Beware the tag sale, my friend! Beware the yards o' crap!

[pbray]

Tag sales are a particular hazard for the cyclist. Cars swerve abruptly or stop in the middle of the road while the driver checks out the goods on display, parked car doors are liable to swing open at any moment forcing the prudent cyclist to ride in the middle of the road (just because you can't see someone in the car doesn't mean they're not there, bent over to retrieve their purse from the floor and about to open their door as you pass) and stopped cars pull back out onto the road without even a glance behind.

And now the menace has moved next door! Just before 7 yesterday, I awoke to the sound of raised voices. Two of my neighbors were having a combined tag sale, and the set-up necessitated much yelling back and forth between the houses. The first cars arrived for the sale by 7:30, even though the signage indicated that the sale would start at 9:00. By the time I left the house on my bike at 8:30, the block was littered with cars.

There's a repeat performance today, although there was considerably less shouting during the set-up. Frankly I don't see the appeal, but that's just me. I understand getting rid of stuff, but you couldn't pay me to stand around my yard trying to sell it. It's either crap which means it gets trashed/recycled, or if it's still good it gets donated to charity.

Meanwhile I'm sipping coffee, preparing to hop on the bike, and hoping that the sale ends today.

Comments

[madkestrel.livejournal.com]

I understand getting rid of stuff, but you couldn't pay me to stand around my yard trying to sell it.

You're singing my song, dear. Once a year, my son's Scout troop holds a "yard" sale in the fellowship center of the church in which they meet. This year, despite having an attic full of junk that needs to go away, I just didn't have the energy to get it all down, price it, then stand around arguing with some bargain hunter over whether or not that frying pan is worth $1.

Not to mention they opened the doors at 6:30 am on Saturday. Ha!

[allaboutm-e.livejournal.com]

I'm mostly with you, although unlike madkestrel, I do kinda like the community ones that are not individuals, or even groups of neighbors, but done on behalf of organizations...

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

You're not the only bicyclist who fears yard sales . . .

[pbray.livejournal.com]

A couple years back, our local Habitat for Humanity held a sale where you could drop off your stuff and they priced it, sold it and kept the proceeds. Now that's an idea I can get behind.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I don't mind donating for organization sales, as long as it is understood that I can drive up, drop off, and that ends my involvement.

Beyond that I get twitchy. And hey, did I mention how I was scarred for life after watching the Unsolved Mysteries episode where they featured the haunted furniture bought at a tag sale?

[pbray.livejournal.com]

They're up there on the list of road hazards, right next to smashed beer bottles and freshly mown grass clippings blown into the street.