I give up on garage sales rant

[alex71]

A few years ago the garage sales around here would start on Friday and go to Saturday. OK, I got used to the sloppy seconds but it wasn't horrible. Now everyone is having the sales on Thursday-Friday. Nothing left for Saturday at all.

Doesn't anyone around here have a job? I give up. Its hard enough to find anything when you show up on the first day, almost impossible on the second day, and now its getting to the point that I have to take a day off to find anything.

 

[mooman]

We have had one annually for 10 years. We've found Thursday and Friday were our best days year after year. I would've never guessed it, but it's true in our case.

 

[Packard V8]

Thirty-five years ago here in Spokane, garage sales were always Saturday, sometimes also Sunday. In the past five years, the trend moved to beginning on Friday. As you say, now many begin on Thursday. I blame it all on eBay. There are literally millions of folks trying to make a living by buying yard sale stuff and flogging it on eBay. Whatever day the sale starts, some of these scavengers will be there the evening before. Any "early-birds" who try to cheat on the posted times at my sale get not only a "Hell NO!" but a "What part of 8 A.M. Friday can't you read?"

jack vines

 

[Mickey O]

Just getting back from a garage sale, boy did I hit big this time.



Just kidding, I think I could count the number of garage sales I've gone to on my fingers and toes, I've gotten lucky at a couple of them recently but to me they seem to be a waste. It seems out here everyone likes to exaggerate their sales 'HUGE SALE" "Lots of tools" (5 Chinese wrenches and an imports multi-tool is no a lot). But I have seen good garage sale finds by other people here on the board in different locations, I think the BS is a Chicago area thing. Out here, for me anyhow, auctions, estate sales and craig's list seem to be the places to go. Some Estate sales have started moving up to Thursday, it's getting a bit ridiculous, a couple of sales and hundreds of people and the Thursday sales are usually ****. But it's the same thing with all the sales around here if you're not there with in the first few hours it's usually a waste (sometimes you need to be one of the first ten people to go in or it's a waste).

 

[Indy_500]

I've gone to a couple garage sales that advertise lots of tools and found a pack of chinese screwdrivers and a handsaw. I asked if there was anything else that the lady sold and she said no. I laughed and left. But i have gone to a few and found a couple goodies. I WILL NEVER GIVE UP!

 

[Boiler]

Lot of exaggeraters for sure in garage sale adds, like if they get me their I'll buy their plus sized womens clothes due to not being able to buy tools...wtf.

I went to a nearby small town that had two auctions running a couple weeks ago. One was an estate & house sale at the house & barn that was selling, the other was at a fairgrounds building. Both had hundreds of people there. I walked up to the barn, saw they were already selling tools, and I couldn't even see the auctioneer. They were standing about 12 deep between me and him. I left...

I think I'm going to start checking out swap meets in general or the automotive ones tied to car shows. That way even if the merchandise ***** I can still see some cool cars and not waste my time.

 

[chopper1]

Garage sales in the Cleveland area began taking hold in the early 70's and 90% would start on Thursday and run through Saturday. Flea markets also started about the same time and were usually on Saturdays or Sundays always at a drive-in theater. In the beginning there were a lot of tools, antiques, collectables etc, very little clothes and toys and the prices were reasonable at both venues. Today the weekly flea markets are all but gone (no drive-ins) but the garage sales are still going strong and consist mostly of clothes, toys and junk most people would throw out. Anything worth buying at garage sales are usually gone within 30 minutes of opening. Some sales say No Early Birds and others same Early Birds Welcome.
And the buyers are something else - item is worth $10 and is marked $1.00 buyer will ask if they will take 50 cents. One time a tea cup or coffeee cup had like 50 cents on it, buyer asked if they would take less (I don't remember the offer) the seller broke the handle off and said "Now I will', thought that was hilarious.

 

[chopper1]

We stopped at one early on Thursday last week with a sign that said Huge Garage Sale what a joke. My dad use to say about this type sale, "I could have a bigger sale off the top of my dresser"

 

[mooman]

:supergay:I've never planned ahead to go to a garage sale. Two weeks ago, I picked one out in in the paper that looked good.
Got there first thing in the morning and what was it....two gay guys moving. (not that there's anything wrong with that) You can only imagine what kind of tools they had for sale there. I should've known when I saw the free coffee and the poodle on the guys lap!

 

[Rickster55]

The part that amuses me is when they advertise on CL and/or online at the free local newspaper site they say "too much to list". Well, if you cant be bothered to list then I can't be bothered to show up!

