Yard Sale Pricing
Melody
wait until Spring to have my yard sale. This will be my very first yard
sale so I'm curious about pricing.
Most of the things I'll be selling are barely used baby items. Is it
fair to ask 50% of the retail price for them? Can I sell the car seat I
paid (well my MIL paid for) $90 for that was used for 6 months (still
looks brand new & I have the original box & the instructions for it) for
$45? And the $120 swing for $60? Or is that too high? Or is it too low?
To be honest I'm a thrift store junkie & I haven't even been to a yard
sale since I was a kid.
How about the clothes dryer? The knick knacks, books, CD's, toys? Is
there a general percentage you go by or do you just guess? I don't want
to price things too high & have nobody buy them at all, but I don't want
to price them too low & wind up practically giving them away either (I'd
prefer to give them to a shelter or something if I'm going to do that).
Any advice, opinions? Any other "My First Yard Sale" advice to make it
sucessful?
Also, we dont have any folding tables or know anyone who does, what
should I put the items on?
TIA,
Melody
Lynne
Have you considered selling your "easy-to-ship" things via eBay
instead? We had our first yard sale two years ago. We couldn't
get rid of any of hubby's old concert t-shirts at 25 cents a
pop. He started posting them on eBay and we've received up to
25.00 for each! High bids ranged from 6.00 to 25.00, all for old
t-shirts. Buyer pays the shipping, too.
On the baby goods, I would consider running an ad before the
sale and mentioning the like-new stuff, in hopes of pre-selling
it all at the price you'd like to receive.
Hope I've helped,
Lynne
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
Ben Blankinship (at home)
I have never been to a yard sale where people would expect to spend $60 for
a baby swing. Or $45 for a used car seat. The guideline for pricing I've
heard is more like 10% of the retail price. Sad (for the seller), but
true. I've bought loads of toys, like- new condition baby/children's
clothing, books, etc. for 25 cents to a dollar.
This is just my own experience. YMMV. :)
Deanna
Henry
There is a ton of info on successful yard-saling
from our ng threads from last year.
Melodi in VA
> x-no-archive: yes
Leigh R Hidell
> I have never been to a yard sale where people would expect to spend $60 for
> a baby swing. Or $45 for a used car seat. The guideline for pricing I've
> heard is more like 10% of the retail price. Sad (for the seller), but
> true. I've bought loads of toys, like- new condition baby/children's
> clothing, books, etc. for 25 cents to a dollar.
It varies so much by area. In my area, western St. Tammany parish, it is
not even worth going to yard sales because the prices are so inflated for
most items. If I were you, I would visit a few yard sales in the area
where I planned to sell, before I priced my own items. The EBay idea is
also an excellent one that works splendidly, despite the occasional hassle
such as the stupid hacker terrorists or whatever they are who jammed the
site last night. Some of the prices you get on EBay are truly silly when
you get two folks in a bidding war against each other.
For example, I put up a Y2K gift that I received free in the mail from
a casino on Ebay. Several collectors bid for it, and it sold for close to
$200. You can't beat that with a stick!
The Post Office will deliver priority mail shipping boxes to your house,
for free. The boxes themselves are free. Your buyer will have to pay
priority mail shipping, but parcel post is usually only 5 or 10 cents
cheaper anyway, and priority mail is very fast and makes you look like a
terrific seller! So the EBay costs are really low, and the hassle is much
less than a yard sale where you have to worry about thieves and "setting
up" and "early birds" and all that.
You are not expected to ship your items until the buyer's check has
cleared. However, I usually go ahead and ship right away, unless the
check is drawn on a brand new account. So far, I have not had anyone
bounce a check on me, and I've had only a handfull of "no pays." I then
offered those items to the next high bidder or at another auction.
EBay states that you can expect to sell about 70 percent of the items you
offer on EBay. So far, I'm running awfully close to 100 percent, with
about 10 percent of items being offered twice or even three times before
they sold. I say this not to brag but because I think EBay is
intentionally being modest and trying not to create exaggerated
expectations.
