Selling broken TV at yard sale ?

[lovetoscrap]

I am trying to earn some money for my trip by having a much needed yard sale this weekend. It is is a community-wide sale.

I have a very nice, large (26 in) color television that is broken--there is no picture. It actually has had the picture go out several times and we had it fixed, but we just no longer need it. DH took this last picture failure as his opening to upgrade to Plasma!

So, I am pretty sure it can be fixed if someone wants to put the time and money into dealing with it. DH wanted to just throw it away, but I figure if I can get anything for it at the Yard Sale that may mean a few more in Sept!

I am just not sure how to price it. I plan on saying that it is broken but MIGHT be able to be fixed (NO promises!) and will probably have the buyer sign a receipt stating that it is sold broken and AS IS, ALL SALES FINAL.

Is $25 a good price? Of course I would probably entertain lower offers, but am I pricing it too low or too high to start???

 

[mking624]

Personally speaking, I wouldn't pay $25 for a tv that doesn't work and that I have to spend more money to fix...that even IF it's fixable since you don't even know. I would just toss it. Just my two cents.

 

[Karnak]

I think your husband is correct. Used TV sets are very hard to sell, and most end up being tossed. TV sets are very low priced now, and considered pretty much throwaways these days. And one that isn't working? Argggg .... I wouldn't bother to lug it home if you gave it to me. lol

Enjoy.

 

[jenr812]

I am trying to earn some money for my trip by having a much needed yard sale this weekend. It is is a community-wide sale.

I have a very nice, large (26 in) color television that is broken--there is no picture. It actually has had the picture go out several times and we had it fixed, but we just no longer need it. DH took this last picture failure as his opening to upgrade to Plasma!

So, I am pretty sure it can be fixed if someone wants to put the time and money into dealing with it. DH wanted to just throw it away, but I figure if I can get anything for it at the Yard Sale that may mean a few more in Sept!

I am just not sure how to price it. I plan on saying that it is broken but MIGHT be able to be fixed (NO promises!) and will probably have the buyer sign a receipt stating that it is sold broken and AS IS, ALL SALES FINAL.

Is $25 a good price? Of course I would probably entertain lower offers, but am I pricing it too low or too high to start???

I have a 25" TV/VCR combo that does work (though the VCR is touch and go, the TV itself is perfect). I am pricing it for my yard sale at either $35 or $30 and will take as low as $25. So yes, I think you are asking too much. I would ask $15 at the MOST and be happy to get $10. Just a thought

 

[SplshMtn99]

I just had this discussion with my mother about a used aerobed that we have that no one can seem to find a leak in. It completely deflates while sleeping on it overnight. Air pump still works fine. It just won't hold the air it seems.

Anyway, I was ready to toss it. My mother says to sell at yardsale - but state it leaks.

I argued that I'm not taking someones $ for something that I know is broken & I've been unable to fix myself.

I asked her if she liked being screwed out of her hard earned money? I just got this mean stare. LOL

So.....ask yourself that question about the TV.

I say toss it ---- or give away for free.

 

[shades]

I would put a sign on it that states" "Free to good home - needs repair" and if anybody asks what is wrong - briefly explain what you think the problem is. If they are willing to haul it off, let 'em have it.

We have a 20" Sony that is about 20yrs old. The picture went out on it in 1986 and I paid around $150 to get it repaired. It still works great and we are still using it. However, like another poster stated, regular (not plasma/LCD tv's) are really cheap these days and I would think somebody would have to be a fix-it kind of person to be interested in buying a broken tv at a yard sale.

 

[KarenAylwood]

I also vote for "toss it". I think even a working old TV would be hard to sell- and even then, at a yard sale I'd like to see something working before I even believed it would still work.

Also with the changeover to HD ready TV's the person would need to buy a box to convert it, ON TOP of paying the money to have the picture fixed. And you say that the picture has been fixed multiple times- even more reason not to screw someone out of $25 or even $10 if it ends up being junk that they are left to get rid of themselves.

I think you'd be lucky to see it go if you put FREE on it, but that's JMHO. If you want to get rid of it without throwing it in the dumpster, the fairest thing to do would be put "free" on it and be very clear and upfront with the situation.

