Consignment sale season

[999ghostslover]

I'm so excited for consignment sale season. I already have about 100 items ironed, hung and pinned. I'm just waiting to hear the dates for my favorite consignment sale to post and then I'll start pricing and sorting. I made about $230 in the spring sale. It went toward other clothes purchases. Now that we are doing Dave Ramsey I have plenty of money in my clothing envelope so I am pretty sure whatever I make I will put toward our trip. Our goal is to not spend one dime of salary on the trip. I have a lot of big items to sell as well. A double stroller (although I hope to find a new used one), a jumparoo, bouncy seat and swings etc. I would love to hit $400 sold and then put abut $330 away for Disney assuming I buy a double stroller.

Does anyone else look forward to (but dread the work of) consignment sale season? How many sales do you hit? Do you get a priority shopping number for volunteering at the sale? I have personally never done that but would like to one day.

 

[wgwtgb]

Is this done locally around you? I have never heard of this.

 

[KATODAYO]

I need to start getting ready for the one I always participate in - I have my dropoff in 2 wks! I always make at least $200 - $300 and this year it will go straight to Disney fund. We have about 6 or 7 of them each season where I am at. I pay a $15 fee and the organizers (usually a church or some other group) keeps 30% of my sales. I always make a ton more than at a garage sale and I don't have to deal with the people!

 

[amiemac78]

Yes, I love the consignment sales. I am on the committee of our local sale. Our sale is in two weeks. We have 200 sellers signed up and a large waiting list if anyone cancels. All the money I make this year is going to our Disney trip as well. Hoping to make between 600.00 to 800.00. Good luck to you at your sale!

 

[SYDCOLEMOM]

I always do the local consignment sales (Spring and Fall). Last week I consigned my daughters clothes from last fall and made $427.63 - we leave in 5 days soooo this will come in handy on our WDW vacation. Its easy and I make a ton more than selling them in a yard sale and its way easier than messing with ebay. They sale was Thurs/Fri/Sat and I had my check Sunday. Its also a great way to buy gently used clothes.

 

[Purseval]

We have so many good yard sales that we don't waste our time on consignment sales, which generally price their clothing higher. A lot of churches do that to raise money so they have their parishoners as customers. Since that could be the only sale many of them ever go to the stuff actually looks like a bargain compared to what they normally see.

 

[Juliee8]

I just participated in my first consignment sale last weekend, and I made $450! I had no idea what to expect to make, but I was pleased! They are having another one the first part of November in another city nearby so I think that I will be taking the rest of my stuff to that one to see if I can get rid of some more before our trip!!

 

[kristin1724]

We just had our's. I was pretty happy with my results. I didn't actually buy anything since I really wanted all of the money to go towards our trip (which is in 15 days! ). I took about 175 items (mostly clothing) and sold about 85 of them and my net was about $475. I did volunteer for a 4-hour shift but only because you get an extra 5%. I don't think all of the work was worth 5% but it was the first time I had done it so I thought I would try. I wasn't really looking for anything this time but next time I might volunteer due to the early shopping advantage.

I actually scheduled a garage sale for the weekend before thinking if some of it sold then I would be able to sell it without paying the consignment fee but we had an awful turnout and very few people came by. I've decided the consignment sale (at least for the kids clothes and items) is the way to go - garage sales are SO much work for very little income. At least that was my experience in our neighborhood.

 

[las3888]

I have participated in a couple of sales but I haven't made quite that much $$$...maybe $160 or so. It can be very tedious going through the items, pricing, hanging, tagging, but I do enjoy making the money. I almost always turn around and spend what I make though because it is such guilt-free shopping at the sales! I figure I will turn around and sell whatever I buy for the most part anyways. It has been a great way to pick up some sports gear also which never goes on sale (soccer shoes, t-ball pants that kind of stuff).

I have volunteered 2 different times. Once it was to sort and hang clothes prior to the sale--the other was during the sale I straightened and organized the girls clothing section. I much preferred to work during the sale--when I worked prior to the sale, I ended up hanging and tagging items from a seller who didn't do hers (that was an option at our sale). Ugh...as if I hadn't done that enough!!!!!

Have fun and good luck!