Give them a try!
I have also heard good things about the auctions on amazon and yahoo but
have not yet had a chance to check them out.
Good luck, Leigh
Melody
I've been selling on eBay for about 4 years now & to be honest I'm
*really* sick of it. Buyers are becoming less & less honest & with my
last auction I put 20 items up for sale, all were bid on & only 3 people
actually paid! So it ended up costing me more (insertion fees) than I
made. I may, however, put some of my daughters nicer clothing (like the
Gymboree stuff since people go nuts over it for some odd reason) on eBay
because I know it will sell for quite a bit more.
I will definately run an ad though! Thanks for the suggestion! Do you
think a week in advance is long enough? Or longer?
Pat Meadows
wrote:
>EBay states that you can expect to sell about 70 percent of the items you
>offer on EBay. So far, I'm running awfully close to 100 percent, with
>about 10 percent of items being offered twice or even three times before
>they sold. I say this not to brag but because I think EBay is
>intentionally being modest and trying not to create exaggerated
>expectations.
We've had good luck with EBay also. So far, my husband
has sold everything he's listed on it (with one exception:
some really really ancient software): various computer
books, software, zip drive, and zip floppies. Oh, and a
modem, too. About ten different transactions, I think.
He too has shipped items before the checks cleared. Not
one has bounced. I realize that "about ten" isn't exactly
extensive experience. :)
He's bought things on EBay also: computer books mostly.
All have arrived as advertised and promptly.
Pat Meadows
Melody
Pat Meadows wrote:
<SNIP>
> He too has shipped items before the checks cleared. Not
> one has bounced. I realize that "about ten" isn't exactly
> extensive experience. :)
I did that at first... but I think I've had in excess of 15 checks
bounce.
Ted
buyer.
Leigh R Hidell <lr...@gnofn.org> wrote in message
news:87s535$12l0$3...@junkie.gnofn.org...
> EBay states that you can expect to sell about 70 percent of the items you
> offer on EBay. So far, I'm running awfully close to 100 percent, with
> about 10 percent of items being offered twice or even three times before
> they sold. I say this not to brag but because I think EBay is
> intentionally being modest and trying not to create exaggerated
> expectations.
>
Nadyne Mielke
Leigh R Hidell <lr...@gnofn.org> wrote:
>The Post Office will deliver priority mail shipping boxes to your house,
>for free. The boxes themselves are free. Your buyer will have to pay
>priority mail shipping, but parcel post is usually only 5 or 10 cents
>cheaper anyway, and priority mail is very fast and makes you look like a
>terrific seller!
As I understand it, Priority Mail is no different than first class mail.
PM is given no special processing. The post office just put a cap on
how much first class mail would cost and gave it a name and some boxes.
/nad
Elaine Gallant
My recommendation is that you go on e-bay or another online auction to sell
your stuff. Nobody is going to give you anything like half the retail price
on your junk in a yard sale.
I made money on my yard sale, but only because we were unloading several
years of household stuff at rock bottom prices. Like a complete weight set
for $15., a working lawnmower for $10. It was fun because we were
liquidating to move to Silicon Valley, and had to unload everything.
Having no luck trying to sell my show rabbit collection, I ended up giving
them away to another competator. She was quite thrilled.
Finally, we were packing, and all we had left was a good wooden dining room
set, and the 'fridge. At the last moment, a young guy came to our sale,
explaining that he was just starting his own household, and needed table and
chairs and a refridgerator! A good deal was struck at $50. each for the
good dining set, and 'fridge. He loaded the things onto his pick-up.
We finished packing and were on the road that night.
Melody wrote in message <38A0ED40...@cdc.net>...
>I've decided (based on the information & opinions you all gave me) to
>wait until Spring to have my yard sale. This will be my very first yard
>sale so I'm curious about pricing.
