Yard Sale Tips and Tricks Thread

[Grumpy's Gal]

I, for one, would never buy crappy Wal*Mart soda from a yard sale. *blech* Keep your eyes out for specials on brand-name sodas instead and stock up in advance. Wal*Mart bottled water should be OK.

I agree. One year we got three cases of pepsi for FREE thru rebates at Walgreens. So, especially with summer and graduation coming up.......soda is going to have some great deals!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

As a garage sale shopper addict, I might be pointing out the obvious, but be willing to negotiate.

I'm willing but NOT in the first 5 minutes.

The last sale we had, I can't remember what the item was but we had it marked REASONABLY at a few dollars. A lady offered 25 cents and I am not kidding, we had been opened LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. I said no.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I'm willing but NOT in the first 5 minutes.

The last sale we had, I can't remember what the item was but we had it marked REASONABLY at a few dollars. A lady offered 25 cents and I am not kidding, we had been opened LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. I said no.

I always mark my items low enough to sell. I will always negotiate towards to end. I have had many people laugh at my prices and tell me they won't sell, then offer me a ridiculously low price. I always let them know that they are free to come back later and make me an offer.

 

[Deffenm]

Another idea I heard about was to play soft music in the background so people feel free to discuss their purchases with their friends/family and not feel like you are listening. I am having a garage sale this weekend and I am going to try it. I hope it works. I am also buying balloons to tie onto my mail box and garage. I also have my stuff organized in specific areas: toys, clothes, housewares, glassware, holiday, etc... I have a ton of kids clothes, gently used toys, books. I hope to make enough money to pay for our airfare for our Sept. trip to Disney.

 

[KKB]

But have tips to share....

Going: get up early, scour newspaper, pick ones that interest you, be there 10-15 min. early; HAVE CASH...preferably small bills
I only go EARLY, no later than 8AM, done between 9 & 10
Look over things CAREFULLY
DO NOT buy things you don't need! It is easy to get caught up in a bargain...
THAT being said, I do buy larger kids clothes that are in great shape at great prices...
Bring drink & snack in car...

Selling: Clean garage out week before...
Place ad early in week but ONLY to run the days you have it. BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO SELL...I always mention big ticket items specifically, I mention the brand names of clothing & toys, as well as clothing sizes.
I ONLY have sales Fri-Sat, 8-1. Fridays are big here, afternoons are so slow I don't feel it is worth my time. And sometimes Sat is so slow I have considered a one day sale only....
Begin setting up several days ahead of schedule. Get LOTS of tables/shelves to display. Organize by category. HAVE EVERYTHING PRICED. EVERYTHING SHOULD BE CLEAN & WORKING, unless noted. I DESPISE sales w/ no prices, and disorganized, dirty stuff. YUK.
Get change the day before...roll of nickels, dimes, quarters, $50 in ones, $30-50 in fives. Fanny pack (I hate 'em...but) are best $ holder.
HAVE HELP...DO NOT HAVE KIDS AROUND IF POSSIBLE...at least the first couple of hours.
I generally do NOT bargain early in day, but as things slow down I do. Sat. everything is half price! (I am known to change prices on the occasional item that I am not willing to part with at such a low price.
I am a believer that I want to GET RID of stuff, make a few $, help others out. So I price fair, but low. Really, what would YOU pay...DO NOT price it higher than that!
Now, Little Tykes/Step One large items--cabins, climbers, etc., sell for about 50-75% of retail if in good shape. Other items stick w/ 10-25% of retail, but they better be in very good shape!
(Now, my accountant used to tell me garage sales are a waste...and I have to agree w/ him now that I use It's Deductible to itemize donations. I got $3000 in deductions last year...WAY more than I would make at a sale! It gives you MUCH higher value than you could ever get at a garage sale...that being said...the lure of cash money.... )

Good luck everyone!
PS Call Goodwill BEFORE your sale to pick up the Monday AFTER your sale!

 

[KKB]

Congrats on your sale
I have never had luck with baggies. People around here just want the stuff for free, so here is what I did. I filled and old kiddie swimming pool with as many happy meal cheapie toys that I can find. I then tell kids they pick 2 for free (more or less depending on how many toys I have accumulated). This gives kids something to do while the parents shop.

You will get adults who will try to take them all! (presumably to sell at their own garage sale!)

I put .05 each...usually kids have a little change or Mom is willing to pay that...and when I add it up, I usually "throw it in" for free!

 

[KKB]

One mistake people make is starting their sale too late. Avid garage sale buyers are out in the car when the sun is just rising. If it is summer when the sun comes up at 5:30, your sale should start by 6:00am. For this time of year, 7:00 or 7:30am (depending on when your sun comes up) at the latest.

