Garage sale rant

[riderinthestorm]

I have been to a few garage sales but in 20 years I had never held one. With that much accumulated junk, I decided to see if any of it was saleable.

I placed ads and put up a few signs with prominent directions and "8-4, Fri and Saturday".

Jayzus, people came the night BEFORE, people came at 6:30 am, someone just knocked on my door and it's after 6 pm.

They wanted guns, silver and swords (WTF??!!))

They ripped off items from the "all items on this table 10 cents" table. Ten freaking cents and they are stealing this shit??

The capper was the guy who wants to see the brand-new-still-in-the-taped box treadmill. The new purchase price is clearly marked on the box $599, I've got it priced at $100. So I wrestle it out of the box, set it up, figure out how it works, run the extension cord so he can make sure it works. This whole process takes me more than 30 minutes. After looking at it (he never even got on the damn thing after all that) for maybe 30 seconds, the guy offers me $15 bucks and then walks away!!

I had the most outrageous offers I've ever encountered. It was like people were offended I might want some money for anything. Brand new quilts with $50 tags on, I'm asking a buck for them, people would offer a quarter and walk away when I would refuse! I mean, I sold the quilts for a buck to other people but the attitudes on some of these people... infuriating!

I made some good money on this but I'll never do it again. How does anyone do this week after week? I've seen people who hold serial garage sales throughout the summer, or even annually.

No wonder sites like ebay are smash hits. Dealing with these people face-to-face is ridiculous.

(Walks off grumbling, looking for a drink....)

[skygazer]

1. Here you go

Have a drink - :beer:

Yeah, I know. Everybody wants something for nothing. Even when they're getting a far better deal than they have any right to expect.

[DainBramaged]

2. People are generally scum, EBAY is the best place to sell good shit

Donate your crap, get receipts, take the tax deductions, well worth it. I don't care what it is. If you can't be confrontational with these rat bastits, garage sales are horrible. Where I live it's electronics and old tools.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

3. Garage sale

people are a different species. I've had them knock on my door at 6 AM. I've had them walk into my house to use the bathroom and then make offers on the living room furniture. I had one get in my car and attempt to start it because it was "in the garage" and therefore "for sale." I had one family with a three year old who pulled out his little willie and peed in a box of china. Another family left a box of kittens. One lady was so drunk she fell in the driveway. Her son asked me if I had any valium because he had the shakes.

I stopped having garage sales.

[riderinthestorm]

5. Okay this one made me laugh out loud.

So much so, my daughter came down to see what was making me laugh so hard.

Or maybe it's just the booze and now its all funny.

[philosophie_en_rose]

4. You'd probably make more donating the stuff.

You can deduct the entire fair value of the items you donate to a nonprofit. That $50 quilt might have turned into more than a $1 savings.

I like to go to garage sales, but I'd never hold one myself. I can't stand being around some people at other people's garage sale. I don't need them at my house.

[riderinthestorm]

7. You know it

I usually put stuff out for Purple Heart vets every month. But this seemed like a "life experience" that might be fun and interesting (??!!)

Okay, dumber than a sack of sand but it seemed like a good idea last week.

Time for drink #2. Then perhaps the whole damn day will get funnier.

[philosophie_en_rose]

8. I'll drink to that.

I think that some people believe that, because you're selling something, that they are doing you a favor by offering anything at all.

On the one hand, I don't blame anyone for offering a low price or bargaining. On the other, I don't appreciate people that are obnoxious about it.

[riderinthestorm]

10. And see, the bargaining was where the 'fun' part of it was supposed to be

I've had a lot of laughs at other sales with complete strangers over the bargaining process.

And I was prepared to deal, really. Happily. For shits and giggles.

But some of these people... dayum....

[diplomats]

6. This isn't exactly the same but...

I know an antique dealer who does this when a buyer asks him if he can do better on the price - if he agrees to the lower price and then the buyer wants him to go even lower, he says it's now back at the original price!

People always want to get a lower price on stuff at garage sales. I live in cheap Lancaster County where nobody wants to pay more than 25 cents for anything! And I put out very nice items for sale. One neighbor said my garage sales are like a gift shop. If stuff is really valuable, I just don't sell it at a garage sale. Even though it would be a bargain.

I collect table and bed linens and when I put a linen table runner at my garage sale for $15, a lady wanted to get it cheaper and I wouldn't budge. My friend who has a booth at an antique mall, sold it for me for $20! So that lady missed out.

[Clintmax]

9. Try working in retail sometime.

I have people come up to me every day, point to the price tag and say some stupid shit like: "If I buy two or three of those, how much are you going to come down on the price?" I guess they don't realize that it isn't ME who dictates the price of an item, but the manufacturer and our corporate office.

I have to deal with them all day every day. People coming into my store, and thinking I'm holding a garage sale. :eyes:

[skygazer]

11. Yeah, I know exactly what you mean

Or they come in looking for boxes for moving or packing stuff to send. I'll show them a pile of boxes that haven't been baled yet and they'll say, "Well, gee, I really need one that's smaller" or "Don't you have something that's exactly 12X14?". As if we're a bloody box store. They're getting something for nothing and they're picky about it! :grr:

[Clintmax]

13. Self Delete

I got off topic. Sorry.

[DainBramaged]

12. Place machine guns on the roof

and wear a cannon then glare at them and ask if they haggle over the price of milk or gas. Ask them if they argue price with their doctor. Then tell them this is the most important purchase they'll ever make since it goes to the Scooter Libby defense fund. I bet they will pay triple if you live in a Con neighborhood.

[riderinthestorm]

14. I needed you there!

Henry Hyde land. If only you were by my side. I woulda made out like a freakin' Robin Hood!

(More grumbles about my weenie-man in comparison to DainBramaged whilst walking off to get drink #3....)