Can you keep yourself from buying useless items ?

@topffer (42156)
France
February 18, 2011 3:54am CST
I can't enter in an auction room without leaving with one or two useless items. Fate is going after me. Sometimes you can make so good deals ! Let me tell you my worst auction story, and please, don't laugh ! I was spending a week of holidays in a sea town and parked my car -- by pure hazard -- near an opened auction room. It was the end of the afternoon, the weather was very hot, and I thought that a seat and some fresh air would be good. I entered. The sale was ending, and the auctioneer was selling lots not listed. People in the room were paying or trying to get their auction lots. -- Now a 18th century bedstead "à la duchesse" in solid oak. We will begin at $50." It was just a headboard and I don't know how the auctioneer was able to say that it was coming from a bed "à la duchesse"... -- Nobody at $50 ? Let's say $20. We will begin at $20. Somebody interested at $20 ?" There was a lot of movement in the auction room, and the usual hurly burly at the end of these sales. The gavel fell furiously several times. "Silence ! Be serious. You can have this authentic 18th century bedstead for only $10 ! And it is in solid oak !" An arm rose. "Sold !" Fatalitas ! I was now the owner of an old headboard in solid oak. I gave a blank check, get in exchange a ticket with the number of my auction lot and when I went to take it, an employee brought me a large closed cardboard box. "What is this ? Where is my bedstead ?" "- I bring it now. This is in the same lot, with the same number, so it is yours." I opened the cardboard : there was maybe an hundred women's hats from the 60's, in straw, felt, tissue... all new, hmmm... at least not used, with their priced labels. The sale was ended. I spoke to the official auctioneer : -- I never bought these hats, just a bedstead." "You are lucky ! I did not remembered these hats. They are yours." -- But..." "Why are you complaining ? Any of these hats is certainly worth the price you paid !" Fatalitas ! I was now the owner of an hundred old-fashioned women's hats. I grumbled, took the cardboard, brought it to my car, and managed to put it in. But the headboard could not fit in ! I came back to the auction room and asked if they could keep it one or two days. "All lots must be removed. It is a sale after death : we can't keep anything." Fatalitas ! I had a very hard time bringing it back to my rented flat under the hot evening sun, with people looking at me like if I escaped from a lunatic asylum. Sure, it was in solid oak and weighted more than 30 kg, and I have to admit that a headboard is less common than a dog for a walk in the streets of a sea town. Once arrived, I had to go back for my car :( I had another hard time to bring this headboard to the nearest junk shop two days later, where I sold it $20... I think that with some more time, my holiday neighbors would have found normal to see me walking with my headboard in solid oak. And for the hats, the auctioneer was not completely wrong : I gave some to friends, and sold later the rest of the cardboard for $100. Do you often buy useless items -- in auction rooms or shops -- ? Do you accept them if somebody wants to give you useless items ? Can you force the hand of fate and keep yourself from buying useless items ? You can share your worst useless item story if you have one.
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18 responses
@zralte (4178)
• India
18 Feb 11
I have to say you got a good bargain there. Spent $10, and got $120 plus presents for some of your friends. I am not much of a auction house go-er, but I do love bargain shops. Charity Shops, jumble sale, car boot sale, etc. I have never left any of these empty handed. Though not as profitable as you, but I always manage to get something, whether I need it or not. Some I have later used, some, not so much. 'Let me tell you my worst auction story, and please, don't laugh !' - Seriously??? You expect me not to laugh at this??? Come on......Not 'He's so silly haha', but more of 'here's someone who enjoy a good bargain like I do'
1 person likes this
@zralte (4178)
• India
18 Feb 11
Sorry, I meant to share this story. My husband's godmother is a collector for one charity shop. Like someone called the charity and told them they've got something to donate, she goes and collect from them and then wash the clothes and iron or clean some items, if need be, then bring them to the charity shop. So when she gets something that she thought I might like, she will keep it for me and donate some money in lieu of that. One time, she brought two pairs of cowboy boots....yeah, real nice too. I can't really say no to her when she really though I would like them. So I said 'Thank you' and kept the boots. After keeping them for about 1 year, and worn one once to show her, I decided to put them up for sale. Listed them on ebay and netted a cool £40 for one and £10 for the other.