 

[mommy2twingles]

This is the first time I am not volunteering at the sale as well as selling. I am interested to see how much difference it really makes in what my profit is. I just don't have time this season. Just started entering things yesterday and drop off is in 2 weeks Doesn't help that we are trying to get our house ready to move and the new house painted and ready. I wouldn't miss it though. Last fall between 2 sales I make close to $900 and in spring made about $400. I promised my son that all profit from fall and spring will go toward Disney. It would help if I figured out which tote I stuck my tagging gun in though. I've been through 3 bins so far and printed tags but no gun to attach them has been found yet.

 

[iluvdiscruises]

I organize a 2x a year one and ours is coming up 9/25...our sellers are getting excited...I can tell by the # of questions coming in!

We charge more, $35, but people keep 100% of what they make. The $35 covers the rental, event insurance and pennysaver advertising. We all did really well last time, so it completely motivated people to dig deeper into the closets and bring more stuff! We had one seller make over $500 just on clothes...the majority of our sellers brought a variety of items (clothes, toys, gear, etc.) so most did very well.

I love to shop at our sale too...the items seem "free" since I am just spending $ that I make that day!

Let the season begin!

 

[999ghostslover]

Is this done locally around you? I have never heard of this.

Yes, they are done pretty much eveywhere nowadays. A group of women or a church usually rents out a space for a few weeks and sends out flyers to people. They usually take kids and maternity clothes and stuff. It has to be in really good shape. It is so much better than going to a consignment store which can be hit or miss. I have found some AMAZING deals and have made some good money along the way.

I organize a 2x a year one and ours is coming up 9/25...our sellers are getting excited...I can tell by the # of questions coming in!

We charge more, $35, but people keep 100% of what they make. The $35 covers the rental, event insurance and pennysaver advertising. We all did really well last time, so it completely motivated people to dig deeper into the closets and bring more stuff! We had one seller make over $500 just on clothes...the majority of our sellers brought a variety of items (clothes, toys, gear, etc.) so most did very well.

I love to shop at our sale too...the items seem "free" since I am just spending $ that I make that day!

Let the season begin!

Wow, I would love to participate in one like that. I always shake my head when I think about how much money those women make. 30% adds up quick! I am going to try to Craig's List a few of my big ticket items. If they don't sell then I can always put them in the spring sale.

 

[soccerchick]

We have so many good yard sales that we don't waste our time on consignment sales, which generally price their clothing higher. A lot of churches do that to raise money so they have their parishoners as customers. Since that could be the only sale many of them ever go to the stuff actually looks like a bargain compared to what they normally see.

Yes, items sometimes costs more than a yard sale (sometimes not), but I am not spending gas and time driving around hoping someone will have the sizes I need at a yard sale. At a consiggment sale, I can shop for all my kids at one stop. Quality control is better at some consignments sales than others, but in the long run, the extra dollar or two is worth it, IMO.

I sell and volunteer with a group that does a spring and fall one. I try to hang and price as clothes are outgrown, so that it isn't cumbersome.

 

[999ghostslover]

Yes, items sometimes costs more than a yard sale (sometimes not), but I am not spending gas and time driving around hoping someone will have the sizes I need at a yard sale. At a consignment sale, I can shop for all my kids at one stop. Quality control is better at some consignments sales than others, but in the long run, the extra dollar or two is worth it, IMO.

I sell and volunteer with a group that does a spring and fall one. I try to hang and price as clothes are outgrown, so that it isn't cumbersome.

I agree. I live in an upscale area in North Alabama. And if you want to get anything good you would have to hit one yard sale at 6:30 AM every weekend. Even neighborhood ones. There are just too many "country" people that drive over here and get all of the good stuff.
I do wish people were more conscious though when they price their items at Consign sales. I hate it when people try to sell used walmart clothes for 30% off full price. I go for the good stuff only. Kelly's Kids, Gap, Gymbo, Stausburg etc. And I can get it at the consignment sales. It is like going fishing. I have a list of things that it would be nice to find and a budget. I always go on the priority shopping days because kids aren't allowed and it makes it so much easier to focus.

 

[Purseval]

Yes, items sometimes costs more than a yard sale (sometimes not), but I am not spending gas and time driving around hoping someone will have the sizes I need at a yard sale. At a consiggment sale, I can shop for all my kids at one stop. Quality control is better at some consignments sales than others, but in the long run, the extra dollar or two is worth it, IMO.

