Yard Sale Without A Yard

[Palanan]

So, I have a dilemma.

For the past year and a half I've been going through my uncle's garage--or rather, the immense pile of tools, equipment, gear, junk, and stuff that he had somehow packed into his garage over the last forty years. Woodworking machines, boat supplies, stereo components, motor home accessories, old diving gear, and a wonderland of scrap wood, among countless other things.

It's taken me this long just to dig down to the nameplates on some of the more obscure machines, and I'll probably need to have several sales to work my way through everything; otherwise there simply isn't enough space to go through it all. Even after a year and a half, it's still difficult to move around in there.

At this point, I've managed to sort through enough of the tools, gizmos, sandpaper rolls and Vietnam-era ammunition to hold a yard sale targeted to the expert handyman. The problem is that my uncle's house is in a decidedly not-great neighborhood, and my aunt is extremely uncomfortable with having the sale in her own driveway, where it could attract all manner of unsavory types. (The people who lived next door were evicted last year, and I can't begin to describe the conditions they left behind.)

I'm not able to provide a site myself, so I'm stuck. I need to sell this stuff--and I want to do it all at once, rather than trying to sell everything separately on eBay, which would be a logistical nightmare and would take years. So I need a yard sale; I just don't have a place to hold it. Any ideas?

[Forrestfire]

Find a church or other group that's having a community yard sale?

[Palanan]

Thought about that, but I think in the case of the church the proceeds would go to the church, and I want the proceeds to go to my aunt. Not sure if a community group would be any different.

[Proud Tortoise]

A little irrelevant, but when my grandfather's garage was cleaned out after his death, we found a small, illegal sample of uranium. Or was it plutonium? I dunno. He just had it because he didn't like the law against owning it.

[Forrestfire]

I've only ever done community yard sales with my neighborhood, which basically amounted to the group bringing out tables and setting their stuff up individually.

Maybe check craigslist for a place that does that sort of group yard sale or something? Either way, good luck :smallsmile:

[AdmiralCheez]

The local farmer's market near me has a huge area full of tables that people can rent by the day for selling their various wares. Of course, they only do this on the weekends during the summer, but the option is there.

Alternatively, for some of the more specialized equipment, I might try calling local businesses and see if they have any need for new and/or cheap equipment. Someone I know did that when they helped clean out someone's garage and found 50 industrial-grade muffin tins. Made quite a good bit of money selling them to a bakery in Philadelphia.

[Agent 451]

I noticed "Vietnam era" in there. How old are most of the items? You could contact antique dealers about the tools if they are more vintage items. They might be willing to buy some them.

Alternatively you could take a look at rummage sales or flea markets (along with farmers markets, as has already been mentions) and set up a table there. That or perhaps rent a community hall for a weekend and advertise on craigslist, university papers, word of mouth via social media, etc.

[factotum]

Do you not have anything like a car boot sale in the US?

[Melayl]

You could check for consignment stores in your area...

[Palanan]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone, it's all appreciated.


Originally Posted by AdmiralCheez
Alternatively, for some of the more specialized equipment, I might try calling local businesses and see if they have any need for new and/or cheap equipment.

Alas, most of these items aren't "new" by any standards except the geological. For some of the more interesting items, specialty collectors are probably my best bet. That just leaves all the run-of-the-mill tools and whatnot. (--And the nails. Did I mention the nails? So...many...nails....)


Originally Posted by Agent451
I noticed "Vietnam era" in there. How old are most of the items?

The 60s, 70s and 80s are especially well-represented, but I've come across items that might go back to the 40s and 50s, right next to motherboards and a satellite cable box. It's...everything, really. Much of it was top-of-the-line in its day, but that was often ten thousand days ago.


Originally Posted by Factotum
Do you not have anything like a car boot sale in the US?

Evidently not, since I have no idea what that means. All I can guess is it involves selling things from the back of the car...but where the car would be parked, I couldn't say.


Originally Posted by Forrestfire
Either way, good luck.

Thanks. Some days I walk into the garage and it's completely overwhelming.

:smalleek:

[Jay R]

A sale in the garage doesn't necessarily mean an open sale. Consider listing on craigslist, and telling folks they can show up by appointment.

