I'm not saying garage sale goers are crazy, just unique, like Trekkies. They are devoted to their "art" in ways that baffle the uninitiated. And while they have a common cause—the ultimate in recycling—this group can be categorized by individual characteristics such as plumage (Bermuda shorts, trucker hats), markings (Tim Hortons coffee cup in hand, pockets bulging with small change) and distinct calls ("I'll give you two bits for this").
By the end of the day, I had identified and haggled with five distinct types of garage sale goers. So, for anyone thinking of hosting a garage, yard or street sale this summer, I give you this field guide with tips on how to attract and handle these crazy ol' birds. Use it wisely while hawking your wares and you'll be chirping all the way to the bank.
Flocks to "I'm selling everything including the kitchen sink—once I'm done using it, that is."
Dust off one-of-a-kind items Karen, a seasoned garage sale host, has had many a wake-up call from roosters knocking on her door well before the 8 a.m. start time. She's even known them to come calling the night before. "These people show up hoping to get the first bite," says Karen, "but they're more likely to get a few tongue-lashings when they're that early."
Karen says roosters are always pecking around for one-of-a-kind items. She ought to know, she adds, because her husband is a rooster. He often brings home unusual garage sale finds, which once included a toilet and a wooden TV cabinet, which he later converted into an aquarium (both these items subsequently ended up in her own garage sales). Karen also knows roosters do their cock-a-doodle-dooing with excuses such as, "I have to go out of town later. Can I look at your stuff now?"
"I always tell them to come back when we're open," says Karen. She suggests putting your needs, such as preparing for the day and setting up, ahead of those of the early birds. "And don't be afraid to be firm with these people, because some of them can get really aggressive."
If, however, you have things under control and want to give the rooster first dibs on your goods, hold firm on your price. You might be able to get more money for an item later in the day, says Karen. "And don't give them coffee. You're just encouraging them to show up early on someone else's doorstep."
Flocks to "This mirror belonged to Snow White's evil stepmother. Honest."
Be a storyteller Any magpie will tell you it just can't resist the opportunity to turn someone else's junk into its own treasure. "I'm like a cartoon character when I find a great deal," says Shelley, who spends summer days on the hunt for garage sales. "My eyes roll back in my head and all I can think is mine, mine, mine!"
"For me, half the thrill of garage 'saling' is the bargain, and the other half is the story that goes with it," says Shelley. She's been lured into buying clothing, dinnerware and lamps after being romanced by a seller's tales (e.g., "I found this piece when I fell into a crevasse while I was hiking through Nepal"). Shelley's interest in an item increases even more when a host takes the time to talk about an object (e.g., "This Hot Wheels car has been in the family for centuries"). "It doesn't have to be a big fancy schmancy story," says Shelley. "I just like knowing the item has a history."
Flocks to "I could swear I saw this exact replica on the Antiques Roadshow last week!"
Beware the expert Cathy, a garage sale pro with dozens of sales under her moneybelt, says she finds eagles the most frustrating creatures to deal with, especially when they're looking to cash in at the expense of unsuspecting vendors.
Unfortunately, Cathy learned about eagles the hard way at a family garage sale. Her brother had put out his antique glass bottle collection and a collector snatched it up, paying only 10 cents per bottle. "He asked if we knew how much they were worth," says Cathy, who later saw similar bottles in an antique store being sold for $25 to $30 apiece. "Of course we didn't, nor did he tell us."
Cathy says eagles are easy to spot because they're usually part of the early crowd and will inquire about items they're interested in—usually antiques and collectibles such as Donny and Marie Osmond dolls in their original packaging. "They don't have time to browse or beat around the bush," says Cathy. "They're trying to hit as many sales as they can because this is their business."
Cathy recommends monitoring this bird's flight patterns and movements. "If I see a collector spending a lot of time looking at an object, I might put it aside to be ap-praised later. They may not like it and give you a hard time, but you have the right to take something off the table if you've underestimated the value of it."
