What prices can you expect at yard sales?

[Britishmum]

I have a ton of baby stuff to sell. I've sold a lot of it through Craigslist, mostly the big items, diapers etc. Now I have baby clothes - a lot of stuff, different sizes, girl items, boy items, some new, some in perfect condition, some more used, but nothing with holes, tears etc. A lot of it is really nice stuff.

I see on craigslist that some people bundle up a box of stuff, like 30 items in boy size 2T, then charge about $30 for the box, ie about $1 an item. Some people ask for more $$s, but of course, I have no idea if they get it.

I'm wondering whether instead of craigslist, to just put it all out in a yard sale at $1 or $2 or 50cents an item, depending on what it is, rather than put it on craigslist in batches, to hopefully get rid of it all in one day. But is that a reasonable amount to charge? Would people try to lowball me on $2 an item for really good quality stuff?

I live in an affluent area, although of course there are more people buying used stuff now than there was a few years ago.

Thoughts? (I've never had a yard sale before, nor have I shopped for baby stuff at one, so this is new to me. )

[colsxjack]

Maybe have a couple of boxes or baskets with some clothes in it. One for 50cents per piece such as onesies and stuff, one for $1 per piece for sleepers and t-shirts and more used stuff. Then a $2 bin maybe. For anything thast you have that are new or excellent quality and name brand things, (like if you have some Gap clothes or something in excellent condition) then you can hang this stuff and charge a little more $4-$6 a piece. I would feel that I got a good deal if I was able to spend $10 and get a few sleepers, t-shirts and a new pair of jeans or overalls or nice dress for my kid.

You can read peoples reactions and charge less if you are not getting takers. When the yard sale is 2/3over you can lower some prices to get rid of more stuff.

Good luck.

[zebra15]

Yardsale?? 25-50 cents a piece. Around here it doesnt matter what the name tag says no one is going pay more than 50cents an item.

Also if you are doing a yardsale they take alot of time and effort. I wouldnt have one just for kids clothes.

Prices could depend on your area but people usually are not going to spend big $ for things at a yardsale.

Another thing to keep in mind is your customers will try to bargain with you. 50 cents each for 5/$2 type of thing. "This whole pile of clothes for $5". When I had yardsales I usually was of the mindset any money was better then being stuck with the stuff at the end of the say and I let them have it.

[jess_paez]

also you might want to think about mothering...possibly opening up a photobucket or flikr acct to take some bundled lot pics. i am due in may with a boy and was sad to see that on the trading post there wasn't many baby clothes lots.

[thatgirliknew]

Originally Posted by zebra15

Yardsale?? 25-50 cents a piece. Around here it doesnt matter what the name tag says no one is going pay more than 50cents an item.

That's what I was thinking. My family does MAJOR yardsales every year (we usually come out about $1000 split three or four ways) BUT we spend the whole year scouting out things to resell for better prices. We usually throw in all the books and clothes we're no longer using, but that is never where the money is. Not even for name brand items. They usually go 50c a piece; sorted out in boxes by gender and size. We usually have a hanging area with specially marked items; usually things like suits; easter dresses; formal dresses, etc.

[pbjmama]

The people who live in your area are not the ones shopping your sale. I don't garage sale in my neighborhood, I can afford the same new clothes as my neighbors. I go to the place with the big houses to get the good stuff!

Really, save yourself the time and the hassle and go craigslist. A yard sale is alot of work, weather dependent, you will either get less than you want or have alot of stuff leftover and then what are you going to do with it? If you have a special item that is really worth more you can do ebay.

[prone_to_wander]

I really roll my eyes in someone is having a yard sale and charging really high prices for things, especially clothes.

IMO yard sales are a way to get rid of clutter, and although it is good to get some money from it I price everything to sell. If I want more for clothes, I'd take them to a consignment store.

[alicia622]

I had a yard sale once and ended up selling all of DS's baby clotes for ridiculously cheap prices. It really stung because as a baby, his clothes were in great condition and many of the pieces were nice quality. I vowed to never sell clothes in a yard sale again- I would rather donate them to a thrift store than get the prices I was selling for. So, that's what I do.

I think most items go for about 50 cents to a dollar and probably a buck or two for winter jackets. And people will ask for discounts on that. When I have a sale, my biggest priority is to get rid of the stuff, so I will usually take whatever someone offers.

[daytripper75]

I agree with the others. Less than a dollar per item. If it is super special I might pay a bit more but if I want something that is more than that I am going to go to the store to buy it new.

[pwit]

I shop garage sales in nice neighborhoods with BIG houses. I see some people price things higher but for the most part I look to pay at most $2.00 an outfit and that is if it is a really cute outfit. Usually I'm looking for cute outfits for $1.00 an outfit. This is for Baby clothes

For my toddler I might pay $1.00 for a pair of jeans or pants that are in great shape. 50cents to a dollar for a shirt.

I have a little girl wearing 4T and 5T. I might pay a little more for clothes for her if I found some in nice shape just because its harder to find 4T and 5T clothes in like new condition- at that age they are harder on their clothes.

But I know I can go to Once Upon a Child (used clothing store) and buy her a pair of jeans from The Children's Place that look BRAND NEW and I tried them on her and made sure they fit perfect for 3.50 and I didn't have to drive all over a subdivision using gas money or get up super early on a Sat. morning. So even for her I'm not gonna pull out much money to buy her clothes.

I LOVE garage sales and shop them all the time because there are people willing to part with NICE stuff for CHEAP. But when we don't want our stuff I give it to a friend that wants it or donate it because a garage sale doesn't really seem worth the trouble. If I had something really nice and wanted to sell it I would try Ebay or Craigslist- higher prices seem to be expected there than at garage sales. If I walk up to a garage sale and see high prices on a few things I usually stop looking pretty quick and drive to the next sale.

[Britishmum]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Seems I need to go craigslist and ebay. I'm happy to yardsale some of the stuff at 50c an item, but not brand new outfits with tags still on them and really good quality stuff. I guess the yardsale waits until I've sold all I can elsewhere.