Garage Sales often operate in a parallel universe, with a language all their own. In my new book, GARAGE SALE AMERICA, I give a guide to help you wheel and deal with the best of them.
Here are a few choice definitions from the garage sale trail:
"A Bargain" - something you didn't know you needed at a price you couldn't resist.
"Bloomin' onion" - 2,130 calories of deep-fried-onion delight, generally served at flea markets and "event" garage sales.
"Collectible" - beauty is in the eye of the beholder
"Collector" - the beholder
"Disposophobia" - the fear of getting rid of stuff, no matter how worthless or how valuable
"Drive-bys" - Slowing down enough to glance at the offerings before hitting the pedal, not so subtly indicating, "your stuff stinks."
"Kiss & Kick" - A technique of bargaining in which an item is admired and respected, followed by a pointing out of its dramatic flaw: "I love your Hull vase. How'd it get chipped?"
"Lurkers" - Those who attend garage sales with no intention of making a purchase.
"Robin Hood Sale" - A sale in a wealthy neighborhood that makes for a lot of Merry Men and Women.
"Vultures - Worse than early birds, these predators will show up at a garage sale before any lights are on in the house and peer in the windows."
And there's much more... 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
What's your favorite garage sale word and its meaning?
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Comments: 27
connie... vultures is funny, isn't it? because that's what they are like!!!!
connie... vultures is funny, isn't it? because that's what they are like!!!!
My favorite word? I'll buy it!
Fun idea, Bruce......the whole dictionary of terms....
The cultural anthropology of garage sales/flea markets? It could be a whole new field!
There are certainly enough of the 'species' to observe, eh?
:-)
Bruce, I'm enjoying the book so far, I'm only on page 30 so far, hope to be done by the scheduled live chat!
Patrick sent me over, and I'm glad he did.
Wish I wudda' read your book before we had our "first" garage sale!!
We were moving, so put the things we didn't want to move out in the garage...pretty soon ... gargage is knee deep in things we don't want to move.
"Let's have a garage sale, and what doesn't sell, we'll cart off." My husband said.
What a lesson !! Not only in human nature, but about negotiating and marketing.
Vicky is so "right on" in her post about shoplifting at garage sales. What a surprise when we discovered some things were gone without renumeration.
EGAD !!
AND... the negotiating process is an art to watch! I had some half-full bottles of good perfume and cologne there. Twenty-five cent price tag on them. Nearly every person asked me if I would take "fifteen." EGAD... a dime????
We also learned first hand, as you point out, the time you set for your garage sale to start means nothing. Cars were parked in front of our house an hour early, came to the door, asked if they could "look." before everyone got there. EGAD!!! We weren't even up.
Your book should be a "must" read for everyone who ever plans to have a garage sale, or go to one. It is an art, in itself. This is not something for "Sissie's," or the naive. You should be properly armed for this experience. I will be...next time, and there will be a next time because actually it was fun, and you meet every kind of person right there in your own garage.
If they are stealing clothes, that look like they fit them or their kids, then they need them more than you do. Its an unaddressed 'issue' at places like Goodwill and Church sales. It doesn't happen much at home sales. The thing to do is size up your customers as they come in, then see who you can 'help' before they feel they have to 'help themselves.'
There are a lot of people in tough/dire straits these daiz.....and its going to get worse before it gets better. Just think of the depression, its almost like that....only this time around their kids get really mocked for not having decent clothes. Its our country/culture to 'look right.' So we have to 'help' those folks who are struggling just to survive. Its hard to comprehend for most of us, because many have never had to worry about much of anything.
A huge thing about "Garage Saling" , as Bruce calls it, is meeting a social need. Maybe you need to sell, to make this month's house payment because hubby lost his job in silicon valley? Maybe, the shoppers are trying to recover from a death, fire, loss of income, divorce? Chances are, "Maybe" is yes.
We can have fun, redoing our houses in "Shabby Chic" (thats a term for crackling nice wooden pieces of furniture with white paint, to make them look old/weathered....not a comment on Bruce's garage saling clothes ;-) BUT, to many folks its a real need.
So, if she has really nice jewelry, and he is really well groomed like Bruce; They are out for fun..... (sorry Bruce, there are some things you just can't hide ;-)
If they look tired, worn out, and a bit depressed, they probably are.....
The key is to not pity, or talk down; it's to casually look at the things they pick up, appear to really like/seem to need, but check the price and reluctantly set back down (i.e daughter is dressed poorly, and mom picks up a pretty dress; husband looks a clothes washer over closely, then grimaces when he sees the price) That's your cue to say: "Wow, I really need to get rid of this stuff. My garage is so full. You can have anything on that table/rack for 50cents. And that washer? I moved and the house already had one. Don't know where I'll even put it. You can have it for $10"
Whatever you do, don't give it away. Even if you charge only 10 cents, they keep their pride....even if they figure out what you are doing. which most will, but will accept it if done with compassion instead of pity/condescention.
