GARAGE SALE TALES

Today was the second day of the garage sale Ron put together in Waikiki.  Time to reflect on some of the happenings...

The day started out well enough.  Two gentlemen from China wandered into the car park in search of last minute gifts.  This was their 6th trip to Hawaii in last six months.  One of the chaps is the owner of 7 factories, he sells things to Walmart and Kmart.  Fancy that..

The owner of the factories was a shy sort of fellow, his travelling companion / interrupter, did all of his talking.  And he had quite a lot to say.  With a mixture of British and American slang, he told of having studied at university in Pittsburgh.  Seems his boss had an eye for some necklaces and they wanted to haggle over price.  Ron, The Diva, is the last person you want to haggle over price with.  After some back and forth, a price was agreed upon and then Ron had to explain that the necklaces, while quite lovely, had in fact been made in CHINA.  The two seemed pleased regardless and went happily away to catch their flight back to China.  No doubt to tell the tale of the great treasures found in Waikiki.

The next colourful customer, were in fact a returning trio from day before.  They had purchased some tattoo transfers and had such a giggle over breakfast, they needed to get more.  Nothing like happy shoppers.

A young lady showed up with loads of colourful stickers upon her face.  Very colourful.  She tried on a very brilliant jacket, would have matched all of the colour on her face.  MOI told her it looked rather smart, and was gobsmacked when the lady told that she thought it was a wee bit loud.  Not being able to hold tongue, the old geezer asked if she has looked in the mirror before venturing forth that day.  Really, one wonders...

Then there was the lovely gentle man, 86 years young with his lovely wife, 93 years young.  The spied a picture and asked the price.  Having shopped with Ron before, he graced them with the picture, free of charge.  The lovely chap told Ron that he just wanted the picture for the frame....

Roy had to attend to some personal matters and the old geezer was drafted into watching his share of the items for sale.  Seems easy enough.  NOT...

Shortly after Roy departed and old lady and her filipina helper arrived.  They had been at the sale yesterday and knew they liked to spend loads of time checking out all of the sale items.  The old lady looks like the last living survivor of the Titanic, frail but feisty, while he companion like to seek out all of the bargains she can.  Trying to help the old lady proved a total waste of time.  Might as well told MOI to bugger off..

With one had clutching her walker, she bent over the table with costume jewelry and went to work fingering every bead, chain and ear.  She did not want any help.  Neither did.  The hours ticked by and it became clear that they were waiting the return of Roy.  He would give them deals...

They were not the only ones, seems Roy and Ron have customers who will only deal with them.  Tell you right off that they know them well...  Fancy that.

The day slowly wound down, little by little the tables emptied of sale items.

Ron has a custom of holding a closing 'brown bag' sale.  Everything you can fit into a small brown bag is had for a 'fiver'.  Throughout the day folks told that they would be back a 4pm for the sale.  Cheeky buggers.

All in all, not a bad way to spend an interesting day in Waikiki.  Where else can you meet folks from China, Russia, all parts of the USA and a few from Europe...