The doors opened before noon for bargain hunters for the University of Akron’s tag sale Friday.
The items up for grabs included overstocked football shoes with cleats from sizes 10 to 19, athletic shorts and T-shirts, desks, chairs, computers, restaurant supplies and even a few bicycles — things the university couldn’t use anymore and opted to sell.
The sale continues from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the lower level annex of Quaker Square, which is on the first floor (not the hotel side).
Raphael Vaccaro, 51, of Akron was the first to arrive.
“I came at 10:30 to get a preview of what would be on sale, but the doors were locked,” Vaccaro said. “No one was there yet. I came back an hour later, and they let me go in early.”
It was a quick find. He was in and out after he purchased a record player.
“They’re going back to vinyl. This is what I grew up with as a kid. It’s small and plays 45s. It’s perfect for my 18-year-old daughter,” he said. “You can’t buy a record player nowadays without it being very large or in a cabinet, or without a USB cord hooked into it. This is old school. It’s a pre-Christmas present, and it only cost me 5 bucks.”
Phil Long, 64, of Akron said he has several casettes that are about 30 years old, and he has no idea what’s on them.
For $2, he’s about to find out. That’s how much a player cost him at the tag sale.
Barb Fuller of Mogadore also found something that is hard to find.
“My husband will be thrilled with this VCR. You can’t get them anymore,” she said.
Her other finds included six metal tongs — “the best kind” — for her daughter, a carrying case for her iPad, two miniblinds and a Christmas wreath for her friend who miscounted the number she needed during her own shopping spree at the tag sale.
Her grand total was $34.16.
Like surprises?
There’s a “grab bag” — a brown bag filled with unknown treasures — available for $2.
What about investments?
Antique collector Jack Darrow, 61, of Akron bought seven film cameras and two movie cameras and a video camera light stand. He spent less than $100. He said he loves going to estate sales.
“What will I do with all these cameras? I’m going to resell them,” he said. “I bought them for $5 and will resell them for $20 to students who still use film in their classes. It’s a good deal for everybody.”
Conversations at the sale were comical at times.
You could hear one woman telling her husband, “But it’s a good buy.”
His response: “But we don’t need it,” to which she promptly responded, “Steve, you don’t have to need it to buy it.”
They left with a coffee-maker and a lamp, things they said they could use.
Marcia Korllos of Akron talked her husband out of making a purchase.
“Do you really like it that much?” she asked.
She and her husband were looking at a tall green vase for $1.
“It’s not the cost, it’s the wait. That’s too long of a line to wait in to buy it,” she told him.
The line wrapped halfway around the room with people, some pushing a cart full of items.
Rick Angeletti, 22, of Green, a senior at UA majoring in accounting and economics, said he wasn’t actually looking for anything specific but bought two old iPhones for $3 each just for fun.
“I always wanted to just throw a cellphone and smash it against the wall to see what happens,” he said. “And what better time than when it’s not your real phone. It’s iconic. I just have to wait for the right time and the right condition.”
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.