THE COASTER asked these bargain-hungry Shore-area residents, “What do you look for at garage sales?” this week…and here are their replies (and some of their found treasure):
Lauren Van Patten & Reece Brutsman, Avon – Reece: Computer stuff. I like old computer stuff. Lauren : Some antiques. Old things.Tom & Abby Anton, Bradley Beach – Today we were looking for rowboats and guitars. We look for unusual furniture, collectible furniture. We’ve scored some really good tools, bicycles and musical instruments. Sometimes we keep it and use it. Sometimes we give it away as a unique gift.Liz & John Cappaluni w/Charlie, Avon – Liz likes antiques. John likes tools, golf items and baseball cards.We like Victorian era furniture.Louis & Carl De Pazzo, Bradley Beach – Anything that’s collectible. We go out every weekend except when we’re fishing. Today we found a blown glass seashell and a music box made in England. Louise collects cookbooks. The nicest thing we found were old barber bottles. Louise bought a $3,000 grandfather clock for $75.00.Burke & Joanne Ellmers w/Mugsy, Bradley Beach – Typically antique items. We’re looking to turn a profit. We like to buy low and sell high, like commodities. We love the Coaster. We get it at the Buttered Biscuit.Joyce Gentile & Donna Bobertz, Pt. Pleasant – Joyce: I look for bargains, things that are nice, but cheaper then in the stores. Books. Sometime you can repurpose for crafts. Donna: I look for unusual things that you can’t find in the store. Unusual things, different. This time of year things for the yard, planters and such.Ira James w/Elvis, Ocean – I look for my wife, first, because she drags me here and she does a lot of antiquing. And a happy wife is a happy life.Marie Johnston & Beverly Johnston, Avon – We look for anything and everything.But you have to shop around at garage sales. You have to look around. We’ve made wonderful finds.Charlotte Kirk, Avon – I don’t look for anything, at my age. I host garage sales now. i’m downsizing, getting rid of all the stuff I thought was so important at one time or another.Neil Moschel, Spring Lake Heights – I look for old trucks. I buy for fundraising. It’s for a good cause. It keeps me out of trouble. I have a shop with cable TV in my garage. I meet nice people.John & Jacquie Olson, Neptune City – We look for toys for our niece. Things to play with the family. We bought a fooseball table last year. We bought a nok-hockey game today. We’re looking for old furniture that we can refinish.Tom & Sheila Stephen, Asbury Park – We look for furniture. Tom primarily looks for video games. Nintendo games are getting harder to find. Good quality wooden furniture is so expensive in the stores these days. It’s cheaper and fun to buy at garage sales and make it your own.