Would You Buy This or Not (September 26, 2008, part 2)

Welcome to part two of this week's Would You Buy This or Not, where we present all the cool things we bought last Saturday.

First though, I wanted to pass on a yardsale review from a friend who took my advice to check out the Fridley sale.  We didn't make it up there, so we were really curious to hear what she learned:

"Hi Ron. I enjoyed Fridley's neighborhood, though not very easy to get around w/ a 2-yr old:)  I got a few bags of toddler socks, some kids mittens out of a free box, and a few clothes from the 5 cent box. The sign said 38 sales, but I only saw 12 or so.  I may have missed a large section because the cars were parked on either side of the street in both directions and I got so frustrated trying to squeeze my tiny toyota past the endless minivans that I hightailed it out of there around 10:30 a.m.  People were quite serious shoppers too, not exactly the fun Bryn Mawr festive kind of neighborhood mood.  I would also add that I can tell this neighborhood has been at this awhile because of the proper yard sale etiquette--every item no matter how small (sandwich baggie full of matched toddler socks for 75 cents? Sold!), was organized or priced individually.  The 5 cent clothes box for torn/stained but usable kids wear really is totally fair and the neighborhood really got the concept of "fair prices" in general.

Shoreview Ice Arena was a bit of a zoo on Sunday however, it was half off day so all that was left were stained kids clothes. I'll probably skip that one next year!  It was also advertised in the strib, so that brought a ton of folks.  I'll be sure to check your site before next weekend!"

Sure will, friend!  Later tonight I'll post my recommendations for sales in the Twin Cities tomorrow.

Now!

Find of the day

Makita cordless drill

price - $10

sold

I keep my eyes out for power tools for resale, but I think I'm going to keep this.  As usual, I didn't ask if it worked.  If I do that I'm opening myself open to being disappointed with another person.  If I buy something for cheap, get it home and it doesn't work, I shrug it off.  I charged this up and it runs, well, like a Makita.

Other things we bought last Saturday

5 lb. scale

price - free

sold

It was near the end of the day and they put the rest of their things in a free pile.  They wanted $4 earlier on, and we came by just at the right time.

5 lb. scale

price - $2

sold

This I think I'll sell in our own yard sale.  The one above I'll use to weigh out merchandise.

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Foot guage pump

price - $1

sold

I bought a heavy-duty Milwaukee hand-truck last year for $10.  The only thing is that the tires go down every 3 or 4 weeks.  Now I can keep them pumped up without rolling it to a gas station.

Dorky carved elephant

price - 50 cents

sold

We have a soft spot for things like this.  I know it's an nic-nac.  I know.

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Bottle cutting kit

price - $1

sold

We've all had one of those metal sticks with a cutter on one end and a knocker on the other.  They don't work.  I looked at this and it is going to work.  Why do I need to cut bottles?  I don't know.

Big bag of Nerds (54 boxes)

price - 50 cents

sold

I think when we have our own yard sale these will be a fun item.  I'm thinking a nickel a Nerd.

Toddler outfits

price - 50 each

sold

Janie works at the Children's Museum, and they have a need for clean clothes from time to time, because kids will be kids, and it would be too much of a drag to have to go home to clean up.

Chinese weed craft peacock

price - 50 cents

sold

I'm really taking a liking to these bird figurines.  We have a chicken, a hawk and an owl - and now a peacock for our bird collection.

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Ring-tailed lemur stuffed toy

price - $1

sold

Who doesn't like ring-tailed lemurs?

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Stained glass window decorations

price - 25 to 75 cents

sold

These things hang in the window and experience no wear and tear whatsoever.  We resell them from my mom's gift shop, and the customers really clamber for them.

Old alternator

price - $1

sold

It's copper and aluminum, and it weighs 14 pounds.  Sure, I'll take it to the scrap yard for you.

Not pictured

12.25 pounds of brass scrap (cost of $6.25)

11 pounds of aluminum scrap (cost of $1.35)

I expect to net about $20 off the alternator and other scrap we bought.

Warm shirts

price - $2.50 for the two

sold

My mom sells them to hunters and construction workers out west.  The XXL Guide Series shirt on the left still has the tag and stickers on it, and I think retailing it for $15 will be a cinch.

And finally, these were almost the find of the day:

Hmong stiching

price - 50 cents a pair

sold

When the Hmong moved from Laos to Minnesota, they brought with them this craftwork which is just outstanding.  As the first generation starts to age though, the quality is starting to slip.  These are the real thing, and I snap it up every time I see it.

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If you'd like to see what we didn't buy, click here.

Tomorrow looks like a great day for rummage sales, so that's where we'll be going. I'm happy to share my admittedly cryptic notes and directions for our route, which starts in St. Paul, goes out to the east suburbs of Minneapolis and back in to finish up in Minneapolis:

4900 Nathan Ln. ONE day only! HUGE over 100 donors! Sat, 8-4, held inside church bldg. 

Out 394, N on 169, W on 42^nd ave n/Rockford, N on Nathan (first street)

5651 Pillsb. Sat. only, 9-2, HH items, lamps, beaniebabys, glasswr, toys, dishwashr

1111 W. M'haha Pkwy - alley near 53rd & Dupont SAT ONLY 8-4

38th & Pleasant Ave S 612.822.2101 Presale Friday $3 Noon-8pm Saturday 10-7pm

4732 18th Ave So, Sat, Sept 27 only

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 2730 E. 31st St ,Sat, Sept 27, 9 am-3 pm.

mPLS FALL SALE EPWORTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 3207 37th Ave S. Sat, Sept 27, 9-3.