posted on April 23, 2001 06:13:29 PM new
Shaani... when I returned the sewing machine was not in the same place as before. The wife told me that two other people had come along asking about it, but her husband told them it was already sold.
I've looked at Sewing Machines for ages here on eBay -- it's been in my Favorite Searches since back when we had Personal Shopper (in 1998 or was it 1999?).... Finally, that search is Deleted! Along with my "Favorite Categories" list too.
To anyone but a quilter, it's probably not "special" -- the machine does a basic straight stitch to perfection, but none of the fancy ones (no zigzag for instance)... Originally offered by Singer in 1933 at the World's Fair in Chicago, this is a superb machine -- small, portable and simple to operate. I'm not a fancy person and this machine suits me to a tee.
You have no idea how very fortunate I feel to finally have a wish come true (and that's what this machine is to me -- a long term desire finally reached).... I won't sell it -- and the Kidlet is nearly as pleased as I am.
A quilter named Nancy Johnson-Srebro wrote two books about this machine... it's very popular -- and I'm so pleased to have one. You know, when I opened the case, the machine had this sheen on it. You could tell the owner oiled her regularly and took good care of it. The gent told me his mother used the machine regularly up until June of 2000.
Feeling so fortunate and pleased,
and hoping other quilters can experience the same joy I'm feeling too when they finally get their own Featherweight!
Joyous in South Florida,
janice142 (one four two)
edited 'cause i don't understand AW html requirements (sigh)
posted on April 23, 2001 06:18:09 PM new
I just had a garage sale to sell off my ebay stock (we're adopting, so I have other priorities right now). I couldn't believe some people. It's marked $2.00, will you take a quarter? Bartering is one thing, and if they'd said a dollar, I might work with them, but some were almost insulting. I just said 'no' half of them ended up buying the stuff at the given price. SOme people will say would you take any less than this, or offer a buck or two less, but some people really want something for nothing.
And yeah, it started at 8:00, but there was one car that showed up the night before, and then at 6:00 that morning.
We wanted to dump the stuff, so if they promised to take the stuff off the premises, we would work with them!
posted on April 24, 2001 07:58:03 AM new
janice142,
I totally agree w/you about some people wanting to give their "stuff" to a good home.
Back in the olden days when I was married, my ex and I were new to FL, and were looking to buy a home. We couldn't afford much, but really wanted to live near the beach.
We went to look at one where the buyer had gotten a lot of traffic, but was unwilling to come down on her asking price. My ex fell in love with it and let the buyer know it would be perfect for us (not good strategy according to most realtors).
I explained to her that I wasn't trying to insult her, but that $X was all that we could get financed. However, we did have an extra brand new computer, and my ex, being a computer geek, could also provide her with some hours of tech support.
She came down on the price, got a new computer and great personal on-site tech support and everyone came out happy. She indicated to me at the closing that my ex was the first person who'd looked at her house who hadn't pretended it needed a lot of work. (It really didn't need much of anything.)
posted on April 28, 2001 12:42:50 PM new
I just went to another Rummage sale the other day. I bring my own bags that fold up for ease of carrying all my goodies in. My bag was quite full, and quite heavy. I set it on the ground right beside me, and just reached to grab something on a table with my back towards my bag for a split second. When I turned around, there was a couple with some things in their hands, and they had a book I had in my bag, upside down, hidden under another book they had in their hands (the edge was sticking out). I looked down, saw the book was not on top and I said "this is MY stuff in this bag!" and I took the book out of the pile he had in his hands. His wife said "oh, I didn't realize. Pretty clever". I wanted to say "YOU'RE the clever one!" If they thought this stuff in my bag was NOT mine, why would they hide the book UPSIDE DOWN, and UNDER something else they had in their hands? It was very obvious they were just trying to steal something I had. And I knew the book was mine because of the shape and color of it. UGH! It made me SO mad! All I could think about when that happened was this thread so I just had to tell you what happened! I also learned a lesson. Don't turn your back for even a split second on the stuff you want!!
