[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by ruralgoddess

There are people in this world who have no idea what compassion is.

I agree.

[allsport]

Inappropriate and beware you will get the virus.

[dewilson58]

There's always one.

[DonH57]

Garage and yard sales usually bring out some good people and low lifes. We once did a yard sale before moving to the villages. I sold a small lava lamp we both knew worked for 4 dollars. The guy comes back about an hour later tells us it doesn't work. No problem. Ok. I took it back, handed him the 4 dollars. I chuck it in the trash can. We looks at me and says, why did you do that, it's mine!. We're all looking at him like, really, and on what planet pal? He actually expected I would hand it back to him. I've seen some real low ballers here in the villages.

[KRM0614]

Why would you think otherwise ? There is crime everywhere

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by daylilylady

My MIL lived in The Villages for 20 Years and loved it. She died last month at 100. Our family organized a 3 day Estate/garage sale this week end to clear out the house.
There was a beautiful 1903 Singer treadle sewing machine in a wooden case with 6 side drawers. Someone took one of the drawers. WHY !!? And even how--there was one way in and one way out..They had to have hidden it in a bag or purse to get it out.

But another area of concern was the switching of price tags..If the check out person was not involved in the pricing of stuff, they were unaware they were being bamboozled. So let this be a warning to all of you thinking of doing a sale, not everyone is honest.

When you invite stranger’s in the thief’s follow.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by davem4616

sadden to hear your story...there is no excuse for that behavior

surprised that that happened in TV

Think there are lowlifes who look for these sales as an easy way to get stuff for nothing

[Madelaine Amee]

In the antique business it is known as having sticky fingers. The theft of the drawer is a different matter. Someone either has an antique treadle machine missing a drawer, or they have one they want to sell missing a drawer. But, there is something that they may not be aware of, those antique sewing machines did not have mass produced cabinets, the cabinets and the color of the wood would be slightly different on each machine; so there is a good chance that the thief is left with a drawer which is basically useless to them.

However, I do have a solution for the original poster
. Contact TV Woodworking Club on Rolling Acres and ask if they have a retired cabinet maker volunteering there. You could get a dummy front drawer made for the empty space, and there are various companies on the internet who deal in repro antique hardware.

In this wonderful age of the computer, most anything can be achieved.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

There's always one.

One—-hundred.

[rubydoo44]

Originally Posted by daylilylady

My MIL lived in The Villages for 20 Years and loved it. She died last month at 100. Our family organized a 3 day Estate/garage sale this week end to clear out the house.
There was a beautiful 1903 Singer treadle sewing machine in a wooden case with 6 side drawers. Someone took one of the drawers. WHY !!? And even how--there was one way in and one way out..They had to have hidden it in a bag or purse to get it out.

But another area of concern was the switching of price tags..If the check out person was not involved in the pricing of stuff, they were unaware they were being bamboozled. So let this be a warning to all of you thinking of doing a sale, not everyone is honest.

I would rather donate to charity than hassle with the public plus it saves time.It all goes away in about one hour.

[mydavid]

[QUOTE=daylilylady;1832106]My MIL lived in The Villages for 20 Years and loved it. She died last month at 100. Our family organized a 3 day Estate/garage sale this week end to clear out the house.
There was a beautiful 1903 Singer treadle sewing machine in a wooden case with 6 side drawers. Someone took one of the drawers. WHY !!? And even how--there was one way in and one way out..They had to have hidden it in a bag or purse to get it out.

But another area of concern was the switching of price tags..If the check out person was not involved in the pricing of stuff, they were unaware they were being bamboozled. So let this be a warning to all of you thinking of doing a sale, not everyone is honest. /QUOTE] You would think better of the people living here.

[Stu from NYC]

Hire a big security guard looking very mean to watch out for your stuff. Perhaps holding a shotgun might work even better.

[rothbear]

Unfortunately this has been going on for years. I was helping my mother with a garage sale probably 25-30 years ago. An older lady was leaving with a sweater on a hanger. I asked her if I could help her check out and she quickly said "I paid the woman in the garage". Knowing that my mother wouldn't have given up one of her "nice" hangers I went in and asked my mother if the woman had bought it and was told no. If the woman couldn't afford it my mother probably would have given it to her, knowing her. But to just boldly lie right to my face ticked me off. I agree with the "eyes in the back of your head" statement. As my mother and I had garage sales frequently in our rural area of PA, I very quickly learned how to spot the potential thieves, especially kids, although I'm sure we lost other items.

[big guy]

Someone stole my husband's knock off Rolex watch. The straw that broke the camel's back was when my garage sale signs were stolen. I didn't give it much thought but about a month later, driving down the main road in our town, there were my signs. I recognized the print. So I turned and followed my signs to the place. I walked up and asked who the owner was. A lady came forward and I recognized her and said "those are great signs, where did you get them?" She says, "I bought them from a garage sale on Pinewood." "No", I say, "you took them without permission and I am going to take them back". So I stop and and pick up all my signs and go home. I can't believe the nerve of some people!

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by big guy

Someone stole my husband's knock off Rolex watch. The straw that broke the camel's back was when my garage sale signs were stolen. I didn't give it much thought but about a month later, driving down the main road in our town, there were my signs. I recognized the print. So I turned and followed my signs to the place. I walked up and asked who the owner was. A lady came forward and I recognized her and said "those are great signs, where did you get them?" She says, "I bought them from a garage sale on Pinewood." "No", I say, "you took them without permission and I am going to take them back". So I stop and and pick up all my signs and go home. I can't believe the nerve of some people!

Some will remove signs to lesson the competition. Had that happen to me. And in some cases the property owner will remove them even though they are on county easements property.