No Interest in Used Items

It's difficult for me to believe with all the ads I've placed Online (Craig's List, Facebook Online Garage Sale, eBay Local Classifieds, Want Ad Digest) for the items in my mother's estate, that I haven't had ONE nibble! Where is everyone?
 

I've given lots of used stuff, clothes, appliances, housewares to charities and needy people, easier than selling it if you don't need the money. Used doesn't bring in much cash, unless it's an antique that has been appraised.
 
Once, when I was holding a garage sale which brought in a little money but was lots of work, I overheard a youngish man saying, "Older people always think their stuff is worth a lot more than it is." Maybe that's because our "stuff" has lots of sentimental value for us, which is obviously not a factor for those who are buying. I did find that making prices very low helps to move things along.

But, as Seabreeze says, sometimes it's easier to just donate it and take the tax deduction. Here, we have a wonderful charity called A Wider Circle, which helps people who have been abused, or just battered by life, to get a fresh start by setting them up in a decent home with good, clean, used furniture. Another good charity is S.O.M.E. (So Others May Eat). Both of these groups send volunteers to pick up donated items.

After my husband passed away, I found it almost impossible to give away a hospital bed. Even the nursing homes wouldn't take it (it had been used!) When you go to a hospital or nursing home, aren't the beds used? What a dumb rule! Finally, the Lions Club came through and accepted it. They take wheelchairs also.
 

We have given loads of furniture and clothes to charity shops , and perhaps thats why your stuff is not selling cause theres charity shops and places that help folks who are in need ,and that will be their first port of call .
 
I posted a notice on a bulletin board at a nearby nursing home to give away my father-in-law's wheelchair (which we bought him new), and some personal items for invalids. A lady came to my home the same day with tears in her eyes, she was so grateful, as her parent had just had a stroke and suddenly needed those items.
 
My former religion had a charitable organization that was run as a business. They would only accept donations between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM, never on Sunday. They had a senior member on watch in his car near the drop off points and refuse anything during off hours. They didn't accept books or trash (completely understandable), books didn't sell well and trash was our own problem. They would set aside items of higher value and conduct auctions on those items in a special designated area in-store. They priced everything else as final, no dickering over price. They did hire the handicap and provide work for the needy. If you asked for a receipt they wanted to appraise the item and allow you their value not replacement cost. They treated you like they were doing you a favor in accepting the items. I hauled many useful items to the dump or placed them outside on the curb for free out of spite. People will take anything that is free in time.

The only donation center I would go to was SA, it was 25 miles from home but I knew the useful items were gratefully accepted, it was usually clothing; coats, pants, shirts,,,etc. It is also the only charitable organization I donate cash to. In my new home state there are a few donation centers but I refuse to give to them after reading about the income that the head of those organizations receive. In comparision the head of SA receives an income of just over $60,000 per year. The CEO of GW receives something north of $1.3 million. I don't itemize on my taxes so proving my charitable deductions is not an issue. I would rather donate anonymously and feel good about it than toot my horn. I have donated cash to the Veteran's at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC after walking along the wall realizing how many young healthy Americans lost their lives for nothing.
 
Debodum, are you by chance in a rural area? I find that people just don't want to take the time or waste the gas to drive a distance when so many advertise in the city.

Might work out better for you if you can enlist several neighbors to have a block yard sale, people love to come where there is more than one place to check out.
 
I'm about 30 miles from Albany, NY - the largest city in the area. I am in a small village of about 1500 people, but it is located along 3 major routes. However, when the few people that do respond learn where I am, you'd think it was on the moon how they carry on about driving.
 
Debodun, I have the same problem, I tell em I live 11 minutes from Costco to get them to come out....I don't tell em you have to drive 100 K to make it in that 11 minutes, I figure by the time they start out they may as well continue going.
 
Do you have a consignment shop nearby? We have a wonderful 100% volunteer run PAWS thrift in our area which really helps to benefit cats as well as dogs. When my mother passed away things went to them. My stepfather is still finding things to donate.

I grew up on thrift and it's about all I want to buy.
 
We have loads of 'charity' shops in the UK, in fact whenever a unit becomes empty it will soon be taken over by a 'charity' shop and they are getting so fussy about what they take these days..............so I prefer to bag my stuff and put it in the locked bins by supermarkets for onward use by certain charities. We also have a freecycle online site where you can advertise stuff to be collected free of charge..............trouble is you are never sure if the folk who pick it up will not sell it on elsewhere?.
 
There are several "thrift" shops in the next town over, but they seem very fussy about what they will accept. You practically have to buy at the store and bring it to them for them to accept anything. When I brought some of my aunt's clothes to one, there was a Bob Mackey jacket that wasn't accepted just because it has a small thread pull on the shoulder.
 
Having offered it first to my kids, I put quite a lot of stuff on 'Freecycle' for which I have no use, some of it is worth quite a bit of money, but I can't be bothered selling it. I have no interest acquiring second hand goods though, I buy what I need new.
 
Debodun, I have the same problem, I tell em I live 11 minutes from Costco to get them to come out....I don't tell em you have to drive 100 K to make it in that 11 minutes, I figure by the time they start out they may as well continue going.

Haha that's hilarious... :lol1: I wouldn't find it funny if you did it to me though, but it's funny to see it in print!
 
We have loads of 'charity' shops in the UK, in fact whenever a unit becomes empty it will soon be taken over by a 'charity' shop and they are getting so fussy about what they take these days..............so I prefer to bag my stuff and put it in the locked bins by supermarkets for onward use by certain charities. We also have a freecycle online site where you can advertise stuff to be collected free of charge..............trouble is you are never sure if the folk who pick it up will not sell it on elsewhere?.

Why would you care tho'?..if you don't want it, and you don't want to give it to charity , and you're giving it away free, why do you mind what someone else does with it?
 
Fair point Hollydolly, but would prefer to think someone would make good use of the items and not sell them on to line their own pockets.
 
Hi debodum I always take bin-bags full of clothes (mostly new) to the Salvation Army bins in our local car park. I say new because I am a terror buying clothes off EBAY, I will never buy used though, I always put into the search box BNWL (brand new with labels) or BNWT (brand new with tags) or buy from the EBAY shops. My problem is that I can never find the time to return the items, with the need to buy wrapping paper, labels paying for return postage and taking it to the general post office in town so if they don't fit or I don't like them, into the bin-bag they go, ready for the Sally Army to distribute.
 
I was put off giving stuff to the Sally Army, when a few years ago I saw a Sally Army 'officer' putting what to me to me like quite reasonable items in the local tip, presumably from their charity shop!
 
I guess my main issue is why most people think that because an item is at a tag sale venue, it's should cost less then the same thing in an antique store. For instance, this Depression glass candy jar (Mayfiar pattern) has an average price of $75 in Depression glass price guides, yet to see it for even $10 at a garage sale will make people roll their eyes and shake their heads.

Mayfair (Hocking) candy dish.jpg
 
I think the saturation of Pawn Star type shows have flooded the market and dropped the price in many areas. As a buyer I'm always leary of fakes.
 
I know my mother collected before the repro craze, but it would be a difficult thing to prove. People are so wary these days. There are books dealing with how to tell repros from originals pieces, but even so, experts still get fooled.
 


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