It’s garage sale season again. We had a HUGE garage sale right before we moved, and I swear, every time, I learn a new way to “push more product.” {Mostly, I just really wanted to type “push more product,” like I am conducting a multi-level seminar}. 🙂 Seriously, though, if you are going to put all the time and effort into throwing a garage sale, you might as well make sure you get the most out of it.
Last time around, I picked up a few more “fine tuning” tricks to add to my bag of tricks. Here’s what I know {brace yourself, it’s not much}:
- Make conversation. Chat with people. It makes you more human, and I swear, they feel better about buying your stuff. Like if they buy it from a “nice lady,” it’s going to be cleaner and better kept. Weird, but true.
- If you see somebody eyeing furniture, but not making the purchase, chat them up. Ask them if they have a space in mind for the piece. Then, if the conversation flows, suggest ways they could spruce it up {i.e. new knobs, a quick paint job, recover, etc.}. Sometimes you have to help people develop a little vision. 🙂
- Bulk deals, my friends, bulk deals. People love that crap. If you have books, DVD’s, etc. offer discounts for multiple purchases. For example, books are $1 each, or 3 for $2.50. I’m telling you, it makes people dig deep to make sure they get the bargain, and you are left with less to cart off to the local thrift shop.
- Advertise that you will be slashing prices at a certain time. The goal is to get rid of it, after the morning rush, it’s time to get serious about that task. Maybe everything is 50% after 1 p.m. Let the peeps know that via signage or advertising.
- Staging. If you have furniture to sell, set it up on your driveway like a room. I know it sounds weird, but I swear, when people can visualize the whole thing, they buy more pieces.
- Price everything INDIVIDUALLY. People get irritated when they have to stand and wait for you to ask the price. They would rather know, so they can come up with their haggling plan. Some people get tired of waiting {if you have a crowd} and decide it’s not even worth it to stop and ask you the price. When you price individually, you get better results from impulse buys.
- Price things BELOW thrift store prices. Garage sales are like the last place on earth you can truly score a GREAT deal. That’s why people love them. Heck, that’s why I love them. The stuff is worth nothing to you sitting in your garage or basement, so price it to sell.
Have you tried any of these? Did they work for you?
~Mavis
Want even more garage sale tips? Check out How to Sell More Stuff at Your Garage Sale for some of the more fundamental tips and tricks.
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Jeanie says
My garage sale mantra is, “If it goes out..it is not coming back in”. That makes it a lot easier to be reasonable about pricing. Whatever doesn’t sell, I donate to a charity like Goodwill or DAV.
Mavis says
I like that mantra!
Debbie N says
I love going to garage sales and I have also had a few of my own. I agree with price everything. As a seller it goes much more smoothly. If everything is priced my husband or kids can help out and take money too.As a buyer, if I see something for a good price I will buy it. If there is no price I think about is it worth the hassle figuring it out. I can’t tell you how any times i asked someone the price and they said I don’t know. Come on man, it’s your sale!!!
Mavis says
Me too, especially if there is a line to ask for the price. More often than not, I just set it back down and keep walking.
Katy says
I love yard sales but I will never have one of my own again. Too much work on my end for too little return. And dealing with the people is just terrible – I’ve seen people steal from me right in front of my eyes and haggle over something that is 10 cents.
Mavis says
Wow, that’s super bold of someone to steal from a garage sale! I’ll admit, I don’t know if I pay close enough attention to notice.
Randi says
We have a large neighborhood sale each spring. There is a group of families that mostly the older ladies attempt to bargain by insulting your stuff. I”m not sure if they thing they will get a few pennies off but if you insult my former favorite platter i’d rather donate it to Goodwill than sell it for .50 cents
Shannon says
Yeah, stealing from a yard sale is more common than you might think! My sister and I were almost taken by two senior citizen couples who were running a total scam . . . one couple kept us occupied while the other loaded up the truck with nice furniture and “forgot” to pay. My sister ran down the street after them and demanded payment. Another time, a lady changed a $25 tag on a handmade quilt for a $2 sticker. I watched her do it, and it was even a sale at a church to raise money for Romanian orphans!!
T.J. says
I have a tip for getting wax out of the sweater. Place a piece of paper towel on the sweater and than iron it on a low setting. The paper towel will soak up the wax. It works great with wax in carpet.