Hi Gatherers,
I wanted to share another excerpt from my new book "Garage Sale America" with you. I will be posting an excerpt each week leading up to my live chat in the Ask The Author group on Tuesday, May 29, from 1-3pm ET.
As we approach the "high season" of garage sailing, here are a few of my best "do's and don'ts" for both sellers and buyers.
Do's and Don'ts for Sellers
Do
- Realize you're getting rid of things you don't want and price accordingly.
- Use price tags that won't damage items or boxes.
- Have a sense of humor. "Holler if you don't like a price" works nicely.
- Set up your items like you’re a store. People need to see items to buy them.
- Inform buyers if you know something doesn't work.
- Give your leftovers to charity. See if the charity will pick up donated items.
- Act as if you’re operating a museum. People touch things at garage sales.
- Be greedy.
- Be crabby.
- Sell broken things.
- Sell things from the 99¢ store for a dollar.
- Quote eBay or book values. Nobody cares.
Do's and Don'ts for Buyers
Do
- Go early for the best stuff, late for the best bargains.
- Park appropriately (not in the flower bed or the neighbor's yard).
- Head back to your car if you pass people walking away from a garage sale empty-handed.
- Realize that fancier neighborhoods have fancier stuff.
- Ignore the dust and dirt. Beauty is more than surface deep.
- Think about repurposing old items.
- Buy it just because it's cheap.
- Buy things that need fixing, unless you're really going to fix them.
- Nickel and dime. If something is a nickel, don’t offer a penny.
- Assume that all the pieces are there in an opened 500 piece puzzle.
- Ask to use their bathroom.
- Don't wear expensive shoes. Sellers often judge how much you'll pay by the clothes you're wearing. The finer the stitch, the higher the price.
(copyright 2007, Bruce Littlefield, reprinted with permission from Harper Collins)
I look forward to speaking with all of you during my live chat on Gather.com, Tuesday May 29, from 1-3pm ET. You can find the chat at asktheauthor.gather.com
Bruce Littlefield is a New York based designer, writer, and restaurateur whom Publisher's Weekly recently deemed America’s "design and lifestyle guru." He’s the author of Airstream Living (Collins Design, 2005) and wrote the best-selling Use What You’ve Got with the "Queen of New York Real Estate," Barbara Corcoran. Bruce has owned and created two successful restaurants in the Catskills, as well as a disco-themed Laundromat. His renovation of a 1940s farmhouse and bungalow colony (a la Dirty Dancing) done completely in garage sale finds has been featured in numerous magazines.
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Comments: 51
and buyers parking in the neighbor's flowers.
LOL.
I also have some of my own advice for sellers I'd like to add:
If you're looking at items for your garage sale and you're trying to decide what price to put on your half-used bottles of hand lotion and nail polish from the 1970's, or you're scratching your head trying to get the right price on your stained, stretched-out, used bras...
Close your garage door, pull up your signs, and please, spare us all the trouble of having to cast our eyes upon your "sale."
My other pet peeve are retailers who capitalize on garage sale season by putting retail merchandise in their garages and calling it a "garage sale." Antique dealers, junk brokers, you name it... that really burns me up. If I wanted to go shopping, I'd go to my favorite store. When I'm ferrying my mother around the neighborhood looking for garage sales, we're just bargain shopping.
I'll never forget purchasing a $10 entertainment center from a lady who just didn't have room for it anymore. She told me about how she had used it in college and how much she liked it and how glad she was that it was going to a "good home."
Those are the kinds of interactions and discussions that make garage sale-ing such a hoot.
Enjoyed your timely article.
Perle
OMG that is disgusting!
I have a "don't" for buyers..DON'T show up for a garage sale that is advertised to start at 8am at 5am! Don't go knock on the seller's door at that ungodly hour and ask if you can look at what's for sale! UGH! That is what keeps me from having a garage sale at my home. It happens everytime!
JMHO
Jane
Agloco Member Since 2006
"DON'T Buy things that need fixing, unless you're really going to fix them."
I have a garage, and attic, full of furniture re-building/refinishing projects. Its kind of fun, because there's a comfortable backlog of things to choose from when I'm in the mood (and have the time and materials) to finally 'do it.' Now, when I've had some 'projects' for over a year or two, and the backlog begins to fall out of the garage when I open the door, or I can't get to my Christmas decorations in the attic; I have a sale of my own to alleviate the pressure of so much 'undone' stuff. I usually sell them at a mild profit; no more than 500% ;-)
To go along with that rule, I've imposed a guideline on myself.....nothing creeps into the living space of the house until it is fully 'done.' Its hard to ever get them done once they are in the mix, and 'part' of something else (i.e. table under tablecloth, needs refinishing, but 'ok' to live with, beautiful clock without works) Ok, the antique Ansonia clock is on the mantle, but.....I try.....
