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Welcome to garage sale season, when one man's trash is another man's treasure. 

It's serious business — some community garage sales attract hundreds, if not thousands, of shoppers. In the east metro, some 600 garage sales are registered in the annual Woodbury Lions Community Garage Sale. It draws approximately 5,000 shoppers from around the metro, outstate Minnesota and neighboring states. Some groups arrive in tour buses.  

Ready to go treasure hunting? Two experts share their tips on how to score big deals, the art of negotiating and what you really shouldn't buy at a garage sale. 

 author of "Garage Sale America," and Lynda Hammond, the 

"The Garage Sale Gal's Guide to Making Money Off Your Stuff,"

 said to always keep the following in mind: 

• If you're looking for the best selection, hit sales early. If price is the most important factor, go toward the end of the day near the end of the sale. 

• An early indication that it's not a good garage sale is when you see people walking away empty-handed. 

• Look beyond the dust and dirt. "Think about repurposing the item, cleaning it up," Littlefield said. "Don't get so distraught that something is dirty." 

• Don't buy something just because it's cheap.


• If an item has multiple pieces, don't assume you're getting the complete set.
  

• Don't assume something is authentic unless you're an expert. 

• If you see something you like, pick it up and hang onto it. "Some people may try to play it cool and not pick up an item," Hammond said. "Lo and behold, someone behind them might take it." 

• Don't wear expensive jewelry or shoes. Sellers judge whether you can afford to pay full price by what you're wearing, Littlefield said. 

• Bring cash — and remember that all sales are final. 

 (sometimes it hasn't even been used) and 

"You can turn around and give them as gifts," Hammond said. "As long as the box is in good condition, why not?" 

 for both yourself and those in your life. 

 because those items could have been recalled. 

But if you do happen to buy a recalled item, it may not be a lost cause. Contact the company — it may send you a fix kit or replace that item completely.


"I know one lady who bought a crib at a garage sale for $50, and found it had been recalled," Hammond said. "Instead of it turning out to be a terrible waste of $50, the company sent her a brand new one." 

 Just think of the hygiene (or lack thereof). 

And finally: "Don't buy things that are gross," Littlefield said. 

toiletry items, used lotions and medications

 because yes, that apparently is a thing. 

"I once saw a half-used tube of Preparation H. It was a quarter. People will sell anything," he said. 

"Don't say something like, 'Oh, that cookie jar, that's not even worth a dollar,' " Hammond said. "People definitely don't want to hear that." 

 the moment you arrive. Say hi when you walk up and chat about things that catch your eye. 

"People once cherished these things," he said. "They want to sell these things to somebody that they like." 

After you've established a rapport, ask if you can start a pile — it signals that you may buy multiple items. Once you've finished browsing, ask for a group price on all the items. If you can't reach a deal right away, pull some things out until you settle on a reasonable price. 

 and ask the seller to contact you at the end of the sale if the item doesn't go for its original asking price.

 "It can be worth it, it can save you money," Hammond said. 

 whether other items you spot are for sale.

Upcoming community garage sales (through end of July)

What did we miss? Let us know and it could be added to the list. 

West Lutheran High School Garage & Bake Sale (Plymouth)

Blessed Trinity Catholic School rummage sale

YMCA Camp Widjiwagan/du Nord Garage Sale (Minnesota State Fairgrounds)

Advent Lutheran Church Garage Sale (Maple Grove)

Jefferson Elementary School Mega Rummage Sale at Evangel United Methodist Church (Rochester)

Calhoun Area Residents Action Group Super Sale

Preserve Association Garage Sale (Eden Prairie)

Browndale Neighborhood Garage Sale (St. Louis Park)

Hale-Page-Diamond Lake Neighborhood Garage Sale (Minneapolis)

The RobbinSALE: Robbinsdale Citywide Garage Sale

East Calhoun Community Organization Super Sale

Standish, Ericsson and Corcoran Neighborhood Garage Sale

NEighbors Garage Sale Weekend (northeast Minneapolis)

Nokomis East Neighborhood Association Garage Sale

Brooklyn United Methodist Church Mega Sale

Lifestyle

Nancy Yang

Author

Welcome to garage sale season, when one man's trash is another man's treasure.

Garage sale cheat sheet: How to find treasure, not trash

Go Deeper.

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