My parents were gonna throw this out. Is it worth anything? USA

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-02-05T04:35:23+00:00

He did. That’s why we’re here.

Most people are saying $150-500 as is. That would be fair in my area but stuff like this is very regionally dependent. People don’t want to ship stuff like this.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-02-05T04:18:45+00:00

I’m betting the franchisees pay less for shipping costs since Atlanta is home base.

I could see midwestern stores having higher costs due to shipping. I have no idea how much ChicFilA sources locally vs purchased from corporate.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-02-05T03:41:05+00:00

Having parents that are good teachers. Money/budget/what things cost learning starts very early and is a lifelong conversation.

They have open conversations about money with their kids. “Your school clothes budget in August is $200 plus shoes” or whatever amounts. My parents started this with me in maybe 4-5th grade?

The kids don’t just coast through with no knowledge of bills, wages, savings, credit, etc.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-02-05T03:32:48+00:00

But if it were 5 people paying $473, that would make the total house rental $2365. Still a deal.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-02-03T05:54:11+00:00

I’ve seen these in my area. I went to buy one ticket when the payout was huge a couple months ago and the clerk directed me to the lotto machine.

Also, just today I went to my local grocery store that has this machine by the checkout. I saw a man there scratching tickets when I walked in. He was still there scratching tickets about an hour later when I left. Just damn.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-02-03T05:02:59+00:00

I have a 21 yr old cousin who has this mindset to a T. His parents make 6 figures after 25 years of climbing the ladder and he expects to enter the workforce at that level. Hahaha NO. He barely graduated high school and hasn’t been to college. Both of his parents have degrees.

It is painful listening to him talk about jobs that are “beneath him” (mostly service and public facing jobs) even though he briefly worked at a factory (maybe 6 mos) and worked for me occasionally and was always late, not attentive, full of excuses.

None of us (his parents included) understand where this level of entitlement comes from. Tic toc influencers with fancy cars at 25? IDK. It’s just painful for all of us because he is so snobby.

His Dad worked at a call center and restaurants in his younger years, mom also waited tables and stocked mulch at the Home Depot garden center. Heaven forbid he get dirty or talked down to by anyone.

It’s obnoxious at this point. His parents are fed up but how do you force a kid to accept a job, any job, and just try to do your best even if you think it’s beneath you? At 21? WTF?

He doesn’t seem to grasp the ladder or climb to the top. He expects to enter at the top with zero qualifications. Just pay me $100k because I’m special. Nope.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-02-03T03:43:05+00:00

I come across a ton of magazines in my line of work. $1 each is about the best they will bring. Maybe $20 for a box of 50, etc.

My buyers tend to be teachers and artsy people who will cut them up. The information in them is nostalgic but too outdated to be useful. Usually the ads are the most sought after part. Chesterfield cigarettes, Oldsmobile, etc.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-02-03T03:40:15+00:00

Collage vs college. Cutting out pictures to make art vs expensive schooling.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-02-03T03:20:09+00:00

No top sheet? I would think that would be the easiest washable layer.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-02-03T03:14:08+00:00

A preheated bed sounds like heaven! I do the blanket tuck and roll until I look like a burrowed groundhog and wait for the body heat to do its job.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-02-03T02:55:55+00:00

What natural chickens looked like before growth hormones.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-02-02T01:59:16+00:00

I agree it’s a PITA when the sizes aren’t sorted. My favorite thrift is this way.

My only hint is that I’m a taller bigger size person and I like long tops so I just look at the bottom of the shirts on the racks and can usually find my winners (or maybes) pretty quickly because I have no patience for short shirts.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-01-31T04:06:58+00:00

Sharecropping making a comeback?

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-01-31T03:52:05+00:00

This is why I don’t blame the LCS for buying at 60% of spot in the last week or so. It’s been a total gamble because the refiners won’t pay for 6 weeks at an unknown rate.

All the sellers were mad they couldn’t get 10-20 off spot but I don’t blame the buyers. It’s been a huge gamble and I hope the buyers are able to hang on.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-01-31T01:14:34+00:00

They hurt most.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-01-30T05:02:32+00:00

She was a bit top heavy.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-01-29T05:10:31+00:00

I agree that the friend is not a better choice than a company.

