Storage Auctions
The Marketplace => Picker's Paradise => Topic started by: MatchesMalone on January 03, 2012, 01:37:13 AM
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I was checking out listings for upcoming estate sales and I thought I should get some opinions, as this would be my first time.
The company I was looking at tends to mostly do 3-day sales over a weekend, where they charge full price on Friday, 25% off Saturday and 50% off Sunday. This seems fairly typical.
For resale purposes, we obvioulsy want to buy as low as possible, but I'm curious what kind of selection is left come Sunday.
Has anyone had success shopping the final day of an estate sale? I'd also love to hear any general advice or stories you may have from your prior experiences.
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Have not been to an advertised with auctioneer estate auction yet.
The ones we have found are kinda like a yard sale and they are selling everything. Usually we are hitting them on late Saturday afternoon. Lucked up in a few good buys. One we had to go back on Sunday to pick up and got a few more things really discounted.
Like everything else you want know until you go. I would go everyday and see what the out come is.
Did see one advertised prices were retail, talked to another auction hunter he said hey that auctioneer is high. We could not make it so don't know for sure.
Good luck.
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I was checking out listings for upcoming estate sales and I thought I should get some opinions, as this would be my first time.
The company I was looking at tends to mostly do 3-day sales over a weekend, where they charge full price on Friday, 25% off Saturday and 50% off Sunday. This seems fairly typical.
For resale purposes, we obvioulsy want to buy as low as possible, but I'm curious what kind of selection is left come Sunday.
Has anyone had success shopping the final day of an estate sale? I'd also love to hear any general advice or stories you may have from your prior experiences.
Estates sales in my area use to be really good for finding stuff cheap before ALL the TV shows. Before the economic downturn in late 2007 early 2008, most of the crowd at estate sale were the same regulars, mostly hobbiest, auction houses, thrift store owners, and collectors, after the economy went into recession I saw more people coming out looking for deals on typical household items and clothing, then came American Pickers and Storage Wars and Auction Hunters and though these shows have nothing to do with estate auctions, the crowds swelled, the auction companies started pricing all the items at retail to re-sell retail, and people started bringing trailers and U-hauls to estate sales to buy up the furniture and other inventory. In my area it's kinda like the storage auctions, anything advertised on auctionzip or by certain estate sale companies I avoid becuase of the pricing and crowds. I have not been to very many estate sales since the spring of 2010, plan on going back out and checking the scene since storage auctions are getting worse with the bidding.
My general advice on how to approach estate sales is first find out about the operations of the companies running them first. Some companies have their own thrift stores, auction houses so they will NOT take low ball offers for buying large lots of furniture or household goods, other companies are just trying to move as much as they can for the family that weekend and WILL take low ball offers for buying large lots of furniture and household goods. Some companies are much better at researching the contents of the house for pricing then others. One estate sale will have Ebay ask pricing on most of their smalls, and another might have closer to flea market pricing for thier smalls.
Generally, be the first person in the door on opening morning, even with the high pricing today, there are still some things that are so unique and collectible, it is worth paying the price and holding it as an investment or heirloom. If overall the prices are to high for resell, then go back the last couple of hours of the last day and see what you can get at an end of sale discount, but remember some companies will deal, some wont. Sometimes the family will be there, and if you tread lightly and show compassion for their loss you can negotiate directly with the family members and bypass the estate sale employees.
Look for things that are not "sexy", have not been highlighted as unique, valuable, collectible by any of the TV shows. Concentrate on ordinary household goods that are still "under the radar" of all the TV shows but still have value. If you develop a niche, there are still things you can find at estate sales that you can buy for $1.00 or less and flip for $10 - $20 (Kinda like knowing your stuff at the flea market). Granted you my not get rich with this approach, but it sure is fun!
I use to really like the "do it yourself" estate sales where family friends are running the sale, but the last couple of times I went to those kind of sales, they got really upset that I was using my phone to research the goods. I got cut off at two different estate sales because they realized I was researching and finding items with value that they were selling for nothing, so I try to be descrete with my research at estate sales, flea markets, yard sales. Most people have become saavy enough to know if they see you plugging away at your phone and then come running back to buy that trinket for $1, that they have underpriced it and my "pull it" from being for sale.