>
suzn
way, *how much would I pay for this if I were buying it used* and kinda
figure the price that way.....and another idea, if you price too high theres
always someone who is going to ask if you will go lower .....and usually by
the 2nd or 3rd day of a yard sale you will be saying, how badly do I want to
sell this stuff or do I really want to drag it all back inside.......
dogsnus
>
> I've decided (based on the information & opinions you all gave me) to
> wait until Spring to have my yard sale. This will be my very first yard
> sale so I'm curious about pricing.
1) I am getting rid of junk I don't need, if I'm the seller.
2) I don't really expect a whole lot of savings except to get rid
of wasted storage space, as the seller.
Therefore, if someone is jacking up the prices on a garage sale
that I attend,I don't need it that
bad and they can just bloody well stick it back into their garage
or wherever , and do the hauling work themselves.
That's what garage sales are supposed to do... clear out the garage.
If the seller wants a fortune for it? Take it to a consignment store.
Dont waste my precious weekend time! There are too many garage sales
out there that can give me what I want for the price of my gas driving
around!
Terri
>
> Most of the things I'll be selling are barely used baby items. Is it
> fair to ask 50% of the retail price for them? Can I sell the car seat I
> paid (well my MIL paid for) $90 for that was used for 6 months (still
> looks brand new & I have the original box & the instructions for it) for
> $45? And the $120 swing for $60? Or is that too high? Or is it too low?
> To be honest I'm a thrift store junkie & I haven't even been to a yard
> sale since I was a kid.
>
> How about the clothes dryer? The knick knacks, books, CD's, toys? Is
> there a general percentage you go by or do you just guess?
How badly do you want to be rid of these items?
I don't want
> to price things too high & have nobody buy them at all, but I don't want
> to price them too low & wind up practically giving them away either (I'd
> prefer to give them to a shelter or something if I'm going to do that).
Then do so.
> Any advice, opinions? Any other "My First Yard Sale" advice to make it
> sucessful?
>
> Also, we dont have any folding tables or know anyone who does, what
> should I put the items on?
Sheets of plywood and some bricks ought to do it.
suzn
"dogsnus" <dog...@pop3.micron.net> wrote in message
news:38A32D6C...@pop3.micron.net...
>
> How badly do you want to be rid of these items?
Ahhh...my thoughts exactly....sell it cheap, you end up with less junk and a
few more dollars....
Melody
dogsnus wrote:
>
> Melody wrote:
<snip>
> This is my take on yard sales:
> 1) I am getting rid of junk I don't need, if I'm the seller.
> 2) I don't really expect a whole lot of savings except to get rid
> of wasted storage space, as the seller.
>
> Therefore, if someone is jacking up the prices on a garage sale
> that I attend,I don't need it that
> bad and they can just bloody well stick it back into their garage
> or wherever , and do the hauling work themselves.
> That's what garage sales are supposed to do... clear out the garage.
>
> If the seller wants a fortune for it? Take it to a consignment store.
> Dont waste my precious weekend time! There are too many garage sales
> out there that can give me what I want for the price of my gas driving
> around!
> Terri
>
Keep in mind I live in Snottyland, my neighborhood & the two right next
to it are the *only* ones within 5-10 miles with homes priced under
$400k. Most of the things I'm getting rid of are not junk or even close
to it they're just things I have no room/need for.
Should I price the items below the cost of what the local thrift stores
sell dirty, cheap, sometimes broken equivalets for? (serious question,
I'm not trying to be a smartass, I really want to know) Similar to thier
prices? Higher? Lower?
I've also heard from a few people that it's a bad idea to sell antiques
at yard sales. Anyone have an opinion on this issue? I have a *large*
antique glass collection (vases, art glass, 'genie' bottles, etc..). I
don't expect antique store prices, but I'm not going to sell them for 10
cents each either, most pieces appraise at $40 & up... I had considered
asking $10-20 each for them.
A good friend is having a rather large baby-child consignment sale in
March, should I take my baby items there (where I lose 20-50% of the
profit) or sell them myself? Any idea which would be more profitable?
