Re: Bartering And Horse Trading (Part Duh)
My wife likes to junk, and many in my family.
She scored a really nice wood basket with needlepoint accents and it was full of needelpoint floss, needles, various tools for needlepoint, two pairs of electric scissors and a bunch of other stuff for a few buxks at a garage sale. She hits the sales usually weekly and comes back with generally good stuff and only spends a few bucks on it. Its only hobby stuff for her or useful things that she will consider.
She found a dripolator coffeemaker at a sale and talked them down to 15 bux (still too much if you ask me), but it's porcelain and in mint shape. It's the cleanest dripolator anyone has seen since they made them. That's our shtf coffee setup. It's like brand new.
I bought a tool box for my cucv chevy wood truck for 15 bux. I grinded off the old paint and did some quick repairs, bought a few cans of cheapie 3 bucks spray paint and have a tool box for my truck. I could have got a nice used box for 100-150 bux. I made my own nice used box.
It goes on forever what you can find if you are looking out for it. The price is always negotiated DOWN. I don't care what it is.
Re: Bartering And Horse Trading (Part Duh)
Quote:
Originally Posted by MNeagle
City Council members propose $25 fee for garage sales in Dallas
Quote:
Two Dallas City Council members have proposed charging a $25 fee next year to anyone who wants to have a garage sale in city limits.
City managers have floated the idea of charging $5, as a way to help balance next year's tough budget.
Council members Delia Jasso and Dwaine Caraway upped the ante today in a memo to City Manager Mary Suhm.
"We recommend the fee should be $25," the memo said.
Jasso and Caraway estimate the fee could bring in $500,000 next year, and they recommend the money go toward senior dental services, cultural affairs programs, graffiti removal and animal services.
I'm not sure how they estimated the $500,000, but I think one relevant question is: will the number of garage sales go down significantly if a $25 fee is attached? Will that decrease the revenue estimate?
What do you think?
http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/a...9/post-11.html
Hi Mneagle. That’s really pathetic; govt wants to charge financially strapped folks for selling their used stuff that they had long ago paid for with hard earned after tax income and sales tax added to boot. What’s next; a tax on sleeping ? How about decibel meters to tax “noise pollution” in every home ? Better not give them any ideas, eh ?
It’s funny that you posted that since Ponce had earlier told me that the govt would try to tax garage sales somehow. Imagine having to drive somewhere, perhaps distant, where you pay $25 for a permit to sell what turns out to be $10 worth of used items. And if you sold $100 worth of items, you would be paying 25% to the govt.
No, no, this garage sale permit thing is an abomination and a pox thrust on the struggling American. And guess who is responsible for making him struggle in the first place. In the second place, the govt wouldn’t need to create these taxes and permits if they were handling the nation’s finances in a responsible manner. Gotta stop here; it makes my blood boil.
But hey, there is a possible solution. Get 25 sellers together and purchase 1 permit and hold it on one person’s property. Nothing wrong with one seller and several “helpers” around. Now let them try to break that up or figure out what is going on. I believe when a private party or govt is pushing some onerous agenda, it is best to resist as well as expose them. Maybe with sarcasm or ridicule. Satire is good too. Robin Williams said, “If they can’t take a fuck, joke ‘em “.
I have been thinking (and hoping) that someone would come up with some protest action that all Americans could do that would be easy and cheap. And the citizens wouldn’t have to leave their home either. I’m not thinking of opening the window and yelling “I’m mad as Hell and I’m not going to take it any more”; that didn’t work in the movie Network and it won’t work in real life either. Something that would make ALL of the politicians stand up and wonder what they can do to stop this nationwide protest.
Something like putting your television on the front porch, pointing it to the street. And for those who don’t want to risk losing their TV, merely turn the TV and point it out the front window. Hell, leave it on 24 hours a day tuned to something like congressional public access.
Also, cease going to the movie theatres and renting movies. That should wake up the Hollywood crowd. You can trade movies between yourselves. Don’t forget to turn the TV around or you’ll be sitting in the front yard in you jammies and bunny slippers. And you surely don’t want you neighbors to get an eyeful of that !
At the same time, get together with your neighbors and have one helluva barbecue. Every night too ! Maybe a pig in the ground. Name it after someone you can’t stand. You know what I mean. Trust me, it will taste all the sweeter as you rip the flesh from the bones.
Topics of discussion ?
A. Wonder how long until “they” respond. Make bets on the calendar dates. Who will win the pool ?
B. List of your demands. You can go bananas here since anything and everything can be on the table. After all, their demands have been pretty crazy, haven’t they ? Now it’s your turn. Let’s see how they like it. Maybe start with term limits. Next, no lawyers in Congress. After that is up to your imagination.
C. Discuss the peace afterwards and how to safeguard it.
And on and on until you, the American citizens, get things moving in the direction you want.
Fasting unto death won’t work; they don’t give a shit about us. They’ll let us starve to death and call us crazy while laughing behind our backs.
