Garage Sale Question

[KatWrangler]

So with my husband laid off we are doing major downsizing. We are working on stuff for a garage sale (sales) but have a disagreement on something.

Do you think its better to put price tags on everything or not? I say we should. Hubby says its a waste of time and let them make an offer. Pyschologically I think it gives most people a starting off point.

What do you think?

Anyone in the Lawrence area want to stop by and buy our stuff?

[daytripper75]

Price tags are the best way to go. I know people who won't buy anything at sales when the items aren't priced because they are sure that the seller is waiting to size them up before pricing.
Maybe a good compromise would be having one price tables? Everything on table A is 50 cents, table B is a dollar, etc.

[mazajo]

Defiantely put price tags on everything. I just had a yard sale a couple weeks ago and if I saw somebody that looked like they were considering an item I tried to let them know that the price was negotiable. Because it was, I really wanted everything gone! But price tags are a good starting place, and some people aren't comfortable just to make an offer.

I like the price table suggestion. I did that with some cheaper items, books, kid's toys and stuff. Everything in this box is a quarter.

Also once I read a tip to have a box of free stuff, just assorted things that you wouldn't have charged hardly anything for anyway. The idea is that if people take something for free they are more likely to purchase something. I tried it and it was fun! A lot of people didn't take anything but those that did also purchased something, so I guess it did work! Some people seem just tickled pink about getting a freebie, lol.

[lifeguard]

Personally when at a garage sale with no prices I tend to walk away. It's annoying to have to ask 17 times what the potential price is on items I'm only mildly interested in. I also am not a haggler (especially when we're talking items that are only a few cents or dollars).

[mom0810]

Price tags, absolutely.

[KatWrangler]

Price tags it is! I win! :

[HydeParkB]

Yeah, I hate sales with no prices posted. You have to wait for someone to figure out how much something is.

Wish you were in KC, Lawrence is too far for me to go to a sale! Good luck!

I like using pre-printed tags. For categories, you could also do mass-pricing to simplify. Like, Books - $1 unless priced. or Most Books $1, Coffeetable books $3.

[Ruthie's momma]

Price tags!!!

DH and I (along w/ my father and sister) are participating in a yard sale this weekend, at a local high school (you rent 2 parking spaces). I am spending much of today and tomorrow pricing our goodies.

We have held three big yard sales and sold everything, each time. My tips...

1) Clean each item

2) Price each item fairly

3) Display items nicely (organized categories help, too...baby/kid, household, tools, etc.)

HTH!

[Denvergirlie]

Price tags are a must, I walk away from sales that are not priced.

I also dislike the table thing, unless there are stickers.... ie pink sticker are .50, blue stickers are $1, etc.
I have found that when it's just on a table, the seller will forget which table they put an item on and thus what price it is, or that someone else will pick something up and then put it back on the "wrong" table.
Color stickers are fine thou, I know the price, even thou it's not listed on the actual item.

[kay4]

Originally Posted by lifeguard

Personally when at a garage sale with no prices I tend to walk away. It's annoying to have to ask 17 times what the potential price is on items I'm only mildly interested in. I also am not a haggler (especially when we're talking items that are only a few cents or dollars).

ditto.

[Norasmomma]

I find no tag sales highly annoying-plus as a seller it is a PITA. Unless you have a table that says all items .50 or whatever. Bag of clothes $1 etc...

I am another who just will probably leave, unless the items are really cool.

[mightymoo]

I agree. As a buyer I'm put off by price tags. As a seller I find not having them to be frustrating too, because I'm constantly trying to make on the spot pricing decisions. Yard sales often get a ton of people all at once in the morning and so you have folks looking for you to price things all over the place and you are trying to focus on too many things.

I find that the price gives folks something to start with and most people will haggle anyway. The only time I have not priced, we were selling off my uncles estate and he had a whole bunch of machine tools (he owned a machine shop) and unique bits and things, we chose to just put them in one area and tell people pick out what you want and we'll make a deal. Since we didn't really care, just wanted them gone for some reasonable price, I think it worked well, but I also think the folks that bought that stuff got probably an amazing deal if they could really use it.

[Hey Mama!]

I like price tags, unless there are clearly visible signs that say what the unmarked items are like "everything .50". I did everything .25 or 5 for a dollar, just to get rid of stuff. A friend and I also did a bag sale, where you could fill a bag for $4. We made quite a bit on that sale.

[goldfishkate]

HA! I'm near Lawrence.

Don't forget to post your sale on craigslist.

[KatWrangler]

Originally Posted by goldfishkate

HA! I'm near Lawrence.

Don't forget to post your sale on craigslist.

Definately!

[lilyka]

I do some of both. unless it is something I want more than $5 for I sell it for a quarter and do not put tags on it (what a bunch of work because if it doesn't sell then you have to remove all the tags before you donate it) and then for big items I would definitely put a tag on it. people around here aren't really haggelers. besides if I have a bottom dollar I prefer to just let people know what it is.