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@zralte (4178)
• India
18 Feb 11
I would love to go to auction house, but I don't think there's any around here, at least to my knowledge. And when I go to England, I'm always too caught up visiting families and friends and well, we live a little far from any town, so it is a bit difficult for me to find out about auction houses. My in-laws are notorious for giving me old-fashioned things. Every time we visit them, I come back with bags full of old stuff. I still have two suitcases full of those things to give away.
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@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Feb 11
In large cities, there are sales every day, so you can plan easily a visit to an auction house when you are in England. It is totally different than Ebay. I was 20 when I entered in one, it was for old books, and now it is more for the atmosphere and the people I meet in them. I see that you are a good step daughter and that you want to avoid a conflict with your in-laws. Living in peace with them is worth the place occupied by two suitcases.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
18 Feb 11
... I did a good thing for me... handed my wallet to my love since the day we met. Now she does all the purchases and I enjoy better and more... At times though I do get into trouble but once a while and she doesnt mind ...So why should I
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
18 Feb 11
The only time I participated at an auction was at e-bay and I am preserving that handset ever since it arrived... too precious to be used and my wife was like... ok so you were playing games...grow up
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@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Feb 11
You never went to an auction house in your country, thesids ? You can do good bargains, and it is when I see items with no buyers and a very low price that I come back at home with some useless things like this, because I said to myself : it is too cheap I have to buy it.
@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Feb 11
I was alone, but I was crying when I was reading this : it was really too funny, and I had never had a discussion like this one since months. Perfect for an anthology of myLot. If you have some time, read the comments of the starter. I understand your wife : one day or another she will call the emergencies.
@emine08 (1551)
• Indonesia
10 Mar 11
hi topffer, long time no see... actually i buy what i should buy. i just live from hand to mouth, so i must be wise to expense my money. for me it is too hard to get money but it is easy to loose it. no hard feeling topffer ...
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@topffer (42156)
• France
10 Mar 11
Hello emine, I am pleased to see you back with your smile at myLot, friend. I know that money is easier to spend than to get. I wish you to earn more to be able to buy wisely some useful items. Have a nice day.
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
18 Feb 11
You made out great with your useless items! 11 times what you paid, that is a great take! I worked a flea market where I wanted to unload some things I had. My junk wasn't selling, and I ended up purchasing more junk from other retailers who could not sell that junk on their tables, and it sat on mine. I ended up hauling it home just a few weeks before Christmas. Now, on top of the junk I already had that I hauled off to the flea market to sell, I have other people's junk in my spare room. All was not lost though. I did sell some stuff, but did end up taking home more boxes than I brought with me. lolol! I have some nice teapots, one is a cat set that is from the 50's in great condition, and it is a collectors. I still need to find it to put in my china cabinet. I also have Christmas lights and some decorations I never would have purchased. Some stuff is slowly but surely being given away to friends and family for gifts. Now they can figure out what to do with that nice junk!
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@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Feb 11
I made great with the hats, I would not say the same for the bedstead : 4 hours under the sun to bring back it at home and then to a junk shop for $10 of profit was not very great. It is later that I realized that the hats were better than I thought : I did not wanted first to take them at the auction room. I enjoy flea markets, but I have never sold anything in them : I would have done exactly like you. Anyways, it was probably a nice experience and a good day for you, so anything was not lost. Your friends will probably give your stuff to other friends, and you will be able to buy them again at the end of this year at the flea market.
• United States
22 Feb 11
Ah, but I do NOT want them back! lol
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Feb 11
Yes, I think I can, I think I can, besides my wallet is empty so I know I can, , I use to do this quite often actually but have learned that one I do not have space for it, and two can't spend. Looks like you got a deal, at best you can sell the items forward and make a profit, no?? As or my hand of fate, fate is making sure my wallet remains empty so no point in fighting with my hand.
