Newspaper ad sifting

[Piledriver]

How many of you guys sift out yard sale ads that you find in the paper and Craigslist?
Do you sift by location, particular words used in the ad, or what?

Personally, I avoid all ads that have the words "craft" or "plant" in them, and I cull out store-type sales like plague.

Also, I like sales with "odds and ends". If they say they do not have any junk, to me this means that I may not find the kinds of bargains I am looking for.

What say you?

I should add that I am looking for sterling, fill, and Karat stuff at less-than-dollar prices, plus any precision measuring tools.

 

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[jerseyben]

How many of you guys sift out yard sale ads that you find in the paper and Craigslist?
Do you sift by location, particular words used in the ad, or what?

Personally, I avoid all ads that have the words "craft" or "plant" in them, and I cull out store-type sales like plague.

Also, I like sales with "odds and ends". If they say they do not have any junk, to me this means that I may not find the kinds of bargains I am looking for.

What say you?

I should add that I am looking for sterling, fill, and Karat stuff at less-than-dollar prices, plus any precision measuring tools.

I very rarely rely on any ads. I have my "routes" that I follow and just look for signs anymore.

 

[billjustbill]

Usually it's the location we consider first. I've found the higher income neighborhoods don't do sales all that regularly, and except for the "Greedy Few", they don't have the sales experience or tight budgets to know the resale value what they are selling. So, the old saying of "One man's junk is another man's treasure" means the quality-level of the "Another Man's Junk" is MUCH HIGHER UP on the Food Chain.....

This first decision is only overridden if another garage sale lists "Jewelry". I learned that "Treasure is where you find it." applies to all income levels when jewelry comes in to play....

Some of my best finds have been from following garage sale signs I see while on our way to the next "planned" stop. When I see those signs, I feel like those WWII fighter pilots that finished their bomber escorting duties and went looking for "Targets of Opportunity" strafing an enemy supply train and locomotive .... At one of those, I bought a whole floor standing jewelry cabinet. I was almost shaking, after I opened the top lid and saw Sterling rings and a large Senior Class gold ring among the layers of tangled necklaces, and felt weak-kneed waiting for the owner to come back with the answer to whether they would take $45 for the whole thing..... Or the little garage sale sign made from a shoebox lid that lead me to paying the owner $15 for a $365.00 woodworking accessory called a "Router Raiser" still in its Woodcraft stickered cardboard box.

I guess I've learned that once you choose where to begin, being early, being flexible, and being polite/courteous make the biggest difference in what you take back to the car....

Bill

 

[jerseyben]

Usually it's the location we consider first. I've found the higher income neighborhoods don't do sales all that regularly, and except for the "Greedy Few", they don't have the sales experience or tight budgets to know the resale value what they are selling. So, the old saying of "One man's junk is another man's treasure" means the quality-level of the "Another Man's Junk" is MUCH HIGHER UP on the Food Chain.....
Bill

What do you mean by "the greedy few"? There is no such thing as being greedy with your own stuff. If you are savvy enough to know how to get the most money for YOUR own items, does that make you greedy?

 

[billjustbill]

What do you mean by "the greedy few"? There is no such thing as being greedy with your own stuff. If you are savvy enough to know how to get the most money for YOUR own items, does that make you greedy?

No, and this past weekend's Ebay sale of that $4 hammer for $375 is my own example of what you're asking.

I'm talking about walking up a long concrete driveway lined with high dollar/brand name things for sale on both sides and 10 tables in the center where the prices are 3/4 of what retail was.... For the most part, people WANT to get rid of what they don't use or want and mostly want just something back. That "something back" is measured in low prices or practically giving it away just to receive a good feeling of seeing another person or family get something that makes the buyers' life better. The few who want "used retail" prices usually end up boxing most of their stuff back up or dropping the prices in the last few hours so they won't have to do the work. They seem to be missing a lot of basic enjoyment of letting go and have little compassion for others....unless there is something concrete in it for them. Those kind of "Greedy" people.....

Bill

 

[jerseyben]

No, and this past weekend's Ebay sale of that $4 hammer for $375 is my own example of what you're asking.

I'm talking about walking up a long concrete driveway lined with high dollar/brand name things for sale on both sides and 10 tables in the center where the prices are 3/4 of what retail was.... For the most part, people WANT to get rid of what they don't use or want and mostly want just something back. That "something back" is measured in low prices or practically giving it away just to receive a good feeling of seeing another person or family get something that makes the buyers' life better. The few who want "used retail" prices usually end up boxing most of their stuff back up or dropping the prices in the last few hours so they won't have to do the work. They seem to be missing a lot of basic enjoyment of letting go and have little compassion for others....unless there is something in it for them. Those kind of "Greedy" people.....