 

[Indy_500]

Garage sales in the Cleveland area began taking hold in the early 70's and 90% would start on Thursday and run through Saturday. Flea markets also started about the same time and were usually on Saturdays or Sundays always at a drive-in theater. In the beginning there were a lot of tools, antiques, collectables etc, very little clothes and toys and the prices were reasonable at both venues. Today the weekly flea markets are all but gone (no drive-ins) but the garage sales are still going strong and consist mostly of clothes, toys and junk most people would throw out. Anything worth buying at garage sales are usually gone within 30 minutes of opening. Some sales say No Early Birds and others same Early Birds Welcome.
And the buyers are something else - item is worth $10 and is marked $1.00 buyer will ask if they will take 50 cents. One time a tea cup or coffeee cup had like 50 cents on it, buyer asked if they would take less (I don't remember the offer) the seller broke the handle off and said "Now I will', thought that was hilarious.

My aunt had a kids shirt marked for 25 cents and this flippin mexican asked if she would take 10 cents! wtf are u kidding me! no wonder i have no respect for them! I had a baseball bat for sale also, i paid $200 and was asking 45 hoping to get 35-40 since i had no use for it because i was too old to use it now, well this other mexican lady asked if i would take 10 for it! My grandpa told her hell no! then she left i did end up getting 30 for it from another mexican

 

[slopecarver]

In a few decades the sales will come full circle, moving earlier and earlier wed tue mon sun....

 

[red baron]

Around here all the garage sales have is clothes. Its rare to find one with anything else!

 

[FoMoCoPower]

Doesn't anyone around here have a job?

In this economy? Your seriously going to ask that?

 

[Underdog]

I too have mostly given up on garage sales, too hit or miss. I do usually hit the local flea mkt first thing Saturday. Their are some regular dealers that specialize in tools. They hit the yard sales and non profit stores to stock their inventory. I don't mind paying them a markup on really good finds.

 

[bgott]

One of the estate sales people I know will only hold sales on Wednesday- Thursday- Friday. When I asked him why he told me that on the weekends the immigrants would rob him blind. He doesn't have as much of a problem during the week because the ol' man doesn't get his check until Friday. If he has a really big sale he will hold it over until Monday to keep from having to sell on the weekend.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

A lot of the sales here, are because too many people live on Credit. Lot's of kids toys/krap, and clothes. Thankfully I network since I miss most of the starts. Here, the best days have been Wensday (1st), and Saturday (2nd), for a long time. I stopped at one today, but passed several signs, since I had something to pick up.

 

[Need4racin]

I never buy any used tools. Waste of time.

 

[Danglerb]

Yard sales etc are strictly for those that enjoy them hit or miss. If you want a bargain, good value, etc get a nice job, work hard and use the HF 20% coupon.

I like yard sales, junky swap meets, the closer to the wreck the better the deal, be it divorce, death, or loss of a job. Part of it is talking to the people, who often prefer to unload on a stranger. Just often enough to keep me going to them, something interesting will pop up, which makes it more of a hunt than shopping.

Generic terms like tools, even estate, have turned into keywords that ad posters spam without regard for accuracy. What does some guy selling Boxter parts think will interest a 911 owner, but its still common to find a list of spam keywords at the bottom of all ads.

I am starting to just look at location and go to whats convenient.

 

[Underdog]

I never buy any used tools. Waste of time.

Well then you won't ever use some good Ole American made tools then. I always use the Vice Grips as an example. If you don't buy used ones you are left using only China **** ones. No other way around it.

 

[Packard V8]

I never buy any used tools. Waste of time.

I like yard sales, junky swap meets, the closer to the wreck the better the deal, be it divorce, death, or loss of a job.

And there you have it in two. The hunt is either interesting and fun or it's not. If one assigns a dollars-per-hour cost plus fuel and mileage, searching out used tools may not always pay off. If one would rather be at a flea market than a golf course, then it is inexpensive recreation.

Literally 99% of the tons of tools and boxes I own came used. The good thing about quality tools is reasonable use doesn't wear them out. I don't mind having the shine dulled somewhat if that means I can buy them for a dime on the dollar. But that's just me.

jack vines

 

[rhastings80]

The thing I hate about garage sales is when I'm driving to work in the morning sometimes I will try and stop if I have time but I see the signs and follow them and half the time the sale is over and they never took the sign down or it doesn't open till 9am. Sometimes you get lucky but I have found if you go out looking you never find anything good. Seems to be better to just stumble across it. In the summer I go to flea markets and then in the winter go to estate sales.

 

[bonneyman]

Yard sales are very hit and miss. Guess it's the journey, not the destination.

My best luck is hitting the same 3 or 4 hawk shops/thrift stores regularly. The people get to know me, and after a while I become a "regular" that gets stuff for $1. Might go by 3 or 4 times before I stumble upon a real gem. Then I get it for cheap. But of late good vintage tools are getting scarce.

 

[russlaferrera]

I guess Virginia is behind the times. We never have garage sales during the week. I find some good deals at church flea markets and flea markets where homeowners sell their unwanted items.