Giving something to make someones day...
The last couple of 'garage' sales I've had, I don't put prices on anything. I put a sign up that says "Make a Reasonable Offer". People usually do, its also an easy way to spot a dealer of which I don't mind if they don't offend me by saying something rude when offering a rude price.
This one gal with her son (about 8 years old) was looking for stuff she could fix up. She was one of many genuine people I got to meet today but what made my day was when she was looking at something and the boy eyed one of the two bikes hanging up.
"Is that bike for sale?" (pointing to the one that was)
"Yep"
He eyed it over then went up to his Mom and was very polite, trying to whisper.
"Mom, there is a bike that we could get for Dad. Its up there." (pointing to the rack)
She walked up and we took it down, I apologized for the dust and old webs but you could tell it was in new condition. I told her the story of how I ended up with it and why it was for sale: 11 years ago, I had a roommate that bought it, rode it in the driveway and decided it was too short so gave it to me, then my ex who was an avid cyclist put Shimano gears, cables, brakes and sprockes on even though I didn't like the feel of the bike and so its hung in the garage, tires now flat from non-use but still in perfect shape.
"Mom, we could give that to Dad for Fathers Day!"
With a little trepidation (the Shimano on it cost about $300 alone), she asked how much I wanted for it.
"I dunno...how about $30?"
Her son was sort of behind me, off to the side and I could feel him just about bounce around even though he was stock still, holding his breath. She looked at her son and smiled.
"Yeah, I think thats a great idea" and he just beamed back at her, then me. He asked if they could come back later "with my Dad..so he can put it in his truck..." but I think he really wanted his Dad to have it now and not wait. They also picked out the medium height chrome lamp because it has a flexible neck "He could really use that in his shop, well garage but its his tinker place" ($3). Before they left, the boy wanted to make sure no one else would buy the bike so I helped him move it over by the shed next to the fence. "If anyone sees it here they will just think I ride it and won't ask, ok?" He seemed to agree.
They came back later and you could tell this man was a hard worker and they didn't splurge much. The wife carried out one of the wooden chairs my Mom must have painted a dozen times, a pre-fab bookcase and they waited with a *very* fidgety son standing by.
"Oh, I thought this lamp might be good in your shop" and he really liked it but he knew there was something more. Then his son walks to the fence and wheels over the bike.
"Dad! This is YOUR bike and it has..uh..sheemoos and stuff thats really good on it!"
I thought his father was going to shed a tear if it was appropriate, he seemed so touched by his son's enthusiasum. Looking at how they wheeled to the back of the truck and figured where to put it, that bike could have been just a plain ol' bike and his Dad would have been just as happy. At least he did know it had good gear on it and was not ridden much if at all but that did not shadow his love for the thought his wife and son had for him - those are the times your faith is renewed that there are still some families that will preserve through this topsy-turvy life :)
This one gal with her son (about 8 years old) was looking for stuff she could fix up. She was one of many genuine people I got to meet today but what made my day was when she was looking at something and the boy eyed one of the two bikes hanging up.
"Is that bike for sale?" (pointing to the one that was)
"Yep"
He eyed it over then went up to his Mom and was very polite, trying to whisper.
"Mom, there is a bike that we could get for Dad. Its up there." (pointing to the rack)
She walked up and we took it down, I apologized for the dust and old webs but you could tell it was in new condition. I told her the story of how I ended up with it and why it was for sale: 11 years ago, I had a roommate that bought it, rode it in the driveway and decided it was too short so gave it to me, then my ex who was an avid cyclist put Shimano gears, cables, brakes and sprockes on even though I didn't like the feel of the bike and so its hung in the garage, tires now flat from non-use but still in perfect shape.
"Mom, we could give that to Dad for Fathers Day!"
With a little trepidation (the Shimano on it cost about $300 alone), she asked how much I wanted for it.
"I dunno...how about $30?"
Her son was sort of behind me, off to the side and I could feel him just about bounce around even though he was stock still, holding his breath. She looked at her son and smiled.
"Yeah, I think thats a great idea" and he just beamed back at her, then me. He asked if they could come back later "with my Dad..so he can put it in his truck..." but I think he really wanted his Dad to have it now and not wait. They also picked out the medium height chrome lamp because it has a flexible neck "He could really use that in his shop, well garage but its his tinker place" ($3). Before they left, the boy wanted to make sure no one else would buy the bike so I helped him move it over by the shed next to the fence. "If anyone sees it here they will just think I ride it and won't ask, ok?" He seemed to agree.
They came back later and you could tell this man was a hard worker and they didn't splurge much. The wife carried out one of the wooden chairs my Mom must have painted a dozen times, a pre-fab bookcase and they waited with a *very* fidgety son standing by.
"Oh, I thought this lamp might be good in your shop" and he really liked it but he knew there was something more. Then his son walks to the fence and wheels over the bike.
"Dad! This is YOUR bike and it has..uh..sheemoos and stuff thats really good on it!"
I thought his father was going to shed a tear if it was appropriate, he seemed so touched by his son's enthusiasum. Looking at how they wheeled to the back of the truck and figured where to put it, that bike could have been just a plain ol' bike and his Dad would have been just as happy. At least he did know it had good gear on it and was not ridden much if at all but that did not shadow his love for the thought his wife and son had for him - those are the times your faith is renewed that there are still some families that will preserve through this topsy-turvy life :)