The Penny Exploit: October 2011

SummaryBlock

What exactly can a penny buy these days? This is a question often asked. Google the question and you will find a few answers. Not much, apparently, according to most. Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I actually set out to make purchases for one cent. This blog documents the various items I scored for a penny or less.

What qualifies a purchase as a penny loot? The cost of anything mentioned in this blog includes the purchase price, tax, shipping and handling fee, if any. If a rebate is involved, the postage to mail it is part of the cost. If a coupon is bought and used in the deal, that figures into the total as well. And the total cost must be equal to or less than US$0.01. The item must also be procured from a source available to the public - "My aunt gave me a sweater" doesn't count.

Some costs are not included in the one cent total. Chief among them is the time and effort to hunt for and complete the deals. Gas and mileage is not counted if a trip to the store is required. Computer and office equipment amortization, paper and ink expenditures are all excluded.

As expected, quite a few of the items I bought came from China. Depending on your tastes and needs, some of the stuff may be considered totally worthless. But that is not the point of this exercise.

This blog also does not dwell on where and how the items were bought. I frequent a few deal sites for information that lead to some of the purchases. The various auction sites are also a treasure trove to explore. But I would rather devote the blog to present the results - the items I obtained for a penny or less, in no particular order.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Hair Band - From Korea

One cent for 3.

Seller said:
3 of Ponytail Holders Elastic hair Tie bands
100% New
Easy usage to bind your hair
Beautiful Girl's favorite,hair elastic.

Ring - Green

Seller said:
Beautiful Green Rings

Bracelet - "Leather", "Handmade", Adjustable

One cent each.

Seller said:
New Fashion Handmade Adjustable Leather Bracelet
Material: Synthetic Leather
Size: Adjustable
Condition: 100% Brand New

Bar Pull for Cabinet Door - Solid Steel

One cent each. One is 10 inches long and the other 8 inches.

Seller said:
10"/8" HIGH QUALITY CABINET HARDWARE SOLID STEEL PULL
CENTER TO CENTER: 192MM /128MM
OVERALL LENGTH: 10"/8"
HIGH: 1 3/8"
FINISH: BRUSH NICKEL
EACH PULL CAME WITH 2PCS 1" SCREW.

A Penny for a Dime

It is a regular dime sold to me for a cent shipped.

Seller said:
1 random used dime
They are all randome dated 1990s and up
A penny for a dime that is a deal!!

Acrylic Bead

One cent for 5.

Seller said:
5pcs Gorgeous Acrylic Beads 30*15mm Approx
Material: acrylic plastic
Quantity: 5 pieces
A hole goes through the middle of bead
It is great for making your creative bracelets, earrings, necklaces and any fashion accessories.
The beads are wrapped with bubble to insure the safe journey.

Button - Plastic, Apple Face

One cent of the set of 2 buttons.

Sell said:
APPLE face picture Resin Hair Bow Button set
one awesome great button

European Style Bead - Metal

One cent for 5. Seller said:
Silver Plated Heart Crystal Spacer Fit Bead Findings
Condition: 100% new
Material: Silver plated + rhinestone
Beads size: approx. 11 x 7mm
Hole Size: approx. 5 mm
Weight: approx.20 g
Quantity: 5 pcs
Conversion: 1 mm = 0.0394 inch, 1g = 5 carat
Charming Silver Plated Spacer Beads fit for charm European bracelet.
Necessary for your DIY project. You can use them to make beads or pearls bracelets,necklace, earrings as gifts presenting to your friends, family on any occasions.

Mother and baby bead. One cent.

One cent each.

Shopping bag.

Silver and gold stripes.

Side view of bear.

Front view of bear.

Shamrock.

These are just repeats. One cent each.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Silk Scarf - Square

One cent each.

Seller said:
Chinese Silk Square Shawl Scarf Wrap Kerchief 20"*20"
It is Colorful,Square,Fashion,Silk for Ladies.
Length: 50 cm / 20 inches
Width: 50 cm / 20 inches
material:silk

Seller said:
white 50X50cm neck scarves wraps shawls and blackstripe

Women's Purse/Handbag - New Colors

One cent each.

I have gotten many of these over time. They are making them with new colors now.

Seller said:
2012 Color Embroidery Bridal Wallet handbag Purse
Size: 20cmx20cmx6cm

The following are examples of what I got in the past.

Spacer Bead

One cent for 10 as shown above. Seller said:
Rhinestone 3 Hole Spacer Bar Beads Findings 19*7mm

Condition: 100% new
Material: Gold Plated+rhinestone
Size: approx. 19 x 7 x 3 mm
Hole Size: approx. 1 mm
Condition: 100% new
Weight: approx. 30 g

One cent for 5 as shown above. Seller said:
Silver Plated Tone Spacer Beads Findings 11*18mm
Condition: 100% new
Material: Metal
Size: approx. 11*18mm
Quantity: 5pcs

Pendant - "Hand Carved"

One cent each.

According to the seller:
The brown ones are "charming luck Kwan-yin Pendant 42mmX28mm".
The small dark green one is "Handcrafted carve black jade mouse".
The white one is "Handmade white jade Luck zhongku".
The larger dark green one is "carved black kwan-yin Amulet Pendant 47mmX47mm"