BS: insane yard sale stuff

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: GUEST,songbob
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 12:11 AM

The closest to that happened to me. I found an ad for "Guitar, $30" in a local shopper paper. When I called, the seller told me, "If 'Martin' doesn't mean anything to you, I can't tell you more." It was a 1932 Martin 0-18, with a sunburst finish, even.

When I bought it, I asked her why she'd priced it like she did. She said, "I went to [a since-closed music store], and asked them, 'Is $30 too much?' and they said, 'No.'"

That store screwed her over, to my way of thinking. I couldn't afford a whole lot more, so, to make it up to her, I bought two other guitars from her, also around $30 each, even though I didn't need 'em. But the store should have, I think, told her to set a higher price.

This was in 1967, by the way, so the 'going' price was around $150-200, but nonetheless....

Bob

By the way, I have a question -- what is a very basic 1950s Tatay student guitar, mahogany sides & back, in average condition, except a large crack the full length of the back -- what is such a guitar worth? I have one to sell for a friend, and have a crisis of conscience. I want to buy it, so it's hard to set a proper sale price. We've negotiated a price, but I am worried that I low-balled him. Give me some idea, please.

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: Big Ballad Singer
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 01:52 PM

I've never come across anything like in the OP, but I HAVE seen some people selling valuable items dirt-cheap to get back at others.

Once, an acquaintance told me about a yard sale he was at... the lady running it had an old door for a table, laid across, so help me, TWO vintage Fender Super Reverb amplifiers. The acquaintance says to her, "Ma'am... are the amplifiers holding up your table for sale, too?" She told him, yes, they were... she had divorced her husband, and where they lived, she gave him notice and he had X number of days to get his remaining items out of the house she owned, or the items became her property. He did not come back in time, actually, not at all, so she sold the amplifiers for $300 EACH.

These amplifiers, for those who aren't familiar, were in almost factory-new condition and would retail on the vintage market for $2000 or better in their shape.

The acquaintance BEGGED her to let him go to the ATM... he bought them both and sold one at a ridiculous profit.

It is always very heart-warming to see people making the effort to do the right thing when they know they can help their fellow-man.

Well done, Olddude! We need more thoughtful folks like you in the world.

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 10:37 AM

Last year I found a little dog in a Safeway parkinglot

I made personal announcments to store managers in the area and good thing too...She was a mother dog still nursing puppies. She got back to her puppies in 24 hours.

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 08:12 AM

I am so pleased at all of you. Last year a young man in the office found what appeared to be a diamond ring on the street. He couldn't understand my horror that he intended to keep it without even trying to find the owner.
Turned out to be gold but a very good cubic circonia. Someone's mock up of the real thing.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 01:18 AM

At first I thought this thread was going to be an enticement or tease directed at SINSULL.

I heart the honest man, so I heart Dan.

I went in to clean house once and found a note on counter with instrux not to vacuum as owner had lost her diamond engagement ring. I made a beeline to her closet and found it on the floor. Remembered that my own engagement ring used to get caught on clothing in closet.
Put the ring on her instruction note, explaining why I suspected it would be there and did the vacuuming anyway. I got $25.00 and a bottle of wine for Christmas from customer.

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: gnu
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 09:28 PM

Donuel... "thus increasing more yard sales." Hahahaha. Good one!

As for tipping a car dealership... I don't quite understand... and I really don't understand that the remembered... theyare the worst sand bagging scum on the earth in my experience. And, about to get worse with all the computer and satellite shit.

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 09:18 PM

It seems that rewarding people for doing the right thing is a poitive tool for change.

In the corporate culture of today, lieing cheating and stealing are all rewarded. BIG TIME

We need to reward people for doing the right thing.

Talk is cheap but good on you old dude.

I tipped a car deaership for doing the right thing and they did remember.

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 09:07 PM

Something similar happened to me last week, only it was an 18K gold and opal ring. The seller decided to keep it!

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 09:03 PM

I sat down last week in the waiting area of the place where I got for hand therapy. Slipped between the seats was a beautiful gold ring and it fit, too! (I thought it was a gold foil candy wrapper, at first!) I couldn't keep it, though...would have felt really badly. Turns out the lady who'd lost it had just called asking if they'd seen it. It felt good to say, "Yes, here 'tis!"

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 08:51 PM

as they say, business is business.

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 08:51 PM

The average Goldman Sachs exec would have secretly pocketed the ring and noted his blackberry to push forclosures in the area, thus increasing more yard sales.

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 04:30 PM

That's great to hear Dan.. I do a lot of buying and if I am buying from a private buyer I will always do the right thing... If I am buying from a dealer.. I will pay as little as possible even if it is extremely valuable......

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: olddude
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 03:55 PM

So are you Michelle
Love You

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 03:43 PM

Dan,

You're a good egg.

XOXOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: olddude
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 03:36 PM

Yea I talked to myself GNU. Now if it is an antique or something that someone just wants to get rid of ... yea fair game, but I am sure this was a mistake of some kind. The lady was selling her mom's costume Jewelery .. Her mom was about 70 or so ... It probably was just in the box and they didn't notice ... I am glad I could help them

Subject: RE: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: gnu
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 02:20 PM

I would have been tempted but ya did the right thing Dan.

Ya dummy... >;-) ... just teasin! Good on ya!

Subject: BS: insane yard sale stuff
From: olddude
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 02:07 PM

I love doing the yard sale thing, never know what you will see. Well I was looking through some costume Jewelery ... 50 cents a piece ... my missus likes the stuff ... picked up a ring ... setting was marked PLAT

Ahhh Platinum
solitary stone about 3/4 carat probably S2 or s3 grade stone

brought it to the lady who was doing the sale and told her ... it is a real diamond in Platinum setting. You may want to take a closer look at your moms "costume jewelery"

could I have made a hell of a deal ... ahhh yah but I would not been able to sleep at night. She couldn't thank me enough. Conscience can be a bad thing sometimes. I was tempted