Flocks to "We've got something for everyone. Cheap, cheap, cheap!"
Handling swarms Marilyn was hosting a large sale several years ago when she was suddenly distracted from her duties by the sound of a vehicle approaching.
"I saw this van coming up my driveway and watched as the doors blew open like it contained a SWAT team," she says, recalling the spectacle. "I was surprised when a group of seniors jumped out."
Although often harmless, a large group can easily overwhelm vendors and sometimes shortchange them. In Marilyn's case, members of this flock took turns distracting her by asking about chipped coffee mugs while others paid her befuddled young son far less than they should have.
"Most people are honest, but then you get those few who aren't," says Marilyn. She's learned that while the children are eager to discover their inner Donald Trump, giving them smaller jobs allows the vendor to focus on making, not losing, money. "Let the kids sell something such as their toys and keep track of the large ticket items yourself."
Flocks to "Oh, don't bother giving me any money, just take it. I'm glad to be rid of it."
Bargaining last minute "They're definitely the scavengers of the group," says Cheryl, who has effectively dealt with many vultures in the dozens of sales she's put on. "You're packing your stuff up in boxes and they're taking it back out. It's not that they're trying to cause trouble. I think it's just a combination of wanting a deal and being poky."
At the end of the day, their cheap offers may seem tempting if you haven't sold everything, but don't feel as if you have to give away the farm for just a few beans. "Determine beforehand what you want out of your sale, especially when it comes to making money," says Cheryl. "And don't allow yourself to be swayed by others' demands. Otherwise, you'll be doing a lot of work for nothing."
It is extremely important to remember that just because garage sales are a cottage industry, your house or property should be respected, she says. "The crowds come and it is easy to forget that this is where you live," says Cheryl. "Know your boundaries and protect them, because it is, after all, your home." And the last thing you want is a scene straight out of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds—with demented birds on a frenzied rampage—besides, that's what Wal-Mart is for.
I'm not saying garage sale goers are crazy, just unique, like Trekkies. They are devoted to their "art" in ways that baffle the uninitiated. And while they have a common cause—the ultimate in recycling—this group can be categorized by individual characteristics such as plumage (Bermuda shorts, trucker hats), markings (Tim Hortons coffee cup in hand, pockets bulging with small change) and distinct calls ("I'll give you two bits for this").
By the end of the day, I had identified and haggled with five distinct types of garage sale goers. So, for anyone thinking of hosting a garage, yard or street sale this summer, I give you this field guide with tips on how to attract and handle these crazy ol' birds. Use it wisely while hawking your wares and you'll be chirping all the way to the bank.
Flocks to "I'm selling everything including the kitchen sink—once I'm done using it, that is."
Dust off one-of-a-kind items Karen, a seasoned garage sale host, has had many a wake-up call from roosters knocking on her door well before the 8 a.m. start time. She's even known them to come calling the night before. "These people show up hoping to get the first bite," says Karen, "but they're more likely to get a few tongue-lashings when they're that early."
Karen says roosters are always pecking around for one-of-a-kind items. She ought to know, she adds, because her husband is a rooster. He often brings home unusual garage sale finds, which once included a toilet and a wooden TV cabinet, which he later converted into an aquarium (both these items subsequently ended up in her own garage sales). Karen also knows roosters do their cock-a-doodle-dooing with excuses such as, "I have to go out of town later. Can I look at your stuff now?"
"I always tell them to come back when we're open," says Karen. She suggests putting your needs, such as preparing for the day and setting up, ahead of those of the early birds. "And don't be afraid to be firm with these people, because some of them can get really aggressive."
If, however, you have things under control and want to give the rooster first dibs on your goods, hold firm on your price. You might be able to get more money for an item later in the day, says Karen. "And don't give them coffee. You're just encouraging them to show up early on someone else's doorstep."
Flocks to "This mirror belonged to Snow White's evil stepmother. Honest."
