6 Weird Things People Sell for Cash

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When the recession began to really hit home, there was plenty of chatter about selling your plasma, undergoing paid medical tests, and even cutting off your lovely locks for a profit.  Here are some of the more off-the-wall commodities we found, and they are making some people a bit more comfortable these days.

Breast Milk 

As a mom who nursed three of her four children, I completely understand the benefits and time commitment of breastfeeding.  When situations prevent a mom from being able to do this herself, however, there are some options to keeping the milk flowing, even if it’s not her own.  Thanks to the hard work and dedication of mothers nationwide, milk has been made available to those who need it via milk banks and other donation centers.  The Human Milk Banking Association of America is a good place to start learning about the guidelines for donation, storage, and transport.

 

So how do you go about making cash from your breast milk?  Unfortunately, in the U.S. at least, finding a legal, organized place to sell your breast milk to others is very difficult.  That’s not to say that it hasn’t been done, however.  Craigslist ads have been notorious for offering milk for sale, and if you head over to this “How to Buy Breast Milk” article at eHow.com, you’ll see people offering their milk for sale in the comments.  The going rate for buying milk from a milk bank is $2-3 per ounce, which professionals claim is only a portion of what it costs to collect, screen, and store the milk.  (There is also a “How to Make Money By Selling Human Breast Milk” article, as well, but the author acknowledges that the one of the best ways to get a legitimate buyer – Ebay – is also not allowed.) 

In addition to the growing number of mothers who find a qualified stranger’s breast milk to be a lifesaving alternative, there are a few other “commercial” uses for breast milk:  Certain fetish groups have always paid for milk on the black market, and a few pharma companies pay a small fee for milk that will be turned into supplemental products for premature infants.  (And let’s not forget the potential for an increase in demand for milking moms when Ben & Jerry’s was approached with the “opportunity” to incorporate human milk into its production line.)  Whether you buy, sell, or just want to learn more, I recommend this enlightening article from breastfeedingsymbol.org.

 

Dog Hair 

For those of us who have been struggling against the constant shedding of our pups, armed with Swiffers and lint rollers, the news that dog hair is a commodity may be too good to be true.  Apparently, dog hair spun into yarn (or “chiengora”) is an old art form that dates way, way back.  (Before sheep wool was the thing to spin in the U.S., people would use the hair of a dog.)

 

Fans of the stuff claim that it holds in warmth and repels water better than other fibers.  (When found for sale, however, it is usually combined with sheep’s wool.)  Believe it or not, fans of spinning dog hair are a very helpful group (just check out Knitting With Dog Hair, a book that shows you how to cut, collect, spin, and use dog hair for everyday knitting projects). There has been some question as to the legality of selling dog hair (big surprise), and states like New Jersey actually have language forbidding the sale of dog or cat fur.

 

So how do you go about selling (or even buying) dog hair?  The verdict on this one is similar to other items on our list.  Ask around, place ads in places that don’t specifically prohibit it, and make sure that the state you’re listing it in allows it.  If it’s not possible to sell the dog hair straight out, you may be able to spin it first and offer it as a yarn.

 

Chicken Poop 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned by living on a farm most of my life, it’s that people will drive many miles and offer most anything for a pickup truck full of crap.  That’s no lie.  The amazing benefits that come with the use of natural (or “organic”) fertilizers on anything from rose bushes to potato plants is fairly common sense.  What most people don’t realize, however, is where that fertilizer comes from.

 

Since most commercial products are simply a mixture of aged chicken poop and other organic materials, it’s possible to mix up your own batch with little effort. (See this article on how to use chicken poop effectively.)  To sell chicken manure, which can be done via online ad, small local newspaper, or through your local farm or garden supply store, you’ll need a good amount of chicken manure and a way to bag it or haul it effectively (which is what people are really paying for).  Pricing will be minimal and may vary by region.

 

Cardboard Boxes 

As someone who deals with daily deliveries from UPS, USPS, and FedEx, I can understand the cumbersome nature of the cardboard box.  Generally, I have been pretty good at the art of recycling, using them in everything from moving, composting, reshipping, and even art projects with the kids.  While I also strongly support sharing used boxes with the community for free, we all understand that sometimes it’s necessary to try to recoup our costs – especially if we need to cut business or home office expenses.

 

While many companies offer to buy bulk lots of boxes in the same size and shape, there are a few places that currently buy boxes in good condition with a minimum of 3 or more boxes.  BoxCycle, for example, takes the work out of selling your boxes by listing them for you, communicating with the buyer, and handling all payment processing.  All you have to do is list your boxes with them, wait for a seller, and cash out when your payment totals $25.  (While you won’t get rich from this, it is a great way to get rid of wasted space caused by bulky boxes, and it puts a few bucks back in your pocket.)

