Garage Sale Junkie: How to Shop a Sale

This past weekend marked the annual Village Wide Garage Sales here in the little town of Lowville, NY. We have participated each year in the sales by having a huge parking lot sale. We put out a ton of items that we have stowed in the back, and we sold them at low prices. Lorrie's big idea this year was box lots. She put together at least 20 boxes of collectibles, dishes, antiques, whatever. For one price the lucky buyer got a whole box of goodies. It was a new thing for us, pretty successful, and also helped us to clear out a lot of inventory from the back, leaving us with lots of room in the back! Don't worry, we took turns manning the sale so that we could take a peek at all the other cool sales that were going on as well...

The sale got me thinking about yard sales in general, and how much we love them, but how sometimes to the novice they can sometimes be a bit daunting. I mean you walk up to a stranger's house where all their stuff is on the lawn and you paw through it, then offer a price (or pay what they ask if you aren't into dickering) and leave with a used lamp, suit, or who knows what. 
So here are just a few tips to help you on your next garage sale adventure!



1. Plan your attack. Use the newspaper in your area and look for the sale ads that sound appealing. Check Facebook for a garage sale site in your area (not the ones that you can buy from, but the ones with just yard sale listings). Know where you would like to go and what you "need". I love the community wide sales because there is more bang for your buck (buck being time in this case). You can hit many sales in the same area and even compare prices at each one. Also, we all know where the "fancy" part of town is. Check when this area is having a sale, people here have very nice things, and usually low prices. In our area we have Fort Drum, which is full of military families. Usually they are moving or being deployed, so there are great deals to be found on furniture and much more in this area, usually at very low prices as they are motivated to get rid of it. 



2. Look for the bag sales. If it is clothing you want, a bag sale is the best option. We had clothing both days of the sale, and sold more the second day because we offered this type of sale. A whole bag of clothes for anywhere from $2 to $5.... yes please!

3. Go early? Buy late? I have mixed feelings about what the correct answer is on this one. Many people say in their sale ads that they do not allow early birds into their sale. It is a bit frustrating to be finishing a cup of coffee and see cars park outside or people pawing through your stuff when it isn't all set up yet. Early can work in your favor to get the first choice at items. Perhaps you did your homework, there was something specific you wanted, so you can be the first to get there and get it. Be aware though, you will most likely be paying exactly what the seller wants for it without much dicker room. Early in the day means there are many more people they could sell it to, so they are less likely to move on the price. Late arrivals can find deals galore. But, that could mean that the items have been pretty picked over all day longs, so the deals may not be that great. I prefer to be a late garage sale person to pick up cool items to DIY and get good prices.


4. Bundling/Dickering. Sometimes a deal can be made if you are buying more than one item. I hardly ever go to a sale and leave with one item, so this is usually not a problem! When you have multiple items, it is acceptable to ask for a little deal, maybe a dollar or two off. Which brings us to the next point, dickering. I am a firm believer in dickering at a yard sale. Most of the time the items are the homeowners own items. They don't want to cart that stuff back into the house, or they would have left it in there to begin with. So they are motivated to sell it at a reduced price as well. But, I do ask you to be realistic and not insulting. If an item is marked $10, for example, a reasonable counter is $8 or maybe $7. Asking for $3 is probably going to get you some mean looks and a no budge attitude. Be pleasant, smile, and make small talk, and then make your offer.


5. Have supplies. If you are making the day of it at a community yard sale, it is good to have some necessities with you. You may consider some of the following: wipes, hand sanitizer, bags, newspapers, pen/paper, bubble wrap. Also, bring snacks and water to keep you fed and hydrated! You may even want a wagon. That way you can park your car in one area, and hit multiple sales without making multiple trips back and forth.  


6. Have fun. It can be a lot of fun seeking out cool finds and getting good deals. You never know what the next sale may have and you just might find the thing you always wanted! Enjoy talking to new people and maybe seeing some new places. Garage sales can be lots of fun!




Have any suggestions or questions? Have a hint to help a fellow garage sale junkie? Please comment below and let us know your thoughts! You can always visit us in person Tuesday through Friday 10am until 6pm and Saturdays 10am until 3pm.We are located at 7504 South State Street in Lowville, NY. Or email us at our entwinedtreasures.com site.