Charlotte Magazine – July 2019

JUNE 2019 // CHARLOTTE 73

Garage sales aren’t organized like a

retail store, so don’t count on nd-

ing similar items grouped together.

“You have to do an initial walk-around, and

then another, because you’ll inevitably spot

something new,” Bonk says.

You probably won’t nd shopping bags when you

check out, so bring your own. “If you have any interest

(in an item), put it in a bag or box and decide later if

you really want it so someone else doesn’t snatch it,” Nichols

says. “At some sales, you can put everything you want in a box,

and they’ll name you a price.”

Don’t get turned oŠ by an item just because it’s dirty

or shows wear and tear. “I don’t get the social stigma

of buying used or secondhand items,” Bonk says. “Just

wash it, and there’s nothing wrong with it.”

When kids are selling something, support their entre-

preneurial spirit and do what Settle does: Buy some-

thing, even if it’s a 10-cent Frisbee.

Never assume the price you see is nal. “You’ll pull up

to (a sale) with lots of decorative pillows, and they’ve

spent way too much time on tags and pricing—they’ve

probably assessed too much value to their stuŠ,” Bonk says.

“Prices at end of the second day are usually better, so I’ll come

back later.”

Bring cash—unless it’s a high-end estate sale, people

don’t usually accept credit cards. “Have small bills, or

you’ll get stuck paying for a bunch of 10-cent items

with big bills,” Bonk says.

If you don’t have enough cash for an item, ask to put it

on hold. Many estate sales have a boutique area with

jewelry or other high value items, and sometimes you

can oŠer a “down payment” and come back with the rest later.

Ask for a discount—the worst that can happen is the

seller won’t budge. Bonk likes to send her kids in rst.

“It teaches them to negotiate,” she says, “and everyone

gives kids a deal.”

(Clockwise from top left) Nichols scours the back page of Saturday’s

newspaper before planning his route; Bonk negotiates the price on

a coffee table, and she carries small bills whenever possible since

homeowners rarely accept credit cards; Nichols discovers that the

vinyl record he purchased is autographed.

THE

HUNT