Hey, so remember those beach chairs I found next to the garbage can last week down at the beach? Well apparently my neighbor saw the picture of them on the blog and wants them. He said he’d trade me two chicken dinners for the chairs.
At first I thought hey, what do I care, a find random free stuff left by tourists all the time down at the beach in the mornings when I walk Lucy {some left by the garbage cans, some not} and finding discarded beach chairs isn’t all that uncommon. If I found a good set once, I’m pretty sure I could find them again.
And after all, am I really going to need a set of beach chairs when I move to an island someday? Wouldn’t a hammock and a skiff be more inline with island life?
But then I looked up the beach chairs online to see what the street value was… AND OH MY WORD you are never going to guess how much a set of Debro beach chairs go for these days…
I found a comparable set on Etsy for nearly $100!!! $160 if you add in shipping. HOLY COW MAN! I think I might want to look into the beach gear re-sell business.
So I don’t know… maybe I need to negotiate that fried chicken dinner and say sure, I’ll trade you those used beach chairs for a fried chicken dinner for two PLUS an appetizer and a dessert. What do you think?
Take the dinner, ask for extras, or sell the chairs?
It’s fried chicken though… And I can’t even tell you the last time we’ve had real fried chicken… and I do love fried chicken.
FYI: The HH was like… Just give them the d*** chairs! But I told him I’d ask you first. 😉
So what do you think?
~Mavis
Linda says
Is it the neighbor with the glass kiln? If it is, I’d give the chairs to him, he’ll probably still make fried chicken for you.
Stacie says
Oh that’s true, depends on if it’s one of the neighbors with the greenhouse or the kiln. Or maybe it is the one that does the Costco runs. If so, go easy on them lol. Just the fried chicken dinners with their company is trade enough.
Nancy D says
Stacie….that’s hilarious!
kathie Paje says
Give him the chairs nothing beats homemake fried chicken
Carole says
I would keep the chairs, but I love the beach, chicken? Eh
Joyce says
I would sell them, cause why would he want them so bad.
Cheryl says
I might wonder that also. Probably doesn’t realize how smart you are Mavis.
Nancy D says
Cheryl….I’m sure the neighbor is having a great time reading all these comments!
Shari Harniss says
Oooooooo, I didn’t think about that, Nancy D!
Jen says
Give the neighbor the chairs. And have you considered flipping the things you find? A lot of that stuff will sell.
Lissa says
If you truly don’t want them (finders keepers etc), I’d swap for the chicken dinners. The chicken makers would get a kick out of it. But if you want/need the money…it’s harder. It would be nice to swap. But yeah, it it’s the kiln guy…he gets free chairs.
Joely says
Fried chicken dinner and pie for dessert? Apple would be great, LOL!
Sandi Fleury says
Keep the chairs!! They’re awesome!! And will be around much longer than a fried chicken dinner!! Just sayin’…
Altho I agree, if it is the glass guy, I would do it. I think you would have told us if it was. Anything else to barter?
Linda says
I go with the above, if it’s the kiln guy, give him the chairs. Maybe he’ll throw in the chicken dinners for kicks. If it’s a different neighbor, get some appetizers. Good times with the beach finds. My kind of walk.
Heather says
A good bond with your neighbors is worth more than a hundred bucks. I would trade for the chicken dinners and a piece of pie.
Julie V says
Those are my thoughts too.
Tamara says
Amen!
Donna J says
Yep, relationships over stuff any day. Nice find, though! I bet you could borrow them anytime you like. For a reasonable trade?
Wynne says
Agree! If you really need chairs get some discount ones at Ocean State Job Lots. Take the chicken and company.
Lori SA says
Agree with Heather!
Julie P says
I agree, chicken dinner and pie sounds like a good trade and storing them would provide a degree of messiness for more than half a year before you could get them out again!
Lillian says
Take the chicken. Give him the chairs.
Pam H says
Agreed!
Katie says
I would absolutely trade! You said yourself you don’t need or want them and he clearly knows what you’ve got and would value them. Unless you were hard up for money (which I have a feeling you’re not) I think it would be weird to say, never mind I looked them up because you were interested and now I’m going to sell them. Plus I think it’s good to keep up a good relationship with your neighbors 🙂
Carol says
But do you ever sit at the beach? You’re always walking.