>
> How badly do you want to be rid of these items?
>
Not badly enough to sell them for pennies to snooty people :)
If I'm not going to make a fair amount off of the items I'd rather give
them away to someone who really *needs* them.
suzn
"Melody" <wik...@cdc.net> wrote in message news:38A354AD...@cdc.net...
> A good friend is having a rather large baby-child consignment sale in
> March, should I take my baby items there (where I lose 20-50% of the
> profit) or sell them myself? Any idea which would be more profitable?
IMO you may make more money taking items to a consignment shop. Some people
will pay more for things at consignment stores than they will at yard
sales.....
Karen Wheless
> will pay more for things at consignment stores than they will at yard
> sales.....
Yard sales should be your last choice if you are selling something
valuable. The main problem is when you have a yard sale, you are
basically getting a mix of customers. Some want bargains, some want
baby clothes, some want antiques, it's a hodge-podge, and you might only
get one or two people who really care about your valuable items. But at
a consignment store, you have people coming to find this particular
item, and with more customers, the price is driven up (supply and
demand). The one exception might be baby items, from my experience at
least 75% of the people who go to yard sales are looking for baby
clothes, toys and other kid stuff, so you have plenty of demand. But
I've also seen consignment stores that just stock baby things, which is
an option for items in good condition.
There are specialty consignment stores that deal with antiques and
similar items. When my mom died, I sold all of her brass and copper
candlesticks and knickknacks at a store that dealt in those things, and
even with the commission I did OK. The store I used was in Richmond but
I'm sure there are similar stores in other places. If you have books,
your first stop should be a used bookstore. There are plenty in Atlanta
(although don't go to Half Price Books, they give you almost nothing for
trade-ins. Is Oxford still in business?). Usually you'll get credit
instead of cash, but think of it as a way to get new reading material.
There is also a chain of used CD stores in Atlanta (and elsewhere) that
buys CD's, sometimes for cash and sometimes for credit. You won't get a
lot of money, but more than you would at a yard sale. People shopping
at yard sales expect to pay very little, less than they would pay at a
used bookstore or even a thrift shop. They invested the time to drive
around and search for sales, and they expect a bargain price in return.
One thing to look for is a "group" yard sale. My high school used to
have one in the parking lot once a year. You paid a small fee for the
space, and in return you got a lot more customers. It's supply and
demand, you get more customers and you can charge a little more
(provided your neighbors aren't selling the same thing for half the
price in the next slot). A lot of churches and civic groups do this,
sometimes they take a percentage of the sales, other times they charge a
fee, but the increased traffic might make it worthwhile. (I've found
that yard sales in upscale neighborhoods are always the worst, the
prices are too high and you have to drive around forever to find them.
So if you're giving one in an upscale neighborhood, you may have more
trouble selling.)
And there's always ebay, although I've found that some things sell well
on ebay and other things don't. There isn't always a clear reason, I've
had items sell well one month and similar items get no bids the next.
Karen
--
kwhe...@rockland.net
http://members.dencity.com/regencyread/
Melody
Karen Wheless wrote:
>
> > IMO you may make more money taking items to a consignment shop. Some people
> > will pay more for things at consignment stores than they will at yard
> > sales.....
>
> Yard sales should be your last choice if you are selling something
> valuable. The main problem is when you have a yard sale, you are
> basically getting a mix of customers. Some want bargains, some want
> baby clothes, some want antiques, it's a hodge-podge, and you might only
> get one or two people who really care about your valuable items. But at
> a consignment store, you have people coming to find this particular
> item, and with more customers, the price is driven up (supply and
> demand). The one exception might be baby items, from my experience at
> least 75% of the people who go to yard sales are looking for baby
> clothes, toys and other kid stuff, so you have plenty of demand. But
> I've also seen consignment stores that just stock baby things, which is
> an option for items in good condition.
