Mr. Used’s moving sale

After 17 years in his Barton St location, Mr. Used has decided it’s time to downsize and move on.

The warehouse is the resting place for hundreds of various used items for sale. Len Wareing is having a liquidation special, in hopes he can move into a space that is 7,000 square feet, a tenth of the 70,000 square feet it is now.

Anyone with a pick up truck can fill it to the brim with almost anything they want – for $600. This is Wareing’s strategy for downsizing his business and slowing down after 30 years. But how did Mr. Used get his start?:  “I bought a load of stuff and from that if I bought something, I sold something — and as you can see it accumulated.”

Many are quick to cast off the hundreds of items ranging from old broadcast equipment, to bygone TV sets and rows of porcelain toilets as junk.

“It’s not. I’m trying to recycle what doesn’t go in the garbage. Hopefully someone else can use it and it gets back out there for a while.”

And what do shoppers think? “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. It’s what you can use.”

Mr. Used doesn’t consider himself a hard bargainer; he says no fair price will be denied.

“I try to keep the prices so they are reasonable. I will be negotiable with someone with a good attitude, but if they have a bad attitude forget it.”

“I’ve always found len to be very fair with me.”

“If he asks for $5, I pay the $5. I trust him.”

Many of the items have collected dust and you must be prepared to rummage to find the gem you’re looking for.

“I collect old service station items. I’ve been coming here for about ten years off and bought things in the past from Len.”

Len may have aquired and sold thousands of items over the years, but there is one treasure he has no intention of parting with.

“There’s a painting on the wall, I’m not gonna let it go, I’m goning to buy it myself and take it home.”

And of course, he got it for a steal.

“I seen ’em and thought ‘ahh, they’re gorgeous’ – I didn’t tell him that of course. I wanted to get a good price.”

The warehouse is massive and you could easily get lost in there. If you have a car you can fill up the trunk and back seat for $400; minivans are $500.