I agree with this as well:
"Don't wear expensive shoes. Sellers often judge how much you'll pay by the clothes you're wearing. The finer the stitch, the higher the price."
That explains your wardrobe, right? ;-o
(Sorry, you so left yourself open for that one...I couldn't resist ;-)
If I hear: "You are so lucky, Patrick" one more time....
As you show in your writings, 'successful' (a.k.a. entertaining, honest, and cost efficient) buying requires work, and some thought and planning......and then, there is a bit 'o luck ;-)
And, of course, it should always be fun......the positive interaction with people makes it a gr8 past time/hobby. I've done them in Canada, France, England, Nepal, and Bolivia.....its all the same(except for the 'garage' part); and to be really 'successful' it should always end in two smiles.....theirs and yours!
:-)
:-)
:)
:)
Just messing with you.
Everyone is so drama prone here, its fun just to tag you from time to time.....you seem to enjoy it.... Shows a good sense of humor/disposition :-)
You still need to hook me up with your publicist.....damn good, that one. Guy? Woman? Oh well, doesn't matter.....I'd probably whore myself out either way :-o
(ok, they need to be cute tho. I do have Some standards ;-)
BTW, I'm not saying you did. Your book is obviously 1st class quality, as are you. I'm just showing my desperation (deadly in business, eh? :-), and open jealously....all for your amusement ;-)
No, seriously, your book is "on the mark" and you deserve all the publicity he/she can get you. Believe me, I've read a few hundred in the last months that weren't....and this is a topic I know; and enjoy.
Thanks for being so fun....
:-)
Well, first of all people don't have much stuff like we do.....a whole lot less. But often circumstances make it necessary to sell things that have been in the family for generations. I bought some great Tibetan jewelry in rural Nepal from some Hindus.(they had bought it from someone else)
A Tibetan woman's family's wealth is often found in the large stoned necklaces she wears (turquoise represents water, yak bone = clouds/sky/wind, fossilized red coral= fire, amber = earth, etc....they tie to the colors on the buildings, mantras, etc....all related); in times of need they sell some or all of it. Hindus are as tough negotiators as Moroccan jews; but if you are persistent you can get the prices down (there are open markets in places like Kathamandu, but they usually sell Chinese knock offs of real things) Anyway, in rural areas they know tourists have money, so they work it by laying things outside their huts for sale. The Tibetan jewelry was great/real, but I felt it needed to stay with the next generation of Tibetans; so I gave it to a deserving girl who was wavering in her devotion to their culture.
Bolivia? In Copacabana (next to Lake Titicaca) they have early morning fish 'markets' down one street; and people sell things there as well.....old Inca things (or knock offs). Have to be careful in Peru, Ecuador, etc... they are used to tricking the Gringo ;-) They make copies of the rough pottery statues that are used to be buried with a person hundreds of years ago (they are cute statues that represent people and efforts in their lives, etc); and they bury them in dirt for years to get the right look. Real ones, like their silver, are hard to find.
That help?
:-)
BTW, going upstairs to sales in France is my favorite (and next to the regular open produce markets) The only problem? Carrying it all home. I about broke my arm carrying copper pots and pans home one day! And if you love old tiles, OMG...or clocks. I met a stewardess in a Brussels flea market that put her kids through college bringing clocks home from each flight there. Of course with all the security and customs stuff now, she couldn't do that anymore.
God, I am going on.....sorry....but you asked ;-)
If at all possible, don't run a garage sale on your own. Have lots of people around- friends or family. We always had lots of people and they helped with rush times and helped watch over things. People WILL shoplift at a garage sale.
Keep your most valuable items closest to where you are sitting so you can keep an eye on them.
Don't keep all of your money in your cash drawer or on your person. People WILL rob a successful garage sale. Take money out and put it in the house somewhere and only have a small amount in your cash box at any time.
If you have a dog and he/she is friendly- have him/her out the day of the sale. If you don't have one and can borrow a relative's for the day- do so. People WILL case your house for a future robbery at a garage sale. The presence of a lot of people and neighbors who make it clear that the neighborhood is close-knit and watched over will deter that. The presence of a dog will deter the possiblity further.