Be a storyteller Any magpie will tell you it just can't resist the opportunity to turn someone else's junk into its own treasure. "I'm like a cartoon character when I find a great deal," says Shelley, who spends summer days on the hunt for garage sales. "My eyes roll back in my head and all I can think is mine, mine, mine!"
"For me, half the thrill of garage 'saling' is the bargain, and the other half is the story that goes with it," says Shelley. She's been lured into buying clothing, dinnerware and lamps after being romanced by a seller's tales (e.g., "I found this piece when I fell into a crevasse while I was hiking through Nepal"). Shelley's interest in an item increases even more when a host takes the time to talk about an object (e.g., "This Hot Wheels car has been in the family for centuries"). "It doesn't have to be a big fancy schmancy story," says Shelley. "I just like knowing the item has a history."
Flocks to "I could swear I saw this exact replica on the Antiques Roadshow last week!"
Beware the expert Cathy, a garage sale pro with dozens of sales under her moneybelt, says she finds eagles the most frustrating creatures to deal with, especially when they're looking to cash in at the expense of unsuspecting vendors.
Unfortunately, Cathy learned about eagles the hard way at a family garage sale. Her brother had put out his antique glass bottle collection and a collector snatched it up, paying only 10 cents per bottle. "He asked if we knew how much they were worth," says Cathy, who later saw similar bottles in an antique store being sold for $25 to $30 apiece. "Of course we didn't, nor did he tell us."
Cathy says eagles are easy to spot because they're usually part of the early crowd and will inquire about items they're interested in—usually antiques and collectibles such as Donny and Marie Osmond dolls in their original packaging. "They don't have time to browse or beat around the bush," says Cathy. "They're trying to hit as many sales as they can because this is their business."
Cathy recommends monitoring this bird's flight patterns and movements. "If I see a collector spending a lot of time looking at an object, I might put it aside to be ap-praised later. They may not like it and give you a hard time, but you have the right to take something off the table if you've underestimated the value of it."
Flocks to "We've got something for everyone. Cheap, cheap, cheap!"
Handling swarms Marilyn was hosting a large sale several years ago when she was suddenly distracted from her duties by the sound of a vehicle approaching.
"I saw this van coming up my driveway and watched as the doors blew open like it contained a SWAT team," she says, recalling the spectacle. "I was surprised when a group of seniors jumped out."
Although often harmless, a large group can easily overwhelm vendors and sometimes shortchange them. In Marilyn's case, members of this flock took turns distracting her by asking about chipped coffee mugs while others paid her befuddled young son far less than they should have.
"Most people are honest, but then you get those few who aren't," says Marilyn. She's learned that while the children are eager to discover their inner Donald Trump, giving them smaller jobs allows the vendor to focus on making, not losing, money. "Let the kids sell something such as their toys and keep track of the large ticket items yourself."
Flocks to "Oh, don't bother giving me any money, just take it. I'm glad to be rid of it."
Bargaining last minute "They're definitely the scavengers of the group," says Cheryl, who has effectively dealt with many vultures in the dozens of sales she's put on. "You're packing your stuff up in boxes and they're taking it back out. It's not that they're trying to cause trouble. I think it's just a combination of wanting a deal and being poky."
At the end of the day, their cheap offers may seem tempting if you haven't sold everything, but don't feel as if you have to give away the farm for just a few beans. "Determine beforehand what you want out of your sale, especially when it comes to making money," says Cheryl. "And don't allow yourself to be swayed by others' demands. Otherwise, you'll be doing a lot of work for nothing."
It is extremely important to remember that just because garage sales are a cottage industry, your house or property should be respected, she says. "The crowds come and it is easy to forget that this is where you live," says Cheryl. "Know your boundaries and protect them, because it is, after all, your home." And the last thing you want is a scene straight out of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds—with demented birds on a frenzied rampage—besides, that's what Wal-Mart is for.
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