A garage sale or a yard sale, rummage sale, tag sale, attic sale, moving sale, or junk sale is a good source of buying cheaper stuff. People with limited budget in mind always look for local garage sales. Here I have some shopping tips for you.
Shopping Garage Sales Effectively
1. Review the Wednesday or Thursday evening paper for local sales. Garage sales tend to run Thursday-Saturday in most areas, so having an idea of when and where you are going is a great idea. Also, make sure you hit the road with goals in mind—don’t hit garage sales just to explore. You’ll end up coming home with more stuff that might ultimately be sold later at your next garage sale!
2. Keep a list of things you are looking for that you *know* you need or want. Often I’m looking for certain garden equipment, kitchen utensils, tools, etc. that I can live without until I find a good deal.
3. Get to know your prices, just as you do with your regular shopping. For example, I would never pay over $.25 for a paperback book. Since we like to make copies of movies, we look for video tapes at garage sales. We have often found them at 4/$1.00. We won’t go much higher than that. Some people are clueless about what to charge because they haven’t been to garage sales. You can find wonderful deals, or you can find things way overpriced. If I stumble on one where the items are really high, I usually walk away pretty quickly, unless they have something I’m extremely interested in purchasing.
4. Barter/Negotiate. All prices are not final. If you see a desk that meets your needs for $75, offer the owner ½ the price, and negotiate from there (depending on condition of the item). Have in your mind what you will/will not pay for an item, and stick to it. Be willing to walk away if the owner is unwilling to negotiate. Swing back by the sale toward the end of the scheduled time, and if the item is still there, they will likely be more willing to negotiate.
5. Ask questions. If you are looking at a mower or another type of appliance, find out what type of condition it is in. Also, check to see how many kids went through a child’s car seat, as well as how used the wheels are on the tires of the bike you want to buy. Be wary of those who don’t have answers, and definitely negotiate these items. If the owner is unwilling to negotiate or cannot answer your questions, walk away.
6. Find a good route, in a fairly affluent area, and follow the route and signs along the way. I don’t mean for this to sound snobbish, but I have often found the best quality items in more affluent areas. Generally speaking, clothes, toys, and other items are in great condition because they have a faster turnover as they replace their inventory more often. You’ll save gas by following a particular route once you’ve found an area you like rather than driving in all directions.
7. Go early. Make sure you get to your first sale 15-30 minutes before it is scheduled to open. This will ensure you get the better items at better prices. Try to get to the sale on the first day it is open to ensure you have more of a selection from which to choose.
8. Buy the refreshments! Kids love to bake cookies and sell lemonade or pop to weary garage sale buyers. Remember when you were a kid, and you were thrilled that someone bought your lemonade? Return the favor for the little ones you encounter who are trying to start their “businesses”!
9. Look for block sales. These are great because you can park your car and walk to several at once. Many areas hold annual yard sales and we track those.
10. Bring cash. Many owners will not accept checks, so make sure you have cash on hand.
Let’s go shopping!!!
da best. Keep it going! Thank you