Thread: Cleaned out our garage and Rude People

We cleaned out our garage today. I had one woman from the next block over who came over and wanted to go through everything we threw away.
My son who was helping told her yes she could go through the trash pile but to please not to scatter it and to put the tarp back over it. We had divided stuff into piles and put tarps over it. This lady has had a ball going through the trash. I didn't like it but didn't want to be ugly. We had been working since 6:30 this morning so about 4 we quit. We just pulled the tarps over and came inside. One lady came by and started going through the stuff. We told her we weren't having a garage sale, I do think it was an honest mistake on her part maybe???? no signs etc. So she asked if she could have a filing cabinet and I gave it to her. It was in the pile for my girls to see if they wanted. Now the same woman who has been going through stuff just knocked on the door and asked my husband if she could have the cast iron stuff. I had a lot of it, cornbread sticks etc.from my mother and he said yes. He didn't tell me this until 30 min later when I said what did she want that time and he told me. I said you told her no didn't you and he said" no I told her she could, I don't want any of that stuff." No he doesn't because he made sure he got what he wanted, golf clubs he hasn't used in yrs etc. I am not really mad at him though because he has alzheimers. I mean I had no signs saying garage sale etc. That woman who took the cast iron just took advantage. I am so angry!!! Forgive me for ranting. I had never seen this woman before, I just know she lives in the area. I felt like vultures were out and I wanted to put my arms around it all and say mine. I feel silly being upset about it but it did upset me and I still am.

If it was sitting out to be taken away with the trash, why would you mind? Yes they were your belongings, but obviously you were getting rid of them. Correct? Look on the bright side. At least they are going to someone that can use them instead of just being thrown out. If they were items you were wanting your family to go through, then they should have been left in the garage or in your home shut away from the outside.

Originally Posted by kyswpgrl

If it was sitting out to be taken away with the trash, why would you mind? Yes they were your belongings, but obviously you were getting rid of them. Correct? Look on the bright side. At least they are going to someone that can use them instead of just being thrown out. If they were items you were wanting your family to go through, then they should have been left in the garage or in your home shut away from the outside.

I have to agree if you were throwing the stuff away, be thankful someone else could use it instead of it going to the landfill. Better to recycle then throw away, save our planet.

I was sure shocked by your responses. I guess I didn't make myself clear. This was my yard, my driveway. The piles were divided, one for daughters to go through, one for me with the stuff I still wanted and one was for freecycle and one was trash. 4 piles. If they wanted something from the trash or the freecycle pile they were welcome to it. It was too obvious as to which stuff I was keeping or was for the girls to go through. A tarp over something should indicate it is not for them to go through after we go inside. And since that time we have had 3 more people knock on the door. All 3 are people that got stuff before. It just makes me really mad. I plan to clean out my whole house this way , room by room , like they show you on tv, I guess I will need to sit with my son's bb gun unless it has already gone. To top this off I live on a dead end street. Only 2 more houses on both sides of the street equaling 4 houses above us to end of the street. I thought things in our yard were ours until given away. I didn't know it is only things in our house that are ours. Sorry for ranting. I am furious. I don't get mad very easily and I get over it quickly. But for now I'm a little unhappy.

Originally Posted by msginna

" had a lot of it, cornbread sticks etc.from my mother and he said yes. He didn't tell me this until 30 min later"

I think the stuff that was taken WASN'T in the throw away pile. That is what I thought anyways...

How is this person supposed to know which pile was which? She did ask to look through the stuff and she was even nice enough to come and ask, sadly, she didnt ask the right person

*Ok, I just posted while you were posting so here is my revised post.
All people are saying is most people assume that stuff left outside is trash. If it wasnt trash it would be in the garage, thats prolly what those people are thinking. Do you have a super nice house with like super nice stuff cause I thought most people dont flock like that over nuthin LOL
Anyways, Sorry that this is happening, perhaps you could put out a sign saying >>These piles only<< type thing. Maybe that would help a little bit.

I think I just came to the wrong place to vent. I just thought what was ours in our yard was ours until we told someone different. They knew the different piles and repacking the boxes was not the plan. Sorry for even bringing it up.

I understand exactly what your saying and I agree with you! .. You don't even have your stuff organized as to what your giving away and what your not and people are rifling through it, I'd be upset too.

If it was all seperated and sitting on the curb that sure help yourself .. once it's on the curb it's yours!

I wouldn't have the balls to go up to someone and just ask if I can have something out of their yard .. and you did have a tarp on it, so that should indicate to someone that it may not be available to the public.

Guess I'd be the wrong person too if I were doing what you were and they came to my house.