Mass protests will be ignored by the mainstream media. Obama just ignored Glenn Beck’s mass protest in Washington.
Violence would be put down with greater violent force. And possibly martial law would be enacted, something they would want anyway.
Voting at the polls ? Don’t make me laugh, with unaccountable electronic voting machines. Besides, we are living in the age of the tyranny of the majority. And the majority wants someone else to pay them to live. And that “someone” is YOU !
Okay, okay; rant off. Even I am getting tired of reading about all that is wrong with the world. When I am out making deals I feel excited but comfortable; I’m in my own little world and it gives me much pleasure.
**************************
I was at a local thrift store recently and got 7 really nice shirts for a buck each. Also got 17 record albums. Four were valued at $50 each, one at $40 a couple at $30 each and a few at $20 each. All in like new condition and for a dime each, it was too good to turn down. Well, unless I would have had to pay in silver dimes. I only look at the catalog prices to tell me of the relative rarity and possibly the desirability of individual albums. Don’t expect to get anything near the prices quoted. I’m not selling; only buying. Maybe some day I will sell some but right now the fun is chasing down interesting vinyl.
While I was picking out records at this thrift store, a gentleman came up and asked if I was a record collector. I said that I pick them up from time to time. He said that he has some records he wants to sell. I asked him how many he has and he replied that he has around 3,000, mostly rock and roll like the Beatles and Rolling Stones. He gave me his number and said to call when we could get together. I’ll let you know how that works out. A deal ain’t a deal until it is done and you are hauling home the goods. If you don’t hold it, you don’t own it; Ponce’s quote especially applies here.
See ? This is what I’m talking about where just getting out there and mingling can sometimes have dramatic results. Not all deals work out; we just have to play the odds. Right now my plate is full with the transmission business and getting prepared for this winter. I wish I had more time to chase the deals full time. I will warn you that it will get in your blood in time and you will always be looking for that next ’fix”. I guess I have become a junk junkie.
By the way, business has been the worst I have seen in 40 years and I ship nationwide. Almost nobody calling for price quotes and no sales for the last 11 weeks. And just yesterday I may have made my first sale. That is, if the customer follows through with what he said. I won’t know for a few days.
A huge supplier of auto cores and parts told me that he was off 80 to 90 percent and that he is losing money each month. How long can such businesses hang on until they go broke ? And how long will it be until business returns ?
If we lose some of these suppliers, what is to happen to the cost of rebuilding anything automotive ? Not to mention the potential for unavailability of parts or ingredients in order to have a finished product. It would be the death of the business process as we know it. And this is also true for other industries as well.
Question is, what would replace the independent automotive rebuild/ remanufacture industry ? The parts departments of the new car dealers ? Have you seen their prices ? You want to talk about double or triple the price ? Talk about inflationary.
I have been reading the writing on the wall for several months. First, there was the parents who would pay for a rebuilt transmission for their sons and daughters. Next came the customers who began asking if I had a used transmission for sale. And finally, the phones stopped ringing. Well, except for all the advertisers, telemarketers, lenders, and wrong numbers.
Money (and credit) have become so hard to come by that customers are buying used transmissions from wrecking yards and from private parties who are parting out their own wrecked cars. Every car parting out ad on Craigslist has everything for sale except the manual transmission. These sell first, even before the ad comes out. And this may be my saving grace. I can repair a transmission with new seals and used parts that will be far superior to what the used transmission market can offer. And I believe I can offer them at the same price.
As a test, I repaired 2 such transmissions in the past year in anticipation of what I am seeing happen now. I was right; it can be done. Darwin was right; the survival of the species does not go to the fastest or strongest but rather to those most adaptable to change. We humans have the capacity to often foresee the future and prepare for the necessary adaptations well in advance.
If money and credit are to continue to be tight, it would be smart to realize that making half the net profit could be just as financially rewarding as in the past. Prices for many things are falling greatly.
And who knows, at the lower profit levels, there may be more than a doubling in sales volume from the old days. Twice the labor for the same pay but the profit’s purchasing power may double. Could be a winner in disguise.
The overview is to be able to pay the bills without going into the hole and therefore protect the nest eggs of preps and PMs. Adapting is the key. I’ve adapted all of my life and have learned to be content with its demands. Actually, it is exciting experiencing change. Like stretching out the muscles of the mind to see how far and well they can take you.
I have also concluded that big ticket item businesses will not return to normal for years; maybe never. Grindingly slow is the new normal and we have to learn to survive under such conditions until our competition goes under and/or buyers get out of debt.
I was fortunate to foresee this coming and have also been fortunate to have been able to financially position myself beforehand. I pay no business rent since I work at home; rent cost is a big killer. And I have no employees like my last business in which I had 12 employees to pay; employee cost is the biggest killer, especially when things are dead. Ponce and I have discussed that the future will include the growth of many cottage industries. Low to no overhead one man operations. Heck, even if I only rebuild a few transmissions per year I will be okay. I’m not Ponce but am trying my best to get as close to his situation as possible.
