We had our moving sale today, and we were able to unload quite a bit of stuff! It was essentially my first yard sale, and I think I should get a fair to poor grade. You see, I am pretty terrible at negotiation. I just want to give things away, and I will accept just about any offer. Oh, and one woman bought this antique sewing machine and cabinet we had. I never tried using the machine, since I bought it just to use as a table. We had it marked for $20. I took $8. The woman came back later to say that it was missing a particular bobbin part. I explained that I didn’t have the part, but maybe they could order it somewhere. They left. I felt guilty. I ran after them and gave them $5. I guess I still made $3.
I’ve done a few garage sales (aka rummage sales, yard sales, rubish sales, whatever) and I take the same approach. I am no pack rat, that’s for sure. On the other hand, what kind of ingrate comes after a bobbin for an $8 antique sewing machine?!?
Man, I think you should have practiced the ass-kicking skills you plan to use on Sashi on that woman. The nerve!
Good luck with your move! I’m totally jealous.:)
i mailed the users manual for a camera someone bought at my yard sale, and i got their address from the check they wrote. it wasn’t with the camera at the sale because i only found it when i was cleaning up afterwards. if they hadn’t written a check then it would have gone in the trash. so i sort of see where you’re coming from, but my moving sale was also with the intent of making money to pay for the u-haul AND getting rid of stuff so i was able to hold my ground when haggling happened. i was happy to go lower on things but not TOO low.
i also got sad when people showed up, looked around, and then left, because it felt like they were saying my stuff wasn’t good enough for them. 🙁
The secret to a successful sale is lemonade. And cute little kids selling it. It always brings people in and even people who don’t buy any of your stuff will feel guilty not giving a kid 50/75 cents for lemonade. Of course, the profit is better when the kids are yours, but outsourcing to neighbors will work, too.
OMG! I don’t read blogs for like 2 days and you change your entire life and move away! Congrats on the move, I know you’ll love being home. If it was so easy to arrange, you know it was meant to be. How’s the knitting/sewing space in the new abode?
In my experience, there are two kinds of yard sales: those that are trying to make money, and those that are trying to get rid of stuff. In general, it’s an either-or situation. You just need to decide what your goal is, and work accordingly.
Good luck on the move!
really… you are too much!
oh my gosh how dare that sewing machine lady come back and complain after receiving a discount from $20 and $8. Give them an inch some people take a mile. You’re so nice.
if nothing else, you have just racked up enough good garage sale karma to score mint condition, vintage, mid century modern chairs for $5 each at the next garage sale you go to.
oh, and if that happens, can I buy them from you? 😉
I hate to haggle. I always just want to pay the list price. My grandma always says “what kin’ pilipino are you. Bargain!”
Hope that sewing machine wasn’t a Singer featherweight. Those are worth hundreds…
so glad you got your wish to move to Portland! and you’ll be near your family, that’s wonderful. It’s a beautiful place. Your new house looks cute; I love that style house myself, though they do tend to be small, but you can maybe remodel….
Do you still have boats for sale? My husband has been wanting a fishing boat (for lakes).
Let me know.
Sue