Garage Sale woes....

[LovableGluttons]

I hate yard sales. When I was younger and poorer, I did go, mostly for toys or clothes for my kids. However, I hate when the people who are selling the stuff try to recoup the money they spent on the item. Really, you should be selling it for about 20% or less of what you paid for it. In my town, the people want almost half or more-really, I can do better at a sale and buy new. I don't understand that thinking "I paid ___ for it" and I want it back. I think if you have a yard sale, it is to get rid of stuff you don't want to see ever again. If something means that much that you need almost the amount you paid-keep the item. I hate yard sales and I never go. And, honestly, I cannot imagine giving up a saturday to have one. I would rather donate the items and pick up some more hours at my job if I needed the money so bad.

I could have written your post. I priced everything at my garage sale for a dime each and was still stuck with a bunch left. I could have just put in more time at work for less effort.

 

[QVCshopper]

Where do people get all of this stuff to sell anyway? I just donate a bag or so as needed, but I'm not going to hold onto it for years to accumulate enough. Unless moving and looking to unload, I don't think I'd ever have enough to hold a sale. I like to park in the garage and don't have attic access and have a finished basement, which means no place to store unwanted stuff--probably a good thing.

The key is not to buy it in the first place. Even if it's cheap, if I don't need or want it, then I'm learning to leave it there. Or, I give a gift I don't need/want to someone who does. And, I'm buying most of my gear for my third baby at this great thrift store. Buy it cheap, use it, donate it back. I did buy the car seats and stroller new though. It's just stuff, I'm letting go of the emotional attachment.

I used to like garage sale shopping enough, but not with kids. Too hard.

 

[nunzia]

$3 for used shoes does indeed sound like too much at a yard sale & I really don't care what they cost initially. The type of person who wants $50 shoes for their kids isn't going to buy a used pair of shoes. Name brand or not, to a yard saler it's just a used pair of shoes. Snow boots or other necessary items might be an exception. But, used dress shoes? $.50-1 regardless of brand.

I pretty much agree here. Used is still used. Stuff is new one time and then..it's used. I yard sale alot..mainly to resell, but find some decent stuff for myself once in awhile, and I don't care what it costs new. I have seen shoes and stuff go for $3.00 but it has to be someone who likes it enough to pay more than say, $1.00..maybe folks liked the shoes but they weren't the right size. The "type" of people who go to yard sales comment was a bit insulting(not the one quoted above, a different poster). I also think it's pretty gross to sell used underwear but to each their own. I think makiing $500 was a decent morning actually. A lot of peple seem to think real highly of their stuff..I'm still seeing people who try to sell old VHS tapes for $3.00

 

[mrsklamc]

The reason people are willing to dig through other people's junk at a garage sale is to get a HUGE bargain. If you want more for something because it's a brand name, a garage sale is not the right venue to sell it. Craigslist, ebay,...but at a garage sale a used purse is a used purse is a used purse.

I STRONGLY disagree about not marking stuff. If I walk up to a sale and things aren't marked, I leave.

 

[nunzia]

I notice a lot of time they want to buy for cheap and then re-sell them online for way more

Of course they do..it's a cottage industry...if you wanted to sell them on Ebay first you could do so. Yes, some folks are rude at garage sales and pushy (we live on the border as well and big trucks come up weekly and they load up to take stuff back..and they are the worst of the hagglers and pushing others away to grab stuff.) You don't have to haggle..just said NO and they'll go away. I don't ever haggle..I am not in Juarez..if a price is too high for me I walk away and I never mess people's things up. I would not sell my Dooneys at a yard sale..I'd sell them myself online, or Craigs list or at a consignment shop. Yard sales bring with them a certain mind set of what a fair price is, but I have bought Dooneys for $15 and resold them..I also picked up an Anuschka for $12, but I kept that puppy.
I disagree about not marking things..you will be set up by an onslaught of people wanting to know how much something is and then you'll be trying to pull a thought out of your head when too much is going on..I hate that..I don't have time to wait for someone in front of me to ask how much something is and have the person selling going "uh..what do you think? A couple dollars? how about you take 6 for $10? No..then what did you think? " I go to about 20-25 sales in a couple hours and this is just frustrating. You don't need to mark everything but at least have signs..Papberback books .25, jeans $2.00..whatever..and then mark other stuff.