And winter is coming so you’ll just need to store them.
Do the trade! Create a funny memory with the neighbors.
Julie says
Barter with the neighbor. In the long run, the connection and relationship will be worth more than $100 in fried chicken or beach chairs. Especially if it’s the kiln guy. If you had already planned on getting beach chairs then keep them and loan them to your neighbor when you’re not using them.
Linda says
Totally agree!!!
Tracey says
LOLOL
Can’t see you using them! You two are doers, not sitters!
Besides, where are they going to live 10 months of the year?
Elle says
Take the barter offer if in fact, you have no use for the chairs.
Peg says
I also don’t see you using them, because you’re movers, not sitters. Why clutter up space with things you may never use? Agree with everyone above to just give them away if it’s the neighbor with the glass kiln. If not, 2 fried chicken dinners and a pie sounds like a good trade. Unless you decide to start reselling the abandoned items you see at the beach.
Vicki says
You found them, for Pete’s sake. I agree with your husband. Give him the chairs, with or without anything in return.
Linda T. says
Absolutely! They aren’t even new for crying out loud! I’m with your husband. You have good neighbors!
Karen says
Agree. Give him the chairs, no trade
Nancy says
Good Lord. Give him the chairs. We have so many other things to worry about nowadays. Be kind.
Courtney says
I would say make the trade…and gently ask for a pie to go along with said fried chicken. Also, a good relationship with the neighbor is a nice trade benefit. Lastly, it will keep you thirsty for more beach treasure hunting.
MEM says
Those are indeed nice chairs and I have to figure the people who left them bought them for vacation and weren’t going to use them again. Or try and take them home on a plane. My Tommy Bahama chairs were $50 a piece but I use them all Summer long and for four Summers already. I agree with HH to just give the chairs to your neighbor if you don’t plan to use them. I can’t picture you sitting still long enough unless you are hooking rugs at the beach!
The neighbor will probably give you the chicken dinner anyway.
Brianna says
I would swap with the neighbor. You never know in the future when it might be in your favor. I have a neighbor who I swap produce and books with and she catches my kids after school walking home and gives them cookies or treats she makes and offers some intelligent conversation. It is just a nice feeling to know the relationship is nurtured constantly and a win win. Having good neighbors and a good relationship with them makes all the difference.
Stacie says
I’d make him throw in appetizer and dessert. Sounds like a good trade then!
Anne says
Can’t put a price on friendship-give and you shall receive-neighbor reads the blog will be interesting to see their take on this discussion-good luck
deb k says
The chairs are only chairs. Good neighbors are priceless.
Meg C says
I cannot agree with this more!! We have the BEST neighbors (on all sides & on multiple adjacent streets) and they make our lives so much richer! Give them the chairs, chicken dinner or not, and enjoy the benefits – good deeds always multiply themselves!
Carol @ Lake Tapps says
I agree!! Good neighbors are priceless and you probably wouldn’t use the chairs anyways- even tho they’re really awesome, colorful and happy chairs. 🙂
Karin says
If you don’t want to keep them to use I think you should do the trade for the chicken (assuming it’s a neighbor that you like I don’t think you should try to negotiate).
Beth says
Very few things are as valuable as a good neighbor. I recall you not having the best neighbors on the west coast.
Jennifer says
I’m with HH – the goodwill, plus the unspoken favor he owes you could be bigger than the two chicken dinners.
Linda Practical Parsimony says
You do not need the money. You do like fried chicken. I would trade or give it to him. Or, promise him the next set of chairs. Yes, I would go find another set for him.
Lynne says
I would do the trade but insist it be a post-lockdown (or socially distanced) dinner together, not just a delivery. If it’s one of the neighbors who has been good to you, I think you should provide the dessert.
Disclaimer: if I managed to get into one of those chairs, I’d never get back out again 😉
Pam T says
My thoughts exactly…have dinner together, you bring the pie. Enjoying the time shared is the win.