>
The ones that sell baby items & womens/childrens clothing are the only
ones I've seen besides a furniture consignment store in Roswell that's
*always* full & I've been on thier 'waiting list' for more than 6
months.
> There are specialty consignment stores that deal with antiques and
> similar items. When my mom died, I sold all of her brass and copper
> candlesticks and knickknacks at a store that dealt in those things, and
> even with the commission I did OK. The store I used was in Richmond but
> I'm sure there are similar stores in other places. If you have books,
> your first stop should be a used bookstore. There are plenty in Atlanta
> (although don't go to Half Price Books, they give you almost nothing for
> trade-ins. Is Oxford still in business?). Usually you'll get credit
> instead of cash, but think of it as a way to get new reading material.
> There is also a chain of used CD stores in Atlanta (and elsewhere) that
> buys CD's, sometimes for cash and sometimes for credit. You won't get a
> lot of money, but more than you would at a yard sale. People shopping
> at yard sales expect to pay very little, less than they would pay at a
> used bookstore or even a thrift shop. They invested the time to drive
> around and search for sales, and they expect a bargain price in return.
Oxford books went out of business, as did *most* of the other used book
stores in Atlanta. The only ones I've been able to find are one by my
house (which only sells rare hardbacks) and one on Buford Highway (in a
not-so-lovely part of town where I won't take my daughter).
Thanks for the suggestions!
Rev Anna Ravenscroft
> I've also heard from a few people that it's a bad idea to sell antiques
> at yard sales. Anyone have an opinion on this issue? I have a *large*
> antique glass collection (vases, art glass, 'genie' bottles, etc..). I
> don't expect antique store prices, but I'm not going to sell them for 10
> cents each either, most pieces appraise at $40 & up... I had considered
> asking $10-20 each for them.
>
sounds like you would be better off selling em on ebay or one of the
other auction places online. you can get a decent price and get rid of
them.
everybody wins.
longt...@my-deja.com
I always look for old bicycles at yard sales.
These are not easy to pack, so you're probably
not going to sell them on e-bay.
Your average bike will for for $10 to $20 at a yardsale.
UNLESS you have a collectible bike.
I follow the discussions about collectible bikes
on HTTP://OLDROADS.COM and some of the prices
of bikes which I thought were junk just about
blew me away. Old Schwinns can fetch $1,000 to
$2,000!!!
In article <6klo4.10361$OL4.1...@news4.mia>,
> > The Post Office will deliver priority mail shipping boxes to your
house,
> > for free. The boxes themselves are free. Your buyer will have to
pay
> > priority mail shipping, but parcel post is usually only 5 or 10
cents
> > cheaper anyway, and priority mail is very fast and makes you look
like a
> > terrific seller! So the EBay costs are really low, and the hassle
is much
> > less than a yard sale where you have to worry about thieves and
"setting
> > up" and "early birds" and all that.
> >
> > You are not expected to ship your items until the buyer's check has
> > cleared. However, I usually go ahead and ship right away, unless
the
> > check is drawn on a brand new account. So far, I have not had
anyone
> > bounce a check on me, and I've had only a handfull of "no pays." I
then
> > offered those items to the next high bidder or at another auction.
> >
> > EBay states that you can expect to sell about 70 percent of the
items you
> > offer on EBay. So far, I'm running awfully close to 100 percent,
with
> > about 10 percent of items being offered twice or even three times
before
> > they sold. I say this not to brag but because I think EBay is
> > intentionally being modest and trying not to create exaggerated
> > expectations.
> >
> > Give them a try!
> >
> > I have also heard good things about the auctions on amazon and yahoo
but
> > have not yet had a chance to check them out.
> >
> > Good luck, Leigh
> >
>
>
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
dogsnus
>
> dogsnus wrote:
> >
> > Melody wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> > This is my take on yard sales:
> > 1) I am getting rid of junk I don't need, if I'm the seller.
> > 2) I don't really expect a whole lot of savings except to get rid
> > of wasted storage space, as the seller.
