Attendance about even at Osage Community Centre garage sale despite economy

Close to 1,000 people attended Saturday's winter garage sale at the Osage Community Centre, but that's in line with other quarterly garage sales, manager Penny Williams said.

"With the economy, you would think attendance would increase, but no," she said.

Laura Doan of Scott City said she puts off making purchases at Wal-Mart for ordinary items that might be found at a resale shop, yard sale or similar place of business for less money and better quality. She chooses to buy items that were built to last.

"We've always liked flea markets and garage sales, but now especially we have more conviction to shop there and look for sale ads," Doan said. "We're out for a bargain."

An ice cream scoop and metal fry pan were two of her finds Saturday. "It's not plastic. It looks like it might have come from an ice cream shop," Doan said as she pointed out the heavy-gauge metal the scoop was made of.

She shops regularly at a resale shop in Scott City because it has a consistent turnover on merchandise, refreshing its stock regularly.

"I see a lot more people at the places I shop," she said.

Lisa Niederkorn of Jackson attended her first Osage Community Centre garage sale Saturday. She said shopping at garage sales held by homeowners was something she'd done before. "I shop for collectibles. Things you can't find anywhere else," Niederkorn said. "The economy hasn't changed what I buy at garage sales," she said.

Bob Kaufman, a vendor from Oak Ridge, rented four tables at the garage sale. Clothing and pecans from trees on his property were some of the items he had for sale.

"We've done better than expected," he said, but he would not comment directly on whether the economy affected sales.

Kaufman's sales might have been influenced by a neighboring table that had items that were attracting attention -- a preserved alligator head, tarantula, scorpion and rattlesnake. Other unusual wares scattered throughout the center included a camel saddle and a jalapeno pepper wreath.

Mike Webb of Jackson, a vendor who sold antiques collectibles and garage sale merchandise at a booth, didn't think the economy changed what people were buying.

"You just have to have it priced right," said Webb, who has been a vendor at the center several times.

cpagano@semissourian.com

388-3648

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