Two Local Marketing Tales...

It's 90°F here and sunny. Nevertheless, I still wanted my long Sunday walk.

Just a couple blocks away at a corner house, a middle-aged woman was having a garage sale. I continued a half block West, and decided to go to the sale. There weren't any cars or people there so, I thought that it might be the neighborly thing to do. It is odd that in all these years, I have never seen this woman or anyone who lives in this house.

As I approached, the woman was arranging items on a table with her back to me. Smiling, I was about to greet her. She glanced in my direction from the corner of her eye for a brief second. No hello, nor acknowledgement of any kind. Still smiling my awkward smile, I looked about. Being an "expert" at sales, I noticed immediately that nothing was tagged. This is an obvious sign that the seller will haggle and overcharge, if you let them. The stuff was crap! I had half a mind to make my way up the hill, and grab several garbage bags for her. She offered basement stored mildued ripped upholstered chairs, and other furniture items that some might mistake as antiques, rather than just stinky junk.

Almost immediately her dogs started to bark wildly from the inside of the house. They barked and strained to get out. Still, she did not acknowledge me, but told the dogs to "Quit barking," after a few minutes.

I continued to look about wondering if I would be acknowledged. I was so glad my self-esteem wasn't wrapped up in this situation. The writer in me always wants to actually see the wrecked train. The entire time she puttered in the same spot with her back to me. I got bored and strolled off, but not without noticing her hubby's used undershirts. I can't image that naked people in the Artic would be interested. From across the street, I turned to look back. She looked blankly angry; like someone who's always angry. I smiled, and wondered if she had ever heard of marketing.

About a mile further down, a tall handsome grinning man, jogged across the street. He rushed right up to me and the conversation follows:

Man: Hey, how are you doing today?
Me: Pretty well (I didn't stop walking)
Man: Hey, can I talk to you for a second?
Me: No
Man: (Both chuckling and grinning) Oh, come on, man. A brotha can't even talk to you?
Me: No, no he can't (Smiling)
Man: I just wanted to talk to you about my gospel CD. It's meant to uplift you when you are down. All I am asking is that you take one free of charge, and give it a listen.
Me: No, thank you.
Man: (Still exuberant AF) Man, ah man, you won't even take a free CD that is meant to uplift you?
Me: Okay. How could I say no?
Man: Here you go. My name's Mel, and yours?
Me: Douglass, and thank you, Mel.
Man: (Shakes my hand firmly) Give that a listen, and have a great day!

Mel probably could teach salesmanship and marketing.

UPDATE: Apparently, the woman's sale failed. I just passed by and most of her junk has been pushed to the curb for the garbage truck.