The Great American Garage Sale
Trend Alert:
(As if you hadn't noticed.)
The non-retail segment of the economy has exploded.
Driven by other economic elements, and enabled by such phenomena as social-networking sites and the craigslisting of America, the buying and selling of pre-owned goods has got to be--I truly believe--one of the biggest trends going right now.
The concept of one-man's-trash-is-another-man's-treasure is as old as man himself, I'm sure.
But with all the deep-down-value shifting going on right now in the American collective psyche ("do I REALLY need to hang onto this item I never use?" "Is it really THAT important that I 'buy new' when I want something?" "I still spend, but only when it's a screamin' deal,"), the garage-sale trail, in all its old and new manifestations, is taking a different turn.
Where it'll land us, I don't know.
But I do know this:
In the year or so since I first started picking up on more energy coming from what I dubbed "the people's underground economy," it has picked up steam at the speed of...well, you name it. Sound? Light? Facebook?
A few symptoms of the consumer attitude-change that I see coming about (if not already here) as the My Stuff For Sale trend draws in more and more practitioners.
BEFORE//NOW
Finding the best.//Finding the best deal.
The pleasure of buying it new.//The pleasure of not having to buy it new.
Pride in being able to afford it.//Pride in knowing how to haggle for it.
Getting good at telling yourself "I deserve it."//Getting good at telling yourself "I can live without it."
Taking part of a day to go shopping.//Taking part of a day to go selling (whether from the front lawn or from your computer.)
Your thoughts?
posted by Juli Thorson @ 10:42 AM
13 comments
13 Comments:
This is how my family has always done everything, for at least 4 generations (what can I say, we're all descended from Scots!).
As the saying goes: my heroes have always been cowboys - who usually owned only a dozen things: a horse, a saddle, a bridle, a halter, a rope, some good boots, a hat, a set of clothes, a bedroll, a coffeepot, a sharp knife, and a set of spurs. They were well-made, and he made them last...and last...and LAST.
To this day, I just hate to be caught with something new. I'd far rather it be broken in, worn out, and lovingly repaired. With age comes character and distinction (now if I can just apply those principles to my middle-aged self!).
We're cheap around here. We LOVE a good deal!
I started a few years ago though, clearing things out. Like you said, do I really need it? Can someone else use it?
I think we'll see more and more of it and I think it's a good thing.
How did you know I went yard saling today at sites listed on Craigslist that said they had horse stuff??? I didn't pick anything up, though, but it was fun to shop a little before heading to the barn for a major spring cleaning of the Beauski (he's no longer a yak). I've been scouring 4 different Craigslist city's farm and ranch sections for things I know I'm going to need for the new house. It didn't dawn on me until last night that I should search the garage sale sections, too!
One thing I'm eagerly awaiting is the chance to attend some local spring farm and ranch auctions. I can't quite yet make any bids--if I bought something, I wouldn't have anywhere to store it at the condo. But I have been looking at calendars and catalogs to see if maybe there's some fence panels, a nice used tractor, water troughs, and other necessities that might be had for a great deal!
Big tip I discovered: Google for online liquidation auctions in nearby major metro areas. I found one locally that conducted an online bid sale of two tack and western wear stores. There were some phenominal deals to be had! Here's one in the Denver area: http://www.jcpbestateliquidators.com/
But do I have to learn to haggle. I DETEST the practice. Do I really have to go there? ;-)
I love to buy low and sell higher if possible. I use e-bay and Craig's list and Bay Area Equine Network. I get what I need used and I use the extra money to show. Would I love to buy a brand new Blue Ribbon Saddle or a Kathy's sterling silver bridle- you bet! But am I just as excited by finding it used and cheeper- Double hell yes!
I think this trend is a good thing. I hope it continues even when the economy gets better. We waste and discard so much. The old saying was "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." Good advice, especially today. America would look a lot better to other countries if we didn't waste so much.
I think I'll have to agree with the "one man's junk is another man's treasure" saying, to a certain degree. I'd go and buy one that had some use to it, and was in mid-to-good condition, and had a few scratches in it. But I would'nt buy one that was completly wrecked from being badly cared for by ots former owner, and was worth only about $20
The whole thing sounds kind of funny to me, because I've lived like that my whole life! When you grow up without much extra anything, you learn about priorities.
I generally don't buy anything unless it's on sale or used. Especially my horse stuff. I'd rather buy something used and of good quality, than something new and cheap and substandard.
I can't say that the big economic meltdown has affected us much. It just looks to me like everybody else is having to start living -and spending - the way I always have!
One more thing: coincidentally you pictured English tack on your blog today. My 14 year old daughter recently decided that she's going to be an English rider. I told her it was totally fine except that a) I don't know enough about English riding or tack (I'd be teaching her "Wenglish"), and that b) I can't afford to buy a whole other set of tack.
We agreed that it would be fun and confidence-boosting for her to pay for lessons and tack herself.
We found her a saddle for $25. It looks used but it's comfy and fits her horse. She's bought everything used except stirrup leathers and bridle (which were either bottom-line or on sale). She has all of her tack now, with some saved up money left over. Good lesson to learn!
Totally agree, and it's not new.
A lot of us out there have been doing it for a long time and know all the ends and outs of buying and selling used equipment and tack. I think only a small portion of horse owners are only now being forced to do it. Hint, hint (coughs clears throat) what I'd like to know, what would be interesting is what people are doing on the other side to attract people. Show management, retailers, manufacturers and breed associations.
The big difference with me now is I used to have the option of buying new if I wanted. And that just isn't the case any more. But it's not a big deal because I get a bigger thrill from a "good deal" that a "new item" anyways.
Craigslist - ebay - tacktrader - equine.com - tacksales - estate auctions - etc... we got all that down up here.
As I wrote, trading/buying/selling used goods is as old as mankind itself.
But I definitely believe the volume of this activity has gone way up over the past year-as people cash out assets they might not otherwise have been willing to part with before the current economic woes.
I'm just happy that so many more people are finding out what I've always known--that it's way more fun (and so much better for your pocketbook) to shop on people's driveways on Saturday morning! True, it means there's more competition for the cool stuff, but I have no trouble finding deals. Might as well share the fun!
It sounds a little angry but in my opinion it is a great thing to support or not support the businesses of our times. Some businesses, such as those that support foreign gov. not even friendly to us, are in the category of the ones we could chose not to support. It is nice to have a market that does not inhance the damage already done.
Some things are better used. I like saddles that somebody else has broken in, and I like blue jeans the same way. I'll even take a chance on used boots. Used musical instruments often have a better tone. As long as things are used and well-cared for, they often have a lot of life left in them and are really a little more comfortable. Plus I can afford a better quality used item than what I could get for the same price new.
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