 

False Teeth, Braces, and Prosthetics 

So these aren’t exactly in a category together (but they are most certainly in one all their own).  As the market clamors for more gold commodities, and places like Cash4Gold keep turning consumers off from the idea of selling their jewelry for extra money, consumers are getting creative with how to make a quick buck via another buyer.  Pawn shops, however, have eagerly reported an increase in the amount of business they get for items containing gold – any items – and this includes caps and crowns made from precious metals.  What else are they boasting?  False teeth (dentures), braces, and prosthetics have all been (sometimes) reluctant purchases by pawn brokers over the years.  They won’t get you rich, but if you happen to have them lying around, and don’t feel comfortable putting them in your next yard sale, it doesn’t hurt to ask.

 

Pig Ears and Bull “Sticks” 

This is a niche market that most of us wouldn’t be in a position to tap, however, I felt it was worth mentioning.  While most pet stores carry starch-based alternatives to the popular pig ear dog treat, some still offer the old-fashioned variety, made from 100% authentic swine ears.  Another interesting item for dogs to chew on?  Bull sticks.  Touted as a healthy and fun for dogs of all breeds, these treats are made from bull “parts.”  The owner of company who makes them doesn’t buy them directly from U.S. suppliers (the hormones and antibiotics are a big no-no) but rather imports them.  (Does this mean that the first person to meet the market here in the States could be in the next best “bull market?”)

 

Do you represent an exclusive niche market that sells unusual wares for profit? Care to share it with the rest of us?  We’d love to hear about it!

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Guest's picture
Chris

Great compilation..
recessions beats everyone..
makes anyone do anything...
gud exaamples..

Chris
AppsProfits.com

Guest's picture
Guest

Wondering if anyone would buy 'garden tea' made from well composted chicken or rabbit manure?

Linsey Knerl's picture

I was wondering the same thing while researching the article.  While I'm not certain it would be something that you would want to buy, load up in your car, and lug home (could you imagine?) there may be a market for someone to make up a batch, transport, and apply it for you  People will pay good money for chemicals that make their yard unnaturally green, so why not for a bucket of organic garden tea applied by someone who knows best?

Linsey Knerl

Guest's picture
Matt

Having just moved, I'm convinced that the cardboard box industry is controlled by the Mafia. If I'd have bought them from U-Haul, they would cost more than the truck rental. Folks on Craigslist have caught on and are selling used ones at almost the same cost. Even the guy at the liquor store (which used to be the best route for free boxes) tells me I can have one or two, "but if you need more, I know a guy who has some for sale." What??!!

Guest's picture
Nick

Chicken poop doesn't surprise me. Nitrates from guano is/was a huge industry, and countries have gone to war (the War of the Pacific between Chile and Bolivia, for example) over the trade and tariffs of it.

Guest's picture

Wow, I never knew that people actually sell and buy such things! That's interesting.

Guest's picture

Are you serious!? People actually pay for cardboard boxes? That seems like a huge waste of money. Go to just about any business and ask them for free boxes and usually they are more than willing to give them to you so they don't have to dispose of them themselves.

Guest's picture
Michael

I thought this was going to be just another of the dozens of articles online telling me to donate plasma (or other common tips). Way to dig up some obscure ones! A website for selling cardboard boxes? Who knew?

Guest's picture

It's just that North Americans don't know how to cook them or eat them.

Not the best part of the pig (in my opinion bacon is the best part of any pig), but their ears are still edible. :)

They love 'em in Europe or so I've been told by Top Chef. I'm still searching for a place that sells them in a dish.

Guest's picture
Guest

Cook them in a pot of any kind of beans, or use them in Mexican soups.
Any long-time flea marketer can tell you that dentures sell. Many a senior citizen has broken their own, taken them for repair or cannot afford repairs, and is willing to sterilize a good secondhand pair.
Back when I had the land for a huge garden, chicken manure was $15 a pickup truck load, and I bought plenty. Cardboard boxes, though, are still free here.

Maggie Wells's picture

Well, my husband and I bought lady bugs off a family that collects and raisies ladybugs for a living. They went to work eating the aphids off the rose bushes. The family goes 'ladybugging' on the weekends...

 

Margaret Garcia-Couoh

Guest's picture
Guest

Earthworm castings is worm poop and sells for big bucks. A small bag sells for around $25 around here. Buy some red wigglers or try to get some off freecycle.org and they will go to work processing your kitchen scraps and creating worm castings. They also readily multiply and can be sold as bait worms.

Guest's picture
Clare

My dog Walt LOVES his bully sticks.  The guy goes crazy for them.  I'd love to see more choices though.  They can be pretty expensive but we dog lovers keep snapping them up for our pups! (:

Guest's picture
alexandra

stupid shyt moda fukers

Guest's picture
alexandra

stupid shyt moda fukers

Guest's picture
Jack Victor Owens

I have a massive baseball,football collection,and a 1916 Babe ruth baseball card

Guest's picture
Guest

Wow this is really wierd

Guest's picture

And i thought that these kind of sales were only my idea :)