Imagine you had a consignment sale every week. How long would it take you to find everything you wanted? Unless you have 18 kids and a reality show my guess is not very long. That's how we are with yard sales. We never go looking for clothing, it's just there. We filled our closets long ago and now it has to be something exceptional in quality and price to even get our attention. We used to get clothing for our teenage neice and nephew who lived in Italy but even they asked us to stop sending stuff. Consignment sales are good for people who never shop anywhere else for used clothing. Plus you get one chance to find your deal of a lifetime. We find deals all the time and most of the time we pass.

I agree. I live in an upscale area in North Alabama. And if you want to get anything good you would have to hit one yard sale at 6:30 AM every weekend. Even neighborhood ones. There are just too many "country" people that drive over here and get all of the good stuff.

Clothing is too cheap and too plentiful for anyone not flying in from another country to go out of their way to find. We have people come to our neighborhood yard sales not just from neighboring town but from neighboring states. They don't look for clothes they look for furniture, playsets, electric cars, lawn mowers, things that make it worth their trip that they can resell. Clothing doesn't cut it.

 

[MickeyP]

I organize a 2x a year one and ours is coming up 9/25...our sellers are getting excited...I can tell by the # of questions coming in!

We charge more, $35, but people keep 100% of what they make. The $35 covers the rental, event insurance and pennysaver advertising. We all did really well last time, so it completely motivated people to dig deeper into the closets and bring more stuff! We had one seller make over $500 just on clothes...the majority of our sellers brought a variety of items (clothes, toys, gear, etc.) so most did very well.

I love to shop at our sale too...the items seem "free" since I am just spending $ that I make that day!

Let the season begin!

Where in NY are you? City or Upstate?

 

[iluvdiscruises]

Where in NY are you? City or Upstate?

Yorktown Heights, 10598 (Westchester County...we call it upstate, but it's really not TRUE upstate NY!)
If you are close and want more details on the sale, PM me...I check that every few days.

 

[soccerchick]

Imagine you had a consignment sale every week. How long would it take you to find everything you wanted? Unless you have 18 kids and a reality show my guess is not very long. That's how we are with yard sales. We never go looking for clothing, it's just there. We filled our closets long ago and now it has to be something exceptional in quality and price to even get our attention. We used to get clothing for our teenage neice and nephew who lived in Italy but even they asked us to stop sending stuff. Consignment sales are good for people who never shop anywhere else for used clothing. Plus you get one chance to find your deal of a lifetime. We find deals all the time and most of the time we pass.

Clothing is too cheap and too plentiful for anyone not flying in from another country to go out of their way to find. We have people come to our neighborhood yard sales not just from neighboring town but from neighboring states. They don't look for clothes they look for furniture, playsets, electric cars, lawn mowers, things that make it worth their trip that they can resell. Clothing doesn't cut it.

You obviously have more time to yard sale than some of us do. Glad it works for you. Not quite sure what all of your post meant as it's unclear, esp. the second paragraph. If you are just on this thread to bash consignment sales, please move on. Some of us save and make a lot of money doing this and it works for us. We aren't bashing yard sales, they just don't work for all people.

 

[999ghostslover]

You obviously have more time to yard sale than some of us do. Glad it works for you. Not quite sure what all of your post meant as it's unclear, esp. the second paragraph. If you are just on this thread to bash consignment sales, please move on. Some of us save and make a lot of money doing this and it works for us. We aren't bashing yard sales, they just don't work for all people.

Yeah, that post was unreal. I get the sense that she/he is not a parent. All of the consignment sales that I know of are for kids so I can see how it would not be for him/her. But who would have thought they could find a way to debate it. Pretty funny.

 

[Purseval]

You obviously have more time to yard sale than some of us do. Glad it works for you. Not quite sure what all of your post meant as it's unclear, esp. the second paragraph.

999ghostslover said that she can't find decent clothing at her local yard sales because "country" people drive in and get it all. I replied that clothing is too cheap and plentiful for anyone to bother traveling to buy it. Fairly simple concept, I don't see how I could make it any clearer but perhaps I just did.