 

[disneychic2]

I plan to have a yard sale this year. It is a lot of work, and I think this will be my last one. I don't have them very often, maybe 4 or 5 in 25 years. I try to price everything to sell (but I don't mind dickering a bit) and then on the last day, I say everything is 50 cents and let people have at it. Someone got a Cuisenart vegetable steamer for 50cents at my last sale. It was barely used. Then, the last couple of hours I marked everything for free. I always have a box of little stuffed animals so if any kids come with their parents, they can pick something for free from the box. I have never made $500 at any of my sales! I would be thrilled beyond words with that. It's just something I do to get rid of things when they are no longer useful. It's not meant to feed our family or fund a vacation (thank the Lord!).

Speaking as a Grandmother, I would pay $3 for a nearly new pair of shoes for my granddaughters if the size was right. I paid that for a pair of sneakers for one of them and was happy to get them since they looked barely worn and they grow out of everything so fast as a 3 year old!

I don't routinely go to yard sales, but if I'm driving by and something catches my eye, or if it's a neighborhood thing, I usually go.

ETA: After my sale is over, everything gets boxed up and taken to Goodwill or Salvation Army. NOTHING comes back into the house. (My DH tends to peruse the tables and say things like "You're getting ride of that??" So I have to police him to make sure he doesn't stash anything!

 

[PennyInPink]

Have you guys tried the Facebook Garage Sales? I belong to a few in my area. I post a pic of the item, a description, and the price. What I like about it is that I do not have to bother with shipping stuff becasue since it's local, we just arrange to meet up somewhere. Look for them for your area with words like garage sale, yard sale, swap, freebies, etc.

 

[declansdad]

gross...gross..gross

used swimsuits are just as bad.

 

[KBoopaloo]

Several years ago my aunt had a yard sale and we brought some things over to sell as well. I mocked her endlessly when I saw she had put my little cousin's used underwear out with the rest of the clothes. I kept saying "Who in the world will buy used underwear???" It was the first thing that sold. I was so grossed out.

 

[sk!mom]

Where do people get all of this stuff to sell anyway? I just donate a bag or so as needed, but I'm not going to hold onto it for years to accumulate enough. Unless moving and looking to unload, I don't think I'd ever have enough to hold a sale. I like to park in the garage and don't have attic access and have a finished basement, which means no place to store unwanted stuff--probably a good thing.

The key is not to buy it in the first place. Even if it's cheap, if I don't need or want it, then I'm learning to leave it there. Or, I give a gift I don't need/want to someone who does.

This! DD16 is the only one who needs to clean out her closets and drawers a couple of times a year and will have things that she doesn't want. I take them to Hut 8 or Plato's Closet and sell them. DH and I use our stuff until it's worn out.

We did a full home remodel a couple of years ago and we did sell a few big items on Craig's List- fridge, microwave. We gave bar stools and table and chairs to someone who needed them. We donated the cabinets and such to a home remodeling charity.

When my kids were young, I did have a few garage sales to get rid of outgrown toys but truly hated the hassle. I think our last one was when DD was maybe 5 or 6. After that, we gave outgrown toys to her long time sitter for her in home day care.

Now that I don't have young kids constantly outgrowing stuff, we just don't buy much. I'm amazed by people posting that they are selling stuff with tags. If you weren't going to use it, why did you buy it?

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Where do people get all of this stuff to sell anyway? I just donate a bag or so as needed, but I'm not going to hold onto it for years to accumulate enough. Unless moving and looking to unload, I don't think I'd ever have enough to hold a sale. I like to park in the garage and don't have attic access and have a finished basement, which means no place to store unwanted stuff--probably a good thing.

The key is not to buy it in the first place. Even if it's cheap, if I don't need or want it, then I'm learning to leave it there. Or, I give a gift I don't need/want to someone who does. And, I'm buying most of my gear for my third baby at this great thrift store. Buy it cheap, use it, donate it back. I did buy the car seats and stroller new though. It's just stuff, I'm letting go of the emotional attachment.

I used to like garage sale shopping enough, but not with kids. Too hard.

DD is 11, and DS is 9. DD grew so quickly within the past 2 years, that she jumped several sizes. She's thin, but VERY tall for her age. I will not allow her to wear shorts/skirts that aren't "finger-tip length" so she had to get rid of tons of clothes! DS hasn't grown near as fast, but he did have quite a bit of clothes to sell. They also outgrow toys as they age. All of this stuff is stored neatly, in boxes, in my huge attic. We have a 2-car garage, and park there also.

