Yard Sale Sharks!

[cjefferys]

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

You called my bluff, you know that there's no way I'm waking up before 5 am unless you are selling loose Humanoids or something. Hall and Oates? What, no thrash? Bah, never mind.

[EMCE Hammer]

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...

I'm leaving now, can you pull out all the Oates but keep the Hall? Also dibs on any used toothbrushes.

[palitoy]

Now I'm somewhat amused, the record guys stopped emailing but the video game sharks have started. It's like they switched shifts.

I even edited my ad to say "Don't bother asking to come over early, we won't respond" but they do persist about how they'll make it so much easier for me if I allowed them in.

Yesterday, I made the mistake of answering one question that asked if I have any jewellery, I don't. The response was a sales spiel about how she buys gold and I should call her blah blah blah.

[The Nawd]

A few years back at my brothers yard sale they had to deal with early birds walking up and trying to buy stuff (at a huge discount!) while they were still setting up the tables. They also seemed to be of the opinion that they were doing my brothers a favor.

[hedrap]

I hit a few estate sales in the early summer. I was early for one, so I started talking to these two guys who are pros. Fascinating conversation. The best explanation given was for a number of people, this isn't about collecting. It's about paying the rent and eating. So while we're used to dealing with the OCD mentality of collecting, the garage/estate sale early birds are carrions, and it's a fight.

[Mikey]

Back in the 90's I loaded up my pick-up and went to a local weekend flea market to sell some junk (not collectibles) A few Gibson and Strat knockoffs, Amps, a telescope, motorcycle parts, (legal at the time)-Japanese ninja knives etc … (basically my IM TOO OLD FOR THIS stuff)

Paid my 5 bucks for the table and was totally bought out by regular weekly sellers before my junk even hit the table … They didn't even haggle either -- and my prices weren't give-away prices.

I was back home with everything sold before the fleamarket officially opened at 9:00

They must have marked that junk up pretty high to make a decent profit