Garage Sale Gal
Garage Sale Gal
Anything for a good price…
Lynda Hammond
It wasn’t pretty.
Our drive home from our wedding anniversary trip to Sedona recently was a bit strained at times.
Picture this: my husband is coming down with the flu, our two dogs are restless, plus Millie our Golden-Doodle is
very car sick. But, hey it’s Friday and I need to garage sale. (Yes, it is a need!)
We stopped at six sales—where I bought five chandelier shades for $2, a metal bucket for a $1 and a luxurious
leopard throw for $10. We were just about out of town, almost to I-17—nearly “home free” as my husband would’ve
said-- when we spotted another bright pink sign. He drove on by. I said nothing but tensed up and let out an audible
sigh, in my passive aggressive way. It worked. My husband glanced my way with a smirk and did a u-turn.
When I walked in I knew I’d stumbled onto something good. The house was jam packed with furniture, clothing
and cool collectibles. But a pretty picture ruling the roost is what caught my eye--- an artist signed drawing of a
rooster from the 1950s. And I collect the colorful chicks so it was irresistible. But when I looked at the price tag—
yikes--$180! “We take 50% off tomorrow,” one of the organizers of the sale told me. Since staying another night
wasn’t an option she told me I could leave a check for $90 and if it didn’t sell at full price it would be mine. I whipped
out my check book and hoped for the best.
The next day I was crowing with delight. Now I just had to go back to Sedona and get it.
I’ve learned something about myself from this purchase-- I’ll do just about anything to get a lower price on a new
found treasure---even spend extra money on it! “It is funny. I think it’s hysterical,” Sharon Cole, the estate sale
organizer and owner of Cole’s Consignment Gallery, would later tell me on the phone. “But that’s what people have
to do. You have to get the bargain at any cost.” Sharon held the picture at her store until I could get my new
treasure—all this so I could “save” $90.
Here’s the breakdown on my drive to get the artwork (with my parents this time around):
Rooster art purchase costs
Picking up art, including gas and restaurant bill for three: $100
Rooster art: $90
Story about getting the art: $0
Getting a deal: priceless
So, as you can see I spent more on the rooster than if I’d simply paid the full purchase price in the first place. But to
understand why I did it this way, you have to appreciate just how important it is for those of us who love a bargain to
be able to say “I got a bargain”. “No matter how low I price things people still want a better deal-- they want it for
less.”
Turns out I got a great deal on the rooster—whether it was full or half price. Sharon says the signed pencil is worth
at least $600.
What a bargain and a real feather in my cap, too!
(pic provided by Sharon Cole) Sharon Cole of Sedona poses with my rooster pencil drawing. Ironically, I went to
great lengths and expense to get a good price on the artwork. “Here in Sedona estate sales and garage sales are like
entertainment for people. I guess getting items for less than the marked price is a game— maybe that’s part of the
fun.” Trust me, for any bargain hunter, haggling is a huge part of the fun!
Talk to the Garage Sale Gal!
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Do you have a question or comment about garage or estate bargain sales? Email the Garage Sale Gal:
[email protected].
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Lynda Hammond is a former television anchor who left the anchor desk for the love of garage sales. Contact her at
[email protected]. Lynda also does garage sale segments on 3-TV's Good Morning Arizona.
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