The Eagle Outdoors

The Wonders of Garage Sale Gear

I know it's early, but in honor of that most monumental event, the annual Puget Island Garage (and) Yard Sale, or PIGYS, which will be held June 27 – 29 and, owing to the fact it is indeed and has been for some time, garage sale season, I write this week on the finer points of what I call 'garage sale etiquette.'

But garage sales and the outdoors? Garage sales can be great places to find outdoor gear at ridiculously low prices; however, not every $2 sleeping bag is worth $2 – or a dime, for that matter. Bargains can be had but, so, too, can the shopper. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help ensure your garage sale transaction falls under the heading of "money well spent."

The big question is "Are you ready?" For those in doubt, here's a short list of thoughts that can help make your entry into the realm much easier, more productive and, hopefully, much less financially painful.

Make/take a list – Veteran garage sale goers always go armed with a list of those things with which they'd like to come home. Certainly, there will be impulse purchases; still, a list can help prevent buying items that really aren't necessary. Are you looking for something specific? While I often go with this suggested list, I seldom, if ever, stick to it. I am, by my own admission, an impulse shopper, which is why at one PIGYS sale a few years back, I came home with a literal truckload of old fishing poles. It was $20!

Research prices – Along with knowing what it is you're looking for, you should have some idea of what the items sell for new. With adjustments based on age and conditions, this pricing information can help you decide if a zipperless sleeping bag is actually worth the $20 price tag, or whether you need to progress to the next step: dickering. Thanks to the Internet, pricing outdoor gear is simply a matter of doing your homework and, thanks to that cell phone in your pocket, price research can often be discretely done on-scene.

Ask questions – Did the owner purchase the item new? If it's used, did they buy from the original owner? If it's mechanical, does it work properly? Now's the time to ask for a demonstration - a request which certainly isn't out of line - particularly on higher-dollar or risky items such as electronics. If, in the case of things such as tents, the item has more than one part, are all the parts included in the package?

Employ diplomatic dickering – A garage sale is nothing more than the selling of stuff someone no longer wants. This fact is good for you, the buyer, as it gives you quite a bit of leeway when it comes time to dicker on price. Here, the rules are simple. Be fair, be diplomatic, don't be ridiculous in your offer and, most of all, be willing to meet the seller halfway on the price, if, that is, you really want the item. Many times, single items can be grouped, and a collective price offered which is considerably lower than is the sum of the individual pieces. Bottom line, don't be afraid to dicker.

Deal in cash – While carrying large amounts of cash isn't advisable, it's best to plan to deal in cash when making garage sale transactions. The reason is simple. Everyone takes cash; however, some folks are funny about taking checks from strangers, particularly when the stranger might live 50 or more miles away, and the check is for a tidy sum. But what to do if you find something you desperately need, but you lack sufficient cash funds? In many cases, most folks will hold an item if you show a sincere interest. Better yet, offer a cash deposit along with your name, address, and telephone number. Remember, it never hurts to ask.

Finally, there's the cardinal rule of garage sales. If you pick it up, mentally or physically, don't put it down until you're absolutely, positively sure you don't want it. Several years ago while at a sale with Julie, I considered ... and then walked away from a disorganized collection of gear, including a like-new single-burner Coleman stove, complete first-aid kit, several fishing lures, decoy anchor weights, and a Pflueger Supreme level-wind reel, among other things. Two steps away, once I had decided I was being cheap, I turned, only to see an older gentleman talking to the young lady behind the counter. "What do you want for that stuff," he asked, pointing at the pile. "Twenty bucks too much," she asked. Not surprisingly, I could see his triumphant grin through the back of his head.

What's the lesson? Don't put it down until you're sure, and don't forget that garage sales are excellent places to find most, if not all, of your outdoor gear. By the way, I later found what I knew was the same Pflueger Supreme reel in a local antique shop, and let's just say that the price tag was well over the gentleman's $20 investment.