I get everything ready in the garage the night before (all set up on tables, etc.). I open my garage up at 5:30am and start pulling things out into the driveway and unpacking boxes that I need to place outside. DH leaves to put up the signs. Before he even gets back, I've usually had 5 or 6 customers by 5:45am!). If you place an ad in the paper and start early, the buyers will start at your house first. After reading the ads the night before, they map out their drive and strategically plan where to be depending on when each sale starts. If you start your sale at 8:00am or 9:00am with 200 other people, what are the chances they will make it to your sale? However, if you start at 6:00am with maybe 5 or 10 other people, you will make huge amounts of money before 8:00am. I also see the buyers who buy the larger items (like furniture) come in the wee early hours. Many of them have 2nd hand furniture stores and they know that the early bird gets the worm.

The other thing I can suggest is that when things start to slow down and you are not seeing as many people and most of your good stuff is gone, instead of closing up shop and hauling everything to Goodwill, get out your used Wal-Mart & Target bags and tell everyone that you are now selling for a buck a bag. Whatever they can stuff in the bag is a buck. IMO, I'd rather have people stuff their bags and take the stuff away from me (and make some more money), than to load it up and cart it to Goodwill. The "buck a bag" goes over great! Only do this if you plan on giving the rest of the unsold items away.

Although I do appreciate having SOME items to deduct off my taxes...but I HATE dragging it off or waiting for pick up!

Regarding the early start....8AM is PLENTY early in Nebraska...some start at 7, some at 9, and anywhere in between. One key is to be prepared. my first sale 15-20 years ago I thought I could finish setting up in AM...opened garage to pull a sofa out 30 min. before opening...was going to close garage...NOPE GS vultures were pulling wrapped things from boxed before we did! NUTS!

 

[KKB]

Last summer sold most of my CDs to pay for my iPod

Find out what EBGames will pay you for old PS2, etc. games...and what they are selling for there. Price yours in between...AND HAVE SOMEONE GUARD THEM AT ALL TIMES!

OLD sofa...no rips or stains...missing leg that we used a brick for...couldn't sell for $5...half price Sat...$2.50. College kids shows up...he says $250? NOPE, $2.50...made his day!

Had a very nice large pine table...$50...NO takers! (DH refused to haul it back to the basement!)

Last year FIL passed in early Feb. MIL purged his things as therapy. Had TWO garage sales last year. At first one we sold something we didn't even know what it was...some tool or something...new. I think for $5. A guy walks by & says they are $200 new & he would have paid $50!!

Once when I was at a sale a couple of years ago I found a Little Tykes doll house (the bigger, Barbie sized one) fully furnished for $35. I said I would take it, and continued shopping. Another lady shows up, says she will take it, they tell her it is sold...she says she will pay them double! Luckily the couple said no, it was sold, sorry (I would have done the same thing!) Wonder what I will be able to sell that baby for??!!

Then when I sold my LT log cabin, I had a hoard of people come. One lady comes to me says she will take it...another come to me w/ the sign & says she had it first!!!YIKES! I did go w/ the lady that spoke to me first. THAT was not comfortable! (PS bought it at a garage sale for $100...SOLD at mine for $100 )
We plan on selling our 14 year old HUGE 34" TV this summer. Still works. Surely SOMEONE will buy it for $25...but you KNOW I won't be able to get rid of it if it quits!

Also have a very nice LR set that is just starting to get small tears...Goodwill won't take it that way, but you know a college kid will LOVE a sofa/loveseat/oversized chair & otttoman for $50!!!!!

Best sellers...baby anything...young kids anything...scrapbooking supplies IF ADVERTISED...large items (furniture, power tools)...CDs...game systems & games IF ADVERTISED...teacher supplies IF ADVERTISED...toys...brand names help...

Worst sellers...adult clothes (mine are in excellent condition & very nice brand names CHEAP...sell few), bedding, towels, housewares (hit & miss on these items...they usually trickle out over time...anything dirty, broken (yes, except electronics), or cheap to begin with.

GREAT tips here!

I have never had an issue w/ $ or checks...kinda depends if I will take them (I will always hold the items for half an hour while they get cash if they are out)...I've been lucky so far.

 

[KKB]

Here are my opinions on the large items you mentioned based on previous experience:

Desk-totally depends on how big it is, does it have drawers, hutch, etc. $15-$25

Twin beds-$25 each

cooler-no idea what that would be worth

table-$10-15

recliner-$15

easel-$5

I would also be willing to negotiate on anything large, even by a few dollars. If you are not willing to take less, add $1-2 to the price because people like to feel they got a deal on stuff like that.

Furniture in very good condition sells WELL here, unless dated, then go CHEAP
Sold immacualte recliner for $75 last summer.
Table depends...$25 for nice end/coffee table; dining room SET will sell for $100+ EASY; table alone not so well unless antique, expensive or VERY current
Desk...particle board put together, yeah, $15-20; but real wood, $100 easy.
Twin beds are good sellers here...$50
Crib $100, chest $75, changing table $25 ($500 new for set)

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

You will get adults who will try to take them all! (presumably to sell at their own garage sale!)

I put .05 each...usually kids have a little change or Mom is willing to pay that...and when I add it up, I usually "throw it in" for free!

