I got thrift store prices at two estate sales last weekend

[loveit]

I got some really low prices at estate sales last weekend. The first one was a goldmine of vintage everything. The auction company that was running the estate sale was very motivated to sell, sell, sell. The guy gave me very low prices on a 50's cocktail shaker, an old juice pitcher, a cheese tray with a tile insert of sunflowers, signed by Georges Briand (I didn't know the name until I got home and googled it - very collectible), a 50's tablecloth, and a very old darts game with metal darts. I think I paid $20 for all this. There was so much vintage stuff, I was whirling. I could have bought hundreds of dollars of stuff, but my budget won't allow that.

The auction guy kept pointing out things that go for big bucks on Ebay, like some Pyrex and a corkscrew with painted characters on it. I know you can make big bucks with these things, but I can't afford the upfront funds to purchase all of it.

I'm going on much too long, so I'll summarize the second sale: I bought 4 tablecloths (1940's), one Royal China plate for 50 cents (she only had one) - the pattern is a cool Starburst - and a Spongebob TV for my son. I spent $40 all together.

I found out that if you go the last day of an estate sale, there's still plenty of good stuff left, and they discount heavily!!

[loveit]

One other thing about estate sales - the vintage stuff can be found at the older homes in neighborhoods established during 1950 (or earlier) to 1980. That's what I look for in the ads for estate sales - I know my city very well, and I can tell from the address whether there's likely to be vintage stuff there.

[Vintage Soul]

I love estate sales for those very reasons! Around this area, the estate sales usually have much better prices on items (of much better quality) than most of the thrifts.