Dog Community

Garage Sale

Posted : 9/26/2008 12:55:19 PM

When having a garage sale is it better to price things or just put stuff out and let people make offers?

I'm having a sale this weekend and was going to price everything, expecting people to make offers, but then a friend told me that these days people normally just put stuff out and take offers. I've never had a sale myself, but when my mom used to have them, she always priced things and took offers as well.

rwbeagles

Posted : 9/26/2008 12:57:05 PM

In these days of freecycle I'd put prices on things...or signs that say...MAKE ME AN OFFER. Just to make perfectly clear that these things are not free. LOL.

Liesje

Posted : 9/26/2008 1:04:43 PM

I price single items, or have clearly marked tables. Other things like clothes or books are just $1 for a clothing item, $.25 per book, etc. Even with prices I still accept pretty much any offer.

TheDogHouseBCMPD

Posted : 9/26/2008 2:58:35 PM

As someone who shops yardsales I say price things. I hate when things aren't marked. I'm not a negotiator and half the time I have no idea what to offer. I like to see a price and then decide if I'll pay that much or not. Most times if I see something I like but it's not marked I just move on. I barely ever ask. The STBX used to ask for me sometimes, but I rarely ask.

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 9/26/2008 3:11:00 PM

Price things. Alot of people will not ask or do not know what to offer to make. A couple of other things to consider when having a yard sale. It's really nice if all of the same type of things are bunched together, have good signs (don't assume that people know where 123 Main street is). Help them get there & then when your sale is over, PLEASE take down your signs.

Sunshinegirl

Posted : 9/26/2008 3:33:50 PM

I put an ad in the paper and am making my signs tonight to put out tomorrow morning. My friend who is bringing some stuff to sell said not to put prices on stuff, but I know some people do not like to ask or haggle. I haven't been to a sale myself in years, but it makes sense to put prices on.

For those of you who have had sales, have you made good money on your sales in the past? I have a lot of good stuff to get rid of and I'll be happy when it's gone. Whatever doesn't sell will go to Goodwill. I will definitely take the signs down afterward. :)

NicoleS

Posted : 9/26/2008 7:05:10 PM

I say price it... or at least have "$5 and under" tables or something like that.

I just went to a sale and picked up some things and turns out the books were $1 each or more... which isn't bad, but it's high compared to most sales when the books aren't in really good condition ( though obviously still readable!)

I like picking up cheap things at sales (hello $3 unused still sealed in box iced tea maker) but I always see how cheap stuff is and never want to part with my things for only pennies on a dollar so I've never had a sale. I think of how much some books cost me, for example, and would rather keep them than sell them for 50 cents or something. Sigh. I'm hopeless.

Oh, another good tactic is offering volume discounts... ie, well if you buy all 6 books then instead of $6 you can have them for $5, or something like that. I'm always a sucker for a "deal" -- oh and I'm totally drawn in when it's the end of the day and you run across a sale having a 50% off, "I need to get rid of all this junk" thing. LOL.