My Mom passed away 2 years ago, and we've had ALLLL of her stuff in my attic since she had moved in with us (which was 9 mos before she died.) This was also neatly stacked, in boxes, in the attic. So, we had a little bit of everything you can imagine at this sale, because it was basically her whole house stored in our attic!

As far as everyone saying "$500 is a great amount of money for a sale!" I'm not arguing with you at all! I did have the sale Friday and Saturday (not just 1 morning.) We will put that $500 directly on the principle of our house. Where we used to live, we would make $1000 EVERY garage sale. I guess I got spoiled I've just never had a sale THIS big, and THIS organized. I expected a little more. To make $500 for someone else to haul off our junk is fabulous!

 

[Alexander]

Where do people get all of this stuff to sell anyway? I just donate a bag or so as needed, but I'm not going to hold onto it for years to accumulate enough. Unless moving and looking to unload, I don't think I'd ever have enough to hold a sale. I like to park in the garage and don't have attic access and have a finished basement, which means no place to store unwanted stuff--probably a good thing.

The key is not to buy it in the first place. Even if it's cheap, if I don't need or want it, then I'm learning to leave it there. Or, I give a gift I don't need/want to someone who does. And, I'm buying most of my gear for my third baby at this great thrift store. Buy it cheap, use it, donate it back. I did buy the car seats and stroller new though. It's just stuff, I'm letting go of the emotional attachment.

I used to like garage sale shopping enough, but not with kids. Too hard.

Grandparents buy stuff for the kids endlessly, teacher gifts (Christmas, end-of-year), birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, clothes the kids are outgrowing by the month. Very little of our "junk" is stuff I even buy.

I do have to say that it is ironic that your name is QVCshopper and that was your post!

 

[rszdtrvl]

We are planning on having a yard sale on Thursday. Yes, it is a lot of work, but we have a lot of "stuff" to get rid of. Today will be spent digging through cupboards, dressers, closets, and drawers looking for stuff we no longer use and pricing them. I need to go to Dollar Tree as soon as DH gets home from work to get some price stickers (can't find mine!).

As for used underwear, if it gets you money, then sell it! I would never sell DS's underwear, not only for embarrasment factor, but in case some sort of perv bought them. As long as they are clean, more power to you!

We are hoping to make $300 - enough to pay for our Great Wolf Lodge trip in a couple of weeks.

We have never had a sale on a Thursday - sales are normally Friday and Saturday around here - but we went to a sale on a Thursday a few weeks back and were shocked at the amount of people lined up for it.

Fingers crossed we do okay - not only is it a Thursday sale, but it is also the day after a major holiday.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Grandparents buy stuff for the kids endlessly, teacher gifts (Christmas, end-of-year), birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, clothes the kids are outgrowing by the month. Very little of our "junk" is stuff I even buy.

I do have to say that it is ironic that your name is QVCshopper and that was your post!

I agree with everything you said. AND I thought that was ironic too

 

[pg0314]

It's more the way the people coming to the garage sale behave. When I've had them in the past, most of the shoppers treat my items terribly - they toss the around and knock them on the ground. I have at least two or three items get broken each time I have a sale, and the people who broke are never never apologetic or offer to pay. If I have a $50 jacket marked for $2, they want to give me $.50 for it. They are rude and disrespectful, and every year I swear I'm never having another one.

Amen! This is exactly why I stopped having yard sales. The straw that broke the camel's back for me was this: A guy bought a hair dryer for $1. He wanted to know if it worked and I assured him that it did. He wanted to plug it in and try it. Not unreasonable, but we don't have an outdoor electrical outlet. He basically demanded to go inside the house to plug the thing in.
Um ... that would be NO! He was furious that I wouldn't let a total stranger inside my house and stomped away in a huff. (And yes, he bought the hair dryer!)

 

[angwill]

Funny though, my used bathing suits sell for the most and I am skeeved by the idea of buying a used bathing suit, but hey to each their own!

You and me both. I buy my bathing suits, undies, and bras
thought the mail hoping it will be less likely to be tried on by anyone before me which even skeeves me out to think about.

I had to add I am not judging and anyone can sell whatever they want. I am just saying I am weird about that stuff and would not buy it but someone will.

 

[pixiewings71]

$3 for used shoes does indeed sound like too much at a yard sale & I really don't care what they cost initially. The type of person who wants $50 shoes for their kids isn't going to buy a used pair of shoes. Name brand or not, to a yard saler it's just a used pair of shoes. Snow boots or other necessary items might be an exception. But, used dress shoes? $.50-1 regardless of brand.

