they passed on may not be the story. A small cat pin with a tiny stamp on the back is.
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