Make Your Trip Pleasurable And Profitable
For the true bargain hunter, nothing is more exhilarating than coming home from a day of garage sale shopping with a trunk full of steals and deals. Here are some tips for making your yard sale shopping trip as pleasant and profitable as possible.Get the newspaper
Even if you don't get the newspaper every day, you'll probably want to buy or borrow one the day before your shopping trip. Although the online versions of most major newspapers have yard sale listings, the most complete listings are usually found in your newspaper's classified section.
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Use a map
You want to spend the majority of your time actually
finding bargains, not driving all over town. Use the classified
ads and a map to locate the areas that have the most sales.
Concentrate on hitting all the sales in those areas.
Make a map
A computer program for making maps (such as Rand McNally's
StreetFinder) comes in very handy for planning your yard sale
route. But even if you don't have this program, you can still use
a city map or even an online map service such as Yahoo! Maps to
locate sales and get directions.
Dress comfortably
Your yard sale shopping experience will be more pleasant if
you are comfortable. Wear weather-appropriate clothing and
comfortable shoes. Sunscreen and a hat can also be helpful if you
'll be out in the sun for long periods. And don't forget to hit
the bathroom before you leave the house!
Bring snacks
To keep your hunger and thirst at bay, take along a small
cooler with easy-to-eat snacks and plenty to drink. Of course you
could make a quick stop at a fast-food drive-thru when your
stomach starts to growl, but that would take time away from
bargain-hunting.
Bring a small purse
Rather than carrying your purse, you may want to carry just
your money and any essentials in a fanny pack or small change
purse you can put in your pocket. This leaves your hands free to
inspect the merchandise and also frees you from worrying about
your purse being stolen.
Negotiate!
Negotiating is the name of the game. Most sellers are
willing to deal as long as you are fair with them. Asking the
seller to take $2 for an item that is marked $20 is pushing your
luck. However, the seller may be more than willing to sell the
item for $15 or even $10, depending how late in the day it is.
Start early
Going to yard sales early in the day (as soon as the sales
open) has the advantage of getting the best selection. If you are
looking for a big-ticket item such as furniture or electronics,
you'll probably have to go early. But going later in the day has
its advantages, too. Sometimes sellers are willing to practically
give their stuff away rather than pack it up and carry it back in
their homes.
Bring change
Be sure to carry lots of change and small bills. Wiping out
the seller's entire change supply with a $20 for a $1 sale is
inconsiderate. Save your change throughout the week to use for
your Saturday yard sale trip.
Leave your contact info
If you try to negotiate on a large item but the seller won't budge, leave your name and phone number along with the price
you are willing to pay. Tell the proprietor to give you a call at
the end of the day if the item doesn't sell and she wants to sell
the item at your price.