Tammi's World

A Ramble on Garage Sales

My sister had a garage sale over the weekend. Lord knows she had crap. Loads of crap. In fact - she made over $1,400 on this garage sale. Now - she did have a couple of big ticket items. A van that she sold for $600 and a complete set of bunkbeds that she sold for $60. Everything else, however, was between $.50 and $2.00. Do you realize how much shit she had to sell to get that much money?!?! AND her garage is still half full.

But that's not what I want to talk about. Mama and I sat out and "helped", we all figured it would be a nice chance for us all to spend some time together. Now, I have to admit something. I HATE garage sales. Honest to goodness. I've never liked them....ever. Oh, I've had to do my fair share of shoppin' em. But that doesn't mean I have to like them.

I hate the bickering. HATE it. Especially when watching my sister.I sat there and watched people bicker back and forth and I just wanted to yell "YOU CAN'T WIN! Don't even try. She's too cheap!" I've watched her bicker at Kmart and get the price reduced. She can get the prices down. And on the flip side, I guess knowing all the tricks helps cause she WON'T come down in price.

I don't get it. I shop around, check prices and then - when I can afford it - I buy it. Bicker? No. Not so much.

But the most aggrivating part was Sunday. It was decided that what didn't get sold would be donated. Ok. Cool.

But there was still a lot of shit. And in my minds eye I could see all the work that would need to go into packing it all up and getting it to the donation center. (I am very lazy at times.) So when people were coming in and offering $.50 off a $3.00 item I'd say - SURE. THANKS. My sister and Mama? No. The price is $3.00. Solid.

WTF?!?!? Just sell the damn thing. It's junk. You don't want it. It's not really a "useful" item for donating - SELL IT. GET RID OF IT. Hell....at one point I followed a family out to their vehicle and GAVE them a bag of little GI Joes. Damn.....The kid only had a quarter and the bag was marked fifty cents. His heart was broken. Give the kid the bag. For cryin' out loud.

But I was so embarrassed. I can't really explain it - but I was. It was obvious that the sale was over Sunday. People were still willing to buy - just wanted the "clearance" prices. What would it have hurt to just budge a bit?!

That is why I don't GO to garage sales and why I don't HAVE garage sales. I can't. Knowing me - I'd end of giving the stuff to everyone.

But.......don't mess with me in business. I'll clean your clock.

How wierd is that?!?!

Posted by Tammi at August 9, 2005 06:07 AM