Yard Sale Sharks!

[palitoy]

I'm having a yard sale Saturday, it's to pay for my kid's trip to Mexico with her troupe. I listed it on our version of Craig's List, Kijjijji and mentioned toys, comics, records to get a little sex appeal.

The ad was VERY CLEAR that there were to be no early birds.

My email box this morning was full of people trying to buy my records (they're my mum's records and trust me, no butcher shop Beatles in there) in advance, they're all really sneaky too trying to manipulate me with jedi mind tricks like "I'll buy the lot right now and your daughter can take that trip!".

I expected some of this, three years ago it was all about video games but wow, it's a little feverish out there.

Another person wrote me and said "I'm thinking of coming, please send me photos of what you're selling", that's never going to happen, who does that?

I realize that being a collector and a guy who has been doing yard sales since he was nine that this part of the game, I just couldn't believe how thick it's become.

My big worry is somebody is going to try to come over and try, they will not like me when i'm angry...

[Mikey]

You need to try and look more intimidating in person.

Maybe apply a few temporary neck tattoos for starters

During in person conversations once in a while turn away and whisper to yourself

Constantly scratching your chest is a good one too

[palitoy]

Dude, I'm a large man who seems to scowl even when he's feeling fine. Seriously, my wife will ask "what's wrong with you?" when I'm in a great mood.

[Marvelmania]

Yeah, in the past when I've had yard sales I've stated that it will start at 9am and mention no early birds yet there are people knocking on my door at 6am. I feel for you

[palitoy]

Yeah, in the past when I've had yard sales I've stated that it will start at 9am and mention no early birds yet there are people knocking on my door at 6am. I feel for you

Yeah, I'm going to put a sign on my front door on Friday night that asks them not to try.

[starsky]

sounds like fun! i guarantee you there will be early birds. lol

[palitoy]

sounds like fun! i guarantee you there will be early birds. lol

I guarantee yelling.

[Earth 2 Chris]

You'll never find a more wretched swarm of scum and villainy than announcing a yard sale. And they want everything dirt cheap, of course. I think most in my area just buy stuff to fill their own yard sales! I had an aunt that did that!

Good luck!

Chris

[Werewolf]

There's always been people in the hobby who are just not right but I think the collector shows made this worse. Now everybody thinks they're going to become a millionaire from flipping garage sale finds.

[MysteryWho]

Yep, I remember all these games well. I used to spend a lot of time at flea markets and cruising garage sales, mainly looking for toys. The people I encountered kind of put me off. My Dad got the bug from me and went for records. He was an early bird/pain in the *** himself, although he did come up with a butcher cover or some equivalent on occasion. I like Mikey's idea of temporary tattoos, preferably tear drops beneath the eyes. Also, cover the stuff/tables in sheets until the appointed time. This might discourage folks from just trotting up and poking around.

[palitoy]

There's always been people in the hobby who are just not right but I think the collector shows made this worse. Now everybody thinks they're going to become a millionaire from flipping garage sale finds.

I really don't a have a problem with that, just don't be pushy and rude about it.

[cjefferys]

I'll swing by your place around 7, hope your mom has some metal albums!

You need to try and look more intimidating in person.

Pretty sure that Brian has that covered already.

Yard sales are fun, I've been doing them since I was a kid. I usually just glom onto my parents' near yearly yard sale, that way they can deal with the earlybirds.

[RonnyG]

Put a sign on your door that says: No Early Birds - Do Not Disturb. Then when they knock on your door, you can go off on them. lol

[palitoy]

I'll swing by your place around 7, hope your mom has some metal albums!

You, I'd let in, just because you've been driving for two hours. My mum mostly has Hall and Oates.

[MRP]

Most people realize there are rules. Sadly, the same people often thing the rules don't apply to them.

My aunt runs a business that does estate sales, and everyone she does posts no early birds, even has a sign up at the end of the driveway, and everyone someone moves the sign to pull up in the driveway hours before it starts only to be told to go away and come back later. She started handing out numbers a half hour before it opens (as only a certain amount of people are let in to the house at any given time), saying no numbers will be handed out more than a half hour prior to the start of the sale, and people would show up hours early to get a number, etc. etc. It doesn't matter what you do, there's a certain segment who don't believe the rules apply to them.

-M