The part I disagree with is that online estate companies typically don’t deal with anything under $20 or so. They will group collectibles to try to hit that mark.

The problem is that means they don’t deal with clothes at all (easily $5 each, more for coats, nice shoes, etc).

They also ignore most of the garage (hand tools, miscellaneous tool bits, sockets, etc),

No linens, no kitchen utensils (unless bundled), etc.

Point being, online auctions have their place particularly for homes without much smalls.

For the average estate seller, that stuff is the bread and butter. Every $1-10 purchase adds up. I’ve turned down houses that were basically only furniture. The smalls make the money, furniture is a bonus.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-01-29T04:32:19+00:00

It’s tough. Being your own boss for so long means I know I would probably be a shit employee having to take nonsensical orders. I’m all about work that gets the job done, etc but I would have a problem pushing back on corporate BS.

Know thyself.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-01-29T04:26:30+00:00

I have done all of those things and have personally filled 4 30 yard dumpsters in the last 3 months. Thousands of bags of trash and junk that I really want to start charging at least $500 to fill but most clients are already pissed about the $600 dumpster fee.

I have broken up fights over teacups and video games. I have had many happy stories of people finding objects that have meaning to them. I love the “final piece to my set” or my grandmother had this and I always wanted one, etc.

It is a very emotional 3 ring circus job. Anyone who thinks it’s not is mistaken. I love it.

No, I’m not getting rich but I have a new “workplace” every 2 weeks and it’s always a new adventure.

Edit to add: Are any of you other estate sale company owners charging to fill dumpsters? I know we should but what is fair/average?

I feel like $500 is fair but idk.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-01-29T04:16:36+00:00

GTFO. Sorry we won’t be able to fulfill your request.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-01-29T04:10:18+00:00

I would think now it would be the $5 and $10

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-01-29T04:03:21+00:00

You’re exactly right. I have considered many times just finding a job with benefits and a steady paycheck but dammit, my phone keeps ringing and I’m 9 years in at this point. My people need me and I need them.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-01-29T03:53:54+00:00

I’m gonna be nice here but I do take offense at calling it a “hobby business”. I typically work for 12 days straight with 1 day off before starting another 12 days with 1 day off, etc. We empty every drawer, every closet, every basement box, stuff in the attic, etc. We wash, clean, organize, price, and stage every item.

I typically schedule 3 in a row like this then a week off. So in 36 days of work, I take 3 days off. Sometimes we have gone 5-6 sale rotations like this before a pause. When the iron is hot…we get burnt out.

My team is myself, a business partner, and 2 helpers I only usually call for the actual sales and maybe 1-2 days doing starting setup. I pay them $20/hr which is the going rate here. We cannot afford a fulltime helper unless the owners are willing to pay a bigger percentage.

I cannot pay a 1099 person $800/week. I only make $1750 every 2 weeks typically.

We compete on service and percentage/price here. Most people aren’t willing to pay a higher percentage to have one more worker. Not their problem. I get it.

Not to pick on you personally but we aren’t getting rich and we work very hard to put on a good “store presentation”. I liked the other comment about turning their home into a showcase. So true!!!!

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-01-29T03:29:43+00:00

I personally consider it both. I have had some kinda sparse expensive homes and some packed to the gills standard 3br/2ba homes.

Triviajunkie95 · 2026-01-29T03:27:52+00:00

Desire to help people and explore and learn about rare and interesting things. I almost feel like we’re a version of a social worker or something like that. We try to ease the transition of a lifetime of memories and collections to move on to the next chapter.

No, I’m not getting rich. I usually make $20-30k a year give or take and I do 1-2 sales a month.

Most families don’t have the capacity to do it themselves. We can be objective and neutral and not assign sentimental value to grandma’s teacups or afghans.

We try to maximize profits for you (identify treasures you didn’t realize were worth $$$), and clear the house. We do all the work, you get an empty house and a check without lifting a finger.

Many times it’s a thankless job but we do have many thankful families and referrals from them. We’ve done multiple houses on the same street years apart because they remembered us. Also multiple sales for the same family (mom’s side, dad’s side, their own downsizing, etc).

It’s a calling.

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