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Message |
    
kmccaffrey
Citizen
Username: Kmccaffrey
Post Number: 50
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 10:08 pm: | 
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Does anyone have any advice on how to run a successful garage sale? Any recommendations for the best places to advertise, the most successful pricing strategies? I've been warned about early birds and vultures who wait for afterhour freebees. Anything else a novice should expect? |
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 99
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 7:58 am: |
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Hi,
I've been going to garage sales for 20 years here. If you want the world at your doorstep, go thru the Star Ledger. If you want to keep it more local, go with the Record. Don't know if S.O. allows signs (don't think Maplewood does). But if so, make sure your signs are large enough to read from a moving car and show arrows pointing the way. Place your signs at well travelled intersections as well as closest corners. Make sure you state in your ad "NO EARLY BIRDS". Price the items fairly and they will move quickly. Think about what you might want to pay for a similar item at a sale you might go to. Make sure all items have prices on them.
And most importantly, DON'T DO IT ALONE. You will be overwhelmed and what could be enjoyable will be horrible. Also, if you say opening at 9:00 AM make sure all your items are out by that time. People come on time and won't come back if you're not set up. If I can help with more info, PL me.
Sherri |
jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 469
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 12:10 pm: |
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Don't be offended when people make you lowball offers. Remember, you're discarding it.
I've been prideful about what I wouldn't accept for an item, and then threw it out or still have it and the value isn't going up.
J.B.
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jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 470
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 12:12 pm: |
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Now, having said that...
I'll give you five bucks for everything!
J.B. |
Psychomom
Citizen
Username: Psychomom
Post Number: 104
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 12:26 pm: |
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I, too, love garage sales...the biggest mistake people make IMHO is not pricing items. If I have to keep asking how much is this? I will walk away. To make it easier you can price like items in groups...like all hardcover books $1 all paperbacks $.50.
Also if you have big items like furniture and can offer delivery so much the better!
Spread your stuff out for easy viewing, if you have kids let them sell lemonade and cookies...it keeps people there longer and no one can turn down a cute kid!
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Starr
Citizen
Username: Starr
Post Number: 130
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 12:45 pm: |
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The article below is from the HGTV Website, www.hgtv.com
There's lots of other material about yard and garage sales on the site.
Yard Sale 101
TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-170 -- More Projects »
Organizing experts Pam Hix and Louise Kurzeka provide tips for running a yard sale.
If running a multifamily yard sale, consider using color-coded dot stickers for price labels.
When an item is sold, transfer the sticker into a notebook. By keeping the stickers separated according to color, the job of recapping each family's proceeds will be easier along the way.
When writing the advertisement for the sale, mention the big-ticket items such as furniture, tools or children's clothing.
The day before the sale, mow the lawn, water the garden and sweep the walk and driveway. An attractive home invites more activity. In addition, make sure the home is secure by locking all entrances during the sale.
When making signs for the sale, neon backgrounds are the most visible and are the most likely to bring shoppers. Use large lettering and directional arrows to its location, and display the best sign on the busiest road near the sale.
Have on hand extra price labels, markers, a measuring tape and an extension cord plugged into an electrical outlet. These items will come in very handy.
Arrange merchandise by placing items into categories, such as books in one area, household goods in another and electronics in another.
Make bulk deals, such as $1 each or two for $1.75. People love to get a deal, and deals make items sell faster.
When pricing merchandise, place tags in an easy-to-see spot, clearly labeling the price. Don't use masking tape for pricing on any item that might be damaged by the adhesive.
Big-ticket items should be the first thing that people see as they arrive at the sale. Use the driveway or yard area by the street to display these items.
Wear a fanny pack worn around your waist for a great cash box. It's always there when needed and won't be easily carried off!
If there are several items that need repair such as broken appliances or games missing several pieces, consider setting up a free table. The free sign will definitely attract shoppers, and an alternative home may be found for those items that would otherwise be thrown out.
Set up a free box with small toys for your shoppers' children to look through while parents shop. Limit it to one item per child to keep an ample supply throughout the sale.
Another way to occupy children is to provide sidewalk chalk for them to draw on the sidewalk or driveway. When space fills, just hose it down to clean.
Consider taking a half-price markdown for the last hour of the sale (or last day of a multiday sale) to clear out as much merchandise as possible.
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BGS
Supporter
Username: Bgs
Post Number: 918
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 1:00 pm: |
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Some personal thoughts...if you are selling linens such as sheet sets or comforter sets, after washing the items use masking tape to tape the set together...mark the size on the tape. Be realistic when pricing items...remember that people are coming to the sale for bargains. If something is really tired and someone offers you something for it, let it go....other wise you are going to have to cart it back into your house, garage or wherever.
Clean things that are marked sell much better than dirty things that you have to ask prices on.
Let the shoppers browse on their own...nothing turns me off more than to have someone hawking their wares at me while I am looking on my own...if I want to see your 45's I will. I see the box, I just haven't gotten there yet.....
Have bags or boxes available for shoppers to pack up their goods...they may buy more if they do not have to juggle items-
Lastly- when the sale is over and you want to donate goods to a church or synagogue sale, please remember if it is broken, cracked, permanently stained, missing pieces, etc. the volunteers at the place that you donate to are just going to have to throw it out so save them the trouble and discard "trash" yourself. |
kmccaffrey
Citizen
Username: Kmccaffrey
Post Number: 51
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 4:48 pm: |
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This is all very helpful, thanks a lot! |
blackcat
Citizen
Username: Blackcat
Post Number: 559
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 5:04 pm: |
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Do watch out for the groups that come in and swarm. They will pick up a whole bunch of stuff and offer a set amount of $. They then will add to the pile and think that it will still be the same price. We had this happen last year. You start to lose track of what you said for what and they they know it. |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 3233
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 5:29 pm: |
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I used to put "Early Birds pay double" in my ads... seemed to work. |
Lou
Citizen
Username: Flf
Post Number: 105
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 7:09 pm: |
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mm, I haven't gone to enough garage sales to know the term "early bird" when applied within this subject - what does it mean besides the fact that they go early?
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13592
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 8:09 am: |
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Not that it will bring flocks of people, but be sure to tell us here where and when it is.
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BGS
Supporter
Username: Bgs
Post Number: 925
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 8:31 am: |
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I always put "Early Birds will be shot" in my ad if I had enough space...it seemed to help...do be careful though of those that show up very early and try to pick through your stuff...I usually do not sell them anything...I do not think that it is fair to someone who may have seen something in my ad and waited until the posted time to show up.
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Crazy_quilter
Citizen
Username: Crazy_quilter
Post Number: 254
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 9:51 am: |
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Early Birds are usually dealers. Sometimes they come the day before even. The problem is twofold. they can take up a lot of your time and then not buy anything, or they can buy something you advertised and if you don't have that item when you open, sometimes you can have someone mad at you. Personally, i don't care how i sell it and say, "welcome early birds! come have some worms!" |
Gregor Samsa
Citizen
Username: Oldsctls67
Post Number: 494
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 10:49 am: |
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Early Birds will be trapped and released in the reservation... |
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