there were some interesting characters that showed up throughout the day...
- the earlybirds -- ok, so the sale starts at 9am, and at 7:45 people start pulling up. in droves. they descended upon us although we had less than a quarter of the stuff put out. apparently this is de rigueur for tag sales. who knew? ok, my mother knew, but she didn't tell me.
- the teacher -- there was one very, very sweet guy who came and bought all sorts of kids' stuff and even a white board. he was so very nice and was doing it to prepare -- at his own expense, of course -- for the school year. he didn't even attempt to bargain, just happily paid the prices marked. we gave him a break on the lot, but now i wish i had asked what else he would have liked and threw it in, regardless of the price. there was also a woman starting a preschool who bought a bunch of the toys. these two really made me feel warm and fuzzy. as opposed to some of the others (see last bullet point).
- barterers vs. accepters -- some people just can't be happy with paying a quarter for an item that would otherwise cost $5. they just *have* to haggle. this my mom did warn me about, but it still amazed me. (and i let Shari do the haggling.) i mean, a QUARTER?! i felt a little used by some people. on the other hand, you have the teacher who just never questioned anything. i liked him better.
- scoffers vs. those who admit i sold too low -- then there are the people who scoff at paying $1 for a $10 or $20 original-price item. i know it's a tag sale, so you can't expect to get anything near a real price (or even an ebay price) for anything, but c'mon, *scoffing* at me? give me a break. on the other hand, there were at least two people who outright admitted to me that i had way underpriced items that they were happy to snatch up. if you know me, you know that still bothers me. not because i am greedy but because i was so far off (or scared) in pricing. and it makes me wonder what other (potentially large) mistakes i made.
- the wine rack -- one of the interesting stories of the day was the wine rack. nice set -- three units that attach together to wrap around a corner and hold a couple hundred bottles or so at full capacity. so mid-sale, a couple comes up to look at it, saying they aren't interested, but that they have a friend who would be very interested. so interested, in fact, that she would come by just to look at it. the couple went on about how nice it was and how perfect for the friend. a while later, a woman comes up to look at it and loves it. says it is just perfect for them. they are starting their own winery and would love just such a set for their showroom. they were super-nice and really excited. i was so happy that it was going to them. turns out, as they're paying, that they are not the expected friend. oops. oh well, first-come, first-served. late in the sale, the "friend" finally decides to show up and is not very nice or friendly at all. even before we told her we already sold it. very glad about the way that one went.
- the last guy -- and then there was the last guy. we're very obviously cleaning everything up and he and his wife walk up, looking through things with not the least acknowledgement that it's about to rain and we are cleaning up. that's ok, if they want to buy. long story short, he looks at a $5 whiteboard with stand and asks if we'll take $1 for it. since it is haggling, i automatically defer to Shari, who says, "i'll give it to you for $3." he says, "what about $1?" i don't know what she was thinking, but she agrees. well, it turns out the guy is a class-a jerk. he laughed at us when we wouldn't give him a $7 desk chair for $1, saying it was garbage. (then leave, idiot!) then he picks up two binders marked 25 cents each and wants them for 10 cents. we just said "no." give me back that nice teacher.
i didn't end up trying to sell any of the furniture. couldn't be bothered to bring it up the stairs (in the case of the enormous, heavy desk that i know i don't want) and/or couldn't be sure i really wanted to get rid of it yet. so far i haven't sold anything i'd necessarily want to keep if i was staying or if, for example, i had unlimited storage. except my ironing board. that may have been really dumb. not sure what i was thinking.
i also didn't end up selling the game table or the stereo and other electronics. part of it was the early bird problem (in that i didn't have any extra time to get more stuff), and i guess part of it goes back to the same not-sure-about-getting-rid-of-anything-permanently bit.
i have tentatively scheduled another sale (in my mind) for early octoberebay, like a silver serving tray and crystal and such (more on that in a moment). or possibly on craig's list, like furniture, if i can deal with the logistics and effort and time of it all.
my parents have offered to come out and help with a second tag sale. but is it really worth them driving all the way from connecticut to do it? the gas money alone would be more than whatever i am bound to make. (besides, then i really have to commit to doing it.) the upside of this possibility is that they have offered to take back with them things that might better sell on ebay, as long as it fits in the car. (oh yes you did!) my mom being the big ebay seller and all...
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