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I Watch The Show American Pickers

I am totally hooked on Mike and Frank. They seem to have carried their friendship into doing a business that they both enjoy.

I caught the picking bug one morning driving down a street and noticed some twind bed head boards out on the street for collection on dump day. I had to stop, and loaded into my SUV, and was able to resell them that saturday at my yard sale.

That was ok but then I began to answer ads for garage sales, and in fact, two other men and myself had a side job emptying out garages and attics and paying a flat rate. So far, so good, not making fantastic money, but I 'm learning and having lots of fun.

The most fun is searching through abandoned houses that I get persmission to through by the owners. There is where you find all kinds of furniture, knick-knacks, old magazines and newspapers, and family photos.

When I find items set out on the street for collections, I often knock and ask if they any other items for free or for sale. They almost alwaya let me in and show me around. I'm getting better at negotiating often do better grouping items for one price - a methhod used by Frank on American Pickers.

In the past year I started having Saturday yard sales in my garage. I post an ad in Craigslist and I usually get 20 to 30 people show up.

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bhatjc · 46-50, M

@midnight. I though you would have picked the area clean before they got their

Midnightblu · 56-60, F

not a chance . . .

bhatjc · 46-50, M

@Midnightblu: Your right. We can't taking everything. Besides what we see as trash. Some one will want as a treasure

Midnightblu · 56-60, F

Very True,

I collect mostly furniture ... I started picking things up on dump day ... while I was loading a chair one day, the owner of the house came out to talk. He said he had other to give you, and some though he wanted to sell.

So the picking for me begins when I can get into their garage or basement, and have them show me things. I have no idea how much they want so I ask for the price. If they're stumped, I throw a price that I think I can make a profit off of. Often, it is way too low and they either get cold feet or say they will think about it.

If you are stuck on an item, then quickly change the subject and look at something else you notice, even if you are not interested. Mike on Pickers does this a lot to release the pressure on the first item. Sometimes they will suddenly say "I'll pay your price on the first item." All you did was them some space to think on it.

I try to assure them that I hate to anything useful go unused.

As with MIke an Frank, they have have people don't to part with certain becasuse they're struck the sentimentalism (my new word) .. and then have a change of heart.

I told him I donate a lot of the items to lower income familes. And I often use them to stage a house with a few item so it doesn't look so bare. Some I take to Good Will only if they are usable and in good shape. The rest I sell at my Saturday garage sale .. where I open the garage door and haul it all out with help with the two men that help me on dump day.

I told the neighboors I would stick to 8 to 12 as my hours. Typically the real yard sale are there first thing, do a quick walk through and if they see anything that interests them, they leas immediatel.

Pickers usually learn over time what has value.

Anyway, I enjoy the people contact and I'm getting better at haggling over prices.