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I have found Estate Sales can be a great source.It depeds on who runs them.
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Thanks for all of your responses. Cobia, your post was quite a good read.
Turns out that our area has a good number of estate sale companies, so, like anything else, I'll need to hit a few and see what the scene is like around here.
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haven't had much luck in estate sales run by a company. I've gotten some nice pieces from ones listed on craiglist by the family. More of a huge garage sale. Though with those the place has been picked by family, friends, neighbors .....so all that's left is what they consider junk or big items. Really have to research every item, look at every piece of jewelry....hope they missed something or they just want the stuff GONE!
I got a set of four Hickory chairs on Sunday for free! Ugly as sh*t! But I knew they were from the '60s and "chair people" are all over Hickory Chair Co furniture right now since they just had their 100th anniversary. Had them sold by that night for $200 on CL
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Found two for this weekend only problem they are a little bit of a drive. One is an Auction house selling out. Not sure we will go. Near my brothers so could use that as an excuse to travel for it.
Let us know what you find out today.
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How did it go Matches?
We did not attend any Estate sales. Did go to the equipment auction. Takes all day if you buy something. Husband does really well there. :). Only bad part over half of what we spend is for things around our farm. LOL
We got fence post for .50 a piece Retail is $7.50 each. we are going to sell half of them and use the other half so we will be getting our fence for free. ;D
Waiting for an update ;)
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How did it go Matches?
We did not attend any Estate sales. Did go to the equipment auction. Takes all day if you buy something. Husband does really well there. :). Only bad part over half of what we spend is for things around our farm. LOL
We got fence post for .50 a piece Retail is $7.50 each. we are going to sell half of them and use the other half so we will be getting our fence for free. ;D
Waiting for an update ;)
Well, the first one I was planning on attending has been pushed back until March, so I still haven't been to one.
There are two this weekend that I may be able to attend, but we will see. I will certainly report on my experiences. :)
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Ok
Thanks.
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I have had plenty of luck with estate sales. However most of the stuff I am going for is usually overlooked and is priced fairly cheaply, I usually go on the second day. Most of the good stuff is already gone, The two companies I follow advertise with pictures. I dont like waiting till third day. I will go back for a third day if a few things caught my eye and figured they should be priced lower.
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Got a late start today on the "Friday Starts"
Man, people are out! All I hit were gone thru well by the time I arrived.
Really wanted to get some wood carving tools at one and guess that's what everyone wanted. Not one to be found.
Had some really cool army stuff but way overpriced. 1940-60s era foot lockers for $85!
Vietnam medics strechers for $150? Cool but not that cool.....or profitable.
Did get a cabinet of drawers of nuts/bolts/screws, some hardware, dowels, casters.ect.....all for wood working.
Got it all for $10 just cause I wanted the set of files and electric staple gun shoved in the back that I hoped they wouldnt, and they didn't, notice. ;)
And when I got home found a nice set of fine carving chisels in leather roll up case.
But karma got me. Files are almost dead, staple gun doesn't work and chisels are a starter set you can pick up for $20. :-\
So back to threads topic, on a three day sale I've always found Sundays 50% off to only be good for large furniture and cheap kitchen/home ware. Good for personal items you need but not for resale items.
Adding a question myself........
What's your opinions on "digger sales"?
Getting more common with this one estate sale company. It's frustrating to me. Gotta dig thru, collect, carry around, then find employee to ask price.....just to find they want way to much.
Positive is you can negotiate a lot price better but I usually on get 1 or 2 items.
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Want 200 at your sale by 6am when it starts at 8am?
Add his pic to your ad......insane how many people showed up.
I don't know why. People always way over value guns. And he estate companies send in the ATF paper work so.....?
(http://pictures.EstateSales.NET/2114/270768/4989040.jpg?634722969872900000)
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They use those pictures of guns, etc. to draw in the crowd. I love estate sells but don't get to hit them as often due to working full time. So all of the good stuff is gone by Friday after work and saturday morning.
I've not had many of those digging sells. Have gone to a few that they say "everything in this room is $1" or such sign. Have picked up a few copper-silver trays and small items from such places. It's almost like storage units - is a crap shoot at times.
