Today we inadvertently stumbled on the Ecco Neighborhood Yard Sale. We did not see it in either of the major Twin Cities papers, but we did see a Craig's List ad saying there would be a community sale in this location. We could have missed it, but we did not.
Ecco puts on a great sale, with a mix of incomes and lifestyles, it has real variety to offer.
First though, let's have a look at the things we didn't buy.
Least interesting thing of the day:
Salt and pepper shakers
price - $7
no sale
It's not just that we really don't care for this sort of thing. Note that they not only want $7, but they wrote it on top of these white ceramic objects with a laundry marker.
It was also really helpful that they included the "s/p" (so we'd know what they were).
Other things we did not buy:
Shelves in a box
not priced
no sale
These were sort of interesting, but I really hate asking how much something is. They'll tell me, and then we're standing there looking at one another, so if I don't like the price it's awkward. I don't go out seeking awkward moments on my day off.
Minnesota end table with viking motif
price - $40
no sale
I don't need this, and it really wouldn't go with any of our other stuff, but I thought it was pretty well done. There are lots of these end tables at Minnesota sales, and they are all very simple (except for this one that is). Note the long ship in the side, and the dragon head worked into the built in lamp. It's made of nice wood, and the tops open up so you can put things down inside. Maybe Janie and I didn't want it, but I doubt it went back in their house this afternoon.
Stuffed goose
price - $2
no sale
If we had room for stuffed animals, this 30-inch-high character would be a welcome addition. He's just plain big.
Sewing machine
price - $30
no sale
The sign said "belt broken" but otherwise this was pretty much flawless. We see one of these every other week, and I still can't get over it. It would bring hundreds if we could get it out west, but we have no means to do so.
Hand truck
price - $5
no sale
We already have one in our highrise flat, and it doesn't match anything. This was a good price though, especially for one this retro and sturdy.
Best of Lightnin' Hopkins
price - $4
no sale
I saw this same record at their sale last year. So did hundreds of other people. There are lots of records in the world. Lower the price, folks.
Twenty-inch black ceramic cat
price - $12
no sale
Janie's comment: "Disturbing."
Shower head assembly
Price $60
no sale
We're looking for one of these, and I know it's still in the box.
Faux park bench
price - free
no sale
It's not as cool as it looks. The lattice work remaining in the back is a single sheet of plastic. It could be torn out and replaced, but the whole thing has problems, including the boards being too thin.
Aluminum pot
price - $10
no sale
If it had been .50 I would have bought it for scrap. Oddly enough, I found no scrap today, and not for a lack of trying.
Fire poker kits
price - $1 and $2
no sale
Janie had to go to work at noon, and I drove back to finish all 60 sales. I was about 3 blocks from the car and forgot to bring my magnet. I thought about just buying them and lugging them back to the car, but I figured if they hadn't sold by 2 p.m. they weren't going anywhere. Later on I swung by with the car and walked over with my magnet. It loved them. Steel. Did I say I only buy these things for the brass scrap?
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Today we did spectacularly well. These are just some of the more amusing things we passed by. In tomorrow's part two we'll reveal the goodies.
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Comments: 36
I always forget to bring my camera.
Sue, I guess writing on the merchandise with a laundry marker can be written of to their not being professional shopkeepers, but you're right - it just makes no sense at all.
Rob, I'm glad someone else liked those shelves. It's possible the box is made for something, but when I saw it standing on end like that I instantly thought "shelves".
Wendy, a good community yard sale has enough clustered offerings so you can indeed take a scooter or such. We sometimes bring Janie's power wheelchair, and it works like a charm. Actually, going to community yard sales is a great activity if you use a wheelchair or scooter.
Phaedra, we already have almost everything we need. Only a couple of the things we actually bought were things we needed.
Sometimes I wonder at what people will buy.....like who in the world would buy that cat ball thing???? but somebody did originally.....!
Sonia, you took words from my mouth I was wanting to say, so I will now. One thing I like about yard sales is that everything is pre-seleted by someone. Yes, someone paid - oh, I don't know ($59.95?) - for that cat thing. It must have been a gag gift. That's plausible.
I might have purchased the hand truck. We have one but have had some instances where 2 would be nice. Probably would've bought it, especially if hubby was with me.
Karolyn, you can't always have good luck.