Thoughts on Garage Sale etiquette.

[GrayGhost81]

On Saturday there were town-wide garage sales in my town. They were to start at 9:00am.

The first place I went to wasn't set up at all (the weather was sketchy) but the lady (who called out to me in the street to ask what I was looking for) was kind enough to go inside and grab some PS2 games for me to look at. It was about 8:30 at this point.

I went across the street and there was some stuff set up at another house. I told the woman there that I knew I was early but since I was walking I asked if she didn't mind me looking. I added that I was looking for video games.

She said she had been asked for video games three times already, and that her husband had a bunch, but she didn't appreciate people yelling out of their car windows to ask for them.

I knew that for the rest of the day I was beat. I mean, I was walking.

I've run into this stuff before in years past but that was my refresher in the lows people will stoop to for a good grab.

So please guys, tell me you don't do this.

People who rudely shout out of their cars at people give collectors a bad name, because the average Joe doesn't know the difference between a collector and a reseller/dealer.

If you do run into it, how do you deal with it?

So at that second house the woman went and got her husband, who took my info and called me the next day and sold me some decent stuff for cheap (I posted in small scores yesterday). So my weekend wasn't a wash. In fact I made out better because I made a new friend who runs into a lot of stuff in his job (he's a garbage man).

I've been tempted by the "if you can't beat them, join them" mentality but I just can't bring myself to drive around to people's garage sales way before they start and yell out my car window like some savage. It's just incredibly rude to me.

Sorry if this rant is on the confusing side. I'm at work and writing in drips and drabs. Let's discuss!

[tactical_nuke]

That sounds very rude and also it takes the fun out of searching!

[techwizard]

for me the joy is in the hunt, and there's no joy in drive-by shopping. also many people running garage sales are selling things in there that aren't theirs, like kids/grandkid's stuff, and they aren't likely to know much about it. to them anything in a dvd style case is a movie, or anything in a jewel case is a CD. if you ask for video games they might not know that they even have some. so those doing the drive-by shopping might think they're saving time, but they're really just risking missing a jackpot find to save just a few minutes of their time.

[GrayGhost81]

Excellent point techwizard. I follow that advice at trift shops too, even if they have a video game section there's always something mixed in with the DVDs or CDs.

[Addicted]

for me the joy is in the hunt, and there's no joy in drive-by shopping. also many people running garage sales are selling things in there that aren't theirs, like kids/grandkid's stuff, and they aren't likely to know much about it. to them anything in a dvd style case is a movie, or anything in a jewel case is a CD. if you ask for video games they might not know that they even have some. so those doing the drive-by shopping might think they're saving time, but they're really just risking missing a jackpot find to save just a few minutes of their time.

Couldn't agree more. Always take the time to look. Also always look under the table. I found a box of loose genesis games that had MUSHA, Zero Wing, and Sparkster (cart only) for $5 each.

[GrayGhost81]

Another excellent point. Gotta look in those boxes full of loose toys.

I'm really glad no one has read my original post and said "Yeah I yell out my car window, what of it?"

[slackur]

Another excellent point. Gotta look in those boxes full of loose toys.

I'm really glad no one has read my original post and said "Yeah I yell out my car window, what of it?"

Well, I do, but only because the one time I walked up to the drive-thru on foot, they wouldn't take my order.  True story.

But yeah, yelling out of your car at Garage Sale folks is just rude and uncool.  I agree with my fellow RFGeners, the hunt is the thing.

[A8scooter]

I never shout out the window at anyone having a sale. Remember yes they are having a sale but also you are a guest on their property and can be asked to leave at any time.

I love the hunt for games for my collection. Yet there are times that Ill buy games for resale if they are at the right price and do me no good. Searching all areas including toys books and music ( 8 tracks and cassettes ) you would be surprised where a game will turn up. I look through the books too for games cause some get mixed in or program books for old atari 8 bits get worked in there too. usually 25 to 50 cents ea.

Even if I dont find anything in my travels I go out of my way to thank the people having the sale and I make sure to tell them to have a good day.  This also in a way pays it forward for the "merry tag sale" companies that go around town to town helping with doing garage/ estate sales. If you do it enough people remember you cause you stand out ( well not anymore after y'all start doing it ). They also listen to what your looking for and will let you know when you walk in the door " Hey, they are selling XYZ down in the basement i dont know if its still there or if youd be interested but take a look." Catch more flys with honey than vinegar.

Slackur, well its people like you yelling out of the window at the drive through that people like me get the wrong order when I speak calmly at em. 

[slackur]

Slackur, well its people like you yelling out of the window at the drive through that people like me get the wrong order when I speak calmly at em. 

I know, I'm sorry.  It's the three smaller voices in the car all asking for junk food that I have to be heard over. 

I'd say about half of my worthwhile yard sale finds include the seller saying something like, "huh, I didn't even know that was in there."  So even if I were prone to drive-by shouting, I'd miss all sorts of goodies.

[Leynos]

I love to hunt. Part of the joy. I always just walk to the yard sale and just look around myself.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

You guys find things at yard sales? I usually hear something along the lines of "I just sold everything a few minutes ago". I've missed many a yard sale gold mine, including 600+ UNIQUE ATARI 2600 CARTS WITH MANUALS SOLD FOR $50. At least I found some Nintendo luggage at that sale. I hate living in a city that likely borders on 80% reseller/20% collector mix.

[techwizard]

You guys find things at yard sales? I usually hear something along the lines of "I just sold everything a few minutes ago". I've missed many a yard sale gold mine, including 600+ UNIQUE ATARI 2600 CARTS WITH MANUALS SOLD FOR $50. At least I found some Nintendo luggage at that sale. I hate living in a city that likely borders on 80% reseller/20% collector mix.

i don't drive and also tend to sleep in so i usually miss out on garage sales, and nearby they're usually pretty dry anyway. but it's still fun to look, you never know what you might find.

[GrayGhost81]

Shadow, that makes me feel a little bit better. It's not that bad here (Northern NJ).

Town-Wides attract out of staters too, that is always a huge issue for me.

[Leynos]

You guys find things at yard sales? I usually hear something along the lines of "I just sold everything a few minutes ago". I've missed many a yard sale gold mine, including 600+ UNIQUE ATARI 2600 CARTS WITH MANUALS SOLD FOR $50. At least I found some Nintendo luggage at that sale. I hate living in a city that likely borders on 80% reseller/20% collector mix.

Last year I found a Platinum Gamecube with Game Boy Player attached for 15$ as they were closing up

[Shadow Kisuragi]

You guys find things at yard sales? I usually hear something along the lines of "I just sold everything a few minutes ago". I've missed many a yard sale gold mine, including 600+ UNIQUE ATARI 2600 CARTS WITH MANUALS SOLD FOR $50. At least I found some Nintendo luggage at that sale. I hate living in a city that likely borders on 80% reseller/20% collector mix.

Last year I found a Platinum Gamecube with Game Boy Player attached for 15$ as they were closing up

Think the last cartridge I found at a yard sale was Quake 64 loose for $15... yet, they were more than happy to give me all of their N64 manuals for free.