Tradio: The Garage Sale That’s on the Radio

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“Long-time listener, first-time seller.” A radio program in Ohio invites callers to make pitches on the air to sell whatever they want—motorcycles, rocking chairs, wedding rings, air-conditioners, family heirlooms, cars, high school yearbooks, even pets and cemetery plots.

Called Tradio, the program dates back to the 1950s, but has received new life in the recession. A few years ago, calls came in far and few between. But lately, there’s a steady stream of folks calling in with their classified ads to sell odds and ends and make a few bucks. Some of the calls are heartbreakers, with stories of the need to sell something quick after the loss of a job. One man with cancer sold his lawnmower to help pay for medicine.

Read more in the LA Times story.