The odds are that the handyman types who will want some of it will want to buy several items.

[factotum]

All I can guess is it involves selling things from the back of the car...but where the car would be parked, I couldn't say.

Generally a field or car park somewhere which is booked for the day--the people selling stuff pay a small fee to get in, usually buyers can attend for free.

[AdmiralCheez]

Alas, most of these items aren't "new" by any standards except the geological.

When I said "new," I really meant "new for them." You'd be surprised how often businesses buy additional equipment that's considerably old. A friend of mine used to work for a carpenter, and they got excited when they bought a new lathe for their shop that dated back to the 40s. As long as it still works, or can be cheaply restored, you can probably find a buyer. The older machines are especially valuable since they were designed to last basically forever.

[warty goblin]

When I said "new," I really meant "new for them." You'd be surprised how often businesses buy additional equipment that's considerably old. A friend of mine used to work for a carpenter, and they got excited when they bought a new lathe for their shop that dated back to the 40s. As long as it still works, or can be cheaply restored, you can probably find a buyer. The older machines are especially valuable since they were designed to last basically forever.

I was going to say pretty much this. If a tool is in good condition, it's likely worth about as much as a new equivalent. Tools don't really go out of fashion, and indeed the older ones are often genuinely better made.

[TheThan]

Try swap meats and flea markets.
You will be amazed what you can find in those places. It’s a great place to offload stuff you don’t need or want. also, throw whatever you can't sell up on Ebay and/or craig's list. it's amazing what people will buy.

If you decide to have one at the house then advertise it as a “yard” sale, not a “garage” sale, some people take those signs literally and want to nose around where you don’t want them to. Also close the garage door, that way people can't go snooping around like that.

also have someone trustworthy watch the cash box, most thieves are opportunistic thieves.

Lastly be firm in your haggling. Here at GI Joe headquarter the locals will try to haggle you down to nothing. Pick a minimum price for everything and do not sell less than that minimum.

[Force]

Tools definitely do not lose their value. I have a 1940s drill press that supposedly was used in the factories that built aircraft here in the US. It's still running like a top all these years later and will probably continue to run well for much of my life. I hope to give it to my grandkids. Put that stuff up on Craigslist, not at a yard sale. You won't get anywhere near the value of something at a yard sale.

As for the "Vietnam-era ammunition" you might want to be careful with that stuff. Ammunition, especially primers, degrades over time and should probably not be fired if it's 40+ years old. I would get in contact with your local gun shop and talk to them about it. If it's a sufficiently rare caliber (say, if you have .50 cal in there for some reason) they may be willing to buy it off you for the brass casing alone which can be reloaded.

Anything sizable you should probably google and put on Craigslist for a few days before you sell it at a yard sale.

[nedz]

Nails, or any odd lumps of metal, can be sold to a scrap merchant. You will only get a price by weight and Iron isn't worth all that much — Copper is though.

Some items can be advertised in the local press. This is generally good for things like furniture, but might work. This does have an upfront cost, but it's generally not much.

If you have genuine antiques then these can be sold to a dealer.

I'm not sure about tools however.

[tomandtish]

Tools in good shape will always find a buyer. Heck, make sure you have a nice complete tool set before selling anything. I'm still using my grandfather's tools (many of which he inherited), including a saw that we think is over a hundred years old. Still works fine.

[Castaras]

Gonna echo Factotum - if such a thing similar to a car boot sale exists (big field, sellers park cars and sell out of the boot) go to one of those.

[Tyndmyr]

Tools definitely do not lose their value. I have a 1940s drill press that supposedly was used in the factories that built aircraft here in the US. It's still running like a top all these years later and will probably continue to run well for much of my life. I hope to give it to my grandkids. Put that stuff up on Craigslist, not at a yard sale. You won't get anywhere near the value of something at a yard sale.

As for the "Vietnam-era ammunition" you might want to be careful with that stuff. Ammunition, especially primers, degrades over time and should probably not be fired if it's 40+ years old. I would get in contact with your local gun shop and talk to them about it. If it's a sufficiently rare caliber (say, if you have .50 cal in there for some reason) they may be willing to buy it off you for the brass casing alone which can be reloaded.

