Garage Sales!

[SuzeOFan]

Garage sales, yard sales, tag sales....

I admit it - I'm hooked. A downright addict!

To me garage sales are like modern day treasure hunting! When I want something expensive like excercise equipment ...I know all I have to do is wait til I find it at a yard sale.

Knowing what you're looking for is a real advantage. 2 years ago I wanted a treadmill to get in shape after having a baby - but couldn't justify the cost of purchasing a new one. Wouldn't you know that lo and behold I found not only a terrific treadmill - but a stair climber - and bought them for $25 each! My friend sold me her excercise bicycle for another $25 and now I have full gym in my basement for the mere cost of $75! (They all match in white too!)



What's the best thing or deal any of you ever found at a garage sale?

[34saving]

I'm not much of a garagesaler, but I did buy a $2 printer that I sold for $50 on eBay.

[jmjj215]

I bought a small desk for my wife so she can have a place to sew. The guy wanted $5 for it and I offered $2. He said, "Well, I was really hoping for five." I just waited. In a few seconds he said okay.

The absolutely hilarious thing about the whole ordeal though? I paid for it with a five dollar bill and he had to give me change! Only later on did I realize how funny the situation was.

[Ima saver]

Don't do garage sales. The few I have checked out just mostly had clothes and kids things. I bet you get the best bargains at the nicer neighborhoods.

[ChimbleySweep]

I don't have the patience for garage sales, although we did have one at our house a few weeks back and made almost $400.

[rob62521]

Ima, so many of the sales around here are clothes and these folks expect nearly what they paid for them! There are a few good sales out there, but with the price of gas, we don't usually seek them out.

[Ima saver]

I really don't blame you. I am going to have one, the first in over 10 years. I have a lot of good bargains, no clothes!!

[lrjohnson]

Yard Sales Thread

Kealina started a similar thread in Frugal Q & A's....you both seem to have the bug! (I have it too.)

[shengmei]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

Don't do garage sales. The few I have checked out just mostly had clothes and kids things. I bet you get the best bargains at the nicer neighborhoods.

Same here. Although I have a fetish for mismatched fine china and I can only be able to afford them used.

I had a set of tea dishes that are gold-plated. Unfortunately hubby washed them with some harsh stuff and the plating went off.

[more freedom]

Originally Posted by 34saving

I'm not much of a garagesaler, but I did buy a $2 printer that I sold for $50 on eBay.

That is an awesome idea!

cool

[SuzeOFan]

Originally Posted by jmjj215

I bought a small desk for my wife so she can have a place to sew. The guy wanted $5 for it and I offered $2. He said, "Well, I was really hoping for five." I just waited. In a few seconds he said okay.

The absolutely hilarious thing about the whole ordeal though? I paid for it with a five dollar bill and he had to give me change! Only later on did I realize how funny the situation was.

Holycow! You are soooo cheeeep!
But that's what garage sales are all about! Good ol fashioned bargaining.


Selling wise, I think '34 Savings' has the right idea!

[SuzeOFan]

I found a Thomason mahogany queen bedroom set - with a full dresser and mirror, and overhead lighted 'headboard' which has two full closets on either side of the bed - at a moving sale - for only $400!

All of my children's dressers, desks, and one bed were from garage sales...

I buy alot of clothes at garage sales for the kids. Especially jeans, t-shirts and shorts. Most baby clothes are like new at garage sales because they hardly have a chance to wear them twice before they've outgrown them.

But if you have a hobby like trains, china, collectables etc. You may easily find your next treasure there too!

Lots of unique and antique furniture too.

I've only been to one yard sale in my life. I just recently had one and I made $950!!!! I was so excited. I'm going to buy something nice for myself. I was one of the people who thought they could get almost what they paid for it.(I still have lots of stuff left over)

[rob62521]

First of all, good luck Ima on your sale!

Second, hotshotcheerleader, I'm sure you got what you wanted because your stuff was in good condition. Around here, the clothes will be damaged, stained, have pills, etc., yet the people want about what they paid for them. That's what I meant. Or, they are selling an article that was expensive new, but shows lots of wear and they still want a big price. And I'm not talking primitive antiques here, but every day stuff!

[jmjj215]

I'm more interested in being a patron of garage sales and re-selling at a higher price. A lady I know makes pretty much a full-time wage by working Saturdays doing just that.

[SuzeOFan]

Originally Posted by jmjj215

I'm more interested in being a patron of garage sales and re-selling at a higher price. A lady I know makes pretty much a full-time wage by working Saturdays doing just that.

Does that lady by any chance know my grandmother?

My grandmother was a regular 'wheeler dealer' at the yard sale biz. Had them all the time. I'll bet she made hundreds of dollars every week.

Before Ebay ....there was grandma!

She'd go to other people's yard sales, pick up old furniture for $5 and fix and polish them up and resell them at hers... for $50!



I have fond memories driving around with grandma and gramps in their old black pontiac.... She'd always be on the lookout for those signs.

I'd hear, "Joe! Stop the car!!"

... and with alot of swearing in ukranian, gramps would pull over and she'd happily poke around the sale with her cane...

ah - the good ol days!

How many of you bargain at sales? <Offer a price lower than what the seller has marked>
I used to just pay what people wanted, then saw so many others bargaining I decieded to try it. Most of the time I get it at my price, but I have seen some sellers get angry. It's like they take it personal and it's an insult to them.
I have never asked for a drastic reduction.
The few times that happened to me I just put the item back and walked away.
What are others experiences with bargaining? Any tips on being a good bargainer?

[SuzeOFan]

allyourworth, good question!

I make it a rule to never try to bargain when it's under $1

...although I have also been known to break that rule from time to time!

Hey, if you think it's too much - it doesn't hurt to ask if they'll come down some.
The worse they can do is say 'sorry'.

[jodi]

Personally, I bargain a lot. I won't bother if it's one thing for a quarter, for example. But if I am buying multiple items (i.e. kids clothes or books) I will almost always round down and ask the seller if they will take less - like if I have 5 items for $.25 each, I'll ask if they will take $1 for all. I bet they say yes 95% of the time.
If I'm buying something for $5, I'll ask if they will take $3 of $4 for it, even if I would actually pay $5! It never hurts to ask and I can always pay full price if they say no. I can't personally remember anyone ever being offended by my asking, even if they do say no. I think most people expect it.

[Cheetahwoman7]

My best find would probably have to be while I was garage saling (sp) with my mom. This sale had TONS of stuff you had to dig through. I spied a turn of the century Japanese wood block print (I didn't know it was that at the time, just knew I liked it). After I bought it, I took it up to an appraisal event in San Francisco a few months later. There was no one else at the table for "oriental art" so all three "experts" looked at it. They LOVED it!! Told me that it would sell at auction for over $1200, but that I should insure it for more. Didn't have the heart to tell them I only paid $7 for it. When I told my mom that, she said that I always had a good eye for things.

As far as bargaining goes. If I think the item is worth the price, I pay it. If I'm on the fence about something, I bargain with them. Doesn't hurt.

P.S. Oh, I forgot to tell you that I still have that print. It hangs above my fireplace. It still puts a smile on my face every time I see it.