Yesterday Anna and I went on two errands:
- Look for new living room furniture. Again.
- Cash in on Anna’s free phone upgrade (a.k.a. the ‘new every two’ deal)
You know how when you start out to do something you’re hopes and expectations are usually pretty good, maybe a little higher than they should be, but not that high, and yet they always seem to get completely dashed into little itty pieces?
We began our adventure Number 1 (see above) with a list of Garage sales that looked promising. Last week we went to a few different places in hopes to find something affordable and not scary but with no luck. Hoping to beat the odds this weekend we decided to go Garage Sailing (saleing?, whatever). We’ve heard so many stories of so and so who happened to find this sweet leather sofa for dirt cheap and it didn’t smell like sweaty dog.
The first place we went to had a sofa in the drive way. We sat in it. It was alright.
“That couch would look great in your living room.”
“Hu?”
“I’ll give you a good deal.”
“Um, I don’t know.”
“It’s really comfortable isn’t it?”
“It’s alright. Maybe we’ll come back.”
Yeah right.
The next place was out of furniture but they were selling a doyle for $10.
Finally we had saved the best for last. Nice (i.e. expensive house) + hidden away neighborhood + moving sale = Sweet Deal! Apparently we were too late, cuz there was a huge sign in their driveway that said “MOVING SALE” and then a giant “X” through the middle of it with nobody to be found. DOH!
Time for adventure number 2 (see above again).
We went to the cell phone store, put our name on the waiting list and then shopped around to find out what cell phone Anna was going to get with her credit for a free upgrade. When it was our turn to be helped we found out that she doesn’t get a free upgrade. Since we’re on a shared plan what she gets is the ‘two year contrac price’ on a new phone; which means we have to renew our contract for two years and she gets a break on the price of a new phone.
Not quite what we were expecting but, luckily for us they happened to have a phone that Anna liked and it was on sale, for free*.
*”Free” here means pay for the phone, send in a form, your finger prints and a blood sample, wait 8 years and we’ll send you back the money you paid. Maybe just in time for your next ‘free’ phone.
Anna said:
Shawn- you are so funny. I laughed out loud. Really. No, really, I did.
Oh and thanks for cleaning the kitchen so I could go read your blog.
Posted on August 13, 2006 at 9:01 pm
Stephanie said:
Hey Shawn- I don’t know if you have ever been on craigslist, but you can find great deals on furniture. In San Francisco the joke was that you can get everything you need in life; a job, roommate, apartment, friends, ect. The Kansas City version is smaller, but it’s still cool. kansascity.craigslist.org
-Stephanie
Posted on August 14, 2006 at 10:37 am
Jo said:
I think a road-trip to Chicago to go to IKEA would be a GREAT idea. I’ve been telling Tyler we need to go someday. (when finances allow of course)
Posted on August 14, 2006 at 4:07 pm
Daddy-o said:
Saving the best for last is not to be applied to garage sale hunting. Always go to the expensive neighborhoods first. Rule 1, arrive 1 hour before the advertised opening time. Rule 2, don’t look at the item you’re interested in untill you act like it’s time to leave. Nonchalantly glance at the price of the item and offer 1/2 the asking price. Bargen and inspect as needed. EXCEPTION: if there are others headed toward your item, dash in front of them and act interested. Begin discussing a deal immediatley. Many good deals have been lost without this technique. You can always back out but you will never have another chance to but in.
Posted on August 16, 2006 at 2:02 pm
Shawn said:
Daddy-o
Wow, Those are great rules. I wish I would have known them earlier. Thanks for the sweet tips, coming from an experienced garage-sailer.
Posted on August 16, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Anna said:
Hey Dad,
Great tips! I’m just going off a gut feeling here, but do you think Shawn should keep loudly exclaiming, “Wow, what a great price! I was expecting to spend at least three times that much!”?
Till next garage sale weekend,
Anna
PS Just kidding… Shawn’s a great bargainer.
Posted on August 16, 2006 at 9:51 pm
Jo said:
Anna — now there’s your problem.
Man, great tips! I too feel encouraged to hunt down these weekend bargains!
Posted on August 17, 2006 at 2:27 pm