To me, one of the most fascinating aspects of online auctions is the wide assortment of items always up for sale. Type just about any word in the eBay search engine (the largest consumer auction site), and the chances are good that something will pop up matching your search criteria.

I'm probably a big contributor to that diversity.

Unique items have always attracted my attention at yard sales, and I enjoy finding new homes for my discoveries. There's never any logic to my list of auctions. I may list a set of A-Team trading cards, a Beleek porcelain vase, and an antique lipstick case on the same day. My auctions can get so diverse that one of my buyers once left me a feedback, anointing me a "Purveyor of fine & unusual items". It has a ring to it.

Of course, I realize that I'm not the only person with this affliction. So with that in mind, I asked around some of the forums to find out other people's "Rags to Riches" stories. Here are a few finds of some other purveyors of fine & unusual items.

Pat: "I bought a plate that was chipped in 3 places, had a hairline and much of the paint worn off. I bought it in the Second Hand Store for $1. It had a mark on the back of it with an Indian, and Old Sleepy Eye Flower. Mind you this was not the stoneware that they are famous for, just an old ceramic dinner plate. I listed it, noting the damage and even took close-ups of it...it sold for $112." "Then there was the Garage Sale Vase lying on the lawn with a bunch of old broken flower pots. When I saw a lady pick it up, I was very interested. When she put it down, I got it. It was like free, because they charged me a flat $20 for everything I got. I found out what it was and listed it last Christmas, it was a Peters and Reed Arts and Crafts Aztec Moss Vase, I think it sold for $260."

Jane: "I bought an Eames vintage huge bubble shaped plastic chair at a library sale for 15.00. I sold it on Ebay for over 600.00! It turned out to be made by a famous Italian furniture designer. Crazy bidding on it, lots of fun and profit!"

Shannon F: "I was cruising the local Salvation Army when I came across a box full of little blue guys, Smurfs! When I say a box full, I mean 92 of them! They were grungy and so I basically stole them for $3 and took them home for a good soaking. Sold them for $200 for a profit of $197!" "[On another] day I was on my way to a garage sale with my Mother and saw a large garbage pile on the side of the road. Much to my Mother's embarrassment, I pulled over and rummaged a bit. I found some very heavy iron things, rusty and junky with a cartoon character engraved on them. Turned out to be Happy Hooligan Wafer Irons and sold for $150!"

Sheryl L.: "[My find] was a kilt outfit (about 13 pieces, including horsehair sporron, jacket, jewelry, splats) that a friend and I paid $25 for at a flea market. When we originally came across it, I told my friend that possibly my 16-year old son who was learning to play the bagpipes, may get a kick out of it. But then I thought $25 is a lot and what if he hates it? (boys that age are not inclined to see the cultural aspects of wearing a skirt). "When we got it home, to our surprise, my son thought it was wonderful (he hopes to play the bagpipes for money someday and thought this would help his employment chances). It fit him, but just barely. His brother and best friend swore they would not be caught dead with him if he wore it! However, when I saw that kilts sold on eBay for a lot of money, I told him sorry, we are selling it! I figured he would outgrow it within a year, and probably never wear it anyway. It sold to a gentleman who attends Celtic festivals for $650. The plaid in the kilt was from his ancestry and he was thrilled with it. My son still reminds me that 'he guesses the cost of a kid's dreams is $650 these days'!!!"

Rob B: "About 6 months after eBay went on line, I visited the site and browsed around to see what all the fuss was about. While checking out the movies category, I noticed that someone was offering an original tape of a single episode from Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" television series, and the price was already up over $30. "About a week before this, I had picked up a set of "Cosmos" tapes from a friend of mine who runs a pawn shop. The set was missing one tape, but did include the bookshelf case and the book. As the set was incomplete, he gave it to me for $2 Canadian - thought I might be able to use the tapes for something else. I listed the set as incomplete and ended up selling it for over $300 US! That was my first eBay experience (great way to start eh!) and I have yet to top it."

Of course, before you rush out and buy everything that catches your eye, make sure you have a large space to store these items. I've had as many misses as I've had hits, and those misses are all sitting on shelves in the basement.

What's your best find? Go to http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/index.php and let us know!