I love a good estate sale. I don't mind digging through a cluttered garage or sifting through vintage linens. Houston has some wonderful sales; Margie Beegle's are not among them.\r
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I've given this enterprise multiple chances. Not one experience has been good.\r
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1. The items appear to be arbitrarily priced; it seems that because this company does staged discounts, they overprice everything to ""mark it down"" later. An old trick, and not a wise business move if their goal is repeat customers. (Other companies also do staged discounts, i.e. 25% off the second day; the difference is they aren't coming off sky-high prices on mediocre items and they're still always willing to negotiate.)\r
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2. Bad customer service abounds. This company operates via (attempted) intimidation tactics: hostile signs everywhere warning you not to move items, a uniformed officer at the front door; and don't let them ""just take this for you and put it on the hold table."" Their stated policy is that if you put it on the hold table, you have to buy it. (Of course you don't, but they'll hold firm to this position.They do make an exception for unpriced items, but good luck with that--show the cashier an unmarked dish and watch the guessing game begin. Spoiler alert: she's going to guess too high.) \r
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The rest of the staff is rude and uninformed, and they act as if they're selling off the Windsor estate. Newsflash: it's the same old carnival glass and maple furniture everyone has...get over yourselves.\r
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3. Have I mentioned you shouldn't go? Because you shouldn't go.\r
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4. Check your change. I was overcharged $8 and didn't realize it until I got home. I should have been paying closer attention; so should have the cashier, who was also the woman running the sale. This woman, well, she doesn't exactly inspire confidence....\r
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In sum, my advice is to skip any sale run by Beegle. Too many other good sales out there. Find one of those, and save yourself the annoyance of dealing with the likes of this group on an otherwise lovely Saturday morning.
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