For me when it comes to lawn sales or estate sales, or even antique shops, I am usually the one who let the incredible deal get away or getting complete ripped off.
My biggest rip off, which I still get upset over was at the antique mall in Quechee, VT. They had boxes of cards for something like $30 (I forget the exact price) and they were sealed up with clear plastic top boxes. The top visible cards were all from the early 70s so I bought a box. After getting hope and opening it, I found out they were all junk era cards with 4 decent cards on top. Not even a single other good card in the whole box. Not even 90s stars. Just junk era commons.
On the flip side of that, twice now at the Brimfield Antique show in MA, I've let amazing deals get away. First was about 20 years ago. I saw a binder full of 60s and 70s cards with tons of stars and top named rookies. It caught my eye because it had a 71 Nolan Ryan card (which I didn't have yet). He was asking $80 for the entire binder. Would have worked out to less than $1 per card. I passed on it because I only had $60 cash left and didn't want to spend more than I had on me. Still kicking myself.
The second time I still kick myself is from 2 year ago, also at Brimfield. I found a tend and the guy had packs of near complete 1977 Star Wars cards of all different series, including the blue first series. He wanted $8 for the packs that were mostly complete or $6 for the not so complete packs that had about half the cards or less. He said he'd even entertain an offer for the entire box with all of them. My son and I agreed we should get some but I didn't want to carry them around in 90 degree heat so I said I'd come back. When we went to go back, they guy had packed up and left already since it was the last day of the sale. My son said next time he'll carry the cards around if I don't want to.
