Tomorrow evening I'm driving some 240 miles away with a car load of my finest
j-u-n-q-u-e to participate in my parents' neighborhood garage sale. We're participating Thursday- Friday although the actual sale goes until Saturday. The timing is perfect since I would have had to drive up there anyway to attend a family wedding on Saturday (albeit I would have waited until Friday).It's always interesting to see what people will buy... and what fails to sell. Mr. Bean is in CA this week for work. We were on the phone earlier this evening and I asked if he would mind if I tried to sell an old Oxford blazer of his. The blazer is of poor quality and rather unattractive. His response was: "You can try- are expecting many hobos to come through?" Some combination of the use of the word "hobo" and my fatigue at the late hour made me laugh until I cried. The thing is: I bet it will sell!
What are some of the junquiest items you've sold at a garage sale? What have you been surprised to see people pass up?
My aunt commented that she sells less at neighborhood garage sales compared to when she holds one on her own. How about you? I know I'm not going to bother to lug a foldable chaise lounge I never use up to the sale- my parents are already trying to sell two!
July 18th, 2007 at 05:04 am 1184735059
July 18th, 2007 at 11:40 am 1184758823
July 18th, 2007 at 02:51 pm 1184770294
The one item I sold which I wasn't selling was the bottom of our Vick's plastic vaporizer. The pump had stopped working and I had it laid to the side to throw it out. One of the buyers asked me how much I was selling it for, and well you know that I sold the item instead of throwing it away. She had the pump but the bottom bowl cracked. Don't be afraid to put stuff out there. People are looking for parts such as wood frames, coffee inserts, coffee carafes, toilet paper holders, a lawnmoyer that isn't working - but is good for parts, screws or nails in little bags. People are looking for replacement parts and usually ask for odd items.
I place a sign that says items for free and I put it inside the area where the garage sale items are. It attracts people who would not have stopped as well.
I also sell soft drinks. People are more likely to look around and spend more time if there are refreshments there.