I would happily pay $3 for a pair of used shoes that looked brand new!

We are planning on having a yard sale on Thursday. Yes, it is a lot of work, but we have a lot of "stuff" to get rid of. Today will be spent digging through cupboards, dressers, closets, and drawers looking for stuff we no longer use and pricing them. I need to go to Dollar Tree as soon as DH gets home from work to get some price stickers (can't find mine!).

As for used underwear, if it gets you money, then sell it! I would never sell DS's underwear, not only for embarrasment factor, but in case some sort of perv bought them. As long as they are clean, more power to you!

We are hoping to make $300 - enough to pay for our Great Wolf Lodge trip in a couple of weeks.

We have never had a sale on a Thursday - sales are normally Friday and Saturday around here - but we went to a sale on a Thursday a few weeks back and were shocked at the amount of people lined up for it.

Fingers crossed we do okay - not only is it a Thursday sale, but it is also the day after a major holiday.

I have to say, around here on a Thursday there would be very little people who came, most of us are working. Good luck!! I hope your strategy works!

I rarely do garage sales, we get the same hagglers and it drives me nuts. At my last one I had a box of stuff marked free, one lady walked in, picked up the whole box and walked back to her car.....it was toys and such for kids. LOL I made about $300 and we took a LOT of stuff to Goodwill after. I'm trying to decide if I want to do another garage sale or just donate it all.....

 

[weHEARTmickey]

We are planning on having a yard sale on Thursday. Yes, it is a lot of work, but we have a lot of "stuff" to get rid of. Today will be spent digging through cupboards, dressers, closets, and drawers looking for stuff we no longer use and pricing them. I need to go to Dollar Tree as soon as DH gets home from work to get some price stickers (can't find mine!).

As for used underwear, if it gets you money, then sell it! I would never sell DS's underwear, not only for embarrasment factor, but in case some sort of perv bought them. As long as they are clean, more power to you!

We are hoping to make $300 - enough to pay for our Great Wolf Lodge trip in a couple of weeks.

We have never had a sale on a Thursday - sales are normally Friday and Saturday around here - but we went to a sale on a Thursday a few weeks back and were shocked at the amount of people lined up for it.

Fingers crossed we do okay - not only is it a Thursday sale, but it is also the day after a major holiday.

We always spend about $50 in newspaper advertising. We have 2 local newspapers that service our area. I list EVERYTHING I can think of. If I were you, I'd try to get it in Tues, Wed, & Thurs paper. Put signs up everywhere you can think of. If your town doesn't already have one, start a "For Sale in YOUR CITY" facebook page. Invite all of your local friends to the page & ask them to invite all of their friends. Everyone can list individual items for sale, or advertise their garage sale for FREE

I didn't notice where you live, but here in TX, it was H.O.T. during our sale. I had 2 different fans blowing at full speed & had a cooler full of ice cold water that we sold for $.75 each. (They cost us $.12 a piece) Good luck!

 

[germ539]

When DS was little, I could sell his clothes like they were going out of style, but now I can't. It's beenn= 3 years since my last garage sale and if I have stuff, now I itemize it and donate it for tax purposes.

I love going to garage sales, especially in the summer months buying Xmas stuff for my crafts I do, seems like summer time is the best time to buy Xmas stuff since people aren't thinking about that time of year and you can get the stuff at a good price.

 

[QVCshopper]

Grandparents buy stuff for the kids endlessly, teacher gifts (Christmas, end-of-year), birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, clothes the kids are outgrowing by the month. Very little of our "junk" is stuff I even buy.

I do have to say that it is ironic that your name is QVCshopper and that was your post!

Ha! I work at QVC--my name is a bit of free publicity. I really love QVC because they have been good to me.

As far as kid clothes, I give mine to the various cousins. My DD7 is over 4'6", I know about growing quickly. She skipped entire sizes, and is now in 10/12 and size 4 shoes. As far as Christmas presents, I try to guide grandparents to not buy tons, and give suggestions. This past year, I shopped for my mother-in-law because she was too sick to do her own shopping.

Oh well. I've gone from liking shopping A LOT to pretty much not liking stuff anymore. My parents are borderline hoarders so that's probably why I have made the switch. Now, I use it and get rid of it almost immediately.