Hate to see this thread fade away, always enjoyed a good sale. Especially flea markets and garage, but not so much farm auctions, always thought of those as some kind of vultures or something, until i finally went to one. It turned out to be kinda cool actually, snack trailer and everything. The people who owned the place were actually happily following along, it almost seemed as if they were taking the bank on this one, circa 1987. I never went to another farm auction, but a nearby neighbor had one last year i believe it was, an awesome event, although i didn't go, saw the vehicles coming and going all day long, as well as hauling off things i wished i had known about. (these weren't all his, but lots belonged to people he knew or customers at his feed mill or feed store, most of his was simply selling out equipment he needed to move after the gov't ended some farm subsidies, and he'd gone into cattle
)
Years ago I'd go to yard sales Saturdays just to browse around, never found a half a million dollar blanket or nothin, but enjoyed them just the same, as well as finding some deals. I developed a system at the flea markets though, pricing two things i didn't give a care about, before asking the price for one I did(usually from there came up with their "sensible" offer).
I hardly go to the flea markets and garage sales(unless they're on my way and fit my schedule) anymore but will often check the local shopper for estate sales, which can be sad or happy, depending on the circumstances. Personally i prefer the Living estate where they are downsizing, even tho still i wonder sometimes if they've downsized to a 10x20 or a 3x6 :/ but never really ask. At these ones you do not "barter", simply ask the price if necessary, and either take it or leave it, unless you wish to go back Sunday and see it it's still there (which it most likely won't be)
annnyhow thursday, i went one to one that had signs out everywhere, on my way through town and found some things of use to me, tho no longer to them, not all bargain basement, but good enough, and mostly quality stuff that I may or maybe not ever use, but anyways
This stuff was given out to an agent, seems the kids had long since gone,
found an 8 ft' Husky ladder (which I couldn't even find online anymore, guess they sold out to Werner?)
i like how they wrote the price with a permanent marker across one of the labels
An ancient Black & Decker finishing sander for $4, a droplight w/ flood lightbulb for $5, and a finetooth handsaw, made in USA(which was sharp) for $5
A fire extinguisher $5 and some cooling grates(both for $3) to use around the smoker
An extension for $1, some gate latches ($1 each) and a busted globe lamp with a cool weather station set ($4)
A charcoal chimney and long handle paint roller ($5 for both)
And that last photo is the globe lamp(which i already removed from the weather gauges) and a 150 watt halogen worklight ($2) which I got a few weeks ago at a warehouse cleanup sale, but just recently found bulbs for. Both Wmart stores I'd tried didn't have them (these use a 3" bulb) and Home Depot didn't have them, but when I walked around the endcap to look at their clearance stuff, there they were! Two bulbs for $6 (i got two packs, should last me till i'm 80) )