People will collect just about anything...

Okay - so this is a weird one... as part of a multi-item.. I got this chest/ottoman/box for $5...

 I thought it was interesting looking online and when I got it home I was like ... ugh.. ugly moustache (family saying for super ugly)

My idea was that I would rip it apart and paint it .. make a toy box or something out of it and re-sell it for a few bucks.. or keep it if I liked it enough.

So I went to go and start my deconstruction, flipped the box over and... saw ...



this

Electrolux?  What?  Why on earth would a vinyl chest have Electrolux written on it.. I put the chest back down and went on my computer to check..

I discovered a site http://vacuumland.org/ where people gather to talk about their collections of retro vacuum cleaners?  really?

Even MORE surprising is that people used buy these types of storage ottomans to store their vacuums in plain site instead of in a closet, etc.. novel idea.. I can see why it never caught on.  Anyway, these vacuum cleaner collectors apparently go crazy for these things to complete their "sets'... case in point.. this one dude had his full collection of complete sets.

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?4085

and here is the same set as mine!!

Anyway - hilarious... I talked to Luke who said that his mom had an identical "hassock" at her house.  I thought for about a day about trying to find such a collector and scoring the $150-200 they pay for these hassocks.. but who am I kidding?  I don't have that kind of time to waste/spend.. SO, I re-listed the item about a week later for $20 and had buyers right away.. crazy..  Good luck to the guy who bought it from me!

Summary

Purchased: $5
Sold: $20
Profit: $15