Home Valu auction 'a monster'

For some bargain hunters, size matters -- and waiting pays off. Those who stood on the sidelines when the smaller Home Valu auctions came and went in Bloomington and Minnetonka now can get set for the home-remodeling store's largest auction, at its flagship Fridley location. The online-only auction will have twice as many items as the previous sales, said Greg Christian, president of Auction Masters of Osseo. "It will be a monster," he said. Items can be seen at his company's website (www.auctionmasters.com) starting Friday, but bidders also can inspect items at the store (5401 East River Rd., Fridley, 763-428-2271) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 8 and 10. Online bidding closes May 11. The best deals at the two previous auctions were rugs and cabinets, Christian said. A Karastan area rug that was regularly $1,300 went for $280, for example. The Fridley sale will have many more cabinets, fixtures, rugs and carpet. A second online auction, May 21 to June 1, will include commercial pallet racking, trucks, carpet and office furniture. Bidders, don't forget that a 10 percent buyer's premium and sales tax are added.

Readers add 2 cents on donating, lawn bags In my April 11 article on charities that will pick up clothing and household goods at your home (www.startribune.com/dollars), I left out the Anoka County Community Action Program (763-783-4735). ACCAP, which donates the goods to income-qualified residents, picks up furniture and household goods, including unstained mattresses in good condition, but not clothes. Pickups occur on Mondays in the Anoka County area, including Champlin and Mounds View.

In a recent Dollars & Sense, I explained that residents in the seven-county metro area, except in Minneapolis, have to use compostable bags for lawn waste. Several readers mentioned another option: a cart just for yard waste, although it might cost extra. Check with your hauler.

Save on green products, and other sales to note In honor of Earth Day, almost everything is 20 percent off at Twin Cities Green (2405 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., 612-374-4581, www.twincitiesgreen.com) through Sunday. The eco-friendly items are reclaimed, recycled, natural or organic. They include furniture, gifts, home decor, toys, baby gear, bedding and gadgets. Special-order items, including mattresses, are not discounted.

Chocolate lovers will want to check out the sale at Chocolate Celeste (2506 W. University Av., St. Paul, 651-644-3823), which will be closing in its current location. Everything, including the exquisite truffles, will be 50 percent off Saturday, the last day. Owner Mary Leonard plans to reopen in a new location in the fall.

Everything is discounted 20 percent at Bibelot gift shops and online store (four locations, www.bibelotshops.com) Saturday and Sunday. ... At Midwest Mountaineering (309 Cedar Av. S., Mpls., 612-339-3433, www.midwestmtn.com), everything is 10 to 60 percent off through Sunday at the Outdoor Adventure Expo. The best deals are upstairs at the Thrifty Outfitters outlet. To be mailed a coupon for an additional 20 percent savings, sign up at www.midwestmtn.com/mailinglist. ... Sign up online for the VIP Club at Albertville Premium Outlets (www.premiumoutlets.com/vip), and you'll save even more Saturday and Sunday. You'll get a sheet to print out for deals at most stores, including 15 to 25 percent off an entire purchase at Clarks Bostonian, Converse, Crocs, Dressbarn, Guess, Harry & David, Hartstrings, Reebok, Rockport and Yankee Candle. ... The Greed Gone Wild sale (2014 Central Av. NE., Mpls., 612-789-6006) has added new vendors to the usual group of stylists and designers selling their wares, including clothing, jewelry, accessories, purses, household and seasonal items, all at garage sale prices. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday.