posted on May 4, 2002 10:00:34 AM new
These threads have always been fun in the past. Tell us what your best finds are. This week or last year, just fun to find out.
Today I went to a small neighboring town that was having community yard sales. I was looking specifically for a small stereo with a CD player for my granddaughter.
The first 20 or so I found some legos for 50 cents, a vintage santa ornament for $2.00 and a Coach purse for $1.00.
Then I found a stereo just like what I wanted only it was covered with about an inch of dust. I asked if it worked and the man said he had no idea whether it did or not. When I asked if we could try it, he said I could have it for a quarter without trying it. It works GREAT!!!
I am doing happy dance.
[ edited by rarriffle on May 4, 2002 11:16 AM ]
posted on May 4, 2002 03:00:45 PM new
I had a great yard sale day...went to one that was a yard/estate sale. I bought a ton of old dolls..some great ones. Also got several nice pieces of glassware and MORE. I filled the back of my rodeo up for 25.00.
posted on May 4, 2002 09:26:09 PM new
Three only in our small town. Nothing much to speak of, just a couple of baskets to hold my plants, a long lace doily, and a folding gizmo for barbecuing, for our cabin.
One lady selling packets of nice note cards, but 4 for $3!!!! That's not a garage sale price! I got there about 2 p.m. and she'd hardly sold any items at all. Probably too high priced.
Passed up two pans used (very used) for panning for gold. They are attractive but I can't think what I"d do with them. Heavy to mail, don't need around here. One was $2, one was $5. I may go back tomorrow and see if they're still there. You know how sometimes an item haunts you later - as if an angel is standing next to it saying BUY IT BUY IT NOW and you don't? Just a hunch. Ah well.
posted on May 4, 2002 09:38:25 PM new
A few weeks ago I quickly looked over a sale in my neighborhood before heading out to garage sale. There were two Daisy Kingdom, ready made dresses for $5.00 each. (This is high for garage sale dresses, so I felt I was safe leaving them.) I wasn't sure if they sold well on Ebay, so I went on. When I got back from shopping, I drove by that house and I could see them still hanging. I zipped home and checked "completed sales" and they DID sell well! I got right over there and got them both for $7.00!! Both had slight soiling. They had been worn but not washed, (a good thing). I removed the soiling. They sold for $25.00 and $40.00!!
posted on May 5, 2002 06:44:50 AM new
Hey revvassago,
If that Milwaukee directory is a "blue book" it's worth good money. I found one in my mothers attic and she was going to throw it away last year (it was in pretty bad shape). I told her I'd put it up on ebay just to see what it would do. I think it was from 1898. I started it at $2.00 and it went for over $100.00 to a historian who worked at the Pabst Mansion. It's now on display there!
As far as my rummaging, I found some Julia Child videos for 25 cents that sell pretty well and an old dress mannequin. Nothing else too exciting.
posted on May 5, 2002 11:32:03 AM new
I'm big into cross stitch leaflets and booklets, also books, and soundtrack CDs.
In the last month I've found soundtracks for 50 cents each, cross stitch books for 50 cents each (some sold for as much as $8.50 on eBay), and historical romances, a box of 20 for a $1.
Cookbooks are plentiful at garage sales, but unless you know what makes good money and what doesn't I find they are oftentimes a risk.
posted on May 6, 2002 04:57:03 AM new
I find that good yard sale finds have become almost obsolete! I hear so often "this (common) widget brings GOOD money on Ebay" Prices at yardsales have become retail store competitive since Ebay, tv broadcasts and even the local news..tonque in cheek, "What you have in your attic could be worth millions of dollars!" My best find "in the old days" was a small old painting I found for 25 cents that brought 500.00, much to my surprise, and a wooden decoy for a buck that brought the same.
kiddo2
posted on May 6, 2002 08:48:17 AM new
Not really eBay related, but last weekend I knocked my soap dispenser off the bathroom counter and broke it....it was part of a very pretty set that I bought about two years ago, matches the shower curtain and everything. I was so upset.
This weekend I hit a garage sale near my mom's house, about an hour away. There was my bathroom set! (All six pieces - soap dispenser, toothbrush holder and cup, brush holder, soapdish and trash can - PLUS two sets of the embroidered towels.) A few pieces were a little chipped but WHO CARES! $5 for the whole lot SOLD!
posted on May 6, 2002 10:43:57 AM new
I'm with you, kiddo2. Garage sales are almost totally worthless nowadays. And the "huge neighborhood yard sales" are just as bad.
I don't need any baby clothes or high school woodshop projects.
posted on May 6, 2002 01:00:05 PM new
kiddo2 and pelorus, you have obviously lost the fun and zeal of the hunt.
Are the days of finding a $500.00 item for a quarter gone? Maybe so. But there is still plenty out there if you are willing to look for it.
I filled my car with items for a quarter or a dollar that will sell for $5.00-50.00. That is one heck of an investment return if you ask me.
The alternative is going to a brick and mortar auction and fighting a hundred other dealers for the same item, no thank you.
I found a large telescope, normally sells for $200.00 plus at the store, for $20.00. My son has been wanting one for a couple of years and he is tickled to death with it.
I haven't paid new price for a purse or much else in my house in years. If I can find it at a yard sale, why buy new?