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Pretty much just estate sales for me lately.
Did the big swap meet down south today. Didn't pick sh*t and none of the regulars that are willing to buy were there so no sales either. But got cheap authentic Mexican for lunch. That was good.
Did get a bunch of tolietries. Nivea, Crew.....all for $2-$3ea. I never buy that stuff there cause Im pretty sure it's all shoplifted. But I'm not working and it's cheap. :-\
Hit some thrifts on way back and picked some goodies.
Bunch of belkin iPod nano accessories, brand new in box. Grab bag for $2.99. One piece retails for $30.
And enough time to hit some estates but they were pretty well gone thru.
Made some notes and will check sunday night for the 50% on a couple items if thy are still there. Local so no big deal to return.
Finally have enough to do a CL run on items though. Get it all organized, photos and all and posted next sat morn.....
[Update]
One grab bag for $1.99 I got for the herb grinder in it. Looked it up and it's a sought after item.
BIN on eBay for $50 with broken handle and well used. Mine looks brade new.
Bunch of forums talk about it and people trying to find....and here I just thought it was cool! ;D
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Very nice Alias. I need to check out more estate sales in my area. We just don't have them enough. I use to do estate auctions but that was maybe 1 a month. Is how I got into storage units.
Yard sales have been my bread and butter of recent. Picked up a few items that have not sold like I thought they would but everything else is doing well.
Plan for this weekend if don't go out anywhere is to hit yard sales Saturday, sell at flea Sunday, rest Monday :)
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I haven't done any estate sales lately, but digging through the stuff that is supposedly unwanted or has no value is my bread and butter. It also depends on the company that runs the estate sale. I know of two estate sale companies in my area that if you bring bags full of stuff to the table to buy, they ring up the larger more expensive items and "ghost" the little things, basically free-bee them as they ring up and bag. Other estate sales it takes three supervisors to get a dollar knocked off a 5 dollar item, so you just have to know your area.
I remember one time I was at an estate sale about a two years ago and lots of people were checking out the fancy kitchenware & fine china & tables and chairs, many lementing how expensive the prices were, well I looked in the kitchen cabinets and they were filled with food! Cans, & boxes mostly unopened. I asked an employee how much for the food, she looked at me funny and said I don't know, 25 cents each? Well I started loading up bags and bags of dry food, canned food, spices, etc. Everybody was looking at me like I was crazy and several people snickered as the walked by. Well I ran out of bags and went to the truck to gat some more and don't you know when I got back to the kitchen it was elbows and a$$es everywhere digging through the cabinets. Luckily, I had already grabbed the really good chit, so I picked up my bags and off to the check out table. I probably paid $25 for about $400 in food!
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Cobia - LOL! I have done the same thing....maybe it is my upbringing by Dust Bowl parents - we don't waste nothing! I have had the same snickering by others at the sale, especially in the more affluent areas but let 'em laugh....
I have two estate sale companies that I like to attend on the last day that will deal on bulk buys. I have picked up all the leftover kitchen stuff for $20 or the garage items for $50 or so.
I avoid most estate sales on the first day as I tend to buy crap for myself! ;)
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I avoid most estate sales on the first day as I tend to buy crap for myself! ;)
That sounds like me. I have to be careful. Checking out the Future Flea for us came home with stuff for me, Well I will sell the sewing box after I empty it. ;)
Our estate sales usually only list one day ???
Not sure if I would buy the food or not ( most I have been too, are a little scary looking in the kitchen ) but surly would not snicker at someone who does.
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I wouldn't be so quick to say that personal items are shoplifted. There are some folks who are getting damn crafty with coupons. An example popped up on my facebook this morning. Suave deodorant for 1.07/stick @ kroger. There is a coupon for .50 off and kroger doubles them so you can buy for .07 each. The kicker? There is none! There's no limit x per customer or transaction so basically you can buy them out if you have enough coupons.
A friend of mine from high schools girlfriend is going to school me on how she does it but she constantly posts pictures of her CVS/Walgreens/Rite Aid buys. She'll have a table full of **** and a receipt for some stupid price like $4.13.
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I'm gonna assume you posted on wrong thread.....
