Barn Sale — Attraction in Hamden

This consignment shop is crammed with everything you can imagine at prices that are easy on the budget. Plan to spend a bit of time looking around because every inch of space is crammed with something for every taste. Volunteers staff the Barn Sale and money earned is contributed to various charities. Check the days and time they are open. Parking on left side of building best. (If you don''t find what you are looking for there, go around the block and shop at nearby Goodwill.) NOTE: NO CLOTHING TAKEN OR SOLD. Although they take fur and perhaps a few other odds and ends.

For someone consigning items things are a bit different. You are assigned a unique ID, then expected to put on each and every item you consign that ID written on masking tape, then you make an appointment to bring your items to the shop being sure that clothing hangers you use are either ones you are willing to leave or prepare to remove them and they will be replaced with Barn Sale hangers, then decisions are made to take or not what you wish to consign. You will be given a sheet of paper with all the rules and regulations. For consigning you enter through a back door on appointment day.

Warning: take a picture of your items with your iPhone or keep a note about each item consigned and here is the reason. If you chose to pick up any items not sold within a month (after that they are priced lower) YOU have to find them in the store and that can be challenging. Sadly my experience has been that some items are not sold and also can't be found no matter how carefully you look in/on every nook, cranny, shelf and table. Why? Light fingered visitors who decide to not pay for something they want. You are out of luck if this happens to one of your items.

And, while I have no proof of this other than overhearing a conversation between two volunteers, some volunteers make it their business to be the first to decide to purchase your item/s prior to being put out for shoppers. Overheard was a volunteer planning to take home to try on an article of clothing just consigned. If she (and they are all women) decides to keep the item let's hope she pays for it when next at the Barn Sale.

For items sold, payment is made twice a year by check with a fee deducted for 'processing' the check. You can request a look at the books to see which of your items have sold and what was their price.

All in all, a very interesting place with lots of something...

VERY DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE...... Shortly after moving to Hamden 16 years ago I found the sweet Barn Sale. It was when Maureen was in charge. What a beautiful person. Her entire staff was completely charming. It was one of my favorite things to do. Lose myself in the Barn Sale. Spending lots of money on items that have become treasures in our home. This past week I stopped in and gathered MANY items to purchase. I have to admit, before I was confronted with a kerfuffle at the checkout table, I overheard a conversation taking place primarily by the in charge lady regarding her opinion of men's cufflinks that had been taken in to consign. She said "what kind of man would wear these other than Liberace" I was floored. She actually Gay shamed or whatever its called out in public. I just couldn't believe what I heard. I will never go in this...

Very upsetting experience. I visited on a Saturday. Made a purchase and realized after that I didn’t buy another item I wanted and thought I had purchased. . Left work early to rush over there but got there at 2:02 pm. Thought they closed at 2:30; my error. I called from my car explained situation to associate. She wouldn’t let me come in and make the purchase. I had exact change. Feel so bad. It would have taken 10 minutes at the most. Exceptions should always be made in...