Tell us your best bargain finds!
PHIL SKINNER / pskinner@ajc.com
The AJC recently profiled Mary Shaw, who has filled her home with treasures she acquired for a real bargain while shopping at thrift stores or perusing yard sales over the years. Shaw had plenty of advice to offer for other bargain hunters going to garage sales, including her personal motto, “If you don’t go early, don’t bother going.” She says if you plan correctly by planning out your yard sale route in advance, you can hit as many as 40 or 45 sales in two days. Wow, that’s dedication!
Shaw also is not afraid to buy things that may be slightly damaged, as she recycles these pieces for her own specific needs. In many cases, it was her own creativity that turned a piece of junk into a treasure.
So let us know, what’s the best item you’ve ever purchased from online classifieds or a yard sale? Any sage advice for other bargain hunters out there?
15 comments Add your comment
Doololly
April 3rd, 2009
7:44 am
I like the “divorce” type yard sales where the wife sells her soon to be ex’s bass boat for ten dollars.
electricbluebird
April 3rd, 2009
8:08 am
Last summer, I found a pair of pink vintage leather clown shoes at a yard sale for $1. I love them but alas, had no real use for them. I recently sold them for $90.
I sell vintage items on etsy.com (http://electricbluebird.etsy.com). When I hit the yard sales, I keep a list on my dashboard of the specific things I am looking for. Last weekend, I finally got that disco ball I had been looking for…
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April 3rd, 2009
7:33 pm
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Angelique
April 4th, 2009
7:44 am
It is a recession and we are all trying to be frugal with our money. We needed a 2nd TV and yesterday we found a 19″ color TV in excellent condition at a yard sale for $13, got it among other items and my daughter is very happy.
Chop
April 10th, 2009
9:09 pm
I found a perfectly good pair of pants that were worn by a dead man. They buried him in a blue suit and I got the pants for $3. Some people said it was creepy but they are Dockers.
BeagleMama
April 10th, 2009
9:31 pm
When I got home with the $10 trolling motor I bought for our boat at a yard sale, my two step sons took one look and hooted and hollered and laughed until they were almost rolling in the floor. [I must confess it was not a thing of beauty.] J.R. went ahead and installed it on our boat with the outboard engine. Not too long after my step sons borrowed the boat to go fishing. Everything worked fine, at least until they got into the middle of a pretty large lake. At which point, the outboard motor sputtered and DIED. There really was no option of rowing back to shore — they had no oars in the boat. So after sucking in their pride, they turned on the little trolling motor and puttered humbly and ever-so-slowly back to shore. While it has been many years ago, every time I think about it, I STILL ALMOST ROLL IN THE FLOOR WITH LAUGHTER!! It may have only cost $10, but it has been a million dollars worth of LAUGHS!!
Carla
April 10th, 2009
9:49 pm
I got my favorite Halloween costume of all time, a pink flamingo, for $10! I look GORGEOUS in it, thank you very much. Especially with my face painted pink to match.
Rosita
April 10th, 2009
9:58 pm
I paid $30 for a $1,500 Smith & Hawken Lutyens bench made of organic plantation teak at a Salvation Army thrift store, and that included the pillow, which retails for $150 – $207.
Zoe
April 10th, 2009
10:17 pm
I bought two Singer Featherweight sewing machines for $150 (AccessAtlanta when it had ads.) I paid $50 to have them serviced. I then sold them for $300 apiece. $400 profit.
Linda
April 10th, 2009
10:34 pm
I picked up an iPod at a yard sale. The older lady who was having the sale told me that I could have it…that it belonged to her grandson and it didn’t work. She had no clue about how it worked. I picked it up and ran to my car. LOL
Linda
April 10th, 2009
10:34 pm
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Original Rick
April 11th, 2009
12:34 am
A few years ago I found a pair of Oakley Blades with the reflective lenses with a 25.00 tag. I could not help myself, turning to my wife with a really big smile. She, being more yard-sale experienced, acted bored and offered the lady 10.00. I walked away looking cool, and even better when I got on my bike. This was when the Blades cost around 100.00 at any bicycle shop…
John Hallam
April 11th, 2009
8:50 am
Found an old beat up mantle clock at a yard sale.. Paid 20.00, grandson looked at me like I was nuts. I fix up old clocks and watches as a hobby, got this thing working and put back together… turned out to be a rare Ithaca clock, sold for 2,500.00. Grandson looked at me a little different after that.
Lauren
April 11th, 2009
9:26 am
Yesterday, I found a BCBG dress – new with original tags – at a yardsale for $1.25! It isn’t even my size, but I couldn’t pass it up!
KARL MARTIN
April 11th, 2009
9:29 am
BOUGHT A PAINTING BY A LISTED CALIFORNIA ARTIST FOR 15. AT AN AUCTION AND SOLD IT TO A DEALER FOR 1800.—-PRETTY GOOD ,PROFIT