…..In the neighborhood…FOR A GARAGE SALE/SWAP MEET! Today was absolutely glorious in that the sun was out, there was a light breeze, and people were out and about. Remember when I wrote about the library and all its perks and benefits? Well, today saw one of those ‘perks and benefits’ in addition to the lovely weather we had.
My library happens to host an annual Garage Sale/Swap Meet for library patrons who sign up. Patrons pay a $10 sign up fee to reserve a spot that they get back when they show up. It’s kind of like insurance for the library to ensure people don’t sign up and take a spot and then don’t show up on the day of the sale. The library provides those who signed up with a table, and whatever you can fit in your car is fit for selling. There ARE some stipulations, like people can’t sell things like food, for example. (Clearly, there’s a lot of liability in that!) Anyway, set up always starts at 8 AM and the sale is open to the public at 9 AM. This gives vendors a chance to set up, and once all is said and done, it looks like a mini flea market. Browsers enjoy the day looking for treasures and trinkets.
My family and I had a table and we had quite a collection of things. Since we were limited to what we can fit in my car, we left a lot home. It’s all good since we try to have our own garage sale every year. We had a weed whacker, a deep fryer, various mugs, clothes…you name it, we had it! Anyway, the day progressed and people came and went. Some bought regular stuff, others bought some of our more “unique” items. Let me give you a few examples….
Our first major sale was a big (and highly adorable) hot pink dog with black pawprints sprinkled throughout its body. It had big black floppy ears and HUGE adorable eyes. My ex-boyfriend won it for me at an amusement park and I loved it dearly, but simply had no room for it….I mean the thing was about four feet tall! I finally had a spot for it at our “store” and thought no one would buy it. The director of the library bought it immediately as a joke for one of the employees who was about to retire. He put it in her office and took a picture and showed it to us. It was hilarious and it was sitting in the soon-to-be retiree’s chair….BOY – Is she in for a surprise on Monday!
I was left to “tend the store” and had a few customers stop by, inspect items, ask questions, and buy things. One guy in particular came around for his second time at our table and picked up an item I thought for sure would NEVER sell. He picked up the box, and inspected it with such thoroughness, I thought he would bore a hole into the box! He asked me if the kit he held came with a soldering iron in it, and I was honest enough to say “I don’t know.” How would I know what it contained other than what it said on the box? You’re probably asking what kind of kit it was – it was one my dad picked up a LONG LONG time ago – a kit to put together your very own telephone…yes, the corded kind. It was actually pretty cool, if you have time and if that’s your hobby. It looked cool too, in the picture on the box. Anyway, he kept looking it over and over, and all I can think was, “Why don’t you buy the darned thing already?” So, he was about to put it down, but looked at it again, and put it down again – to take out his wallet! Now I’m thinking…”Finally! You’re blocking my table, buddy, from other customers!” Haha – but it was all good, since he was actually going to buy the thing. So I told him a little story about how when we were setting up, I told my dad, “Who’s actually going to buy this?” and then he said to me something I didn’t expect: “Well, I fix phones for a living.” HELLO????? Can you imagine? Yep, so it turns out, the guy fixes cracked screens and other phone issues people may have. Perfect! Just when I thought we wouldn’t be able to sell this item…
So the day wears on and I’m getting slightly roasted, but we’re making some change, so I take it all in stride. Who comes by? My next unique customer. A lady in her 30s came with arms full of items she picked up in her travels up and down the rows of vendors. Under one arm, she has a heart shaped wooden table, in the other arm, she holds a black metal plant stand. In her hands, other tchotchkes and her wallet. She manages a free hand, comes around our display and is holding one of our items. She asks me: “Is this for sale?” I told her, “Oh yes.” I look down, and lo and behold, I see our extremely old, red, rusty (yet reliable and sturdy) ladder. My dad got it a while ago from who knows where and that was yet another item I asked him about – I said, “Think anybody would really buy this?” We have been trying to sell it since forever and we just wanted to get rid of it. It was a small step ladder probably circa 1970s – it basically looked like your average 1950s red pickup truck that was beat up and has seen better days. It had a price tag of $.50. She proceeded to hand me a dollar, and I said, “Hold on. Let me get your change.” Her answer surprised me: “Oh no. Forget about it. Seriously? Are you kidding me? Keep the change.” I said, Thanks!”. The reason this was such a major thing (even though it was only a dollar) was because in garage sales, the typical M.O. is to haggle prices down from their already low state, not offer more money (regardless of the amount in overage)! I asked if she needed help, and she said she had it….and you know what? She did! She proceeded to go on and on about how I had no idea how excited she was and how she was SUPER happy and she even went as far as saying that it was the best find of the day so far…..Wow! Who would’ve thought that the one thing I thought was an improbable sale, would become someone’s happiness? This just proves the adage: “ONE MAN’S JUNK IS ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE.” Ain’t that the truth!
Anyway, the day came to a close, and it was time to pack up. As we were packing up, a woman runs up to our table and proceeded to buy so many of our items, both big and small! It was so great to see a last minute power shopper, because then it meant it was less for us to pack up and put back in the car and bring home.
Whew! What a day – felt like such an entrepreneur! We’ve done this event for a few year now, and each year promises something new and different….what a crowd! You really never know who’s looking for what! Never put it past people because everyone is looking for something unique (just like this guy who was going around looking for old video games – and I mean OLD).
Ever see or pick up anything unique or interesting in a garage sale? Let me know – I’d be curious to hear all about it!
XOXOXOXO,
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