St. Francis and the Pink Panther

I don't want to shock you or anything, but I am a big fan of yard sales. Especially those that feature the occasional vintage item. I have found some lovely vintage items at yard sales.

But do you know what is frustrating about yard sales? The yard sale where nothing is marked. Where not only is not a thing marked, but the people running the yard sale have noooo idea of what they would like to charge for their yard sale item.

So you have to go up to them and inquire into the item’s price. To which they give you a quizzical look that says “What, I need to give you some idea of what you should pay me for my item? Really? I'm responsible for that?”

After the quizzical look, the actual spoken words are:

"I don’t know; what do YOU want to pay for it?"

(Which is really sort of a ridiculous question, because my answer always and forever will be "A DOLLAR". I don't care what it is, a lucite tortoiseshell 1950s handbag or a martini needle, I really would like to pay a dollar. Who wouldn’t?)

So I'm at this yard sale, where nothing is marked, and there are all sorts of quizzical looks, and I've asked the price on a number of items -- one of which was an industrial-looking lamp, and to my query the guy says “Ten dollars?” Pause. “Twenty dollars?”

Um, dude, you're supposed to go DOWN in price, not up -- because I'm not going to say “Hmm, let me think about this, you said ten dollars, then you said twenty, so I think I'd rather pay you TWENTY than ten.”

I am still shaking my head.

Ack. I passed on the industrial lamp, and then didn't inquire about a couple of other things, including a concrete Blessed Mother statue -- mainly because I was frustrated, but also because I didn't want to get into another endless loop of backwards negotiations.

But I did get this whole case of unused vintage pharmacy bottles. Eight dozen of them. To sell on Etsy as supplies.

And these (also unused) vintage apothecary bottles.

And these lovely mercury glass beads and plastic tree topper -- that were PRICED!

For guess how much?

A DOLLAR!

Now we're getting somewhere.

There did seem to be a theme to this weekend's finds. I’m loving this cool old olive bottle -- it reminded me of my favorite vintage perfume bottle.

And this sweet vintage chopper with aqua lid -- also got a red one but the photo was too blurry to post.

Also these not-vintage-but-great-for-outside-candle-display hanging glass jars.

And what’s a yard sale without a stack of pretty dishes?

… or a 1978 (with tag) Cap’n Crunch stuffed doll for that matter!

Even better, a 1964 (with tag) stuffed Pink Panther doll!

Somebody was looking out for me -- maybe this guy? A wonderfully chippy St. Francis statue -- I would have quite the collection of vintage saint statues had I not been listing them all in my Etsy shop.

And finally, this large and quite heavy Mother Mary statue. Much better than the unpriced concrete one I chose not to inquire about. Thank heavens.

Linking to Thrift Share Monday and Her Library Adventures.

Comments

[Stella]

When I am at a garage sale and I ask how much something costs and they start with "That's practically new..." I'm already thinking "never mind" as they are telling me how much they paid for it. That is never going to be a bargain. And by the way, my favorite find at estate and yard sales are vintage saint statues....I have a huge collection of those.

[Susanne]

One dolla', make you holla'!!!
Great finds even though you had a hard time getting the sellers to participate. Ha!
Susanne.

[Pam]

Great finds. Can't beat the glass beads for a buck. I absolutely hate it when people can't be bothered to price things. And if they ask me how much I want to pay and they don't take what I offer on the first item, I just walk away without buying anything. Muttering loudly about what an idiotic sale it is of course.

[Sandi ~ A Cottage Muse]

Priceless post!!

[Heidi Jo]

Ugh- I hate garage sales like that too. I hate asking over and over again and then being told that things are way more than I want to pay. I love all the little containers! Fun finds!

[DogsMom]

Those are the sales where you have to be willing to wak away from anything/everything. You do a scouting around and then do some bundling.
I'll take all these nasty old bottles off your hands for $5 (or $3 or $2) and may be you could throw that dusty box of (whatever) in too?
I have the world's largest collection of stuffed animals and characters (it's an addiction I am trying to tame) but I do not think I have seen Capt. Crunch! I was more of a Quisp eater. Sad day when they discontinued that.
You are making me go through my yard sales withdrawals all over again!
I may have to steal a car this weekend and feed my habit.

[myBOOTH96]

I'm right there with ya - I HATE those Yard SALES with no prices...very frustrating!

One time, I went to an estate sale and the lady just told me to make a pile and make an offer ($60)...after I did, she was like NO WAY! She told me, "I was thinking $150..." What the heck?

I told her I need to stay within my budget and let's go thru everything (for 15 add'l minutes), I asked, "How much for this, how much for that...?"

$1 here, $3 there...

Guess what? It came to $60!

-pamela

[Emily]

Wowie zowie! Great finds!

It's frustrating when there are no prices at yard sales. I invariably pick items at yard sales and estate sales that aren't priced. I actually think I get better deals at Estate sales because of it. They tend to look at the group of unpriced items and say "Oh, how 'bout 20 bucks for all of it." Last time this happened I paid up and left with 2 boxes of stuff plus a a 1950's Hudson's Bay Point blanket.

[Kathy]

Once again, great finds!

[Tamara @ A Treasured Past]

Don't you just hate that! I always want to say a $1 but don't want to insult them, so say $2..hahaha

Its either that or they should not even have a sale because it is total TAT and its should all be sent to the tip!

Love all your finds! Your yard sales seem sooo much better than ours, Tam x

[Into Vintage]

I always say "A dollar" because it's a yard sale, not an antique store and I'm not really up for a guessing game first thing in the morning. :-)

I sure wish I had some dollar glass garland!

[Karen]

I love those bottles! Hilarious about the garage sale with no prices. Been there a few times myself. I always think, "what were you thinking????" Do you want to be answering people all day about how much for the bajillion different you have for sale? Wow, some people have far more patience than I do. Guess this is why I only attend garage sales and never have them myself ;)

[Barbara]

I LOVE the guy's negotiating technique! Just when you think you've heard it all ... Looks like you had a very successful day nonetheless, especially with all that lovely pink garland!

[Beccalina]

Those mercury glass beads are divine.

[Karen]

Bet those olives made a mean martini!
Nice Finds!

[sue]

I'm with you, I do not like sales where there are no prices listed, plus, like you, if they ask, what is it worth to you, I will say, a dollar. The sellers can't figure what to do, are the items worth more than they know? How to find out? Get the customers to offer the right price...right? No. Decide what you want to get and if someone gets a deal, you made your money. You either want to sell it or you don't.

[georgie]

Went to a friend's sale, said I'd take the two items for $3.00 total that she said they'd be. Had to go home and get $. When I came back about five minutes later she wanted $3.00 each. Told her no, I'd take just one because she'd said the price was $3.00 and that is what I'd brought for the two items. Doesn't seem very fair.