Nothing beats garage sales for adventure, saving money and meeting nice people. You never know what you might find, but you can count on great bargains and friendly people at almost every sale.
Did you ever want to have a baseball pitching machine? I bought one for $17 at a local garage sale.
Aren’t those J.H. Henckels knives expensive? I bought one of their chef knives in perfect condition for 25 cents at a church rummage sale.
I recently bought a 15 inch chain saw in mint condition for $10. Its only problem was a dull chain.
How about DVDs for your home entertainment collection? I find them at yard sales for $1 each.
Are you a collector? Others are too. How about some Beanie Babies and stuffed animals for 25 cents each? They are common at garage sales.
Here is the bottom line on yard sales: people have lots of things to get rid of, and your job is to help them. They only want a little money, and that’s all you have to give. Garage sales are a smart shopper paradise.
Even better, people have things they want to give away at garage sales. A woman was giving away a beautiful brand name organ that she no longer had room for. She only wanted to find a good home for it. Wow, how about bargains like that — free!
People in your neighborhood are always moving, cleaning out their closets and garages, and trying to get rid of things they or their families have accumulated. They have items and resources that they consider waste, and you can take them off their hands for next to nothing if you know how bargains are made.
Even if you think the asking price is a little high, haggling for a lower price is almost expected of the smart shopper at garage sales. Remember, people have things they want to get rid of. No reasonable offer is ever refused.
If you aren’t comfortable with price negotiations, then garage sales are the place for you — practice your negotiating skills. People are friendly and they are generally happy to have an offer on their things.
No matter what you might be looking for, chances are good that you will eventually find it at one of those garage sales in your neighborhood. It could be an automotive tool, a box of nails, a lawn mower, chains, household cleaners, clothing, shoes or winter socks. It might be a kitchen gadget, tires and wheels, gardening tools and supplies, a stamp album, boats or vehicles, or a collection of 250 ball caps. I have found them all at garage sales.
Use a tool like Map Quest to plan your route the evening before. Get an early start and take a friend along to enjoy the fun and help with navigation. Have a street map and local paper handy for a weekend adventure of garage sales and yard sales.
Here are a few tips to help the smart shopper with adventures in garage sales:
cash only
arrive 30 minutes early
combine multiple things to get a better price on the lot
ask what they want if the price isn’t marked
insist the seller state a price first — this gives you a better negotiating position
try things out, plug things in, and ask the seller about their condition
Most importantly, have fun with your neighbors and learn a little about their lives. Enjoy the good weather and good trading at neighborhood yard sales.
My Links : Almawrid Oki Esq Swiss http://abrahamliechty.phonesexdigest.com/ http://emmalyons.roomsserve.com/ http://martyneeds.ndesignsblog.com/