Garage Sales

One of the things I liked when I moved to the US was garage or yard sales. I was introduced to this concept during my first spring here back in 2001. The basic principle--selling used stuff to the public--is not new to me; we were doing this for fund-raising back in college. It is also common for Filipinos to sell something they own, especially something of considerable value like electronics or furniture, to friends or neighbors. However, since Filipinos typically use something they buy up until the last part breaks (or gets stolen, whichever happens first), they rarely accumulate stuff to the point that they need to get rid of things just to "declutter" their houses. In this aspect, I think garage sales are unique to developed countries, especially within relatively well-off communities.

Before coming to the US, I have heard stories of people in Japan throwing TV sets away because electronics are so cheap. I thought this was so cool, imagine getting TV sets for free by picking them up by the sidewalk! I thought I'd never get to experience them, but luckily for me this sort of thing was also practiced here.

To those who haven't been to one, the way a garage sale works is pretty simple: one family puts out flyers or announcements that they are having a garage sale (usually scheduled on the weekends). Then, on the scheduled days, they would put out stuff that they don't need anymore or want to dispose of, in their garage or on their driveway. Each item for sale will have a sticker on it indicating its price. People passing by or people who knew of the sale would come up and look at the stuff, and if they like something they can get it for the sticker price or, as what commonly happens, ask if they can get it for a cheaper price.

To me this is one of the most elegant forms of human interaction, because everyone essentially wins--there are no losers in this transaction. The seller is happy because they got rid of something that they didn't want and even got paid for it, while the buyer is happy because they got what they wanted and paid very little for it.

Come springtime, when people are shrugging off those winter blues and starting to do some major reorganizing around the house, you can see signs for garage sales start to crop up around neighborhoods. Over the years, we've learned a few tips and tricks to make garage-sale-hopping more efficient and fun:

• Make a list of what you need. This way you limit yourself on what you buy. Precisely because they're cheap, it's very tempting to buy things even if you don't really need them. Typically your list will include things that you consider too expensive to buy new.
• Make a note of where the sales are going on. Neighborhood sales are preferable because then you have many choices without driving too much. Sometimes you can just walk from house to house. More affluent neighborhoods tend to have better stuff, so prioritize them. Plan your route so you don't waste time traveling.
• Get there early. The best stuff goes fast.
• All prices are negotiable, so ALWAYS ask if you can get it for a lower price. If you are timid about haggling, try asking "what's the lowest price you can sell this?" Don't worry about what the seller might think; this is expected and perfectly acceptable in garage sales. And if you buy more stuff, you can ask for more discounts.
• Be aware of how much something costs new. You don't want to pay for something that almost costs you the same as the new stuff.
• If there are kids selling lemonade (and there will be), buy some. They really appreciate it. :)