Lessons from a Garage Sale

I had some time off recently and one of the things I did during that time was hold a garage sale.

My son-in-law and daughter donated a lot of stuff for our garage sale. (In their house, if you don’t use it in a year, it is gone—I think there’s an inventory lesson in there somewhere). The garage sale was fun and new, as I have only had one other one in my lifetime. I met neighbors that live right by me and I have never met before since I’m not the type to go over with a plate of cookies and give the welcome to the neighborhood speech.

Question?  What do you do with the stuff that’s left after a garage sale? In our area, there is a Christian Association that has two store locations that sell stuff pretty cheap. They used to pick up at your door, however their message now states, unless furniture, they will no longer pick up (I think there’s a lesson in reverse logistics in there somewhere). Are you tempted to drag stuff back in the house and garage and wonder why you ever thought of getting rid of it in the first place? Worse yet, have you wished you had not sold something? There are actually ads in the paper, if you bought such and such at my garage sale, I would like to buy it back. A friend of mine sold her husband’s favorite fishing hat and she actually was able to buy it back.

My husband enjoyed the garage sale and was out meeting people and, as my daughter points out, he was talking to just about everyone that came by. He enjoys people and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.

But one thing I learned during the garage sale that relates to purchasing, is that despite all the books and learning I have on negotiations, I think my husband was a better negotiator at the garage sale than I was. I guess it’s a lesson that book learning does not always equal success and that a the “human touch” can go a long way in negotiations.