So after some deliberation I decided to go for sale #1 with the pair of end tables by Paul Laszlo for Brown Saltman, as discussed yesterday. I was out of the house by 6:30 which is GREAT for me. I made it to the sale around 6:45 and put my name on the list. #9 - not bad. I hung out for over an hour.
While waiting, the owner of the estate sale company came out and said "Are you the one who called me"? Yes, I was. I called last night to ask a couple questions about the sale and see if I could get any idea of the price on the PL tables. I could not squeeze any info out of her. Oh well, the call still served me some good though. I told her yes it was me. She remembered I asked about the tables.
So, 8am, I get inside and run to the PL tables, as did everyone else! Asking price? $850.00!!! Really?! Retail price? Pass! On to the other things on my wish list. In general the sale was so-so and very overpriced. That mini green TV I wanted? $30! It should have been $5 bucks. I still filled 2 bags with smalls so all was not lost.
On my way out the estate co. owner stopped me and asked, "What will you pay for the tables"? I told her the price was waaaaay off for me. She persisted; "Make me an offer". Ok then, "$400". She asked to take my number. I thought,
no way will she call me. But, about half hour later, guess who called? Yep. She offered them at $500. I countered at $450 and she accepted. I head back to make the big purchase!
Oooooh kaaay..... upon first look at the tables I had beer goggles on. I was in love and did not examine them closely. At $850 asking price, I had to just move on. But, now we're talking $450. I looked closer. BAH!!! They were in need of some refinishing. One side had what looked like a huge burn mark and a some serious scratches and dings. The other was in better shape but would need some sanding too on the legs and top - and that means trying to match the stain - and what THAT means is refinishing the entire thing x 2. No thanks. I tried to work her down in price even more considering the damage but she couldn't budge, per the owner. I had to walk away. The tables would have been a huge pain to refinish.
It's so weird to have had them in my grasp and then poof, I'm driving away. Oh well!! I will certainly come across other great pieces in my many, many more years of estate sale-ing. It just did not feel right. $450 was still very steep for them but I was willing to go for it - but not in that condition.
The day was not lost. I hit sale #2 (from yesterday's post) next and got a bag full for $10. Now we're talking! It turns out this might have been the sale to hit first. It started at 7 am so by the time I got there I could tell it was picked over. The house had a TON of stuff. Then I was off to 2 thrift stores where I found a few more cool things.
Oh yeah, sale #2, the bedroom set asking price was $975! Really?! I see complete sets on Craigslist for $500 and below. What is it with estate companies lately?
