THE ART OF
Hello my name is Linda and I am a garage sale addict-I don't think the twelve steps can help me on this one! I am writing this piece to share what I have learned over the past 20 years of my favorite past-time.
First let’s start with estate and tag sales. These are usually run by professionals. The sales usually run two days sometimes three. The dealers show up at these sales very early-sometimes 2 to 3 hours before they start. They do this to get the first look at the items. It’s kind of like camping out to see that one time concert. The seller will put out numbers maybe an hour before the sale begins. You get a number and that is the order in which you may enter the house.-Easy right?
No, not just yet- there is a secret society called "dealers" and all the dealers know the following. The dealers get to the sale long before the numbers are handed out. The first dealer to get there will start a list-he will be # 1, the next person to arrive will put their name on the list and be # 2-this goes on until the numbers are given out-the professional always honors this list. I have witnessed several times the poor unsuspecting person who stands in line for a long time and he thinks he has a good chance of getting in the house early-but alas, no ticket no entry-they are sent to the back of the line. Of course this only applies to the early morning-the afternoons are usually come in and go.
LESSONS
If you want the good stuff get out of the house at the crack of dawn.
Cash is king-most sellers will not accept checks or credit cards.
Bring a big tote bag with you-you will need it to carry all your treasures.
On the first day of the sale-most of the sellers will not come down on prices.
The second day is a different story-you can bargain and should-but by polite.
Now on the garage sales:
You must get the Thursday or Friday paper to show you where the sales are-also you can go online to your local paper. Some of the ads will say no early birds-this means the seller doesn't want you there until they are all set up. I being a dealer hate to see this sentence. As every dealer knows the early bird gets the worm. Frankly we dealers are the ones that will buy Uncle Grover's old camera or Aunt Millie's old dress that is in those bozo colors. We have the cash and are willing to spend it on the seller’s vintage stuff-so why would the sellers not want early birds- I give up! I usually do not frequent those sales as there are usually 20 to 30 sales to hit.
General rules of garage sales
You can always bargain-but do so politely. Also please do not nickel and dime the seller-he will certainly not appreciate it.
Another unwritten rule of garage sales is once your hand is off an item, it is free game. So if you want something don't let it go.
Look for signs posted to help you find the sales. Signs are so important-God bless those that make signs with arrows-I who does not have GPS or any other directional skills need those arrows. Signs are the most important item for a successful sale-in my opinion. Please take the sign down after the sale is over-I have gone to sales that were the week before because I was following an old sign-Needless to say I think sign offenders should be HUNG.