> >
> > Therefore, if someone is jacking up the prices on a garage sale
> > that I attend,I don't need it that
> > bad and they can just bloody well stick it back into their garage
> > or wherever , and do the hauling work themselves.
> > That's what garage sales are supposed to do... clear out the garage.
> >
> > If the seller wants a fortune for it? Take it to a consignment store.
> > Dont waste my precious weekend time! There are too many garage sales
> > out there that can give me what I want for the price of my gas driving
> > around!
> > Terri
> >
>
> Keep in mind I live in Snottyland, my neighborhood & the two right next
> to it are the *only* ones within 5-10 miles with homes priced under
> $400k. Most of the things I'm getting rid of are not junk or even close
> to it they're just things I have no room/need for.
>
> Should I price the items below the cost of what the local thrift stores
> sell dirty, cheap, sometimes broken equivalets for? (serious question,
> I'm not trying to be a smartass, I really want to know) Similar to thier
> prices? Higher? Lower?
I really don't know. I never try to keep up with the Jones.
:)
I'm not being snotty either, I just don't see the point in agonizing
over what to price things to keep up with the neighbors.
There's lots more I could be worrying about.
>
> I've also heard from a few people that it's a bad idea to sell antiques
> at yard sales. Anyone have an opinion on this issue? I have a *large*
> antique glass collection (vases, art glass, 'genie' bottles, etc..). I
> don't expect antique store prices, but I'm not going to sell them for 10
> cents each either, most pieces appraise at $40 & up... I had considered
> asking $10-20 each for them.
It could be bad, it could be good. The only way to really guess a real
value of an antique is to have it appraised, or do a great deal of
research.
While I am always tickled to get a real antique for pennies at a garage
sale, I would never sell my own at one. I'd take my real antiques
to a dealer or a consignment shop to sell.
To be honest, there aren't that many folks out there that recognize
a real antique when they see one nor do they have a clue as to appraisal
value of the item.
For example, I've got an old Domestic sewing machine and cabinet, foot
treadle,
all the original bobbins, wooden cover, etc, and about 80 or so years
old.
It's in mint condition. Real value? Not much more than 200.00.
Why? Because there were so darn many of them made!
>
> A good friend is having a rather large baby-child consignment sale in
> March, should I take my baby items there (where I lose 20-50% of the
> profit) or sell them myself? Any idea which would be more profitable?
I would take them there, since that is what the sale is all about.
People coming there would be looking for exactly the items you are
selling.
It really depends upon how much money you_ want to make. Entirely
up to you.
>
> >
> > How badly do you want to be rid of these items?
> >
>
> Not badly enough to sell them for pennies to snooty people :)
> If I'm not going to make a fair amount off of the items I'd rather give
> them away to someone who really *needs* them.
I approve of the later. Think about how someone really needy would
appreciate receiving almost new baby items at a reasonable cost.
However, making money for yourself is entirely up to you, Melody.
I can't decide that for you, nor can anyone else.
In the end, it still boils down to my question, "How badly do you want
to sell these items"?
Terri
Karen Wheless
> stores in Atlanta. The only ones I've been able to find are one by my
> house (which only sells rare hardbacks) and one on Buford Highway (in a
> not-so-lovely part of town where I won't take my daughter).
> Thanks for the suggestions!
If you don't mind making a little bit of a trip, there's one out in
Gwinnett and an even bigger one about 10 miles away in Snellville. I
don't know where you are in Atlanta, but if you have a lot of books it
might be worthwhile. Plus at least two in Athens, although that's a
little further. I lived in Athens for 5 years and loved the used
bookstores in Atlanta.
Cissy . Thorpe
> Melody wrote:
>
> > I've also heard from a few people that it's a bad idea to sell antiques
> > at yard sales. Anyone have an opinion on this issue? I have a *large*
> > antique glass collection (vases, art glass, 'genie' bottles, etc..). I
> > don't expect antique store prices, but I'm not going to sell them for 10
> > cents each either, most pieces appraise at $40 & up... I had considered
> > asking $10-20 each for them.
