Best Deal You Ever Got At A Yardsale!?

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MANAZE's avatar

MANAZE

Senior Member

1,055 posts
Nov 24, 2009 2:18 AM
My wife and I love yard sales! Every summer we go out and "shop" around but we hardly ever find anything but toys for our kids. Well this past summer I got the jackpot twice.

My wife found a fish tank that had the stand underneath it that looked like it was never really used. We talked them down to twenty dollars. It came with two filters as well. We went to the pet store to get fish and they had the same exact tank and it would have got over 150! Plus we had the two filters and they are any where from 30-40 dollars!

Then with my oldest son I found a moving sale in the fall and the person had all these pokemon and other type kids cards for five dollars. There was well over a 1,000 cards. When I found the price for them it was valued at around 200 or so. I never went through them though to find out if there was anything worth any money but my kids loves playing with them so thats all that matters.

Than I just remember one more thing I found two NFL footlockers with the cowboy logos on them for five dollars! The same lady also sold us a radio flyer wagon for three dollars! We got lucky that day to!

Anyone else love yard selling!?
Nov 24, 2009 2:18am
CenterBHSFan's avatar

CenterBHSFan

333 - I'm only half evil

6,115 posts
Nov 24, 2009 9:30 AM
I went to a yardsale in Wheeling a few years back. They had several boxes filled with books with each box having different prices per lot. One box had books each for $3, another for $5 and so on.
I found a very old "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in the $3 box. Now, what is interesting about this is that on the inside of the beginning of the book was 3 lines; name of the person the book was given to, occasion and address. The addy was for Wheeling Com. of Virginia, 24 May 1861. That is exactly how it was written.
The funny thing is, I didn't even notice that until this past summer when I was showing the book to my aunt who was visiting from Fla. When I originally brought the book home, I knew it was old and the pages were very dry so I just put it up in the bookshelf where it wouldn't be banged around alot. When I was showing it to my aunt, I opened it up to find that the first two pages were partially coming off the binding and she was the one who noticed the writing.
I just think that it is cool to have a book that old that is in comparatively "good" shape, considering. It also shows what I believe is a Wheeling addy before the state-split.
Nov 24, 2009 9:30am
B

Buckeye2B

Member

66 posts
Nov 24, 2009 9:41 AM
The Golden Years, by Gerry Faust, and signed by him as well. A signed pic of him goes for $36 on a collectible website, so the book has to be worth something. I bought it for 25 cents.
Nov 24, 2009 9:41am
killdeer's avatar

killdeer

Hat Trick

1,538 posts
Nov 24, 2009 9:53 AM
^^^ Great! Now i know where to unload my Charlie Weis memorabilia!
Nov 24, 2009 9:53am
brutus161's avatar

brutus161

The Navy Guy

1,686 posts
Nov 24, 2009 9:59 AM
I got an authentic Antonio Gates jersey for 5 dollars. Saved me a ton of money.
Nov 24, 2009 9:59am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Nov 24, 2009 10:05 AM
There was a real genie inside. I wished for a huddle where I could post for free...

Nov 24, 2009 10:05am
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Nov 24, 2009 10:08 AM
Wife and I was garage sale one day and inside this guys garage was a big box
3 feet tall 4 feet wide and 6 feet long inside was firewood. It had a lid and the corner of the lip had metal decorative corner edges and so did the bottom of the box. It was not for sale but I ask any ways. He said thing was slow and everything must go ..he would take $15.00
No argument from me $15.00 I took it.
Brought it home was it out with soap and water …….I was made of cedar
Hand built cedar chest (all cedar).
Had it refinished and sanded inside (bring out the cedar smell) The man who did the refinishing said that he had people asking to but it. Estimated value over $1000.00 that was over 20 years ago. Total investment in the trunk $215.00
We use it to store blankets and sweater I in our bed room …I also sit on it to put on my socks in the morning.
Nov 24, 2009 10:08am
DeyDurkie5's avatar

