Yard Sale question

[Lori63]

(I would love for this to be a poll, but don't know how to do it).

I am having a yard sale, and in the past have always priced everything. It was suggested by someone not to bother doing that, so I thought I'd ask ya'all.
When you go to a yard sale does it bug you if things aren't priced? Any opinions will be appreciated.
TIA

[server18]

If things are not marked I walk away. I would NEVER have a sale without marking my items. You will be bombarded with everyone asking you how much is this how much is that, and how do you remember what you said on an item from one person to another. Take the time to mark your items.

[jerzyaltyangl]

I like seeing things priced that's just me. I always go to yard sales and I always go to my local flea market to try to get rid of all my crap lol and I try to mark and sign everything to make it easy, I also mark things up a little so I can get what I really want people are always haggling prices so when they see it went down they think there getting a good deal and your more then likely to get rid of more. If I want something for $2 I put 3 and say I'll take 2 instead...

[Lori63]

If things are not marked I walk away. I would NEVER have a sale without marking my items. You will be bombarded with everyone asking you how much is this how much is that, and how do you remember what you said on an item from one person to another. Take the time to mark your items.

I always have, but I haven't had one in 7 years so thought I'd ask. Thanks! anyone else?

[Lucky1307]

I agree. If items aren't marked I will leave. Same as being in a store with no shelf price under an item. I don't like having to find someone to find out how much they want. I do have a friend that uses the colored dot system. She marks each item with the correct dot(red= $1, blue= $2 ect..) and then hangs signs telling people the price of each dot. She was marking items just by putting a sign on the table(All items on this table $1), but found that people would move things or argue about what table they got it off of. Remember you want to make money and space not make yourself go insane or waste your time.

[happy2shop]

I agree. I would leave as well. I hate the whole confrontation going back and forth about I don't know, how much do you think its worth ordeal.

[Mothernature]

99% of the yard/garage/indoor garage sales do not have price tags here. I dislike the lack of price tags.

There are three types that hold sales: the pros (ones who hold a sale each weekend), those who are grossly overpriced, and those who main concern is to clean house. Without price tags, I can't decipher any of these groups if I approach a garage sale for the first time sans tags.

I have to ask the price because I have no idea if the seller is in the same ball park price wise as I am. So, my family will walk around a sale and collect stuff to find the seller so overpriced, it is not worth the negotiation effort (Yes, it is nice to offer with tags Lands Ends winter gloves originally $30. No, They are not worth $6 to me). Price tags also help me figure out negotiation room. I negotiate about 95% of the time. If there are no prices, how can I figure out what to offer (or if I need to offer)? I send my 5 year old up to the seller from time to time and have him ask to buy at a price when there are no tags. It hasn't failed; DS pays less than his offers.

The biggest issue as a buyer is the time killer the lack of price tags are. It is selfish of the seller to think they are the sole sale people will visit. We hit an average of 20-25 sales a weekend. I need to look, get what I need, and go. Running in the house to ask a neighbor or friend what the price of their item is (this happened to me today).

The upside for a seller is they can price their item based on what the seller thinks the person will pay. I bet this price discrimination happens quite frequently.

I can understand if a person has a very large sale. It is easier to set an area for a price, put up a sign, and color tag all items in that area.

Why go through the effort to make signage (some very elaborate) but not mark your merchandise?:shrug7:

My biggest pet peeve by far is canceling the garage sale and not let people know. How hard is it to post on craigslist? This has happened every week thus far.

Other tips if I may:

- Make sure to take everything out of bags and boxes. I will not take the time to dig if the items on top are what I do not need.

- Do not wear rubber gloves working your sale. What does it say about the health condition and quality of your merchandise?

- Make sure all the parts are included with your items (i.e. if you have an Operation game, make sure all the bones are included).

- Especially due to the economy, you will run into people with different needs. To maximize your sales, offer a wide variety of items (if you have them).

- If you are combining garage sales with someone else, make sure you know their prices. I went to one sale where the friend had not shown up. The person refused to give any price so I walked.
- Signage. LARGE SIGNS visible from a car passing with your address and arrows very clear leading the people to your sale. You'd think GPS devoids the arrow issue. I saw people today walk from sale to sale and driving with paper maps. I kid you not.

The first three were what I experienced at my last sale today. It was a complete mess, the seller wore purple latex gloves as she went through bags and boxes, and her Operation game was out sans the bones. This was five hours after the sale started. I couldn't believe it.

[fungirl2727]

I like signs

[sns4063]

Here's my .02. For clothes, $0.25-$2 max. If you really want to get rid of clothes, give someone a plastic grocery bag and say fill it for $X. It does help to have your stuff priced, consider going 50% off later in the day, if you are serious about getting rid of the stuff. As for signs, make sure you know your town's laws regarding signage. For example, in my town, you have to pay for a garage sale permit. At that time they give you two signs. Those are the only signs you are allowed to have. Make sure you know the rules where you live. Also, advertise on craigslist. I don't even get the newspaper, so any garage sales that I go to (unless i decide to go buy a paper that day) are the ones that were advertised on CL.

[Lori63]

Thanks for all the tips!!!!