posted on June 7, 2001 04:30:00 AM new
I'm holding a yard sale this weekend and and looking for some good tips to make it a great one. I already know about having enough change, bags and etc but I knowm there are more great tips out there. Please share!! Thanks!!!!!!!
posted on June 7, 2001 04:45:34 AM new
Clear signs with Big Bold Arrows pointing the way, and the times - and take the signs down when the sale is over!
posted on June 7, 2001 04:46:14 AM new
Hi,
I've only had a couple of my own and learned the hard way what may be obvious to others. Putting prices on everything would have saved a lot of confusion since people tend to arrive in bunches. I know myself I have to really want something to stand around and ask the prices.
Room to walk around is another one, I'll rummage through boxes but not if I can't get there (after all I have so many other sales to go to).
I would have a freebie box and advertise it, more people show up and a lot of them feel sort of obligated to buy something if they take a freebie.
Last but not least I had a children's box of cheapie little toys for .25 so the kids could get something and stay out of the way and away from the breakables.
Jay
posted on June 7, 2001 05:00:52 AM new
Borrow as many folding tables as you can to display your stuff. A lot of your customers won't be teenagers and will either hurt while crouching down or be embarrassed to wave their butts in the air while bending to look at things on the floor.
Picnic tables really aren't good displays: kids can reach the stuff on the seats, and that stuff also can get knocked over when people reach for the stuff on the table.
If you're willing to dicker on price, post it somewhere. Don't tell people you'll come down the next day because most won't return.
Have help. If it's a lot of stuff, it may take three people to do it right. One to watch for shoplifters and rowdy children, one to take money, and an extra for when rushes happen or someone needs a break.
If you're out in the country, signage is key.
Big sign or balloons at your driveway.
Price things low enough to be attractive and high enough that you can come down a bit.
If some/all of your items are in a garage and it's very warm, do use a fan to circulate air.
That's off the top of my head and also from a chapter in a book I read. Good Luck!
posted on June 7, 2001 05:41:42 AM new
the stuff you just want to get rid off let go but stay firm on your prices for good stuff
Tha last sale we had I had A tool i had paid 175 for and had used little and stored inside it was mint
i was asking 125 I was insulted for two days by peaple telling me you could by them new for anywhere from 100.00 to one lady insisting she could by a new one for 39.99 and she would GIVE ME 15.00
the third day a guy came in the morning looked at it and said I'll take it!!
turned out they were now selling for 225.00 he was trying to get a business going and had been borrowing one.
If you run a ad just put the street name or better yet nearest intersection great sale first and main 9 am that way you can eleminate the early birds
They can't find the sale till you put up your signs ....and when you've had enough you take your signs down and the sale is over.
posted on June 7, 2001 07:32:27 AM new
Watch your stuff.........lots of shop lifting goes on at garage sales. It is good to have a spouse or friend helping you watch. Put all the better stuff together so that you can watch that one area if you are unable to watch it all.
Keep your money in a fanny pack ~ it is safer that way.
posted on June 7, 2001 07:41:22 AM new
Wear a great big hat with a parrot on it...
I had a very good & very enjoyable yard sale 2 weekends ago. Everyone here makes really good points.
I used old good condition doors I had scrounged for tables, with home-made sawhorses under them -- now I have them for future sales as well. Had 8 tables plus larger stuff lined along the drive.
My tips, kind of an echo, but worth repeating:
* Have extra bags & boxes.
* Have change, and keep a tight grip on the money.
* Have friends or family to help out.
* Position yourself, maybe in a swivel bar-chair, at some strategic mid-point where you can keep as much of an eye on things as possible.
* Don't dicker on the stuff that is really good or important to you -- numerous dealers at my sale wanted a pair of retro 70s plastic chairs that I was asking $40 for -- but I simply wouldn't let it go for the $20 they wanted to spend! They'll sell, just give them time.
* Personally, I didn't price anything, and I had hundreds of items, and did very well for a single day sale. But I kind of like making it up as I go along, and if I don't like someone's attitude, then the price just doubled.
* If you have things like a folding bed, or a metal dog cage, then set them up, things of any kind will sell better if displayed well.
* Signs around the neighborhood at or near high-volume intersections, consider a newspaper ad if they are affordable.