> >
Make sure what you have is really an antique...for tax purposes the
government says it has to be 100+ years old to be classified as an
antique. Everything else is collectible, not antique.
You can advertise antiques in your yard sale, and keep the separate - but
don't expect many buyers. I'd take them to a dealer and either sell
them outright or consign them. Same goes for collectibles.
Cissy
Bev
>
> dogsnus wrote:
> >
> > Melody wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> > This is my take on yard sales:
> > 1) I am getting rid of junk I don't need, if I'm the seller.
> > 2) I don't really expect a whole lot of savings except to get rid
> > of wasted storage space, as the seller.
> >
> > Therefore, if someone is jacking up the prices on a garage sale
> > that I attend,I don't need it that
> > bad and they can just bloody well stick it back into their garage
> > or wherever , and do the hauling work themselves.
> > That's what garage sales are supposed to do... clear out the garage.
> >
> > If the seller wants a fortune for it? Take it to a consignment store.
> > Dont waste my precious weekend time! There are too many garage sales
> > out there that can give me what I want for the price of my gas driving
> > around!
> > Terri
>
> Keep in mind I live in Snottyland, my neighborhood & the two right next
> to it are the *only* ones within 5-10 miles with homes priced under
> $400k. Most of the things I'm getting rid of are not junk or even close
> to it they're just things I have no room/need for.
Doesn't matter. Whatever it is, you want to get rid of it more than somebody
else wants to buy it. If it weren't that way, it would still be in your
garage, wouldn't it?
> Should I price the items below the cost of what the local thrift stores
> sell dirty, cheap, sometimes broken equivalets for? (serious question,
> I'm not trying to be a smartass, I really want to know) Similar to thier
> prices? Higher? Lower?
Lower! Hard to believe, isn't it? I might buy a blouse at a yard sale for 50
cents that the Salvation Army Store would sell for $3.00. They have overhead
expenses to cover and you have been given the benefit of a much larger choice
of items than you will find at your average yard sale.
> I've also heard from a few people that it's a bad idea to sell antiques
> at yard sales. Anyone have an opinion on this issue? I have a *large*
> antique glass collection (vases, art glass, 'genie' bottles, etc..). I
> don't expect antique store prices, but I'm not going to sell them for 10
> cents each either, most pieces appraise at $40 & up... I had considered
> asking $10-20 each for them.
Don't buy that sort of stuff, but my feeling is that people who shop for
antiques at yard sales know exactly what they're doing, are buying for resale,
and are willing to pay only low prices.
> A good friend is having a rather large baby-child consignment sale in
> March, should I take my baby items there (where I lose 20-50% of the
> profit) or sell them myself? Any idea which would be more profitable?
I think you're mistaken in thinking about profit rather than gaining space.
The point of going to yard sales to to buy stuff that you need/want at
ridiculous prices. This does not fit well with the concept of the seller
making a large profit. Look upon it as being extraordinarily lucky that
people will actually pay you to allow them to take the stuff away rather than
charging you money to do the same service for you.
> > How badly do you want to be rid of these items?
>
> Not badly enough to sell them for pennies to snooty people :)
> If I'm not going to make a fair amount off of the items I'd rather give
> them away to someone who really *needs* them.
Well, you better be prepared to do so. A few comments I've heard -- but been
much too polite to use myself, of course:
"At that price, plan on being buried with it."
"I expect your widow will set more reasonable prices at the estate sale."
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I didn't realize that that had SENTIMENTAL value."
We're not snooty (remember, we're happy to use your cast-offs), just cheap.
And we know that your stuff isn't really any better than the stuff we bought
last week for a quarter of your price.
Today's yard sale loser: An unopened pack of Winston [cigarette] playing
cards for $5.00. They also wanted $5.00 for a small box of misc.sewing.stuff
that I KNOW has no antique value. In their favor, they had a standard-size
cast-iron frying pan for a dollar (already overstocked and haven't fried for
years), but its glass lid was $3.
