Rainy weather, economy affecting garage sales
Posted on Sunday, July 6, 2008
BENTON COUNTY — Ask just about anyone in northwest Arkansas and they would probably agree on two things: that the economy isn’t as good as it used to be and it’s rained a lot lately.
They would probably even agree that both issues have affected a popular way for many Americans to de-junk their house and make a little cash — garage sales. Garage sales, yard sales or any other type of residence-based sales are obviously popular in the area given the number of hand-crafted signs that show up on street corners every weekend.
Many people who frequent garage sales — either by shopping at them or having them themselves — agree that lately garage sales just aren’t what they used to be.
“ Last year was very good, ” said Katie Eubanks of Bentonville. “ But this year a lot of garage sales are pricier because people are wanting to make more money for gas. ”
The problem with that scenario, she said, is that people shopping at garage sales tend to attempt price haggling to get the price reduced.
“ No one has any money to spend, ” she said. “ So they are clashing in the middle. ”
Eubanks said she usually visits garage sales to find clothes for her toddler.
“ They’re the best place to go, ” she said.
She also helps friends with sales, such as the sale she helped with on Saturday in Bentonville. The sale was a benefit for a friend from Missouri whose home was destroyed by a tornado. By mid-morning they had only four customers, who braved frequent early rain showers.
“ I think it’s the weather and the fact that it’s Fourth of July weekend, ” she said.
Luis Moran of Rogers, had a different perspective. He purposefully held his garage sale during the holiday weekend and it proved profitable.
“ It’s the holiday so no one is working, ” he said.
Melissa Wagoner of Rogers dashed to cover many of her tables with tarps when the first rains started to fall Saturday. She said she believes the weather affected her sales.
“ The die hards have come out, ” she said.
Her friend David Morgan helped with the sale but he also tries to have several garage sales himself every year. He said he can tell a noticeable downturn in the amount of business he gets.
“ I used to sell a lot of tools and building materials, ” he said. “ But it’s really slacked off. The weather has been the biggest (problem ). ”
For Hosea Hefley of Rogers, the economy has been steadily getting more problematic since he retired nearly two decades ago.
“ I’m 80 years old and on a fixed income, ” he said. “ Inflation is eating my lunch. That’s the reason we shop at garage sales. ”
Hefley and his wife shop mostly for their 13 great-grandchildren, he said. He said that so far this season he hasn’t noticed a major change in how people price their goods, but he has seen that weather has made a difference.
“ Some will advertise (that they are having a sale ) but then they aren’t open, ” he said.
Both Bentonville and Rogers have rules about garage sales that can be found on the city’s respective Web sites. Rogers requires a permit, however Bentonville does not require a permit to have a garage sale.
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