The End of Garage Sales?

Has the pandemic claimed another victim?

Saturday I staffed a multi-family garage sale — for $5. Our theories for the quiet included:

• Second-hand online outlets like eBay
• A housing development garage sale
• Fear of the pandemic
• Nice weather prompted outdoor activities

Were garage sales an unexpected victim of the pandemic? Former sales generated hundreds in profit. Today — almost nothing.

In the past, customers surged after church on Sunday. Churches had reopened, but were the people who went back ones who shopped garage sales?

If after-church customers don’t show up tomorrow, we’ll shut down.

Would this be the last garage sale I ever participated in? Would all future purging and decluttering end with a discreet visit to smuggle my shame into a Good Will or Salvation Army donation center?

At least it would be faster. And air conditioned.