Thanks, Doris, for this explanatory description of another piece of
rich American folklore that I didn't even know the existence of.
We never have car boot sales or garage sales here, not privately that
is. We do have large junk sales in big halls where everybody can rent
a stall to sell whatever he wishes to. Visitors must pay a small
admission fee. But sellers are very knowledgeable about prices there.
So there is only little chance of finding any photographic steals like
the almost classical example of Deb's Shift or even better ones....
Once a year, on Koninginnedag (anniversary day of the crowning of the
queen) in all larger towns and cities everyone is allowed to occupy a
few square yards of the pavement in the city and convert it into a
selling place, also for everything... April 30th it is, just for the
case you ever pass by ;-)
Frank van Lindert
Utrecht - Holland.
On Wed, 11 Mar 1998 07:13:45 -0500 (EST), *- DORIS FANG -*
<sfsttj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>On Tue, 10 Mar 1998, Shawn Wright wrote:
>
>> Where do you LIVE???
>> Sheesh, the best I can do at garage sales around here is a Sears
>> Telescope with wooden tripod for $2.50...
>
> I live in Tampa, Fl. But have found buys at garage sales in many places
>I've traveled. The things that are important are: 1.- Make a map of your
>stops from the newspaper ads the night before. Use all the local papers
>(and often the little free ones are loaded with sales not found in the
>others). 2.- Visit all the sales in the ritzy neighborhoods first, then
>those in the periphery. 3.- Most sales are advertised as starting at 8 AM.
>Be AT the best sounding ones at 7:30 or so. Arrange the sequence so you
>don't waste too much time traveling between sales. That 7:30-8:30 hour is
>when the buys are usually found, although I've gotten stuff at 10:00 AM,
>it is rare. 4.- Work fast. I spend maybe ONE or TWO minutes at each sale,
>unless I find something worth buying. Time really is of the essence.
>I walk through, looking carefully, but don't break stride unless something
>really calls out to me. 5.- People always put the more valuable things
>closest to the house, so start by going all the way to the back and work
>you way back towards the street. 6.- Learn how to inspect camera equipment
>rapidly, and carry batteries, a 2-AA battery sized (or larger) Mag-lite in
>your car, and a magnifying glass. Work ALL the controls, look for oil in
>the diaphragm on lenses, sticky blades, mold on the glass, etc. 7.- Estate
>sales IMHO, rarely produce real bargains, because they're managed by
>people making a commission. Private owners often price according to how
>they relate emotionally to the item. 8.- If you see baby clothes or toys
>arranged outside, drive by (unless you're in a ritzy 'hood). New parents
>normally don't jettison cameras, and many don't have much disposable income.
> This garage sale stuff may sound a little hokey, but one finds really
>great buys. People who can afford a lot of things need to make room for
>new ones, and this is one of the ways it happens. Plus one finds many
>non-OM great buys. You DO give up Saturday mornings from 6:00 (when I
>awaken) to about 9:30-10:00. Hope this helps.
>
> *= Doris Fang =*
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