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@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Feb 11
The price was really cheap : you don't always need a lot of money to buy cumbersome things. And I generally forgot the first point until I come back : I have no more space at home. You can speak of "profit" here, but you have to say it fast. I had more money at this time than today and a flat near the sea for a week is not cheap : I lost about four hours to transport this "bedstead" to my flat and then to a junk shop just to earn $10. I did not wanted to take the hats at the auction room, and I realized later that they were the best part of the lot. Fate can change : read your horoscope.
• United States
19 Feb 11
I try not to read my horoscope anymore as it always wants to say beautiful and wonderful things in store for me. HA! Still waiting..
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Feb 11
I have that same issue but im a girl. Girls always seem to buy worthless pointless things all the time it never ends I dont really understand it but it happens. Im the type of person I buy clothes and clothes and more clothes Im not sure why but i just love them. It really sucks when i buy things and then they dont fit i think im a shopaholic but im not positive i just love to spend my money i never seem to be able to keep it eaither. Its like get it and want to spend it rite away. One time i had 200 dollers i took me and my cousin to the mall bought her some stuff and myself things too. We walk out of the store my cousin says look what i just stole. Im like are you kidding that was a worthless item a 10 doller neckless. I had to drag her little butt into that store and tell them she stole this but im going to pay for it 10 dollers are you joking me goddd people they didnt end up charging her with theift but i had to spend my money on a ugly worthless neckless that she probley let her friend "barrow".
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@topffer (42156)
• France
19 Feb 11
Hello lilionnafe and welcome tu myLot, I have never faced the same problem than you with your cousin, but I think you have done the best to make her understand her mistake : maybe your $10 were a better investment than you think, and the lesson successful for your cousin ? Fashion and clothes are more a problem for girls than for boys, but if you enjoy clothes and can afford them, why not ? The sister of my best friend is like you : I did not remember to have seen her wearing twice the same clothes. Enjoy myLot !
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
19 Feb 11
i know i dont have any money so i cant afford to buy anything that is not what i need. as for stuff that is given to me for free? i take EVERYTHING that i am given. if i cant use it, i will give it to someone else or donate it or freecycle it. we have gotten bags of clothes that way and of course, not everything is to our tastes (hubby and i have 2 teenaged daughters) but by accepting everything, i know these people will continue to give us stuff. who wants to give to someone who is ungrateful?
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@topffer (42156)
• France
19 Feb 11
Hello cher, I agree that accepting everything is the only good strategy opened to you. I hope you find a better financial health in order to buy a little more than things you absolutely need. Have a nice week end.
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
19 Feb 11
i do not think those were useless! yu were able to sell them at higher prices! hhaha good for you! but i do tend to buy stuff that are not "needed" from kitchen wares to decorations..that is why i tend to avoid the mall lately hahaha
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@topffer (42156)
• France
19 Feb 11
I rose the arm because they were cheap... but really cumbersome. And without the hats it would not have been a great deal. Many of us tend to buy things not really needed, though decorations are important. I would not want to live between four bare walls : it is just good in a hospital room, to remind us that our life is not in the hospital. Have a nice week end.
@kirtricks (650)
• India
18 Feb 11
hmm.. have to controll yourself from buying other things hey then lucky i guess you are buying from auctions right sometimes i buy from supermarkets useless things for its Marked Price
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@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Feb 11
I am doing that only in auction rooms when things are cheap, never in shops, and, you are right, I have to control myself, but I never managed to do it. Thank you for your response.
@llbo1981 (1237)
• China
18 Feb 11
I admit that i can do that myself.I can keep myself from buying useless items in daily life.There are two reasons about this choice.First,i have no enough money to buy something useless.The other reason is that i have not the habit of buying things
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@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Feb 11
Hello llbo1981, Your second reason is better than the first. My example shows that you do not need many money to buy useless and cumbersome things. With the volunteer help of some specialists called burglars, I am doing my best to be less attached to things. I hope that this therapy will work.