[ edited by ExecutiveGirl on Apr 28, 2001 12:44 PM ]
posted on April 28, 2001 07:53:08 PM new
Janice142 -
Have you ever thought of going back to where that garage sale was, noting the address, and sending a thank you card to the man you bought the machine from? It is obvious you love it - and that card will probably mean the world to him.
posted on April 28, 2001 08:21:30 PM new
Becky... what a wonderful idea. I'd wondered about that. Didn't want to be all sappy and stuff (even though actually I am!) to a stranger but.... Next time I'm down that way (it's 150 miles from here) I'll definitely find his place and drop him a note. Good idea!!
The machine is perfect too. I adjusted this little screw on the bobbin case and it sings. Practically perfect in every way. *dreamy sigh*
posted on April 28, 2001 10:52:42 PM new
Pushing, shoving, grabbing things from your hands?
Good grief, where the hell do you people live?
I've been to thousands of yard sales, flea markets, & shows where people are packed in like sardines, and I've never had anyone push me, shove me, or even think about snatching something out of my hands.
posted on April 29, 2001 04:51:59 AM new
Is that anything like a 6 foot tall REDNECK? We've got plenty of them and some of them can be pretty rude, and some are quite nice. At any rate, I don't mess with them either!
My 17 year old daughter's softball coach calls her his "little redneck" because she drives a full size Bronco with duel exhaust that is the envy of every male in the high school. Can't get her to go with me to any yard sales though. When she was little I had to pay her $5.00 bucks a trip to go along and guard my stuff, and even then she said it wasn't worth it!
posted on April 29, 2001 09:48:39 AM new
I am sitting here laughing, remembering the time at a flea market I literally draped myself across four BIG boxes packed with some old china while flinging my atm card at my husband and telling him to RUN to the atm and get me the cash I needed.
I had waited anything but patiently, (hovering a little ways away) while another woman stood in front of the boxes with ONE cup in her hand, turning it over and over and deciding if she wanted it. Once she put the cup down and walked a few steps away, I was all over those boxes.
My beloved Syracuse china service for sixteen sits proudly in my china cabinet now and is often used and much loved.
Around here the flea market/garage sale ettiquite seems to be, if you want it, keep your hands ON it.. if you walk away it's fair game. Most of the sellers that I see, seem to honor that as well.
posted on April 29, 2001 09:53:41 PM new
Wow, I'm blown away, no wonder everyone carries a handgun in the US. They'd need one if they started pushing and shoving me around at a sale.
My folks used to head down to AZ in the winter & told me how pickers would be out with flashlights in the early hours at the yard sales. Whatta hoot!
posted on May 1, 2001 10:36:39 AM new
I have another Rummage sale story to share!
Went to a church rummage sale. Was going through women's clothing and found a pair of plus-sized shorts, brand new with tags. A good name brand, too. Now, these were obviously not my size but I wasn't getting them for myself, I was getting them to resell.
A lady who was looking at the same rack as I was, was watching every move I made. As I put the shorts in my bag, she said "Are you SURE they aren't going to be too big on you?"
I replied "they aren't for me" and proceeded to put them in my bag.
My mother came over a few minutes later (the other lady still next to me still watching me and listening to every word I was saying). I showed my mother a few things I had picked up, including the shorts. I didn't mention "they are for ebay", my mother just knew what they were for.
I finally went to a different side of the sale and a few minutes later my mother came over to me and said "that lady who was next to you said I really wanted those shorts but she beat me to it"
<~~~again
I told her she should have told her "look for them on ebay under ID: XXXXXXX and you can get them for $20!"
posted on May 1, 2001 10:51:21 AM new
I have found that library sales are getting rude too. We have one nearby that is getting more crowded and the people who run it treat everyone like cattle. (If they treat the "Friends" that way, how do they treat their enemies?) The other night we decided to go to a competing libary sale--had the run of the place without getting elbowed to death.
We have one nemesis who is tall enough to be a NBA candidate. He goes over to a shelf or table, maneuvers his large frame in front of everyone and shovels nearly the entire contents into a box and then cherry picks at leisure; leaving a mess for the volunteers and little for others.
This really isn't necessary;if you are an early bird, be cool and don't hoard. Chances are you will do very well without the stampede and wrestle mentality of the jerks.
