paloma91
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posted on August 1, 2003 08:08:58 AM new
There is a "City Wide Garage Sale" Happening in my area this weekend. It's not like a flea market. It is where the sellers get on a list that has a map on it. The houses involved in the sale are all on this list.
I am just wondering if these are worth it to either buy at or sell from. Any experiences out there.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on August 1, 2003 08:25:57 AM new
paloma: SC?
We found a lot of great stuff in the Palo Alto city-wide sale.
There are two of us organizing this campaign, though. We study the map ahead of time. One drives, the other navigates. In Palo Alto that was especially critical because of the "traffic-calming" measures in Downtown North.
(For those who don't hear about Northern California craziness, Palo Alto is an elite and expensive university town where the residents want to keep non-residents out. There is, for example, a city park that you cannot get into unless you are a PA resident. Shallow Altans--as we call them--have had barriers erected on their streets to that people cannot drive by their houses on their way elsewhere. This has been proven to obstruct the response time of emergency vehicles but Shallow Altans don't care. For years Shallow Altans managed to prevent the construction of 1/4 mile of road that would join a major street--El Camino Real--with access to Stanford Hospital, forcing people to wind their way through--get this!--a shopping center parking lot. And plenty are pissed off that the road was finally built.)
Start early, leave a sale as soon as you've sussed it's a loser and move on.
I wouldn't sell, though.
I am not a bathtub full of brightly-colored machine tools on Vendio.
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paloma91
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posted on August 1, 2003 08:33:04 AM new
No, Fluffy, it's actually the city I live in. One of my neighbors is going to participate and trying to get me involved. I refused. (Fluffy, it's not the same neighbor as last time. This one has old china etc from their great great grandmother from Latvia. Really nice people, they just don't know what they're doing)
I'll take your advise on shopping.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on August 1, 2003 08:35:44 AM new
paloma: I really think you might have more fun shopping. And if you run into me, remember: I saw it first! 
I am not a bathtub full of brightly-colored machine tools on Vendio.
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paloma91
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posted on August 1, 2003 08:40:09 AM new
I KNOW I'd have more fun shopping! I really don't want to "do another garage sale" Expecially for someone else. I had one last weekend and sold alot of stuff I couldnt sell on ebay. Still have more but don't want to deal with it this weekend. I feel there will be too much competiion.
Hahaha, I will make sure I get there first hahahahaha
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neroter12
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posted on August 1, 2003 09:16:41 AM new
Paloma,
Go, Get out, walk around, enjoy the day!! I wouldn't want to sell, either! You might just find 'that special thing' you can make some money from!
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on August 1, 2003 01:47:31 PM new
Forgot to mention: Take a copy of Schroeders or similar with you. That way if you see something likely you can research it on the spot.
Have lots of small bills and change. Sometimes this makes a difference as sellers will want to take your money before anyone else's.
I am not a bathtub full of brightly-colored machine tools on Vendio.
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stonecold613
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posted on August 1, 2003 02:07:19 PM new
Around here, neighborhood sales are big. That is not a city wide sale where sales can be somewhat spread out, but big neighborhoods get together and you go from house to house. I even had to buy a ganny cart for this type of sale. When spring comes, they pop up like mad. An average sale of that type you can go to well over 300 sales in a matter of a day. Most within a square mile.
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zircon4
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posted on August 1, 2003 03:24:32 PM new
Holy Cow! Stone, you must be part greyhound. 300 sales in one day. If you spent only 2 minutes at each that would be 10 hours non stop. That is really dedicated.
Regards,
Adrian
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paloma91
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posted on August 1, 2003 05:29:40 PM new
Oh Geez, I don't have a Schroeders. Just have a Kovels book of marks and that Shawnee book that we were all talking about earlier in the week.
Hey! The congregational church on Alameda started their garage sale today. I went this morning. It started at 9am and I got there at 1030am. I guess most of the good stuff was already gone. I did grab an amethyst signed Blenko bowl for $4 and 9 ruby red glass blowls at $1 each. I hope I did ok. What time should I leave the house? 800am too late?
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on August 1, 2003 05:50:59 PM new
paloma: We haven't had much luck at church rummage sales, suspecting the good stuff (if it was ever there) went home with the volunteers.
You should stop by sometime and I'll give you one of my Schroeders. I've got six and I don't need them.
Sunday we're going out to Livermore to the Amateur Radio Swapmeet. Sounds boring, but sometimes I get some tremendous deals there.
Leave as early as you can in the morning. I love city-wide sales because the usual suspects (the sharpies who show up at 5:30 am) can't be everywhere at once.
I am not a bathtub full of brightly-colored machine tools on Vendio.
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paloma91
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posted on August 1, 2003 06:09:32 PM new
Fluffy, that sounds great! I'd love a copy of Schroeders.I'll email you. Yawn! You mean I need to be out in the car at 530am ? Will do.
You guys are going to a radio swapmeet! Bet that will be fun. HOT but fun!
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ebayauctionguy
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posted on August 1, 2003 06:56:44 PM new
Ah, Palo Alto. In 1999, we had a blow-out 2-day garage sale at my late grandmother's house in Palo Alto. Sold over $3700.
30 years ago, she bought the house for $75,000. The house was sold 2 years ago for a little over $1 million.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on August 1, 2003 09:36:53 PM new
ebayauctionguy: Was it an Eichler? Just over $1 million for a well-maintained Eichler would have been about right 2 years ago.
I am not a bathtub full of brightly-colored machine tools on Vendio.
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paloma91
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posted on August 1, 2003 10:58:23 PM new
Well, you guys will love this. My neighbor who wants to have the garage sale during the City Wide thing. Oh, you are gonna love this. I went over to try to help them. The City put out a list of everyone having the garage sales. Listed their address and what they are selling. No advertising, NOTHING. First of all I see no "CITY WIDE anything signs anywhere!!! Just a stupid list that was in a box outside the rec dept office tonight. To make matters worse, looks like not too many people signed up for it.
Ok, now for my neighbors. They thing that because the city is doing all of this advertising that they don't have to put up any signs! Now they think they will start their sale at 9am as per the rec dept's flyer. Uh, I don't think they are going to make much. I tried to explain to them how it works. They listended but I don't think they are going to do much about it. Oh well. I guess I will hit the streets early in the morning. Shouldnt take too long since there are not too many people selling RIGHT??? We will see
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ebayauctionguy
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posted on August 2, 2003 12:16:30 AM new
Fluffy, it was an uncomfortable, old, 1 1/2 story victorian house. A lawyer bought it.
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rarriffle
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posted on August 2, 2003 05:13:23 PM new
yeah, take the Schroeders book and while you are trying to research the item, someone else has just paid for it, oh well, better luck next time.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on August 2, 2003 08:10:42 PM new
The idea is to buy smart, not buy indiscriminately.
If you end the day with one really good item, it's been a success.
I am not a bathtub full of brightly-colored machine tools on Vendio.
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MAH645
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posted on August 4, 2003 04:34:49 PM new
I know the 127 Yardsale going on this week is worth it.It is for 10 days and goes from Alabama to Ohio.We are set up and seeing people from all over the country. The traffic is unreal though.
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paloma91
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posted on August 4, 2003 06:07:13 PM new
Fluffy, I'll go if you go! Hey! maybe there will be a radio thingamagig going on too HHAHAHA
Too bad you're so far away or I'd be there in a heart beat. Let us know how you make out!
-------------- Just remember--------------------------------------
You'll always land on your feet if you know where the ground is. . .
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