News

Thrift sales are an easy way to get a deal

Customers peruse a thrift sale held by 10 families at 13366 43rd Ave. in Lake Hallie.

By ELIZABETH HOCHSTEDLER
elizabeth.hochstedler@lee.net
Sunday, May 4, 2008 12:11 AM CDT

It’s that time of year again. Cars are strewn alongside neighborhood streets; people are walking with cash in hand, and driveways and garages are full of miscellaneous items.

It’s thrift sale season.

On Saturday, along with many other people, I took to the streets to find a few deals.

I set off armed with $20, classified ads and years of garage sale experience.

Thrift sale shopping can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s the only way to go, finding old treasures to save as their own. For others, it’s more of a sport; they get up early and rush to find the best deals. And many also use it as a family bonding experience, stuffing everyone in the car, and finding little knick-knacks for each person.

As for me, I’ve fallen into all of those categories at one time or another. But the fact is, anyone can find a good deal at thrift sales if they’re willing to look hard, pass up a bad deal and haggle a little for price. And with the economy the way it is now, who can’t use a good deal?

On Saturday, I took off in the village of Lake Hallie and Chippewa Falls, with $20 and a tank of gas. I perused the Herald’s classifieds, found some ads that interested me, and set out, searching for signs on street corners and open garages.

Some sales had few customers, which one man told me was because the weather had surprisingly become too nice Saturday. He said he was busier Friday, when it was raining.

But others, especially the neighborhood sales in Lake Hallie, were bustling. In that case, many people found a place to park and proceeded to walk from sale to sale.

I decided to pick up a variety of items with my $20, to show what exactly could be purchased for such a small amount of money. I returned with 21 items . . . and a nickel.

I purchased eight drinking glasses, two CDs, a sweater, an old children’s chair, a hair straightener and a few decorative items.

All of that, for just $19.95!

The items came from 10 different sales, although I visited many more.

But those weren’t the only treasures to be found among the items others are done with.

Throughout the day, I saw a lot of children’s clothes and toys, furniture, car tires and exercise equipment — all reasonably priced.

And the best part for many about hitting thrift sales, rather than retail stores, is the concept of haggling, or bargaining for a better price.

Although I purchased all my items at sticker value — I have always been a bad haggler — I heard many deals being made throughout the day.

The art of haggling, although not easy for some people, is generally not used to rip off the seller, but to find a mutual agreement between the buyer and the seller.

For example, on Saturday I overheard a couple negotiating the price of some dining room chairs with another woman.

The owner was originally selling the chairs with a table, but agreed to just sell the chairs to the couple. The couple offered $20, and the woman countered with $25, and a sale was made, with both parties seeming pleased.

This is often easily arranged because while the seller simply wants to get rid of the item, they also want to get a reasonable price in return.

Although shopping at garage sales may not be for everyone, it is quite popular, and many people do walk away with some great deals.

Even the extra nickel I found myself holding could probably still be used to grab something at a sale next weekend.

Thrift sale finds

-- 4 matching “Kwik Trip” glasses - $1.10

-- 2 plastic Minnesota Vikings cups - $0.10

-- 2 hand-painted wine glasses - $0.25

-- Elton John’s “Greatest Hits” CD - $4.00

-- A pink and white striped sweater - $0.10

-- Cow-spotted teapot without lid - $0.25

-- Cow-spotted cookie jar - $0.75

-- Decorative shelf - $1.00

-- Retractable dog leash - $0.50

-- Hair straightener - $1.00

-- 2 Minnesota Renaissance Festival hand-crafted mugs - $1.00

-- Mariah Carey’s “Daydream” CD - $2.00

-- Pelican Beanie Baby - $2.00

-- Children’s wooden chair - $5.00

-- Shower radio - $1.00

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