DeyDurkie5

Senior Member

11,324 posts
Nov 24, 2009 10:39 AM
Belly35 wrote: Wife and I was garage sale one day and inside this guys garage was a big box
3 feet tall 4 feet wide and 6 feet long inside was firewood. It had a lid and the corner of the lip had metal decorative corner edges and so did the bottom of the box. It was not for sale but I ask any ways. He said thing was slow and everything must go ..he would take $15.00
No argument from me $15.00 I took it.
Brought it home was it out with soap and water …….I was made of cedar
Hand built cedar chest (all cedar).
Had it refinished and sanded inside (bring out the cedar smell) The man who did the refinishing said that he had people asking to but it. Estimated value over $1000.00 that was over 20 years ago. Total investment in the trunk $215.00
We use it to store blankets and sweater I in our bed room …I also sit on it to put on my socks in the morning.
Not trying to be an ass, but you should really prove read your posts. Literally always have words that aren't correct or left out haha
Nov 24, 2009 10:39am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Nov 24, 2009 10:42 AM
Prove read?! ROFLMAO.

No offense, I just find that right up there with pre madonna and meedy oaker.
Nov 24, 2009 10:42am
Cleveland Buck's avatar

Cleveland Buck

Troll Hunter

5,126 posts
Nov 24, 2009 10:53 AM
DeyDurkie5 wrote: Not trying to be an ass, but you should really prove read your posts. Literally always have words that aren't correct or left out haha
Nov 24, 2009 10:53am
S

Society

Senior Member

1,146 posts
Nov 24, 2009 10:55 AM
DeyDurkie5 wrote:
Belly35 wrote: Wife and I was garage sale one day and inside this guys garage was a big box
3 feet tall 4 feet wide and 6 feet long inside was firewood. It had a lid and the corner of the lip had metal decorative corner edges and so did the bottom of the box. It was not for sale but I ask any ways. He said thing was slow and everything must go ..he would take $15.00
No argument from me $15.00 I took it.
Brought it home was it out with soap and water …….I was made of cedar
Hand built cedar chest (all cedar).
Had it refinished and sanded inside (bring out the cedar smell) The man who did the refinishing said that he had people asking to but it. Estimated value over $1000.00 that was over 20 years ago. Total investment in the trunk $215.00
We use it to store blankets and sweater I in our bed room …I also sit on it to put on my socks in the morning.
Not trying to be an ass, but you should really prove read your posts. Literally always have words that aren't correct or left out haha
These are my favorites. Proof it to me!
Nov 24, 2009 10:55am
K

Karl Childers

Member

40 posts
Nov 24, 2009 11:01 AM
I bought a complete set of Beatle Bubble Gum Cards from the 60's at a yard sale once for $10. They're worth a LOT more than that now.
Nov 24, 2009 11:01am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Nov 24, 2009 11:34 AM
Lol, prove read!
Nov 24, 2009 11:34am
T

tcby99

Senior Member

328 posts
Nov 24, 2009 12:32 PM
proof
Nov 24, 2009 12:32pm
thePITman's avatar

thePITman

Senior Member

3,867 posts
Nov 24, 2009 12:35 PM
A personal computer for $10.
A little space alien bean bag guy for $0.25
Nov 24, 2009 12:35pm
C

cbus4life

Ignorant

2,849 posts
Nov 24, 2009 1:18 PM
CenterBHSFan wrote: I went to a yardsale in Wheeling a few years back. They had several boxes filled with books with each box having different prices per lot. One box had books each for $3, another for $5 and so on.
I found a very old "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in the $3 box. Now, what is interesting about this is that on the inside of the beginning of the book was 3 lines; name of the person the book was given to, occasion and address. The addy was for Wheeling Com. of Virginia, 24 May 1861. That is exactly how it was written.
The funny thing is, I didn't even notice that until this past summer when I was showing the book to my aunt who was visiting from Fla. When I originally brought the book home, I knew it was old and the pages were very dry so I just put it up in the bookshelf where it wouldn't be banged around alot. When I was showing it to my aunt, I opened it up to find that the first two pages were partially coming off the binding and she was the one who noticed the writing.
I just think that it is cool to have a book that old that is in comparatively "good" shape, considering. It also shows what I believe is a Wheeling addy before the state-split.

What is the published date? I know inscription is for 1861, but might be an older copy, still. Can you send me information, or possibly scan the title page as well as page including information on publisher and the like. You could have a gem on your hands, especially if it is in decent shape. I.E. It could be worth a few thousand dollars, depending on publishing date, condition, etc.