But I get your point. I got Nivea body wash for 50cents at Target with coupons so bought 20.
It just seems they sell very high price items like teeth whitening strips that re $30 for $10. Crew is $17 and they sell at $4. Allegra is $27 and they sell for $5. It's all very spendy but SMALL items tht are easily stolen.
Can see some coupon savvy-ness but week after week?
But thanks for the idea! Next coupon deal I do I'm stocking up and selling!! ;D
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heh I might have. Once she teaches me the in's and out's I might post something in the other forms of buying section. I had a lady at the flea sell me diabetic testing strips for 1.00 a box because her insurance let her have way more than she needed. No telling where they get this stuff from but you are more than likely right about it being stolen. Couponing is too much work for a lot of people lol.
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Got two "hoarders digger sale" estate sales this weekend.
Estate company's didn't even send pictures out or inventory list.
I'm hoping they at least cleaned the place up! Not dig'n thru dead rats and cat crap!
Only thing I've come to like about digger sales is the appraisers haven't gone thru and researched all the items. Can fill a bag with small crap and a few choice pieces and buy it as a lot on the cheap.
Got two others not run by a company, private listing. Those are 50/50.
Either they want stuff gone and sell cheap or they think everything is solid gold.
No one tells them that sentimental value can't be paid for.
Should be interesting weekend.......
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Just grind'n these days.
Estate sales prices are getting so high. Above retail in some cases.
Wanted these Decca record players and priced at $50. Showed the guy listings at $35. He said "well buy them there then....".
Did find a box of old meat grinders for $10. Three complete, one partial and a bunch of parts. And a cherry pitter.
Figure I can get $10/ea. Not gonna get rich but it's turn over.
Also got a cool mini-vice. Casted metal. Looks vintage....?
Only a couple bucks. Try for $10 on it.
It's kinda cool and usefull so if I can't sell I don't care. Another tool for the work bench.....
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Wanted these Decca record players and priced at $50. Showed the guy listings at $35. He said "well buy them there then....".
Well, I'll have to side with the seller on that one. When prospective buyers do that to me ("I saw these at xx store for..." I often ask them, "did you buy one?" The answer is always no and I sometimes remind them that I don't charge sales tax.
I always try to sell to the "end user" in my sales, so when a reseller tries to get it from me cheap, it generally won't work unless I'm just in it so dirt cheap I can compromise my original price.
Today at the flea market a gal asked me how much for a VFW cap full of medals and pins. When I said $25 she then asked how much for two 1921 high school yearbooks. When I said $20 each she thanked me and left. Seemed to me she was a typical reseller who was looking for a flea seller who didn't know what he had. Sure I could have asked for less and had some folding dough right there, but I don't need it for reinvesting, and I'd rather get double what she would have paid for either of the items. They don't take up much space or effort to pack and unpack...not like a queen sized bed ! ;D
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I understand that. The trying to get retail thing. It was really the attitude I got from him.
Perhaps the owners demanded certain prices for particular items. But don't give me attitude. Professionalism would be nice. I'll swing by Sunday night and see if hey are still there.
He brushed me off so quick I doubt he'll remember me as the one wanting them.
I'm just happy to get the meat grinders. Been wanting one and all the sales have had them at $20 or more for the cool antique ones. And the value village/goodwill ones have been aluminum. Haven't found any cast iron ones till now
When going thru the box I also found a bunch of attachments. Bread crumb. Nut butter. Preserves.
Couple more I forget. And multiples of several. Each one goes for $5-$10. Throw those on etsy.
As long as I can sell enough so the grinder I keep is free! Anything more is gravy.
Oh...and the estate sales DO charge tax. So they can't even throw that in your face. And if you use your card they tack on 2.5%.....but at least they take cards.
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Good estate sale picks today.
John lee hooker cd SIGNED for a buck. Not worth all that much but i love John lee hooker....maybe....um....$20-ish to a real fan?
Hamilton beach '40s mixer with original bowls in box for $15. Will try for $50 but looks good on my counter so won't go less than $40.
Few old vices. Been moving those lately pretty easy. These were $5/ea and not your standard vice but made for certain purposes (wht those purposes are I haven't researched yet). Been getting $20-75...