* Keep on running inside the house to check your eBay items, just to remind yourself that you really are making money somewhere!
* And remember you're supposed to be having fun, so even when you get some idiot yabbering at you, just smile, they'll be out of there within a few minutes!
posted on June 7, 2001 09:36:40 AM new
I love the balloons that have finally caught on around here - you can see the sale from way down the street
The box of cheap toys - or a blanket filled with stuffed animals - will keep the little kids busy while the parents spend the real money - I know my kids love those piles!
Price EVERYTHING. I noticed several sales that had colored dots on the items - that worked, especially if you have many signs showing what the colors mean.
Run your sale beyond the normal 3 pm close - many of us are out there catching the bargains at the end
Do not write prices directly on items - you could destroy their value.
If you must individually price your books, please write the price in pencil
Keep a calculator handy - people want to buy and fly!
posted on June 7, 2001 09:38:45 AM new
Open earlier than advertised. And if your having a sale for more than one day, rearrange everything for the second day.
posted on June 7, 2001 10:16:44 AM new
If you are really prepared, you will have an extension cord at your sale. The ability to plug in electrical items to prove that they work can mean the difference between getting $10.00 for an item or $0.50. Good luck.
posted on June 7, 2001 11:11:38 AM new
One thing that was brought to my attention when we had our last garage sale is to be careful if you are selling bags or purses. We had two large boxes full of misc. purses/bags for $1 each. One lady goes straight to the box, picks out the largest purse she could find, and immediately paid for it. She then proceded to "shop" for probably a good 10 minutes among a pretty large crowd. Well, we knew good and well this was probably an attempt to stuff her bag and pretend that she couldn't find anything she wanted and leave. There were 3 of us watching her like a hawk, and thank goodness, she never found anything she wanted. But it would have been so easy. Just thought I'd pass that along. Also, if you are alone and have to run in for even a minute, even if you have no customers at the moment, ALWAYS take the money in with you. I always like to periodically take all large bills like $20's or $10's in the house just in case someone grabs my money box - that way they only get quarters and $1's.
posted on June 7, 2001 11:42:35 AM new
Thanks Vidpro2 for mentioning that (my!) website. I also have a new domain....just look at my username to find it!
posted on June 7, 2001 01:54:46 PM new
As a shopper here are my tips for sellers:
1) PRICE EVERYTHING. I am insulted by the sales without prices and usually walk out even if I see something I may have picked up otherwise, unless I *really* want it... I should not have a "special price" just because you think of me in a certain way (I look rich/drive a nice car (or vise-versa), so you can ask more/less). Save that for the bargaining if I don't like the price at least.
2) If you must use colored dots, don't use them alone (I don't want to have to hunt for signs and look up the price for every item...) Write it on the sticker too! PLEASE I BEG YOU!
3) Ensure your stickers stick.
4) [my personal preference] Place the "guy stuff" on the driveway (or tables in driveway).. Make your sale look huge. If all I see are clothes racks or baby stuff... I will drive right on by.. People shopping for clothes will still find them in the garage.
5) If you have "guy stuff"... advertize it.. I like going to those sales.. I don't like 100% clothes/homey knick nacks/baby stuff sales.. I want electronics and some tool/utility things. If you have an abudance, advertize it... you'll get many more guys there.
I agree with everyone else... price it low enough, but be willing to come down if you want to sell it.
And yes...people tend NOT to come back the next day.
My pet peves:
1) Not opening/closing early because there are clouds or light mist.. I hate driving 3 miles to and 3 miles back to find you don't think it's worth honoring your ad.
2) Blocking the driveway with your vehicles. No, I don't want to park there, but I dont want to walk on your wet grass/mud to get around them, plus I like to be able to see what's there from the street
3) Not tying up your pets out of the way... I have been bit by 2 dogs as a child and HATE being chased/rubbed against/smelled/licked by your pets! ARRRGGGHHH!
4) Keep your children from playing in the garage.
5) Keep the aisles in the garage wide, and don't provide ANY non exiting long narrow ailse. I don't want to have to shove my way out to go down the next one.. pull it out a bit and make a U aisle instead.
I could give more, but this is what tops my mind right away.
Oh yeah, another:
- Don't put stickers on something that they can't be peeled safely from. (Like the top of a game cartridge label... put it on the plastic edge or back.)
