Yard Sale Encounter

24 July 2022, 08:24 PM

BeeLady

Yard Sale Encounter

I drove to Maine today to take in a museum exhibit I had on my list.

While I walked along the main street, a homeowner was setting up a YARD SALE sign in front of a stately historic home..hmm..I figured I would swing back after the exhibit.

I did just that and found a hodge podge of items, some from what looked like a former business.

But I did find a nearly new spinning wheel and a coworker of mine has been on the lookout for a bargain after I taught her to spin..Her budget is freakeshly low and I told her so...

So as I was looking at the wheel, the homeowner aproached and asked if I knew what it was, "yes", did I spin? "OH, yes"...I was at the garage sale looking for pots for an upcoming dye day we have planned in August.

So I asked what he wanted for it...He spoke a bit..I remained silent. (I learned this negotiation technique in my divorce..silence works wonders

)

He said "I suppose $(freakishly low price) would be too much for you?" Ahaha! (in my head HELL NO!) I bought it on the spot..

But then we chatted, he gave me a tour of his property that is for sale, though he wants to section off some to sell to the town for community gardens, we talked food access, farmers markets...He was charming.

He told me is name.. Tom..He is from Maine.

24 July 2022, 08:38 PM

ShiroKuro

quote:
(I learned this negotiation technique in my divorce..silence works wonders

Definitely need to remember this one!! Wonder if it works when buying a car....

24 July 2022, 08:42 PM

Steve Miller

From Real Estate class a long time ago:

“The first person to name a price - loses.”

24 July 2022, 09:05 PM

Piano*Dad

quote:
He told me is name.. Tom..He is from Maine.

Did he make toothpaste for a living?

24 July 2022, 09:09 PM

BeeLady

quote:
Originally posted by Piano*Dad:
quote:
He told me is name.. Tom..He is from Maine.

Did he make toothpaste for a living?

The wool included with the wheel was rather a turquoise color.

I had heard his daughter make a comment..but was busy..on the ride home while rethinking it I put two and two together and googled him.

Yes. What a charming man.

24 July 2022, 09:51 PM

BeeLady

Just to add the artist's latest work for which I made the trip.... a video..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGKyCmwRjlM

And this..I am in awe of her..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrRK0WPnjVw

25 July 2022, 01:33 AM

AdagioM

That is an excellent story!

And congrats on the wheel for your friend.

25 July 2022, 10:54 AM

pianojuggler

Great score!

I also encourage that technique when discussing salary offers. Don’t make a peep. Look at the number with a trace of mild disappointment on your face, then a few seconds after the air of uncomfortability starts to descend, you say “is that the best you can do?”

Of course, most salary offers come by email these days, so this is a lost art.

For garage sales or Craigslist ads, I politely ask “would you consider x?”, but make it the low end of reasonable.

25 July 2022, 06:56 PM

Nina

I'm afraid had I been in your shoes I would have said something stupid like, "I use your toothpaste when it's on sale...". You did much better.

25 July 2022, 07:06 PM

Steve Miller

quote:
Originally posted by Nina:
I'm afraid had I been in your shoes I would have said something stupid like, "I use your toothpaste when it's on sale...". You did much better.

25 July 2022, 07:19 PM

Steve Miller

Greg was in to paintball for several years. He would buy and sell the gear and did well enough that he could prove to me that my insistence that he get a job would cost him money.

Does K. Hovnenian build houses all over the country? They do here, and they were a big deal in CA. I went with Greg to buy some paintball stuff and ended up at K’s house -seems he and his son liked paintball too. Palatial mansion on the coast, gate guarded, the whole deal.

K. answered the door wearing a bathrobe and invited us in to see the collection. I was shocked - everything was obviously expensive but it looked like someone had picked that house up and shook it. Total chaos. Seems the divorce had left him somewhat disorganized.

Nice guy, drove a hard bargain but Greg held his ground and bought quite a few things. I kept my mouth shut, having no idea if what any of it was.

Later we looked at a Hovnenian house here in Ohio and I told the sales guy we were old paintball buds and I expected a deal. He said he’d make a few calls and get back to me.

I never heard back from him.

25 July 2022, 09:56 PM

BeeLady

OMG, retelling this story in person today as I delivered the wheel was the BEST!!! The look on her face for the wheel AND from whom I bought it!

He had asked for my contact info and when I gave it he said my surname is in his family.

I sent his bio to my Mom and turns out some of the historical references noted also connected to my Mom's grand mother..so there may be some genealogial links as well!

Does that mean I inherit?

25 July 2022, 10:02 PM

BeeLady

quote:
Originally posted by Nina:
I'm afraid had I been in your shoes I would have said something stupid like, "I use your toothpaste when it's on sale...". You did much better.

I suppose it was a good thing I didn't realize who he was till I left!