Then some 1oz silver bars for a buck below spot. Nothing special.
Rest of picks we're just stuff people asked me to look for or called and asked if they wanted. Crock pot, carry on luggage, gamers books....marked each up a buck or two just to cover gas.
Was a bit disappointed cause I drove all the way out to the boonedocks to and estate that had a recording studio. Ton's of mixers, guitar pedals, mic's.....
Everything was way, way overpriced. Double eBay BIN price or guitar center. A mixer that sells new for $219 was $225. $75 guitar pedals for $90. Total waste of gas. >:(
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Got some nice picks in today.
Hit two huge estate sales and three small, not run by estate sale companies.
Big ones, did well at first. Ton of tools and car parts, major focas. Think they spent so much time researching the garage and shop that they hurried the rest.
Got some old school Snap-On stuff. Great price but hard sells. Not standard stuff.
Best find was some old Niagara "lanterns" (1930s) for $1ea. Haven't researched a lot but thinking I should get Over $20/ea pretty easy.
Second big one I got some nice chisels and hand vices from early 1900s. Paid $2/ea. Only have looked up some but vices are not what I thought, sell for $10-$15. But chisels are some sought after item from England. Haven't found any going for less that $40. Only found one exact match so far but bidding is up to $90. For an F'n chisel! Whatever, I'll take it.....
Last ones were really good. Got a bunch of vintage kitchen stuff. Cutco knives. General merchandise. All stuff I've Craigslisted fast and easy before. Spent all of $12. I just filled a bag at one and he said $5 and it had a set of cutco knives and coper sauce pans......
Still have 6 sales that open tomorrow and then go back to two of today's on Sunday for 50% off the leftovers.....
Should be a profitable week.....finally.
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Sounds good Alias.
We have really been out of the loop past few weeks. Hoping to get back in soon.
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I was going thru pictures last night of today's estate sales and on the wall, with a bunch of crap, I noticed wht appeared to be a lug wrench. I kept going back to it and just held my attention.
Had that "I've seen that before" feeling
So went this morn and went straight to it and still didnt know exactly what it was. Put it back.
Got some other items and there was a bunch of old woodworking tools, total crap but figured I don't have any so these will get me buy.....
Asked how much if I took all and lady said $5 if I took it ALL. About 30lbs of useless drill bits and broken planes, just straight to scrap pile stuff.
Loaded it all and as a second thought grab'd the lug wrench looking thing cause it was just eating at me.
Got home and started researching and it's a hand crank for a Model A! Total score!!
Well, total score for a car guy like me. Really isn't worth that much in its condition.
But to ME this is awesome! :D
It's currently at the shop being sandblasted and painted. Ripped apart an old hand meat grinder and wood handle was made to fit. Have an old shadow box I'm going to frame it in.
Going to try and sell but I'll be happy to just have it as art.
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Nice find Alias.
Hate when I find those things that are just really cool. They end up hanging around. ;D
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Today's hunt I pretty much didn't bring anything home but dirt on my clothes.... :-\
Got some herb/cheese grinders that sell okay but have never seen this brand so don't know. Swedish, good condition, original box. No clue yet on what it's worth.
Parts to others that I do sell but .....parts.....nothing match's up. List them or use to piece together others.
Got another Universal 1 meat grinder. Haven't sold all the others yet but this one had original box...so basically I bought the box. The grinder will be used for parts.
That's it. Looking at resell value of maybe $20. Perhaps a touch more if parts sell well or if Swedish grinder happens to be worth more than the $5 I've gotten for similar ones.
But only spent $7 today for all that and got myself a set of poultry sheers from Italy, a cast iron pot so I'll top destroying my good one deep frying on the BBQ and a whole big box of misc sand paper.
*Update*
Swedish grinder is LISTED at $17 to $35. They don't have the four different graters like I do or original box. So, don't know if anyone actually buys them but, if so, figure mine will go first at $20....maybe....perhaps.....
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Oh that is pretty cool Alias. I keep hitting estate sales but by time I get off work they are picked clean. Did get a old 1970s era station wagon jack for like $5 a few months ago. Last few sales for me have just been $.50 CDs to add to my collection.
Yard sales have still been good to me however.
