Summary of a Garage Sale

My garage sale was Saturday. It was a pleasant although not a major profit making experience. I was worried because one of my pals indicated that I might be barraged by a dimwitted lot seeking products for pennies. Thankfully, that did not occur.

Yes, there were hagglers, but it was not extreme. I believe the most surprising aspect for me was how well dressed some of the bargain hunters were. One woman dressed in summer whites and stylish slides - hair and makeup done flawlessly- looked in my pile of far from new clothes, and shot me a glance that seemed to say "You've got to be kidding." There was also a 60-ish couple walking hand in hand.... in color coordinated garments and hats more suited for church than pounding the pavement at a neighborhood garage sale. They were looking for chairs, and I had some, but the gentleman stated they were a tad worn. (Umm, they were 3 for $10, what did he expect?)

After a couple of hours without a single sale, I told my friend and #1 garage sale assistant, LKM, that if I did not sell anything, she would need to buy something. At that point, she made an event-changing suggestion. "You need some toys or games. You get to the parents through the kids." So I broke down and put one of my still new in package handheld Pacman games in the sale. It sold within seconds. I purchased it for $9.99. I priced it for $5. It sold for $3 because the kid, probably about 5-years-old, already had it in his hand. Given that I didn't have the heart to reject his father's haggle. That sale started a trend ....and by the end of the day I had made roughly $20. Not much, but better than nothing. What's even better is I met some neighbors. Two asked if I had just moved in. I should mention that I've lived in my house for nearly four years. I guess I know how to keep a low pro.

What I learned from the sale, is that the people in and visiting my neighborhood seemed interested in more high end products than what I was selling. I should have figured this out from the like new SUVs, trucks as well as the mercedes convertible. LKM even commented, that if I had brought out some designer purses and more current clothes, I would have sold more. Maybe. I might test that theory if I participate in next year's sale.