West Plano yard sale report: Just call me a bag lady

by By Claire Hoffman

To the tune of two backpacks, three tote bags, and one netted grocery bag.

PLANO — Mission: Find a cheap backpack.

I'm about to take a trip and I want to do carry-on. Last time I flew, they lost my suitcase and I had no clothes. I think I can fit all my clothes in a small bag. But I thought if I brought a backpack, I can put all my clothes in the bag, and all my other stuff in the backpack.

I found one at the first place I went to. I was the first one there. She said, "Since you're the first one here, you can get anything you want for half price." The backpack was marked $1 so she charged me 50 cents. It's definitely in used shape -- it's kindof ripped inside -- but it has a lot of useful pockets.

The next place I stopped, the lady had a bunch of appliances that didn't work – blenders, old stereos. People would say, "Does it work?" She had an Asian accent so she'd say, "No, but you have for free!" I was looking at the blender and she said, "You take it for free!" I said, "No I can't fix it." I guess if you were someone that liked to fix things. But I would not put out an electrical appliance that did not work. To me, they're disposable items in American culture, so who fixes them.

The best sale I went to had a sign that said "All prices marked with haggling already anticipated – so just sit back and enjoy." In other words, don't make any offers or try to cut a deal. They had binders, files, and a whole bunch of those old theme books with B&W marbly covers. I said, "How long have you been teaching?" He started laughing. He said, "My wife's still teaching and has been for 25 years. I taught for 30 years."

They had a bunch of tote bags. I was picking out some nice ones and he said, "Nobody’s buying those." I said, "I use them for shopping at the supermarket instead of taking plastic bags." He said, "Oh, if you're looking for shopping bags, I have this net bag." So I bought 3 tote bags and a net bag, for 50 cents each. If you see tote bags at a yard sale, they're usually $1. But remember, he had no-haggle prices. He also had everything marked. I said, "This must have taken you forever to do." He said, "Well, I’m retired." Some places don’t mark, but he had everything labeled.

The last sale I went to, they were obviously realtors. They had a lot of stuff that was marked "Keller Williams". She was one of those high-energy, "I’m-more-important-than-anybody-else" people. She had her cell phone to her ear the whole time and was being degrading to the customers. Any time she had to stop her phone call, she'd roll her eyes. And the guy seemed completely arrogant; he was walking around puffing on a skinny cigar. They were such yuppies, it was hysterical. She had a lot clothes and old shoes. She kept saying "Shoes are 25 cents!" But her shoes were awful. If you're going to sell shoes, they should look like they've only been worn once. But she had worn them out and was trying to sell them to somebody else. That's gross.

I did buy another backpack. It's in better shape but it doesn't have all the pockets. But it was only a quarter. For 75 cents, I got 2 backpacks. Now I have to decide if I want to use the one with all the good pockets or the one that is in better shape.

Today's take: Two backpacks, three tote bags, one net shopping bag.

Total: $2.75.

This story was submitted by a member of the Pegasus News community.

• Staff
• Verified User
• Anonymous