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Friday, October 29, 2010

How NOT to run an estate sale...and Friday Finds...

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but in our area all the sales have pretty much dried up.  Auntie found one that was about an hour away that she thought looked good, so I searched out a few more sales between there and home. We got to the first estate sale about 10 minutes before the sale started. Good thing we had the GPS, because they didn't even have the signs out yet!

We had to wait while one of the workers ran around putting up signs! When we walked up, all the people sitting in their cars decided to walk up too.Some had numbers and told us to knock on the door for a number-and hopefully we wouldn't get #6, because they had already given out three #6's!!

Finally, about 10 minutes late, they opened the door and told us only 10-15 people would be allowed in at a time since it was such a small place, and there was so much stuff. I was number 19 and Auntie was 20. They let us in, and all the other people behind us! So there was probably close to 30 that got in. Once we were in, they said the basement was "closed". A lot of the shoppers were really irritated by this because from the pictures posted online  they decided that the good stuff was down there.

One worker said, they couldn't open it until the head lady showed up and they had no idea when she was coming in because she had an appointment that morning. He suggested that we come back tomorrow, so I told Auntie in front of him that was ok, we didn't have to shop any more of their sales-there are plenty of other estate sale companies out there!  ;)

The boss lady arrived about 20 minutes or so after the sale started and she was walking around on the main floor visiting with the dealers. I heard person after person ask "when will the basement be open", so finally she gave in and moved the boxes blocking access and let us down. When we got to the lower level, I noticed that all the items had price stickers on them, but they were all blank-no prices!!!

This has to be the most unorganized estate sale I have ever been to. I was extremely unimpressed with this company! I don't plan to shop any more of their sales (unless it is a sale loaded with vintage goodies and vintage Fiesta-that I couldn't turn down-no matter how unorganized they are).

I picked up these two pillowcases for a dollar each...


We stopped at a few other estate sales, a couple garage sales and a flea market. I picked up some knitting needles for my mom.


Have you ever been to the Flint Flea Market? We weren't impressed-no plans to attend again.


We decided to take the last two sales off our list and stop at a couple of consignment shops in Fenton that we both enjoy and usually find some treasures at. We both really like Fratz Consignment and Garage Sale 360.

This is what I got at Garage Sale 360...

 More Pyrex!!!

Thanks for letting me rant about the unorganized estate sale company-I hope they get their act together! Otherwise, it could really hurt their business!

How did you do today? Did you find any treasures? Did you have any adventures?

2 comments:

  1. There haven't been any sales close to my house in the last 2 weeks. Last weekend, I decided I needed to go to Hobby Lobby and JoAnns and bought some cheap things at JoAnns, only to find out when I got home that I was charged the wrong price on one.
    So, Friday, I went back to JoAnns (just kept putting it off for no reason). So, instead of going to the rummage sale that was somewhat close to my house, I choose to spend my money on a pint of Ben and Jerry's and some donuts.
    I thought it was a good spend.
    I've never been to a Flea Market, they sound so fun, just none in my area.
    I am waiting on craft fairs, there's a couple in my area that are coming up in November, and I can't wait. One of them is more of a rummage sale and bake sale, and who can say no to that?

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  2. LOL! I like the Ben and Jerry's and donuts idea!! Flea markets are hit or miss. I've been to way more bad ones than good ones-that's for sure! I spent some time at Joann's this week too, I picked up some material for a new project.

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