The winner: A pair of Henkel scissors for a quarter. You win some, you lose
some.
--
Cheers,
Bev
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I don't need instructions, I have a hammer."
-- T.W. Wier
Melody
dogsnus wrote:
>
> I really don't know. I never try to keep up with the Jones.
> :)
> I'm not being snotty either, I just don't see the point in agonizing
> over what to price things to keep up with the neighbors.
> There's lots more I could be worrying about.
Where did you get that? Trying to keep up with my neighbors? Uhm... no.
I've never had, nor been, to a yard sale & asked for help on how to
price items, not comments about how to keep up with the Joneses.
Melody
Karen Wheless wrote:
>
>
> If you don't mind making a little bit of a trip, there's one out in
> Gwinnett and an even bigger one about 10 miles away in Snellville. I
> don't know where you are in Atlanta, but if you have a lot of books it
> might be worthwhile. Plus at least two in Athens, although that's a
> little further. I lived in Athens for 5 years and loved the used
> bookstores in Atlanta.
>
> Karen
I'd love to know where the ones in Gwinnett are or thier names so that I
can try to find them if you remember. I'm in Alpharetta, so that's not
too far.
Thanks!
Vivian Walker
Viv
Rev Anna Ravenscroft wrote:
>
> Melody wrote:
>
> > I've also heard from a few people that it's a bad idea to sell antiques
> > at yard sales. Anyone have an opinion on this issue? I have a *large*
> > antique glass collection (vases, art glass, 'genie' bottles, etc..). I
> > don't expect antique store prices, but I'm not going to sell them for 10
> > cents each either, most pieces appraise at $40 & up... I had considered
> > asking $10-20 each for them.
> >
>
Paula in Houston
might get a better price. Some of them do "trade in" business where you can
get more store credit than you can get cash.
Although I think that 50% of original retail is fair to ask, I would be
surprised if you get it. So many people get these things as gifts that the
people that are looking for them at yard sales are really looking for
bargains.
Paula
Melody <wik...@cdc.net> wrote in message news:38A0ED40...@cdc.net...
> I've decided (based on the information & opinions you all gave me) to
> wait until Spring to have my yard sale. This will be my very first yard
> sale so I'm curious about pricing.
>
> Most of the things I'll be selling are barely used baby items. Is it
> fair to ask 50% of the retail price for them? Can I sell the car seat I
> paid (well my MIL paid for) $90 for that was used for 6 months (still
> looks brand new & I have the original box & the instructions for it) for
> $45? And the $120 swing for $60? Or is that too high? Or is it too low?
> To be honest I'm a thrift store junkie & I haven't even been to a yard
> sale since I was a kid.
>
> How about the clothes dryer? The knick knacks, books, CD's, toys? Is
> there a general percentage you go by or do you just guess? I don't want
> to price things too high & have nobody buy them at all, but I don't want
> to price them too low & wind up practically giving them away either (I'd
> prefer to give them to a shelter or something if I'm going to do that).
> Any advice, opinions? Any other "My First Yard Sale" advice to make it
> sucessful?
>
> Also, we dont have any folding tables or know anyone who does, what
> should I put the items on?
>
> TIA,
> Melody
Paula in Houston
husbands workplace? If you attend church, that's a good place too. Also,
grocery stores often have community bulletin boards where you can post
things for sale. If you do this before springtime, you have the luxury of
asking for the (fair) price you want and saying that the price is "firm".
That way you can get some of the larger, pricier items out of the way before
the yard sale.
dogsnus
Sometimes my humor falls flat in writing.
(And sometimes that smiley face doesn't help either).
I really wasn't trying to insinuate you_ were trying too keep
up with the Jones, it's just that you brought up living in snootyville
and that the neighbors snootiness would motivate how you decided
to sell your stuff.
It just wouldn't bother me_ personally; is all I meant, nothing more.
Good luck with your sale.
Terri