- PLEASE don't advertize your sale as "HUGE","BIG","LARGE" sale unless you have the driveway filled with stuff. Too many advertized like that have 2 or 3 2'x6' tables full of clothes and knick knacks. Ooohh that was large!
[ edited by mrlatenite on Jun 7, 2001 02:09 PM ]
posted on June 7, 2001 03:27:05 PM new
DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT--write your price with a permanent marker directly on the item.
I was at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago where they had written the price on some cake decorating books with a sharpie. I wanted to buy the books for my mother, but I would have been too embarassed to give her a nice book with a big ugly sharpie mark on it!
posted on June 7, 2001 03:49:48 PM new
Have a LOT of stuff- the bigger the sale, the more people will stop and browse. I always have sales at my house with 2 or 3 friends. They haul their stuff over - we have more stuff and we can take breaks etc. During the rushes, EVERYBODY works the crowds.
At our sales, everybody sells everybody's stuff. We don't mark anything, we just all get a feel for what stuff should bring. If we sell something too cheap- so be it.
Have a few Traffic Stoppers. Something Big and Wild is great. price it high enough that it wont go away immediately, or , if it does, the money makes it OK. Barber chair, Mannequins, Sleigh, Great Furniture, etc.
Someone above said this but it's REALLY true-
no table = no sale. Unless its a real big item.
Keep your money on your person. If it's in a box, stay with the box. If you stay with the box, you can't work the crowd.
Ladder/Ballons at driveway end is good- guy stuff/big stuff all the way down the driveway to the street is better if you can do it. Won't work if you live a mile off the road.
Be prepared, wear comfortable clothes and shoes, be prepared to be on your feet most of the day. Have plenty of liquids to drink,
if you've got kids, let them sell sodas, bottled water etc(at FAIR prices) or early, coffee. My 12 year old is handy to have around and enjoys the 30 or 40 bucks she makes.
Finally, remember why you're doing this- to get rid of stuff. Sure, stand firm on the good stuff, but be flexible on the rest- isn't the object to get rid of it? Better gone at $1 than here at $2.
Seeing a sign posted that says "Will gladly bargain" and when you ask if they'll take "$" they say they can't go down on that because it isn't theirs and the person isn't here right now...could you come back later?
posted on June 8, 2001 04:23:20 AM new
- have newspapers handy to wrap breakables
- have a cellphone or portable phone handy if you are alone (keep your cellphone in your fannypack with your $$) in case of emergencies.
- If you are alone, and some shady characters show up - yell in the door "hey Bob, bring me a glass of water" That way they think someone else is there.
- don't let people in your house to try on clothes, to use the bathroom or to test an appliance (like squinkle99 said, have an extension cord handy). But if you are trying to sell a TV or something, have it already plugged-in to show it works.
- If you think your prices are fair, don't feel obligated to haggle with a potential customer at 8am. Just smile and say something like "well if it doesn't sell by 10am, then I'll come down on the price"
- while stuff sells, rearrange your tables to give the appearance of it being "full".
- if you're selling appliances and tools etc, try to find their original boxes and instructions, if u still have them.
well i could go on and on..... I love yardsales!!!!!
posted on June 14, 2001 11:16:57 PM new
for those who haven;t bought their tags yet, I like easy release tags on books and paper goods, like nice old puzzle bozes...you can get ones that lift off easier, on purpose...nothing worse than a piece of masking tape right over the puppy's face on an old puzzle or book...pulls the surfact off with the tape...this will definitely reduce the price you can get.
also, say hello to people who come up the drive..nothing worse than feeling like you are "trespassing" into someone's private space as a buyer...
posted on June 15, 2001 01:36:10 AM new
Make your signs with big letters. Get in the car and see if you can read it from 30 or 40 feet away.
Use something that won't curl up or fall over. Take it down when you are done.
If you put an ad in the paper nome the nearest major streets or highway name. I don't know where Shady Lane is even though you have lived there for 4 generations.
If you are arguing with family members about price don't hold the sale. Twice this week I have tried to buy something at a sale and had the husband start yelling at the wife that something was too cheap. The last one was so bad that after I set the stuff down I said "I sure as hell hope this is to raise money for your divorce."
