[Boatanchors] Hamfest Stories

[manualman at juno.com]

Over the years, I sometimes bring totally one or two totally non-ham or
non-electronic type items to sell at a hamfest. Trying to sell these
items tends to keep me amused, motivated and focused on why I'm there.
One year, in June I brought a  roughly 4 foot high wire type Xmas tree
with box (the type where you fold all the metal branches up to the trunk
when putting it back in the box and unfold them when you're setting it
up). Added a sign that said, "possible stealth VHF omni-directional type
portable antenna". Sold within 10 minutes of putting it on display. Other
times, it was new bed sheets, table lamps, picture frames, decorative
mugs, and other things the wife didn't want any more. Selling "stuff" can
be addictive.

Pete, wa2cwa

On Tue, 7 Dec 2010 01:47:50 +0000 "Leslie Zwiebel" <wb6orz at pacbell.net>
writes:
>    Few years ago, I'm at my site to thin the herd, selling off some 
> junk, I mean treasures. I step away to chat with my neighbor to my 
> left for a minute or two, and when I return I notice an item I had 
> not brought. It appeared to be an  inoperative electric (battery) 
> screwdriver, Stanley I think. I turn to the guys on my other side, 
> and they each have a mischievous grin. When I ask them if they know 
> whose it is, they simply say, "It's Reverse Shoplifting!" With 
> laughs  all around, they told me they couldn't sell it at their 
> site, so it went to mine when I wasn't looking. Actually, I did then 
> sell it as a parts unit for a quarter, and gave them 15 cents. Total 
> of 4 hams happy, including the buyer.