Bill

Bill,

I understand the point you are trying to make. However, your use of the word "greedy" is simply your opinion.

Are these people being foolish? Do they lack business sense? Absolutely. But your assertion that people should hold yard sales, etc, just to "practically giving it away just to receive a good feeling of seeing another person or family get something that makes the buyers' life better" is your opinion and I would argue that most people do not agree with this. It is still their stuff and what they choose to do with it is strictly their business.

 

[billjustbill]

Bill,

I understand the point you are trying to make. However, your use of the word "greedy" is simply your opinion.

Are these people being foolish? Do they lack business sense? Absolutely. But your assertion that people should hold yard sales, etc, just to "practically giving it away just to receive a good feeling of seeing another person or family get something that makes the buyers' life better" is your opinion and I would argue that most people do not agree with this. It is still their stuff and what they choose to do with it is strictly their business.

No, that's not my sole point of view. Nobody I know sets up a garage sale to give it all away. An item here or there is sold at a lower price or put in a "free" box is the usual way, while the rest of the things are priced with common sense in mind.

As an after thought, let me share what happened at our garage sale, last June. It was near noon on the first day and things began to slow down. A fellow in his mid-forty's walked up to where my wife had a table of costume jewelry. He said he was looking for a necklace with a large cross, "a really big cross that will show up" while he pulled out his business card showing his name with large letters on the phase that followed: "Elvis Impersonator"... Both my wife and I are retired from 30 years in public education, and we laughed with this guy as he spoke of his "other job". My wife found a large cross on short chain as the fellow talked. He said he goes to garage sales in this area of the county while his wife is going through her weekly routine at the Kidney Dialysis Center. So, yes, you can bet that under the combinations of circumstances, he was given more attention, a good deal on a longer chain cross necklace, and we came away with some understanding of what "our stuff" meant in his world....

I'm talking about the upper income husband/wife that have a 3,000-5000 sq. ft. brick/stone house with a yard that "somebody else" keeps mown and trimmed, at least one or two foreign brand luxury cars, and most likely an upper level American made convertible or two-seater sports car blocking the driveway entrance, with a large inboard ski rig parked in the back, and an attitude that "I don't want this stuff anymore, but I want almost all of what I paid for it." I don't think "business" savvy has much to do with it; they display an attitude of "Me and Mine" is all I care about. That's the self-centered and greedy attitude & behavior I'm talking about.

Those, thankfully few, yard and garage sales are the ones I look around at, politely say "Thank You", and swiftly walk away from....leaving them to their business and glad, in my opinion, I'm not like them. I guess I'm a lot like the old saying by Will Rogers, "I'd rather be the guy that bought the Brooklyn Bridge than the one that sold it."

Thanks for your counter-points though,
Bill

 

[diggummup]

As far as "newspaper sifting" goes, I make my route depending on the area and the amount of sales in that area on a particular week. I may pass on going to a single sale in an upscale neighborhood, if there are 10 sales in a little less desirable neighborhood on the other side of town. Also, the more descriptive an ad is, the higher the prices will be, usually. One more note, I always stop at unadvertised sales that I happen upon while on my planned route.

Greedy may not have been the best choice of an adjective but I understand what Bill means. I will walk away laughing from some fool who thinks they can sell their used items to me for 50-90% of the retail prices. So greedy? maybe, maybe not, but ignorant, foolish and out of touch with reality, absolutely.
When I have a sale, I am truly happy to see the stuff go. I could really care less about the amount it sells for to be brutally honest. If I cared about it at all, it wouldn't be out at my yard sale to begin with. The less crap I have to cart off to the thrift store afterwards, the better. Personally, when I have a garage sale I expect to be low balled. It's part of the game. If I want top dollar for something, you won't find it at my yard sale. That is not what a yard sale is for or about.

 

[Butter Hat]

I went to a sale at a gated, mansion community...where at least one of the houses has been used as a movie set. I was curious, especially since this was an inside sale and I wanted a look at the house, lol.

It contained the worst junk I've ever seen. Not to mention the fact that the house had weirdly off-putting architecture. Didn't buy a thing. But okay...would I go to that neighborhood again? Sure. Still curious!

For what I buy for just me, not to resell, my best finds are in older working-class neighborhoods. Lots of cool old stuff there: food service china, neat tools, interesting books. That's what I looked for circa BT: Before Treasurenet.