I have a policy - If the dog bites me and hangs on I kill it. Right then. If your dog is prone to serious aggressive behavior chain it well back to avoid an ugly scene.
Don't follow me around trying to sell specific items to me. It is not the county fair.
Don't expect me to buy kool-aid in greasy tupperware from your grubby 4 year old who is picking his nose.
If you want to sell something cold have sealed bottles. I am too young to die.
Don't sit in the garage filling it with cigerette/cigar smoke and expect me to come in and browse. You don't smell it anymore.
If you have a box of items and you put a price on it SAY if it is for the box or each etc.
If there ia a workbench or shelves that are off limits and not for sale hang a sheet over them, or keep a little distance and but a not for sale sign.
If I take the time to drive up and get out don't tell me that there is nothing for men
because I buy everything including children's clothing.
I sorry I am big but I am not there to molest your children and rape your pets so stop glaring at me. Sorry if you are sexist.
If you ask me if I know what that would bring on eBay watch out - I may tell you.
posted on June 15, 2001 11:36:02 AM new
This may be a repeat but.......
ORGANIZATION is the KEY!!
I hate walking up to a sale and they have crap thrown all over their garage~ also have PLENTY of tables so you can spread your stuff out nicely!! Nothing is worse than having to move all the items to see what else is under there!!
posted on June 15, 2001 01:08:50 PM new
bradleyt74,
Ask neighbors/friends if they have any card tables or anything that you can borrow.
Or if that fails you might call a rental place if you have a big sale. I have no idea what they rent for, but it couldn't be too much for a day or two.
????
"I think it pi**** off god if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it." Alice Walker
posted on June 15, 2001 03:52:54 PM new
Lock your Doors!
Burgulars LOve yard sales. While you are selling 25 cent items in the front, they are walking out the back with your jewelry, silver, stereo, etc. Pay attention to THAT Not everyone is as HONEST as you ARE!
posted on June 15, 2001 05:00:42 PM new
If you use tables or displays that are NOT for sale, mark them as such! I had two card tables that I was using for display and early on, when there were a million people there, I had a lady take everything off the tables, fold them up and bring them to me. Then she got mad when I said they weren't for sale! Everything for sale was priced, but she felt "cheated"! Takes all kinds!
posted on June 15, 2001 08:15:32 PM new
dajavu - Years ago in Ohio as my wife was holding a garage sale out front I was cleaning my Colt .45 in the breatfast nook. It was reassembled laying on the table and I had just finished loading the clip when a man very quietly slipped in the back door and eased it shut behind him. He walked into the middle of the kitchen and was super alert and turned slowly taking in everything in the room. Working on his mental shopping list unbdoubtedly.Whe he had turned a circle and was facing me I was pointing the Colt at him and I thumbed the catch off the slide to let in slam home and rack a round in the chamber.
No words were needed - He put his hands up behind his neck without me asking. I did not call the police. I told him - "Reach down with one hand and drop your trousers." Which he did. "Then I said "Let's go out to your car." He had to shuffle out past all the women at the garage sale and down the street to his car walking with his pants around his ankles and hands behind his neck. Me following with the Colt. We got some funny looks. When we got to the car I told him -"Don't let me see you here again. If I see you I will shoot you just for being on the street." Took his tag number down but never saw him again. I have had some silly people say maybe he was just looking for the bathroom. - Sure. From the look on his face if he had been holding it I would have found out when the slide clacked home.
posted on June 16, 2001 03:56:00 AM new
paranoid people!! I guess it depends on what your situation/town is like. We had a yard sale, advertised the hours in the paper and the signs, closed the sale, put the valuable stuff back in the house, put up a sign and a can, which said, "leave whatever you think is fair" (nothing was priced) went home (we live in another house, actually we had/have 2 houses full of stuff to sell), came back the next morning and there was $86.00 in the can! And there was nothing there we really missed! We couldn't figure out what sold for so much! I think we made more than money that way then not being there! We're going to have another sale next weekend, will probably do the same thing.
posted on June 16, 2001 04:05:20 AM new
gravid> I loved the one about cool-aid in the greasy tupperware.
Okay, this may be a new tip. See if you can borrow some two-way radios to communicate with your helpers and make sure you have enough of them to cover the sale. Don't skimp on the help or you will have a horrible day!
