Cup of Joe: A sale by any other name

They have a variety of names, but yet none of them truly describe the precise nature of their meaning. To some they are yard sales, but I have yet to see one that actually involves the sale of someone’s yard. Others know them as garage, tag, rummage and porch sales, but again, that description does not seem accurate since no one’s porch or garage actually changes ownership.
    Let’s be honest. What they really are is junk sales.
The practice of selling unwanted items has gone on for generations. Spring and fall seem to be the ideal time for people to get rid of unwanted items in their homes and sales such as these are a quick way to do so.
It’s always amazing how something that one person considers unwanted becomes a must-have bargain for others.
Personally, I’ve never understood the fascination of going through someone’s used items. I understand for some it is a necessity, giving these trying economic times. But for some, it is a regular routine of their weekend.
As a child, my mother used to drag me along with her to go “yard sale-ing.” I didn’t know the term could be used in that manner, but she seemed to think so. Apparently most feel the same way, as it is term bantered about frequently in the newspaper office.
I remember I often used to just sit in the car, particularly when she stopped at sales that only had clothing or furniture. If there weren’t any toys to be had, what’s the point of looking when you are a kid? Of course, even when there were toys, rarely was I able to buy any unless I used my own money. Seeing as how I have always been a “saver” and not a “spender,” parting with my money was difficult even as a child. Unless of course, it was spending money on comic books.
Sitting in the car for hours on a Saturday can be a bit maddening, especially for children. To pass the time, I would read my Spider-Man comics and occasionally think of a prank or two to pull on my mother. I remember one time I turned the radio on full volume (back in the day when car radios actually clicked on) and put the windshield wipers on high. Seeing her reaction when she turned the car on was priceless and well worth being sent to my room when I got home.
Another thing I don’t quite grasp is the art of bartering for items. If you put $1 on an item, someone will offer 50 cents. Put 50 cents on an item, you are guaranteed someone will offer you only a quarter. We had a massive moving sale in Thomaston, to get rid of any items we could to ease the transition. Thinking back, I wish I had kept some of those items that we sold for a fraction of their worth.
I’ve never felt quite comfortable going through someone else’s stuff and dislike it even more when people come to my yard whenever my wife has a sale. Fortunately, my job is to take the kids whenever we have a sale so they don’t see us getting rid of the toys they no longer play with.
Another baffling phenomena associated with these sales are the signs that come with them. Take a drive down the street and look at some of the utility poles. Chances are you will find signs from months gone by, making it next to impossible to determine if the sale truly is that Saturday or one three weeks prior.
We actually had a woman stop into our office one day carrying a number of old signs that she had removed from the telephone pole in front of her house. Do your part and remove your signs when your sale is over.
While we here at the Pioneer Times are guilty of contributing to the sign phenomena — we give away signs to everyone who places an ad in our paper — it’s the individual’s responsibility to go around and take down the signs after their sale is done.
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer for the Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at pioneertimes@nepublish.com or 532-2281.