@louievill (28859)
• Philippines
18 Feb 11
hi topffer, that was an interesting story, at least you still made some profit. I like buying antiques and vintage heirloom pieces especially anything that is Filipiniana but I do not buy just by impulse, I sort of plan for months on what I want to purchase especially if it's furniture. We do not have auction houses here like you just mentioned but we have antique shops where you can haggle with the price. If I get into a bidding mood then I go to ebay, but then again I had planned what I like for months. Now here's the catch , when I'm on Ebay I buy coins and stamps and pieces that are easy to ship, I hate getting outbid especially if it's a coin I really want, I tried bidding on the last minuets but even so the price would already be really high, I hate to lose so there are times that I would fight in a bidding war and end up paying more than my budget or have to draw more funds from my card that I have to suffer paying for on the next month
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@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Feb 11
I am collecting books, and I can also track and search a particular book during years. I am not so impulsive, except for auctions when the price is very cheap. My father was collecting national stamps, and was very occupied during his spare time to sell and buy them. I have many friends who are collecting antiques, and I have a few, but it is not a collection. Ebay is a good place for that : I bought some really cheap 19th century French books in USA, but the price to ship them securely is often higher than the bid. At the beginning of Ebay I tended also to fight for an item and I paid some more than their value. In a true auction room, I have already in mind the maximum price I want to put, always about half of the price of the market, and I never bid more. It is a good trick : if the seller is pushing its own item in the room -- in a voluntary sell, you often don't know who is the seller --, he will keep it, and will not try to push it next time in front of me. Now on Ebay I give my maximum price a few hours before the end of the auction, and I never come back in the last minutes. I have avoided like this many fake bids made by a friend of the seller, or the seller himself with another account. It is funny sometimes to open my email box, to find in it a message telling me that I did not won the auction, and a message of the seller sent a few minutes after the end of the auction saying : the buyer don't want the item anymore, but you can have it for the amount of your last bid. My response is always "No, thanks", even if I was searching the book since years.
@Ichiru101 (284)
• United States
18 Feb 11
Whenever I go to an out of state or country store I always get something fearing I might never see another like it. I think your case is kind of like that. I have always had good luck when it comes to auctions on ebay and such so I do not believe I have had it bad before.
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@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Feb 11
We are pathological cases. I am not very addicted to Ebay, but I recognize that the site is great to find an item, and I was lucky at the beginning of Ebay, less now : the rules have changed and there are more members, so good things for cheap price are rare, but always possible.
18 Feb 11
Haha that's the sort of thing that i'd do! Although i'd never be able to sell whatever useless item i bought for a lot of money!
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@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Feb 11
Hello meganjean and welcome to myLot ! The difference between us is that I am an impulsive buyer only when things are very cheap, so I can do without difficulty a small profit on them. But I often regret to have bought these things when I come back home and realize that I have no place for them. Happy myLotting !
@falsey (11)
• United States
18 Feb 11
i feel your pain. i always buy useuless items =(
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@topffer (42156)
• France
19 Feb 11
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
18 Feb 11
i think i can.. and i have hehe... im not an impulsive buyer... =)
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@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Feb 11
You are too perfect.
@dreamnishu (1247)
• China
17 Mar 11
hello friend! i can not buy useless thinks.i do not like to do this.at first i think about the things i need or not if i need this then i will buy it.i do not think about price if i need anythings so much.no i can not accept them.no i do not do this.i like to do shopping but not useless. thanks a lot.
• China
17 Mar 11
No i can't keep myself to buying useless items.When i found the price is cheap and may be later i can use it or ever i need it then i do buy them. But i don't buy any useless item when some one force me to buy and i will buy. I don't like to waste my money for other saying. Good day!
@murtaza45 (173)
• India
18 Feb 11
unless to the for item for that time for our about dicussion to about for zero matter to mind usless to the zero point to the big for matter this time me.so glad bored to next same for me.