Hey everyone! We live in an apartment, so we aren't allowed to do yard/garage sales, but a friend of mine is about to do one in a few weeks and generously offered to let me bring over anything that I would want to sell to her place to sell for me. I don't even make it out to sales that often myself (I wish I did), so I need to know the "going rate" on items. I want to make it as simple as possible on my friend considering she is doing me a favor. We have some toddler girls clothing, most in pretty good shape in sizes from about 1 to 2T. Also some girls sandals. We also have some toys that are in great condition. A crayola art easel (with the magnets and eraser still), a Leapfrog electronic book system with 3 extra books and cartridges (I think the Tag system replaced this one). Also, I have some clothes, that I've barely worn, but also won't be, so I was thinking of taking those there too. Usually we donate everything to Goodwill, Libraries and what not, but since this opportunity came up I thought I would try it. So, any suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks ladies!
S.
I've heard that a good rule of thumb is 20% of the original price you paid for it. Also, if you are going to give things away for free, I would suggest posting them on craigslist. Donating to charities is great, but they do turn around and resell most of it. Also, craigslist is a good way to have have your own 'garage sale' :)
Have you considered putting some of your stuff on consignment? It all depends on how quickly you need the money. Whatever the consignment shop doesn't take, you can sell at the garage sale.
It sounds like you have some really nice stuff, so you may be able to get more $$$ in the end through a consignment shop.
I go to lots of garage sales and have done a few myself. I agree with one the post below. Dont over price or you will end up bringing much of it back home, and so it end up being more work than making the money you hoped for. Normally I will put a table with lots of 1$ things and a sign in front that says "EVERYTHING ON THIS TABLE $1.00" I put all the clothes together neatly so that it is easy and visual (if people have to do alot of rumage most likely it does not sell) and I put a sign infront with the price. Having big stations with one set price makes the garage sale easier for you and your friend. This way you dont have to sit there and price each thing individually. Some sellers put clothes for .25cents each up to a 1$. For the other items dont go over $5 - 8$ depending on what it is. I hope this helps and I hope you sell it ALL!!!
S.,
Remember this is a yard sale, price the toys at a couple of dollars each don't go above maybe $5 or $7 depending on what it is. Then when it comes to the clothes for the baby don't go above $1 a pc including the shoes. When it comes to your clothes depending on the shape there in, don't go above $3, like I said people are going to be shopping for bargains and try to hustle you down even further so down look to get a large sum of money to start with.
Good luck.
S.
By personal experience of just having a garage sale 3 weeks ago, people are trying to get things SUPER SUPER CHEAP... To be honest it's annoying and offensive of what some people will try to offer you (depending on the type of person that comes).... Unfortunately clothes never hold there value (it makes me mad to know that a shirt that I paid 40.00 at one time now someone wants for .50)... Tell your friend to post an ad in the paper that way you'll get better quality people that won't try and buy everything for .25......I had sooooooooooooooooooooooooo many kids clothes that I basically gave away... Some of my bigger stuff (IE: bouncer, big chalk board, exercauser) I got better money for (like 10.00 each) but overall everyone is looking for good deals now.. GOOD LUCK :0)
If your stuff is in great shape, you should look into selling it at a consignment shop. Kids Konsignment on 45th street is a great one and Kiss a Kid is right across the street. Then you get 1/2 the selling price and you can make quite a bit that way. Alos if you give to charities, you might want to look into St Vincent DePaul's Society. They have a great track record for REALLY helping people!!!
the clothes about .25 to .50 cents. clothes do not hold their value
the art easel about $5-$7
the leapster about $10
remember that even though they may be in great condition, they are still used and being bought in some ones drive way. start the prices a couple of dollars higher than what you acutally want so you can bargain. most people that garage sale love the negotiating almost as much as the items themselves.
That's really nice of your friend. I go to yard sales every now and then and people usually price children's clothes as no more than $1 each. If there is a lot and they want to get rid of it, they will do something like $0.75 each/2 for a dollar... or I have seen where they put all of the clothes in one box and put one price for the entire box to sell it all in one swoop. I have no idea what to price your other items, but seriously people do NOT pay more than a few bucks for anything at a yard sale no matter what condition it's in. I know you said you usually just donate stuff, but you ought to look into a children's consignment shop if your stuff is in great condition. There are some that will pay you cash and others will put a special label on your clothes and keep track of the sales and you only get paid when your items sell.
people at yard sales are looking for serious deals. most of the shoppers are avid yard salers and will only pay the lowest price. price your stuff cheap and its sure to move. if your looking to turn a decent profit try craigs list.
Make Money? Get Rid of Stuff? Both?
We had a garage sale two weekends ago, and most people looking for some serious deals. Our main point was to make room in our garage, so we accepted even crazy offers to avoid loading & taking them to a charity donation later. Our neighbors were in money-making mode, so they priced everything between $1 and $7 each with 'Firm' marked next to each price.
For items that you'd have to price higher than salers will buy, I'd put an ad in the paper (Free Ads for Under $100) or try Craigslist.
As a side note: We bought a Leapfrog electronic book system with 1 extra book and cartridge last weekend for $5.
Good luck to you!
I am a big yard sale shopper, and I give them too. I sell things really cheap so as to get them out of my yard, and what ever doesnt sell, I box up and take to Goodwll for a Tax Credit. When I go to a yard sale I only buy clothes that are in great shape or are easy to fix, like a button or a hem, and I pay $1 a piece for womens clothes. Some Items, like a blazer for work or a good pair of jeans I might pay $2 for.
As for Children's clothes, I have sold mine for $1 a piece early in the morning, but near 11 am or noon, I was selling them 2 for $1 just to get them going. It doesnt matter how much you paid or how new the item is... or the condition, if they have kids... they will only pay so much for yard sale used clothes. If you ask for too much... you will be boxing it all up to go to GoodWill.
If you chose to go out on a limb and take your stuff to a consignment shop, you may or not do well there. Some shops only pay 40 percent of the selling price. So you take in a nice button down boys shirt. They mark it for $4. If it sells, you will get les than $2 for that shirt. If it doesnt sell that month, they might mark it half price next month, and you might get less than $1. If it doesnt sell, or someone rips off the tag... well you get nothing for your nice shirt, and you dont get the shirt back, they donate it and get themselves a credit. So with that said, I would try taking some of the most expensive items there first and see how it works for you. It wont work for everything, but for really good quality stuff it was worth the try, rather than a yard sale.
Just so You know for next time, you can also sell your baby stuff on craigs list in your area. You pick a day when both you and your husband are home, like a Weekend, and you post a list for mom's to see what you have and where you are. They can call you ahead of time and set an appointment of a time that is good to meet at your appartment. (When Husband is home, and dog is barking.) I had a nice mom come over and go through all my boxes and give me more than I would have gotten at a yard sale. In that situation I could price the nice brand names at a higher cost for the first person, and if she didnt bite, the next mom who shows up might get a lower price.... and so on. Most mom's who came bought $10 worth of clothes. A Dad came by and bought all the equiptment, the bouncer, the swing, the spongy seat and such and paid $30 cash. That is better than yard sale prices. And YES you can do this in the privacy of your apartment. That is why it is so important to have someone home with you. I had my neighbors come over every time, since I am a single mom, and I have the cops on speed dial just in case. But I did make enough money to buy the entire next size of my son's wordrobe, and nothing bad ever happened. I say go for it!.
