I'm having a yard sale.....any pointers?

Question

This is not my 1st time conducting a yard sale. I've been told that I mark things too high. But I figure that people will try to negotiate and I can always go lower, but I can't go higher...

THEREFORE, My main question is to ask for any tips to make better profits or pointers that would be useful to know?

For Example:
Is there a magic number or dollar amount that people like to see? What do you look for in a bargin?
How much is too much? (For good or fair condition items that I just don't want anymore)
Do I mark items for 1/2 the cost that I bought it for? or 1/3?
What are the do's and don'ts?
What makes you walk away without buying anything? (Presentation of items, the prices or just not relating to anything for sale?)
How to determine if you should donate, sell or throw away something?

Answer 1

I held my first yardsale last summer and it went better than expected.
Here is the website I used to get some pointers. I hope this helps
www.yardsalequeen.com
Good luck!!

Answer 2

Put what prices you want on items but have signs saying "make an offer" Some people just are too shy or dont want to dicker. Keep items such as jewelry or other small items where you have control over them. People steal alot of small items at yard sales. Just had this experience. I was showing some mexican silver that I though was under my control but a woman pocketed a pair of earrings. She was very good. I didnt see her do it but I checked my inventory just after she looked at the stuff and got my earrings back. Also, I have boxes of items that all go for the same price. Just color code with a colored sticker. Be outgoing and friendly and also say that you will take reasonable offers. I also have a "free box." Some things just arent worth pricing and people stop at your sale just because, out front, they see the "free box." People want the cheapist prices offered at a yard sale. If you have a lot of good stuff, you might want to sell on EBay or go to a large, well attended flea market. It is mostly prices that will make people walk away. Make it very clear on signs, that your more costly items are open for negotiation. However, do not feel that you are obligated to take an offer. Wait until the last day of your sale. I had a composter for sale for 150 and took the first offer of 100. Later in the day I could have sold that composter 3 times for the 150. Be willing to keep things that you know should sell but didnt go during this sale. Sometimes people just dont seem to want what I have. Dont throw away. People will empty your "free box" and will probably buy something else. also having a goody table and bottles of water or pop keep people looking. I sell water and pop and have candy and cookies for kids. I have had very successful sales and other sales where I dont know why I bothered. Sales often go bad if you have your sale right after a major yard sale holiday such as Memorial Day. Attendance will be down.

Answer 3

Presentation is a lot of it and timing is another.

One thing I learned from my relatives is to have your yardsale on the first weekend after the first of the month. A lot of people get their checks on the first of the month, so they have money to spend then. The idea is to have them spend their money at your yardsale before they spend it somewhere else.

As far as presentation, keep things as much as possible at eye level. Why else do you think the premium brand cereals pay to have their cereals on certain shelves in the supermarket? Because they sell more at eye level.

Color sells. Red is the color that attracts people's attention more than any other color, followed by orange, then yellow. In packaging marketing, I was taught that you have only a half a second to sell someone on something. If you don't grab their attention in that half of a second the likelihood that they will buy it goes way down. So if you see someone staring at something for a second or so, jump at the opportunity. They are probably thinking of buying it and may be haggling over the price a little.

If it's in bad condition then throw it away or put it in a box with a bunch of other stuff you are haggling over whether to throw away or sell. Put a price tag on the box. Many times people will buy the entire box of stuff for a cheap price just to see if there is something at the bottom they might like.

To be honest, in many regards you can often save about as much or more money if you donate. If you donate and keep records, you can write all of that off on your taxes. If you sell at a yardsale, you have to file that money as income.

A really good way to look at it may be to see if that extra income would put you into a higher tax bracket. If it would, then donate it. You get the lower tax bracket and the donations can be used to get money back on your taxes. If the yardsale income doesn't put you in a higher tax bracket then the yardsale may be the better way to go.

People look for things they might possibly use or someone they know might possibly use and they want to find it at a descent price or otherwise they wouldn't be coming the streets for the bargain. And some go to yardsales to find stuff to resell themselves for a higher price.

The hardest thing to learn is when to lower your price and when not to. Some will buy it at the price you have listed, but they will try getting you to lower the price just to see if they can get it cheaper. That just comes with practice and experience.

The snacks and water that one person mentioned also sound like a good idea. The longer you can keep them looking the more of a tendency they have to impulse shop. Normally when people shop only about one third is what they actually went out to go shopping for. The other two-thirds is from impulse shopping.

You may also want to consider having a bunch of empty cardboard boxes around at the yardsale. That can give a way for the shoppers to carry all of the items they want to buy much easier.

Answer 4

Put things out on table or boxes where everything is the same price. Like all the paper back books for 25 cents each.
Check your local thrift stores and flea markets. See what kind of prices they are getting for similar items.
Make sure you have at least 1 extra set of eyes around to watch for thieves.
After the sale, call a charity like the Salvation Army or St Vincent De Paul. Many will come pick up left over items. Anything they don't want, throw away. Or just put out for the trash. We have a bunch of junk collector around my area.

Answer 5

Put up a sign that reads - Will barter.