The garage sale and the five-year old

[MotionMan]

I was looking at Craig's List and was surprised to see quite a few garage sales in our neighborhood today. My 5 year old son and I decided to go look at a few.

One in particular was a travesty; clothes in piles on the driveway, electronics thrown about, a mine field to navigate. As we walked back to our car, my son said, "Daddy, that was not a garage sale. That was a garage fail."

I could not prouder on this Father's Day. (BTW, I do not ever recall using the term "fail" in front of my son. He literally came up with it all on his own.)


Since we are on the topic of garage sales, whenever we hold one, I pull out the folding tables (and sun shades), place the clothes either in folded piles or hanging on a rack, I put other items on the (usually 4-7) tables in categories and I try to display each item in an attractive way. If I am selling a computer, TV, or VCR, I plug them in and have them on to show that they work.

When I go to other garage sales, I feel like I am in the minority - Most other people do not seem to put it any effort at all, even minimal effort, when displaying their stuff. What have you found in that regard?

BTW, if you do not like garage sales, post those comments in your own damn thread!!!

MotionMan

 

[olds]

I hate garage sales.

 

[venkman]

Garage Sales take money away from poor, needy countries like China and the Walmart corporation.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I hate garage sales.

That line was put in there just for you. You follow me around like a lost puppy. You are so predictable.

MotionMan

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I hate garage sales.

That line was put in there just for you. You follow me around like a lost puppy. You are so predictable.

MotionMan

I like train wrecks.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

man + garage sale = fail

That's what I think. Might as well put on a skirt and tampon prior to going.

 

[paulney]

I am giving away a patio swing today. It was a virtual stampede of e-mails, but as usual with Craigslist posters, only two people called, and only one of them is seriously coming to pick it up. Should be fun.

 

[paulney]

I usually don't go to garage sales, because professional hunters will pick up all the good stuff first anyway, and secondly, I'm only interested in tools. But for tools there's always Craigslist, so no reason to hop from one neighborhood to another. My garage is already overfilling with junk. I should do a garage sale myself.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I hate garage sales.

That line was put in there just for you. You follow me around like a lost puppy. You are so predictable.

MotionMan

I like train wrecks.

For some reason, your intellect goes right out the window when you get a hard-on to respond to my posts.

I am sorry, but your man-crush feelings for me are not mutual. Move along.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: paulney
I usually don't go to garage sales, because professional hunters will pick up all the good stuff first anyway, and secondly, I'm only interested in tools. But for tools there's always Craigslist, so no reason to hop from one neighborhood to another. My garage is already overfilling with junk. I should do a garage sale myself.

It is amazing to me how quickly we seem to gather stuff that is worthy of being sold at a garage sale.

I donate some stuff, but I hold on to some things because I enjoy the interaction with people that occurs at our garage sales. I joke that it is research regarding the jury pool.

MotionMan

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: paulney
I usually don't go to garage sales, because professional hunters will pick up all the good stuff first anyway, and secondly, I'm only interested in tools. But for tools there's always Craigslist, so no reason to hop from one neighborhood to another. My garage is already overfilling with junk. I should do a garage sale myself.

Yeah anything advertised as 'tools' and all the good stuff will be gone really quick. I went to one at ~9am ( started at 8 ) and all I could get was a micrometer / run out gauge / really nice simpson meter and a box of fuse holders. They had a big oxy-acetylene rig for ~$100 ( the tanks alone go for ~$250-300 together ) - should have picked that up.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I hate garage sales.

That line was put in there just for you. You follow me around like a lost puppy. You are so predictable.

MotionMan

I like train wrecks.

For some reason, your intellect goes right out the window when you get a hard-on to respond to my posts.

I am sorry, but your man-crush feelings for me are not mutual. Move along.

MotionMan

Text

<---- See my post count. I respond to many threads, not just yours. See the link above and ask for help. It's the first step to recovery.

 

[bolomite]

OP, your son has shown that he is ready for his own handle here on ATOT

 

[Fenixgoon]

that's so awesome. happy father's day, MotionMan :beer:

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I hate garage sales.

That line was put in there just for you. You follow me around like a lost puppy. You are so predictable.

MotionMan

I like train wrecks.

someone needs to stop the nerd cycle, think of the children.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
man + garage sale = fail

That's what I think. Might as well put on a skirt and tampon prior to going.

You don't go to garage sales? Turn in your mancard immediately!

I've bought countless tools, car parts & accessories, even a few guns at yard sales over the years. To this day, I have a difficult time passing one by...BUT, I have learned to be very discerning...lots of people sell JUNK at them...sometimes junk that LOOKS like it actually works right.

Last weekend, we were looking for a CRT replacement for our old Sony Trinitron that recently crapped out, and we picked up a 2005 Toshiba 27" that fits my wife's entertainment center just right. (long post in the audio/video forum) Since we were buying the TV, the lady threw in HER nice oak entertainment center, AND we bought her dining room set as well. She was in her late 60's, maybe in her 70's...everything was immaculate and looked like brand new.

We're getting ready to have a garage sale of our own and the entertainment center will probably go in that to try to recoup some of what we spent last weekend, along with tons of other crap...I mean fine collectibles that someone just can't live without..:roll:

Last summer, the yard sale we had netted us about $1500. Paid for a storage shed and concrete pad for my backyard as well as a new garage opener and installation.

 

[Baked]

It's a Mexican Flea Market.

 

[waggy]

i love garage sales and auctions. people have no clue what they have aand they will put a sticker on it for $4 and get atalked down to 2.


i have gotten some great items for cheap. a lady down the street used to go to auctions/garage sales and buy everything then put it on ebay. she was makeing well over 60k a year doing it. but granted she worked at it like a full time job.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Baked
It's a Mexican Flea Market.

No, but those are cool if you're in Mexico.

 

[se7en]

Disorganized garage sales are where the deals are at. Those that keep shit all neat and tidy like the OP is where the money is made.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: paulney
I usually don't go to garage sales, because professional hunters will pick up all the good stuff first anyway, and secondly, I'm only interested in tools. But for tools there's always Craigslist, so no reason to hop from one neighborhood to another. My garage is already overfilling with junk. I should do a garage sale myself.

This is what ruined it for me. Some people get up at 6am and grab all the good stuff in the first 10 minutes. If I could leisurely go garage sale to garage sale around 9-10am, I would be up for it.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: Baked
It's a Mexican Flea Market.

No, but those are cool if you're in Kahleeforneeya.

Fixed.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I hate garage sales.

Because the last time you tried to have one you just sat and screamed at people to get off your lawn.

 

[RKS]

We hate garage sales but I talked my wife into one when the entire neighborhood was having one. I wanted to donate or sell all of our baby clothes, toys, and related 'stuff'.

It was actually kinds weird. The pro shoppers will show up a couple hours before the advertised time and if your garage is open they will root through all of your items and even things that you never intended to sell.

Most shoppers are simply mobile CLers anyway. They'll lowball you into donating items.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: Baked
It's a Mexican Flea Market.

No, but those are cool if you're in Kahleeforneeya.

Fixed.

Still nowhere near as cool as the real thing.