On the flip side? You are buying at a garage sale, and can sense the tension of the sellers. Indications: Prices are all over the map, they dont have coffee and cookies for themselves, nor have jovial company; and they are selling things of great sentimental value....or everything that folks would normally keep. The thing to do? Do not beat them up on prices. Find something you can live with, thats waaay overpriced, and isn't critical for them (i.e.not irons, some kids toys, kitchen appliances...something stupidly decorative) and buy it. Then, buy something else.....knowing that you are going to give it away to a friend/family member/goodwill. If its clear that they are set on selling grandma's rocker, and they have $10 on it, and you really like it, do this:
"Hey, I like this rocker, it's really a special piece. Are you sure you want to sell it?"
"Yeah, I lost the house and have to move to a one bedroom apartment for single moms that the state ADC subsidizes."
"Well, here is $100."
"Oh, thats more than I'm asking. Its only $10."
"I can't give you $10 for an antique of this quality. It's worth at least $250. I'd feel like I'd be cheating you to pay less than $100. Go ahead, and take it. Its cool with me."
"Bless you...."
Then you leave quickly before she starts crying.
Garage saling is fun, you can get great stuff cheap with it, and even re-do an entire house like some of us have done......but you can do that, AND still be caring, giving, and compassionate for others. Its a critcal line never to cross.....it will haunt you, if you do. That's what the "vultures" Bruce describes do.....and they are disgusting. Not many lower forms of life. ....and they eventually feel it themselves. After living in Atlanta for 25 years, I see many of these folks over and over at the strangest times....estate sales, Goodwill waiting for the little disabled kid to bring out the cart of 'new' stuff, and like Bruce says.....looking in windows before people even are awake. Most resell at established booths at flea markets. Hint: their trucks/station wagons are full before they get to your garage sale....usually baby furniture, bikes, and lawn mowers. I raise prices for those types ;-)
So, I did go on.....but I think this is a very important point....its easy to get over-eager, greedy, or rude. I'm happiest, and have 'the best sales' when I do these things.....I think you all will be too. Unfortunately, we tend to look at the surface of things, when they really require a little more depth to really be special....for everyone. At Macy's this isn't an issue....at someone's home, and people near poverty level/or going through a tough time in their live's, it is an issue; and shouldn't be ignored.
Sorry so heavy, its all good......
:-)
I'm sure Bruce has a term for those women. I call them S.H.B.'s (suburban house bitches ;-) These aren't sincere stay-at-home moms who do it for their kids development and welfare, or real housewives at all; they are pampered, lazy, and do tennis as their past time....and usually the tennis coach :-o
They are wannabe Anna Nicoles....Clueless, and working hard to remain that way....except for divorce property laws. In that, they are experts; and even have a photocopy 'guide' to divorcing their unsuspecting husbands 'in the most profitable way.' I kid you not. Ours "swarm" in an organization called A.L.T.A (Atlanta Lawn and Tennis Association) The endearing term is: "ALTA Bitch."
These women will haggle over anything, and won't pay/play fair for anything (you know Barb, the kind of women who stampede other women at "Macy's one-day sales;" or "Tuesday Morning's" 75% discount sales? ;-)
Advice: when you see them approach, run. Or, put that doughnut in you face, and act dumb. Luckily, or sadly, they have the attention span of a gnat; so they leave quickly....if you ignore them. The safest strategy with them, is to not even engage. Think of Edie on "Desperate Housewives;" only not so pretty, knowing it, and not so nice ;-)
patrick m... first, you always give me the best chuckle. "well groomed" like bruce... LOL... and second, i think it is important to know that the whole point of a seller selling stuff at a garage sale is to get rid of stuff they don't want/need and make a little money for the effort of dragging it out to the lawn.
i can't say that i've encountered many SHB's... but if i do, i'll hide my tennis balls. ;)
UR Too funny..... I look forward to reading your book. They are sending it on for a 'book review,' and it will be posted to the books section, as soon as I can get it written. After what I've read so far in your excerpts, it looks like a hit to me. Many a spouse will be happy to finally have something to give their S.O. in defense of their proclivity for cruising every sale they can find. Remember, its not a preference, itsa gene that causes it! And, well, some of us are just lucky that way...... :-)
Well, maybe I'm a little addicted....but who am I hurting, eh? ;-)
Bruce Littlefield on The Today Show, video of him, May 26 2007
My favorite word is Cheap, to buy at a very low price and get a great bargain. I was at a 50% off sale on Memorial Day at the Salvation Army. The one in Centerline , Michigan has been marking their prices up a bit higher then the other one's in the area. So their 50% sale only put them in line with the other stores. I consider myself a pro at resale and garage sales my mother started taking me with her when I was 8 years old. I haven't read your book yet but want to get around to it. I have found that the quality of the stuff being sold depends on the area. And have found that many of the wealthy areas are not open to outside people coming in unless they fit a certain type. When I post my signs I hope for people to come from all over to buy my merchandise. Well they miss out on the money because my daughter-in-law and I travel prepared to buy....
love that "cheap" is your favorite word... mine like that would be "deal"... as in "i got a good deal." or "we have a deal on your cheap item!"
July 28th???
:-)
My whole place is decorated by recycled garage sale stuff and that is my way of being green
"the little heathen"
Look at http://www.local-deals.net. I've found lots of things locally using that site. As well as Craigslist