[Nathan Jefferson]

Is it just in my AO or are you guys seeing a reduction in the number and quality of yard sales? It is starting to be 'neighborhood yard sale' season here around me and the number of yard sales is about half of what I've seen in the past few years, and then the amount and quality of stuff I'm seeing is MUCH lower with prices that are higher than I'd expect.

Maybe it's just around here or (applies tinfoil) are people A) not buying as much crap as they used to so they have less to sell, B) they already sold all their old stuff C) prices are going up because people either 'need' more money for it or they are actually starting to value stuff...

Dunno. Anyone else seeing anything like this?

 

[jimb1972]

Hit or miss around here, they are fewer and about 30% expect you to pay retail for the junk they don't want anymore.

 

[MI.oldguy]

Too many clothes,unless you have a growing family its no use these days.

 

[Nathan Jefferson]

Hit or miss around here, they are fewer and about 30% expect you to pay retail for the junk they don't want anymore.

Yeah, the wife and I have been looking for a 'double stroller', finally found one that looked fairly clean and they wanted $60 for it but it was missing the shades/covers and a few other small things - I can buy it brand new from amazon shipped free for $80 that has the much needed shade.

Not a pressure canner to be seen...

 

[MrsInor]

Every spring there is a city wide sale of three days. Usually there are cars and trucks going around from even two of the neighboring states. This past spring not as many participants, quality was not very good and prices were up. Even the churches raised their prices.

 

[Tundra Dweller]

Im finding guys that have bought out (or so it seems) dollar stores and trying to make a buck on it. There are still lots of farm sales here.. and good things in most of em.

 

[Nathan Jefferson]

Im finding guys that have bought out (or so it seems) dollar stores and trying to make a buck on it. There are still lots of farm sales here.. and good things in most of em.

Those are getting pricey around here to - especially for the stuff we are looking for. Got into a bidding war on a seed cleaner - the guy was NOT going to lose so we ran it all the way up to almost 2k - we were only wanting to pay about 10% of that . We want one to clean our seed for the future - he wanted it so he could break his monsanto contract and replant seed.

 

[Tundra Dweller]

You would love it up here.. Those fanning mills and seed cleaning screen set ups go for 50 to 100 bucks... I picked up a belt drive grinder for bulk work for 10 bulk.. no one wanted it, They thought it was sized.. Someone had stuck a rag in it at some point. a quick clean up and she works great..

 

[longrider]

We have 4 thrift store in town, and they think that they are antique stores. Some of the prices are just silly. And some things that should be more expensive are cheap. I like shopping thrift stores for jeans and flannel shirts (I live in them in winter). Some garage sales are good and some think that junk is collectable. I got a free (yes free) crib for my grandbaby due in Feb. It had sold, the young couple dropped it on the way to their truck, and asked for their money back when the leg broke. Easily fixed. I got it for free. Yay. You just have to watch prices. I bought 20 long taper candles for $2.00. None of them were prev. used, and I felt that was a good deal.

I haven't seen any canners for sale. Some slow cookers for cheap. Found some good free stuff. Found some good deals at an antique store. Got a hatchet for $5.00.

 

[BigCheeseStick]

Yeah, sadly most garage sales around here have become endless tables of colored glass nick nacks, worn out cloths, and stuff I'm pretty sure was picked from a dumpster.

 

[HuntingHawk]

I've found a serious decline in deals at pawn shops over the past 10 years. Both firearms & tools. See both often above price of new stuff.

 

[Rigged for Quiet]

It's hit or miss around here, way too many baby clothes for my liking. However, there are still still pleny of goldmine finds if you are selective in which neighborhoods you pick.

 

[wesley762]

My thoughts, the things of value are being sold online now, Craigslist, Ebay and places like that. Even the internet is creeping in on things like yard sells.

 

[PrepConsultant]

I haven't been to a yard sale in a while.. It seems to me that witht he reality shows on tv now like the antique,pawn and the ones where they look for "treasure". Now the people that DO have yard sales think they can get crazy prices for what they have.. I mean come on, some are actually charging retail or higher for shit they have had,used and abused for the past 30 yrs. Now they are tryin to get what they actually paid for.

I used to tell people that pawn shops were the best places to buy guns.. I know back in the 80's and 90's, you could get awesome deals. I picked up a Remington 1100 12 ga for less than $200 a never fired Remington 1187 12 ga for less than $200 a Moss 500 for $125 in EXCELLENT condition and a fired once or twice Remington 700 w bull barrel for $300 all back in the late 80's and 90's.. Now pawn shops sell for retail or maybe $20 under retail. Give me a break.. They will have a rifle worth $700 new and give someone $200 for it and still try to sell it for $650 or more... Don't get me wrong, I am all about making a profit. But it is a pawn shop, not a retail store!!

 

[Nathan Jefferson]

I haven't been to a yard sale in a while.. It seems to me that witht he reality shows on tv now like the antique,pawn and the ones where they look for "treasure". Now the people that DO have yard sales think they can get crazy prices for what they have.. I mean come on, some are actually charging retail or higher for shit they have had,used and abused for the past 30 yrs. Now they are tryin to get what they actually paid for.

I used to tell people that pawn shops were the best places to buy guns.. I know back in the 80's and 90's, you could get awesome deals. I picked up a Remington 1100 12 ga for less than $200 a never fired Remington 1187 12 ga for less than $200 a Moss 500 for $125 in EXCELLENT condition and a fired once or twice Remington 700 w bull barrel for $300 all back in the late 80's and 90's.. Now pawn shops sell for retail or maybe $20 under retail. Give me a break.. They will have a rifle worth $700 new and give someone $200 for it and still try to sell it for $650 or more... Don't get me wrong, I am all about making a profit. But it is a pawn shop, not a retail store!!

Over the past few years pawn shops have stopped being pawn shops and are almost entirely cash advance/loan shops, no more selling for cash just pawn loans. I believe this started to change after some of the usury laws got changed - which also contributed to all the payday loan places popping up everywhere.

 

[GTGallop]

I've found a serious decline in deals at pawn shops over the past 10 years. Both firearms & tools. See both often above price of new stuff.

Pawn shops sell on E-Bay now. Most pawns do more business on EB than walk in when it comes to selling. Lets them get their cash out of the item rather than holding on to it.
They still have a formula they follow which is roughly this.

A Remington 870 is worth 300 NIB
Used it is worth 200
They will take it in sale for 100
Or pawn for a 50 loan.

Then they mark it at 350 knowing they will let it walk out the door for 250 or 200 and still double their money.
You gotta negotiate with the pawn stores.

 

[StarPD45]

My wife says if I want to go to a yard sale, just go out to the shed. :-?