You wouldn't take 50 cents, would you?

We are in the midst of open season for sidewalk entrepreneurship. Garage sales are being held and lemonade and Kool-Aid stands are appearing on the corner. These small start up ventures are excellent learning experiences for all involved.

I've never been a fan of the garage sale. It looks like a lot of work and aggravation to me. Taking the time to clean up old clothing and knick knacks, price them at below fire sale prices and then be ready to haggle with customers over a dime.

The haggling gene didn't stick with me, or else it must skip a generation because my late father, the Chief, was a master haggler. There are many tales of his perceived bargaining prowess in the lore and legend of the Stangl family.

One of my older sisters was preparing to go off to college and had detasseled corn to earn some extra money. She had shopped for a small black and white television and had selected one from the local TV repairman. The Chief thought that he could get a better price and didn't want anyone taking advantage of his daughter, so he paid a call on the proprietor.

I believe the cost of the set was just over $100, a king's ransom at that time. The Chief told the owner that he was going to make a check out for $100 even and that was the most that "he" was going to pay. "You figure out the price so the total with tax is $100," the Chief said in his best "no-nonsense" voice. "I won't pay a penny more."

It worked, which, to the Chief, was the equivalent of what we call winning the lottery today. The story was re-told to anyone and everyone and life was good.

I met my wife when I learned that she was selling her 1969 Camaro. The car had the less-than-reliable 307 Chevy V-8 and the vaunted "three in the tree" manual transmission, but it was a '69 Camaro. I had agreed to her asking price of $500, and the Chief had given the car the "once over" in the shop and deemed it mechanically sound.

When I went to take possession of the car and give the future mother of my children her check for $500, the Chief tagged along. After introductions were made, the Chief, in his "no-nonsense" voice that had worked so well, piped up: "you're sure you wouldn't take $300?"

I paid $500 for the car and marked my 29th wedding anniversary last week. Yes, she married me anyway. Alas, the car was sold a couple of years later. It was a Camaro with the Chevy 307, and you know how those engines liked oil....

Today, much of our commerce takes place online. Ebay has become the virtual garage sale of today and many sell items there, especially if they think the item is valuable.

This past weekend was spent cleaning out some parts of our home, going through drawers and closets trying to free up some space. After nearly a year of an empty nest, it was time. We found many items that, at the time of their purchase, were highly prized, but have now just become stuff.

Stuff that takes up space.

Stuff that needs to be dusted.

Stuff that no longer holds the allure it once did.

This makes it stuff that can be sold or given away. But don't be looking for a garage sale at my house. We might be running some classifieds and our daughters might be selling some of the toys they "had to have" on Ebay, but I won't be haggling over a dime.

I have moved on. But if the Chief was alive, I'd hire him on straight commission. I shudder to think what it would be like trying to buy used clothing from him...

As always, I welcome your comments. You can reach me by email at tstangl@lemarscomm.net, telephone 712-546-7031, x40 or toll free 1-800-728-0066 x40.

Thanks for reading, I'll keep in touch. Feel free to do the same.