Have some auction houses doing absolute auctions next saturday. So not sure what want to hit (storage auction, auction house, yard sale)....
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I keep hitting estate sales but by time I get off work they are picked clean.
Yeah, it's the Friday morning ones you score at. Only resellers and 90% aren't looking for things I want.
Saturday morning starts are good but then you have a lot more competition.
I was going back on Sundays after noon for the 50% off but usually only thing left is hard selling items so don't do that much anymore. I do take a mental inventory or some notes if a sale has some good stuff at more than I want to pay. Then hit again on sunday, but only if it's near by or I have other reasons to be in the area
Don't know what I'll do when I go back to working fri/sat. I've gotten use to this easy inventory.
Storage lockers have more potential but picking is just so much more fun and way less work.
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This weeks estate sales yielding nothing yet again. Tho I think it was me. Just wasn't in the buying mood. And it was hot as hell out. Lotta grumpy people.
First sale really turned me off. It was just plain gross. So much the estate company didn't set it.
Just set up a cash register outside and a sign that said "diggers heaven"
Still dirty dishes in sink for god knows how long. Didn't even want to touch anything!
Then, the family was at checkout in chairs. As people brought out stuff to get price they would say "that's not for sale" and throw in truck. Like they were using us to clean out house.
Lotta people pissed cause they listed and pictured guns and when we arrived they said guns weren't for sale....
One guy got so mad that he found a mason jar off silver dollars and he just stuck it in his pocket.
Looked at me and said "f*ck'em. If they don't want to go thru the stuff....."
Probably coulda scored at this one if I'd been willing to dig but it was to gross.
They did have some awesome big items priced and priced well but not my thing.
Pinball machines and jukeboxes and old turn-of-century iceboxes just way low.
Second wasn't as bad but smelled horrible and prices thru the roof!!
Lot of Harbor Frieght tools, used, at way over what they are new. Set of wood chisels for $40 that are $29.99 new. $60 circular saw that Home Depot sells for $40.....
Had a Hoosier Cabinet listed and I've been looking for one and they wanted $495 for it. Didn't have any original pieces and beat up! And it ws the tiny one. Retail, with accessories and cleaned up they go for a touch less than that.
Went to three more and all were just average household items. Great stuff at great prices if you were shopping for own home but not resale.
My only decent finds were 2 stud finder/laser level for $1/ea. New are $30
And an entire milk crate of brass pully's for sail boats for $10. Will shop them around, if cant sell I'll at least get money back in scrap.
So figure unless sailboat stuff turns out to be worth something I'll just about break even with money spent and gas used......
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Sorry to hear that Alias. Sometimes the items are "sentimentally" priced!! :P :P
Went to a sale like that this weekend. Arrived early, and noticed three cars with out-of-state license plates in the driveway. Then went inside and they had a long banquet-type table set up in the living room with five family members sitting there with a cash box. YIKES - no auction company, this sucker was being run by the family. And let me tell you, they were IN LOVE with their stuff. It was Grandma and Grandpa's house - which was full, but full of beat up over-priced stuff.
Birdseye maple dresser with cracks all over it - $450!!
Mahogany dining table = $650!!
Upholstered three-piece 1950s living room chairs - $225 each! (Not for the set)
Beat up two-drawer metal filing cabinets - $30 each
Even the books were $2-3 each!!
At this point, I was hoping one of the "family members" was a banker, because I needed to take out a loan to purchase anything!! WOW!
BTW - this was a Saturday - we went back Sunday and everything was marked down 10% - WHAT A DEAL!! Needless to say, we didn't notice anyone buying anything. Pretty disappointing. I asked one of the daughters Sunday if they would negotiate on a couple old lamps and a rocking chair - her response "well.....suppose I could take off another 5%" (At this point the house was still full of stuff - See ya!!!!!)
??? ??? ???
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Estate sales companies have really got their act together in my area. Most everything is researched and priced according to Ebay. The only things I mess with are unsorted boxes stuffed in closets or out in the garage that they didn't want to go through. It's been getting harder to find unsorted boxes of stuff lately but I haven't been hitting estate sales as much as I use to. The crowds are definitely higher then they were about three to five years ago.