Everyone has heard the advice: shop the rich neighborhoods, and the garage sales will be full of treasure. A pair of eBay resellers decided to test it. They hit more than twenty garage sales in an affluent neighborhood, expecting incredible finds. Things, as they put it, “didn’t exactly go according to plan.”

The test comes from The Dumont Boys, a YouTube channel where the hosts hunt for profitable items to flip on eBay. The episode’s description asks the question straight out: “Do wealthy neighborhoods really have better garage sales?” Their answer is a mix of honest disappointment and a surprise payoff.

You can watch the whole weekend on the @TheDumontBoys channel.

A weekend of small buys

The haul was a mix of ordinary items. One of the hosts spots a Kindle for $5 and notes that it works. There is a Sony combo priced at $35. There is a Hallmark keepsake ornament. These are the kinds of everyday things that show up at nearly every garage sale, and the hosts are straightforward that nothing about the weekend felt like a jackpot.

The big book

The one item the hosts say the success of the haul “really hinges on” is a parts manual. They describe it as a massive book covering “years all the way back to 1933,” which makes it more rare. They even remark on the girth of the thing.

Here is how they size it up. One similar manual is listed for $400. Theirs is listed at $350. And their goal is modest: “We’ll take anything close to 200.” They call it “a very cool pickup nonetheless.”

That is smart pricing in a nutshell. The hosts looked at what a comparable item was asking, set a price a little below it, and decided in advance what they would accept. Having a floor in mind keeps you from either holding out forever or giving something away.

The brand new surprise

Then came the item that saved the weekend. One of the hosts calls it “a rare banger for us this weekend”: a brand new Tria. The hosts explain that they buy these used “when the price is right,” and that brand new, “they go even higher.” It sold within a few days of listing for what they call “a very robust $300.” The reaction: “Oh, baby, did we need that.”

It is a good lesson. Used items are fine, but a new item still in its packaging can bring a much higher price. When you spot something unopened at a sale, it is worth a second look.

An honest bottom line

When the hosts wrap up, they do not sugarcoat it. The weekend, they say, “definitely was a bottom 5 haul when it comes to weekend hauls.” Their attitude is classic reseller: “But hey, it happens. We can’t win them all. No excuses. Play like a champion.”

Then they run the numbers. The total spent was $312, and the estimated sales came to $2,500. Remember that those sales figures are estimates. Until an item actually sells, the number is a hope rather than money in the bank, and selling fees and shipping will take their share.

What this teaches about garage sale shopping

The big takeaway is that a fancy zip code does not guarantee fancy finds. Here is how to make the most of any sale, rich neighborhood or not.

• Keep your expectations in check. Even experienced resellers have off weekends. Do not count on any one neighborhood, and do not give up after a slow stop.
• Plan your route. More than twenty sales is a lot of ground. Map the stops so you are not driving back and forth.
• Look for items still in the package. The brand new item was the star of this weekend.
• Check what similar items are listed for. The manual looked valuable because the hosts saw a comparable one asking $400.
• Test electronics before you buy. The Kindle was a $5 buy because the host confirmed that it works. Ask the seller to plug it in.
• Set your lowest acceptable price. A target before you list keeps your decisions steady.

The fairness question

There is a fairness angle worth thinking about, too. Garage sale prices are set by the person running the sale. Some people price to move things quickly, others price based on what they paid years ago, and a wealthy address does not change that. The best approach is to treat every sale the same. Be polite, make fair offers, and thank the seller. You will find good deals more often when people like dealing with you.

Whether you shop to resell or just to furnish your home on the cheap, this weekend is a useful reminder that a flop on paper can still hold a moment worth celebrating. One strong sale of $300 did not erase the slow stops, but it did make the weekend worth the gas.

For the full rundown, head over to The Dumont Boys on YouTube.

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