Gotta go soon to pick up another 500 pounds of fruits and veggies. For the cows and chickens, of course.
Best wishes and JMHO,
Agnut
Re: Bartering And Horse Trading (Part Duh)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fortyone
Additionally, I have been thinking of buying a Detroit diesel generator. How much will it consume per day ? Even running it for 2 hours will use 2 gallons of diesel. That’s just to run the freezers and recharge the batteries (that I don’t have yet; or the inverter either). quoted from AgNut
A Detroit diesel of the 71 or 92 series is one of the most inefficient diesels ever made.Originally used in Sherman tanks, they are a two cycle and VERY LOUD. keep the gen head and use a different engine.
Hi FortyOne. I have since decided to find another type diesel generator than a Detroit diesel. I agree, they are noisy, dirty and inefficient. What initially attracted me to them is that they are simple and will use most any fuel available including biodiesel.
I do have a ThermoKing generator with a 4 cylinder diesel Isuzu engine. I got it for $200 but it may not have the 220 volt output I need. I may decide to sell it to get a 10-12K size unit or even find a 12K generator head and mate it to the Isuzu diesel engine. I just hate to pay so much, being the cheap bastard that I am. And a gas generator is out of the question since the fuel goes bad so quickly. Yeah, I know there are fuel preservatives but the water cooled diesels are built to last so much longer than the gas types.
As for getting better than a gallon per hour fuel consumption, I don’t know if there are any 10-12K diesel units that use a half gallon per hour. If not, maybe modifying my charging time to its best efficiency could compensate. For instance, running the generator for 2 hours at 1 gallon per hour, charging the batteries while using the well pump to refill my water storage tank, running the freezer and doing the laundry all at the same time. And maybe doing this only every three days. This way I would be consuming at a rate of only 2/3 of a gallon per day rather than 2 gallons per day. And if I had some solar panels to help recharge the batteries, I may only need to run the generator every 5 days (the freezer may be a problem here). On a yearly basis that would be 146 gallons per year, a bit less than three 55 gallon drums full. Gotta be adaptable, ya know.
First it would be wise to figure out your electric needs and how you can get them down to a level you can live with. I have shown this type of thinking above. Only then can you know what fuel quantity per day you will need and plan fuel storage accordingly. If fuel became prohibitive, the solar wouldn’t be enough for your heavy load draws but at least you would have lights and small appliances still working.
You might want to look into LED lighting since it draws so little electricity.
Best wishes,
Agnut
Re: Bartering And Horse Trading (Part Duh)
My meat man ( the butcher )called me this am, wanted to know how I was doing on meat did I have a freezer full?
Hahah I laughed, he just wants cigars, so I told him I am running low on Filet Minion, Rib eye.
Ok he says, I'll get a box packed for you come on down, Guess I am going trading today!
Re: Bartering And Horse Trading (Part Duh)
Tag sales are getting scarce with the cold weather moving in. Here is what I scored today.....
Reed & Barton- Sterling silverware set:
approximately 50 tozs of Sterling
Cost: $30.
Sterling silver shot cups & minigoblets & 2 bottle tags
approximately 12 tozs of Sterling
Cost: $30.
These were not available when I arrived. I ASKED if they had any..... you MUST ask.
Re: Bartering And Horse Trading (Part Duh)
Candles. I am finding lots of candles at tag sales. I can get a dozen candles- sticks, box style, cylindrical- all for a dollar. I am stocking up on basic practical stuff that I see cheap.
Yesterday picked up a Wagner cast iron pan for $1. Got an antique HEAVY steel German-made meat cleaver for $10.... just like this one... currently bid up to $70....
http://cgi.ebay.com/F-DICK-98-SCHLIF...66909222127019
Also picked up a box of 1000 galvanized finishing nails and rappeling gloves for $5.
There are often boxes of FREE stuff at these sales. I have gotten things like exercise weights, door knobs, stainless steel sinks.
Re: Bartering And Horse Trading (Part Duh)
Hey Spec, what do you mean by tag sales?
Re: Bartering And Horse Trading (Part Duh)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rip Van Winkle
Hey Spec, what do you mean by tag sales?
tag sale
noun
A sale of used household belongings, with prices typically marked on labels affixed to the items.
http://www.yourdictionary.com/tag-sale
Garage sale/estate sale.
Re: Bartering And Horse Trading (Part Duh)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rip Van Winkle
Hey Spec, what do you mean by tag sales?
Same as garage sales. People sell their household junk - sometimes junk and sometimes brand new stuff- for pennies on the dollar.
I have much better success at these than the flea markets. In CT the flea markets are havens of professionals who typically know what values are and want top dollar. At some of the flea markets you can encounter non-professional individuals who might give up a trick or two... but most I find are hardened veterans.
Re: Bartering And Horse Trading (Part Duh)
