The patter of rain on the roof of the canvas tent is like a drumroll as Gisselle Vivanco pulls a shoebox from beneath a stack of clothes.
Inside the box, a pair of mint-condition black L.A.M.B. heels.
“They were $400, but I couldn’t walk in them,” she says, holding the shoes aloft by the ankle straps.
“I’d take $80 for them — at least.”
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An impromptu tent sale at Alice towny Park on Woodland Drive, hosted by Annapaula Karadimas and friend Gisselle Vivance didn’t get washed out by the rain.
The shoes could be a tough sell as the rain that forced Vivanco and other Vancouver garage sale sellers into tents Saturday morning increases in tempo. But the former clothing store owner is optimistic.
“I think people will come out. It’s Vancouver, right?”
The garage sale season is in full swing on the West Coast. A Saturday morning tradition going back to the days before online classifieds, the second-hand sale has renewed cachet among those concerned with sustainability — not to mention deal seekers, sellers hoping to make a quick buck and families that want to get to know the neighbours.
Before the weather forecast called for cats and dogs Saturday, more than 200 sellers in Vancouver’s Grandview Woodland neighbourhood had signed up to participate in the Great Grandview Garage Sale, the city’s largest community garage sale, according to organizers.
Rain be damned, many were still set up under covered porches, tarps and tents from Broadway to Burrard Inlet and Nanaimo Street to Clark Drive, displaying a wonderful assortment of used goods. Shoppers, though few and far between, were dedicated — and, in some cases, lucky.
Kirsten Starcher said she enjoys visiting garage sales, although she resisted the reality-TV-inspired title of “Garage Sale Queen.” Still, she was happy to offer advice to others hoping to find a deal.
“Go in open-minded,” she said, “but not too open-minded, or you’ll have to hold your own garage sale.”
Starcher prefers not to carry cash while she’s browsing. The time it takes to return home for her wallet gives her space to think about whether or not she really wants to buy an item.
Saturday she was on the lookout for an LCD computer monitor. Five minutes after speaking to a reporter, she’d found her monitor and was struggling to keep it dry on the way home.
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Items for sale at the East Van garage sale.
Vivanco, who said she’s “addicted” to garage sale shopping, also had a few tips.
Only carry as much money as you’re willing to spend that day — $20 in her case. Small bills and change are better for negotiating, she said. “You can say ‘This is all I have.”
Vivanco’s best finds include original paintings and a garden statue she found for $6 at an estate sale. She estimated it’s worth several hundred dollars.
In a covered parking area behind a low-rise apartment building, Johanna Ekdahl was selling a few clothes and trinkets, many of which originally came from second-hand shops.
“Most of my clothes I buy second-hand,” she said. “I like the jealousy in my colleagues’ eyes when they ask me ‘Where did you find that?’ and I say it was $3 at a thrift store.”
Ekdahl said she likes the idea of participating in a “sharing economy” and occasionally plans potlucks and clothing swaps with friends.
“People throw away good things. We don’t need to buy new,” she said.
Garage sales are all about letting go of unneeded items that may have value to someone else, said Dr. Eric Li, associate professor at UBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Management.
From the sale of unclaimed cargo at shipping yards in the 1800s, to the quintessential suburban yard sales of the 1950s, to the swapping and bidding websites of today, garage sales have evolved over the years. Shoppers have also changed.
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Items for sale at a garage sale on E. 3rd.
“People are more environmentally conscious,” said Li. “The younger generation has a different lifestyle. There is much less space in a two-bedroom apartment. You can only keep items that are useful.”
Add to that the desire to connect with our communities and neighbours, and it seems garage sales will continue long into the future.
One of the inspirations for the Grandview sale was organizer Daniel Freeman’s memories of attending garage sales as a child in Ottawa.
“It was so much fun. We’d make some money and then we’d spend it.”
5 unique finds at the Great Grandview Garage Sale
Beaded belly dancing costume: Purple, gold and glittery, Rachel Howard isn’t sure what inspired her to buy the beaded dancing dress. She’s ready to part with it, but for no less than $150.
Haircuts: The ad for one sale promises “Talented individuals selling things: hair cuts, bread and baked goods, sewn objects, spare items.”
Clown bike: Transport your treasures with the “legit” clown bike on offer at one sale, or a 49cc moped.
Treasures from abroad: A tall, travel-loving bride-to-be is selling items collected from the four corners of the earth. She’s getting married and needs to downsize, not to mention pay for the nuptials. “So many great memories to pass on to you.”
Original artwork: A Greek hero and a half-nude nymph are locked in a steamy embrace in one such piece, painted by the seller’s friend early in her artistic career. The seller’s mother suggests the painting be turned around if any children stop in.
Image may be NSFW.
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