Garage Sale Gurus - What do you think?

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I'm an old hand at the garage/yard sale thing, but I'm sick to death of price stickers. Either people disregard the stickers entirely and try to set their own prices, or the darned things come off and litter the lawn - and still leave me haggling with people because the sticker is gone. Since I have a ton of clothing items this summer, I thought I'd try to avoid the sticker thing and encourage "bulk" buying by simply charging $1 for one item, $3 for 5 items, and $5 to fill a grocery bag. Obviously, some items are worth more than $1 each, and some are worth less than that; however, this system should pretty much equalize everything in the long run. A person who balks at paying $1 for a tee shirt probably wouldn't mind getting 5 at 60 cents each, as well.

What do you think? If you think this wouldn't work, I'd love to hear alternatives as well. Thanks!

 

[pjlla]

For clothing I have done..... fill a bag for $1 UNLESS OTHERWISE MARKED!! Most of the "fill a bag" clothing I have folded and put on tables... the better stuff I hang and mark the prices individually (things like winter coats, snow pants, fancy dresses). Maybe this will help!.................P

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I usually mark all except clothing. I make a sign 50-cents each 3/$1.00 or whatever. If you have a lot of like items, such a books, you could do the same.

 

[ceecee]

I tried the table thing one year, within minutes the $1.00 table was .25, etc...... then when they went to pay they would say I got these from the .25 table. I actually had a lady change price stickers on some pots and pans I had. AND the kicker, I had opened Happy Meal toys for .10 and unopened for .25 and watched a lady open three and come and buy them.

 

[pegster]

I HAVE BEEN TO SOME YARD SALES AND THEY DO THE FILL A BAG THING AND I LOVED IT!! THEY POINTED US IN THE DIRECTION AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK SEVERAL TIMES HOW MUCH IS THIS. I AM NOT ONE WHO TRIES TO TALK ONE DOWN. I FEEL IF THEY WANT THAT MUCH TNA THAT IS WHAT YOU SHOULD PAY OR DON'T BUY.
~GOOD LUCK~

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

Last year I was stung by a (seemingly nice old) lady who asked if she could get a bargain if she bought an entire box of knickknacks. When I told her she could have the contents of the box for $5, she paid me and then went over to the clothing table. She piled clothes on top of the box and then walked off! When I called to her, she insisted that I'd sold her "the contents of the box" and she was entitled to whatever she put into it. She made out like she was the victim of a scam on my part, and I let her go because other people were looking at me like, "how dare you take advantage of this poor old lady?" Sheesh!

Thank you all for the feedback. I'm definitely leaning toward the fill the bag deal - although I'll have to keep an eye out for that lady!

 

[Leader of the Club]

Originally posted by pjlla
For clothing I have done..... fill a bag for $1 UNLESS OTHERWISE MARKED!! Most of the "fill a bag" clothing I have folded and put on tables... the better stuff I hang and mark the prices individually (things like winter coats, snow pants, fancy dresses). Maybe this will help!.................P

This what I do. I am not looking to make any $$$ on the clothes, just get rid of them! Anything decent that we have I sell on ebay, at the local consignment shop or pass on.

 

[AMClvsMKY]

I can't tell you how many g sales I have walked away from empty handed because items were not clear on the price. It nothing is marked, I just don't want the hassle of finding out each individual price. On the other hand, I have been known to go thru boxes of clothes that have one price clearly marked to see what all is available. At least for people like me, your idea would work out fine. Good Luck!!

 

[welovedis]

Since I have a ton of clothing items this summer, I thought I'd try to avoid the sticker thing and encourage "bulk" buying by simply charging $1 for one item, $3 for 5 items, and $5 to fill a grocery bag

That sounds like a great idea!

For clothing I have done..... fill a bag for $1 UNLESS OTHERWISE MARKED!!

I agree though that some items should sell for more, like winter coats, etc..

She made out like she was the victim of a scam on my part, and I let her go because other people were looking at me like, "how dare you take advantage of this poor old lady?" Sheesh!

OMG!

It nothing is marked, I just don't want the hassle of finding out each individual price.

I agree, I hate asking for the prices on everything. I feel if you can't take the time to price something or have a price list then don't have a sale!

OP-I am having a garage sale this weekend and I have priced everything individually. I did this because I have some really nice items (Gymboree, Lands' End, LL Bean, Kitestrings, etc..) and since everything is in excellent shape I want to get something for these items. I'm lucky in the sense that most garage sales around here don't sell things for a quarter, etc... I've been to some sales recently that rival eBay auctions, (lol), and the people are going nuts for the clothes. We are having a street sale so in additional to a large ad, we are doing a little map on a flyer to show which houses are in the sale and what they have to sell. We hope it will encourage more buyers to check things out that interest them.

I priced my items with fluorescent green Avery stickers and printed the stickers out on my printer using their template-easy! For the clothes, I used a tiny stapler to secure the price tag to the brand or size label. It is easy to move to read the label, but can't be taken off easily. I also have sorted the clothing into sizes (like 4/5 Boys, Short Sleeved Tees, 4/5 Bottoms, etc..) to make it easier to look through.

Anyway-
Good luck with you sale and let us know what you chose to do & how it turned out!