No one stops at garage sales after Labor Day

[debodun]

It's like someone turns off a switch after Labor Day. I've tried and tried the last 4 years to have one last estate sale on Columbus Day weekend and have sat 3 days waiting for people that never stop. The weather here was sunny and unseasonably warm for upstate New York, so the weather isn't a factor. I'm right on the main street in town; not on a back road. I have good signage and advertise many places online and in print. My neighbor who also had a sale said "It's not like they're stopping and not buying; they're just nor stopping." Any theories as to why this phenomenon occurs?

[sugarcube5419]

I AGREE

I tried to have a garage sale on labor day weekend last year, three people--from an area where garage sales are king.

[bigwull]

Its not a phenomenon.....Its called .... Recession....your country...is in trouble...just like we are....now i don,t want to get embroiled in politics....but the ditherers..on Capitol Hill...are only making things worse....

[sugarcube5419]

no argument here

[KevinM]

I also agree, and that goes for ebay sales too, middle class America is just not buying right now.

[mart]

I have done OK on ebay but this time of year I am doing hunting stuff and handgun holsters !! Guy stuff !!

[bigwull]

Tomboy Mart,.....Calamity, or Annie....have i missed anyone.....

[cogar]

Lador Day marks the un-official end of the Garage Sale and Flea Market Season and you shouldn't schedule another one of either until the week of or the Friday after Thanksgiving when there are lots of people travelling near and from afar.

But iffen you just havta have a sale then advertise it as a Columbus Day Sale .... or an Autumn Surprise Sale, Hunter's Delight Sale, whatever.

Doesn't Thanksgiving Week "mark" the opening day of Deer Season in the Southern Tier (upstate - south of I-90) of New York State?  

[greenacres]

On eBay it depends on the item. Someone just beat me out on a photo for $78. They would have gone higher too! Where I live people are still spending. You should see Nordstroms they are mobbed with people. They are spending a lot there that's for sure.

[mart]

Here bow season starts in October and rifle season in November !!  You just gotta go with the flow !!  This time of year guys are the ones shopping and spending money !!  So I stay away from too much girlie stuff till sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas !!

[bigwull]

And here was me thinking that bows & arras...went oot wi the injuns...

[mart]

Not quite yet !!

[debodun]

Three years ago, I had a sale I advertised as a "Beat Black Friday Sale" the weekend BEFORE Thanksgiving. I did so well that I did it the next year. That time only 2 people stopped and one bought a 50¢ box of notepaper. Well, I figured this was just a fluke and tried it again last year and absolutely nobody stopped the whole weekend. When do you sell vintage Christmas decorations. stocking stuffers, toys and games? During summer, Nativity sets, artificial trees, wreaths, lighted Santas and gift wrap are not on the high-demand list. After Labor Day, people don't shop at tag sales.

[icedgold10]

Many times people do get the holiday things in summer thinking they are getting a better deal.  I went to an estate sale a couple of weeks ago that should have been packed because it was an entertainer's summer home.  Very slow.  Last week I went to one that had a bunch of people and no one bought the 1st edition Agatha Christie books so I bought them.  People are just all over the place not making sense.  Ebay has been slow with the government shutdown though.  Crazy times we live in. Have to just hang in there.

[mart]

Ebay is always your best bet for antique/vintage holiday items !!