A veteran of the garage sale circuit shares insights for new hobbyists.

In this debut how-to book, Blakely guides readers through the process of making weekly trips to local garage sales in order to find items that can be resold for a profit: “garage sailing,” in debut author Blakely’s lexicon. The guide is intended for readers interested in reselling as a moderately profitable hobby, not professionals, and it doesn’t expect readers to have prior knowledge of collectibles. Throughout, it encourages readers to balance enjoyment and efficiency, as when it recommends planning to devote part of a Saturday to visiting sales, not the entire weekend (“No matter what the signs or ads say, limit your outings to Saturdays only and you won’t be sorry”), and saving time by avoiding items that are difficult to resell but also keeping one’s eyes open for items to keep for oneself or give as gifts. In addition to guiding readers through strategy, the book also discusses the practical aspects of reselling through eBay and other online vendors, how to quickly evaluate items for sale and negotiate good prices, and ways to turn a profit through bulk sales of inexpensive items, such as CDs and DVDs. Blakely is optimistic about the profitability of reselling (“garage sailing is like gambling and winning but extremely safe”), and the book reflects his upbeat attitude, offering encouragement throughout. The depth of Blakely’s knowledge and experience is evident, from the many stories he shares about his own reselling experiences to insider tips, such as how to mail a tennis racket, that readers may never have thought to consider. The text is well organized for easy reference, making it useful for learning the fundamentals of garage sales. The final chapter focuses on finding enjoyment and personal growth throughout the process and reminds readers that “garage sailing” is an activity that should, at its core,
be fun.

A thorough and informative introduction for garage-sale amateurs.

Kirkus Review