Estate sale Friday started with a coffee run and ended with a car full of brass dolphins. The Flipped Piece spent a day in Southern California hitting a string of sales and stops, and the last one was a tiki-themed beach house that delivered the big win of the day: brass dolphins, a mahogany curio shelf, a side table and brand new Coca-Cola Hot Wheels, all for $50 at that one sale.
It did not start that way. The first stops were quiet, and she was upfront that it was not her best day ever.
The Slow Start
Her Friday routine is simple: look at the calendar, line up the sales within about a 15-mile radius, gas up the car, and go. After an Americano with almond milk, she headed to the first sale, run by a company in a large park of oversized mobile homes. There were lots of little trinkets and a nice old jewelry box priced at $75, but nothing spoke to her. A heavy old metal globe light fixture caught her eye, though she did not buy it. She came away with a small wooden jewelry box for $5, which she plans to shine up and oil before passing along. She never passes those up.
The second sale was down a very long driveway, and she joked that at least she was getting her steps in. Inside were cookies for sale, plenty of dishware, another turkey cookie jar and a marble side table. She passed on that one when she noticed the marble had been set on a piece of plywood. A shell-shaped bundt cake pan went back after she found a dent. She did buy a little rattan mirror for $12 and a cute old basket for $5, so $17 total. Nothing wrong with that, but she also admitted what many of us feel: she loves the sales where you leave with 20 items for $50, and those are rare now.
Why Estate Sales Feel Different Now
She had a thoughtful take on this. Maybe, she joked, she is part of the problem, since people like her talk about estate sales and they are not secrets anymore. In Southern California, she says, some sales draw 300 to 400 people, and she has seen people fighting and arguing. She remembers going with her grandmother and mother when only five people were in line and everyone was friendly. Now, she said, it feels like war.
A quick stop at a Goodwill she had never visited turned up a $6 vintage vase high on a wall, a $3 set of old Japanese salt and pepper shakers, an $8 jewelry box and a $4 basket. Her tip is a good one: always look up, because nobody does. The clerk gave her a discount and she walked out with three finds for $11.
The Cliffside House and the Church Sale
Another sale was in a four-floor house on the cliffs above the beach, one she guessed was worth $20 million. She loved the fish tank and a metal monkey tape dispenser, but the Moroccan-style lanterns at $30 and $35 and brass elephants at $30 were not for her budget. She left empty-handed, saying that even seeing the house was worth it.
The church rummage sale was a smaller win. She got in line 30 minutes before opening, behind only about 15 other people. She picked up a big seashell serving platter and an old Coca-Cola crate for $25 total. She notes she arrived on the second day, and was told the good stuff went the day before, so timing matters.
The Tiki Beach House
The last sale was the one worth waiting for. Parked about a mile down the road because of the crowds, she walked up to a house that was full of sea life: turtles, fish, shells, around 30 to 40 surfboards and tiki everything. Inside there were old Coca-Cola Hot Wheels cars, brand new in the package at $3 each, because her family loves vintage Coca-Cola. Out back, she found large brass dolphins, and offered $10 for all four. They were hers for $10.
Next she found a mahogany curio shelf with little hooks for hanging a purse, marked $25. She also bought a bedside table, a $10 vintage “Good Morning Teacher” print signed Russell E. Hill that she thought would be cute in a teacher’s office, a wooden dachshund, and a dolphin-etched marble trinket box. Total for the haul from that house: $50.
When she tallied the full day, including the earlier stops, she estimated being all in for around $100 to $110, and said it was not her biggest haul ever. But she was thrilled with the dolphins and the cabinet. The Hot Wheels are collectible and still in the package, which makes them a fun bonus from the day.
Tips for Estate Sale Shopping
- Plan a route. Group sales within about 15 miles so you are not wasting gas or time.
- Go early on day one for the best selection, or late on day two if you want discounts, but know the best items may be gone.
- Always look up and look low. Many shoppers rush the middle of the room.
- Check for hidden flaws such as dents, plywood backing on marble or chips before you pay.
- Ask politely for a bundle price. Her dolphins, offered at $10 for the lot, show that it sometimes works.
- Check the backyard, garage and outdoor areas. Her best finds that day were out back.
- Bring a way to carry things, and be ready for a long walk to the car.
The takeaway is that estate sale days are a bit like fishing: some are quiet and some pay off big, and showing up consistently is what gets you the dolphins.
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