Garage Sales - how to price the items...

[mousefanmichelle]

Hi everyone!

I am going to have a garage sale hopefully in April sometime and I want to make sure that I price the items so that I don't loose $$$$ on my stuff. Not to be greedy but I know what I paid for the stuff I want to sell ya know what I mean?! I just don't how to price the stuff - what is a good guideline for pricing the items? Clothes, bike trailer for 2 kids (the kind that attaches to adult bike), outdoor items for kids bikes, picnic table, little tykes stuff - kitchen, vanity for little girls.

TIA!!!!
Michelle

 

[snomofinn]

Every year we have a block garage sale in our neighborhood. I usually price things according to how much I payed for them and what condition there in when Iam selling them. For example both my girls shop at Abercrombie and Fitch or American Eagle or similar stores. If there getting rid of some of the clothes that look brand new (most of them do) then I sell those on Ebay, you'll never get what there worth at a garage sale. I've tried that and people look at you like your off your rocker Anyways, like if I payed 20.00 for something new and it's still fairly new looking I'll put 5.00 on it, of course if it was never used I just cut the purchase price in half. But you don't want to overprice yourself either because people will just walk away and not buy anything. People come to garage sales to get a deal, they don't care if your selling cheap stuff or high quality stuff, they want it dirt cheap. Last year at our year sale, I had put out a Abercrombie winter coat from my DD and I priced it at $25.00, I originally bought it for $200.00, but she wore it for 2 seasons, it still looked like new since we dry cleaned it all the time, and people were looking at me like I was a nut case for having a $25.00 price tag on it. So after a few comments I took it off the rack and put it back in my house to sell on ebay. Baby toys and clothes seem to really sell. Have fun and don't over price yourself!

 

[kellia]

I sell the good stuff on Ebay, too! The rest of it goes in the garage sale. Out sub has one every year, so we get lots of traffic since there aren't many subdivisions in our area. You do have to price things cheaply. I usually put out 'general' signs, like all books .25, all clothes .50, movies $1, etc. My goal for garage sales is to make enough to cover what I end up buying that day! LOL!!

 

[i3utterfli82]

We just had our community sale last weekend. Things go cheap, especially if there are other sales in the area selling the same kind of stuff. Good stuff sell on ebay. My daughters clothes went for .25 cents a piece (and I still have 7 boxes leftover!) I sold kids outdoor play stuff for $5 and $10. Small house hold items from .25 to $1. Really, you will need to keep it cheap if you want to get rid of it.

 

[java]

First off you used the items right? so you won't get back your full amount at all- so you will be losing $$ but you can be smart about it. Be careful with the little tykes stuff- I had a woman come first thing in the morning and take it all- then offered me about 75% of what they were marked*and they were cheap I was just looking to clear out. So I let her have it she got a great deal. People are looking for deals at Garage sales. They want it cheap. Why buy it used if for just 10% more they could get it new. I think it would have to be at least 50% off to go at a garage sale. If you want to sell the bike thing for a higher price- I would put that in the ad. Don't put bike trailer and then try to get big $$.
We have had one garage sale(made great $$$-over $2000!- biggest item we sold was a entry way stand for $250)But I will tell you people are cheap. They will bargain you to death. And the funny thing is it was the cheap stuff- like the 50cent stuff- they would want 2 for .50 I was selling a coach bag for $20! And a woman wanted to give me $10. It was a great looking bag and in great shape- I said no thanks.
If you really want to sell a big ticket thing I would think ebay or craigslist it.

 

[summerrluvv]

I personally wouldn't pay $5 for a $20 item at a garage sale. That's too expensive. You have to price things cheap cheap cheap! Also, make sure you put actual price tags on the items. Nothing bugs me more than going to a garage sale where I have to ask how much each and every item costs.

 

[coolbeans]

We are having one next weekend, most kids clothes (size 10-14) and adult clothes are 50 cents a piece, baby clothes (good condition, like new) 50 cents -$1.00 depending on how good it looks. I have a baby swing (open top, pretty basic) that I'm going to try $20...and a car seat with two bases that I haven't priced yet. Still debating a price for that one.

I sometimes price big items higher than I think they will sell just to leave room to haggle with people. They HAVE to think that they got you on the price or it's not worth it to them.

good luck, yard sales are fun, they just start too early in the morning. You have to be out early and set up most people who shop plan a route so advertise early in the week, either in the paper or signs around town.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

Thanks for the advice.

I am wondering would it be better to do a Mom to Mom sale instead? Our elementary is having one in April as well. Like I mentioned I still have some things - the bike trailer (2 kid), picnic table, L/T kitchen and vanity, umbrella stroller, pac n play and my crib? I would like to get some decent $ for at least the crib and bike trailer? Anyone done the Mom to Mom sales before? I have gone to 1 but that was when I was expecting my daughter 9 years ago so I don't really remember very well.

 

[i3utterfli82]

You could always craigslist the baby stuff. Honestly, I do not know how much you are expecting for the outdoor stuff, but a picnic table I would put $20 on, the kitchen would depend on what model form $10-$40 and vanity $15-$20. The umbrella stroller you might get $5 for. I listed my John Lennon pac and play playpen for $10 and it didn't sell, lol!

These are just some numbers off the top of my head that I would sell for on a garage sale. I have never done a mom sale.

 

[DawnM]

I generally will pay between 10-20% of retail price at a yard sale.

We scored big time on lego sets last fall. I got 5 sets that originally cost $100 for $10 each or less with full instructions, etc...

I love going to yard sales, but I wouldn't have one. It is too much hassle for the low amount of $$. Plus I don't live in an area where I could get a lot of people coming in.

Dawn

 

[american_gramma]

My daughter prices things at our garage sale at an amount she'd pay for the item if she were shopping. We have a sale every spring & do fairly well. Weather has been against us the last several years though. Cold & rainy!

Good luck at your sale; they're fun but very tiring!