Doris has the right of it. In my opinion, commando garage sale-ing like
this seems to be a Southern sort of thing. Odd...
In my neck of the woods (beach sand?), the sales start on FRIDAY mornings,
can you believe it?
Hmmm... US Air has a direct flight from Ft. Walton Beach to Tampa in the
evenings... maybe I'll give Doris some competition!
Regards,
Mahlon
sfsttj @ scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us (*- DORIS FANG -*) (Mailed by: sfsttj @
scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us (*- DORIS FANG -*) @ internet)
03/11/98 07:13 AM EST
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx @ internet
cc: (bcc: Mahlon R. Haunschild)
Subject: Re: [OM] Bargin OM buy's (no OM content)
On Tue, 10 Mar 1998, Shawn Wright wrote:
> Where do you LIVE???
> Sheesh, the best I can do at garage sales around here is a Sears
> Telescope with wooden tripod for $2.50...
I live in Tampa, Fl. But have found buys at garage sales in many places
I've traveled. The things that are important are: 1.- Make a map of your
stops from the newspaper ads the night before. Use all the local papers
(and often the little free ones are loaded with sales not found in the
others). 2.- Visit all the sales in the ritzy neighborhoods first, then
those in the periphery. 3.- Most sales are advertised as starting at 8 AM.
Be AT the best sounding ones at 7:30 or so. Arrange the sequence so you
don't waste too much time traveling between sales. That 7:30-8:30 hour is
when the buys are usually found, although I've gotten stuff at 10:00 AM,
it is rare. 4.- Work fast. I spend maybe ONE or TWO minutes at each sale,
unless I find something worth buying. Time really is of the essence.
I walk through, looking carefully, but don't break stride unless something
really calls out to me. 5.- People always put the more valuable things
closest to the house, so start by going all the way to the back and work
you way back towards the street. 6.- Learn how to inspect camera equipment
rapidly, and carry batteries, a 2-AA battery sized (or larger) Mag-lite in
your car, and a magnifying glass. Work ALL the controls, look for oil in
the diaphragm on lenses, sticky blades, mold on the glass, etc. 7.- Estate
sales IMHO, rarely produce real bargains, because they're managed by
people making a commission. Private owners often price according to how
they relate emotionally to the item. 8.- If you see baby clothes or toys
arranged outside, drive by (unless you're in a ritzy 'hood). New parents
normally don't jettison cameras, and many don't have much disposable
income.
This garage sale stuff may sound a little hokey, but one finds really
great buys. People who can afford a lot of things need to make room for
new ones, and this is one of the ways it happens. Plus one finds many
non-OM great buys. You DO give up Saturday mornings from 6:00 (when I
awaken) to about 9:30-10:00. Hope this helps.
*= Doris Fang =*
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