PM me if you'd like. When i was in graduate school, i took a few rare book librarianship classes as electives, so i know a little bit about the field, as well as resources for finding more information.

First editions are going for appx. $10,000 depending on condition. Yours is probably a later copy, but you never know, and would still be worth quite a bit of money.
Nov 24, 2009 1:18pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Nov 24, 2009 1:53 PM
DeyDurkie5 wrote:
Belly35 wrote: Wife and I was garage sale one day and inside this guys garage was a big box
3 feet tall 4 feet wide and 6 feet long inside was firewood. It had a lid and the corner of the lip had metal decorative corner edges and so did the bottom of the box. It was not for sale but I ask any ways. He said thing was slow and everything must go ..he would take $15.00
No argument from me $15.00 I took it.
Brought it home was it out with soap and water …….I was made of cedar
Hand built cedar chest (all cedar).
Had it refinished and sanded inside (bring out the cedar smell) The man who did the refinishing said that he had people asking to but it. Estimated value over $1000.00 that was over 20 years ago. Total investment in the trunk $215.00
We use it to store blankets and sweater I in our bed room …I also sit on it to put on my socks in the morning.
Not trying to be an ass, but you should really prove read your posts. Literally always have words that aren't correct or left out haha

Not going to happen......This is me, (ask others that knows my grammatical literacy) I don't have time, think faster than I type or don’t think at all nor do I have the effort to proof or is that prove my post.
Just enjoy my wisdom and my commentary.
Nov 24, 2009 1:53pm
CenterBHSFan's avatar

CenterBHSFan

333 - I'm only half evil

6,115 posts
Nov 24, 2009 2:08 PM
Cbus,

I got a pic of the cover right here.





Right now, I'm trying different ways to get a good look at the writing on the inside. It's not coming out in the pics I'm taking. The ink is coming out looking either too grey or too goldish no matter what I do. I'm a little learing of messing with it too much, as a piece of the corner of the page just broke off (yikes) - the pages are really dry!

*EDIT
Even with this picture, the detail of the cover isn't coming out too good. It is actually textured along the left side in a column, and the top right and bottom right corners have the same texture. Then there is the "emblem" in the center.
Nov 24, 2009 2:08pm
T

Tiernan

Senior Member

13,021 posts
Nov 24, 2009 2:19 PM
A used flux capacitor for only $10.
Nov 24, 2009 2:19pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Nov 24, 2009 2:27 PM
Of course..I didn't buy it..but I once seen a copy of an autobiography.."The Life And Death Of William McKinley" at a yard sale..that was AUTOGRAPHED by William McKinley himself!! They were asking $100.00 for it. LOL
Nov 24, 2009 2:27pm
C

cbus4life

Ignorant

2,849 posts
Nov 24, 2009 2:32 PM
Center,

Thanks for the pic! Yea, with the pages that dry, it is definitely tough to handle, so you're right, better to not handle it at all then risk pages falling apart.

Rare books like that, in the library/archival world, are kept in really controlled environments, with pretty impressive climate control systems. And, whenever i've worked in them, it was always rather cold, wore a sweater to work even in the summer!

Hmmm, let me see if i can figure out another way, but that cover helps a lot, could help me compare with other copies i find.

I will let you know what i come up with!
Nov 24, 2009 2:32pm
OSH's avatar

OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

4,145 posts
Nov 24, 2009 3:48 PM
In college my roommate and I got a love seat and matching chair, and 2 recliners for $25.

Loved it. And it fit so good in the dorm room.
Nov 24, 2009 3:48pm
stroups's avatar

stroups

Senior Member

3,223 posts
Nov 24, 2009 4:16 PM
I want a set of real lawn darts.....(yes I know they banned the game in the 80's I think)
Nov 24, 2009 4:16pm
Enforcer's avatar

Enforcer

Senior Member

2,140 posts
Nov 24, 2009 4:58 PM
Got a Horton Crossbow at a yardsale two years ago for 50 bucks, and 3 five gallon buckets full of golfballs for 12 bucks which in return I sold to some guy for 75 bucks.
Nov 24, 2009 4:58pm