There's this supposed monster rummage sale starting today in Antioch. It's at St. Peter's Church in the village and is the 48th annual such sale. It follows on the heels of several others in west Lake County, including the giant Prince of Peace sale. The Antioch sale is the second-biggest in the county, after the annual rummage sale at Lake Forest's First Presbyterian Church. One question: What's with all these rummage sales?
Is there that much stuff floating around Lake County or are we importing it from Kentucky or Tennessee? How do these rummage sales compete with all the yard and garage and estate sales going on every weekend in various neighborhoods? How about Salvation Army and Goodwill stores? Are we merely rotating this stuff from sale to sale?
The Hound has hit a few rummage and yard sales, including some which appeared to be happening at least every other week during the summer, which is why municipalities clamped down on how many a homeowner can hold during the season.
But unlike the bazaar in Marrakesh, most of these sale holders don't want to bargain. Can you imagine, they want full price for used stuff! The Hound always thought the idea of yard sales was to get rid of stuff and make a little spending money. Wrong again!
There's real money to be made in selling somebody else's treasures and trash. Four years ago, sales at the St. Peter's rummage topped $134,000. Not bad for a few days work selling other people's donated stuff.
Monster rummage sales make more economic sense these days. Who wants to burn their $4.00+/gallon gas running around to 18 different yard sales when they can browse an enormous White Elephant collection in one place?
THE HOUND SAYS: Good point. Are the bargains better at one ginormous rummage sale than at 18 different yard sales?