rummage sale advice

[jdthomas 0]

My wife and I spent a few days cleaning out her parents basement and garage, we have so much stuff now that we are going to try to have a rummage sale.
After reading some articles online about do's and don'ts of rummage sales I thought I would poke the masses for further war story's about past sales they have had.
Any advice will be well recieved.

Thanks
Joe

www.greenboxphotography.com

[NewGuy2005 53]

You'll make a lot more money by pricing everything cheap. You don't make any money by keeping everything.

At some point, put out a big sign that says everything half off. Then, at some point, put out a sign that says everything is free. When they ask what is the catch, you tell them they have to take at least 2 things.

I used this approach on my last garage sale. Made more money than ever before, plus what was left over would fit in both my hands.

Of course, this was a neighborhood wide garage sale, so the traffic was huge.

[jdthomas 0]

ken
Thanks for the advice.

www.greenboxphotography.com

[Nightingale 0]

eBay

[NewGuy2005 53]

That would be a heck of a lot of work.

[jdthomas 0]

Quote

eBay

We had to rent a small uhaul trailer and we filled it and the back of our xterra with stuff. I don't think I have the time or the energy for ebaying all this stuff.

All the left overs will go to the no kill animal shelters thrift store.

Joe

www.greenboxphotography.com

[wmw999 2,589]

Lots of signs that are easy to read, big enough letters, with arrows. Put them up the afternoon before, with a start time (catch those come-home folks).

Put attractive furniture, shelving, tents -- attention getters -- out front. Don't put either clothes or books out front. People don't go to garage sales for those usually.

Have everything priced that you want individually priced the night before. For large numbers of things at cheap prices, you can use colored stickers with a guide at the front.

Keep your money physically on your body. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Have a cooler with sodas out front. Sell them for whatever will make you a small profit. It's like free money, if you're willing to drink whatever is left (we haven't usually had any left).

Don't put anything in the garage sale that you're sentimental about. It'll be bargained over by the person you're least willing to sell to.

Be ready the night before; there might be early birds who come and knock on it before the sale starts. Decide early if you're going to do that. Put a sign accordingly on your front door.

Have a sheet or little box outside with little cheap toys (e.g. McD's giveaways) that are free. It's cheap entertainment for kids whose moms might spend more money.

Donate everything that doesn't sell to some company that will come pick it up. And yeah, the tip about 1/2 off when you're bored is good.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Shell666 0]

Whatever you do, don't overprice things. You're trying to get rid of stuff.

Nothing bugs me more than going to a garage sale and finding things priced the same or a little lower than buying new.

If you're getting rid of it, you no longer have a use for it. ANY amount of money is better than NO money.

And put up balloons on your signs and at your house. The last garage sale I had, people found the garage (on the alley) a lot easier because of the balloons.

Good luck!

'Shell