![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Nov. 16th, 2002 08:12 pmI went to another Sample Sale today. I've learned some more about them. One of the groups here sets up a demo of every display and section in the store - the vendors bring in samples of their products to see how it will be set up. They may only bring in one item, or they may bring in boxfuls. And I have a sneaking suspicion that the vendors sometimes dump stuff on us they can't sell.
Anyway, there was a lot more people this time, and a LOT more stuff. There were even Christmas trees, apparently going for $5 a piece(!); but they were walking out the door when I got in the room (Sorry, Cheffie) I got there at 7:05 and I was just as far back as I've ever been. When I decided the bags were getting too heavy and the crowd had just about disappeared I checked out. At that point, all they had were silk flowers and a few odds and ends. I don't do flower arranging, but I called Mom and asked if she wanted some. I thought there would not be many left when I got back in.
I was wrong. They had three or four tables loaded with fall color flowers. I started putting them in a bag but that didn't work - they tried to fall out; long stems. I had already amassed a bouquet that makes a Miss America bouquet look like a corsage, so I grabbed a big box and proceeded to fill it full of flowers, plus the occasional oddment. When I was halfway around the tables (and thinking of threatening to put half of the flower back if they wanted $10 for the boxful) they announced that everyone could grab a box and pay $5 for whatever they could carry out the door. They wanted to clean up and get out of there. The volunteers started putting stuff in my box! I finally staggered out under the weight of a 5 foot long box filled with flowers and other stuff.
Mom was a wee bit surprised by the haul. :snicker:
I am beating myself over the head for not grabbing one thing. They had rock tumblers! I have one (that I haven't used since I bought it), but I should have realized that I do have young munchkins around me that would have wanted one eventually, if not this year.
So should I post a list of what I got, or pictures
Anyway, there was a lot more people this time, and a LOT more stuff. There were even Christmas trees, apparently going for $5 a piece(!); but they were walking out the door when I got in the room (Sorry, Cheffie) I got there at 7:05 and I was just as far back as I've ever been. When I decided the bags were getting too heavy and the crowd had just about disappeared I checked out. At that point, all they had were silk flowers and a few odds and ends. I don't do flower arranging, but I called Mom and asked if she wanted some. I thought there would not be many left when I got back in.
I was wrong. They had three or four tables loaded with fall color flowers. I started putting them in a bag but that didn't work - they tried to fall out; long stems. I had already amassed a bouquet that makes a Miss America bouquet look like a corsage, so I grabbed a big box and proceeded to fill it full of flowers, plus the occasional oddment. When I was halfway around the tables (and thinking of threatening to put half of the flower back if they wanted $10 for the boxful) they announced that everyone could grab a box and pay $5 for whatever they could carry out the door. They wanted to clean up and get out of there. The volunteers started putting stuff in my box! I finally staggered out under the weight of a 5 foot long box filled with flowers and other stuff.
Mom was a wee bit surprised by the haul. :snicker:
I am beating myself over the head for not grabbing one thing. They had rock tumblers! I have one (that I haven't used since I bought it), but I should have realized that I do have young munchkins around me that would have wanted one eventually, if not this year.
So should I post a list of what I got, or pictures
(no subject)
Oct. 5th, 2002 01:21 pmThought y'all would like to see what I got at the sample sale this morning
( What do we have here? )
So, was I nuts to get up and leave before sunrise to go to this thing?
( What do we have here? )
So, was I nuts to get up and leave before sunrise to go to this thing?
Sample sale - what a trip
Mar. 23rd, 2002 09:31 amI've been hearing about the sample sale that they put on periodically at the office. Things like "You'll want to get there early". Plus the look that people get when they talk about other people acting strange.
The way it works is that they give you two bags, and you fill them up and pay $5 per bag. Whatever you can get in there. Plus large items were $5 a piece.
They announced a sale for today at 8am. It included the request "Please do your part to make this a fun and safe event for everyone"
Having been forewarned, I tried to get there by 7, made it by 7:30. There was already a good 20 or 30 people there. I parked too far away, but I thought - 2 bags and I'll be lucky to find stuff to fill them.
At 8 they had passed out huge bags, checked badges (employees only!) . When they opened the door, people started running.
Now imagine about a half dozen long tables piled a foot high with good stuff. Not the picked over clearance stuff, but stuff you might buy at full price. Plus more stuff leaning against the walls. And the place was already packed. You don't try to look at everything, just push your way to a table and start grabbing anything that you like. I found all sorts of nifty things. I didn't manage to get my bags full, but that's because I found a couple of really heavy items (you'll see) when I was getting close, and I knew I couldn't carry any more. I could have gotten more if I hadn't parked so far away.
When I left I checked the time... 8:20
So here's my haul:
4 boxes of Christmas mini-ball ornaments and one box of normal ball ornaments in old gold (try as I might, I can't get that to not sound dirty)
4 packets of blank cards with envelopes (I can't wait til next valentine exchange!)
4 boxes of dye
a copper rabbit shaped cookie cutter
a scrapbook
a smallish glass vase
a package of gold fruit of unidentifiable type (anyone want this?)
a canister full of cheap paintbrushes
a page of Harry Potter alphabet stickers
blue-gray "sandstone" paint (looks more like sandpaper)
a canadian flag and a little something for Bob
and for what weighed me down?
Two boxes of stepping stone mix, which I needed anyway!
I had a blast! It was like shopping at its purest - forget money, just grab what you can before the person next to you does. I can't wait for the next one. I wish I could bring some of my friends in to enjoy the fun, but they'd have to get a job here!
The way it works is that they give you two bags, and you fill them up and pay $5 per bag. Whatever you can get in there. Plus large items were $5 a piece.
They announced a sale for today at 8am. It included the request "Please do your part to make this a fun and safe event for everyone"
Having been forewarned, I tried to get there by 7, made it by 7:30. There was already a good 20 or 30 people there. I parked too far away, but I thought - 2 bags and I'll be lucky to find stuff to fill them.
At 8 they had passed out huge bags, checked badges (employees only!) . When they opened the door, people started running.
Now imagine about a half dozen long tables piled a foot high with good stuff. Not the picked over clearance stuff, but stuff you might buy at full price. Plus more stuff leaning against the walls. And the place was already packed. You don't try to look at everything, just push your way to a table and start grabbing anything that you like. I found all sorts of nifty things. I didn't manage to get my bags full, but that's because I found a couple of really heavy items (you'll see) when I was getting close, and I knew I couldn't carry any more. I could have gotten more if I hadn't parked so far away.
When I left I checked the time... 8:20
So here's my haul:
4 boxes of Christmas mini-ball ornaments and one box of normal ball ornaments in old gold (try as I might, I can't get that to not sound dirty)
4 packets of blank cards with envelopes (I can't wait til next valentine exchange!)
4 boxes of dye
a copper rabbit shaped cookie cutter
a scrapbook
a smallish glass vase
a package of gold fruit of unidentifiable type (anyone want this?)
a canister full of cheap paintbrushes
a page of Harry Potter alphabet stickers
blue-gray "sandstone" paint (looks more like sandpaper)
a canadian flag and a little something for Bob
and for what weighed me down?
Two boxes of stepping stone mix, which I needed anyway!
I had a blast! It was like shopping at its purest - forget money, just grab what you can before the person next to you does. I can't wait for the next one. I wish I could bring some of my friends in to enjoy the fun, but they'd have to get a job here!