 

[babiesX2]

I think it would be just as easy to let some one have it for FREE as to "just toss it" as has been suggested. If there are no takers at your rummage sale then I would donate it to a charity thrift store. Someone will come along who can fix it themselves. There are many handy people who are good at things like that. I don't advocate simply throwing things away. State that it needs repairs. Not everyone is so materialistic that they must have a brand new HD plasma screen or nothing at all.

Edit to add:
I love buying second hand. I bought a color tv for $30 at Goodwill a few weeks ago. It works great. I am going to paint it (using spray paint I already have) and we will have our own custom Disney Princess television - Snow White theme.

 

[Alice's Mom]

I wouldn't sell it either just because I wouldn't buy a broken tv, but would offer it for free. If you don't have any takers I hope you recycle it rather than "toss it"

Good luck with your yard sale!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Gee, I dont' think I am "screwing anyone out of their hard earned money" if I have the thing CLEARLY marked as broken!

I will probably lower the asking price, but am not willing to just give it away, at least not early in the day. There is a good chance that someone that knows how to fix it will come by and pay for it--just to fix it and resell it for more. We get lots of "professional" garage salers around here. I figure that people will be more than willing to also make me an offer if they think I am being outrageous.

I do not want to just throw it in a landfill. If it doesn't sell then it will be donated somewhere, because I really do think it can be fixed and has a lot more years left in it. TV's are getting cheap, but not 26 in for under $50 cheap!

 

[mking624]

Gee, I dont' think I am "screwing anyone out of their hard earned money" if I have the thing CLEARLY marked as broken!

I will probably lower the asking price, but am not willing to just give it away, at least not early in the day. There is a good chance that someone that knows how to fix it will come by and pay for it--just to fix it and resell it for more. We get lots of "professional" garage salers around here. I figure that people will be more than willing to also make me an offer if they think I am being outrageous.

I do not want to just throw it in a landfill. If it doesn't sell then it will be donated somewhere, because I really do think it can be fixed and has a lot more years left in it. TV's are getting cheap, but not 26 in for under $50 cheap!

The problem is that you know it's broken but you have no idea if it's fixable. So even if you're stating it's broken, you're expecting someone to pay $25 and then to pay extra money to attempt to fix a possibly unfixable item. I highly doubt you're going to find anyone willing to do that.

You asked for our opinions, and people are telling you what is most likely going to happen...and WHY it will happen that way. No need to get defensive. If you attempt to sell it, you're most likely going to still have it on your hands. And even if you donate it, chances are that once it's discovered it's broken, they'll probably throw it out themselves.

 

[delilah]

Goodwill in our area won't take any used electronics, including TV's. I guess too many were broken.

 

[imsayin]

I'd price it at $10 & mark it broken. The first garage sale I ever had, a customer asked me if I had any broken VCRs. Of course I had one, that I hadn't put out. He bought it for $5 or $10, I can't remember. You never know who is coming to your sale that might just be able to fix the TV.

 

[Oreo Cookie]

I am trying to earn some money for my trip by having a much needed yard sale this weekend. It is is a community-wide sale.

I have a very nice, large (26 in) color television that is broken--there is no picture. It actually has had the picture go out several times and we had it fixed, but we just no longer need it. DH took this last picture failure as his opening to upgrade to Plasma!

So, I am pretty sure it can be fixed if someone wants to put the time and money into dealing with it. DH wanted to just throw it away, but I figure if I can get anything for it at the Yard Sale that may mean a few more in Sept!

I am just not sure how to price it. I plan on saying that it is broken but MIGHT be able to be fixed (NO promises!) and will probably have the buyer sign a receipt stating that it is sold broken and AS IS, ALL SALES FINAL.

Is $25 a good price? Of course I would probably entertain lower offers, but am I pricing it too low or too high to start???

Instead of selling it at a garage sale, maybe you could contact a tv repair shop and see if they will buy it from you for $10-$20 for the parts? You're still getting some cash and the repair shop may fix it or use the parts.