Cindy Brick says
You’re missing a golden opportunity here — ask HH who died in them!
Pam T says
I was sooo waiting for that!!!
Jothp says
HEE HAW!!
Naomi says
LOL! I almost choked on my tea when I read that remark!
Give the neighbor the chairs. Nothing like good neighbors.
Kim D says
Chicken for chairs seems fair. But if you ever find something like them on the beach again, keep it to yourself and flip those suckers on Ebay!
Janis Briggs says
We bought this house 5 years ago and when we moved in the neighbors told us not to expect dinners or neighborhood friendships….they had enough friends. I would count your blessings and give them the chairs.
Mavis Butterfield says
I would have planted about 150 plastic pink flamingos in my front yard… all facing their house! 🙂
Lisa L says
I think fried chicken for the chairs is a great trade! Go for it! What a fun story and good feeling of neighbor helping neighbor!
Cathy M says
A chicken dinner in the hand is worth two chairs from the beach!!
Linda says
Kiln guys gets them for free. Bartering is good- it depends on what you want more the chairs or the dinner. lol
Mama Jo says
Give him the chairs…when are you ever going to be still long enough to use them?
Besides, the neighbor is nice enough to let you use his kiln.
Listen to HH…
Leslie says
I think you are beholden to give him the chairs. (I am not crazy about low chairs, though, or sitting on beach forever.) Next time, maybe don’t post everything online! ha.
Julie says
If you think you’ll use them keep them, but if not give them to the kiln/neighbor. (Is he the one with the greenhouse and does the Costco runs) you said you find stuff all the time. But, you may not find chairs that nice for a long time. (They look new) seems like your husband isn’t into used stuff or your finds.
christina says
Just give him the chairs. They were just a find for you and it sounds like he will enjoy them.
Beryl R says
I would Keep the chairs!
Gail Nowakowsky says
Sounds like you have great neighbours. Give him the chairs. My dad used to say,” you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” He may be motivated to make you the chicken dinner anyway.
Claudia says
Pay it forward Mavis. You’ll never regret it.
Tracy says
Use your head and give the chairs without strings attached to your neighbor immediately. Good neighbors are a wonderful gift that will keep on giving as long as you live nearby. And for God’s sake don’t “negotiate” for them. Tacky! I’m with your husband, 100%, on this one.
Nan says
Is the neighbor one to sit at the beach? Maybe he/she is one step ahead of you and also looked up the value of the chairs to sell!!! Just Sayin
Fried chicken would be yummy even better with a pie!!!
Molly Jo says
Oh Nan you and I think alike LOL But then I have been an antique dealer for 35 years and have sold on ebay for 23 years so i look up EVERYTHING, before I give or throw it away.
BUT in this case if it is the kiln neighbor or the green house people give them the chairs!
Granny B says
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!!
Good neighbor relationships are so much more valuable than used beach chairs.
Terena says
Totally agree!
Vicki in Birmingham says
Well, if your neighbor read about the chairs on your blog, then he is likely reading about the “other” considerations of an appetizer and dessert. Chances are, he may come up with that on his own (so to speak!).
Carolina Cooper says
Be sure to let us know what you decide and how this all turns out!!! I laughed out loud at the HH’s comment as well as the comment by a reader about who died in the chairs,
Nancy D says
This reminds me of when you wore your pilgrim dress and bartered with people with your home grown produce. And since you are now MUCH closer to where the pilgrims lived than in your previous PNW, I think you should wear it when/if you decide to enact the barter and photograph the deed for old times sake.
KCB says
I agree with HH. Great neighbors are a treasure!
Terri says
Don’t even start this selling stuff…do you ever watch “Hoarders”?
Give him the chairs for the fried chicken.
Dee says
Your neighbors read your blog, so they asked to trade for dinner. Forget about the value of the chairs – that wasn’t important to you until someone else wanted them.
Good neighbors are worth far more. Make the trade, but ask them to share the meal with you. In the future, don’t talk about your found treasures until you know more about them. I don’t fry chicken, so this would be a done deal for me.
Di says
Personally, I’d rather eat chicken than eat crow…….