I always mark kids only on it. By the end I don't care if adults want to mess with the whole thing.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I have another idea that I picked up at a garage sale a couple of weeks ago. There was a huge stack of DVD cases with a sign that read DVD's up front. I guess it is popular by many shoplifters to steal the DVD & CD's right out of the case and then leave the case empty.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I have a pricing question for a toy. When a educational toy store in my area was closing I bought the floor display Darda play set. It is a table with car tracks bolted to it with 'electric' wind up cars. It is pretty cool and very big. I have seen the tracks and cars on ebay sell for 100.00 but no table. I only paid 50.00 for it but I have no clue as to what I should ask. Anyone ever heard of this toy?

 

[LynnTH]

Well, our big city wide sale is this weekend (actually at a friends house as I live in the city a mile away). So, I am very excited as it gets crazy. People come from hours away to shop at these sales and the streets are just filled with cars and people. In my friends cul-de-sac there are 5 houses that we know about in the sale too. You pay $25 to be in the sale and they put out a book listing where all the houses are and what you are selling. Many people in past years have started selling food and such. Now, of course the city charges you do to that (anything to get money from you). They want $70 the first day and $25 the second for me to sell popcorn. (I have our big popcorn machine from work). I thought that was crazy. So, I am going to sell the lunch bags for $1 and then you can get popcorn for free. So, technically I'm not selling popcorn.....

I'm hoping to make some good vacation fund money. Also, have a Pilates Machine that I had to have (used 5 times). So, I hope that sells. I paid about $300 for it. Going to start out at $200 and see what happens. I have the directions, extra cords and 2 DVD's that came with it. So, we shall see. Now we just have to hope for good weather. (Of course today and tomorrow it is sunn and in the 80's) Friday and Saturday it will be in the low 70's with a chance of rain - hope that rain holds out....

 

[Carrieannew]

Hey Everyone. My best friend and I really want to have a yard sale but she works every saturday and will not be able to get one off. I have never attempted to have a sale on just a sunday. She lives on a main road in town so there is plenty of traffic. Has anyone had success with just a sunday sale? Please be nice go gentle on me. Its not an option having it without her saturday I live in a city and cant have it at my apartment. She lives with her parents and that is the location that would work.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Hey Everyone. My best friend and I really want to have a yard sale but she works every saturday and will not be able to get one off. I have never attempted to have a sale on just a sunday. She lives on a main road in town so there is plenty of traffic. Has anyone had success with just a sunday sale? Please be nice go gentle on me. Its not an option having it without her saturday I live in a city and cant have it at my apartment. She lives with her parents and that is the location that would work.

I have never had a sale on a Sunday but they are pretty rare where I live. I have gone to a few and they seemed pretty empty. I do know that Friday is a pretty big day could you do it then?

 

[grlpwrd]

Hey Everyone. My best friend and I really want to have a yard sale but she works every saturday and will not be able to get one off. I have never attempted to have a sale on just a sunday. She lives on a main road in town so there is plenty of traffic. Has anyone had success with just a sunday sale? Please be nice go gentle on me. Its not an option having it without her saturday I live in a city and cant have it at my apartment. She lives with her parents and that is the location that would work.

I would look on Craigslist and check out the local paper to gauge it.

GL!

 

[grlpwrd]

I agree. One year we got three cases of pepsi for FREE thru rebates at Walgreens. So, especially with summer and graduation coming up.......soda is going to have some great deals!

On my couponing boards I frequent, folks sell whatever surplus they get for free. They sell toiletries like toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoos, etc. and some packaged food and drinks, like soda like you mentioned, snacks, etc. Whatever they can get with a coupon deal, they are willing to sell. I don't do that because I donate them to the food bank or whatever, but they have made money off of their freebies or near freebies.

When I had our yard sale, I used an easel to list prices and any specials I had. Or you could use just a poster board. I also used a lot of tables to display items which worked out well.

 

[vellamint]

I want to have a yard sale...was planning on a week from Saturday but I feel soooooo overwhelmed by it. My den is full of "stuff" and I have been slowly pricing and cleaning but right now I just want to throw it all away - why am I so intimidated by this.....I have been saving stuff "for the yard sale" for years!!!

 

[Savin4Disney]

Thanks for all the ideas. I will be having one June 1 (Saturday) and I plan on selling some surplus stuff and some electronics along with other stuff we have that is in good condition but might as well get it out of here.

I do plan on having a free box full of older stuff.

Now I have a table - older antique that needs refinishing. What do you suggest that I price it at. The top of it was ruined by water it is a velour top meaning it has the top (ruined) and then another top under it.

 

[tammy1210]

We're going to be having a big moving sale in July - lots of kids toys, bedroom furniture (not beds), couch, bar stools,tv's - lots of knick-knacks, etc.... - I have a pretty good idea on most things as far as pricing - but I've got a large solid oak armoire - two adjustable/removable shelves in top and four drawers - about 6.5 feet tall - any suggestions? Also - what about computer equipment - do I just need an extension cord, or what else might someone want to check out on it?