Facebook, Craigslist and Selling Stuff

I've never been a fan of garage sales.

In college I wore a lot of vintage clothing from funky resale shops, but since then, I can't stand even hand-me-downs from family (sorry sis)!  Any time I've borrowed or bought something on Ebay for my kids, there's a creepy "this isn't hers" feeling when I put it on one of my daughters.  I find I don't like looking at photos of them in what feels like someone else's clothes.

I am, however, happy to give things to charity and sell things that other people would find useful. 

So, in this spirit, I've started to sell off our things and have come to the not-so-startling conclusion that: Friends are Cool, Strangers Suck.  Earth-shattering, right?  I know.  Stay tuned for more "Anne Wright, Master of the Obvious" revelations.

Here's how we set up our "sale"--we put price tags on major items (TV/DVD/surround sound setup, couches, tables, large furniture and electronic devices).  Everything else that's small went into the basement, set out as a "boutique de stuff."  Friends come over and peruse the large items on the first floor and then grab whatever they want from the little things on the second floor.  We carry it all upstairs, take a look and I have people throw out a price.  I've not been unhappy with any transaction this way.

For tools, however, Bryan's listed things on Craigslist which brings in the creepy stranger factor.  Sure, we've gotten rid of some stuff--and fast.  The three bikes (two road bikes, one mountain bike) went in about 40 minutes!  But the guy who came for some tools perused the stuff in the basement and made insulting "how about a dollar for this" kinds of comments with his socially-challenged daughter.  It left me feeling, uh, dirty and gross.  I didn't want her buying Helena's treasured blue wagon.  But they did.  Another thing they picked up was our old beat-up trailer for $40, which he's trying to sell on Craigslist for $200.

Normally, I'd say "Bravo" to the guy who buys low and sells high.  And I'd LOVE it if one of my friends was doing this.  Well, let's be truthful, I'd LIKE it if someone I cared for could get some value from the stuff.  But the guy who beat us down on price and isn't even using our things just makes my skin crawl.  Craigslist chaser is the new ambulance chaser, apparently.  Icky.

However, it's time to let go.  If there's been any theme of my life these last few months, it's that this is my time to let go of the material things.  I have let go of things useless (muffin tins I don't use, makeup that never quite looked the way I wanted), useful (Brita water filter I never used much, clothes I'm tired of) and painful (great dress I bought for a crappy dinner at the home of a spineless incompetent with whom Bryan used to work).

"Ooh, was that out loud?"
"Oh no, she din't!"
Oh yes, I did.

But through all the sorting, selling and donating, I'm keeping positive.  I am holding on to what really matters--family, friends and the few possessions that truly matter to us.  I am sharing with wonderful people who value and will use the things that were just weighing us down.  I am helping those with less who could use a boost in the form of a deal on a nice pastry creamer.  I am even, charitably, helping the Craigslist lowlife ambulance chasers towards what I hope will be better dental care someday.

That being said, anybody want two Camelback hydration systems, a washer/dryer set or a Marc Jacobs bracelet?

Almost Scammed Out of $4,000!

So Bryan wakes up in the middle of the night the other night and is furiously typing on his new MacBookProSomethingOrOther.  He eventually comes back to bed and when we wake up he offers the "good news and bad news."  Uh-oh.

Good news is, we didn't get swindled out of $4,200.  Bad news is that we don't get to stay in the terrific Paris apartment on the Ile de la Cite after all.  Damnit!

He was suspicious for several reasons:
1. It was cheap.  Not amazingly cheap, but about a few hundred dollars a month cheaper than anything else in the area.
2. It was available.  Get this--we originally asked for April.  When it was available and looked so central, nice and relatively inexpensive ($2,200 a month was the equivalent, I believe), we asked if it was free in May.  Of course, the guy said yes.
3. We were required to wire the whole amount, not a deposit.

So Bryan did a few searched on Paris Craigslist and found the same photos used for several different locations over the past few months.  This guy/these guys set up different websites, rent fake apartments, scrape in the cash and then close down and set up shop in a new website periodically.  Awful!

Imagine what could have happened.  We arrive in Paris, April 2 at 9am.  Bleary-eyed after a red-eye flight with our five- and six-year-olds.  We take a taxi, with our 12 pieces of luggage (let's make it two taxis), to our apartment only to discover it isn't an apartment.  Or it is an apartment, but the number we have is fictional.  We have thrown away $4,200 and have nowhere to stay for the next two months!  So at about 10:30am, I would have to venture out to, where, the American Embassy?  Holiday Inn?  Imagine scrambling in a second language to find a place to stay for a week while Bryan's across town with the kids and all our crap, exhausted, dispirited and alternately angry and scared.  NOT an appealing thought.

So he did some research and we found reputable places to rent.  We've signed contracts, paid deposits and are ready to go.  I'm leaving this part to him, so, fingers crossed, it'll work out.  I'll let you know April 2.