 

[KarenAylwood]

The problem is that you know it's broken but you have no idea if it's fixable. So even if you're stating it's broken, you're expecting someone to pay $25 and then to pay extra money to attempt to fix a possibly unfixable item. I highly doubt you're going to find anyone willing to do that.

You asked for our opinions, and people are telling you what is most likely going to happen...and WHY it will happen that way. No need to get defensive. If you attempt to sell it, you're most likely going to still have it on your hands. And even if you donate it, chances are that once it's discovered it's broken, they'll probably throw it out themselves.

I agree. You're asking for opinions on selling a broken item at a garage sale... and you're getting opinions You're not a newbie- you know people are blunt and honest around here.

I wouldn't pay money for something that may or may not be fixable- but you're right- you might find someone out there who will. Anything's possible. Someone I know gave me an almost-new, perfect condition Panasonic TV. I may have paid $25 if she wanted it, but she wasn't using it and would rather see me have it than see it in a landfill. If it was broken, I woulda said "no thanks".

I personally would feel guilty taking money for an item that is either A) not fixable or B) possibly fixable but has a good chance of breaking again in the future.

But hey, everyone is different. If you have no problem doing it- why ask the question to begin with????

 

[drgnfly30]

Mark it Free... I actually know a person who seeks out broken TV's and other electronics, fixes them & sells them at the flea market.

My BIL actually makes a very good living re-selling vintage audio equipment that he routinely finds at garage sales.... One man's trash...!

 

[azgal81]

I agree with the others why would anyone spend 25 bucks on a tv that might or might not even be able to be fixed.

However who knows someone might snatch it up at that price just don't be hurt if they don't. With us going all HD TV's that aren't are pretty much useless unless they want to buy that convertor box.

I think you should just but something like TV is broken might be fixable but no guarantees on the sign that why it pretty much says you are selling as is.

One of my friends actually got me my playstation two which someone had been labelled as broken for free the part cost me 5 dollars to fix it. It just needed a new switch. I guess in some cases the buyer benefits more then the seller with broken and fixable items.

 

[PaulaSue]

OP, I would toss it or put free to good home on it with a note that it is broken.

 

[Newfie2000]

If it were me I would drag it outside for the yard sale, put a sign on it regarding what you believe to be wrong with it and then put another sign on it stating "make me an offer"! By doing this you are avoiding the fact that some people shopping your sale might be turned off by seeing you trying to sell a broken item for $25.00 and as a result not buy something else they had their eye on. I know if I was shopping there it would really make me wonder.

I am a frim believer in the make me an offer idea because I once put out a 17" computer monitor that worked great but just was no longer wanted. I was originally just going to junk it but then due to recyling issues decided to give it a try at a new home! I was extremely skeptical as most computer systems are sold with a monitor now. And of course monitors have gone down so much in price. My thought was that someone might just offer a buck or two and that would be a buck or two that I would not have otherwise. Imagine my surprise at the end of the day when a gentlemen came up and questioned me about the monitor. I told him it worked and I had all the user manuals and cds. He asked me what I would take for it. Sticking to my guns I said the sign says make me an offer. The man offered me $30.00!! I could not believe it and of course gladly took it. That honestly had to be my best sale of the day! Of course I had other items sell for much more... but I had priced those and knew what to expect and what my bottom line was. The $30.00 make me an offer came as a complete surprise - something I was sure I would not have at the end of the day! So perhaps you might do well that way also. If not you have not made yourself look greedy and have not jeopardized any other sales and someone might just walk away with what they personally consider a great deal!

As a side note it has been my experience that a lot of garage sale shoppers will not ask for a lower price if something is marked high, they just walk away! (Of course there is the other spectrum of shoppers that will hound you to death for lower prices... but why take a chance!

Good luck with your sale and please let us know what happens!

 

[Brutie]

I vote for putting a sign on it that says 'FREE...HAS MIND OF ITS OWN...' and see if you can get rid of it.

I dont think it be worth your time to price it, then stand there while people haggled over price with you. Just put it up for free and if its still there at the end of the day, either recycle it or perhaps donate it to a school or similar that teaches repairs, they might be happy to get something their students can work on.