Anything sizable you should probably google and put on Craigslist for a few days before you sell it at a yard sale.

Vietnam era should be fine. Ammunition is remarkably stable, and unless it's been stored particularly badly, should be fine. Now, trunk of the car is bad because it temp cycles a lot, but in your basement? Unless it's a particularly strange basement, the ammunition will probably last a lifetime or more.

Additionally, .50 is not a particularly rare caliber. If in the US, you can normally just sell ammo online. In fact, it might be worthwhile to find specialist forums if you have a quantity of one thing, like the tools. Provided that the site rules allow buying and selling(usually in a special forum), you can just list everything of that sort in one go.

[Tylorious]

ebay, the electronic yard sale. or craigslist.

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by TheThan
If you decide to have one at the house then advertise it as a “yard” sale....

As I indicated, the house isn't an option.


Originally Posted by Force
I have a 1940s drill press that supposedly was used in the factories that built aircraft here in the US. ...Put that stuff up on Craigslist, not at a yard sale.

Very cool about your drill press. I grew up with models of the planes that drill press helped to build. :smallsmile:

For the larger items like that, I do have in mind a more select procedure, and I'm hoping to get several hundred for the table saw, maybe a couple hundred for the bandsaw, etc. etc. The yard sale will be for all the random $&%#@!! stuff I've been digging through just to get to the bandsaw.


Originally Posted by Force
As for the "Vietnam-era ammunition" you might want to be careful with that stuff. Ammunition, especially primers, degrades over time and should probably not be fired if it's 40+ years old.

Thanks; I have no intention of firing it, for exactly that reason. I don't expect anyone else will, either.

However, it does seem to have a modest value to collectors. I found several boxes in the bottom of a custom-made cabinet, which is otherwise filled with screws, nails, hinges, fasteners, doodads, gimwhicks, and a host of other items beyond my comprehension. That's pretty much the garage in microcosm.


Originaly Posted by tomandtish
Tools in good shape will always find a buyer.

That's what I'm counting on...and my uncle had a reputation, entirely well-deserved, for doing his research and getting the very best.

Of course, he would get the very best for a particular moment in time, so I have the very best two-stage scuba regulator from 1962. But still. :smalltongue:


Originally Posted by Castaras
Gonna echo Factotum - if such a thing similar to a car boot sale exists (big field, sellers park cars and sell out of the boot) go to one of those.

You know, I don't think I've ever heard of that in the U.S., although it probably happens somewhere. The closest American concept I can think of is "tailgating where you sell stuff," but I've never come across that. Worth keeping in mind.


Originally Posted by Tyndmyr
Vietnam era should be fine. Ammunition is remarkably stable, and unless it's been stored particularly badly, should be fine.... In fact, it might be worthwhile to find specialist forums if you have a quantity of one thing, like the tools.

Trust me, I've hit up a lot of specialist forums, and as far as that kind of vintage ammo, what I'm hearing is, "don't shoot it." The people who collect it are doing so for the memento value, and they often include warnings up front not to buy it for shooting. Certainly there's a spectrum of opinion, but I'd rather be on the safe side.

Also, while the bullets have been stored neatly in boxes in the bottom of a cabinet, the garage itself definitely goes through major temperature swings. I can't work out there in the deep summertime, because there's no AC and it's roasting. Likewise it gets pretty cold out there in the winter.

Which will be especially fun, as I continue working out there in the coming months....

[Karoht]

Relatives of mine both fought in WWI and WWII. They both had a bunch of German booty, most of which was likely illegal to own. Most of which I donated to a museum, a few specialty items I managed to find collectors on the internet. The exquisitely crafted SS officer's dagger and luger were a particularly excellent find. And the rifle that my grandfather was using for hunting? Turns out it was some German rifle typically used by snipers. The scope alone went for 3000 bucks.

In the case of the Vietnam era ammo (and any guns to go with it) I would contact a museum. You can donate it to them, they can assign an approximate value, you should be able to get a tax receipt for that value. If that doesn't work, odds are you won't get value for it, you might as well surrender it to the police, as they usually have surrender/disposal programs for this sort of thing. Give them a call before you bring it in.