I don't mean to be a downer, but the realities are there and being prepared is the best route.
We always had a box of "freebies" for the kids. Little toys or stuffed animals, etc. Instead of selling them for a nickel, we'd let each child choose one item out of the box. It kept them busy while Mom was looking and made them happy at the same time.
patrick, i've always wanted to go to nepal... now there's another reason. thanks for your insight and your bounty of knowledge. and for your sense of humor. yes, if anything, i can certainly laugh at myself.
also, susan & sissy... where and when are your sales???? they sound great!!!
explain a swap meet to the rest of us... i'm not sure i know exactly what it is, besides you meet & swap things!
I have enough junk, so I definitely don't want someone else's junk. I don't shop garage sales, but have fun if you do.
Also, a Don't: Even if you used to live there, don't assume you have permission to wander through the house or back yard. We had both happen at one yard sale. A woman headed for the backyard, and when I stopped her, she said she used to live there so surely I wouldn't mind if she looked around. Since the dog was back there, I didn't let her. Later, she was opening the front door, using the same excuse.
and regarding the backyard sneaker... yikes! do you think she was up to something no good? i guess, "my pitbull doesn't like people" is a pretty good deterrent! hahaha
Said book will be available on the 22nd!
One of my primary objections is when the person hosting the sale is indistinguishable from the patrons. I hate standing there like I'm an observer of wildlife, looking for the alpha male or female.
If I had one piece of advice for a buyer, it would be to fix their bike up with a very sturdy trailer, and take that as their yardsaling "rig". I did this for several years. It eliminates the hassle of parking, getting out, walking over, walking back, getting in, fastening the seatbelt (lots of accidents happen in the vicinity of yard sales). With a bike, you can park on the sidewalk, but keep an eye or your bike, because people *will* think it and it's payload are part of the merchandise.
I look forward to your ask section. If I don't make it, it's because I had a lunch meeting at work.
I like your attitude. Wish more people shared it. Books, and actions, like yours will help though... :-)
We were asked to write an article to get one of your books for free! I'm sucha whore, I spent an entire day doing it (lets see that works out to about $2 an hour in trade, eh? ;-) Oh well, it was fun....
They say, The Gather Gods, that one lucky article writer will get to read/review your book. Imagine that! Are you shaking? ;-)
Don't worry, people are kind....generally. And this isn't the NYT's....yet :-)
So check it out if you like. Below is the link. I think you will find it amusing. Just so it wouldn't be too: "I did this, and I'm so smart, and I'm so braggy and greedy"(I like to hide that), I started it out with a story.
A story as old as time..... (no, not "Beauty and the Beast"....more like "Beauty and the Best"....amazing humilty, eh? Playfull satire, anyone? ;-)
Garage Sale America Article
You can read my article here now: Garage Sale America Article by patrickm
For some reason the article just doesn't exist anymore.....except under my logon? Everything looks cool there, but no one can see it. I even re-posted it under my name, and the same thing happened; weird, eh?
So, my son gave me his logon (he is going into his Junior year at West Point, and is kinda busy with finals ;-) so we re-posted it under his logon.
Magic of magic? It works!
Soooo, enjoy. I think you'll like it; and I'll let you know when the original article is corrected by Gather....all my comments and ratings were on there. It was the top rated article for last few days....go figure.
Oh well, life moves on! You will enjoy this one!
:-)
the thing i love about garage saling is that no one does laugh at the size of your budget. people with $1 are just as worthy as people with $100. i really enjoyed reading this... and am drooling over the rope bed, the cast iron bank collection, and the lot of victorian valentines... amazing. and, i must say, i like your auction style... it reminds me that the early bird may get the worm, but it is the bird who endures that gets the cheapest leftovers! great article!!!
Bruce Littlefield on The Today Show, video of him, May 26 2007
m.k. i have a big box that i pack all that stuff in. i keep it in a closet... but i also have plastic tubs in the basement that i mark with masking tape and a sharpie... this enables me to buy things as i go through the year for people and then give it to them at birthdays and holidays... for example, my friend bev collects "cat things" so anytime i see something neat that is a cat collectible, i grab it.. same with costume jewelry. my cousin is a huge collector of costume jewelry.. and when i find a perfect piece, i'll snag it and save it for her birthday or christmas.