Hot take: Estate sale companies that hike prices on the last day are doing it wrong

I was at a sale in Tacoma last Saturday where this company had signs saying 50% off everything on Sunday. So I waited, drove 30 minutes back out there, and the lady at the register told me the discount only applied to certain items. I asked why and she said the owner changed their mind because too many people showed up. I overheard two regulars talking and one said she thinks most companies just do the discount to get people in the door and then pull bait and switch stuff. The other one said she respects companies that keep prices firm and just donate what's left instead of playing games. I'm kind of torn because I get wanting to make money but also I showed up with $100 and was ready to buy a dresser they marked as half off online. What's your experience with last day discounts around here? Do you think companies should be upfront about what's actually discounted or is it fair to change things last minute?

2 comments

2 Comments

elliotc1018d ago

A buddy of mine drove an hour to a sale in Puyallup once because they posted 75% off everything. Got there and the guy running it said the deal was only for junk in a corner nobody wanted. He just walked out and hasn't been back to any of their sales since.

parker_campbell18d ago

That bait and switch stuff is basically the estate sale version of saying "the check is in the mail". At least the lady in Puyallup was honest about it being junk in a corner, this Tacoma place just made up new rules on the spot. You drove 30 minutes for a dresser that apparently only existed in their online dreams, right?