 

[OldSowBreath]

Here are the ones I avoid on Craigslist (and please don't take offense at some of the perceived stereotypes here, It's just from experience and not what I am looking for):

Ads completely in Spanish

"baby stuff"

"stock-up sale" or "stock-up items"

ads with pictures of completely worthless junk

Did I mention "baby stuff"?

ads with pictures of Pottery Barn frames

"car seats"

The word "toddler" in any context

"selling a few items"

"gently worn men's underwear" (actually saw that one)

"tons of Avon!"

ads containing "rice-cooker"

ads where all the items are listed and already priced (almost always way too high priced)

history of multiple sales at the site

pictures of tires with spinners

 

[Piledriver]

We like to group adds that are interesting, but also close together in location.
People that have sales often do not realize that the real money walks into their yard first thing in the morning. These are salers that are serious.

 

[jerseyben]

Here are the ones I avoid on Craigslist (and please don't take offense at some of the perceived stereotypes here, It's just from experience and not what I am looking for):

Ads completely in Spanish

"baby stuff"

"stock-up sale" or "stock-up items"

ads with pictures of completely worthless junk

Did I mention "baby stuff"?

ads with pictures of Pottery Barn frames

"car seats"

The word "toddler" in any context

"selling a few items"

"gently worn men's underwear" (actually saw that one)

"tons of Avon!"

ads containing "rice-cooker"

ads where all the items are listed and already priced (almost always way too high priced)

history of multiple sales at the site

pictures of tires with spinners

I agree with most of your list, actually.

Another one that bugs me are the sales where people get their kids involved in it. I know some people think its cute but I just find it annoying. (However: If there is a lemonade stand, I will always buy it if I am a bit thirsty).

Another one: Sales where the proceeds are going to a charity. Those always make me feel obligated to buy something or to spend more than I planned on stuff I barely even want.

Also, I find that asking for specific items is a real gamble and I rarely do it. If I start asking about jewelry, records, or coins, I often find myself stuck in a long conversation about how their uncle collects coins or something like that. Other times they go into the garage/house and emerge with a small box of jewelry that they sell at flea markets themselves priced near retail (this scenario actually happens to me quite frequently). Also, when I ask about records, people usually tell me that they are only selling a few and the "good stuff" is in their private collection and not for sale. Again, no big deal but I like to learn from my mistakes, thus it discourages me from wanting to ask everyone for specific items.

One more: I hate when I follow well made signs all around town. Then, upon arriving at the sale, there are literally a dozen or fewer items in the middle of the driveway. Why even bother to have a sale for such a small pile of stuff? Just throw it out or take it to GW.

 

[Paleo_joe]

People that have sales often do not realize that the real money walks into their yard first thing in the morning. These are salers that are serious.

Yes and no. I am out first thing in the morning and I have money to buy, as a dealer.

But from my experience as a seller with my own garage sales, dealers who are there first thing are looking for "steals" and I have said no to them many times because I knew that item would bring more later in the day. You want to waste a trip? Knock on my door before dawn and start asking if I have jewelry.

 

[diggummup]

Yes and no. I am out first thing in the morning and I have money to buy, as a dealer.

But from my experience as a seller with my own garage sales, dealers who are there first thing are looking for "steals" and I have said no to them many times because I knew that item would bring more later in the day. You want to waste a trip? Knock on my door before dawn and start asking if I have jewelry.

Knock on my door period and I'll tell you to take a hike, only those won't be the exact words I use. I agree that the serious buyers are the first to arrive and I also agree that they are looking for a steal of a deal. That being said, (as a buyer) I rarely have to negotiate on anything, unless it's at an estate sale. If I don't like the price, I don't buy it, simple. There is nothing out there that I can't live without. I have found that most people who are having a yard sale for any other reason other than to get rid of excess stuff are probably trying to supplement their income to some degree or having a supposed "fund raiser" for charity. Nothing wrong with that just not my kind of sale. Go to the nearest flea market if you want to make a business out of selling your used stuff. The "fund raiser" charity sales don't bother me too much, I don't feel obligated to buy anything, though I will leave a dollar sometimes if I don't. I got my dog last year from a charity sale for a non profit pet rescue org..

 

[Butter Hat]

We stopped posting newspaper ads for our yard sales when people came knocking on the door THE NIGHT BEFORE.

From then on, we put the stuff out that day, and only then would DH go around posting signs. I made signs to last, from masonite and oak tag. We used them for years.

 

[jochart]

I look for ads that say:
neighborhood or block sale
everything in the house is for sale
getting rid of moms or dads old junk
divorce sales
moving sale
private estate sale

 

[scaupus]

"I made signs to last, from masonite and oak tag. We used them for years."

Lol. That's one of the "signs" of a sale I probably want to avoid.

 

[Butter Hat]

"I made signs to last, from masonite and oak tag. We used them for years."

Lol. That's one of the "signs" of a sale I probably want to avoid.

*shrug*

People would stop us and ask when we were planning another sale.